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
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Muri bwanji?
This week was not real great lessons wise again. We would have a full
day planned but when we would go to our first appointment they would
bounce us. We would then go to our backup plan and kulibe (nothing).
A second back up, same result. By the time we would do that it was
time to go to our next scheduled appointment. The pattern would
continue all day everyday. But even though things didn't work out
well that way, I don't feel that bad because we did all that we could.
Brian was baptized on Sunday as planned. I performed it because he
told me that I was going to do it when Sam was baptized. I also
performed one for a sister named Sister Nyirenda. She lives in the
other guys area and is the daughter of some members. I always thought
she was a member until a few weeks ago because she was always at
church. I guess they thought she was a member too. But she and her
husband were not baptized yet. They were both baptized yesterday and
she asked me to do it. I don't know why. In Lilongwe they didn't
really move it out of the city but just to a location that is more
central to the branch members. It was where it was because when they
formed it there was only one branch and so that was the most central
place. But when the branch split in February it was basically on the
outskirts of the boundaries far from anyone else. So they moved it to
area 47 a much better spot for it. I don't know how I got my
companion to ride the bike more. He just told me one day that he
wanted to ride the bikes and so we have been doing it ever since. We
get transfers this week so we shall see what happens. We missed Felix
this week. We never saw him, and he doesn't have a phone so we have
to try to track him down.
Kalimba Farm was sweet. Some of those crocodiles are huge. I got a
video of a smaller one that snapped at a stick that was poking it.
The stick was like as thick as a baseball bat and it broke the stick
and then you could still see the stick in its mouth after it. That
thing was so fast. If you blink you will miss it. I put a python on
my neck. Its skin felt cool. They said that it is not big enough to
kill you if it is around your waist but that the other one they have
could. They usually bring out the big one but it had just had eggs
and the keeper had taken them out so it wasn't happy with him right
now. They had a bunch of cobras in this one exhibit that kept
fighting each other. So the keeper would have to go and hit them with
a stick so that they would stop. They were fighting because they had
just fed them some live chicks and sometimes they would steal them
from each other. They also had a Black Mamba, the most poisonous
snake in Africa. It isn't actually black but it's mouth is so that is
why they call it that. We also played soccer there and had a braai.
It was a really good day. I enjoyed it. I also got some good
pictures. Dad it is the same place that President went. They
actually let him go inside the crocodile place I think.
I am excited about those gloves and baseballs. That will be powerful.
Elder Chikenge found out about my socks when he saw my pictures and
then asked about them. He is excited for them. I was told by our
Zone Leaders that they think I am no. 1 in the mission for mail. And
I know I have more coming, not only from you guys. Others have
emailed me telling me that they sent me letters. I wish that I could
go sky diving, I have always wanted to. I miss the World Series. I
actually saw a little bit of one of the Brewers Cardinals series in
Manda Hill where we email last week but I only saw one at bat and I
couldn't tell who was hitting for the Brewers. Any way I guess I will
talk toyou later.
Much Love,
Elder Cecil
This week was not real great lessons wise again. We would have a full
day planned but when we would go to our first appointment they would
bounce us. We would then go to our backup plan and kulibe (nothing).
A second back up, same result. By the time we would do that it was
time to go to our next scheduled appointment. The pattern would
continue all day everyday. But even though things didn't work out
well that way, I don't feel that bad because we did all that we could.
Brian was baptized on Sunday as planned. I performed it because he
told me that I was going to do it when Sam was baptized. I also
performed one for a sister named Sister Nyirenda. She lives in the
other guys area and is the daughter of some members. I always thought
she was a member until a few weeks ago because she was always at
church. I guess they thought she was a member too. But she and her
husband were not baptized yet. They were both baptized yesterday and
she asked me to do it. I don't know why. In Lilongwe they didn't
really move it out of the city but just to a location that is more
central to the branch members. It was where it was because when they
formed it there was only one branch and so that was the most central
place. But when the branch split in February it was basically on the
outskirts of the boundaries far from anyone else. So they moved it to
area 47 a much better spot for it. I don't know how I got my
companion to ride the bike more. He just told me one day that he
wanted to ride the bikes and so we have been doing it ever since. We
get transfers this week so we shall see what happens. We missed Felix
this week. We never saw him, and he doesn't have a phone so we have
to try to track him down.
Kalimba Farm was sweet. Some of those crocodiles are huge. I got a
video of a smaller one that snapped at a stick that was poking it.
The stick was like as thick as a baseball bat and it broke the stick
and then you could still see the stick in its mouth after it. That
thing was so fast. If you blink you will miss it. I put a python on
my neck. Its skin felt cool. They said that it is not big enough to
kill you if it is around your waist but that the other one they have
could. They usually bring out the big one but it had just had eggs
and the keeper had taken them out so it wasn't happy with him right
now. They had a bunch of cobras in this one exhibit that kept
fighting each other. So the keeper would have to go and hit them with
a stick so that they would stop. They were fighting because they had
just fed them some live chicks and sometimes they would steal them
from each other. They also had a Black Mamba, the most poisonous
snake in Africa. It isn't actually black but it's mouth is so that is
why they call it that. We also played soccer there and had a braai.
It was a really good day. I enjoyed it. I also got some good
pictures. Dad it is the same place that President went. They
actually let him go inside the crocodile place I think.
I am excited about those gloves and baseballs. That will be powerful.
Elder Chikenge found out about my socks when he saw my pictures and
then asked about them. He is excited for them. I was told by our
Zone Leaders that they think I am no. 1 in the mission for mail. And
I know I have more coming, not only from you guys. Others have
emailed me telling me that they sent me letters. I wish that I could
go sky diving, I have always wanted to. I miss the World Series. I
actually saw a little bit of one of the Brewers Cardinals series in
Manda Hill where we email last week but I only saw one at bat and I
couldn't tell who was hitting for the Brewers. Any way I guess I will
talk toyou later.
Much Love,
Elder Cecil
Monday, October 17, 2011
Well our baptism went great. Sister Kalonga gave a really powerful
testimony in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. I got to confirm her, and
her husband got to baptize her. She was so happy when she came up out
of the water. The rest of the week wasn't all that great though.
Well let me say this. It was good considering all the things that
happened. We had a Specialized Training on Tuesday from President
Padovich and the Assistants. That was great I really enjoyed it. The
theme was on working with our branch leaders. It seems to be helping
because we have committed our Branch President to get us a branch
mission leader finally. We set a deadline by the first week of
November. They have been doing well with callings lately. I think
that they have already called Sister Kalonga to be in the primary.
Then on Friday we spent half of the day waiting for the Assistants to
bring our district leader for the interviews so we didn't get much
done. Saturday we had the baptism at 11:30 then we had to go to do
this survey thing online for missionaries but the email place in our
area wasn't working so then we had to wait for our Zone Leaders to
take us to town and we found that our normal internet shop had no
connection, so we had to go to another one. After that we went to a
wedding for some members of the branches that our district leader and
the sisters work in because both of our Zone leaders were invited
because they both served in that branch. Yesterday after church we
had PEC for 2 1/2 hours. Yeah it took forever but we did get things
accomplished. We do not know where JJ is but we learned that Lazarus
is in the middle of writing exams for school so that is why he has not
been around. Felix is doing great he is scheduled for 5 November and
is so excited. Elder Chikenge our district leader was with us when we
saw him on Friday and came out feeling excited about him after just
one lesson. Brian is prepared and ready for his baptism on Sunday.
He is loving reading the Book of Mormon right now. I think that soon
we are going to start teaching Sister Kalonga's young sister who also
stays with them. We are uniting this family one person at a time. It
is great.
Yeah we always ride our bikes now. My companion has learned to love
them. So it is nice and saves sooo much time. Transfers are next
week so we shall see. Well I do know that Rhett is working on his
papers now so he is beginning to make it a reality. I am glad to hear
that he just stepped in like that. That's terrible about Luke. I
will definetly put him in my prayers. I got a letter from Abby, and
the one from that Sunday School class, as well as one from the
Primary. That was fun even though about half of the kids I didn't
even know. They were all asking about monkeys so I will have to give
them my baboon story. I really enjoyed that one. We are going to a
place called Kalimba Farm today. It is a reptile place, they say that
it is really nice. We will also have a braai. So I need to wrap up
now but I will give more next week. Oh I saw a guy wearing a Utah
Styx t-shirt (I used to play them in travel ball) and another guy
wearing a Turkey Trot t-shirt.
Love,
Elder Cecil
testimony in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. I got to confirm her, and
her husband got to baptize her. She was so happy when she came up out
of the water. The rest of the week wasn't all that great though.
Well let me say this. It was good considering all the things that
happened. We had a Specialized Training on Tuesday from President
Padovich and the Assistants. That was great I really enjoyed it. The
theme was on working with our branch leaders. It seems to be helping
because we have committed our Branch President to get us a branch
mission leader finally. We set a deadline by the first week of
November. They have been doing well with callings lately. I think
that they have already called Sister Kalonga to be in the primary.
Then on Friday we spent half of the day waiting for the Assistants to
bring our district leader for the interviews so we didn't get much
done. Saturday we had the baptism at 11:30 then we had to go to do
this survey thing online for missionaries but the email place in our
area wasn't working so then we had to wait for our Zone Leaders to
take us to town and we found that our normal internet shop had no
connection, so we had to go to another one. After that we went to a
wedding for some members of the branches that our district leader and
the sisters work in because both of our Zone leaders were invited
because they both served in that branch. Yesterday after church we
had PEC for 2 1/2 hours. Yeah it took forever but we did get things
accomplished. We do not know where JJ is but we learned that Lazarus
is in the middle of writing exams for school so that is why he has not
been around. Felix is doing great he is scheduled for 5 November and
is so excited. Elder Chikenge our district leader was with us when we
saw him on Friday and came out feeling excited about him after just
one lesson. Brian is prepared and ready for his baptism on Sunday.
He is loving reading the Book of Mormon right now. I think that soon
we are going to start teaching Sister Kalonga's young sister who also
stays with them. We are uniting this family one person at a time. It
is great.
Yeah we always ride our bikes now. My companion has learned to love
them. So it is nice and saves sooo much time. Transfers are next
week so we shall see. Well I do know that Rhett is working on his
papers now so he is beginning to make it a reality. I am glad to hear
that he just stepped in like that. That's terrible about Luke. I
will definetly put him in my prayers. I got a letter from Abby, and
the one from that Sunday School class, as well as one from the
Primary. That was fun even though about half of the kids I didn't
even know. They were all asking about monkeys so I will have to give
them my baboon story. I really enjoyed that one. We are going to a
place called Kalimba Farm today. It is a reptile place, they say that
it is really nice. We will also have a braai. So I need to wrap up
now but I will give more next week. Oh I saw a guy wearing a Utah
Styx t-shirt (I used to play them in travel ball) and another guy
wearing a Turkey Trot t-shirt.
Love,
Elder Cecil
Monday, October 10, 2011
We have had a decent week. We got rained on on Tuesday night and
again on Wednesday. On Wednesday it only rained for like an hour but
it rained ridiculously hard. The water was up to the pedal on my
bike. We took refuge on this guy's porch. The guy didn't want to
here anything about us though. He was nice though because he invited
us to come to his porch. We had something really cool happen to us
though. On Friday we had an appointment with a man that I contacted
on Wednesday. So we met him and he took us to his brother's house who
happens to be a Muslim. We taught the guy and his brother was just
kind of sitting there and we couldn't really tell if he was listening
or not. So we just assumed that he didn't care because Muslims tend
to avoid contact with Christianity. So after the lesson the Muslim
man whose name is Felix told us that he liked the message and wanted a
copy of the Book of Mormon. We only had one so we promised to bring
him one on Saturday. When we went to drop it off he told us that he
was going to come to church and that he would be there by 8. Church
starts at 9:30. Well he came to church and just like he said he was
there at 8. After Church when we asked him how he liked it, he asked
when he could get baptized. That was a big surprise. So hopefully
things work out with that. Sister Kalonga is still on schedule to be
baptized on Saturday. Her brother Brian was able to come to church
because they got their cars. He is planned for the 23 of October.
Another man who we are teaching is a referral from a recent convert.
His name is Ackson. His brother Serge who is the rc wanted us to
teach him. Serge was baptized in another area of Lusaka but moved
into our branch. The missionaries in that area had been struggling
for a while on him. Ackson was doing some very serious sins. Word of
Wisdom and Law of Chastity problems. But he has come to church for
two weeks and Serge says that he has gone through a complete
transformation. It hasn't been anything that we have done though
because we have only taught him like three times. But he is also
scheduled for the 23rd. With Lazerus and Mary we don't know what is
up. We just can't get them to come to church, we didn't even see
Lazerus this week. Emmanuel is someone who is really searching for
the truth. He missed Church so we went and talked to him later on.
He said that one of the pastors at his church was telling him how he
should not get baptized twice so he needs to make a decision as to
which church he should get baptized in and stick to it. We went and
he told us that he is going to make a list of all the reasons he
attends the church he goes to now and then all of the reasons why he
wants to join us and then pray about them. So I think that he we
receive an answer because of this.
Aunt Kim I have something to tell you that will make you happy. Those
two years that I was a reading tutor are paying off. I am teaching
little Sam Kalonga how to read the Book of Mormon. The other day I
was able to help him read an entire verse including the word
"destoyed". And Chris and Uncle Scott I also have something that will
make you happy. I contacted a guy wearing a t-shirt that said,
"Wrigley Field" then below it was an "RF" and below that is said "The
Bleachers". So I told him that he had a powerful shirt on and that my
uncle would probably buy the shirt right off of his back. Apparently
I have some mail but the Assistants have it so I don't know who it is
from. On my birthday President called me to wish me a happy birthday
and told me that I should treat myself to some ice cream. So I did.
Then the Taggarts called and sang to me. Then Elder Santana bought me
ice cream too. Other than that the day wasn't really that great. I
have heard from Elder Roberts oh sorry Brother Roberts. He seems to
be doing well. He is going to school at SUU and just enjoying life.
Right now he has no real prospects for my mother. Sorry Mom. The
little Book of Mormon guys are sitting on top of our shelves and
everybody that comes to our house always asks where I get them.
Collin emailed me today wishing me a happy birthday. So I wished him
a happy birthday too. Which I had planned on doing before his email.
It seems as if you are doing a good job on your cheering because the
Yankees and the Phillies both lost. Elder O'niell who was in my house
in Glenview is from Michigan so he is excited about the Tigers and the
Lions. Oh and if you are able to send the gloves I think that I will
get them because none of the packages I have received since the
mission split have even been opened. Oh and I would love it if you
could send me Karl's email address I've been wanting to send him a
short message but I don't know if he is using David or Karl in his
address. Anyway I guess I will talk to you later.
Love,
Elder Cecil
again on Wednesday. On Wednesday it only rained for like an hour but
it rained ridiculously hard. The water was up to the pedal on my
bike. We took refuge on this guy's porch. The guy didn't want to
here anything about us though. He was nice though because he invited
us to come to his porch. We had something really cool happen to us
though. On Friday we had an appointment with a man that I contacted
on Wednesday. So we met him and he took us to his brother's house who
happens to be a Muslim. We taught the guy and his brother was just
kind of sitting there and we couldn't really tell if he was listening
or not. So we just assumed that he didn't care because Muslims tend
to avoid contact with Christianity. So after the lesson the Muslim
man whose name is Felix told us that he liked the message and wanted a
copy of the Book of Mormon. We only had one so we promised to bring
him one on Saturday. When we went to drop it off he told us that he
was going to come to church and that he would be there by 8. Church
starts at 9:30. Well he came to church and just like he said he was
there at 8. After Church when we asked him how he liked it, he asked
when he could get baptized. That was a big surprise. So hopefully
things work out with that. Sister Kalonga is still on schedule to be
baptized on Saturday. Her brother Brian was able to come to church
because they got their cars. He is planned for the 23 of October.
Another man who we are teaching is a referral from a recent convert.
His name is Ackson. His brother Serge who is the rc wanted us to
teach him. Serge was baptized in another area of Lusaka but moved
into our branch. The missionaries in that area had been struggling
for a while on him. Ackson was doing some very serious sins. Word of
Wisdom and Law of Chastity problems. But he has come to church for
two weeks and Serge says that he has gone through a complete
transformation. It hasn't been anything that we have done though
because we have only taught him like three times. But he is also
scheduled for the 23rd. With Lazerus and Mary we don't know what is
up. We just can't get them to come to church, we didn't even see
Lazerus this week. Emmanuel is someone who is really searching for
the truth. He missed Church so we went and talked to him later on.
He said that one of the pastors at his church was telling him how he
should not get baptized twice so he needs to make a decision as to
which church he should get baptized in and stick to it. We went and
he told us that he is going to make a list of all the reasons he
attends the church he goes to now and then all of the reasons why he
wants to join us and then pray about them. So I think that he we
receive an answer because of this.
Aunt Kim I have something to tell you that will make you happy. Those
two years that I was a reading tutor are paying off. I am teaching
little Sam Kalonga how to read the Book of Mormon. The other day I
was able to help him read an entire verse including the word
"destoyed". And Chris and Uncle Scott I also have something that will
make you happy. I contacted a guy wearing a t-shirt that said,
"Wrigley Field" then below it was an "RF" and below that is said "The
Bleachers". So I told him that he had a powerful shirt on and that my
uncle would probably buy the shirt right off of his back. Apparently
I have some mail but the Assistants have it so I don't know who it is
from. On my birthday President called me to wish me a happy birthday
and told me that I should treat myself to some ice cream. So I did.
Then the Taggarts called and sang to me. Then Elder Santana bought me
ice cream too. Other than that the day wasn't really that great. I
have heard from Elder Roberts oh sorry Brother Roberts. He seems to
be doing well. He is going to school at SUU and just enjoying life.
Right now he has no real prospects for my mother. Sorry Mom. The
little Book of Mormon guys are sitting on top of our shelves and
everybody that comes to our house always asks where I get them.
Collin emailed me today wishing me a happy birthday. So I wished him
a happy birthday too. Which I had planned on doing before his email.
It seems as if you are doing a good job on your cheering because the
Yankees and the Phillies both lost. Elder O'niell who was in my house
in Glenview is from Michigan so he is excited about the Tigers and the
Lions. Oh and if you are able to send the gloves I think that I will
get them because none of the packages I have received since the
mission split have even been opened. Oh and I would love it if you
could send me Karl's email address I've been wanting to send him a
short message but I don't know if he is using David or Karl in his
address. Anyway I guess I will talk to you later.
Love,
Elder Cecil
Monday, October 3, 2011
First, thank you for the birthday wishes, and yes it does feel weird
to be turning 20. I received that birthday package yesterday. Thank
you, I will be reading that book in my spare time. I can't use it for
studies but at night when we aren't doing much it will be nice. We
had the baptism for Sister Phiri and Sam Kalonga. I baptized Sam
because everyone in his family got called away and they told us that
we should just go ahead and do it. The rest of our week was a
struggle though. We just kept getting bounced and then bounced again.
Oh and then we would get bounced again. But we are really making
good progress with Sam's step-mother Sister Kalonga. We were finally
able to teach her since the elections are over, and she now has time.
She is a policewoman. Before when the missionaries would go to teach
her husband and his brothers that stay with them, she wouldn't
participate and would leave the room but a while back we had set an
appointment to teach Brother Kalonga and his brothers but then they
couldn't get home on time but she was there so we asked if we could
share something with her. She kind of reluctantly agreed. We taught
about temples and families. She really seemed to be interested in
that. So then she agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about
it. Then we rarely saw her for the next couple of weeks because of
work. But this week we have seen her 3 times and all 3 times she has
been really excited. She has been coming to church for the last few
weeks with her husband. She is scheduled to be baptized on 15
October. I am really enjoying teaching her. Her brother Brian, who
is also staying with them wants to be baptized as well the problem is
he has a heart condition (which is the reason he lives with them) that
makes him unable to walk to church. But they are getting a new car
this week so they want to drive him to the church so that he can be
baptized as well. He has been present in all of Sam's lessons and
Sister Kalonga's and because he has to sit at home all day so he has
been reading the pamphlets and the Book of Mormon. Things in that
family are going really well. JJ seems to have dropped off of the
map. The Kabeya's can't find him and neither can we. We talked to
Sam and he said that he was coming to church this week but he never
came. Lameck said that it will get better when he moves into the
area. Lameck is going to be the new Young Men's President. I think
that it will be really good for him. I just hope that the
Distribution Center will be open tomorrow so that we can get him a
King James version of the Bible. We have been trying for like 6
weeks. The sister who runs it has cancer now so it hasn't been open.
But apparently they found someone to take over for her. We saw
Lazerus again but I don't know what is happening with him he just
isn't coming to church. We did not get to watch conference so we
will have to wait for the DVD's to come so that we can watch them with
the branch.
I think that teaching lessons is something can always be improved on.
But I will say that it is something that I have improved dramatically
on since the beginning of my mission. Before I was not good at
teaching things. I knew the stuff but I couldn't have taught someone
though. But now it is so much easier to get people to think. I
taught a lesson on home teaching yesterday in priesthood. I think
that one of the reasons why they struggle at doing it so much here is
that most of them just didn't know how to do it. So I had them do a
role-play. I picked two guys to be the teachers and made a family of
some others. Of the two guys one was an RM and the other is a former
BP so they knew what to do. The family was perfect they had some
problems and the Home teachers had to help them. Then I had the rest
of them evaluate them and I really think that it helped them. I heard
a lot of brothers after church saying how much they enjoyed that
lesson. We had really good discussions and I didn't have to say
anything. It was great.
Well you can cheer for Detroit, Texas, and St. Louis for me. I was
told about Francona resigning by one of the members and I was shocked
but then I thought about how you said they were playing terrible and
so I wasn't as shocked. I am assuming since you haven't mentioned
Oregon that they are not scoring like they were last year. Well I
realized that on friday was 6 weeks exactly until my one year. It
feels really weird. It is going really fast. My computer won't let
me send pictures today. I know it is the pits. Anyway talk to you
later. You are in my prayers.
Love,
Elder Cecil
to be turning 20. I received that birthday package yesterday. Thank
you, I will be reading that book in my spare time. I can't use it for
studies but at night when we aren't doing much it will be nice. We
had the baptism for Sister Phiri and Sam Kalonga. I baptized Sam
because everyone in his family got called away and they told us that
we should just go ahead and do it. The rest of our week was a
struggle though. We just kept getting bounced and then bounced again.
Oh and then we would get bounced again. But we are really making
good progress with Sam's step-mother Sister Kalonga. We were finally
able to teach her since the elections are over, and she now has time.
She is a policewoman. Before when the missionaries would go to teach
her husband and his brothers that stay with them, she wouldn't
participate and would leave the room but a while back we had set an
appointment to teach Brother Kalonga and his brothers but then they
couldn't get home on time but she was there so we asked if we could
share something with her. She kind of reluctantly agreed. We taught
about temples and families. She really seemed to be interested in
that. So then she agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about
it. Then we rarely saw her for the next couple of weeks because of
work. But this week we have seen her 3 times and all 3 times she has
been really excited. She has been coming to church for the last few
weeks with her husband. She is scheduled to be baptized on 15
October. I am really enjoying teaching her. Her brother Brian, who
is also staying with them wants to be baptized as well the problem is
he has a heart condition (which is the reason he lives with them) that
makes him unable to walk to church. But they are getting a new car
this week so they want to drive him to the church so that he can be
baptized as well. He has been present in all of Sam's lessons and
Sister Kalonga's and because he has to sit at home all day so he has
been reading the pamphlets and the Book of Mormon. Things in that
family are going really well. JJ seems to have dropped off of the
map. The Kabeya's can't find him and neither can we. We talked to
Sam and he said that he was coming to church this week but he never
came. Lameck said that it will get better when he moves into the
area. Lameck is going to be the new Young Men's President. I think
that it will be really good for him. I just hope that the
Distribution Center will be open tomorrow so that we can get him a
King James version of the Bible. We have been trying for like 6
weeks. The sister who runs it has cancer now so it hasn't been open.
But apparently they found someone to take over for her. We saw
Lazerus again but I don't know what is happening with him he just
isn't coming to church. We did not get to watch conference so we
will have to wait for the DVD's to come so that we can watch them with
the branch.
I think that teaching lessons is something can always be improved on.
But I will say that it is something that I have improved dramatically
on since the beginning of my mission. Before I was not good at
teaching things. I knew the stuff but I couldn't have taught someone
though. But now it is so much easier to get people to think. I
taught a lesson on home teaching yesterday in priesthood. I think
that one of the reasons why they struggle at doing it so much here is
that most of them just didn't know how to do it. So I had them do a
role-play. I picked two guys to be the teachers and made a family of
some others. Of the two guys one was an RM and the other is a former
BP so they knew what to do. The family was perfect they had some
problems and the Home teachers had to help them. Then I had the rest
of them evaluate them and I really think that it helped them. I heard
a lot of brothers after church saying how much they enjoyed that
lesson. We had really good discussions and I didn't have to say
anything. It was great.
Well you can cheer for Detroit, Texas, and St. Louis for me. I was
told about Francona resigning by one of the members and I was shocked
but then I thought about how you said they were playing terrible and
so I wasn't as shocked. I am assuming since you haven't mentioned
Oregon that they are not scoring like they were last year. Well I
realized that on friday was 6 weeks exactly until my one year. It
feels really weird. It is going really fast. My computer won't let
me send pictures today. I know it is the pits. Anyway talk to you
later. You are in my prayers.
Love,
Elder Cecil
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