Hello from Zambia,

We had a pretty good week.  We've been able to kind of weed out the
jokers and find the "golden ribbons" as President Padovich likes to
call them.  Well Martha and Jane have turned xing on us, but we had a
feeling that that might happen.  Maybe it's just not their time.  With
George, we weren't able to get him to church but I know when we do he
won't turn back.  But there is a guy named Lamick that we've been
teaching for a few weeks but we just weren't sure about him that has
become powerful.  He opened up to us on Saturday, I think because we
were able to find a more private place to meet him.  He has had a
rough time in the last year.  He had a good job in the government and
things were going well.  Then out of nowhere he was fired and his wife
started to cheat on him so he ended the marriage.  After that he
wasted all of his money on alcohol and has gone into deep depressions.
 But he told us that every time he is with us he feels different.  We
had a good lesson with him and then to our great surprise he was at
church yesterday.  We really weren't expecting him.  Then Brother
Hatuma is extremely powerful.  We saw him on Saturday and Sunday.
Both lessons we came out of them and were just amazed at the power of
the Spirit that was present.  He is in charge of this big agricultural
show this week so he couldn't come to church but I am positive that he
will progress fast.  We are going to try to get President Padovich to
come with us to a lesson with us.  Tamika is supposed to come back
from the Copperbelt this week so next week as long as she comes to
church she will be baptized.  We've been sending her reading
assignments by text and she always calls and tells us when she is done
and what she learned.  She is really powerful.  No nobody else was
hurt in the fire, he got them all out then went back to get some
important documents or something and then a burning beam fell on him
or something.  We are actually the closest missionaries to the mission
home but I have never been able to go because there is no transport to
get there.  But President did come to our District Meeting on Tuesday
which was really good.  He told me in his email to me that he is
really looking forward to sitting down with me to talk and get to know
each other.  I am also really looking forward to that.  I even told
him that too since I have never gotten to do that before so I think it
might happen soon.  Yesterday I was actually expecting to give a
"surprise" talk (it's not really a surprise anymore), so I was going
to talk about the pioneers (I mean it was Pioneer Day after all) and
then turn it around and talk about how they are the pioneers of the
Church here in Africa.  But I didn't talk but we had a really powerful
talk on courage by this old baba, Brother Zulu, who has to travel for
3 hours each way for church each week, and he is always the first
person there.

What happened with Elder Harper being transferred was because he and
Elder Inzabula were having real problems.  Elder Inzabula likes to
argue, which is crazy to me but anyway, he and my comp were having an
argument and Elder Harper was trying to quote the Best Two Years By
saying, "don't wrestle with the pigs because you both get dirty but
the pigs like it."  At the word pig, Elder Inzabula punched Elder
Harper.  So that is what happened.  We received Elder Santana  who is
from Harare, I like him, he seems pretty cool.  He really likes the
word awesome.  He says it all the time.

When I read about your encounter with Cami I just laughed, because she
hasn't changed.  I don't understand how you can not know when or how
you hurt yourself that badly.  But anyway I got a new bike on
Saturday.  It even has a full suspension but I don't really know how
nice it is yet I haven't really had a chance to ride it much.  My
other bike got stolen because we didn't have a lock and even though we
have been asking for one it never came, that is until now.  The thing
out the Lord chastening us was just something that I really liked so I
wanted to share it, not because I feel like we were being chastened.
So I have actually been meaning to tell you guys something for a while
now but I just kept forgetting.  When I was still in Lilongwe, Robert,
that recent convert that I really liked had two awesome shirts.  Dad
this one is for you:  a Kokopeli shirt.  I was shocked to see it.  And
Nic and Ali this one is for you:  Vote for Pedro, complete with "if
you vote for me all of your wildest dreams will come true."  I used to
have pictures of them but then my camera was stolen.  I think I will
be able to get a new one on Thursday because they apparently have
specials. I am looking forward to the new bright ties that are coming,
I appreciate the support.  Well I guess I will talk to you later.

Much love,

Elder Cecil

Well things have been going pretty good this week.  Tuesday and
Wednesday were a little tough lessons wise but the rest of the week
really pcked up for us.  George is doing well except that he isn't
coming to church, but he does keep all of his other commitments.  We
are teaching this sister named Lydia who is the sister to a member.
She already has a desire to join the Church and her sister will be
able to help her a lot.  Martha and Jane have been sick this week so
we haven't really been able to teach them much.  But I think that they
are improving so hopefully we can get back with them this week.  We
started teaching a new guy named Brother Hatuma who stays across the
street from us.  He seems prepared to hear the restored gospel.  He
has changed churches several times because he saw contention and mixed
up doctrines.  The spirit in the room during our lesson on Friday was
extremely strong.  I don't really know when I will get a new bike
because they have to import it.  But I do know that all things are
done for a reason.  The Lord chastens us because he loves us.  And the
work must move on anyway.

Well this week the 2nd counselor in the Branch Presidency died.  His
house caught on fire and he got badly burned.  He died in the hospital
a few days afterward.  They held the uneral yesterday after sacrament
meeting.  The whole service was held at the cemetary.  President
Padovich came to support.  There were many funerals there yesterday.
One was right next to ours and I mean like ten feet away.  The women
who were not members were wailing.  Many of them were fake wails
though.  President told us that we should start singing hymns o try to
stop them but as we were deciding what hymn to sing some of the recent
convert sisters started singing.  The hymns definetely helped to quiet
the wailing.  During the service, the funeral next to us had a fight
break out.  One of the guys almost fell into the grave of our brother.
 President Padovich then leaned over to me and said something really
powerful.  He said, "Good always stands beside evil but just look at
the difference."  One funeral was loud and contentious and the other
was quiet and reverent.  I have been thinking a lot about that since.
On the way back to our flat President said to his wife, "welcome to
Zambia."  It was their first real experience with that kind of stuff
in the compounds.

We had to have an Emergency Transfer in our house this week.  Some
other missionaries had some problems and Elder Harper got caught up in
the transfer.  So Edler Harper has to go to Kitwe and we will receive
Elder Santana tomorrow.  I will miss seeing Elder Harper but I will
see him again though because he is only one transfer ahead of me.  I
wish that I could get pictures from old companions but they don't have
cameras so those picures are gone for good.  The Family Fun Day is
going to be held on 30 July.  It will have different sports and games
as well as food and music.  The people seem to be excited for it.  I
received some letters from Collin and Abby today so that was nice.
Mesa Verde sounds like a sweet place, I would love to go there.  I
still am loving the work, and have fun everyday.  I was bored at night
once so I decided to draw a picture of the Savior.  It turned out
pretty nice  I felt good about it.

Love,

Elder Cecil

So I had found out that it was Heroes Day like two minutes after I got
off the computer but they really don't do much for it anyway so it
really didn't matter.  I am pretty sure that I can buy a new camera
but I will need to find time to actually go look for one.  Well we met
President Padovich and Sister Padovich on Tuesday.  They are awesome.
President Padovich is really funny but what do expect from someone who
used to work in the movie business.  The baptism rate in Zambia right
now is lower than it is in Zim and Malawi.  But when President was set
apart by Elder Holland he received a prophesy that by the end of his
mission there will be wards and stakes in Zambia and Malawi.  He also
had another prophesy by Elder Nelson that we would be seeing Wilford
Woodruff days where entire congregations will be baptized.  So in the
very near future things are going to be happening.  We didn't have our
baptism on Saturday because Kennedy had to go to the Copperbelt and we
aren't sure when he is coming back.  We have met and started teaching
these two sisters, Martha and Jane, who are going to be really
powerful.  They have been keeping their commitments very well, and
have been to church several times in the past. Well I have to go right
now but I will send more later on today so don't freak out or
anything.

Love,

Elder Cecil


So I will pick up where I left off.  We are also teaching a guy named
George.  The first time that we met him he thought we were Satanists
but we just shared a little bit about what we believe and things like
that.  After that he no longer felt that we were Satanist but he still
was kind of out to prove us wrong.  Asking questions to try to
confound us.  He did that for a few lessons and each time we came out
of the lesson frustrated with his stubbornness.  But then we went back
one day and he just started to listen and not ask meaningless
questions and we felt that something had changed but we weren't sure
if it was just that day or what.  So when we went back we found the
same thing.  I think that he will turn into a very powerful guy and if
he gets baptized it will be a very sweet one because of the work we
have had to put in on him.  There is also one other girl who I
actually just met yesterday at Church.  But she had been taught a few
times before I came but she has been in the Copperbelt.  She headed
back today for two weeks because she is trying to get into a
university but when she comes back it will be at least until the end
of the year.  She really reads from the Book of Mormon though so she
is almost guaranteed to get baptized.

Well the house just is doesn't compare to the houses I have lived in
in Glenview and Lilongwe.  It is somewhat similar to the Chi-town
house but I don't know, I just felt more at home in the Chi-town house
than here. I don't feel as comfortable in this house.  Much of the
area is a compound like Mtandire only the houses are a little nicer
and the roads are worse.  But it is a good area and I like the people.
 I had my bike stolen on Thursday though which is really xing.  We now
have to walk and it really ruins our days because instead of riding
for 15 minutes to our next appointment we now have to walk for 45
minutes to an hour.  But we will just have to keep pressing on.
Though that is a little difficult since my companion doesn't want to
walk.  I think that it has to do with being in the area for so long.
But I am trying to push him along.

When we first met President Padovich and his wife we were all standing
in the hallway waiting to greet them at the Lusaka Chapel.  Sister
Padovich saw us and began to cry.  President made a joke that even he
couldn't get her to do that.  Oh and if you ever have a desire to send
me a new tie make sure that it is a bright tie.  Sister Padovich loves
bright ties.  Also I just realized that today marks my 8 month mark on
mission.  Crazy right?

On Pdays we go play soccer at the Lusaka Chapel.  I have really
improved on my soccer skills since I have been here.  Though it is
still not great.  I am a lot better when I just have to react than
when I have time.  That is too bad to hear about Jordan.  But I am
glad that Karl did a good job, I know how much he hates speaking in
front of people.  I actually saw the first goal of that soccer game.
We walked into Tamika's house and the game was on.  It was actually an
own goal on Brazil.  Well have a good week.  Much love.

Love,

Elder Cecil

Hello from Zambia,

Happy 4th of July!!!  It's funny today is actually a holiday here too
but I'm not sure what it is.  But I'm pretty sure that there will not
be fireworks or a slip 'n' slide.  So that's kind of a down side but
it's okay.  Well so far things are going pretty well here.  Elder
Munguri and I have been getting along well so far.  We live with two
other missionaries, Elder Harper from the Salt Lake area and Elder
Inzabula from Kenya.  Elder Inzabula is really old.  He turns 28 soon.
 We actually are preparing to have a baptism on Saturday with a guy
named Kennedy.  He had been taught quite a bit last transfer but
finally made the decision to get baptized.  Most people speak English
pretty well here.  Much better than in Malawi.  The house we are in
isn't really that nice.  But at least we have electricity all the
time.  We actually had a shower put in this week but it isn't warm
most of the time.  The Branch has an average of 85 in attendance.  We
meet in a house which has a really nice set up for a church meeting.
They are supposed to start building a chapel this year sometime,
because they already have the land for it.  On Friday we were teaching
a lesson at the Church and a recent convert from Uganda showed up.  He
was traveling to Namibia and had been conned out of all of his money
at the border of Tanzania and Zambia.  He asked around to find the
church and we just happened to be there at the time.  We called around
to basically all of the leaders in the area.  We were finally able to
set an appointment with the District President on Saturday.  So then
we had to find a place for him to stay.  The first family we called,
the Shumba's, took him in without hesitation.  They treated him as if
he were a part of their family.  Brother Shumba really took to him.
He was able to get the help he needed and was able to travel to
Namibia.  Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways but I'm glad we
were able to be a part of helping him.  Elder Munguri and I are also
putting together a Family Fun Day for the District here in Lusaka.  We
have done a lot of work this week trying to find a venue and getting
it approved.  We will now be able to get some help from the District
and the Mission so our load will be lighter.  It will be similar to
the one that I told you they did in Harare.  It is scheduled for the
30th of July.  We haven't met President Padovich yet but we are going
to tomorrow.  I'm excited for that.  I haven't received your package
yet but hopefully I will get it soon.  Oh and I think that my camera
was stolen at the church.  I asked Elder Gonza if I left it in
Lilongwe but he said that they didn't see it.  I have looked
everywhere for it.  The worst part about losing it is that I lost all
of my pictures on it.  I still had a bunch from Glenview on it.  I
still have the other camera card but I will have to buy a new camera.
Well I guess that I will talk to you next week.  Give an extra OOOO
Ahhhhh for me in the fireworks.

Love

Elder Cecil