This week for my weekly, I am just going to type up the journal entries from this week.
Monday: Today we planned our P-Day very nice... but basically all of those plans were thrown out the window. We were told that we needed to be at the office to get flu shots. So in the morning we cleaned the house, got our car washed (it was outrageously EXPENSIVE), and then went to the office. It was actually fun at the office. All of the missionaries from Bindura and Harare were there, so I got to see a lot of my mission buddies! I got to see my trainer, and just other friends that have been transferred, so I haven't seen them in a while. After that, we went to email, but I didn't have too much time because afterwards we went to President's house for dinner. It was super fun to have dinner at their house, and I love them so much!
Tuesday: Today was MLC again, and it was actually very good! Sister Makasi spoke about how we can apply ch. 11 from PMG (making and keeping commitments), when we have to give corrections. She also talked about how sharpness is not always harshness. Always after a correction should come an increase of love for the both of you. President Makasi also spkoe about how with prayer and fasting, nothing is impossible. He mentioned also about how it's not about what position that we serve in, or where we serve, but rather how we serve as missionaries and as leaders. That is always such a good reminder. In D&C 138:55-56, it talks about how missionary work was foreordained. Before I came to earth, Heavenly Father knew I would serve a mission in Zimbabwe. I strongly believe that. There are people that I have met, and people that I have yet to meet, and it was all apart of God's plan. I know I have many weaknesses as a missionary and a person, but I know as I rely on him, he will make them strengths. After MLC, we were told to buy food storage just in case of emergency. We bought a TON of food... and then my card declined... So that was awkward, and we just walked out of the store with nothing.
Wednesday: This morning, we had a normal schedule, so that was refreshing! Our first appointment was Susan, and we waited two hours for her... Zimbabwe time is always late. The lesson was short and sweet, though. We then taught Owen, and he had finished all of the lessons already, so we just read from the Book of Mormon. That kid is so smart! He understands really well, and is very good at applying the knowledge that he gets. We ask him to then apply what he has read, and he does it. It is the coolest thing! We then went over the baptismal interview questions with Joseph. That Baba has been waiting for so long to be baptized, and he is so ready. We were lacking in finding some new people this week, so we went to a farm named Hightop. We met a 24 year old girl named Nyarai. She is going to college now, and also has a job. She allowed us to teach her, and she asked some really great questions! I am excited to keep teaching her.
Thursday: Zone Conference today was one of the best I have been to! I love this mission so much. This morning we didn't have electricity. AND I was planning on curling my hair. SO what we ended up doing was going to the Highlands chapel early, and I used the plug there. Sister Jabanga and I bought fabric together and made matching outfits! I made a dress. and she made a shirt! It was so much fun. At Zone conference, President talked about repentance. He spoke about how each of us need to repent every day. His discussion was based on President Nelson's conference talk, We can do better and be better. In the talk when the Prophet spoke about repentance, he also spoke about JOY! Repentance really does bring joy! I loved this quote," Joy comes from and because of him. He is the source of all joy." The new senior couple also spoke to us. Their names are Elder and Sister Graves. Sister Graves spoke about the brother of Jared. The Brother of Jared was trying to figure out how to light his boats. He took the stones to the Savior and said," This is all I have, can you help me make up the rest?" That is exactly how we are. We will never have enough, but with the Savior, he makes up the difference. After Zone Conference, we finally went and got food storage! My card went through this time, YAY! After that, we picked up our district leader to interview Joseph... Sadly, he wasn't there when we told him to be. So we took them back, and called it a day.
Friday:This morning we went and saw Nyarai again. This time she brought her friend Perseverance to join in our lesson. We didn't really get to teach them much, but we just established our purpose, and introduced the Restoration. They were kinda busy, so I hope that we can see them another time when they aren't busy. After that we went to visit the Bishop's wife to borrow a wedding veil for the wedding tomorrow. I love Sister Mabundu! She is so loving and is very willing to help us. We then went and saw Robert. Because we weren't able to pick up a translator today, we only taught him about the first question in the Plan of Salvation. That lesson can be hard to understand at times. Robert understands English, but prefers Shona. After Robert, we went to pick up our district leader AGAIN for Joseph's interview. Enterprise is super far from town, so that took up the rest of our afternoon and evening. BUT, he was there and passed the interview. It was a relief!
Saturday: Today was the day that Joseph Loben was finally married. Missionaries found him a year ago. There were problems with ID's and marriage licenses, but it was all finally sorted out. The wedding was supposed to start at 10 am, but it didn't start until 12 pm... Nobody is ever on time in Zim. Not very many people showed up, either. It made me sad! Honestly though, I am just glad he was finally married. He was going to be baptized right after, but because it started late, Bishop had to leave early. This weekend is Stake Conference, and so he had a leadership meeting to attend. It's okay, he will just be baptized next week after church and people will be there to support him. Owen came to the wedding, and after finding out that Joseph was being baptized next week, he asked if he could be as well. He has finished all of the lessons, and is ready. We then went over the baptism interview questions with him tonight.
Sunday: Today was supposed to be stake conference for us... The conference was being held in Highlands, and they were just going o broadcast it in Enterprise because it is so far away from town. They couldn't figure out how to get the broadcast to work, and the network was awful! We didn't end up getting to watch any of it. this was definitely one of the weirdest Sunday's on mission. They just sent everyone home, and we didn't do anything church related. It was embarrassing because we had 7 people we were teaching who were there! Oh, well. This is Zimbabwe, and you can't control some things that happen. After church, we taught Susan and Nelisha. They are progressing so well towards baptism. For the rest of the evening, we did finding. We are trying to build up our teaching pool.
Wow, sorry for writing you a book to read. But that was my week, it was super great! I love you all so much.
-Sister Kershaw
