So remember how our Landlord was redoing our apartment? Well we had a surplus of times and so we found out the which missionaries needed what and then we took it to them! Beds, couches, chairs, and tables! It was quite the ordeal, but it isn't over yet. The Landlord said he is putting in an office! But we got huge couches and huge beds that I have to climb to get on. Our house is becoming the CLOUD HOUSE. Hahahaha. Fun times. The sisters also had a curtain rod that came out of their wall so we repaired it. I was kind of proud of us after for fixing it. We did a good job. But this week I felt like I worked at Home Depot or something. Delivering furniture and repairing things?(Does Home Depot even have furniture????). But it was really cool. Our house looks a lot different now and it is really cool. I have this image of me being transferred to the worst house in the mission after this! Hahaha wouldn't that be funny? Yes Opposition!
So you remember Ida? The one who read like 10 chapters of the Book of Mormon? She was reading in 2 Nephi 27 last time we checked and she is probably reading in Alma by now! She is doing so great and I can't wait for her to be baptized. Would you believe she calls us to set appointments?She is very proactive about her progression which is a nice thing to see.
This week we went to see the Simwanza family and Sister Simwanza was very ill so she couldn't make it to church last week which was sad. But we gave her a blessing and she got some medicine too. And now is doing great! She made us some sweet potatoes that she had fried. They were amazing! I devoured the plate they gave us and I was asking about how to make such wonderful things. Almost like fries but better! So they are doing great and then on Sunday I see Brother Simwanza and his daughter coming in and guess who else I see? SISTER SIMWANZA!!!! She finally came to church and she loved Conference! This is the very first time she has come and she even had a huge calling in her other church but she finally came and it was amazing! I am pretty sure I looked a bit slow because I had the biggest smile on my face that I am sure people thought I wasn't all there... if you know what I mean. But I was so happy you just wouldn't believe! Oh and by the way Brother Simwanza has been called to serve as 2nd Counselor in the Sunday School Presidency! Did I already tell you that? Anyway he is doing great! And so is the whole family!
Also on Sunday morning before Church we had our baptism. In which, Kennedy Chitalu, who is the little boy in the picture, was baptized! Way cool. We also watched Conference and it was amazing. I love Conference. I still think my quarterly idea is a keeper. But it doesn't really matter what I think about the matter, does it? But yea they were baptized and it is powerful and awesome. They will be confirmed next week because it was Conference this week.
Then on Sunday we found out that 2 of our missionaries were assaulted and beaten! It wasn't bad. I mean it was but they are okay. No lasting damage. Actually they look fine. But they told us about this group of like 4 or 5 guys who were punching them and throwing their bikes at them and one was punched in the head and it was pretty bad. A road was blocked because it was in a road and people were yelling and it was crazy! So we filed a report to the police and before any of you freak out. This isn't common and you have no need to worry. I write of it because it is singular and unique, if it were common then I would feel no need to write of it!
I am doing great and I apologize for the slow mail. It takes longer to get to me here I will reply I promise! If you have a question about where to send it you can go to seakrate.blogspot.com and it is on there! The work is great and thank you! I can't wait to hear back from you!
Love, Elder Steven Gay
PS Stop worrying please...... really I am perfectly safe. I am not exactly small and I have a shiny black badge that comes with a great protection system. Yay!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
: The "Cloud", 1995, and the Strange Trophy
All right so they are remodeling our house and it was already an amazing house but they are bringing dining table and chairs, new beds, new couches, new kitchenware, and they are giving us an office where we can do our studies and planning and everything! It will be amazing. We have nicknamed it the Cloud House. Because everything is so nice and fluffy??? Alright so we don't really have a solid reason for calling it that but it was just one of those things and now it is a new slang term for us. If something is nice we call it "the cloud" but we say it funny so that if anyone hears us they will think we are insane! Yay!! THE CLOUD!!!!
Anyway, we were looking for some people to teach and we drove up to this house and they let us in and we find they are white people! They run a safari thingy and they have their houses there. Anyway they were all different religious backgrounds and none very similar to what we believe. One was kind of funny. He said he thought organized religion is a bunch of crap. And that Jesus Christ is only a prophet. He said he would be a tough nut to crack. But I thought it was kind of a pretense. My guess is that something happened and he became angry and has held a grudge but we committed him to read the Book of Mormon so I know one day he will invite the missionaries to share with him and he will feel the truth of it.
After that we kind of drove around and tried to listen to the promptings of the Spirit. We both were asking each other, do you feel anything? What about now? And we didn't really feel any specific guidance then the phone rang and my companion was talking an they asked for me so I stopped the car and talked to them. Then after I hung up the phone we looked out the window and saw we were stopped right in front of a gate. So we both said maybe we are being told something. So we get out(it is raining), and knock on the gate. A man comes and looks a bit surprised and lets us in. We come to find out from talking to him that he had met the missionaries in 1995 and asked them for a Book of Mormon. He said that he still had it and read it from time to time and that he really wanted to know if the book is true or not. But that last time he had moved away after talking to them. Unfortunately as powerful as this experience was, he has already moved again to a city where we don't have any missionaries yet. So I guess we were just there to remind him and to give him some encouragement. Crazy that he had just met them in passing, and then we just showed up at his door 16 years later!
We got this new investigator this week and she is great. She read like 10 chapters of the Book of Mormon, and managed to give a detailed summary of it. Plus she prayed and received her confirmation that it is true! Woot! She is great and she has a baptism date and she will most definitely be baptized very soon. Also that little boy in the painting is going to be baptized on Saturday. Yay!! There will four others baptized as well. We are still working on getting the new branch approved. So that is exciting. We met some people for the first time on Sunday when they came to church and we are excited to go and teach them. Some we have already begun teaching. So that is always fun.
My companion hates snakes and so we have had some fun times "arguing" about it. Me trying to prove that they are great and him trying prove otherwise. He keeps bringing up the Garden of Eden, and how Paul was bitten by a snake in Acts 28(But I would have bitten him too if he had thrown me on a fire). But I always win of course. Because lets be honest, snakes are so great they make a case for themselves. Right?
We have some great new investigators and guess what?!?!!? You remember Brother Simwanza? He helped us with our car and we baptized him and his family? Any way I ordained him to the priesthood and he was also called to be 2nd Counselor in the Sunday School Presidency! This guy is amazing!
When we were contacting I found this guy who didn't come to church(shocker...) but he had an earring in. Which is pretty common for the guys here but here is our conversation,
"Do you believe in God?" I ask seriously.
"Yes, of course" he replies indifferently.
"Do you believe he is your Father?"
"Yes, I do." He replies a bit more seriously.
I look right at him and say, "Do you think He is happy with what you have on your ear?"
"No," He solemnly realizes.
I hole out my hand and tell him, "Let me help you." Then he takes out his earring and I commit him to never put another one back in. Hahaha but now I have this fake gold stud and I don't know what to do with it.... right now it just some strange trophy. Maybe I will just throw it away. But isn't that funny? I thought it was funny. :)
Oh yea me and my companion made a giant samosa! We got a glass 9x13 and lined it with some dough we made and fill it with mince and tomatoes and onions and potatoes and other things and then we baked it. It actually turned out really good so we called it, are you ready? Cloud Pie! Yay! Oh by the way if you want to send me any recipes I would love them. It might be nice to make something I know I will be able to eat, especially chocolate chip bars! I need to make that! Yum!
We had Zone leader council and President Dube said some pretty nice things about me and said I should "pat myself on the back." Which was cool. It was a good feeling to know that he was proud of my service and he thought I was doing well. It made me feel like a cloud.... hahahahaha I really will miss him when the mission splits(and no I don't know anything for 100% sure but I have deduced as much). But I love you all and I get to watch Conference this week!!!!!!!!! Yay! Conference is powerful and I definitely need to listen/watch it! It has been too long! Do you think that if I asked President Monson he would do a General Conference quarterly?
I hope your week will be filled with clouds!
Love, Elder Steven Gay
Anyway, we were looking for some people to teach and we drove up to this house and they let us in and we find they are white people! They run a safari thingy and they have their houses there. Anyway they were all different religious backgrounds and none very similar to what we believe. One was kind of funny. He said he thought organized religion is a bunch of crap. And that Jesus Christ is only a prophet. He said he would be a tough nut to crack. But I thought it was kind of a pretense. My guess is that something happened and he became angry and has held a grudge but we committed him to read the Book of Mormon so I know one day he will invite the missionaries to share with him and he will feel the truth of it.
After that we kind of drove around and tried to listen to the promptings of the Spirit. We both were asking each other, do you feel anything? What about now? And we didn't really feel any specific guidance then the phone rang and my companion was talking an they asked for me so I stopped the car and talked to them. Then after I hung up the phone we looked out the window and saw we were stopped right in front of a gate. So we both said maybe we are being told something. So we get out(it is raining), and knock on the gate. A man comes and looks a bit surprised and lets us in. We come to find out from talking to him that he had met the missionaries in 1995 and asked them for a Book of Mormon. He said that he still had it and read it from time to time and that he really wanted to know if the book is true or not. But that last time he had moved away after talking to them. Unfortunately as powerful as this experience was, he has already moved again to a city where we don't have any missionaries yet. So I guess we were just there to remind him and to give him some encouragement. Crazy that he had just met them in passing, and then we just showed up at his door 16 years later!
We got this new investigator this week and she is great. She read like 10 chapters of the Book of Mormon, and managed to give a detailed summary of it. Plus she prayed and received her confirmation that it is true! Woot! She is great and she has a baptism date and she will most definitely be baptized very soon. Also that little boy in the painting is going to be baptized on Saturday. Yay!! There will four others baptized as well. We are still working on getting the new branch approved. So that is exciting. We met some people for the first time on Sunday when they came to church and we are excited to go and teach them. Some we have already begun teaching. So that is always fun.
My companion hates snakes and so we have had some fun times "arguing" about it. Me trying to prove that they are great and him trying prove otherwise. He keeps bringing up the Garden of Eden, and how Paul was bitten by a snake in Acts 28(But I would have bitten him too if he had thrown me on a fire). But I always win of course. Because lets be honest, snakes are so great they make a case for themselves. Right?
We have some great new investigators and guess what?!?!!? You remember Brother Simwanza? He helped us with our car and we baptized him and his family? Any way I ordained him to the priesthood and he was also called to be 2nd Counselor in the Sunday School Presidency! This guy is amazing!
When we were contacting I found this guy who didn't come to church(shocker...) but he had an earring in. Which is pretty common for the guys here but here is our conversation,
"Do you believe in God?" I ask seriously.
"Yes, of course" he replies indifferently.
"Do you believe he is your Father?"
"Yes, I do." He replies a bit more seriously.
I look right at him and say, "Do you think He is happy with what you have on your ear?"
"No," He solemnly realizes.
I hole out my hand and tell him, "Let me help you." Then he takes out his earring and I commit him to never put another one back in. Hahaha but now I have this fake gold stud and I don't know what to do with it.... right now it just some strange trophy. Maybe I will just throw it away. But isn't that funny? I thought it was funny. :)
Oh yea me and my companion made a giant samosa! We got a glass 9x13 and lined it with some dough we made and fill it with mince and tomatoes and onions and potatoes and other things and then we baked it. It actually turned out really good so we called it, are you ready? Cloud Pie! Yay! Oh by the way if you want to send me any recipes I would love them. It might be nice to make something I know I will be able to eat, especially chocolate chip bars! I need to make that! Yum!
We had Zone leader council and President Dube said some pretty nice things about me and said I should "pat myself on the back." Which was cool. It was a good feeling to know that he was proud of my service and he thought I was doing well. It made me feel like a cloud.... hahahahaha I really will miss him when the mission splits(and no I don't know anything for 100% sure but I have deduced as much). But I love you all and I get to watch Conference this week!!!!!!!!! Yay! Conference is powerful and I definitely need to listen/watch it! It has been too long! Do you think that if I asked President Monson he would do a General Conference quarterly?
I hope your week will be filled with clouds!
Love, Elder Steven Gay
Thursday, April 7, 2011
(C)ecilia, (T)ransfers, and (R)at!
So this week has been super busy and I don't even know how much has
happened. But a lot! Well this last week we got transfers and I didn't
even think to write about it last week to tell you that I might be
going or staying or whatever/whathaveyou because I was completely
certain that I was staying. And guess what?!?!?!? I was right..... :)
I am staying and my new companion is Elder Sibanda, he is from
Botswana and is super powerful. We are going to have a great time
together and we are going to work, work, work! Yay!!!!
This last week we baptized Cecilia, the sister-in-law to Bro.
Simwanza. She was so excited and she just had this light about her on
the day of her baptism that it was amazing(but that could have just
been the white clothes :) just kidding, her countenance was super
powerful.) So Brother Simwanza, who is super powerful himself, gave
his testimony on Sunday and can I just say that he is amazing? Because
he is. People bore testimony about his testimony! He has a fire
burning inside that is inspiring those around him! He could very
possibly lift Lusaka Branch single handedly. Amazing!
So this last week Bonface, our manservant, found a rat in the yard.
They killed it. But this rat was a bit different. It was huge! No joke
and no hyperbole, it was the size of an average cat. They were so
excited to show us and they cooked it! I kind of jokingly said they
should save us some and they said of course, of course. But we left
and I thought they wouldn't really save it. I was wrong. Very wrong.
We came home and they saved us an entire leg! I opened the oven and
much to my surprise found a rat drumstick waiting for us.
So what was one do with food that was lovingly prepared for them? You
eat it of course! And that we did. And guess what? It was really good,
and I am being completely honest, it was delicious. I know,
RIGHT?!?!?!?!I couldn't believe it tasted so good! Especially because
I was there when they were burning the hair off and that smelled
awful. But the meat is tender and just good actually...... try not to
think I am psycho, but just know that it was yummy:)
If I remember anything next week then I will definitely tell you but
just know that mission is amazing and that you should all serve! Woot!
Love, Elder Steven Gay
happened. But a lot! Well this last week we got transfers and I didn't
even think to write about it last week to tell you that I might be
going or staying or whatever/whathaveyou because I was completely
certain that I was staying. And guess what?!?!?!? I was right..... :)
I am staying and my new companion is Elder Sibanda, he is from
Botswana and is super powerful. We are going to have a great time
together and we are going to work, work, work! Yay!!!!
This last week we baptized Cecilia, the sister-in-law to Bro.
Simwanza. She was so excited and she just had this light about her on
the day of her baptism that it was amazing(but that could have just
been the white clothes :) just kidding, her countenance was super
powerful.) So Brother Simwanza, who is super powerful himself, gave
his testimony on Sunday and can I just say that he is amazing? Because
he is. People bore testimony about his testimony! He has a fire
burning inside that is inspiring those around him! He could very
possibly lift Lusaka Branch single handedly. Amazing!
So this last week Bonface, our manservant, found a rat in the yard.
They killed it. But this rat was a bit different. It was huge! No joke
and no hyperbole, it was the size of an average cat. They were so
excited to show us and they cooked it! I kind of jokingly said they
should save us some and they said of course, of course. But we left
and I thought they wouldn't really save it. I was wrong. Very wrong.
We came home and they saved us an entire leg! I opened the oven and
much to my surprise found a rat drumstick waiting for us.
So what was one do with food that was lovingly prepared for them? You
eat it of course! And that we did. And guess what? It was really good,
and I am being completely honest, it was delicious. I know,
RIGHT?!?!?!?!I couldn't believe it tasted so good! Especially because
I was there when they were burning the hair off and that smelled
awful. But the meat is tender and just good actually...... try not to
think I am psycho, but just know that it was yummy:)
If I remember anything next week then I will definitely tell you but
just know that mission is amazing and that you should all serve! Woot!
Love, Elder Steven Gay
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