August 6, 2007

Dear everyone,

First off, Mom, I received the Ensign and all of those stamps this past week. Thank you SO much. From now on, as soon as you receive the conference issue of the Ensign, send one directly to me, pretty please. It is quite nice to have a copy of my own. ALSO, I finally received two packages! One from Grandma Shirley and one from the young women in the 8th ward. Thanks very much to both of you. The things contained therein were most delicious and useful (thanks for the ties, Grandma!). I guess there is still one more on the way from Grandma Warr.

Oh yes, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAURIE! I sent you a cool ostrich head postcard, but I didn't have your BYU address so I had to send it to Plano instead. I'm sure you'll see it someday.

So, my new companion's name is Rabson Ndhlovu. He is the branch mission leader in the Munali branch here in Lusaka and has submitted his mission papers and is currently awaiting his mission call, so he doesn't have a job at present. Because there is an odd number of missionaries here in Lusaka, he volunteered to act as a full-time missionary for some weeks, until another elder can be moved here to be my companion. So Rabson is a cool guy. He is a coloured (half German, half Zambian, Chewa tribe), but both of his parents died when he was young so he has never been outside of Zambia and he has a thick Zambian accent. He has been a member of the Church for 7 years, and he's very quiet, so I do most of the talking and the teaching, but we've been having a lot of fun. Lusaka has now been divided into three districts. Our new district leader is Elder Poche from Nairobi, Kenya. He is a great missionary. Elder Carruth is now the district leader in the Libala district. Also there are two new missionary couples here in Lusaka: the Bowhuises and the Stevens. The Stevens are CES missionaries and were recently kicked out of Zimbabwe, so they will be taking the Swans' place in the Copperbelt in September, and the Bowhuises just arrived fresh from Utah. I don't really know where they will be going. It all depends upon if Zim grants them TEPs or not.

This past week was alright. It's definitely different being with a branch missionary. But things are good. We taught 16 total lessons which isn't all that great. Our zone has set a goal for 30 lessons each week. Lessons with members present that is. That's something we are definitely struggling with. We don't have many members in our area who can come teaching with us on a regular basis. So we're going to try to start by having at LEAST one member present lesson each day; probably at night, after the members get home from work/school. It'll be tough, but we'll do our very best!

As for birthday packages, feel free to send them! Packages are wonderful things. Always appreciated. Requests: photos/photo album (I only have 3 photos of my family here!), card games (Uno and the Great Dalmuti especially, even Phase 10), a good jump rope (I am gaining a bit of weight . . .), music CDs (classical, or church-related, anything good), talks on CDs from general authorities etc. (Dad, I vaguely recall you having The discourses of Henry B. Eyring. . . that would be nice), TIES, and anything else! I have a sweet tooth so any candy would definitely be appreciated. Thanks very much in advance!

I think that's everything.

I love you all!

God lives!

Elder Mckay Moline



P.S. In the future DON'T SEND ANYTHING TO THE ZIMBABWE ADDRESS (65 enterprise rd, etc).
To be completely honest, I might not see Zimbabwe again for the rest of my mission, or if I do it won't be for a while. If you want to send anything, send it directly to Lusaka. Not only is Zambia nicer to packages, but it eliminates the extra waiting time from Harare here to Lusaka.

Elder Moline
Zim-Har Mission
P/bag 325x
Ridgeway, Lusaka
ZAMBIA
aining a bit of weight . . .), music CDs (classical, or church-related, anything good), talks on CDs from general authorities etc. (Dad, I vaguely recall you having The discourses of Henry B. Eyring. . . that would be nice), TIES, and anything else! I have a sweet tooth so any candy would definitely be appreciated. Thanks very much in advance!

I think that's everything.

I love you all!

God lives!

Elder Mckay Moline