July 24, 2017 - Here Comes Winter.....and there it goes

Missionary work makes ya jump for joy!

Kids these days :)

Hey there friends and family!! Hope you are all enjoying your summer! It finally started feeling like July here. As soon as the winter came, it is now coming to an end. The mornings and evenings are still a bit chilly but the days are hot and sunny again. That's Africa for you!!

We had some disappointments and some miracles this week. We called Tatenda and tried to set up another appointment with him, but he unfortunately told us that he could no longer attend church or meet with us. He didn't even give us a reason. I was devastated. This guy was seemingly prepared and a miracle for us. I hope and pray that we are able to somehow meet with him again. However, we did finally teach Sister Mara! We met her at night as we were walking up to take a kombi and we discovered that she had been taught by missionaries but had lost contact with the church a year or two ago in Mabvuku. We finally taught her and discovered that she had not been baptized and needed to start over, so it will be great to be able to help her recall her testimony!

Hatcliff

Hatcliffe

This week, Brother Hove's father passed away. We went with a bunch of members to attend the pre-funeral mourning at his grandmother's place. It was our first time to attend a funeral in Zimbabwe, and it was interesting to see the cultural traditions. The men sit outside around a fire telling stories, and all the women sleep in the house. They stay all night to support and comfort the ones who are mourning. Shona people really take care of one another, and it was cool to see how the community comes together when someone is struggling.

Aleck

Aleck's farewell gathering

We had 10 people at sacrament meeting for the third week in a row! It was so awesome!! Bridget and Kara actually came at the end of the meeting, which was super surprising. Brother Tendai and Mai Arnold's marriage banns were completed this week and they'll be married next Sunday! They also brought the neighbor girls along with them to church! It was so sweet. Aleck, a young man in our ward, leaves for his mission to Cape Town this week and he gave his farewell talk. He is going to be an awesome missionary and we are pumped for him!


Elder Horton and I also had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting, so that's where my spiritual thought comes from today. We spoke on the covenants that we renew during the sacrament and our attitude towards it. It was special to be able to speak on such a sacred ordinance. I'd like to share a couple quotes that I used during my talk: "One of the invitations inherent in the sacramental ordinance is that it be a truly spiritual experience, a holy communion, a renewal for the soul." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  "In my judgment the sacrament meeting is the most sacred, the most holy, of all the meetings of the church." President Joseph Fielding Smith. Our attitude towards the sacrament can make or break our Sunday worship, so we need to remember what it truly represents: the atoning sacrifice of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that each of us won't take the sacrament for granted each week. 

I hope you guys have a fantastic week!!

Love Elder Barlow​