Monday, February 6, 2012
Feb. 6, 2012 letter
Why hello everyone!
How are you all doing? I have had a pretty good week these last few days and am glad to say that we finally had more than 2 people at choir! We had 7 people, 1 an investigator, after church. They had fun, although it was kind of hard without power for the piano. Nonethless, we worked on He is Risen (hymn 199) and it was fun.
This week, Elder Shields and I have been trying some new tactics to increase our effectiveness in the area. We are going to now be trying to sift through investigators a whole lot faster to keep only those who are willing to progress.
I don't have a story about an investigator this week (we did a lot of dropping, and not much of teaching pregressing investigators). However, on Friday we got to go as a Zone to help someone start building a hut. It was pretty cool, but I didn't get any pictures of it.
On last monday, We also went to a park, and got some cool and hilarious pictures. Don't complain if you feel they are slightly off color. I try to keep the coloring the most consistent I can, but I am no photographer. ;P
Onto Questions
Questions:
Aunt Michelle
where is your companion from and does he speak the language well?
Las Vegas, and kind of. He has spent 9 months between Zambia and Malawi, and 13 so far in Zim.
elder sheilds and elder chikenyanga, thats a interesting last name.
Elder Chikenyanga is from Harare
So did you say you also moved wards or or zone?
Still in the area I was born in.
how is choir coming? are you all singing accapella?
See above, and yes. Accapella.
It sounds as if you seem to be settleing good , so one more question, how do you do your laundry? do have a washing machine or is it by hand?
By hand for sure. Oh, what fun!
Grandma Twila
I have some questions about the Branch there. About how many members in the Branch?
Probably over 200.
What is the average attendance?
40
How many Priesthood holders?
12 give or take (most are adults) active
Do the Elders help with the sacrament?
weekly
Do they have Primary, Youth programs, Relief Society, etc?
Yes. Most are done throught the District though.
Do they have Seminary there?
Yes, Hosted by the neighboring branch.
Where is the location of the Stake you belong to?
Mutare, Zimbabwe; feel free to google earth it. It is prety beautiful here. You can even see our house, and the roads I take everyday. =P good stuff.
--
Remember: Pray always, and look to the Lord. Write often, and live life to it's fullest.
Doubt is the seed of failure. ~Taggart Williams
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. ~God (D+C 6:36)
--
Remember: Pray always, and look to the Lord. Write often, and live life to it's fullest.
Doubt is the seed of failure. ~Taggart Williams
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. ~God (D+C 6:36)
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
Monday, January 30, 2012
jan. 30
Hello Everyone!
This week has been pretty fun. I now have a new companion, Elder
Shields. It has been a fun week getting to know him and the other new
missionary in the house, Elder Chikenyanga. As a house, we have
started playing darts daily. It is way fun and is a good house bonding
activity.
As far as missionary work goes, this week has been pretty difficult.
We had a lot of people miss appointments, but those who we have seen
are making lots of progress. One investigator, Matthew, has been slow
on progressing. He knows the Bible well, but wants a lot of solid
proof on the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. He, in essence, wants
to hold the gold plates in his hands. We are only able to meet with
him every week or so, and he has been having a difficult time reading
the book of mormon. It isn't at all because he doesn't want to try, he
just isn't yet willing to find out for himself in the way we tell him
he needs to. Once he comes to know for himself that the Book of Mormon
is true, he will be a very powerful investigator. As it is, this last
week Elder Shields and I had a lesson with him that really seemed to
make a lot of progress. We talked to him about how it is so important
to listen to the Spirit, and to look at the fruits of Joseph Smith and
the BoM in order to know that they are from God. We will be meeting
with him again this week, and we hope that he will have been able to
push his doubts aside for just a little bit in order to read from and
pray about the Book of Mormon.
I got my scriptures finished and they look great. They quad showing in
the attached picture is Elder Toomers, but the rest is mine. The brown
is Elephant skin, and the white is Crocodile; The case is Water
Buffalo. Elder Toomers is Grey = elephant,
white = crocodile.
If you are wanting something done, hymn books or mini books of mormon
are only $10ish. So let me know (it really is cool stuff)
There were no questions today, and the Zone is ready to leave, so ta ta for now.
~Elder Williams
--
Remember: Pray always, and look to the Lord. Write often, and live life to
it's fullest.
Doubt is the seed of failure. ~Taggart Williams
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. ~God (D+C 6:36)
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
This week has been pretty fun. I now have a new companion, Elder
Shields. It has been a fun week getting to know him and the other new
missionary in the house, Elder Chikenyanga. As a house, we have
started playing darts daily. It is way fun and is a good house bonding
activity.
As far as missionary work goes, this week has been pretty difficult.
We had a lot of people miss appointments, but those who we have seen
are making lots of progress. One investigator, Matthew, has been slow
on progressing. He knows the Bible well, but wants a lot of solid
proof on the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. He, in essence, wants
to hold the gold plates in his hands. We are only able to meet with
him every week or so, and he has been having a difficult time reading
the book of mormon. It isn't at all because he doesn't want to try, he
just isn't yet willing to find out for himself in the way we tell him
he needs to. Once he comes to know for himself that the Book of Mormon
is true, he will be a very powerful investigator. As it is, this last
week Elder Shields and I had a lesson with him that really seemed to
make a lot of progress. We talked to him about how it is so important
to listen to the Spirit, and to look at the fruits of Joseph Smith and
the BoM in order to know that they are from God. We will be meeting
with him again this week, and we hope that he will have been able to
push his doubts aside for just a little bit in order to read from and
pray about the Book of Mormon.
I got my scriptures finished and they look great. They quad showing in
the attached picture is Elder Toomers, but the rest is mine. The brown
is Elephant skin, and the white is Crocodile; The case is Water
Buffalo. Elder Toomers is Grey = elephant,
white = crocodile.
If you are wanting something done, hymn books or mini books of mormon
are only $10ish. So let me know (it really is cool stuff)
There were no questions today, and the Zone is ready to leave, so ta ta for now.
~Elder Williams
--
Remember: Pray always, and look to the Lord. Write often, and live life to
it's fullest.
Doubt is the seed of failure. ~Taggart Williams
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. ~God (D+C 6:36)
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
Monday, January 23, 2012
greetings from Zimbabwe jan. 23
Why hello there family and friends!
This last week we received transfers, and as such, there was bad news and there was good news. My companion, Elder Hayes, got transfer ed to Harare, and my new companion (drum-roll please) is Elder Shields, with whom I spent a nice amount of time over Christmas, and got to know him fairly well (considering it was 3 days).
Presently, I am almost finished with Jesus the Christ (James E. Talmage) and will be getting my scriptures (finished) around thursday. I can't wait to see them. =P
This week, My comp and I were able to be at choir, but we still had only 2 other people. We started working on 'brightly beams our fathers mercy'. It is sounding iffy at the moment, but in time it will be sounding great; we just need to get more people to choir! Other than that, I have seen a few more chameleons and took some fun pictures with Elder Hayes. We ate out 2x this last week, Chinese, and at Nando's, and I made chicken curry twice. Overall however, teaching-wise it was a pretty bad week. People weren't out, and people weren't home, so our lessons and contacts were low. This next week I hope it will be better.
My new comp just got here, and I hope today takes a turn upwards. I was at the email shop trying to get the internet to work for 40 minutes before I even got a glimpse of my inbox, but the emails from those who sent them were nice, and letters received are greatly appreciated.
With nothing else to say, I will move onto questions.
Questions (answers in bold)
Aunt Michelle
I know africa is really big but not sure what to compare it to. I mean is it as big as the united states or big like texas?
not sure for certain, but roughly around 3x the size of America
THe other thing I was wondering and worrying about is In certain parts there is fighting and dangerous things going on. i believe alot of politics- not sure of the fighting or what its about but have you heard about it?
I haven't heard anything about that, it is quite peaceful in Zimbabwe siNdebele
then another thing I was wondering , is language I thought certian areas spoke french?
There are well over 100 dialects and languages throughout Africa. The 3 in Zimbabwe are Shona, siNdebele, and English
also what type of money do they use? is it euro"s or european? or is it american?
American Dollar, and the South African Rand
Nathan
1. While in Zimmy, Have you discovered more about yourself?
Much, the largest how much I didn't know about the Gospel. Also, I am in the process of taking notes (at length) for a book I will write when home.
2. Have you been in need of your mad spear master skills?
2. Have you been in need of your mad spear master skills?
I have yet to find a spear, sadly, and regardless, there has been no danger I have been in besides the puff adder =P
3. What was the most random thing said to you?
3. What was the most random thing said to you?
not sure to be honest. . .
4. Anyone there play the violin? (besides yourself)
4. Anyone there play the violin? (besides yourself)
nope
5. Have you answered the question if a tree falls and no one is around to hear it...does it make a sound?
5. Have you answered the question if a tree falls and no one is around to hear it...does it make a sound?
it makes three different sounds actually. The problem is, 2 of them are only audible to monkeys and snails, and the other 4 (puzzle out my math) mesh together in a certain way which, although it sounds cool, can't be heard in an environment which has any form of gravity.
6. What kind of birds are there? any that make you want to knaw your ears off?
6. What kind of birds are there? any that make you want to knaw your ears off?
I think they are swallows. They have long tails, and before you ask, I haven't seen very any carrying coconuts north to England. Besides, South African swallows are non-migratory. 7. What was your most remembered lession done so far?
if by lession, you mean legion, I haven't seen any outside of Rome (haven't been there in a while. . . or ever). However, if you mean lesson, then let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
One person we are teaching has a large problem with the word of wisdom. And on multiple occasions, he has expressed a great desire to have us continue teaching him, because he feels the spirit so strongly (and this while absolutely drunk). For any of you who have spent much time with drunkards, the spirit does not come easily, or be felt by them almost at all. He is making great strides, and although he isn't completely clean yet, he is getting much better at saying 'no' and dealing with his anger issues.
Well, that said, I bid you all adieu. Until next time.
I will keep you all in my heart and in my prayers.
Love,
Elder Taggart Williams
--
Remember: Pray always, and look to the Lord. Write often, and live life to it's fullest.
Doubt is the seed of failure. ~Taggart Williams
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. ~God (D+C 6:36)
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