Sorry that this posting is so long overdue - it must mean we Think we are very busy - and yes, we do think that we are - But, we don't want to be too busy to update each of you on our assignments and adventures.

Firstly, we just want you to know that we love the Gospel of Jesus Christ - we are grateful to be able to serve the Lord Anywhere - Because we have been given much, we too must give.  We appreciate our challenges and our growth.  We are learning much about the people and the culture here in Zambia.  What an awesome people.  We get to spend most of our time with the Young Single Adults (ages 18 - 30, 31, 32, 33) or there abouts - many don't have a birthdate or year that they know for sure when they were born so it can be a guess sometimes.    We appreciate each of the young adults special spirits and their appreciation for all that they do have (not much).  They just eat up the Gospel teachings - they can recite scripture by heart from any of the Scriptures - they are really amazing (much better than we are).

We have been working with President Kaluba for the last couple of months.  Sometimes the physical part of the church is very slow - he came on board June 1, 2012 and still no car, no office, etc.  He has been to Johannesburg for training, to Harare, Zimbabwe for training, to Blantyre, Malawi for training and is going Thursday a.m. to Lilongwe and Blantyre, Malawi for a little more training.  Then he will have a week off from travel and need to go to the Copperbelt area.  Busy times.  He is the Branch President (since he was 23), and is in University Full Time, and works full time for S & I.  Can you see why we are his helpers?  Busy Times.

President Joseph Kaluba and Sipho Ndlovu 

We, also were in Harare, Zimbabwe for more training for 4 days.  What a beautiful country and city.  We really enjoyed the hospitality and the beauty of the country in that area.  Victoria Falls is on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia - both like to claim it and there is a view on both sides.  We will try to go back there again (I think) before we are finished our mission.

Our Hotel in Harare - in the dead of winter remember, July 2012

Our Meeting House in Harare, Zimbabwe

Harare Meeting House (Chapel) 

We are moving somewhere around the end of the month.  We will be next door to another missionary couple (Lookharts from Boise).  It is going to be quite the upgrade - moving into a 2 story 3 bath, 3 bedroom townhouse with our own swimming pool in the back yard.  We didn't bring a suit.  Anyone coming to visit - bring a suit.  We get to have 3 bedrooms because our office is in our flat.  It
The mission furnishes it and all will be well.

This week we are teaching Lesson 5 (Temporal Preparedness) of the Preparing for Temple Marriage course.  We have a class Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday nights.  Each class is a very different dynamic of individuals.  What fun!  They are great participators, not inhibited at all, and love the topic, so all is well.
Each class is an hour and a half - but goes very quickly.  We are enjoying it, and we think they are too.

Fancy equipment set up for our class - Pres. Kaluba looking on  - notice how the computer is on top of the projector - 

This month we also had a District Family Fun Day! (2nd Annual one). Each branch had a soccer team, volleyball and basketball team.  Guys played soccer, girls played volleyball and basketball.  It was really a great day.  The Mission provided lunch - we think we fed about 600 (some not ours, but oh well).

Pres. Chibbamulilo and Pres. Chishala (Libala and Woodlands  Branch Presidents)

Game 2 - Notice - some use shoes -  some  not!

Well try to do this a little more often (so we can remember more of what has happened during the month).
Grandchildren, please be good.  Live an exempliary life.  It is sooo important - do your best at school.  You just never know when it will be your time to return home.  There is a young couple in a branch here (he was here on a mission - went back home became an agronomist, married, has 2 little children, and came back here to work for 2 years for a fertilizer company.  Her sister came over to visit (from California).  They were missing the ocean so they decided to take 2 weeks and drive over to Mozambique to the Ocean with their family.  The Sunday before they left Brother Sherry taught the SS class and talked about being prepared to meet our maker.  Wednesday, they were in a very serious accident in Harare, Zimbabwe on their way to Mozambique - his neck is broken, his shoulder is broken.  She has internal injuries, their little boy has many broken bones, the baby (girl) is fine, the driver (friend) is fine, the sister will be o.k.  They airlifted him to Johannesburg to determine the extend and type of break and decide whether he will walk again (ever).  We have all been praying for him since this happened.  We are wanting a miracle for them and for him to be o.k.
Live each day as if it may be  your last, live it wisely.  O.K., end of my rambling.  We love each and every one of you and keep you always in our prayers.  We know Heavenly Father loves all his children (no matter what).  Emulate him in your lives.  It'll be Soooo worth it.

Love,  The Parents, Grandparents, Burton and Patricia, Elder and Sister Shields

Our Gardener found this - we think it is either a Giant \peacock Moth or a Luna Moth.  They apparently live about 1 - 2 days.

Again, this unique moth - we have never seen one like it and neither has Filemon - he said God sent it to Him as a gift.

Some Saturdays there are 6-7 piano students all at once - Sr. Louthan needed help.  Robert Chansa is a great student.  One student plays every week in sacrament meeting after 6 lessons.

This is the new flat for the Harvey's - the couple from Langley BC.  It will be very nice for them. June 2012.  The Sisters went to the other half of the duplex.  3 bedrooms, 2 baths on each side. 

Elder Shields (update) walking to the car - companion in car taking picture. Doing Great.

Wow, it looks like it's been a month since we posted anything in this spot.  Sorry for the time lapse.  We have been busy (mostly driving).  We are experiencing Winter here now - it actually seems cold - does get down to about 10 a few nights and the days are a Cool 28 - 29 degrees varying with the amount of wind.
(Joseph Kaluba) has officially started his employment as the S & I (CES) Coordinator for Zambia and Malawi as of June 1.  He is in South Africa for training this week.  Unfortunately, he sold his car the weekend the job started and does not have a car, an office, or place to work from, until at least July 1, and probably later.  His home is very small and on the far edge of the city from us.  We have tried to be helpful in trying to show him some of the things we do, but it requires a lot of driving to his place, bringing him here and then back to his place.  He is only 27 years old, but a terrific young man, with a very supportive wife.  He is also the President of his Branch and both he and his wife are full time students (for at least another year).
Our challenge is to help, but let him takeover where he can.  He will have different strengths and will handle things differently when he gets going.  Our future assignment(s) seem to vary with the day, but it seems that at the moment we will be staying in Lusaka (but who knows for sure).  Very little happens quickly when it comes to "procedures" which must be followed.

Part of the duties of this assignment is to teach classes, but we have never been able to figure out times and places that might work.  However, Brother Kaluba was told to teach three classes ASAP, so he "organized" 3 classes (Preparation for Eternal Marriage) to be held in 3 locations at 17:30 (5:30 PM) on three consecutive nights and then realized that he will be unavailable more than half of the 8 weeks, so it appears that Sister Shields (and Elder Shields) now are going to be doing his job much of the time.  The logistics of accessing the buildings, trying to advertise the classes, getting students (numbers unknown) etc. and preparing lessons remains the challenge.

We are scheduled to go to Harare, Zimbabwe with Joseph Kaluba, the second week of July, for further training and possibly finding out more about, what we might be doing in the next year.

We are grateful for the challenges that we face each day and for the accompanying growth.  We appreciate being reminded each and every day of the blessings we are receiving by trying to be obedient.  We are grateful for our loving Heavenly Father who watches over everything that we do and blesses us continually.  We recognize that it is to Him that we owe our All, and through Him only can we receive Eternal Life.  We are grateful for your love and support as we try to serve our Savior.  Keep the Faith.

Once again, days keep seeming to jump ahead.  We are trying to get some things ready for District Conference this weekend to give to all of the branches here so there is work to be done.  We should be ending the first term of Institute at the end of May and starting the new term the first week of June.  Many will want to know their grades as certificates are in high demand.  What a great bunch of young people we get to work with - and with their awesome leaders and teachers.  They really put in 110% effort into their lessons and learning.  They do have a problem with the clock but they are trying to improve in that area.  We appreciate that they are willing to try to come within an hour of the start time.  Some do think that when class starts at 9:00 a.m. that that is when they are to leave home to come - so they do arrive (mostly) before the class is done - but not long before.  It is really a cultural thing that needs some work.

We had to go back to the grocery store today for a few things (ZMK625,000) when last week we spent over ZMK1,000,000.  We must be eating really well, or we should have the missionaries over less.  Hopefully this lasts a while now.  Food here, we think, is higher than at home.  We do appreciate that they have food that we will eat though so no complaints.

We have been working hard on some reports that S&I seem to need done - we aren't sure about doing someone else's budget for next year but they seem to think we should go ahead.  Hopefully we are generous enough that they can live with it.  We did hear through the grapevine that someone was offered and accepted the job (the full time S & I employee person).  What we haven't heard is when and what does that mean for us.  Patience.

Elder Shields has been wanting to email Khumbulani (our head in SA) to see what he knows - but I've been saying "if he knew anything he'd tell us".  Even though it doesn't matter, it does constantly play on our thoughts.  It is always on our minds that we can't plan too far ahead, or plan that meeting, or plan that trip.  Just wait.  Not something that we're really good at.

The missionaries in this mission are wonderful.  I'm sure that they are in Every mission but we know these the best.  They are very good at following the rules, studying, planning, and visiting lots of appointments each day.  Be nice to the missionaries.  They are doing the Lord's Work.  We are fortunate to be able to associate with them daily.

Today we went for lunch with Chiku (Aggie).  She had written her last exam for her bachelors degree in social work (she is also one of our best seminary teachers).  She (with persuading from Elder Shields), is going to take me to find fabric and have a Chitenge made (African Dress).  That should be interesting.

Today is Sunday May 20, 2012.  We attended our District Conference - it was to start at 10:00 a.m. - and almost did.  They did wait a few minutes because at 10 quite a few comvees(buses) with people arrived and it took a few minutes to seat about 80 of them.  Conference was such a great meeting.  We arrived about 8:30 a.m. and visited with many branch leaders, teachers and S & I students.  It was great.  The meeting was so spiritual that we were all in tears - and I mean All.  Whether members or not, everyone felt the spirit there and were touched by it - President Cook of the Area Presidency and his wife were here for the two days and they have such a wonderful countenance and way about them that you can feel that they are truly emissaries of Christ.  It is so strengthening for us to feel of their love and support.  What a Great Day.  We ran the Distribution Store yesterday by ourselves and that was an adventure.  The computer and scanner would not work so everything was done by hand - BUT of course, we were not too sure of the prices of some items so we guessed - tomorrow we will have to pay our shortage and balance up.  It's all in a day in the mission - just working for more blessings.

Enough of this talk, we want to send our love and our testimonies of this work to any and all who read this.  We are so blessed to be able to be here, to know this is where Heavenly Father wants us to serve.  We are grateful for all the blessings we receive and for His hand in our lives everyday.  We love and appreciate each one at home and are grateful for your prayers on our behalf.  Thank you so much.  We pray for you too and know that you are being blessed.  Keep the Faith.

We have been without internet for most of today.  We have been waiting for PST accessability to do the 40 Yr. reports - Bro. Moyo said he'd send them but apparently we are just trading no internet so no reports.  This type of day seems really long - not much is accomplished and we are reminded again why we are here in Zambia - to develop Patience.
We looked back in our notes and it was January 5th that we got a call asking if we would be willing to go to Malawi to be the S & I representatives over there.  We did say yes, however, here we are, still in Lusaka, Zambia.  We call it Zambian Time.  Again,  just need a little more patience.

On the positive, we think we are making progress here in Zambia with the S & I program.  We are working very hard (especially Elder Shields), to think of ways to make it better.  Communication is one of the big barriers here.  We will be going Saturday a.m. to a baptism in one of our favorite branches - that branch is Lilanda.  They are having 6 baptisms that morning and they don't have access to water for the font at this point so we're looking for divine intervention.  It'll happen.

Filling the Font for the Baptisms of 6 young people in Lilanda Branch 12 May, 2012

Branch Youth filling the font for Baptism of 6 young people May 12, 2012

The lady who owns the house church is held in decided that the branch priesthood could use her well (really an old fashioned one) - a hole in the ground with a rope and a bucket - to fill all the garbage cans they could find to bring up water to fill the baptismal font for the baptisms.  Saturday a.m. early the Young Men and Elders Quorum were there filling and hauling with an old wheel barrow to fill the font.  They did manage to get enough water into it by noon and the baptism went ahead just a little later than scheduled.  That in itself, though, is not at all unusual so it was all good and the baptismal candidates were very excited.  We have some pictures and Elder Shields got to give a talk and welcome them into the church.

Today being mothers day was similar to being at home.  Talks about mothers were given, and in the 2nd branch we attended (thanks to Elder and Sister Lookhart), Roses were passed out to all mothers.  Two great meetings.  We enjoyed the day.  The elders are coming over shortly to make their calls to their Mothers.  They are very excited to speak to them.  It is fun to watch their enthusiasm.  What a great bunch of YM and YW we are privileged to spend time with.  They teach us as  much as we teach them.  It's great.  Their testimonies are fantastic - and they are very powerful individuals and companionships.  We are blessed to spend time with them.  The Youth of Zambia are well versed in the Bible and they are able to find and quote many passages.  They are a great asset to the church here.

Just an ordinary ride to wherever - could even be church.

We are grateful to each one of you in our lives.  We hope Mothers Day treated all well.  We are grateful to each of the Mothers in our family who exemplify the Savior in their lives.  We appreciate all that you do for your families and for your strength in the gospel.  Thank you for your examples to us and for supporting us in our decision to serve.  We love you.  We are also grateful for all the friends and extended family who are so supportive and encouraging to us.  The Faith of Others does Strengthen Ours.

 This is quite clear - we thought it was well put.

Just a few friendly Crocodiles - a little crawly

You would not see them until it was too late - they blend so well. Green Mambas.

Just trying to get One Good Shot - of this Big Mama!

All this years babies together (we think)

Elder Shields loves playgrounds! 

The Real Thing - Our First Crocodile Burger!  Good!  We Shared.

The Tires did look fun - takes the word playground back 20 years at home.  Very Rustic!