Well we had another good week.  We actually for some reason were able
to get a lot of lessons with members present.  Usually in the past
here we are just never able to get the times worked out to work with
them.  But this week we were able to.  So that was nice.  I know you
are all wondering about transfers, well actually so am I.  President
has been in Malawi this week so no one knows what is happening.  There
won't be any major changes as only 3 new missionaries are coming but I
know for sure that what ever happens will affect me.  But we will see.
 I am almost guaranteed to stay in Matero but possibly in the other
area.  So we will see.  We didn't actually get to go to the museum, we
didn't have time so we just went to this place called Long Ridge or
something like that.  It too would be a much more powerful place if we
were not missionaries.  It is this small man made pond/lake thing.
That has some boats you can use and places to braai.  It doesn't
really have any places to play sport because it is not real flat.  But
we found a hosepipe that we tied between two trees and played
volleyball.  So we had a good time anyways.  As for the phone call we
don't know anything but I'm sure that we will be informed before next
week.  But I do know that we get 40 minutes now, not just 30 so that
will be nice.  Also I got the other glove. So that worry can now leave
you.  I don't really understand how Ali's got to me first especially
since they were both unopened.  Actually none of the packages I've
received have been opened since the mission split.  So that is a nice
feature.  I don't really know how big Christmas is in Zambia.  And no,
they don't have WARD Christmas Parties here.  They have Branch
Christmas parties.  We don't have any wards in the mission. There are
some things that will be happening both with us missionaries and with
the Branch but I think that it might be better to move the baptisms
back anyways just to give them more time.  Ackson is really doing well
though.  He hasn't had a drink since like the 22nd of October.  That
has been a great thing to see.  Adrine is also doing well she is
beginning to understand much better so that is nice.  We have also
been teaching Sister Zulu's nephew, John.  At first he absolutely did
not want to join us.  But he got interested because he looked at one
of the pamphlets we had left.  He has come to church the last two
weeks but we have to be patient to extend a baptismal date because
when someone pressures him to do something then he pulls away.  So we
are going to give him more time.  He has really enjoyed church though.
 Yesterday I basically taught both the Gospel Principles class and the
Elder's Quorum.  In both cases the person assigned to teach didn't
show up.  So I actually did teach Gospel Principles since we are
basically in charge of it.  Then in Elder's Quorum the Elder's Quorum
President, filled in but he had know idea what to talk about.  We were
discussing about the Judgement.  He mentioned that we will be judged
according to our works.  He then asked about the works so people began
naming off the normal Sunday School answers, "go to church" "read your
scriptures", so my companion helped them with the 5 principles of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Then I could see the teacher struggling to
come up with what to do next ( we still had about 35 minutes left at
this point) so I asked how all of these principles related to each
other and led us to the Celestial Kingdom.  That discussion took us
through the rest of the lesson.  It ended up being a really good
lesson and most of the people I think were able to understand that
faith is not just believing but that it requires action for it to be
real faith.

That is crazy that Pujols went to the Angels, and even more crazy is
that it was a 10 year deal.  I don't think that I have ever seen one
for that many years.  Well I am happy that Ryan Gurr finally put his
papers in.  That is also really good to hear about Taylor.  I'm sure
that that wouldn't have happened if he hadn't grown.  I too will
believe the Parowan 5th Ward when I see it.  That has been going on
forever.  Anyway have a good week.

Love,

Elder Cecil

We had a really nice week.  We again had many investigators at church,
so that is great.  We will probably have to wait for them to be
baptized because of the Holidays though.  But they are all doing very
well.  Some of them such as Ackson and Kennedy have made some big
changes in their lives.  I am excited for them.  Adrine is doing well
but she will have to be pushed back because she is going to their farm
this week.  They are going to go plant the maize since the rains are
now here for good.  Brother Mulilo made a really powerful comment in
our lesson on Friday.  He said that he loves the Book of Mormon
because it gives the "whys" of the Bible.  I love how he just teaches
himself by the questions that he asks.  The members are great because
they always go greet the investigators and make friends quickly.  I
wish there was a clean river for us to baptize in but we would be hard
pressed to find one of those in Lusaka.  As for the sickness of the
Elder, you know as much as I know.  They just told us he was sick and
had to go home.  We have been fed several times this week.  Sister
Zulu made us this amazing dinner that we took home with us.  It lasted
us for two meals.  Mostly we just have rice or noodles with some sort
of meat and vegetable.  We don't have time to really cook anything
else.  But at the member's houses it is usually nshima (sadza)  and
some meat and vegetable.

I got the package from ali with the baseballs in it.  But I am still
waiting on the other glove.  We are going to a museum today that just
opened up so we will see how that turns out then we will just go to
the chapel and Braai while probably playing soccer.  I wish it would
get cold here.  It has been so hot this week.  And with the rain as
well it has been super humid also.  Well it makes more sense that they
played the game on an aircraft carrier and not on an actual plane, but
that would be cool though.  That is interesting that it was the same
one as the one they buried Osama bin Laden.  Well the bowl games sound
lame.  Elder Roberts told me that he is reffing high school basketball
this year.  He said he did Parowan's Blue and Gold or white or
whatever it is these days.  Well I will give you more info next week.
See you.

Love,

Elder Cecil

Well my Thanksgiving was full of a lot of fall throughs, but I did
draw a really ugly turkey in my planner to celebrate.  I'm glad that
Leland was able to join you for a while.  I'm sure he enjoyed it.  Or
at least he really enjoyed the 7 layer dip.  But besides Thursday our
week was really good.  We are continuing to have a lot of quality
lessons and still seeing many investigators at church despite the
heavy rain yesterday in the morning.  Andellinah was baptized but
Adrine was not ready yet we just need to go over some of the things
again, she didn't seem to understand as quickly as Andellinah.  I was
able to baptize her.  And yes it was raining while I performed it.
She thought that the water was freezing but I thought that it felt
great.  The people here really hate cold weather even though to me it
is still warm.  It was maybe like 65 degrees and everyone was cold
except for me.  People were walking around in big heavy coats while I
continue to sweat.  Kennedy couldn't come to church he had to leave
Lusaka for a few days but he was the one who called before Church and
told us he couldn't come.  Brother Mulilo and Brother Majumo are doing
great but weren't able to find transport to come to Church however.
We were at Lameck's when Brother Mulilo was passing by on the road and
saw us so he called us over and then we met them after we left
Lameck's.  We took Lameck with us to see Brother Majumo the other day
and that went really well.  Lameck seems to be learning a lot and when
he joins us in lessons he seems to come in at the perfect time.  There
was some mid-transfer transfers this week.  One Elder got sick and had
to go home, so President decided to remove Elder Mpanza from being an
Assistant (he's been an Assistant almost my whole mission) and then
send he and Elder Inzabula to Lilongwe.  The area office also is
having every mission in the area send the missionaries who were
finishing their missions this transfer home two weeks early so Elder
Ngcobo is going tomorrow.  That also played a part in the transfers.
So right now no one is in Matero 2.  But there should be some in 2
weeks.  That means right now I also don't really have a district so we
will attend meetings with the other district in our Zone.  Oh and
Elder Mahachi who was in my house in Lilongwe is the District Leader
in the other district.  Elder Chikenge is now our Zone leader.

That is really hard to hear about Bridget and Luke.  They will be in
my prayers.  Well hopefully the National Championship won't be as
boring as the first time LSU and 'Bama played.  I heard that Michigan
St. and North Carolina played a basketball game on a plane.  Is that
true?  Because if it is that is powerful.  I did get to see the talk
that Elder Holland gave in the Priesthood session.  I love how bold he
is.  I enjoyed writing that letter to the Primary, some of their
letters made me laugh.  Especially Carly Hall's.  She greeted me like
I used to greet her at home.  She said, "What's shakin' in Zimbabwe?'
She also told me to bring her a monkey.  I am still waiting on the
other glove and the ball.  I don't understand why one came so quick
but the others are being delayed.  Well that is all I can think of,
have a great week.

Love,

Elder Cecil

Well we had a great week.  We have a strong teaching pool right now.
We had 7 people at church and 6 of them are progressing well.  They
include Andellinah (Sister Zulu spelled it wrong) and Adrine (we
thought they were saying Audrey).  Then there is Kennedy, Ackson, a
referral from the Shumba's named James, he is their nephew, and
Emmanuel finally came to church.  Speaking of Emmanuel at church.  I
think that he finally found his answer after about 2 1/2 months.  He
was supposed to go to his home village this week for like a month so
he promised us that he would come.  After Church he asked if the
Church had a branch near his village, unfortunately there isn't, but
then he said he will definitely keep coming when he comes back, then
later he said he might not be going after all so shall see with him.
But he absolutely loved Church.  It was great.  As of now Andellinah
and Adrine are still on track for their baptism on Sunday (we moved it
to Sunday because of a youth activity on Saturday).  The rest of them
are hopefully going to be ready by 10 December.  But the thing that
really made my week was that Lameck, who was going through the process
of divorce, has decided to forgive his wife and they are now living
together again with their two children.  I was so happy about that.
She is now a new investigator and already loves us because of the
change that we helped Lameck make and also because their kids Tapiwa
and Thandiwe (the h is silent) love us even thought we've only seen
them once.  We also met these two old men who have been taught by
missionaries before in a different area then came to Matero and
couldn't find the Church.  One of them already has a testimony of the
Prophet Joseph Smith.  The names are Brother Majumo and Brother
Mulilo.  They are great to teach because they basically teach
themselves.  We were talking about the Book of Mormon and why we have
it and it came up that the Bible has so many different translations so
it has been changed in some ways.  So he went and got his Bible and
began to compare it to ours.  So then he was like, "Now I understand
why there is a Book of Mormon."  It was kind of funny but really
powerful at the same time.  Brother Majumo has a bum leg though and
can't walk to church but Brother Mulilo said that he is trying to fix
up his car and once he does he will pick him up.  With Augustine we
will have to take it slow because he wants to really understand
everything but I think that he will progress but it may take time.  Oh
and our District President, President Lumbama attended our branch
yesterday and gave a powerful talk about tithing.  If Matero can get
37 full tithe payers by the end of the year they will start building a
chapel.

Yes President Padovich is a roadie.  So he hates the bikes here
because they are worse than the walmart fall aparts.  Except the one I
ride is okay, I now ride the bike Elder Munguri was riding because
Elder Mangumta wanted the rear suspenion.  It was fine with me the one
I'm on is a lot nicer.  The problem is they are somewhat expensive and
the shop rarely has them.  I too think that that guy who stays
opposite that bike ride is lucky.  That place was the best.  Wow I am
a little surprised to hear about Bishop Eves moving.  So that means
you will get a new home teacher soon, he has been our home teacher
forever.  I received the Elder's Quorum Birthday card as well as
letters from McCall Bulloch and Miquelle Jenson.  So my #1 rating just
keeps being solidified.  I don't know if anything is going to happen
for Thanksgiving.  But Happy Thanksgiving anyways.  I wonder what they
would do if there was a three-way tie for the SEC West especially
because they are the top three in the country.  Well I guess I will
talk to you later.

Love,

Elder Cecil

Hello from Africa,

Well I felt like we had a really good week.  I think that we were
really able to follow the promptings of the Spirit this week.  I think
that we were able to it because we were really listening to each other
and then when an impression would come we would not wait to get to it
but we would go straight to it.  We taught a man named Augustine Nkola
who knows Sister Zulu (Audrey and Andelina's grandmother) well.  He is
a very smart man and has already read all of the testimonies in the
front of the Book of Mormon and also the entire Joseph Smith History.
He also remembered everything so when we went to teach him all we
really had to do was to tell him who Moroni was.  Then he was asking
more about Joseph Smith and so we are planning on showing him Joseph
Smith:The Prophet of the Restoration.  I think that that will really
help him, I love that movie.  Audrey and Andelina are doing well as of
right now they are on schedule for the 26th of November.  We saw Felix
once and found out that he has been in Ndola for work.  He promised us
to come to church this week but he was nowhere to be seen.  We also
saw JJ and he told us about his new job.  He is a welder and his boss
even bought him a phone so that he could get a hold of him.  He also
told us he would be at church but I think that he had to go back to
Ndola because they hadn't finished what they were doing.  He has still
been reading the Book of Mormon though.  He was telling us about what
he was reading and he also remembers all of the lessons.  Hopefully he
will have things settle down when he comes back from Ndola next week.
I loved General Conference.  Though I still am waiting to see the
Saturday PM session and the second half of the Sunday PM session.  We
had technical difficulties as per usual here.  I really loved
President Packer's talk.  Even though technically I am not a youth
anymore I still feel like one.  I also loved President Uchtdorf's talk
on the worth of a soul.  Then the 2nd Counselor in the Sunday School
Presidency also gave a great talk.  I loved his comment about not
teaching in front of the Spirit and also not behind the Spirit but by
the Spirit.  I have really felt the difference this past week.  I
thought that there was a focus on the Book of Mormon and also they
talked a lot about Standing as a Witness of God at all times.  Also
that we should always be prepared to share what we know to be true.
Because we never know when we will need to.  We are going to try to
watch the rest of it on Saturday.  We also had a guy that we used to
teach named Kennedy come back to us saying that he really wants to
change.  I can see it in his eyes that he wants to also.  He has been
to church many times so that is not a problem.  He has come the last
few weeks.

That is too bad that Joe Paterno and those students reacted that way.
You were right Dad that is a lot bigger than football.  Did Tony La
Russa retire or did they release him?  Which wouldn't make sense after
they just won the World Series.  The Marlins are able to afford
Pujols?  Speaking of baseball I have received one of the gloves.  I am
still waiting for the other stuff.  Thank you though.  Sorry that I
didn't answer your question Mom I realized that I never actually did
on Tuesday.  Yes I could very easily find children to give those
things to.  So whatever you may want to send I can find them a home.
That is cool that they did some amazing race things in Malawi.  It is
good because you got to see some of the places I have been.  I don't
blame those people for not knowing their way around it is quite
confusing when you first get there.  So you have gotten quite a bit of
snow lately?  Yeah well we have gotten quite a bit of heat lately.
The big yellow ball in the sky is not really my friend.  I drink a lot
of water.  Like at least 4 liters a day.  Well I can't think of
anything else.  Have a good week.

Love,

Elder Cecil

How are things?  Well this past week kind of had ups and downs.  We
only got to work for three days.  My companion spent two of them with
a stomach running faster than it had strength.  And the other day we
missed was Thursday with the meeting with Brother Tracy Watson.  That
was really cool.  He talked about how every thing we teach and do in
the Church goes back to Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Holy Ghost,
and Enduring to the End.  It made total sense.  All of the
commandments and the history of the Church can be traced back to The
Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He also spent a lot of time teaching us about
finding people.  The way we contact was a big focus.  We have already
seen some things change as we have talked to people, it has given us
more opportunities to teach them.  We have gotten appointments set
with quite a few people this week.  I am looking forward to finally
having a week without interruptions.  Oh and I also found out that
Brother Watson was David Williamson's Mission President.  As a
district leader I have to prepare trainings for district meetings on
Tuesdays.  I have to report with all of the companionships in the
district on how they felt their week went and what they can improve
on.  I also conduct baptism interviews for the missionaries in my
district as well as for the zone leaders.  I have conducted one
interview before when I was in Lilongwe because Elder Gonza was at a
leadership training in Blantyre.  We haven't seen or heard from Felix
at all.  We did find out where JJ went though.  He was in Ndola in the
Copperbelt.  But we haven't seen him yet because he never came to
Church.  Right now our most promising investigators are the
grandchildren of a sister in the branch named Sister Zulu.  That mom
is so powerful.  She is such a funny lady.  The names are Andelina
(yes that is spelled correctly) Chilemo, and Audrey Shachingandu.
They are both around 16-18.  I hope that things will work out with the
people that we contacted that last few days we really are running low
on people to teach.  My district only has Elder Inzabula and his
branch missionary in it but when we have meetings one of our Zone
Leaders and his companion will be there.

That is too bad that the LSU and Bama game was boring.  I guess that
all of the conference changes has been more fun to watch than some of
the games.  An African suit is not like a suit you where to church.  I
think that I have a picture of a missionary in one in the pictures
that I sent you with Elder Roberts.  If I remember right he is sitting
in a chair.  That is crazy about all the stuff about Mitt Romney.  I
wish that things like that didn't happen.  Friday is my one year mark.
 It really hasn't felt like a sacrifice.  The whole time has been more
like a dream to me.  It is weird I feel like my lifeat home was just
put on hold.  Well that is all I can think of right now.

Love,

Elder Cecil

Well I know that the first thing you want to hear about is transfers
so here goes.  I am still in Matero with Elder Mangumta but I am now
the District Leader of the Matero District which was just barely
formed.  I wasn't expecting that.  Because I knew I was staying the
same but then on Sunday morning President called and told me that I
was now the District leader. Oh and I am not joking this time.  Elder
Santana has been transferred and Elder Inzabula will be with a branch
missionary.  He was not happy at all when he found out that I was the
district leader and not him.  He thinks that because he has been in
the area longer and also on mission longer that it should be him.  It
is interesting that he is upset because he asked President in our
Specialized Training a couple of weeks ago what he looks for when
choosing leaders and President said that the first thing he looks at
is the obedience of the missionary.  And Elder Inzabula is far from
obedience.  I have a feeling that he won't be working very much this
transfer.  He is with a Branch Missionary in an area that he
definitely doesn't want to be in because it is far from our house and
it is his 5th transfer there.  That in not a great combination.
Anyway we had a District Conference (which is basically a Stake
Conference without a stake) this past weekend.  It was really good.
On Saturday Elder Taggart gave a talk in the adult session and he
talked about how we need to "be what we profess to be" so I thought a
lot about how the Pharisees would profess to live the Law of Moses but
in reality they were far from it.  Then I thought about the question,
"What do I profess to be?"  I have really looked at myself the last 24
hours to see where I can improve especially because of my new
assignment.  This is an opportunity for me to really grow and also to
serve others.  Then on Sunday President Lumbama, the District
President, told the story of how he met and was able to get his wife
to marry him.  He likened it unto the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
 He said that when a man is trying to date a woman he tries to put his
best qualities out there and in that way he is able to show her he is
a good person and that they should get married.  So he said that is
how we need to obtain and keep the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
It was a really good analogy that is really easy to relate to for just
about anyone.  Elder Russell M. Nelson was in Malawi last week to
dedicate the country for missionary work.  So basically we were
allowed to be in the country and proselyte but it had not been blessed
by the Bretheren yet.  President told us that it was a really powerful
experience.  He put his hands on the ground and said about a 20 minute
prayer.  In the prayer he blessed the land for more rain and that the
crops would grow.  He blessed the people that they would be able to
find jobs and the government as well as the future governments.  He
blessed the entire mission with increased success which I believe will
also play part in those prophesies.  He also cast the devil out of the
country.  They also told a story that they went to this orphanage to
buy cream to make a dessert and when they got there they met the lady
who ran the orphanage.  Sister Bulloch asked if they could possibly
bring missionaries there to do a service but she refused.  When they
asked her why she said, "You have this spirit about you and we don't
want that here."  So when President gave the closing remarks of the
Conference he talked about how people notice us and know that we are
different.  They often think that something is wrong with us.  He said
that it is not, however, something that is wrong but something that is
right.  Lameck was also asked to bear his testimony in the conference
along with a few other recent converts in the District.  It was a
really powerful testimony.  We saw Felix once this last week but then
he didn't come to the conference, we think that it is because he just
got a new job.  So he won't be ready for this coming week.  We are
going to put it back a few weeks.  The same with Rachael.  We will get
to watch General Conference on the 11 and 12 of November.  I am really
excited.  I think we will be doing a lot of finding this week.  We
have had to drop a few of our investigators.

I'm glad that Lyle was reunited with Connie, I'm sure he's much
happier now.  I am also glad that the family treated more like a
celebration of life.  He was a great man.  The time schedule for
Zambians is the same as Zimbabweans, just as you said, 2 hours late.
Really that is basically everywhere in Africa according to the people,
they call it African time.  I haven't bought much yet but I am
planning on having an African suit made soon.  My costume this year
for Halloween is the same as last years only this year I got a name
tag to go with it.  Well at least the Cardinals are better than the
Yankees or the Phillies.  That is two years in a row for Texas to lose
in the World Series though.  I wish that I could watch that Alabama
and LSU game.  I bet it will be powerful.  We are going to have a
meeting with Brother Tracy Watson who is the Director of Proselyting
in the Missionary Department in Salt Lake on Thursday.  He was in
charge of the new training program we are doing.  We are excited for
that.  Anyway I guess I will talk to you later.

Love,

Elder Cecil