Monday, November 19, 2018

I shook another apostle's hand!


This week was really good. I feel like I am getting more comfortable with Zimbabwe and the culture. I really love the people, too. It is so different from America, but I am happy to have the opportunity to be here. 

I am going to start with the highlight of the week! 
Elder Neil L. Anderson came to Zimbabwe! We knew he was coming for a couple of weeks, but knew he was only speaking to the youth and young adults. We didn't think that we were going to be able to hear him. On Friday we got the news that the missionaries were invited!!! He talked about 5 things: Education, marriage and families, testimonies, the temple, and the Savior. My favorite two topics were temples and the Savior. The temple here in Zimbabwe will start construction next year, at the end of the year. I am so excited for my people here to have a temple! Then he ended and talked about the Savior. He said," Just like your faith in a temple is not in vain, neither is your faith in the Savior. He will come again, I can promise you that." I got chills! The Savior is not absent from the world, and he will come again. I can't wait. After the devotional, President Makasi told the missionaries to stay around, because Elder Anderson wanted to sake our hands. As he came out, he greeted all of us and we even took a picture with him. He said that he was so grateful for us and our efforts, and that he would report back to the Prophet good news.



One lady we met a couple weeks ago is so special, and I want to tell you about her! Her name is Duduzile and we met her on the street. I said hello to her, and then I had a prompting that I needed to tell her who I was, and why I was in Zimbabwe. She then invited us into her home, and told us that she hasn't gone to church in a while, and was looking for one. She has come to church twice, and we even already extended a baptismal date. The only problem is that she is not legally married. In Africa, most people don't get married, the male just pays money, or labolla, to the female's family, and they call it good. So, we just need the husband to start coming to church, so the bishop can marry them. They have two little boys, Quinton and Marcus. they are really cute. Anytime they see us in the street, they yell," Sister Omondi! Sister Kershaw!" They are my buddies :) She braided my hair this morning! 


At the beginning of this week, I was really feeling bad about myself. I just felt like I am not adjusting very fast and that I am not being the missionary I pictured. Satan tries really hard on us sometimes. I just felt so inadequate compared to all these other missionaries that I see. I was then reading in Alma 36 I realized that I need to be patient with myself. I am trying my very best, and even if I fail at something, I can try again next time. That is the only way I am going to be able to learn. The Lord loves me no matter what, because I am his child and he is grateful for my sacrifice. Know that the Lord loves you no matter where you are in your life. He wants to hear from you, he wants you to try your very best, and he wants to bless you. Do your very best, and the Savior will make all the difference for you. 

Sadly, I have not seen any cool animals yet! Zimbabwe is more modernized than you would think. The area I am in is mostly city...I hate the city so much, I miss farm life! Hopefully I will see at least one lion before I leave. The wildlife parks are mainly in Bulawayo mission, but I am bound and determined to go on a safari. 

I haven't eaten very much weird food yet, because we still aren't allowed to eat in people's homes from the Cholera outbreak. My companion, and one of the other sisters LOVE this dish called matemba. It is dry, whole, tiny fish that they fry. I really don't like it at all! so, I would say that it's the weirdest thing so far. I haven't had REAL Zimbabwe Sadza yet, but one of the sister's from Congo makes Fufu and it is similar to sadza. It is the corn that is ground. I love it! Okay so, when I come back to America, I feel like I am going to want to stuff my suitcase with avocados. They are the size of my hand!!! Even the bananas here are SO much better than America. I haven't tried much other fruit, but those two things are my favorite so far! 


Tonight we have a meeting with our Bishop, which will be so nice! Like I said before, Our ward is not that active or involved in missionary work. We have a lot of less actives, and us as missionaries cannot see every single one of them. So we are going to make a plan tonight for how to have the ward be more involved. 

Kids, chairs, and dirt, this is how primary looks every Sunday. 

I can't believe that this next week is Thanksgiving. We are going shopping after I email, and I am going to see if I can find some turkey to cook. I probably won't find any, so eat lots just for me! I miss you all so much, and I am really trying  my hardest to stay positive, even with the holiday season coming up. Also- today is my Mirthday (mission birthday) I've been out for 2 months! whoop whoop! ðŸ˜‰

I love you SOOO much! 
Sister Kershaw 

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