Zone Conference round #2 (and another new food I tried)

Happy Thanksgiving week! I was reflecting on my last year's Thanksgiving when I first came to Zimbabwe. I made chicken and mashed potatoes. It was probably the saddest Thanksgivings I have ever had, BUT a funny memory to look back on. I hope you are all reflecting on what you are grateful for, and recognize the Lord's hand in your life. He is there, I promise! This Thursday we are going to dinner with members who are from America, and they work for the embassy. To say I am excited would be an understatement. We get a real Thanksgiving! I am excited that Sister Lalampaa gets to have a Thanksgiving experience as well. 

We had a second zone conference for the transfer where President and Sister Makasi introduced the new "Light the World" initiative. It totally goes hand and hand with our mission initiative, "Come see, Come help, and Come stay." We are really excited to use both of them together and help the members also help us in our missionary work. The members are amazing, though. We taught a Gogo that lesson and gave her some pass-along cards. She gave a card to her friend that she works with, and then took us to go see her and her two daughters! Their names are Tendai, Leanna, and Vanessa. They were not able to come to church on Sunday, but her daughter Leanna went to the young women's activity on Saturday, and they told us they are definitely coming to church this Sunday. Finding through the members is the best! 

We had a baptism yesterday, and it was so sweet! Gogo and Sekuru, Chido, and Sipo entered into the waters of baptism. I don't think I told you about Chido or Sipo. Chido was a referral from the sister's recent convert, Amanda. (Amanda is also Gogo and Sekuru's granddaughter) Sipo just started coming to church with her friends, and comes every Sunday without fail! For the closing song at the baptism, we sang "Families can be together Forever." It was so amazing to see a family on a path that will lead them to be together forever. We already taught them about Temples and Families, and they were so happy to hear that Zimbabwe is getting a temple! 

The Amidu family is doing great! They were able to come this last week, and they are really looking forward to their baptism next week. Manasa is also working towards a legal marriage, and he will be baptized on the 15th of December. Panashe has been coming to church with that member, Kudzi. He is also preparing for his baptism! Hatcliffe and Borrowdale are golden areas, and I am just loving these people SO MUCH! They are inspiring me. We had 18 people that we are teaching at church this last Sunday. 18!!!!!!!!!!

There is so much to be grateful for! I am SO, SO, SO grateful for my family, for the gospel, and for my life. There is a lot of joy in those three simple things for me. I don't know what I would do without any of them! In difficult times, the best way to deal with them is to find what you are grateful for. My mom always taught me to do that. When you are in a rough time, don't focus on what is going wrong, but focus on what is going right in your life. You will be a lot happier! I never forgot that, and I use it all the time when the rough days come because they do. 

I am missing everyone a little extra today. But I know this is the last Thanksgiving in Zim, so I will enjoy it. Eat lots of good food for me  Love you! 

Sister Kershaw

I found cows... obviously, I had to take a picture with them

 I ate termites at a dinner appointment last night. They actually tasted good, because they were fried and salty. hahaha, Don't judge! 

Sun Valley Zimbabwe

This week was an amazing and quick week! I can't believe that it is already Monday again. 

On Wednesday I got to go on exchanges with SISTER BABE! We know that we aren't really supposed to go on exchanges to be with your friends... but she goes home in 2 weeks, and we had to be companions for one last time  We had a blast together, and we talked nonstop. She was one of my favorite companions, and I am going to miss her like crazy. I just hope that dreams come true, and I can plan a trip to Uganda to see my best friend! 

On Thursday we had an all mission zone conference because we had Elder Gay and Elder Palmer visiting. They could only talk to us for two hours, but those two hours were amazing! They prepared some thoughts but mainly gave the floor to us to ask questions. So there really wasn't a main topic that they talked about. Missionaries asked questions about how to stay motivated for these 2 years to 18 months. One thing that they said is that there are good days and bad days. It's no secret that serving a mission is really hard sometimes, but the thing that matters is how we react to those difficult days. Do we sit in the house and give up? Or do we keep pushing forward with faith knowing that there will be better days in the future? I also loved a comment they made that when our bad days come; it isn't our fault. We can't see our difficulties and think that it is because we are not good enough, or that we did something wrong. When something doesn't go right, we cannot blame it on ourselves. The opposition is just apart of our mortality! Elder Gay counseled us that we were not sent to Zimbabwe by accident. We were called here for a reason. Also- our success is not measured by the number of baptisms we have, but rather if we complete the mission that we were sent to do. In our premortal life, God knew we would be called to the great ZHM and we need to fulfill the purpose of why he called us here. Kinda scary, but so true! That applies to life as well. We are here on earth for a reason, and we need to find that reason, and do what he needs us to do! 

We found an awesome part member family this week named the Rupiya Family. They were baptized and active members of the church in Bindura, but because of work, they had to move. The towns that they moved to for the past 3 years had no church! A couple weeks ago, a recent convert told us about a member who wanted to come to church. He came, and then this last week we visited them at their house. We found out their story, and they were so excited to have a connection with the church since it had been 3 years. Their two other teenagers weren't ever baptized, so now we get to teach them! We are so excited, and they are the sweetest family. They stay in a part of Hatcliffe called Sunvalley. hahaha, there is a Sunvalley in Idaho AND Zimbabwe, my friends ;) 

On Saturday, Sister Makasi called us and told us that she had a friend who was in the hospital recovering from surgery. She lives in Borrowdale and isn't a member, but her mother is. We brought her a nice juice drink and a bouquet of flowers. We thought that we would only stay for 30 min or so... and ended up staying for 3 hours! She is the sweetest lady, and she talked to us nonstop. It was a fun way to give service, and we had an opportunity to share the gospel with her as well. She asked all about The Book of Mormon, and we encouraged her to download the Book of Mormon app on her phone. She isn't going to a church right now, and we hope that she is touched by our visit and has a desire to learn more. Her name is Ruth, and she is a mom of 7 beautiful children. She's a wonderful lady. 

Miracles are happening every day, and I know that there is nowhere else in the world that I would rather be right now.  I am so grateful to be in Zimbabwe at this time! To be honest, the country is really struggling right now. Gas is $17 bond a liter now, we never have power, and food is SO expensive... that's insane, huh? But you know what, Miracles happen in the most difficult of times and we see Heavenly Father's hand greater in our lives. I see members and people we are teaching sacrificing to come to church. They are seeing that as difficult as it may be, they can't forfeit those blessings that Heavenly Father will pour down if they show him their faith. It is humbling, and like I said, I wouldn't trade this for anything. 

One thing I am so grateful for this week is that the rainy season has started! It is currently pouring rain outside. We have had a lot of beautiful storms and it has cooled off a bit. 

Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers. I miss you, and I love you.

Sister Kershaw

(I got to see my trainer for the first time in like 6 MONTHS at the zone conference. I love Sister Omondi!)

Happy to be back in the area

Hello friends and family! 

Sister Lalampaa is much better, and we made our appearance to the area on Thursday. It was a crazy weekend and beginning of our week, but we were so happy that we got to go see our people and not be stuck in a hospital.

Like I said, we seriously have the best teaching pool. I would be perfectly fine if I stayed in this area for the rest of my mission! We are teaching a mama named Noreen. She doesn't speak much English, and she feels so self conscious about it. When we were teaching her this week, she told us in Shona that she only had up to a 5th grade education. Her parents could not afford to send her to school after that. She then started crying, and then we all started crying! We told her that it was okay that she had not learned past 5th grade, and that we would continue to teach her slowly. (We usually bring a translator, too) She has a desire to learn about the gospel, and even wants to be baptized. We are working through some marriage issues, and will go slowly with the lessons. Noreen is so sweet, and we love her so much. My friends, BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EDUCATION AND THAT YOUR PARENTS CAN AFFORD TO EDUCATE YOU. There are people throughout the world who don't get the opportunities that you do. We have no idea just how blessed we are.

Martin and his family are so amazing. They usually stay in Hatcliffe, but because of money, they can't afford the schools that are in Hatcliffe. They educate their children in the rural areas, because it is cheaper. They come to Hatcliffe on the weekends just so that we can teach them and for transport, they pay 45 bond a person to come. There is really no money in Zimbabwe. What most of the people get for the day is what they feed their families with. I am blown away with the faith that they have. When we asked them why they would do that, they said it's because they need the blessings that gospel has already brought, and will continue to bring their family.The only reason they come those 3 hours is so that they can hear the gospel. When we extended a baptismal date to them, they gladly agreed. Martin's wife told us that she had been to many, many churches throughout her life, but she has now found the true church. This is our golden family. Sister Lalampaa and I said that they are changing our lives even more than we could ever change theirs. 

This Sunday was only the second best Sunday of the whole year. (right after General Conference.) It was the primary program! I thought I would say that the church is the same throughout the whole world! They gave their testimonies and sang primary songs. There were still the kids who yelled in the microphone. There were still the children who sat in the front row and just stared at everyone, and refused to sing. Even the little girl who loved her dress so much that she couldn't hold still because she was too busy twirling. It was all there ;) I love primary kids, though. They are so sweet, and their testimonies are simple and pure. They know Heavenly Father loves them, and they know that families are forever. They taught me this Sunday that the gospel really is simple; even simple enough that children can understand. 

I love you! 

Sister Kershaw

No Pumpkins? No problem!

I am emailing today on a Tuesday because my companion was sick this whole last week! The poor girl has bronchitis and spent last night in the hospital. She is spending another night as well. I begged and begged Sister Makasi to allow me to stay at the hospital and sleep there with her last night. The request was granted, and I got to stay with her! Hopefully I will get to again tonight. Prayers for my sweet companion  

We had a very eye opening and spiritual experience on Tuesday evening. We were coming home from the area and we got to a stop light. Here in Zimbabwe, a lot of the stoplights don't have an arrow that signals when you can turn, but you just yield to the green light. There was a car in front of me and he was trying to go. The light started to turn red, so because it was clear, he went. I usually follow the cars that are right in front of me, because it gives a moment for me to go. In a split second, something told me very strong and intensely not to go. That car in front of me was hit by a car who ran a red light. Sister Lalampaa and I replayed the situation over and over again in our heads. We know that if I would've pulled out, we would have been involved and hit as well. I KNOW that Heavenly Father watches over us. I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost who warns us and protects us. Tender mercy of the week. 

On Sunday, a member was bearing his testimony. He spoke about how he had a bad day on Saturday, and just planned ahead of time that he was not going to come to church. When he got off work, he went and visited a part member family. We are teaching their son, Panashe. 

Panashe is progressing well, but has never come to church. When this member came to visit them, Panashe asked if he was coming to church tomorrow. The member had to think about it for a sec, but he told us that he couldn't even tell him that he wasn't going to come. This member brought Panashe to church for the first time, and he loved it. I am grateful for the members and the help they give us missionaries. It was a sweet story that I thought you would love to hear. 

Our week was crazy cause we were in and out of the hospital... but we got to celebrate Halloween before Sister Lalampaa got sick. Zimbabwe doesn't have any pumpkins. So we got creative and carved watermelons! We ate watermelon until we were sick, and had so much fun with the carved watermelons. 

This week was full of tender mercies and comfort from a loving Father in heaven. I know he lives and is in the details of our lives. He wants us to be safe and happy. The gospel is the thing that does it for us!!! Keep on the covenant path and always do what is right. The Lord will always lead and guide us as we do so. Sister Lalampaa shared something with me that really stuck out to me. She said,"When we make and keep sacred covenants with the Lord, it helps us to greater hear the whispering of the Holy Ghost." Oh how grateful I am for the temple and the covenants we make there. The blessings and power it gives us helps us in this crazy world that we live in.

I love you!! 

Sister Kershaw