The New and the Old, Hungry Hungry ATM's, Baptism, No go land, the Pseudo-Sundays, and The Monkey Miracle

Well first of all I want to apologize to everyone for not emailing last week. I meant to but we didn't have our allotment yet and then we had to go and get some of the elders and then I had to wait for my companion who's bus was delayed and he didn't even get here until around 9 pm. So that left very little time for email. I didn't email at all and I apologize but I will do my best to relay all of what has happened in the past two weeks which isn't possible because so much has happened but I will try to get the highlights. Again not really possible but I will try.

Well we just ended a transfer and we were called and told if we are staying or going. I will be staying! This will be my fifth transfer in Mutare. I have been here for a while. And my new companion is one of my old companions! It is Elder Packer! I don't know if you remember me emailing about him but we were each other's second companions and it was about eight months ago. We are both Zone Leaders now and a lot has happened to both of us since we were last together but it has been awesome! There was really an adjustment period because we are both used ot each other already but we are much better teachers now. It is cool to see how much he has grown. I am excited for the coming transfer.

Also my debit card was eaten by an ATM machine. I was so shocked. I feel like someone should have taken a picture of my face or something because I am sure it would have been hilarious. Also we went in and they told me it would be destroyed! They wouldn't tell me why. I was SO confused!!!! Anyway, it has all worked out. It was destroyed but my family is awesome and I am getting a new one soon. Hakuna Matata! Which is a swahili phrase by the way.

We baptized Tafadzwa! That was good it went well. Except his father didn't really know how to baptize him. He had to try three times. I tried very hard not to laugh but it all worked out in the end and it was a good experience to have him be baptized by his father.

Well when I was still with Elder Shabangu we tried to go to an area we saw on our map. To try and shift our focus and find those hidden diamonds but when we tried to go there we found a gate and guards and the army patrolling the place. They told us that the army could do whatever they wanted with us there no matter where we were from. So we were turning around and when the army personnel came out as we were turning around then I quickened the pace at which I was fleeing. Hahahaha it was quite the experience and I don't plan on every trying to go back there. It was very intense and I have no idea what is even there. We were told an oil depot so maybe they are just very protective of their oil.....

Well Elder Packer and I have had a very miraculous week. A lot has happened and I have definitely seen the hand of the Lord in our work as we have tried to find those people that have been prepared for us. One of these miracles led us to the Sunday Family. The really funny part is that they are Seventh Day Adventists. They don't even go to church on Sunday! I thought the irony was perfect. As soon as they introduced themselves to us I just knew that they would be SDA and they were! It was excellent. They are very open minded and they are willing to learn and I hope they will progress well.

Now to the story of what me and my companion have named, "The Monkey Miracle". A lot of things happened that led up to us finding this one guy so let us start at the beginning. We had just had lunch and we were choosing between tracting or going to our Branch President. We decided to go to our Branch President first. When we arrived, we had our meeting and he showed us to a referral. We were just going to set up a time to meet him but I felt like we should have a lesson. We sat down and we gave him a baptism date for 29 January. So we will see him every day this week and finish the lessons. Then as we were leaving we prayed to know where to go. My companion said, "What about Murambi." An area that was across town from where we were. I say okay and we go. As we are driving I feel like I should take a different route there. A way that I have never gone before. So we go that way, and as we are driving this one road just catches my eye.

It just stands out to me and I remember that one time I saw monkeys up that road. So I say to my companion, "The monkeys stay up there," He jokingly replies, "Let's go tract the monkeys!" I had wanted to go up that road without evne realizing it so when he said that I immediately turned up the street. My comp laughs at me and tells me he was joking but I just laughed. Then we ind what looks like a dirt driveway. We both feel like we should go up. Turns out that there was a road that branched off at the very top. One house after another we got rejected. Finally we get to the last house and we knock for ten minutes but no one came. But I could see them sitting on their porch! They could totally hear us. So finally I just went up the house and apologized for not knocking loud enough, he just looked dumbfounded but he wasn't interested in listening to us. So we went back down and we were about to start back to the car for we had reached the end of the street but there was what looked like a back entrance to that same house. So we went a little further and there was in fact one more house. We knocked and a guy came down, we talked with him and he went and asked his grandparents.

We heard them say that they weren't interested. So he came back and kind of sullenly told us that they weren't interested. I asked if we could just share with him then. He readily agreed. We talked about the restoration and gave him a baptism date for 12 Feb. He told us yes but he would need to come to church, and read the Book of Mormon to find out for himself. He then asked where the church was, what he would need to bring to his baptism, if he could invite others who were interested in knowing these same things, and it was awesome! It was amazing and we were so amazingly happy as were struggling back to the car(we had the lesson as we on the grass by his gate and our legs had fallen asleep, hence the struggling). This guy is one of the most prepared people I have ever met in my entire life and so many small events led us to him. It truly was a huge miracle that was brought about from small and simple things. We were definitely led to him and this week has been filled with similar experiences. We have prayed to know where to go. EVERY SINGLE TIME we have taught. And many times we have been let in without a word being said. They just let us in. Three times when we were pressed for time, it was the first house we knocked on! Other times when we have had more time, it was the last house and it was always one of us would say, "Just one more." Just a bit further. When we have gone as far as we think we can Heavenly Father asks us to go with Him just a bit further. When we go, His hand is revealed and we see miracles.

This is going to be a great transfer. :)

Love, Elder Steven Gay

THE prayer, The Manyande Secret, the Door That Opened, and DMVP!

Well we began the week by having our Zone Meeting. It went really well and I felt very edified. My companion gave a great presentation on always referring to the Restoration and I shared about how to teach a person and not just a lesson. It was a very good meeting and I feel like it was a success. Plus I blinded an elder with a flashlight to demonstrate the effects of giving an investigator too much light before he is ready. Haha.

We are baptizing this guy named Sabastian this Saturday. He is a great guy. English isn't is best subject but he understands the principles very well. Even though we only met him a week ago he is amazing and I can't wait for his baptism!

We also went to visit this investigator of ours named Lesley. He is about twenty years old and a cool guy. We went and we asked about his reading and if he was praying to know if it is true. He said he had. But that he feels like his prayers stop at the ceiling and he has lost that relationship with his Heavenly Father. We asked some questions and taught him the pattern of prayer. Then we asked him if he would pray for us. He said yes, so we knelt together and he offered his prayer. As he closed in the name of his Savior. There was no doubt that the Spirit was there. He said that he felt It and that it was an amazing feeling. Something he said he hadn't felt in a long time. The whole lesson lasted about ten minutes but it was one of the most memorable of my life. The Spirit was so strong and it was a great opportunity to share it with Lesley.

Someone gave us the Book of Mormon back. We went to their house and they came out and handed it right back. I asked, "So you don't want it?" She said, "No." Then I asked why. To which her reply was a mocking laughter. She just laughed, turned around and locked the gate behind her. It was kind of funny. It is so sad that people are so hard hearted.

Tendai Manyande, the young woman in the family we just baptized, had malaria and they couldn't find any medicine so we went and we gave her a Priesthood Blessing. The next time we saw her it was like nothing was ever wrong. You would never have guessed that just yesterday she had been bed ridden with malaria. We also brought the family with us to teach another family in the same area. Sister Manyande asked to bear her testimony about Sacrament after the family said that they had no money to travel to church. This is the story she related to them,


I would like to bear my testimony about Sacrament. When Elder Gay and elder Shabangu first invited us to church, we had no money in our pockets. Wedidn't know how we were going to be able to go. Then Shingi(their 11 year old son) told us we needed to pray.We prayed together as a family and then Sonny(Bro Manyande) got a call from someone and they said that they had the one hundred dollars that they owed him. We were blessed so we could go to church and partake Sacrament. You can too, if you have faith. The Lord will provide the way. Just look how many houses are around us but they are here. They could have been at your neighbors right there but they are here sharing with you. That is already a blessing from God. Maybe He has chosen you out of all these people to be blessed.


I am sure I paraphrased terribly but this family is amazing. I can't tell you how grateful I am to the Lord for sending me to this Family. They have such faith and they will never fall away.


I hit my 1 year mark on Friday this last week. It was very bizarre. I can't believe I have been out for half my mission! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! That is insane?!!? Where has the time gone but I burned a shirt on an altar to commemorate the occasion. We live next to a church and there is an altar there... I don't know why either..... but I burned my shirt on it anyway. It was ripped so I wasn't being wasteful. It is kind of a strange mission tradition. But it is very funny.

We met a very intelligent SDA this week. He was friendly enough and very talkative. He analyzed us and how we approached him and he was very complimentary and said that we were good and that is why they gave us the car. The whole time you could see that he was very intelligent but I think he was intimidated a bit by us. Because he was talking too much. You could just see it. I enjoy talking to very smart people. Because they are very good at covering their emotions or their motives. They are like a puzzle waiting to be unraveled. It was fun.

Another crazy experience tha happened this week was "the door that opened".
We were driving by the chapel when we saw some people. We stopped and talked to them and we invited them for a tour of the church. It was a great experience. I had the keys and was trying to find the right ones to the Chapel. But couldn't so we took them around the rest of it and then when we got to the Chapel very last I was about to apologize and tell them that unfortunately it is locked because it is a very sacred place. But as I was about to say that the door opened behind me. We went inside and the Spirit was very strong. A great experience. I was so surprised because I thought for sure it was locked. I was so shocked but it opened and we felt the Spirit very strongly as we stood together in His house.

Someone told me that I was "too alert". Whatever that means. But he said that I could just look at someone and know their thoughts. Hahahaha I WISH! That would be awesome. I thought it was hilarious.

And now to the DMVP!!!! You might be asking yourselves, "What is a DMVP?" Well let me enlighten you. It was quite an enjoyable part of our week. Well first off, our money disappeared. Not that it was stolen. We spent it. But somehow we don't know where it went. So I was looking at what we had and I saw flour. So I put some of that in a bowl. Then I added a bit of salt. My companion wanted to help so we both picked some things to add. In the end we added flour, salt, vanilla, sugar, lemon juice, butter, and water. Then we cooked it on a frying pan and ate it with peanut butter, jam and honey. It was delicious!!!!! IT was so awesome we made it again! DMVP stands for, the Desperate and Minimalist View of the Pancake. I think the title is awesome it sounds like some social movement. THE DMVP!!!! Don't worry I will make some for everyone one day. Then you too can partake of the goodness that is DMVP.

Enjoy your lives!

Love, Elder Steven Gay

Fruit Bullet and a Satanist, it was the worst of houses and the best of houses, Guilt and

Well last Monday as we were shopping, I was standing outside the store waiting for some other Elders and I feel something hit my bum, so I look around but I don't see anything but then I see that crazy woman who hit me with chips and I see a chewed peice of fruit on the ground. She looked behind, smiled and then kept walking. I know, right?! This woman is out to get me! Spitting fruit bullets at my rear? Really? Oh yeah before that as I was walking into the store this guy whispered, "satanist..." Just loud enough for me to hear. I ignored him, so he said it again. I ignored him for the second time. So he said it again, louder! And thrice I denied him! But how juvenile can you be? He said it trying to get a response and a reaction from me. He was sore displeased with my lack of reaction.

In one of the areas we are looking for a new house because the one they are in now is terrible. No power, no water, people living in the back, a broken water meter, and no way to lock the gate... enough said. So we were looking for a house and we contacted someone and went to look at the house. Well, we drive and drive and it is on the edge of their area. So we pull up and we see a large house with a small attachment on the side. We go around and the "house" they were talking about was the small attachment. 1 outlet, 1 sink, 1 toilet and three small square rooms. The entire thing wasn't even the size of our garage and the ceiling was much lower as well. Obviously we said no, which was sad because the people were really nice and friendly.

Then we went to check the real estate agencies. Not a single one had anything where we were looking. It was kind of ridiculous. But then two days later one of them calls us and we go look at it. This place is nice! Walled, gated, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 lounge, 1 dining room, 1 kitchen, carpeted bedrooms, tiled elsewhere. I was very impressed. I called the people to come look at it and I think there will be no problem in us getting the house. I have not seen a nicer missionary house than that in all of Zimbabwe. It is almost too nice for missionaries. Almost.

Well last week some of our investigators didn't come to church. I thought it might have been because they were hung over from the Christmas Holiday. We hadn't taught them the Word of Wisdom yet and that is a major thing that is done here. I thought I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. I wasn't stressed about it because I had already reasoned it out in my head. But then we went to their place for a lesson and we were talking to them. They apologized for not coming to church and said they didn't come because in the morning they had no power and couldn't iron their clothes. I felt terrible. I had totally judged him, and I even thought I was doing the righteous thing by not judging him! I didn't give him a chance. So I studied charity to repent myself. I was guilty and he was innocent.

Also we went to the Manyande family and had a lesson with them. We asked where Bro. Manyande was(because he wasn't there), they said he had taken a job in Chipinge! He totally moved! Sis. Manyande told us because he felt like he needed a more honest job. He was helping people in the courts but he wasn't certified in law. So he took a job as a farm manager in Chipinge in order to have a clear conscience. The family is going to stay here but he will be there and will make trips back for church as often as possible.

I had an enjoyable new year. We had a braai with the other missionaries and we had fun! But the celebrations here weren't that intense it kind of seemed like it was just another day for the people here. The Jambwa family is doing good. They came to church yesterday and they are reading. Sis Jambwa said that the Book of MOrmon teaches the same things as the Bible but is so much clearer and easier to understand! YES! She is very smart and she is becoming converted through the Book of Mormon.

I saw the BIGGEST mushroom EVER!!!!! It was as big as my face. NO joke. I will send a picture next week. It was massive. That same crazy woman who hit me, and spit at me, came up to me on Friday and started babbling at me in Shona. She seems to really hate me, or like me. I can't tell, she is crazy after all. But as for the week I had it was busy and intense and this week is transfers. So I have been in this city for 6 months already. I might be leaving, I might not, I don't know! But it will be busy I can tell you that!

Love, Elder Steven Gay!

The White Christmas Horse, The lesson the Elders Stood Still, and elamon McGay

Well I do hope that everyone had a splendid Christmas and that the joy of the season permeated your hearts and that the worn hands and long hours spent in service caused a warmness within your bosom that kept the chilly weather at bay.

Well as we were tracting in the beginning of this week we met this old baba that invited us in and we sat down with him and his son. We introduced ourselves and told them what we do. Then after the prayer this guy just started talking and talking. We couldn't get him to stop talking. He would just cut us off before we could even say a word. He talked non-stop for literally 25 minutes! My companion timed him. This guy dominated us. I felt kind of superfluous. This is was the lesson the elders stood still! But we managed to bring it back and commit him and that was good.

One day as we were contacting in toen we ran into one of our investigators and he was with his brother who was visiting for the holiday. And as we were talking our investigator went and introduced us to his brother. He introduced me as "elamon Mcgay"! Hahahahahahaha After they left I looked at my companion and asked if I heard correctly. He laughed and confirmed what he had said. It provided joy and conversation for the rest of the day! I am not sure why so many people have difficulty with my name. It is quite short and simple. Or at least I thought so. But it seems as if people can't get it right. But I guess I will just enjoy the random names I receive in lieu of my real one(lets be honest, my real name isn't that great either).

Then for the Christmas Holiday the Couple Missionaries came and took us to The White Horse Inn for Dinner on Christmas Eve. It was a nice place. We walked the grounds a bit and we had dinner. Then we went to their room and shared a Christmas story from the Ensign and sang some hymns. Then they gave us the stockings that the mission had prepared. I got some antiperspirant, two toothbrushes, toothpaste(don't worry I already had in my possession the aforementioned items), some socks, a tie, and a mission shirt! The shirt is too small, but it still has the name of the mission and the map of the countries in which I serve. So it is still awesome. Later after we left the mission couple told us that the people in the Inn had heard us singing hymns and they loved it.... apparently the window was open and outside and up a bit was the veranda and the restaurant where many people were. Kind of cool to know that just something normal we do at Christmas had further reaching effects than we had thought. They told us that the hymns had made Christmas for them.

Then the next day we watched Blind Side and Glory Road together. Good movies! Then my family called, it was a nice phone call I got to talk to my mom, dad, brother, and sister and kids. One thing that was really funny was they told me that I talk differently. Not just the accent but also how I create my sentences is just different than what I had done before. I am not sure if you can tell in email.... obviously not the accent part, but the other part.... ?????

The Manyande family is doing really well, they have been studying and loving everything. The children were even writing notes on the Plan of Salvation. They will be/are amazing members. We were going to tell Bro Manyande he should wear a white shirt to church, he has been wearing some other color of shirt(I don't know which color it is), but we weren't sure how to go about it. Then when we walk into their home he is already wearing a white shirt! He said his wife bought it for him and she wanted to get the son one as well! Yes wife! It was amazing, it is almost like they are a step ahead of us. They are so prepared! Such incredible people, they are going to be strong for generations I can just tell(as long as the Second Coming is far enough away...).

Thank you everyone who sent me something! It really meant a lot that you remembered me and you reminded me that I wasn't forgotten.
Love, elder Steven Gay

"Mother, Its the Mormons.", Baptisms, Oregon?, and "Ma Coloreds"

We had a very busy week and it was tiring and filled with so many things but it was a very good week over all. We had someone come to our house and ask us if we can come visit him and his family so we go and the father isn't there but we knock on the door and this girl comes out and in a very articulate manner, greets us and says, "Oh, Mother, its the Mormons." Hahahahahaha I laughed so hard(on the inside, because that would have been rude) but then the Mother comes out and I am expecting her to greet us in Shona but she greeted us in a very not Zimbabwean Accent and she is one of the most well spoken people I have ever met. This family is great. They invited us back and things were just awesome. They even kept their promise and I am very confident they will be baptized.

Then during the week we had some meetings and we had a lot to arrange because we took a missionary home and we had this and that and we had to prepare for the baptism on Saturday and things were very intense and it seems like we don't have enough time to do all that we need to do! But the baptism went very well. There were a few hiccups but nothing major and their testimonies were powerful. They are going to be very strong members of the church and they will be very active!

Last week in the email shop there was this white guy who talked very funny. He asked some of the workers if they knew someone who could type fast and they pointed at me! So he asks me if I can help him but we were just about to leave. But we talked for a bit, he is from Oregon and he is doing some welfare work and he has been here for about a month. His accent was so weird! I couldn't help thinking if that is how I used to talk.... I think I talk differently now but I guess we will find out on Sat when I call, do I talk funny? I was very surprised to meet someone from Oregon in Zimbabwe... strange!

Then just yesterday we went to a members home that had invited us and their daughter was very hyper. It was funny. Then she starting yelling, "Ma Coloreds! Ma coloreds aripo!" Colored is a term to describe a person with a black parent and a white parent. Making a light skinned black(don't worry it is a very normal and accepted term, not offensive in any way). But she was saying the coloreds are here! ahahahaha it was hilarious! My companion is light skinned as well. So we are both light skinned people! Yay!

So much has happened but I don't know how to put it in a letter! Merry Christmas!!!

Love, Elder Gay

The Other Steven, tears, fears, interviews, and Fire!

Well we were given a referral. His name was Steven. Which was strange enough. But when we go there, he comes out and says, "Where's my book?" He is just very prideful and talking about non sense and he doesn't even want us there. But his desire to show off his supposed knowledge overrode his desire to have us gone. And he was just talking about nothing but he still managed to talk a lot, in spite of not expressing a single coherent or relevant idea. Which is very impressive actually. But I was just laughing at him and he thought he was so cool. So anyway we left the book and hopefully when he reads he will be converted. Because great is the conversion power of the Book of Mormon!

Brother Manyande was reduced to tears in a lesson. When my companion asked what blessings he had received from exercising his faith. He sure has been blessed. I was kind of in shock. And his children were in more shock. The look on their faces was priceless! Their faces just shouted, "Is daddy really crying? Really???" It was great and also strange but mostly great. They all passed their interviews and they will be baptized this coming Saturday! Dad, Mom, and two kids! Yes! When they were being interviewed, we were talking about the Gospel and I was teaching the kids and the mom how to sing some of the hymns. And it just felt so perfect. We were in the church and it was just perfect. This family is great.

Then in another lesson we were teaching how to pray to receive an answer. And we asked him to give our closing prayer and he refused. We taught a bit more and asked again. He refused again. We kept trying and then he got angry! But he was fine. I guess he was afraid to pray. But we will follow up next time. He is a great man but I guess he has some fears. But he told us next time he would pray.

But Saturday was a day filled with interviews. We had 11 people interviewed! 11! Plus we will do more interviews tomorrow and Wednesday. A lot of interviews. Very busy day.

Also when we were on exchanges with the Assistants, we checked on a family that didn't come to church. We talked to them and we gave them fire! I mean, it wasn't harsh in any way but we just told them exactly why they needed to come to church and what they were missing because they hadn't come. By the end, two of them said they would definitely come to church. And they came! It was great because we had just had a training on how to get people to church and the Assistant we were with said that we handled that situation very well. And I was so happy that they came to church. Reproving sometimes with sharpness! But they knew why and that is why they came to church!

But this week was very busy with Zone Business and with these people we have been teaching and with the training we had. And many other things that just crowded our schedule! But wow I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Gay

Bradley Glazer, CHASTITY, Dried Cockroach=YUM!, and throw up :D

So this week has been very busy. Seems like we are always getting called to do things and then we are busy with the area as well. Crazy! But someone looked at my tag and said Elder Glazer? Then he threw his hands in the air and told us he didn't want us there and we should leave and he was staring right at me. And his expression was horrified like I was a demon. I was so shocked. I just started laughing because I was so confused. Then as we were contacting people, this one drunk was holding a banana and so I asked if he was going to give me. He just laughed. Then as we were leaving, I hear a yell, "Bradley!" Surprisingly I turn around and the drunk runs and shows me the banana so I hold out my hand and then he just laughs and runs away again. Where on earth he got Bradley, I do not know. And why I responded to it, I have even less of a clue. So I am Bradley Glazer! Strange, huh?

Then we shared with the Manyande family about the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom. It went well and then we came back later in the week for a return another lesson. We follow up with their prayers and they know it is all true! Then Bro. Manyande shares about reading the Chastity pamphlet with his family. He read how marriages should be legal. So he pulls a paper out of his pocket and says, "My wife doesn't know about this yet because I just got home. But I read that marriages should be by law and mine was a traditional wedding so I went to the courts and I legalized my marriage." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT was awesome! He immediately legalized his marriage. This guy is converted to the Gospel already. Wow. Wow. WOW!

Anyway, we visited a member family and they had what is called ishwa. Which is essentially a very large flying ant. Looks kind of like a wasp and a cockroach mixed. The people here eat them. They had some that had been prepared and they offered me some. I tasted and they weren't bad. They weren't good either. But to me it kind of tasted a bit like popcorn. But they are very preservable so I am going to send some home for you all to try! YUM!!! Zimbabwean delicacy :) Ishwa!

That kid I felt prompted to ask directions from, Simbarashe and then we tracted into their house later that very day! We went back for a return appointment and they told us their dad told them that our doctrines do not agree. So they were told to give us back the Book of Mormon. I was shocked because I had definitely felt prompted to talk to him and to knock his gate. So I was thoroughly expecting things to work out but, I guess the Lord knows that now is not the time. But I was very surprised at the outcome. But I saw them in town and they waved and smiled and they still have some pamphlets. So one day they will be converted I know it! Maybe when they move away from their dad.

But I was somehow sick this week. This one morning I was throwing up and feeling not good. But now all is well. I don't know what it was because my companion wasn't sick so I guess it wasn't anything we ate. But it was a no biggie. Today we cleaned another room of our house! The house is getting to be very awesome. Very organized and clean and powerful. Yay!!!!

Love, Elder Steven Gay