So last week we had some water problems and they have continued very much into this week. So the plumber came and he fixed the toilet, right? Right! But somehow he broke the sink! I went in to turn on the water for the washing machine and I touched the handle and the pipe beneath the sink snaps, no not ruptured or began to leak. The thing full on snapped and I am trying to turn off the valve but it is not working. The bathroom is flooding again I am running around trying to switch the valve off, but the pipe to the sink branches off before the valve. Which genius thought of that? So it is dark and we now have a makeshift pool in our bathroom(we dammed the bathroom with blankets). I am trying to call anyone and everyone but for some odd reason NO ONE is answering their phone. And I mean no one. I even tried calling President Dube. So the house is flooding and I have no way of turning the water off and no one is answering. I try fixing it but the pipe is completely broken.
Finally I get a hold of someone an hour after the incident has occurred. They hyave me running around the house looking for a valve to the entire plot. But we can't find it very well in the dark. We find it finally but it is inside an ant hill. My companion reaches inside and turns the valve. We run back to house but the water is still running so we start searching for something else all the while my companion is being eaten by ants. Finally we check the valve again and turn it the other way, again being attacked by ants. But we check the house and the water is finally off. So the plumber came back and fixed it halfway. Then in the morning he came back again to finish. So we had no water for a while and so I bucket bathed. Fun! Then we went to a meeting and came back for lunch and before we get inside I can drip drip drip and I just sigh and walk into the bathroom. This time the water was coming from the ceiling! yay! And the bathroom is again flooded. We call the plumber and he comes back and tells us about how the hot water heater is broken and needs a new flood tray because the old one is rusted. Why they make rustable metal devices that are designed to hold water, which causes metal to rust I have no idea. Why not stainless steel? Or even plastic? But we won't dwell on the that for now.
So the plumber leaves and we try to shower but now no hot water is coming out at all! So he tells us to plug it up and turn both the hot and cold water on so we are getting soaked trying to plug the shower. Finally he just comes back and fixes it again. But maybe we should just let the plumber live with us, I think that would be easier for everyone. But this week has been fun I have gotten to swim on mission! Woot!
We are going to sing a modified version of The Circle of Life for Zone Conference. But me and my companion changed some of the lyrics and it is now The Gospel of Christ. I think it will be a lot of fun. We saw Bremner and he taught us the Gospel of Christ and the Word of Wisdom. He even used scripture references from the Bible and The Book of Mormon. He set goals and wrote down experiences where living the Word of Wisdom has blessed his life, because he was already living it. He just said he didn't know why. The mom had a stroke and can't talk but she still understands and she was trying so hard to tell us she wants to be baptized but she just couldn't get the words out. But her testimony was just as powerful as if she had spoken.
Then one night we had two dinner appointments. The first one fed us a ton! And we had a big lunch(I was trying to cheer my companion up, he was having a rough day). So we get to the next appointment and I am praying that they didn't cook. But sure enough after the lesson, they bring out very large plates of food. Filled to the bursting with Sadza and Matemba(baby whole fish, bones and all) and chicken feet!!!! I struggled, oh did I struggle. But I got most of it down, my companion didn't get any of it down. After we said we were done they were hurt that we didn't finish but I didn't know what to do.
We had a baptism on Sunday that went really well. She bore a powerful testimony. Then after we went and taught some lessons. after our last one we were walking to the road to catch transport when our investigator starts telling me this story about how a member completely chewed her out over something that didn't even matter. From what I was told the member went way over the line and could have prevented her from ever joining the church. So I haven't decided what to do about that yet....
But this week has been very exciting and filled with very wonderful people and hopefully we'll make use of the bad and make it good!
Thank you for all the love and support!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 10 2010 letter
Tea, Maxwell, Mother's Day, and the doctor!
This last week has been very busy. Tuesday we saw Dorcas and her family. We taught the Word of Wisdom and they committed to live it. They were very apprehensive about tea though so we took it out of their house and brought them herbal tea. Which was exciting they are a very friendly and accepting family. Hopefully they'll be baptized soon but they haven't been abe to make it to church for a while, so we'll see what happens.
So here's a story for everyone and I hope you enjoy it. There is this guy named Maxwell and we always go to him when our bikes have problems because he is awesome and he fixes the missionary bikes for free. Every time we invited him to church and he just laughed at us and looked at us like we were little kids, which we kind of are but lets not dwell on that. Then this last week my companion Elder Crossley was leaving so he told Maxwell that if he came to church he would get a button up shirt and a tie. Well he came to church and I gave him his bribe. But he kept telling me how beautiful this was and that he had something to tell me. So we passed by and he told us he wanted to be taught because he loved how he felt at church! So we planned a time and then we came back and I was planning to teach the restoration and I felt good about it too. But then he started asking questions that fit perfectly into the Plan of Salvation and so we shifted the lesson and he loved it. Plus we had given him a Book of Mormon at church which he was reading! So we are preparing him to be baptized and I am thrilled! Yay Maxwell!
But one day my companion woke up sick so I forced him to be taken to the doctors. I have been to the doctors a little too often on mission I think. But we got him checked and he has a sinus infection so he some meds and we went back to work. But those meds really worked he got so happy and energetic it was kind of disconcerting.
Then on Saturday night, went to a member family's home. They have a returned missionary and they are some of my favorite people. But I told my new companion they were investigators.... They asked so many hard questions and he was trying to get control, but he never did. He tried sharing scriptures but the family and told them to say they couldn't trust his bible because it was published by the church...
Our house flooded because a "plumber" "fixed" our toilet. I woke up and had to swim basically to the valve to turn off the water. That was kind of fun.... not. But it is an experience.
Then yesterday was Mother's Day. Which was exciting but didn't seem real because Zimbabwe isn't a huge Mother's Day country. But I got to talk to my awesome Mom and let her know that I really am ok here in Africa and that my emails actually say what has happened.
So that has been my week I hope yours has been greeeeeaaaaaaat! (If not look for Frosted Flakes :))
Love,
Elder Gay
This last week has been very busy. Tuesday we saw Dorcas and her family. We taught the Word of Wisdom and they committed to live it. They were very apprehensive about tea though so we took it out of their house and brought them herbal tea. Which was exciting they are a very friendly and accepting family. Hopefully they'll be baptized soon but they haven't been abe to make it to church for a while, so we'll see what happens.
So here's a story for everyone and I hope you enjoy it. There is this guy named Maxwell and we always go to him when our bikes have problems because he is awesome and he fixes the missionary bikes for free. Every time we invited him to church and he just laughed at us and looked at us like we were little kids, which we kind of are but lets not dwell on that. Then this last week my companion Elder Crossley was leaving so he told Maxwell that if he came to church he would get a button up shirt and a tie. Well he came to church and I gave him his bribe. But he kept telling me how beautiful this was and that he had something to tell me. So we passed by and he told us he wanted to be taught because he loved how he felt at church! So we planned a time and then we came back and I was planning to teach the restoration and I felt good about it too. But then he started asking questions that fit perfectly into the Plan of Salvation and so we shifted the lesson and he loved it. Plus we had given him a Book of Mormon at church which he was reading! So we are preparing him to be baptized and I am thrilled! Yay Maxwell!
But one day my companion woke up sick so I forced him to be taken to the doctors. I have been to the doctors a little too often on mission I think. But we got him checked and he has a sinus infection so he some meds and we went back to work. But those meds really worked he got so happy and energetic it was kind of disconcerting.
Then on Saturday night, went to a member family's home. They have a returned missionary and they are some of my favorite people. But I told my new companion they were investigators.... They asked so many hard questions and he was trying to get control, but he never did. He tried sharing scriptures but the family and told them to say they couldn't trust his bible because it was published by the church...
Our house flooded because a "plumber" "fixed" our toilet. I woke up and had to swim basically to the valve to turn off the water. That was kind of fun.... not. But it is an experience.
Then yesterday was Mother's Day. Which was exciting but didn't seem real because Zimbabwe isn't a huge Mother's Day country. But I got to talk to my awesome Mom and let her know that I really am ok here in Africa and that my emails actually say what has happened.
So that has been my week I hope yours has been greeeeeaaaaaaat! (If not look for Frosted Flakes :))
Love,
Elder Gay
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday May 3rd Letter
Transfers, trees, and exchanges
This week I went on two exchanges with some other missionaries. One I was in my area with a branch missionary and another I was with a Zone Leader in his area. Both went well I thought. Tuesday we waited for the news of transfers all day. They didn't come, but we went immediately from our area to the other missionaries flat. We stayed the night and in the morning we got the phone call from President Dube! We found out my companion was leaving to go to Kwekwe and I was staying in the area. My new companion is Elder Packer(and yes he is related to THE Elder Boyd K. Packer), and he has only been out for ONE transfer. I am a follow up trainer and I am Senior Comapnion and I have only been out for TWO transfers. I know, right?! I couldn't believe it.
After that we went to the area where I told everyone that Elder Crossley is leaving. We taught some pretty good lessons too actually. The branch missionary did really well.
The next day we had some service planned so we went to Sis. Winet's home and she wanted us to cut down a tree, with an axe. I was a little apprehensive but I was very excited to try my hand at being an African Lumberjack, and I cut it down! It was sweet, I cut down a tree with my bare hands! No power tools at all. I was kind of proud of myself. we also had a lot of people sign my companion's journal because he was leaving.
Then on Friday we had another exchange, and I went Warren Park. We taught some lessons and tracted a bit. We tracted into this girl who seemed very excited to talk to us but we couldn't have a lesson because she was alone and she didn't want anyone to hear what she had to say.... She told us that something happened and she wanted forgiveness so we started talking about the steps to repenting but she wanted specifics, so she told us that she broke the Law of Chastity and wanted forgiveness. We go through, counseling and we get to the part about not doing it again, she promptly bites her lip and looks down. I almost burst out laughing. She was a very funny girl and I hope that she gets the lessons!
On Saturday we took my companion to the Bus Stop to go to his new area. We said good bye and we left. It was not as difficult as I thought it would be. Oh well.
On Sunday, it was crazy because we had to go to two branches and I was late to mine. Then the baptisms had to be postponed because the water in the font was nasty and smelled like wanton and stagnant decay. So yea those will take place next week.
Then we picked up our new companions from the Mission Office. Elder Packer seems pretty cool and I think this transfer will go well. But apparently Pres. Dube didn't tell him I was only a transfer older than him. He said, "You'll be with Elder Gay, he is relatively new on mission but he is a hard worker." Relatively new? Understatement of the century! So that has been my week, I thank everyone for the prayers and support! Love you all!
Love,
Elder Gay
This week I went on two exchanges with some other missionaries. One I was in my area with a branch missionary and another I was with a Zone Leader in his area. Both went well I thought. Tuesday we waited for the news of transfers all day. They didn't come, but we went immediately from our area to the other missionaries flat. We stayed the night and in the morning we got the phone call from President Dube! We found out my companion was leaving to go to Kwekwe and I was staying in the area. My new companion is Elder Packer(and yes he is related to THE Elder Boyd K. Packer), and he has only been out for ONE transfer. I am a follow up trainer and I am Senior Comapnion and I have only been out for TWO transfers. I know, right?! I couldn't believe it.
After that we went to the area where I told everyone that Elder Crossley is leaving. We taught some pretty good lessons too actually. The branch missionary did really well.
The next day we had some service planned so we went to Sis. Winet's home and she wanted us to cut down a tree, with an axe. I was a little apprehensive but I was very excited to try my hand at being an African Lumberjack, and I cut it down! It was sweet, I cut down a tree with my bare hands! No power tools at all. I was kind of proud of myself. we also had a lot of people sign my companion's journal because he was leaving.
Then on Friday we had another exchange, and I went Warren Park. We taught some lessons and tracted a bit. We tracted into this girl who seemed very excited to talk to us but we couldn't have a lesson because she was alone and she didn't want anyone to hear what she had to say.... She told us that something happened and she wanted forgiveness so we started talking about the steps to repenting but she wanted specifics, so she told us that she broke the Law of Chastity and wanted forgiveness. We go through, counseling and we get to the part about not doing it again, she promptly bites her lip and looks down. I almost burst out laughing. She was a very funny girl and I hope that she gets the lessons!
On Saturday we took my companion to the Bus Stop to go to his new area. We said good bye and we left. It was not as difficult as I thought it would be. Oh well.
On Sunday, it was crazy because we had to go to two branches and I was late to mine. Then the baptisms had to be postponed because the water in the font was nasty and smelled like wanton and stagnant decay. So yea those will take place next week.
Then we picked up our new companions from the Mission Office. Elder Packer seems pretty cool and I think this transfer will go well. But apparently Pres. Dube didn't tell him I was only a transfer older than him. He said, "You'll be with Elder Gay, he is relatively new on mission but he is a hard worker." Relatively new? Understatement of the century! So that has been my week, I thank everyone for the prayers and support! Love you all!
Love,
Elder Gay
Monday, April 26, 2010
April 26th Letter
Sweater, Polygamy and Conference!
So this week has been short because of meetings and because of Conference. But on Friday we had a lesson with Alfred and Florence. They are doing really well and we followed up on the Word of Wisdom because Alfred smokes. He used to smoke a pack a day, but is now down to about three a week! Which is awesome. But we taught the Law of Chastity which includes only having one wife. He didn't say anything through the whole lesson even when we asked for input. Then at the very end, a member of the Branch Presidency, we were at his house, asked if he had any questions and he said, "Yea I have one very big question." My heart sank! We were so close to having no problems! He continued, "I have another wife..." Which isn't a question, by the by, but it still floored me. We found out they are separated and everything but he has remained married because he has been providing for her and the eight children he had with her, so I told him he needed to get a divorce, if he and Florence wanted to get baptized. Wow, that was weird, before I knew what I was doing I had already told him to end a marriage. I never thought I would have to do that!
Also this week was a pretty bad week for power, it would come late at night and leave before we woke up, so I ran out of ironed shirts and I couldn't iron a new one... So I put on a shirt but it was horrendously wrinkled. I didn't want to leave the house like that so I put a sweater over it. I know, right?! A SWEATER! In AFRICA! I was equally appalled at the thought but even more appalled at the thought of the wrinkly shirt, and you know what? It wasn't that bad. I didn't over heat and die or anything! It was a pretty nice day actually, or maybe I am just getting used to the heat... either way the thought that I wore a sweater in Africa is still strange.
Then one night we actually had power and so we started cooking quickly because we didn't know if it would go or not. And I started making Sadza, which is the staple food here. Then an Elder Mubwanda walks in, who is a native Zimbabwean, he looks in the pot and asks what I'm making, I tell him, he asks again, I tell him, he asks again. He was shocked that an American was making Sadza but I wanted to learn how so I decided to try! He told me to tell him when I failed, which I didn't! I totally succeeded, everyone I am officially African now!
Then on Saturday and Sunday we watched Conference on DVD because Africa at large doesn't get the broadcast so well. I had seen the Sunday Sessions before but the Saturday and Priesthood sessions were new. And I loved them! Oh wow I was enjoying them so much, it felt like Christmas, except better. We watched the Sat. Afternoon session last and I loved Elder Holland's talk. I started scribbling notes so fast but I just stopped because there was no way I was going to get it all. I want to watch that talk again, it was epic! I cannot wait for the Ensign so I can read it over and over again!
Anyway that was the week! Thank you all for the love and support!
Love,
Elder Gay
So this week has been short because of meetings and because of Conference. But on Friday we had a lesson with Alfred and Florence. They are doing really well and we followed up on the Word of Wisdom because Alfred smokes. He used to smoke a pack a day, but is now down to about three a week! Which is awesome. But we taught the Law of Chastity which includes only having one wife. He didn't say anything through the whole lesson even when we asked for input. Then at the very end, a member of the Branch Presidency, we were at his house, asked if he had any questions and he said, "Yea I have one very big question." My heart sank! We were so close to having no problems! He continued, "I have another wife..." Which isn't a question, by the by, but it still floored me. We found out they are separated and everything but he has remained married because he has been providing for her and the eight children he had with her, so I told him he needed to get a divorce, if he and Florence wanted to get baptized. Wow, that was weird, before I knew what I was doing I had already told him to end a marriage. I never thought I would have to do that!
Also this week was a pretty bad week for power, it would come late at night and leave before we woke up, so I ran out of ironed shirts and I couldn't iron a new one... So I put on a shirt but it was horrendously wrinkled. I didn't want to leave the house like that so I put a sweater over it. I know, right?! A SWEATER! In AFRICA! I was equally appalled at the thought but even more appalled at the thought of the wrinkly shirt, and you know what? It wasn't that bad. I didn't over heat and die or anything! It was a pretty nice day actually, or maybe I am just getting used to the heat... either way the thought that I wore a sweater in Africa is still strange.
Then one night we actually had power and so we started cooking quickly because we didn't know if it would go or not. And I started making Sadza, which is the staple food here. Then an Elder Mubwanda walks in, who is a native Zimbabwean, he looks in the pot and asks what I'm making, I tell him, he asks again, I tell him, he asks again. He was shocked that an American was making Sadza but I wanted to learn how so I decided to try! He told me to tell him when I failed, which I didn't! I totally succeeded, everyone I am officially African now!
Then on Saturday and Sunday we watched Conference on DVD because Africa at large doesn't get the broadcast so well. I had seen the Sunday Sessions before but the Saturday and Priesthood sessions were new. And I loved them! Oh wow I was enjoying them so much, it felt like Christmas, except better. We watched the Sat. Afternoon session last and I loved Elder Holland's talk. I started scribbling notes so fast but I just stopped because there was no way I was going to get it all. I want to watch that talk again, it was epic! I cannot wait for the Ensign so I can read it over and over again!
Anyway that was the week! Thank you all for the love and support!
Love,
Elder Gay
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
April 20th letter
This week has been busy and not busy at the same time. Any way we've been preparing some people for baptism, Edith just barely passed her interview on Sunday and will be baptized next Sunday. We had some service projects on Thursday where I peeled maize. My thumbs are a tad sore. But we were talking to some non members who seem interested about the church. Then they fed us and they made us eat every last scrap. That is common here, you need to eat everything offered or you will just offend them. So I got very full.
On Friday I went on exchanges with another Elder in his area. We had a very good day, teaching people who seemed very excited about learning, and we worked together well. The lessons just flowed really well. Apparently the investigators could notice, because we were teaching an investigator about the Book of Mormon(I love teaching about this book), anyway towards the end of the lesson she told us that the Lord had sent us to her that day. Because she was going to be at school but decided to stay home to study. Then she said, she just loved having us there, and that we were "shining with the Holy Ghost!" Guess what everyone, I shine now :) That lesson was so sweet though!
Anyway as we were walking to another lesson, a lady called out and I replied in Shona(the local language), her jaw dropped like i had insulted her heritage. "You speaking shona?!" she yelled. So we went over and I greeted them all in shona and they were very impressed apparently because they just went off in Shona. I had to tell them I only spoke a little. We were talking a little about the church and what we do, when one lady comes out and starts telling us about the Nebuchadnezzar's(sp?) dream. When her sister looked at her in shock and said, "You are sharing with them? We want them to share with us!" Oh man I started laughing so hard so we told them where the church is and set up a time for us to visit. I enjoyed those exchanges.
But Sunday was Independence Day. Where the Zimbabweans won their freedom from England aka the whites. So all weekend they were celebrating and feeling kind of anti white feelings which was fun. Nothing happened but the members warned us that we might want to go home before it got dark.
And this last week the primary kids got locked in their room because there still weren't any handles. I had to pull out the leatherman again.
Yesterday was Zone Conference. Yay Zone conference! Anyway I really learned a lot and especially from a mssionary who is leaving at the end of this transfer. He bore his testimony and I was almost floored by the power of it. Oh man, all I could think was, this is what a real missionary is. I was amazed and still am, I just hope I can have part of the impact he has had on those he has taught and interacted with. Wow is all I can say.
We sang our Zone Song, 284 If you could hie to Kolob, it actually went pretty well considering that we didn't know we were supposed to sing something. This morning we had a borrowed a car to take chairs from the stake center to a Sister's house where she teaches Seminary. There were no chairs and they have been sitting on the concrete floor of an unfinished section of her house for all of their lessons. So we thought we would try to help out, she was very grateful and it reminded me just how many advantages we had back home, like chairs.
Thank you for all the love and support!
Love,
Elder Gay
On Friday I went on exchanges with another Elder in his area. We had a very good day, teaching people who seemed very excited about learning, and we worked together well. The lessons just flowed really well. Apparently the investigators could notice, because we were teaching an investigator about the Book of Mormon(I love teaching about this book), anyway towards the end of the lesson she told us that the Lord had sent us to her that day. Because she was going to be at school but decided to stay home to study. Then she said, she just loved having us there, and that we were "shining with the Holy Ghost!" Guess what everyone, I shine now :) That lesson was so sweet though!
Anyway as we were walking to another lesson, a lady called out and I replied in Shona(the local language), her jaw dropped like i had insulted her heritage. "You speaking shona?!" she yelled. So we went over and I greeted them all in shona and they were very impressed apparently because they just went off in Shona. I had to tell them I only spoke a little. We were talking a little about the church and what we do, when one lady comes out and starts telling us about the Nebuchadnezzar's(sp?) dream. When her sister looked at her in shock and said, "You are sharing with them? We want them to share with us!" Oh man I started laughing so hard so we told them where the church is and set up a time for us to visit. I enjoyed those exchanges.
But Sunday was Independence Day. Where the Zimbabweans won their freedom from England aka the whites. So all weekend they were celebrating and feeling kind of anti white feelings which was fun. Nothing happened but the members warned us that we might want to go home before it got dark.
And this last week the primary kids got locked in their room because there still weren't any handles. I had to pull out the leatherman again.
Yesterday was Zone Conference. Yay Zone conference! Anyway I really learned a lot and especially from a mssionary who is leaving at the end of this transfer. He bore his testimony and I was almost floored by the power of it. Oh man, all I could think was, this is what a real missionary is. I was amazed and still am, I just hope I can have part of the impact he has had on those he has taught and interacted with. Wow is all I can say.
We sang our Zone Song, 284 If you could hie to Kolob, it actually went pretty well considering that we didn't know we were supposed to sing something. This morning we had a borrowed a car to take chairs from the stake center to a Sister's house where she teaches Seminary. There were no chairs and they have been sitting on the concrete floor of an unfinished section of her house for all of their lessons. So we thought we would try to help out, she was very grateful and it reminded me just how many advantages we had back home, like chairs.
Thank you for all the love and support!
Love,
Elder Gay
Friday, April 16, 2010
Mon April 2nd Letter
Dear Everyone!
This e-mail might be a little shorter for reasons to be revealed later, but know that everything is going really well. Well our Zone leaders were in another accident this week. They hit a woman's arm with their side-view mirror which broke into the side window and it shattered. The Mission President is very not happy with them. Two accidents in less than a month... wow.
We had some pretty good lessons this week, and gave out some more Baptismal dates. Garikai Chizanga and Brian Nyabako were both preparing to be baptized this week and Garikai chose me to baptize him, which kind of peeved my companion, because he'd been teaching him since December.
On Thursday we were contacting people and telling them they should come to church. I contacted this huge group of drunk guys(it was 1 in the afternoon) which was sweet. My companion started contacting this guy who promptly held his hand, which sounds weird I know. But here it is very normal to see guys holding hands, not because they are gay, just because of a culture difference. My companion was freaked, he tried to contact him still though. I was laughing at him the whole time, mostly for the hand holding, but also because he didn't know I had already contacted him! Hahaha
Then Friday morning I woke up and was not feeling good. I had some fun bathroom visits, no vomiting, just the back door(and yes I think you did need to know that much). I didn't eat anything but we still went to our area, you know because of "Forget yourself and go to work!" right? We went to our first lesson and we walked in and there were eight people there. This guy had his whole family there. It was sweet and I was feeling okay at the time. But then I stood up... But I refused to go home. We still had appointments and I was going to them! We met with a few more people, and I started breathing heavier and my lips and fingers got tingly. The nausea just increased and finally my companion "forced" me home. I didn't put up much of a fight. I got there and I crashed on my bed. My companion called Sis. Dube and the Assistants came over. I got a Priesthood blessing and then they took me to the Hospital. Yay African Health care! Anyway I have an infection. At the hospital I had a fever of 38.8 degrees Celsius, which if you do the math is approximately 102 degrees Fahrenheit, yay fever! I'm still not feeling super awesome, and that is why this might be a little short today, but I am feeling a lot better. But the medicine they gave me I have to take with meals! What kind of doctor prescribes a medicine that requires meals to some one who is nauseated! Who I say?! But I'm gaining the weight back and things are going back to normal!
Then Sunday, the entire city of Harare had no water. We carried water from the chapel, they have a well, to our house, so we could have drinking water. That wasn't the most fun I've ever had, but we managed and the water came back this morning, a little bit anyway. Also on Sunday we taught this woman named Angela, her boyfriend is a member. Anyway she is very funny, she has told us to go to H*** a few times. And I think she is kidding. We didn't end up singing this week, because Devilias got sick on Sunday but hopefully next week we will. We baptized Garikai and Brian yesterday and they both bore pretty awesome testimonies too.
But the church got vandalized and robbed. Outlets, door handles, stove elements, electronic devices and just really random things were taken. So they are looking into upping the security. But during the baptism, we could only use one door because the handles were gone and you couldn't open the other one. During the closing hymn, the door shut! We were locked in and with out handles. I got my multi tool out(leatherman) and I went to work. I got it open and it was promptly closed by a ten year old who was trying to get in. So I had to do it again. I started laughing pretty hard.
That was my week! Thanks for all the love and support!
Love,
Elder Gay
This e-mail might be a little shorter for reasons to be revealed later, but know that everything is going really well. Well our Zone leaders were in another accident this week. They hit a woman's arm with their side-view mirror which broke into the side window and it shattered. The Mission President is very not happy with them. Two accidents in less than a month... wow.
We had some pretty good lessons this week, and gave out some more Baptismal dates. Garikai Chizanga and Brian Nyabako were both preparing to be baptized this week and Garikai chose me to baptize him, which kind of peeved my companion, because he'd been teaching him since December.
On Thursday we were contacting people and telling them they should come to church. I contacted this huge group of drunk guys(it was 1 in the afternoon) which was sweet. My companion started contacting this guy who promptly held his hand, which sounds weird I know. But here it is very normal to see guys holding hands, not because they are gay, just because of a culture difference. My companion was freaked, he tried to contact him still though. I was laughing at him the whole time, mostly for the hand holding, but also because he didn't know I had already contacted him! Hahaha
Then Friday morning I woke up and was not feeling good. I had some fun bathroom visits, no vomiting, just the back door(and yes I think you did need to know that much). I didn't eat anything but we still went to our area, you know because of "Forget yourself and go to work!" right? We went to our first lesson and we walked in and there were eight people there. This guy had his whole family there. It was sweet and I was feeling okay at the time. But then I stood up... But I refused to go home. We still had appointments and I was going to them! We met with a few more people, and I started breathing heavier and my lips and fingers got tingly. The nausea just increased and finally my companion "forced" me home. I didn't put up much of a fight. I got there and I crashed on my bed. My companion called Sis. Dube and the Assistants came over. I got a Priesthood blessing and then they took me to the Hospital. Yay African Health care! Anyway I have an infection. At the hospital I had a fever of 38.8 degrees Celsius, which if you do the math is approximately 102 degrees Fahrenheit, yay fever! I'm still not feeling super awesome, and that is why this might be a little short today, but I am feeling a lot better. But the medicine they gave me I have to take with meals! What kind of doctor prescribes a medicine that requires meals to some one who is nauseated! Who I say?! But I'm gaining the weight back and things are going back to normal!
Then Sunday, the entire city of Harare had no water. We carried water from the chapel, they have a well, to our house, so we could have drinking water. That wasn't the most fun I've ever had, but we managed and the water came back this morning, a little bit anyway. Also on Sunday we taught this woman named Angela, her boyfriend is a member. Anyway she is very funny, she has told us to go to H*** a few times. And I think she is kidding. We didn't end up singing this week, because Devilias got sick on Sunday but hopefully next week we will. We baptized Garikai and Brian yesterday and they both bore pretty awesome testimonies too.
But the church got vandalized and robbed. Outlets, door handles, stove elements, electronic devices and just really random things were taken. So they are looking into upping the security. But during the baptism, we could only use one door because the handles were gone and you couldn't open the other one. During the closing hymn, the door shut! We were locked in and with out handles. I got my multi tool out(leatherman) and I went to work. I got it open and it was promptly closed by a ten year old who was trying to get in. So I had to do it again. I started laughing pretty hard.
That was my week! Thanks for all the love and support!
Love,
Elder Gay
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
April 4th 2010 Letter
This week has been full of things and happenings. I taught the principles of Charity and Love in our District meeting and that turned into our district vision yeah love! We visited a Less Active who's been a member for six or seven years. She had this cactus tree in her yard that had a lot of Elder's names engraved in it so we added our names too! It is kind of a piece of mission history. She even came to church that week too!
On the way to Dorcas' we got bombarded by children. I gave them some toys and did a couples flips, and we got a pretty cool picture! Then later in the week the same kids gave us some help finding a house, pretty sweet huh?
Our house got inspected by the Mission Mother this week and the other elders we live with freaked because they are very messy. But me and my companion weren't worried because none of the mess was ours. They, however, woke up at five to clean all their dishes and their rooms and everything else. So we passed our inspection!
On April Fool's Day, we had a service project at a less active's house. We dug the garden out for replanting! We practiced a song with an R.M. in the branch, so apparently we are going to sing Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing this next Sunday... I'll tell you how it goes next week. We played some awesome jokes, because apparently it is a very popular holiday here, who knew?! Then a member cooked for us, she made us fish... I actually ate the whole thing, except the head because it tasted awful. But yea then they wanted us to sing the Star Spangled Banner, so we did and yea it was very odd.
We found out that we get a new Assistant to the President and the lucky person is....... It's Elder Lauaki and I know you have no idea who that is, but suffice it to say it is completely hilarious. And even better is I called it the day before we found out! He was kind of mad at me though. He said I jinxed him!
Conference was interesting. First I was so excited, then it was canceled because the stakes were all going to watch it two weeks from now on DVD. Then I was sad. Then we had dinner at President's House on Friday for Easter, which was awesome. Then on Saturday Conference was back on! So I was happy! Then a few hours later it was canceled and I was sad. Then on Sunday it was still canceled and I was still sad but then President invited us over to watch it at his house, so I was happy! But because of the time difference it didn't get over till midnight and we only got to watch the Sunday sessions but I was just happy we got to watch some of it!
This week, we gave out five baptismal dates to some of our investigators and two who were interviewed on Sunday, Brian(15) and Garikai(20 something) passed and will be baptized this next week! We have found three new investigators and hopefully we'll give some more baptismal dates this coming week! The work is really going and it is exciting!
I love hearing from everyone! Thank you for all the love and prayers!
Love,
Elder Gay
On the way to Dorcas' we got bombarded by children. I gave them some toys and did a couples flips, and we got a pretty cool picture! Then later in the week the same kids gave us some help finding a house, pretty sweet huh?
Our house got inspected by the Mission Mother this week and the other elders we live with freaked because they are very messy. But me and my companion weren't worried because none of the mess was ours. They, however, woke up at five to clean all their dishes and their rooms and everything else. So we passed our inspection!
On April Fool's Day, we had a service project at a less active's house. We dug the garden out for replanting! We practiced a song with an R.M. in the branch, so apparently we are going to sing Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing this next Sunday... I'll tell you how it goes next week. We played some awesome jokes, because apparently it is a very popular holiday here, who knew?! Then a member cooked for us, she made us fish... I actually ate the whole thing, except the head because it tasted awful. But yea then they wanted us to sing the Star Spangled Banner, so we did and yea it was very odd.
We found out that we get a new Assistant to the President and the lucky person is....... It's Elder Lauaki and I know you have no idea who that is, but suffice it to say it is completely hilarious. And even better is I called it the day before we found out! He was kind of mad at me though. He said I jinxed him!
Conference was interesting. First I was so excited, then it was canceled because the stakes were all going to watch it two weeks from now on DVD. Then I was sad. Then we had dinner at President's House on Friday for Easter, which was awesome. Then on Saturday Conference was back on! So I was happy! Then a few hours later it was canceled and I was sad. Then on Sunday it was still canceled and I was still sad but then President invited us over to watch it at his house, so I was happy! But because of the time difference it didn't get over till midnight and we only got to watch the Sunday sessions but I was just happy we got to watch some of it!
This week, we gave out five baptismal dates to some of our investigators and two who were interviewed on Sunday, Brian(15) and Garikai(20 something) passed and will be baptized this next week! We have found three new investigators and hopefully we'll give some more baptismal dates this coming week! The work is really going and it is exciting!
I love hearing from everyone! Thank you for all the love and prayers!
Love,
Elder Gay
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