Well people, this week we got the phone call from President and he told us if we stay or if we go! Elder Shabangu, who is a Zone Leader, answered the phone(we were with the whole Zone), he is told that he will be staying and his new companion will be.... me. So I am now a Zone Leader and I left Chikanga to go to town. Those areas border each other so I haven't really gone far but yea, that was unexpected I hope I do it right! Also, he will be my sixth companion in seven transfers!
Also this week we were searching for this house and we asked these two sisters, is this house number so-and-so. They told us no, so we thank them and go and call this person we are suppose to be seeing. He walks out of the house with those same two sisters and invites us to come in. Oh yeah, the sisters refused to take Restoration pamphlets. Anyway we ask him if it is okay with his family if he meets with us and he says yea. So we commence the lesson and we are talking he is participating and he seems like he could be powerful.
Then he gets a phone call talks for a bit and then the call ends. Then we try to go with the lesson again but he is distracted, I can tell. Then he says, "Something just happened. That was my father." To which I reply, "He wants us to go doesn't he?" Melvin(the guy we are teaching) sadly responds, "That is what he said..." So we end with a prayer and we go... Remove thineself they said! And we removed!
We also received our zone t-shirts and they are sweet! They turned out awesome and they only have one minor flaw but honestly speaking they turned out better than I had hoped. I will try to send some pics next week.
Also I have discovered that I enjoy boiling water.... I know, I know I am weird but hear me out. I think it has something to do with 'being prepared' or something but anyway. I have found it strangely comforting to have boiling water on hand. :P I just get stranger every day, don't I? Changing my "2", boiling water... what will it be next week???? Stay tuned!
But anyway as part of zone leadership I have been helping in the transport of missionaries as they are changing areas and what not. So we were suppose to pick an elder at 12:30 about that was coming from Harare(about a three hour drive). They put him on the bus around 9 so we got there a little early to make sure that we would be able to find him. But we sat and sat and sat and sat. And NOTHING! Oh yeah did I mention he has the allotment for the entire zone? So we are all broke plus we waited for over two hours and we have not seen head nor tails of him. He's from Kenya, to explain the self explanatory subject reference I made :) Oh yeah again, he has no phone and he is all by himself and we have no idea where he is....
So we waited and waited but finally we left our contact details with some people at the bus rank and we came to the internet cafe and now I am emailing all of you!!!! And even right now as I am typing, I still don't know what happened to this elder.... so hopefully we find him soon! But we kind of have to go back and look for him, I am sure you understand. So I apologize for this being short and not as detailed as some of my previous emails!
Love,
Elder Gay
Monday, October 18, 2010
The # "2", Sis. Solomon, Fortunate, The Day the Area Fell Through, What the Prophet?, Plumbing, and Owen(DUN DUN DUN)
Well I am sorry that last week was so short of an email but I will make it up to you today. In case you haven't noticed from my incredibly long subject line but a LOT happened this week and I won't even be able to share it all with you so sorry but I will share what I can.
Well first off, I have decided I am going to change the way I write my two... normally I do the swirly one but I think I will change it to "2" for some reason it just appeals to me at this point in my life.... yea I am not sure why I shared this with you either :)
But sad news Sis Solomon told us she no longer wants to be baptized. Because a member in Sacrament was saying about how people were searching for the truth and they were going from church to church and that people needed to make a choice. It wasn't the most eloquent of talks but I didn't notice anything amiss. But I guess it stood out to her because she told us she needs to go back to her old church and decide where she belongs and she will give us a call when she knows. Which was killer because she was supposed to be interviewed on Sunday and baptized this very Saturday but unfortunately it seems as if she needs to do some pondering. But one day she will be a powerful member. Because she understands so well and she has the Book of Mormon so things will work out.
Now Fortunate is one of our investigators and several amusing occurrences happened this week with her. I'll elaborate further, shall I? I shall. SO the beginning of this week we were teaching her about baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost and how if we are worthy we are promised that the Spirit will always be with us. If it is done by Priesthood authority. She nods her head stays quiet for a bit. Then a peculiar and inquisitive expression alters her expression and she asks, "Do you have some Spirit with you right now?" Hahaha I wanted to laugh but I just calmly answered that we did and she pondered for a bit more and then she said, "Okay" and we moved on. Hahahaha
Then later on Sunday, we walked to her place to pick her up for church and she wasn't ready but she came out and she gave us the elevator eyes. And said, "You look smart(meaning nice or well dressed) today. Like even more than you usually do. You are going to church for sure." we started talking about church and if she was coming and she just repeated that we looked smart. I said thank you, and then she said, "I mean I have to appreciate when I see something good and I am appreciatin' You look good." Uh... awkward. Very complimentary but awkward all the same. She promised to follow us and she didn't but yea she is a very funny person and she enjoys talking.
Then this one day we had nine investigator lessons planned. And some member visits. It was going to be a good day. Then we went to our first appointment, he was gone. Next one, she was in town, next one also in town, next one gone to the unknown, next one unknown again, next one visiting family, next one we actually taught!!!!!!!! Next one, he was killing chickens and was busy(sadly I am being serious), next one still at work..... So this was The Day the Area Fell Through! Yea!!!!
The next day we went back to teach our prophet friend and the lesson started out well. But deteriorated quickly. He ended up saying "I follow Christ just not the Latter-day saint way" "This is Africa" The Holy Spirit descended in Zimbabwe because we have many prophets..." Anyway he is very confused and I am not entirely sure we will be visiting him again but yea....
I am so proud of myself!(pride is bad) Our kitchen sink was terrible it trickled and trickled and was awful. I was trying to find a plumber to come but it just never seemed to work out. So one day I was just staring at it and I turned it through the filter and the pressure was better... Which was backwards and so I started examining it and using my poor deductive skills to try and determine the problem(I have no previous experience with plumbing, absolutely NONE). But I determined that the problem must be in the last part of the tap. So I remove it and I see some tiny pebbles like grains of sand. But it still looked like it should flow all right. But I took it apart and I cleaned it using a needle and some thread(the holes were small). Then I reassembled it and reattached it. I turned it on and voila! It flowed like a teenagers hormones! In case that was too oblique, it worked very nicely now and I could fill cups now in seconds and not minutes. And it all took about five minutes to do and I have been suffering with that thing for almost three months! But now I have another newly acquired skill, however marginal it might be, plumbing!
Brace yourself for the story of Owen..... So I was on exchange and in the course of the day the missionary I am working with gets a phone asking for Elder What What the elder that used to be in my area(we had to switch phones because I am the District leader now). So he just hands it to me and I try to introduce myself but he cuts me off before I can even say my name and asks where the 'white' missionary is. I respond that he went to Malawi and I was working in Chikanga now and we would be happy to visit him and share the Gospel. He asks where I am from, at this point I sense something fishy... But I tell him the United States. He asks if I am white... I really am sensing something fishy now and things are getting awkward, but I answer I the affirmative. Then a pause on the other side of the line and I can almost hear the wheels turning in his head. Then he finally answers and says, are you ready for this? I don't think you are but I am going to tell you anyway, he says, "Well yea it is okay you can come and visit me, my name is Owen, my house number is what what in Phase 1. And you have my number just call me when you are coming. But come alone my room is small." What in the world is going on?!!? Is this going to be a theme of my mission? I didn't even say my name! This is becoming ridiculous but really? REALLY?!
But that has been my week so far. We have experienced a lot and hope to experience all things. But like I said some things cannot be written in this record but all things will be revealed in time. And if all the things that have occurred were to be written I would think that not even the world could contain the books that should be written. I hope you enjoy life and never look back!
Love,
Elder Gay
P.S. Happy Birthday Nicki!!
Well first off, I have decided I am going to change the way I write my two... normally I do the swirly one but I think I will change it to "2" for some reason it just appeals to me at this point in my life.... yea I am not sure why I shared this with you either :)
But sad news Sis Solomon told us she no longer wants to be baptized. Because a member in Sacrament was saying about how people were searching for the truth and they were going from church to church and that people needed to make a choice. It wasn't the most eloquent of talks but I didn't notice anything amiss. But I guess it stood out to her because she told us she needs to go back to her old church and decide where she belongs and she will give us a call when she knows. Which was killer because she was supposed to be interviewed on Sunday and baptized this very Saturday but unfortunately it seems as if she needs to do some pondering. But one day she will be a powerful member. Because she understands so well and she has the Book of Mormon so things will work out.
Now Fortunate is one of our investigators and several amusing occurrences happened this week with her. I'll elaborate further, shall I? I shall. SO the beginning of this week we were teaching her about baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost and how if we are worthy we are promised that the Spirit will always be with us. If it is done by Priesthood authority. She nods her head stays quiet for a bit. Then a peculiar and inquisitive expression alters her expression and she asks, "Do you have some Spirit with you right now?" Hahaha I wanted to laugh but I just calmly answered that we did and she pondered for a bit more and then she said, "Okay" and we moved on. Hahahaha
Then later on Sunday, we walked to her place to pick her up for church and she wasn't ready but she came out and she gave us the elevator eyes. And said, "You look smart(meaning nice or well dressed) today. Like even more than you usually do. You are going to church for sure." we started talking about church and if she was coming and she just repeated that we looked smart. I said thank you, and then she said, "I mean I have to appreciate when I see something good and I am appreciatin' You look good." Uh... awkward. Very complimentary but awkward all the same. She promised to follow us and she didn't but yea she is a very funny person and she enjoys talking.
Then this one day we had nine investigator lessons planned. And some member visits. It was going to be a good day. Then we went to our first appointment, he was gone. Next one, she was in town, next one also in town, next one gone to the unknown, next one unknown again, next one visiting family, next one we actually taught!!!!!!!! Next one, he was killing chickens and was busy(sadly I am being serious), next one still at work..... So this was The Day the Area Fell Through! Yea!!!!
The next day we went back to teach our prophet friend and the lesson started out well. But deteriorated quickly. He ended up saying "I follow Christ just not the Latter-day saint way" "This is Africa" The Holy Spirit descended in Zimbabwe because we have many prophets..." Anyway he is very confused and I am not entirely sure we will be visiting him again but yea....
I am so proud of myself!(pride is bad) Our kitchen sink was terrible it trickled and trickled and was awful. I was trying to find a plumber to come but it just never seemed to work out. So one day I was just staring at it and I turned it through the filter and the pressure was better... Which was backwards and so I started examining it and using my poor deductive skills to try and determine the problem(I have no previous experience with plumbing, absolutely NONE). But I determined that the problem must be in the last part of the tap. So I remove it and I see some tiny pebbles like grains of sand. But it still looked like it should flow all right. But I took it apart and I cleaned it using a needle and some thread(the holes were small). Then I reassembled it and reattached it. I turned it on and voila! It flowed like a teenagers hormones! In case that was too oblique, it worked very nicely now and I could fill cups now in seconds and not minutes. And it all took about five minutes to do and I have been suffering with that thing for almost three months! But now I have another newly acquired skill, however marginal it might be, plumbing!
Brace yourself for the story of Owen..... So I was on exchange and in the course of the day the missionary I am working with gets a phone asking for Elder What What the elder that used to be in my area(we had to switch phones because I am the District leader now). So he just hands it to me and I try to introduce myself but he cuts me off before I can even say my name and asks where the 'white' missionary is. I respond that he went to Malawi and I was working in Chikanga now and we would be happy to visit him and share the Gospel. He asks where I am from, at this point I sense something fishy... But I tell him the United States. He asks if I am white... I really am sensing something fishy now and things are getting awkward, but I answer I the affirmative. Then a pause on the other side of the line and I can almost hear the wheels turning in his head. Then he finally answers and says, are you ready for this? I don't think you are but I am going to tell you anyway, he says, "Well yea it is okay you can come and visit me, my name is Owen, my house number is what what in Phase 1. And you have my number just call me when you are coming. But come alone my room is small." What in the world is going on?!!? Is this going to be a theme of my mission? I didn't even say my name! This is becoming ridiculous but really? REALLY?!
But that has been my week so far. We have experienced a lot and hope to experience all things. But like I said some things cannot be written in this record but all things will be revealed in time. And if all the things that have occurred were to be written I would think that not even the world could contain the books that should be written. I hope you enjoy life and never look back!
Love,
Elder Gay
P.S. Happy Birthday Nicki!!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Special Training, Christian?, and (more)diamonds
Well in the beginning of this week I got a text from President Dube saying that he would be coming to do a specialized training with the missionaries and that I would be conducting.... That was interesting. Plus I messed it up. I announced at the improper times and I ended up having to get up AFTER President Dube to announce the closing hymn and prayer. Which by the way you aren't suppose to do. The Presiding authority should be the last on the program! Oops! Hopefully I won't have to do it again.
But anyway we were walkng and we saw this guy sitting down so obviously we went over and starting talking to him. And to preface this story let me just say that this is the most confused and lost guy I think I have ever met. Well we begin talking to him and asking about his beliefs. We asked if he believed in God and he said no. Not unheard of so I wasn't discouraged so we continued and we asked him what he did believe in. He answered, "I believe in drinking beer." Also not unheard so we continued and we were talking about his family and his wife who believes in Jesus Christ. I asked if he believed in Jesus Christ and he replied, "No, I believe in Christianity." At this point I am kind of lost. We keep talking to him and he repeated that over and over again and he refused to open up and talk or even to take anything to read. Finally I asked him(because he kept saying come back tomorrow), "Do you want us to leave?" To which he replied, "Yes," So we left. But I have met my first CHRISTIAN who DOES NOT believe in JESUS CHRIST! He was so confused and I hope he finds light one day because let me tell you, he is in darkness!
Also I saw more diamonds on the black market, this diamond was worth about $18,000. And the guy was just letting me examine it right out in the open. Which was strange but also powerful!
Do you remember Pride? He is powerful and we went to go teach him and his wife said he went to Harare to work for a month! This guy is probably one of our most powerful investigators! I was distraught(that is kind of dramatic and not entirely truthful in regards to my actual emotions but I like the word but know that I was disappointed!). So that night I prayed that the wife was just confused and that he would be back sooner. Prayer answered, the wife was confused!!! Yay!!! He is coming back this week!!!!
Also when President was here our houses were inspected by his wife and our house received the highest praise! They said we were very neat missionaries! Plus we got chocolate!
Some points to note-
* We discovered we live next to a less active, two actually
* Fasting was good, and long but fruitful I feel
* Love is good!
* Hate is bad!
* The sky is blue(most the time)
* I am in AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Elder Gay
p.s. Happy birthday in the following days to Cassie, Mike, and Nicki!!!!!! Have fun!
But anyway we were walkng and we saw this guy sitting down so obviously we went over and starting talking to him. And to preface this story let me just say that this is the most confused and lost guy I think I have ever met. Well we begin talking to him and asking about his beliefs. We asked if he believed in God and he said no. Not unheard of so I wasn't discouraged so we continued and we asked him what he did believe in. He answered, "I believe in drinking beer." Also not unheard so we continued and we were talking about his family and his wife who believes in Jesus Christ. I asked if he believed in Jesus Christ and he replied, "No, I believe in Christianity." At this point I am kind of lost. We keep talking to him and he repeated that over and over again and he refused to open up and talk or even to take anything to read. Finally I asked him(because he kept saying come back tomorrow), "Do you want us to leave?" To which he replied, "Yes," So we left. But I have met my first CHRISTIAN who DOES NOT believe in JESUS CHRIST! He was so confused and I hope he finds light one day because let me tell you, he is in darkness!
Also I saw more diamonds on the black market, this diamond was worth about $18,000. And the guy was just letting me examine it right out in the open. Which was strange but also powerful!
Do you remember Pride? He is powerful and we went to go teach him and his wife said he went to Harare to work for a month! This guy is probably one of our most powerful investigators! I was distraught(that is kind of dramatic and not entirely truthful in regards to my actual emotions but I like the word but know that I was disappointed!). So that night I prayed that the wife was just confused and that he would be back sooner. Prayer answered, the wife was confused!!! Yay!!! He is coming back this week!!!!
Also when President was here our houses were inspected by his wife and our house received the highest praise! They said we were very neat missionaries! Plus we got chocolate!
Some points to note-
* We discovered we live next to a less active, two actually
* Fasting was good, and long but fruitful I feel
* Love is good!
* Hate is bad!
* The sky is blue(most the time)
* I am in AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Elder Gay
p.s. Happy birthday in the following days to Cassie, Mike, and Nicki!!!!!! Have fun!
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