June 2, 2008

Dear everyone,

So now Elder Woldemichael and I have been in Matero branch for about 10 days now. We're slowly getting the hang of things. We have some wonderful members here. Our branch mission leader is awesome. We currently have only one investigator with a baptismal date, named Harsha Safeli. He is 9 years old and the young brother to a member of the district presidency, Henry Safeli, the coolest member in the branch. Pres Safeli is only about 26 and he has only been a member for less than 3 years now, but he knows more about the Church than almost any other member in Zambia. He and his wife have two young children, the funniest kids ever. Anyway he'll be baptized sometime in July. We have a ton of other investigators who we need to give baptismal dates to. Yesterday we had 8 investigators at church including two first-timers. The Shumba family didn't come unfortunately, but they are doing alright. Sometimes it takes ages for people (especially older people like them) just to understand the concept of one truth and one true church because it goes against everything they've thought their whole lives. Sometimes it takes a few lessons and a lot of prayers until they can grasp the idea and finally believe it themselves. We're going to teach them the plan of salvation this week to give them an idea why it was so necessary for a restoration of truth.

Wednesday I went on exchanges with Elder McMullen in my area. He is from London, the only other Brit in the mission apart from Elder Lawrance. He's the new district leader in Lusaka. We had a good time and did a lot of great work together. He bet Elder Woldemichael and I that we wouldn't be able to get our contacts this week. Pres Bester has said that each companionship needs to get 140 street contacts each week and as you can imagine with a car it's quite difficult. But we took the challenge and last night we had a total of 138 for the week and we were on our way home in the dark when I saw two men walking on the side of the road so I swerved and parked on the side and Elder Woldemichael ran them down and we talked to them about the Book of Mormon and invited them to church. So we made it! Though just barely, haha.

I think that is pretty much everything from this neck of the woods. I know that this truly is the Lord's restored church with his authority and doctrine.

Love you all.
Elder Mckay Moline