Friday, March 23, 2012

What a Great Month!
It seems we have been remiss at writing in this spot this month - however, most of you got a couple of updates during the month of what has been happening here in Lusaka, and around the country (this side).  ("This side" and "the other side" are very common phrases here that people use when someone does not stay close to them - they stay "on the other side" or " yup, on this side".  It takes a while to know what they are saying - and where they mean.  We are getting on with our Nyinja learning,  a little - because we will need to speak Chewa in Malawi.  In Nyinja, we are able to say Muillo Buonge - hello, how are you - with the answer being  bweeno - or fine.  We have also learned thank you"" - zikomo  or thank you very much"" - zikomo kwambili.  A couple of great phrases to try to remember.

We have been busy this month and have reaped many many blessings for trying to do the Lord's will.  If any of you are having challenges - this is the solution!!!  As we are shown daily here, if we do our part, the Lord picks up the rest and the benefits and the outcome are truly wonderful miracles.
Old Testament is the Book of Study in Seminary and Institute this year and at first I thought (oh, no, this is not a book I've studied a lot - Elder either, he said.  We have been doing most of our daily study from there and can truly say that we are learning and growing with the students.

We have had the opportunity to do many firsts this month - go to Jo'burg, dress the unembalmed, go to the hospital here (to take an Elder from next door), go to the Dentist (Elder), try individual in service lessons, help the young man who MAY take our place here (we're praying he gets the job), be addressed by our Area Presidency, be addressed by Elder Kelly Hawes (over S & I) via Skype, fixed dinner for a single mom with 14 children the elders wanted to take dinner to (it was her birthday), had 2 couples over for dinner and a visit (dishes are a challenge - and I don't want to buy more as we can't take them with us).

 We are truly watched over and blessed Each and Every Day.  Through prayer we have been reminded that we speak to the Savior, and through reading our scriptures, He speaks to us.  What a power that can be to us.

Johannesburg is just a regular looking up to date city - we felt like we'd gone back to civilization.  Lusaka is more "Original - as it has been for generations, in our minds.  And we are not complaining about Lusaka, it is a beautiful City with beautiful people.  We have learned to love and respect Many of them.  We will miss them in changing countries.

We have another busy weekend coming up - starting Today actually.  Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are our busiest days.  The others are preparation time, do errand time, housecleaning, laundry, you know, the usual things that just don't go away.  This weekend we are going to do a party for Seminary in Chainama at 14:00 for about 20 or so.  Then visit the Libala Branch's 9 a.m.Institute class and surprise them with Breakfast (could be up towards 30).   I wish I had a rolling pin for the Cinnamon Buns (but taking it by air, on our move to Malawia, doesn't make me want to buy one here). We need to pick up our basketball, and our volleyball and net, etc. to take them to the Seminary party. We need to get prizes for the games, go to the Distribution Store for a bit, and if we get the chance, visit Matero's S & I and visit with the teacher (,Kasonde Ilunga), who getting married next weekend,and is our only teacher there. He is an awesome young man.

On Sunday we will visit  a branch at 9 a.m. and then go to the Woodlands branch, at 11 AM, because we are going to have the Primary do a coloring activity for us to send back to Midnapore Ward Primary.  Our primary children have sent us letters and pictures twice - we feel blessed.  We thought we'd have the kids here do something to send back - with their picture.  Hopefully this works.  After that, we have been invited to a baptism of 3 young men - one 27, one 14, and I can't remember the age of the other, sorry.  Most branches baptize 2-3 people every month or so.  Most of them youth or young adults.  Great people.

We took the Bauleni group some crayons and paper, etc. quite a few weeks ago and they had no idea what to do with them.    I don't know what they do with their children here - but it is amazing - no food, no papers, books, anything, and they sit quietly through church every week.  We haven't figured out the secret yet - maybe it is the Nshima they eat, but boy, they are good.

We know that as each of you live as you should, Blessings will be yours.  We keep you all in our prayers and hope we are in yours.  We look forward to hearing from you - we have received many letters from people in the ward (yes, mailed ones).  It is Great - but emails are Great too.

We have less busy times, and then we think we must be being lazy.

1 comment:

Debbie and Dan in Romania said...

Awesome Post. you guys are amazing. you are doing a wonderful work. Keep up the great job- We love you