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

Well I am no longer in Lilongwe.  I was a little disappointed about
that, but oh well.  I am now in Lusaka, Zambia.  In an area called
Matero.  My companion is in my MTC group, Elder Munguri.  He is from
Harare.  He has been here in Matero for 6 months and is going on 7 1/2
months by the end of this transfer.  Which almost guarantees that next
transfer I will have a new companion.  I am back on a bike.  The bike
is actually pretty nice, or at least it will be once it is finished
getting serviced today.  It is a Fox Psycho.  I don't really know much
about the area yet since I only got here on Friday and we still had to
deal with transfers.  But our Branch President is really powerful.  He
served a mission in the Kenya Nairobi Mission and was an AP for 9
months.  So he knows how to actually do things.  It is kind of nice.
I do however know that they drink a ton here.  I think that in the
three days that I've been here I have seen more drunk people than I
did in 12 weeks in Malawi.  I just found out that they opened a group
in Mtandire yesterday.  Brother Mitambo, Godknows and Fortunate's
father is the group leader.  I knew he would be even though he has
only been a member since General Conference.  He is just that
powerful.  I was so happy that they got it opened.  That area is going
to explode.  Elder Barlow who is now with Elder Gonza told me that
President Dube thinks that Lilongwe could become a District within a
year.  That would be great.  I don't know if there were any more
Utahns this week but I doubt it because they were all giving away ties
and white shirts to our recent converts last week.

I have no idea if that curriculum vitae was real or not but it
wouldn't surprise me if it was.  It seems as if carpet is not a very
practical flooring for the basement.  But at least it was caught
before it got bad though.  Was Copper freaking out in the water?  Yes
the chickens that they hang on their bikes are very much alive.  I've
actually seen one of those Trikke things before I left.  They looked
like they were fun.  I didn't hear about Dexter, that's great.  I'm
happy for him.  I know that he would be really excited and that Judy
would be freaking out.  I bet that the SC and Florida match up is a
good one based on their teams last year.  Anyway I need to go so I
will talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder Cecil

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

We had a great week.  3 baptized and 4 confirmed.  So I found out
yesterday that Chancellous is not actually studying to be a pastor.
He already was one but he is now just attending a theology school.  He
stopped preaching to study, planning to go back but has since decided
not to go back because he wanted to be and has now been baptized.  We
are going to begin teaching Felix's wife this week.  He says that he
wants his whole family to be in the church.  His wife was worried
about travelling to the church with their young kids but he said that
he would even leave by 6 in the morning to make sure that they were
there.  Church starts at 9.  Speaking of Church I was in Utah again
this week for Sacrament Meeting.  There have been about an equal
amount of regualar attenders and Utahns.  These three sisters asked to
sing a special intermediate hymn.  They sang I Need Thee Every Hour.
It was really good, they had beautiful voices.  Then a guy named Scott
or Steven Lund spoke.  He used to be the mission president in Atlanta.
 He said he was on an assignment from Elder Snow who is in the
Presidency of the 70 over Africa.  He was really powerful.  So I
really enjoyed church, even the other two speakers who are Malawians
did a good job as well.  I had to give a talk on the Holy Ghost on
Saturday at the baptism (I've given a lot of those).  I had panned on
using some scriptures and some experiences but then while we sang the
opening hymn I completely changed my mind.  We sang Let the Holy
Spirit Guide.  So I just decided to use the words to that song do the
speaking for me.  I think that it really gives a perfect example of
what the Gift of the Holy Ghost is and what it does for us.

I have a cool story that happened to us today.  A few weeks ago Elder
Barlow and Elder Mahachi wrote and article for the newspaper.  Elder
Mahachi is quite good at writing things.  President Dube approved the
article and everything.  They didn't really think that it would get in
the paper but this morning we found out that it is in the national
newspaper yesterday.  Here is the link to find it.  What They Call
"Mormons"

Tomorrow is Transfer Tuesday so I will find out for sure if I am in
the Zambia Lusaka Mission or in the Zim Harare Mission.  Most likely
the former.  I think that I will stay here in Lilongwe with Elder
Gonza.  I hope so I am really enjoying our time together and our area.
 I want to be here when we get a group for Mtandire.  Because that
place will catch on fire when we do.  I am hoping that when President
Dube comes this weekend that he will approve it.  If I am in the
Zambia Mission here is the address.

Plot # 14048
Katima Mulilo Road
Lusaka
Zambia

Nic I could just imagine you running up to Mom like a crazy person and
it just made me laugh really hard.  Also I am glad that the beachballs
didn't die with Rosenblatt.  What is this car that you have been
looking at?  We bought a dart board last week and it is already worn
out.  We have been playing at every spare moment.  I hope that all is
well.  I will have transfer updates next week.

Love,

Elder Cecil

Yesterday our branch was invaded by Utahns.  We had around 45 people
from none other than Provo, Utah come to Sacrament Meeting yesterday.
They were all relatives that had come for some Humanitarian thing.  I
felt like I was in Utah again because all af the hymns we sang were
sang properly and I didn't have to listen to myself trying to guide
the rest of the congregation.  It was really weird.  One of them said
he would email you Mom, I think that his surname was Roney or
something like that.  Did you ever get an email from the Harpers?
Just wondering.  Well we had a good week.  Douglas who is actually
named Augustine Douglas (people aren't very good at telling you their
actual names when you ask), was baptized but he showed up to church
late so he didn't get confirmed.  Hopefully next week.  Felix, Annan,
and Chancellous are all supposed to be baptized on Saturday.
Chancellous is trained to be something else, but I can't remember
exactly what.  Felix probably knows how to study better than any
Malawian I have met.  We gave him Alma chapter 40 to read.  It talks
about the ressurection and the spirit world and such.  He is the only
person that I have taught that has picked up on the first and second
ressurection.  I was shocked when he asked about it.  But it was a
really good lesson because Edison was with us as well and he is also
very smart so we were able to explain about the next life in a lot
more detail than with most people.  It was really powerful.  I enjoyed
it a lot.  We were able to get a lot of member present lessons this
week, which is something that this area ahs struggled with in the
past.  We also did exchanges on Wednesday and Friday.  On Wednesday I
went to the other Elder's area with Elder Barlow.  We went into the
President's complex because they are teaching one of the President's
body guards and his family.  His wife is one of the most powerful
people I have ever met.  She really has a testimony of the Book of
Mormon.  She loves it so much.  She has already read the whole thing.
That was a really really powerful lesson.  She is also getting
baptized on Saturday.  I worked with Elder Mahachi on Friday.  I
really like to teach with him, our teaching blends really well.  Elder
Gonza is really powerful  we have a good time everyday, so I have
nothing to complain about.  The 8th was the one year anniversary since
I turned in my mission papers, and the 11th was my 7 month birthday on
mission.  Crazy right?

Dad when you talked about that conversation with Chase and Taylor did
Chase's comment mean that he is going to go or that he plans on going
or that he has the ability to go?  Because that just confused me.  I
remember when we went to Thunder Ridge and had to do those yells and
such.  All of the other troops would suck up to the counselors to try
to win the walking stick or whatever it was (when you win you get to
put something that resembles your troop on it.) but we decided to make
fun of the counselors instead.  It was a lot more fun that way.  Man
it sounds like there hasn't been any real upsets in college baseball
this year.  What happened to TCU?  I thought that they would be good
again this year.  Oh and Elder Barlow is from Irvine.  Well it is
always great to hear that the Yankees were swept by the Red Sox, it
just makes me happy.  I am also glad that the Braves are playing well
also.

The weather is basically like mid July in Utah.  Hot during the day
and it cools off a little during the night but not ever close to being
cold.  No I didn't actually teach Paul the Word of Wisdom, but I did
tell him that smoking is bad and that he should keep the WoW.  Then I
patted him on the shoulder and he said, "uhhh."  I didn't really see
Paul much this week though but he did smile at me once.  We had a
Deisel crisis this past week so we got to waste a lot of time waiting
in line for fuel.  We bought a Jerry can to put extra fuel in and the
Bullocks (couple missionaries) advised us to get a few more.  That
contributed to not seeing Paul or Musa much.

That's good to hear that Mindy got married.  Was her husband big?
Also it is good to hear about Hammy and Bear on a Bicycle.  That's too
bad that TJ got beat up, I've never been beat up but I'm sure that it
is no fun.  But at least he didn't have any broken bones or anything.

I taught about tithing yesterday in our gospel principles class and
the comment you made to me about obedience reminded me about something
that the manuel says.  It says something like 'When we pay our tithing
because we have to and not because we want to, we miss out on part of
the blessings.'  That was something I really liked.  It is also
something we try to focus on when we teach the commandments.  Rather
than focus on the "why we shouldn't" we try to focus on the "Why we
should" instead.  We try to show them that the blessings outweigh the
sacrifice by far.

President Dube is coming to Lilongwe in two weeks so if my package is
in Harare by the time he comes, I should get it, along with any other
mail.  We don't really know anything about the split.  I don't know if
we will get to go to meet him, or if he will come to us, or if we just
have to wait until we get transferred to Lusaka or what.  So I guess
we will see.  I can't believe that it is already week five of the
transfer.  This transfer is flying by.  Well have a great week.  I
love you.

Love,

Elder Cecil