September 3, 2007
Dear friends and family,

SEPTEMBER ALREADY! In just a matter of 2 weeks I will be 2 decades old. Strange.

This week was quite nice. Joseph Piyolo is still my companion and things are going nicely. We taught 27 lessons to investigators this week and found 25 new investigators, which are both quite high for this area. Our problem, as almost always is, is getting them to come to church. Again, yesterday we had no investigators at church. I think the area we need to work on most is getting members to come teaching with us. Otherwise people just see us, the elders, over and over again and not anyone who has anything in common with themselves. So that's our biggest goal at this particular time. I think after we start getting members to work with us regularly, investigators will naturally want to attend church.

So now it's week 6, which means we will probably find out transfers tomorrow. I am almost certainly going to be companions with a full time missionary after next week, and there is a likelihood that I will be training a new missionary. . . that could be the spirit of prophecy in me, or maybe just my own wisdom. I guess we will see next week! Also, the word on the street is (yes, missionary rumors are funny) that 4-7 unnamed missionaries have gotten TEPs for Zim and next week will be going to that side. The mission doesn't really keep us elders informed on what the Zim govt is doing as far as TEPs so we know almost nothing. It's funny to speculate and then later find out that it was all just made up by some goofy elder.

We just received word last week that a general authority will be visiting Lusaka two weeks from today. Not just any general authority, but President Parmley, who is now president of the Africa Southeast area. President Golden (who I met my second week in Zambia) was recently moved to the Africa West area, so now Pres Parmley, who used to be one of his counselors is now the president. Anyway, he is visiting Lusaka for district conference on the 15th and 16th of Sept and then 17th is Lusaka zone conference. Man, I'm excited! The only lame part is that because of it we don't get a zone conference this transfer. Oh well. It's worth it. I can't wait.

Our missionary schedules changed this past week. Because of some strange things that have happened after dark in some areas of Lusaka, Pres Bester has decreed that we implement a makeshift daylight savings time. So now instead of arising at 6:30, we get up at 5:30. And instead of being home by 20:30 and in bed at 22:30, now we have to be home by 19:30 and in bed by 21:30. So that's been kind of weird to get used to, but now I think I like it. Getting up early makes me feel more productive and useful.

Well, I think that's everything. I love this work so much. I'm learning more about prayer, life, scriptures, trials, and pretty much everything else every single day. Coming on a mission was the greatest decision of my life. I love Zambia and I love being on the Lord's errand.

love,
Elder Mckay Moline