Half-way through the transfer...

Do you know when you work hard, the Lord rewards you? This past week my companion and I did something incredible. Somehow, we managed to teach 36 lessons! This is a new record for us, and we were joking that this week we're aiming for 40! I'm telling you, the Lord's hand is in this work, and He really wants the people in Makatani and Kauma to know of His Gospel.

We found a wonderful family, the K's, who at first seemed just down in the world. We got to know them a little, especially the Abambo, and we started talking a little about the Plan of Salvation. He mentioned that he'd once asked someone where we go after we die, and they'd told him that death was the end. When we testified that it was not, his whole countenance lit up and he looked much happier! It's those kind of people that make me glad I get up every morning!

This Sunday every member got their own Lorenzo Snow book. The presidency went through and wrote their names on them, and passed them out during classes. What made me really grateful was that they even had one for a sister who hadn't come in months, and they had it ready for her like they expected her to come back! It really helped her feel welcome, and we as missionaries are going to serve her on Wednesday (building temporary walls for her toilet, as the last ones fell in the rain) and we're hoping that she'll once again warm up to the Church!

The sun only shines some times. It's the rainy season now, so everything is wet and muddy...

Here they have something like (Friday, the snow day in Davis County because of the storm). Whenever it rains the people just hide indoors (which is great because we always find families at home) and they have 'rain days'. Its not so good, though, when such a day is Sunday and the chapel is only half full. Then we have to go out and have a dozen Sabbath Day lessons, and listen to the people telling us about the mavuto that is the mvula. (I use chichewa words regularly out of habit, so you should get used to that!)

I love you very much!

**

Here's a little thought I'd like to share before I leave you lot for the week. I learned during personal study this week that when Christ accepted the role of Redeemer of us all, He could have, by personal revelation, known how to succor us when we went through trials and pain. But He loves us so much that He chose to physically go through those things, so that "His bowels may be filled with mercy." I testify that because of the Atonement, Jesus Christ truly knows each and every pain and affliction we can ever go through, and because of that we can rely on Him even if its something as insignificant as a headache. Don't try to 'tough it out' when you're going through pain; our Heavenly Father loves us too much for that. Let yourself be lifted from your sadness and be of good cheer (it's a commandment, after all!) and rely fully on the Savior for everything in your life.

I love you all, and I hope you can all keep smiling!
Sister Adams