Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Sun just continues to Shine! Wow! We are enjoying it - and the fact that it is only about 28 - 30 degrees now so it is more livable - much more humid as well. Seminary and Institute are starting this week with 22 teachers that we know of - we're not sure how many exactly in the Copperbelt. They are really trying hard to take the classes to the people because history has shown how hard it is to get the people to the classes. We hope this works for them - they are so excited about studying the Old Testament this year. Many of them grew up with the Bible.
Elder and Sister Carl Cook of the First Quorum of 70 visited the Mission, starting here January2 and spending part of the week in Malawi. We had dinner with them and a good visit the first day and attended some of the leadership training meetings the next day. We know why he was called, what a powerful, spiritual man and woman. They truly love the Lord and are great at expressing it, and at teaching and instructing. The missionaries came from the Copperbelt and they had a great time buying things in the Distribution Store after the meeting (they don't have one up there). A Great Day! A Great Week.
We were invited to dinner with the Public Affairs couple (the Louthans) - we enjoyed a great stew and a great visit. We both have initials behind our names so the mission doesn't get to put us to work for them as much. We both do try to get involved in things as they come up - us at the Dist. centre and Sr. Louthan is starting to teach a few piano students at the church (that will be so good).
We also had 4 of the missionaries over on Sunday night - they prepared us dinner (Elder Mosika is from Kenya - and he was the major cook). He started from scratch and fixed chapati's for us all. It took a couple of hours to get it ready before we could eat - we were all quite hungry and the missionaries had had a great time eating the home made cookies until the other was ready. We were all filled to the brim and it was really GREAT.
Sunday at church at the main building (Lusaka Bldg.) we took a picture of the big truck that the orphanage brings to church. They have to rotate who is allowed to come as they can fit less than half at a time in the back. They are such good kids - and so cute. Hmmm, maybe we could bring one or two home. There was a lady, her daughter, and her mother here a few weeks ago, trying to adopt 4 of them (4 are from one family and their parents are deceased (AIDS). Her husband sent her to see what she could do. We haven't heard what the government has said about that yet. We are not supposed to let these things enter our minds but you can't not think about it when you see them -
We have also been very busy with the PEF student renewals and the first time students. Their schools don't like to issue their invoices any too early - so then we are scrambling because they do want the money quickly. Just more of life's challenges. We also spent two full days this week at the Distribution Center - Sr. Teke has ordered in way more stock than the center has room for and we are trying to logically find the items a home. It is a big challenge - not easy to overcome as she says she has two more orders outstanding still.
This week our boss President Tasara Makasi phoned to say that they feel they are ready to Hire a Full Time S & I Coordinator for Zambia and Malawi. They wanted us to post the position in all the buildings so we did. It will close January 31, 2012 with the job to start March 1, 2012 (if anyone qualifies for the job). This is what we are now doing is being the coordinators for Zambia - so that MIGHT leave us open to other opportunities - we'll just have to wait and see what happens. President Makasi asked if we'd be willing to go to Malawi -
We think of home often and pray for each of you in your daily lives and activities. We know our grandchildren are growing up so fast and once in a while, feel maybe we are missing some important things. We also know this is where our Heavenly Father wants us to be at this time and we are happy we are healthy enough to be able to answer the call. We hope we are setting a good example for each of you, that you will have a desire (way down the road) to serve missions of your own. We love each of you, you are great family and we appreciate all you do for us. Thanks for your example to us. Keep us in your prayers, the Gospel is True.
Love, the Parents, Grandparents, Sibling, Elder and Sister Shields (you get the message)
Elder and Sister Carl Cook of the First Quorum of 70 visited the Mission, starting here January2 and spending part of the week in Malawi. We had dinner with them and a good visit the first day and attended some of the leadership training meetings the next day. We know why he was called, what a powerful, spiritual man and woman. They truly love the Lord and are great at expressing it, and at teaching and instructing. The missionaries came from the Copperbelt and they had a great time buying things in the Distribution Store after the meeting (they don't have one up there). A Great Day! A Great Week.
We were invited to dinner with the Public Affairs couple (the Louthans) - we enjoyed a great stew and a great visit. We both have initials behind our names so the mission doesn't get to put us to work for them as much. We both do try to get involved in things as they come up - us at the Dist. centre and Sr. Louthan is starting to teach a few piano students at the church (that will be so good).
We also had 4 of the missionaries over on Sunday night - they prepared us dinner (Elder Mosika is from Kenya - and he was the major cook). He started from scratch and fixed chapati's for us all. It took a couple of hours to get it ready before we could eat - we were all quite hungry and the missionaries had had a great time eating the home made cookies until the other was ready. We were all filled to the brim and it was really GREAT.
Sunday at church at the main building (Lusaka Bldg.) we took a picture of the big truck that the orphanage brings to church. They have to rotate who is allowed to come as they can fit less than half at a time in the back. They are such good kids - and so cute. Hmmm, maybe we could bring one or two home. There was a lady, her daughter, and her mother here a few weeks ago, trying to adopt 4 of them (4 are from one family and their parents are deceased (AIDS). Her husband sent her to see what she could do. We haven't heard what the government has said about that yet. We are not supposed to let these things enter our minds but you can't not think about it when you see them -
We have also been very busy with the PEF student renewals and the first time students. Their schools don't like to issue their invoices any too early - so then we are scrambling because they do want the money quickly. Just more of life's challenges. We also spent two full days this week at the Distribution Center - Sr. Teke has ordered in way more stock than the center has room for and we are trying to logically find the items a home. It is a big challenge - not easy to overcome as she says she has two more orders outstanding still.
This week our boss President Tasara Makasi phoned to say that they feel they are ready to Hire a Full Time S & I Coordinator for Zambia and Malawi. They wanted us to post the position in all the buildings so we did. It will close January 31, 2012 with the job to start March 1, 2012 (if anyone qualifies for the job). This is what we are now doing is being the coordinators for Zambia - so that MIGHT leave us open to other opportunities - we'll just have to wait and see what happens. President Makasi asked if we'd be willing to go to Malawi -
We think of home often and pray for each of you in your daily lives and activities. We know our grandchildren are growing up so fast and once in a while, feel maybe we are missing some important things. We also know this is where our Heavenly Father wants us to be at this time and we are happy we are healthy enough to be able to answer the call. We hope we are setting a good example for each of you, that you will have a desire (way down the road) to serve missions of your own. We love each of you, you are great family and we appreciate all you do for us. Thanks for your example to us. Keep us in your prayers, the Gospel is True.
Love, the Parents, Grandparents, Sibling, Elder and Sister Shields (you get the message)
Monday, January 2, 2012
How Time Flies!!! January 2, 2012
Christmas has come and gone, so has New Years. The weather remains mostly hot, although today it is cooler. For a rainy season, we have not seen that much, although it did rain New Years Eve, but not enough to stop the fireworks. from going on. China still provides the fireworks. At the end of the New Years Eve Dance, the District President provided fireworks (with a little arm twisting for a financial contribution from Elder Shields and the Mission President). The young people and many adults were well entertained (by the fireworks in the Church yard) for more than 30 minutes. Because it had rained hard earlier and during the actual ignition of the fireworks, there was little danger of a fire.
Church services on Christmas Day were abbreviated to one hour. We still covered parts of three Branches and went to the Mission Home for dinner with the senior couples. One couple were away up North (in the Copper Belt) and one new couple, just arrived to do Public Affairs in our Mission and elsewhere, so there were 8 people present. We had been planning to have a New Years Eve dance for the YSA (Young Single Adults), but did not really get the final "go ahead" until December 26 in the afternoon (when we finally had verification of a budget). We had the Youth find a DJ (actually a member) and he turned our to be good. There were three of them with all the usual equipment. If we can get a picture to work, we will post one showing the hall, all set up.
The Mission was instructed not to do anything costly for the missionaries, so they were all invited to the Mission Home Christmas Eve for games and food. Many came dressed in African attire. Christmas day, the missionaries all came back for food and a movie "The Ultimate Gift". We took 4 Elders home afterwards to their flat, located in a very bad road area, which combined with the weight of the 4, caused us to hit bottom a few times, and traversing very deep pools of water in the roadway (normal when it rains).
Sister Shields talked the DJ into finding the music for a Chicken Dance, which was actually well enjoyed, not something they had heard or done before. She even found a rubber chicken as a prize. We had to gather up all the refreshments and get them served to a bunch of very hungry people, who probably had not eaten much for a while. We had at least 100 come, which to us was a great success. We had the usual "wall flowers" and people who really just came to visit and not dance. Our two young MCs, who had never done anything like that before did a great job.
On New Years day, after getting home the night before, well past "missionary curfew" we hit bottom at the Bauleni Group meeting, when only one member showed up. It was raining heavily and they are so poor, they do not have umbrellas. It was another dinner at the Mission Home for Senior couples, that concluded New Years Day. The fireworks went on all night and are still going on today.
We have been working on Perpetual Education Funding, but it slowed down over the Christmas break. They will realize shortly that they have more documents to provide, to get their loans to pay tuition in January, so we expect to be busier.
Christmas has come and gone, so has New Years. The weather remains mostly hot, although today it is cooler. For a rainy season, we have not seen that much, although it did rain New Years Eve, but not enough to stop the fireworks. from going on. China still provides the fireworks. At the end of the New Years Eve Dance, the District President provided fireworks (with a little arm twisting for a financial contribution from Elder Shields and the Mission President). The young people and many adults were well entertained (by the fireworks in the Church yard) for more than 30 minutes. Because it had rained hard earlier and during the actual ignition of the fireworks, there was little danger of a fire.
Church services on Christmas Day were abbreviated to one hour. We still covered parts of three Branches and went to the Mission Home for dinner with the senior couples. One couple were away up North (in the Copper Belt) and one new couple, just arrived to do Public Affairs in our Mission and elsewhere, so there were 8 people present. We had been planning to have a New Years Eve dance for the YSA (Young Single Adults), but did not really get the final "go ahead" until December 26 in the afternoon (when we finally had verification of a budget). We had the Youth find a DJ (actually a member) and he turned our to be good. There were three of them with all the usual equipment. If we can get a picture to work, we will post one showing the hall, all set up.
The Mission was instructed not to do anything costly for the missionaries, so they were all invited to the Mission Home Christmas Eve for games and food. Many came dressed in African attire. Christmas day, the missionaries all came back for food and a movie "The Ultimate Gift". We took 4 Elders home afterwards to their flat, located in a very bad road area, which combined with the weight of the 4, caused us to hit bottom a few times, and traversing very deep pools of water in the roadway (normal when it rains).
Sister Shields talked the DJ into finding the music for a Chicken Dance, which was actually well enjoyed, not something they had heard or done before. She even found a rubber chicken as a prize. We had to gather up all the refreshments and get them served to a bunch of very hungry people, who probably had not eaten much for a while. We had at least 100 come, which to us was a great success. We had the usual "wall flowers" and people who really just came to visit and not dance. Our two young MCs, who had never done anything like that before did a great job.
On New Years day, after getting home the night before, well past "missionary curfew" we hit bottom at the Bauleni Group meeting, when only one member showed up. It was raining heavily and they are so poor, they do not have umbrellas. It was another dinner at the Mission Home for Senior couples, that concluded New Years Day. The fireworks went on all night and are still going on today.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Branches are having some "Christmas" parties and maybe some "Christmas" based programs, but we have not seen them yet. The Mission Home has invited all the missionaries who are here (about 34/36) for a visit on Christmas Eve and dinner on Christmas Day for the couples only. They have invited the young missionaries later on Sunday for a movie and snacks. Boxing Day apparently is a holiday.
We have been officially trained by our head PEF(Perpetual Education Fund) man from South Africa (Thembinkosi Mhkize), held "In Service" meetings (3 in one day) for Seminary and Institute, and had a YSA/Institute planning meeting for a New Years Eve dance/party. We are now back to waiting for the District President to give us the go ahead to continue with the event. We have been encouraging the Branches to enroll students in Seminary and Institute and call teachers where needed. Distributing the manuals and related supplies has been underway as well, but that is a challenge, when you are not sure how many students and classes there will be. Seminary and Institute are currently on their "summer break, so there are no classes. We often visit up to 5 Branches on a Sunday to get out materials, meet with people, put up posters. Communication is very difficult during the week.
We are still helping the lady (Sister Teke) who runs the Distribution Store at one of the Chapels. I do posters and other printed materials and Sister Shields helps with inventory and supplies.
Be grateful for each and every blessing that you receive. Be grateful for the season of Christmas, for His birth and the example of His life. We love you all.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
By way of update, a few things have occurred. We had our first "In Service" meeting, with the teachers from the Lusaka District. We had 15 people in total, including a couple of guests, a District Councilman and a couple of new teachers. Some came very late and from a long distances, probably 3 bus transfers and some walking, so we were very pleased. We repeated the meeting for the late arrivals, not an uncommon occurrence.
We followed that meeting with the first YSA (Young Single Adult) activity in about a year, with upwards of 45 people coming. As with young people, they came and went. We played a couple of get acquainted games and then had a planning session for future events and many voluntered to help. We served bottled water , chips and cookies at both events. There is no budget for such events from our department. The only failure, was making the computer and projector work to show slides of China and Canada. They wanted a movie, but the DVD machine was broken and the television would not work. Our movies from home do not play on the local lap top computer.
This is the season to finalize Seminary and Institute grades for the purpose of having a "Graduation" event, but we are now one month late, due to the struggle we have had to assemble the information from deficient reporting, prior to our arrival. We met with theDistrict Presidency and left it with them to decide if there should be a "Graduation" this year. How would you like to come to a planning meeting, without paper, tables, a recording person, etc.?
We are well and into the "rainy season" although so far it is mostly a few heavy showers, which have not bothered us, but the temperature has cooled a little. Some misionaries in the Northern part of the mission on Monday, 7 of them in a pick truck, managed to roll their vehicle 3 times, demolishing the vehicle, but injuring no one. One of those PD activities gone awry. The Mission may choose to abandon vehicles entirely.
We are now into our 4th month. Thinking of you at this Christmas season (a little hard in this warm, wet climate). Keep smiling.
This is the season to finalize Seminary and Institute grades for the purpose of having a "Graduation" event, but we are now one month late, due to the struggle we have had to assemble the information from deficient reporting, prior to our arrival. We met with theDistrict Presidency and left it with them to decide if there should be a "Graduation" this year. How would you like to come to a planning meeting, without paper, tables, a recording person, etc.?
We are well and into the "rainy season" although so far it is mostly a few heavy showers, which have not bothered us, but the temperature has cooled a little. Some misionaries in the Northern part of the mission on Monday, 7 of them in a pick truck, managed to roll their vehicle 3 times, demolishing the vehicle, but injuring no one. One of those PD activities gone awry. The Mission may choose to abandon vehicles entirely.
We are now into our 4th month. Thinking of you at this Christmas season (a little hard in this warm, wet climate). Keep smiling.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
It's a Great Day - another 35 degrees - we could actually use some rain - which would cool it down to about 30 degrees. They say in another couple of weeks we'll get more of it than we want - they have been very busy digging these ditches and making sure the ones that were already there are cleaned out ready for the onslaught of water. We are waiting to see. We have had a couple of showers and when it rains it seems to be short but very very heavy. There are a few places that we may not be willing to go once the rain starts - the potholes are deeper than the car.
Pretty well every Saturday we can count on their being baptisms at both of the Chapels they have here - the Lusaka chapel is the most centralized so they use it for most district meetings. The other chapel, out by us, is called Woodlands, and it really struggles to ever have water. They are on city water and that is most undependable. Lots of Saturdays, there is no water to fill the baptismal font. This Saturday we've been invited to a baptism at the Woodlands chapel at 1400 hours (they are hoping to find water) for 4 people. We are unable to go which makes us sad - we are holding inservice meeting for S & I teachers at 12 noon and then hosting an Institute social from 3 - 6 p.m. We have no idea how many may come but hopefully some so we don't have to meet with all of them one on one -
This weekend just past we went to the Copperbelt area to meet with some seminary and institute teachers, branch presidencies, and district presidency. We were partially successful. We did teach a seminary and institute class, attend a baptism for 4, meet 3 branch presidents, go to 2 churches, and drive quite a bit to 3 different cities to be able to do this. It was a good weekend - we got some attendance records we've been chasing and some we didn't know existed - so more work to finish off this year. The Kitwe district has had a good year for S & I - very good attendance. Lusaka has been struggling. A Challenge for us to improve in these areas for next year.
We'll try to attach some pictures of the Copperbelt area - what you see as you drive and the Lowden Lodge - which is a great little retreat we stay at when in that area. It has rooms for 14 guests. They are SOOO nice.
We need to go to the Copperbelt once a month to hold In service and get the attendance forms from them. They would like us to move up there and stay. They are so nice - they just love the Gospel and try their hardest to live it fully. Whenever we've been in a meeting with any of these groups the spirit of the Holy Ghost can be cut in the room - it is so heavy. They are truly emissaries of Jesus Christ. They can teach us many things. When we got back we notice that we have a different tubing coming out of our driveway. They drilled for water while we were gone and found it so Yay, we will not need to worry about that. Only the electricity it looks like. That's a blessing.
We miss each one of you and hope that things are going good for you in your lives. We love you all. We miss hearing from our grandchildren - maybe they could write??? We pray for you each day and know that you are being blessed with the things you need as you strive to live worthy of his blessings.
Love, The Parents, Elder and Sister Shields
Pretty well every Saturday we can count on their being baptisms at both of the Chapels they have here - the Lusaka chapel is the most centralized so they use it for most district meetings. The other chapel, out by us, is called Woodlands, and it really struggles to ever have water. They are on city water and that is most undependable. Lots of Saturdays, there is no water to fill the baptismal font. This Saturday we've been invited to a baptism at the Woodlands chapel at 1400 hours (they are hoping to find water) for 4 people. We are unable to go which makes us sad - we are holding inservice meeting for S & I teachers at 12 noon and then hosting an Institute social from 3 - 6 p.m. We have no idea how many may come but hopefully some so we don't have to meet with all of them one on one -
This weekend just past we went to the Copperbelt area to meet with some seminary and institute teachers, branch presidencies, and district presidency. We were partially successful. We did teach a seminary and institute class, attend a baptism for 4, meet 3 branch presidents, go to 2 churches, and drive quite a bit to 3 different cities to be able to do this. It was a good weekend - we got some attendance records we've been chasing and some we didn't know existed - so more work to finish off this year. The Kitwe district has had a good year for S & I - very good attendance. Lusaka has been struggling. A Challenge for us to improve in these areas for next year.
We'll try to attach some pictures of the Copperbelt area - what you see as you drive and the Lowden Lodge - which is a great little retreat we stay at when in that area. It has rooms for 14 guests. They are SOOO nice.
We need to go to the Copperbelt once a month to hold In service and get the attendance forms from them. They would like us to move up there and stay. They are so nice - they just love the Gospel and try their hardest to live it fully. Whenever we've been in a meeting with any of these groups the spirit of the Holy Ghost can be cut in the room - it is so heavy. They are truly emissaries of Jesus Christ. They can teach us many things. When we got back we notice that we have a different tubing coming out of our driveway. They drilled for water while we were gone and found it so Yay, we will not need to worry about that. Only the electricity it looks like. That's a blessing.
We miss each one of you and hope that things are going good for you in your lives. We love you all. We miss hearing from our grandchildren - maybe they could write??? We pray for you each day and know that you are being blessed with the things you need as you strive to live worthy of his blessings.
 |
| Room at the Lodge |
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Since we last spoke we have been blessed??? to have only 1 day of phone and internet. We should have been able to get all kinds of work done - however, we need both of those things to do our work here in Zambia. We found out today that the phone line was cut down the street somewhere. It is back - but the internet is lacking in stability and certainly in swiftness. Enough of my frustration about that - last weekend was District Conference in Lusaka. Saturday were meetings for new members, leadership for RS and Priesthood, and a Sat. Conference session for all. They were really informative and uplifting meetings - we enjoyed them very much. We took a couple of elders with us (they normally ride bikes). Afterwards we went to dinner with them. It was the first dinner anyone had done for them since they came out - over a year ago. The people here do not have so they cannot share. I think they'd really like to BUT. Sunday we went back to the Sunday Session of Conference and it was a great meeting. They had 7 new converts of less than a year bare their testimonies - 6 of them were young adults - one a little older than that - they were awesome. Then the District President, his counselor and someone else spoke (music by Chainama Branch was really good) only music we've heard in the branches. There were about 750 people at the meeting - we were very surprised. There are really a lot of young adults. We'll see how active they are as we are hosting an activity on November 19 for that age group. Some say we'll get 12-20, others say we'll get 120 or so. Hard to plan food with that wide a gap. It actually rained last night and the temperature dropped to about 31 degrees - very nice and cool. It was a great day today. We are getting quite organized and next week will travel to the north (Copperbelt - 3 cities we visit - Kitwe, Luanshya, and Ndola). There are branches in each one - some have 2 branches. After that weekend it will start getting much busier for us and all that is already done will be great.
We found a pencil sharpener - only 50,000 kwacha - lasted for 12 pencils we think then it said that's all folks. Today we took it back - Elder Shields drove around while I ran in (no parking), I was pleasantly surprised that they actually took it back and gave me another one in its place. I was so happy that I made them happy too by purchasing a 2nd one.
One of our biggest struggles is trying to figure out people's first and last names and which is which and then of course, with the age thing, remembering!!!! We have a seminary and institute teacher whose name is Kasonde Ilunga OR Ilunga Kasonde - we think we have it figured out then on the next form it is the opposite way, or Kayula Mpange or Mpange Kayula - we want to print them right on their seminary/institute graduation certificates but Nobody seems to know which way is right. I know, you could all do this better - but try to find out - they have no addresses, phones, and you Might find them at a meeting but sometimes you don't quite remember which one they are. A few of our fun challenges - not complaining though, we are loving all of the challenges - well, maybe not a couple.
We do hope that you are all being looked after by each other and by your Heavenly Father. He does love us and he does want us to be blessed each and every day. We will be by our obedience to him. You are all in our prayers, we love you. We feel his love and blessings on us each and every day.
Love, Elder and Sister Shields, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa
We found a pencil sharpener - only 50,000 kwacha - lasted for 12 pencils we think then it said that's all folks. Today we took it back - Elder Shields drove around while I ran in (no parking), I was pleasantly surprised that they actually took it back and gave me another one in its place. I was so happy that I made them happy too by purchasing a 2nd one.
One of our biggest struggles is trying to figure out people's first and last names and which is which and then of course, with the age thing, remembering!!!! We have a seminary and institute teacher whose name is Kasonde Ilunga OR Ilunga Kasonde - we think we have it figured out then on the next form it is the opposite way, or Kayula Mpange or Mpange Kayula - we want to print them right on their seminary/institute graduation certificates but Nobody seems to know which way is right. I know, you could all do this better - but try to find out - they have no addresses, phones, and you Might find them at a meeting but sometimes you don't quite remember which one they are. A few of our fun challenges - not complaining though, we are loving all of the challenges - well, maybe not a couple.
We do hope that you are all being looked after by each other and by your Heavenly Father. He does love us and he does want us to be blessed each and every day. We will be by our obedience to him. You are all in our prayers, we love you. We feel his love and blessings on us each and every day.
Love, Elder and Sister Shields, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)