WINTER, BUT NO SNOW

It's been too long since  my last blog but time is flying by.  I love to go teaching with the sisters.  They are amazing teachers and I'm learning so much from them.  We've been teaching a young man who just cannot make the decision to be baptized.  I'm still working on that patience thing.

After seeing so many of these carts being pulled by cows, Craig just had to stop and ask if he could give it a try.  It's  like going back in time about 100 years or so.

At first the man so said no but money talks very loudly.  In the end he didn't want the money.  How can you say no to a guy in a white shirt, a tie and a missionary tag who wants to ride in your wagon?  You can't.

This is Elder Tayembi from Congo.  His first language is French and he had to learn English when he came to Zambia.  He goes home next week knowing English very well.  BYU allows the missionaries to take an English proficiency test free of charge and they get a certificate if they pass. Elder Tayembi is pretty proud of that certificate.  He's hoping it will help him get a job when he goes home.

Noel Nkausu is a man in our ward who is blind.  He is quite a character- he loves to talk and says he would love to be a motivational speaker.  We sometimes have to remind him to let other people have a chance to comment in Sunday School and Priesthood meeting.  He always wants me to take notes for him at various meetings.  I'm not quite sure what he does with them.  Once we drove him home from church with him giving us directions.  It was pretty crazy but we finally found our way to his house.

Right across the street from where we live is the Jesus Worship Center.  There is some rockin' music coming from there all day on Sunday.  Just like going to a concert.

We took the Sister Training Leaders to lunch in Lusaka.  Sister Arok (in the middle) is from South Sudan but left there when her mother was pregnant with her.  There was a civil war going on and she ended up in a refugee camp in Kenya where Sister Arok was born.  They were then added to a list of refugees chosen to come to the United States when she was about 8 years old.  They ended up in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Sister Arok joined the church when she was a young woman and her mother joined eventually also.  Her father is still in South Sudan.  She ran track for BYU and then decided to serve a mission.

A common business in Lusaka and all of Zambia- a small fruit stand, usually the only source of income.  There is one on every corner and everywhere in between all selling the same things.

We helped some members move from one tiny house to an even smaller one.  Their rent was raised from $50 to $65 a month which they couldn't afford.

My sister, Maggie and her husband, Larry came to visit us and we took some time to do some fun things with them.  They flew into Lusaka and then we drove to Livingston and stayed for a few days.  We went on a safari across the border in Botswana, saw Victoria Falls, zip- lined across the gorge  and went on an elephant ride.  It was awesome!

We didn't see any zebra on our safari, but low and behold they were just wandering around by our hotel.  Only in Africa.

 

So much fun.

Another Baobab tree.  We were told that this tree is hundreds of years old.

Remember this guy?  Noel, the blind guy.  He really took a liking to Larry, holding his hand and talking his ear off.  So funny but Larry was very patient and kind to him.  I think they got a good idea of what life is like here in Zambia.

Another birthday- Sister Aidoo

We have a new mission president.  President and Sister Kupu are from Tonga and they have also brought their 17 year old son with them.

We went back to the crocodile farm with a couple of the districts for an activity.  We took the tour, played some soccer and had lunch.  I think everyone had a great time.

This is 2 million Malawi kwacha which is about $2800.  Crazy!!!!

I couldn't believe it when I saw this sign of St. Eugene.  Doesn't it usually take a hundred years or so to become a saint?  Looks like Craig's dad did it in only eight years.  Unbelievable.

Doctrine & Covenants 104:15-17

"And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
But it must needs be in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.
For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves."

This scripture says a whole lot in just a few words.  We use it all the time in teaching the principles of self-reliance.
What does it mean to you when it says : "that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low"?