It has been another good week in the Warm Heart of Africa! We actually taught a powerful young man a few days ago, who accepted our invitation to be baptized on the first visit! I'm really just sad that I won't be here in Blantyre to see it happen... Actually there are several progressing people that I would like to stay here in Blantyre for, but there are people in Lilongwe who are ready to enter the waters that cannot because us missionaries are absent. So I'm dying to travel back up north!
This morning, we had a zone activity. All us missionaries left around 6:45 and went to a nature park. We were in for a real treat, going to a park where there was the promise of lots of monkeys and a hyena cave. Remember in the Lion King when Simba is climbing up the pile of rocks? That's what the hyena cave looks like. The guides told us that they were deep under the rocks, so we thought it would be clever to climb down into a few of the holes and say "Odi?" (when you say that at any given Malawian home someone will come to the door). Unfortunately, these hyenas must have been warned that we were missionaries because they did not come to the door--that happens sometimes, too.
Continuing on the trail, I got bit by a few ants that were about four times as big as the ones back home, and they've left red dots to add to my collection of mosquito bites. Then everyone stopped suddenly because they saw a monkey a few trees away! He was just chilling, munching on something, but as soon as he realized we were taking pictures he started moving, and he was gone within five seconds! I'm really sad that I didn't get a picture...
When we finally got to the picnic area, the drivers of the cars went to get the braai stuff (barbeque), and we played some games while we waited. Mom, I made potato salad and it turned out almost exactly like yours (we couldn't find pickles) and I'm feeling rather proud of myself.
Yes the work is taxing, and draining, but its satisfying. I konk out as soon as my head hits the pillow at night and sometimes I feel like half-six comes too soon. Besides a dozen or so mosquito bites, I'm in pretty good health; except for a spot on my head that I'm pretty sure is bruised because I hit it getting into the truck one day. But no worries! It's not stopping me from working, so it's no big deal!
Transfers... Well, I'm in a 12-week training program, and so I'm at least with my companion for a while longer. And I'm pretty sure we'll be in Lilongwe for the rest of it, too. They happen every six weeks, and every transfer we get a new planner. I've just switched from one that is brown and battered to one that is white and clean. I'll take a picture of the two side-by-side and send it sometime.
Last week the wi-fi all around Blantyre was down, so we didn't get to email until the next day. It was kind of a let-down of a P-day, but it made for a pretty good Tuesday!
We've been studying a lot from the Book of Mormon edition of the Liahona (last October), and there was an interesting bit in there about how to study it: Because the Book of Mormon was written for our day, we should ask the following questions: Why was this included? How can I apply this to my life? It's really helping me, and I'm getting much more out of those scriptures now!
Well, my family and friends, I love you all so very much. It's your love and support that keeps me going some days, and it fuels my resolve to keep the work going here in Malawi. The church is true, and the Book of Mormon is indeed the most correct of any book on earth!
Sister Adams
No comments:
Post a Comment