I hope you are all doing well! Unfortunately this will just be a brief email because the internet is moving at about the speed of a kombi in a traffic jam. I hope you've all had a great start to 2018! How blessed we are to have another year to live, learn, and have new experiences!
Before I talk briefly about the week, I want to share some really exciting news: the Zimbabwe Harare Mission will be splitting to form Zimbabwe Bulawayo Mission beginning in July 2018!! I'm so pumped!! It's so cool to see the work of the Lord progressing so quickly in this wonderful place. I'm going to remain in the Harare Mission as I will only have a short time left when the split takes place, but I couldn't be more excited!!
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| Elder Hamblin and I |
The highlights of the week were going on exchanges. On Wednesday I went to Dangamvura with Elder Hamblin, who is from my MTC group but is now my zone leader. We had a great time working and teaching together and it was fun to catch up with him. We also barely avoided getting drenched in a downpour and getting swarmed by a flock of hungry birds. He gave me some great counsel on helping my district do what is right by setting a good example. Overall it was a great day. Elder Stone and I went on exchanges in Penhalonga on Friday. He's in his third transfer and he comes from Layton, UT. It was a fun day because he is super outgoing and jokes with everyone. It was great to talk to him and see his zeal for the work, and we also had some great conversations in the area. I'm always thankful to serve around and get to know other missionaries!
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| Elder Penhalonga |
We had district conference this weekend, and it was so powerful! President and Sister Mkhabela came to preside over the conference and it was great to see them. Sister Mkhabela spoke on how we are all building our own house of salvation and conversion and how we have a personal responsibility to do the very best we can. President Mkhabela gave an incredible talk on how we need to teach our families in the home and how the Church, just like all organizations, will fail without strong families. It was so powerful and my heart was really touched by what was said, and I hope that the members will apply the things they learned!
I wanted to add a note about the passing of President Thomas S. Monson. He was such a kind and joyful man who set an amazing example of being spiritually in tune He was the prophet through most of my growing up; he announced the age at which I could go on a mission, announced the temple here in Zimbabwe, and issued my mission call. I will be forever grateful for his counsel and his loving example!
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| That Mutare View |
Today we went on a hike with some of the other elders in the zone up to Mount Gimboki. We initially planned on climbing up the spine of the mountain, but we took some bad directions from a farmer and ended up trying to bush-wack and climb up the face of the mountain. And it was boiling hot! As you might assume, our efforts proved fruitless about halfway up, so we climbed down and walked around to try our original idea. Not all of us made it to the summit because of some really tough conditions close to the top, but the view from the mountain was incredible (see picture below). The object lesson here? We all face problems that are difficult to tackle and our first attempts may seem futile, but if we take a step back and try again (perhaps in a different way), we will be able to push through! Either that, or be smart about mountain climbing.
Love you all, have a great week!!
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