The sweetest reunion EVER

I LOVE MY NEW AREA SO MUCH. 

We don't focus a lot of our time in Borrowdale... because we would just be not as effective when we knock gates. BUT most of the people that we are teaching in Borrowdale are the workers for the rich people. One man is named Manasa. He is a chef for this wealthy white family, and he can only see us at 1:00 pm for an hour, during his lunch break. They don't want us teaching him at their house, so we sit outside their gate. He is so humble, and he is very kind. We taught him about the Restoration, and he said that everything about religion made sense to him now. He is willing to get legally married, and is just needing to save up money for his wife to travel to Harare so they can go get a marriage license. We are praying that everything works out; baptism coming soon.

Most of our time is spent in an area named Hatcliffe. It is like 15 minutes from Borrowdale. There used to be elders in the area, but they closed it because the meeting house is in Borrowdale. It was hard for the people to travel, so there wasn't much success. Well... I don't know what happened, but the people started sacrificing, and coming to church. We got permission from President to work in Hatcliffe with those who were coming to church, and referrals from others. That is what makes up most of our teaching pool. I am amazed at these people's faith! They walk a long way (because they can't afford the public transport), and they do it every Sunday. We seriously have a rockin' teaching pool, and I am so happy I got transferred to the area. 

We are teaching a Gogo and Sekuru (Grandma and Grandpa). I honestly have no idea what their actual names are, we just call them gogo and sekuru. Everyone is your family here in Zim.  Their granddaughter just joined the church, and so that's how the other sisters found them. Sekuru told his whole family that this is the church they are coming to now. When we asked him if he was coming to church on Sunday and he said," Of course, we must." They are reading the Book of Mormon together, and seriously I just love them. They are already legally married (one less headache to have), and are still so in love; like seriously... I want a love like that someday. Now they are being introduced to the gospel, and I am just loving seeing the joy they are having! Sekuru also gave us a referral, his best friend named Martin.

We taught Martin on Friday about the Restoration. He told us that when he was reading the book, he felt like he was in the same situation that Joseph Smith was in. He needed to know, and now he does! At the end of the lesson, he told us that his family had to hear this message too. They stay in a nearby town, and he sent them money to come to church on Sunday. SURE ENOUGH they came, and we taught them that evening. It was so crazy that these promises that he made us, he made them happen.(It's rare for people to keep their promises lol) Guess what, they are already legally married. I just feel like prepared people are just being handed to us! It is all because of the gospel touching one person's life. They then realize how important it is, and want their loved ones to know, too. I guess that's what the gospel does to us. Once we have a testimony, we have to share it!

We had a Harare North stake conference on Sunday, and it was the best. day. everrrrr!!!!!!!! Enterprise is in the same stake as Borrowdale, so I saw my favorite people from Enterprise. It was like Christmas morning seeing all of those people that I love so much. The members, my recent converts, and even those still preparing for baptism were all there. It was honestly the best, and made me realize just how much I love these people. They have become my home away from home. I would have never made it this far if I didn't have such amazing relationships with the people of Zimbabwe. Ahhh, it was a wonderful reunion and the highlight of the week. 

Love you all so much.
Sister Kershaw 

Welcome to Mini America, Sister Kershaw

Hello from HARARE ZIMBABWE! 

I received transfer news this last Saturday, and I left Bindura. I was SO sad, because I was only there for 12 weeks (two transfers). Although it was difficult, I really loved the people there. I loved the small town feel and the country parts of it!!! The friendships that I made, and the spiritual experiences that I had will last a lifetime. I will just be glad for the time that I had, and be grateful for it. I know the Lord has a new adventure for me... and that is in Borrowdale! Tonana Bindura! 

My new area is called Borrowdale. It is the NICEST and RICHEST part of Harare town. While I am slightly nervous, I am going into it with an open mind, and I just keep telling myself that the Lord needs me there, and so I will find that reason. My companion's name is Sister Lalampaa and she is from Kenya. I am meant to be with missionaries from East Africa!  We were already SUPER good friends before we were companions. We were already praying to be companions. I know that we will have a blast together. 

These last couple weeks, I was feeling extremely homesick. I don't know why it had to creep in again, because I thought I was long over those feelings, but I guess I am human, and it happens. I was struggling so much this week that I even called President Makasi. I wasn't at the point that I wanted to come home, but I didn't want to get to that point. He counseled me, and he also told me a quote from President Eyring. 

"Families that pray together, stay together." While I miss my family, and want to be with them, he told me to feel their love through prayer. I have felt strength through that. I know Heavenly Father answers prayers. He always does, and he always answers them. I also was able to read D&C 31. It is counsel from the Lord to a missionary. He promised that he would protect his family while he was away, and I know he is doing the same for me. There is strength in prayer and scripture study. 

Love you!

Sister Kershaw

See others as CHRIST sees them

I wasn't able to send this last week because right before I was going to send it, the power went out. So, I will be sending two weekly's this week :) 

Hello there! Not a lot happened this week, but a lot has been on my mind. Just about life, and the stresses that it brings. I am grateful that we got to watch General Conference. The words of comfort that our church leaders gave was wonderful! I really felt Heavenly Father's love for all of God's children. It is easy to lose sight of how much each and every one of us are worth when there are struggles, and problems in life! But when he spoke, I just knew that all of us matter to Heavenly Father. It's even why I am in Zimbabwe. The Lord loves these people and needs them to return to live with him! I get discouraged when they don't want to hear the gospel, or sometimes the members who already know the gospel don't come to church! I can't count how many times they spoke about staying on the covenant path, and holding on. So we won't give up on these people! 

The Lord blessed us with some really amazing people to teach. A man named Tinotenda just showed up at church two weeks ago. He is a college student, and was previously taught by missionaries. He then went on break, and now is back for school.  He told us that they didn't have the church in the area he was from, but he brought his Book of Mormon home, and even shared it with his mom. 

Another person we are now teaching is named Robert. He is the nephew to some members. We weren't sure if he was serious, but wanted to give him a chance anyway. The first lesson that we taught him was the Restoration. After we finished teaching him, we asked how he felt about the message that we shared with him. He then said," I want to know more." The message of the restoration invites the spirit so strong. It is the most unique message in the whole world. Other churches will teach about faith, Jesus Christ, Baptism, and the bible. But you won't hear the story of Joseph Smith humbly kneeling in prayer to ask God the question of his heart. The spirit will not deny that he saw God the Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. 

On Sunday night, I was feeling very discouraged. We had hardly any members come to church, let alone those we are teaching. I thought to myself," Why am I even here? I am not making a difference, and the people that we baptize won't stay active anyway." ( I realize now that those thoughts are from Satan) About an hour later, I received a phone call from my recent convert in Enterprise, named Owen. He updated me about his life and just how happy he was. A couple weeks ago he baptized one of the Sister's converts. He also is preparing for his mission by saving money to buy a passport. I was lovingly chastened by the spirit when I got off the phone with Owen. The Lord does need me here, and I am making a difference. I am not telling you this to brag, or try to look like a perfect missionary, because I am not even close. BUT Heavenly Father does use us as instruments in his hands to find those who are truly prepared. I can't give up hope just because things aren't easy. Satan sees our weaknesses and tries with all of the energy he can to discourage us. He blinds us to help us feel like we aren't ever going to be good enough. Honestly, we never will be good enough. But Christ takes those imperfections that Satan tries to make ugly, and Christ makes them beautiful and STRONG. Don't let Satan win. 

I love you all so much! 

Sister Kershaw

(Sorry again for the lack of pictures... The connection is so bad these days!)

It's cool to be obedient!

This week was a crazy roller coaster of busy-ness! haha 

We went to Harare twice this week for mission leadership council and for Zone conference. Both meetings were uplifting and inspiring. There were mixed emotions at both conferences, and you could sense the sadness from President and Sister Makasi, and also Elder and Sister Graves. This week 3 missionaries were sent home because of disobedience. It was a sad week for the mission! We loved these missionaries, and were so disappointed that they made some wrong choices. In both meetings, they pleaded with us missionaries to be obedient, and to always do what is right. 

One quote that Sister Graves says is," IT IS COOL TO BE OBEDIENT." 

Sometimes it isn't easy to always keep every rule, but it is worth it. I know that as I have been obedient as a missionary, I see the Lord's hand greater in my life, and in the work I am doing. President Makasi taught us about how in general conference, we sustain President Russell M. Nelson and his apostles. When we sustain them, we are promising that we WILL obey these mission rules because they wrote them (with direction of the Lord of course). We aren't just obeying them because of President Makasi... it is from the Prophet AND the Lord!!! 

This week we did some finding in a different part of Bindura town... I knocked doors for the first time in a year! I don't think I have done that since Texas. It was fun! We did have a cool experience from it. A missionary who used to serve in our area asked me about a girl named Portia that he had baptized. I said that she wasn't going to church, and I didn't know her. He explained to me where she stayed, so we tried to find it. We drove around, with no real luck in finding her house. When we were about to turn back, my companion told me to drive up to a grass fence that she saw. We went to open the gate, and then two SCARY and ANGRY dogs ran up to the gate. I can't tell you how fast we bolted to the car. I was trying to get the keys out of my bag, but I thought that those dogs were going to come and kill us 

Luckily, a guy came just in time and the dogs didn't get out to kill us. The man let us in... and guess who was there?! PORTIA. She just happened to be visiting her friend at that time, she doesn't even stay at that house. I can testify that the Lord is aware of us individually. He knew that we needed to find Portia, and he knew that we would find her there. Tender mercies! :) 

I am so grateful for the gospel in my life, and I am grateful for the joy it brings. That joy comes from and through Jesus Christ. I love you all so much. Remember that it is ALWAYS cool to be obedient. Stay on the covenant path where the Lord wants us to be.

With all my love, 

Sister Kershaw

The gospel blesses FAMILIES

Hello, to my favorite people in IDAHO!

This week was really looking up in our area. Like I said last week, we are working super hard, and are really seeing the fruits of our labors.  Three of the new people we found this week was through the members. :) They are awesome and our relationships with them are really being built. We had the opportunity to teach the come see, come help, and come stay to a family in the branch. When we were discussing what they would do to naturally and normally share the gospel, and they said they actually had an idea even before we came. They wanted to have a home evening with their next door neighbors who aren't members, and invite us to it! They had been praying about what family to invite, and how to go about it. It was no coincidence that we came and taught them that lesson, because now we have a date set to go and have that with them. The Lord will direct us and allow us to be instruments in his hands if we are faithful and obedient. 

I got to go on exchanges this week with a sister named Sister Colvin. She is from Cedar City, Utah, and we had a blast together! We talked like nonstop, cause we had so much in common! She just finished her training, and has been out for four months, but honestly, you wouldn't be able to tell. She seemed like she had been on mission for longer than I have! For our lunch, we packed a picnic and ate it by a lake in the area. It was so nice, and the day was much needed for the both of us! 

Leah was baptized this week, and it was SO sweet. Her mom and auntie came, and they are both not members of the church. We are seeing how this gospel blesses families. I am amazed at the dedication that these kids have had to the gospel, and that is example is blessing their family! Ronie even got the Priesthood on Sunday, and he is so excited to begin blessing and passing the sacrament. My heart is just so full of love for these kids. They will do so much good in their lives, and touch other's lives as well.  

I am so grateful for this gospel, and for the blessing it is to be a missionary in Zimbabwe at this time. I always say it, but I really can't say it ENOUGH. My life is forever changed because of these people. Their hearts are made of gold. Ndinokuda (I love you) Zimbabwe! 

Love, Sister Kershaw