Money fire, Maxwell, Robbed(again), Jehovah's Witnesses, and a gay muslim

Well I am sorry if this email is lame because I forgot my journal so I am not sure what happened this week.

Well last Monday my companion collapsed again at soccer, also again yesterday when we were driving to an activity so, we'll be taking him to the doctor any day now. :) I think I just might take every one of my companions to the doctor. That stinks.

Well we didn't have power for a very long time, which wasn't bad unless you wanted some heated food and a hot shower but I am pretty use to the whole no power thing. So our phone was dead and I am kind of glad because the other missionaries we were staying with were trying to call us. So we walk in and they just look defeated. Plus they tell me not to go into my study room. So of course I go straight there. And my desk is gone! And all my things are strewn about the floor. I go out and apparently we had been robbed, again. This time they got a camera(not mine and broken, so not big loss), an ancient cabinet, and $7. Also not a big loss but still, we got thieved again? Really??

I come to find out that the mission president's wife had been the one to send people to our house to collect "some things". I also learn that when the other missionaries collected the keys it was from the neighbors it was from the drunkard and wayward son that was the suspected culprit from the last robberies. So... yea that was kind of fun. I got my desk back but now it is broken and is slanted so now all my books slide to the right. :)

The next day Maxwell got interviewed for baptism! I confess I was nervous because he gets things messed up sometimes. He knows and lives all of it but sometimes he forgets which principles go to which law. But he passed and it was awesome!! But that morning he had some referrals for us. Turned out they were Jehovah's Witnesses' missionaries who were ancient. To give you a clue one said that he had been a member since 1935. Uh... yea but Maxwell gave them fire for all their false doctrine so it was still cool.

Then we came back to plan and the power was back after five days! So we begin planning and the other missionaries pull up and the power goes... I was not amused. So we all just sat in darkness for awhile, then power came back!!! So I start cooking dinner and before the meat is even browned the power goes again! I was less amused. So I start a fire in our fire place with a small brazier and I am burning the bills that one of our members gave us because she gave us a ridiculous amount and they are worthless anyway. So I cook my dinner on the flames fueled by billions of dollars :) Then after a long time, I put in on a plate and I sit down to eat and before I had taken a bite, the power came back... I was even less amused. But at this point I was past caring I had a cool story and I now had a warm meal finally.

Then the next day I get a phone call and it is one of our recent converts. The discussion is as follows.

"Happy Birthday!" Samantha says.

"What?" Is my automatic and confused response.

"Isn't it your birthday today?" She questions.

"Why yes. Yes it is!" So yeah I totally forgot that it was my birthday. But it was a powerful day we gave out some baptismal dates and had some pretty powerful lessons.

Then Sunday comes around and we are preparing for baptisms. Plus a girl I thought hated me came to church and said that she would be there next week too. Awesome so we are going to start teaching her. Then we get to the baptisms and the water was cold let me tell you. In fact, Sister Anyway came up gasping but it was still a valid baptism. Then after ward they both bear their testimonies about how the Gospel has them and their families. Maxwell says that the only reason he was there was because of me and that he owed me everything because I had pulled him from the darkness into the light. He gave me all the credit and I deserved none of it. But Sunday was one of the best days of my short twenty years. Yes Maxwell!

Also sorry this email is late but I was assaulted by a gay muslim. And sadly I am dead serious. He just kept hitting on me and not even subtly but blatantly so I tried to leave but he followed me and kept trying and I just told him off. I wanted to punch him or throw up on him or something. But he knows we always go to the email shop on that day so I might have to leave Harare because of a gay muslim stalker! I can't believe this! Why me? Why Elder Gay? Really? It had to be me?

But that has been my week also Maxwell taught me how to fix the alignment of bicycle tire spokes. I felt so cool, I did it myself and it was actually fixed at the end of my tampering!

Love,

Elder Gay

collapsing, slash and burn and anger :)

Collapsing, Slash and Burn, and Anger :)

So this week I have a new companion, his name is Elder Bonface and he is tiny and from Kenya. Well we were biking in the area and were going to an appointment when he asks if we can slow down. I look at the time and say that there isn't time to slow down. We keep biking but I see a member so I stop to talk to them. Then my comp pulls up next to me and we are talking when he collapses. He just passes out and falls on his face and starts seizing. I go to help but he has already regained consciousness and asks where he is. We take him inside and they feed us and then we take him home and I make him rest.

Then at a service project for the Elder's Quorum we went to the lands owned by the church for the chapel. Then we slashed the very large plants that were covering it but only around the borders to create a fire guard. It took a long time but not as long as I was expecting. Then we set fire to the rest! All the while this guy in the branch is catching the grasshoppers and rats that are trying to get away from the fire so he can cook them for dinner... uh yea that is what I thought too. Then he gutted them with his HANDS and stuck them in his POCKET!!!! I couldn't believe it.

The lessons this week have been pretty good and we had eight investigator's at church. All the people have been pretty good. But yesterday we were contacting and this guy calls me over and says "Do you understand the bible?" I told him I don't understand all of it. Then he says, "Come and I will teach you." I thought excuse me? But I maintain my smile and proceed to invite him to church and he fat out refuses and asks why we go to church on Sunday. I try to salvage something but I can tell this is going no where and so I pointed to my tag and said this is the church I have been called to represent and he looks at the tag and says, "That is nothing. That means nothing." And that is when I got upset. I didn't understand what I was feeling at first because it has been a while since I've been angry. But that is what I was. How dare he tell me that my tag represents nothing?! Basically I just cut it off at that point and I am pretty sure he misconstrued my silence as fear or insecurity. But I will see him in the Spirit World and he will remember meeting me and he will wish he had listened :)

On to a happier subject, Patience's Mom just passed her interview! She will be baptized next week. Next we have to convert the father! Yes converting families!

That has been my week!

Love,

Elder Gay

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Baptisms, Goodbyes, and death to poultry

Baptisms, Goodbyes , and death to poultry!We had a very good week. A lot of people are progressing. We got fed more than I ever have before in my life! I thought I would die! The whole week was a little bitter sweet because my comp is leaving.On the way home this guy stopped and asked us if we wanted a ride we said sure and jumped in the back of his truck and off we went into the African night in the back of a truck! I know it sounds dumb but it was sweet! I just couldn't believe I was riding in the back of a truck in Africa! Then he took us right to our gate!Then a little later we wanted to cook for a family and so we got there and guess what? I killed a chicken! Our investigators wanted us to prepare the family dinner. So they bought two chickens, me and my comp named them Frankie and Tameeka. Then they played in the garden and then I stepped on its feet and wings and cut off its head! I felt terrible. Then I defeathered it, I gutted it, I sliced it up, I cleaned the intestines(you know the things that carried the stuff that goes in the toilet? uh...yea), I cooked it and then I ate it! It was a very interesting process from live chicken to dinner plate but it sure was yummy! I couldn't believe I actually killed something. I have never killed anything before and I am not sure I ever want to again. But next the family wants me to kill a goat.... :( We'll see.Then on Saturday we had a very powerful day filled with powerful lessons and the last lesson was the most powerful lesson I have ever been in. The Spirit was so strong as we shared about the Restoration. Me and my companion were led by the Spirit and it will have a lasting effect on those people.On Sunday we had Baptisms! We had Admire and Patience and they both thanked us for changing their lives and in two weeks Patience's Mom will also be baptized! The joy the Gospel brings to people is incredible! I am so happy I can share it! Also a lot of investigator's came to church and it was a very good day. But unfortunately my companion was saying good bye to everyone and so the happy was tinged with sad. But I know the people will be okay as long as they stay in the church.I know that this Church is true and I am so grateful for all the prayers and support!

Love,Elder Gay

lion pcs

Transfers, Interviews and Lion And Cheetah Park!

So this last week has been pretty good. Last Monday we went to the Lion and Cheetah Park. That was awesome. We drove through this park and saw lions and they stalked and tried to hunt the car. I have officially been hunted by lions in Africa! Yes! Then we walked around and saw baboons and a giant tortoise and more lions. Then we got to go into a cage with the baby lions!! I say baby loosely, by the way, they were ten months old and as big as me. They licked my hands and I got to rub their tummies and they bit my hand! It was totally awesome! I played with baby lions!! In case you didn't catch that, I PLAYED WITH BABY LIONS!!!!! Woot!

Then this week was very good we saw four people who are preparing for baptism. Only two came to church though, and so they are going to baptized next week because they passed their interviews!!! But the other two, Maxwell and Dorcas, didn't come. Maxwell got sick and couldn't manage the distance to church that day and Dorcas' relatives were involved in a car accident where two people died and others were in the hospital. So she was at the hospital with her family. Both are very excellent reasons for not coming to church, but I am still a little sad because now their baptisms have to be postponed. But we have two others on Sunday!!! Yay!

One of our members they had a baby pass away this week. I felt terrible and I didn't know what to say to help. I felt so superfluous, I contributed nothing when I was there. But hopefully just being there helped, even if it was marginal. But the Branch President came, and I don't think I have ever been so grateful for the Church Organization. That really helped a lot.

We were given an entire bag filled with Zim Dollars. That bag of money was really heavy(I'll never say that again :)). But I am now a multi-trillionaire! Woot! I chopped more wood at an investigators house. That was fun.

We had Zone Conference this week and we were called on to give a role play, I thought it went well... maybe.

Last night we were talking to people and the power was out and so it was pretty dark. We were going and I got distracted and my companion was a little behind me, maybe five meters. I was laughing or something when he stops and says I don't think we should go this way. I was about to ask him why, when I turned and looked down the road. And I felt the spirit leave. For the first time on mission I didn't feel right. I had felt promptings to leave or to go somewhere. But I was too close to something and the Spirit didn't prompt me, it just left.

So I ran the other way. I have no idea what was over there and I don't want to know. I didn't feel right until we opened with a prayer in a lesson a while later. I hope I never have that feeling again. It was terrible, I literally hurt because of the Spirit's absence. But I know we are protected, so don't worry.

Also this morning we found out our transfers. I am staying, still. But my companion is leaving. I am pretty bummed because I was really hoping that we would be companions for longer. But what can you do? I'll move on and have faith that it is for the best. But I will miss him a lot.

Well that has been my week. Very filled and very exciting! I love every day and I appreciate all the support!

Love,

Elder Gay

May 31st Letter

Avocado, Chefs, Sixty year old hiney

This week has been almost a regular week in the mission field but here
are a couple of highlights.

On monday last week we went paintballing on P-Day! It was a lot of
fun, and my team won! We were playing and this guy was running towards
the wall(that is how you score a point) so I stepped in front of him
and massacred him. But I also got hit, it was all pretty macabre
actually, good thing it was paint and not blood. Then after we were
all inspecting our welts and bruises, and I had one on my stomach
which was huge! I won the biggest welt contest! Yay me!

Then a little later in the week we were at an investigators home and
they gave us an avocado. Ok so nothing too extraordinary about that.
So why am I telling you, you ask? Because it was the size of my head!
No joke either, I took pictures. We now have a very large quantity of
guacamole in our fridge right now :)

Also my shoes died :( Sorry Mom, but they did, the soles were
breathing when I walked. So I took them to a shoe doctor(aka a guy on
the side of the road with piles of dead shoes) and asked him to resole
them with tire! I leave them and in a couple days we come back and I
saw the coolest shoes ever. So I gave him five dollars and took my
awesome shoes! They are so cool and they will last forever, because it
is car tire! Yay!

Alfred and Florence canceled our last appointment.... so we will have
to see what happens. Then at Dorcas' we offered to help with
dinner(they were making us dinner) and to our surprise they said yes.
So we cooked for them! They really enjoyed it too. We cooked a
traditional African meal, for an African family, and they liked it! I
am African! Woot!

A family fed us peanut butter and rice(mixed together) and fish...
gross? Actually it was awesome. I am going to have rice with PB more
often!

Also we were going to an investigators house when I feel like we
should go to Lawrence's home(another investigator we haven't seen for
awhile). So I am pumped, I am thinking we will go and teach an awesome
lesson and everything will be great. We get there and he is gone! I
was so confused! I didn't know why we were supposed to go there. So we
offer to teach some people next to it and they decline so we leave and
I am still a little confused. When out from some random house walks
Lawrence, right as we are passing! So he invites us to his home and we
have a lesson. Which proves the Lord knows what he is doing even if we
don't! Because I cannot tell you how confused I was.

Then last night we were going home and we decided to say hello to
Maxwell. We get to his home and he invites us in and I realized he is
only wearing a shirt. And I mean ONLY. My companion doesn't even
notice, it is dark and there he has no lights or even wiring. So he is
finding us 'chairs' and I get a face full of hiney. Oh and did I
mention he is sixty years old? He is an awesome investigator, always
refers to the church as 'our' church and he is about to be baptized,
but I wasn't prepared for that. Luckily he put some shorts on after he
sat down. Then on the way home last night I saw a dead guy on the side
of the road. He got hit by a car, and was all mangled. Also something
I wasn't prepared for... I actually really could have lived a very
happy life without seeing that.

That was my week! I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am!!!!!
(I doubt it though :))

Love,

Elder Gay