May 26, 2008

Dear everyone,

The week was CRAZY!

Monday night Sisters Woolley and Chimfwembe, and Elder Musgrave and I went to Pres. Mulenga's house for dinner. He is the district president of Lusaka and the brother in law to the Lusaka branch president. Sis Mulenga made us nshima, kalembula (cooked sweet potato leaves), squash, and chicken. Everything was good except the nshima. I really didn't know before that it was possible to have gross nshima, but yes, yes it is possible. She said she mixed in some cassava meal. I don't know much about cassava except it's a root and sort of like potato. Anyway with that mixed into the nshima it was very soft and sticky and even gross. All four of us just pretended it was just fine though, ha ha.

Tuesday was zone development meeting. Elder Musgrave spoke about having success in the work and I spoke about teaching recent converts lessons. It was a very nice meeting. That night the Sanfords called us and asked us to come over for dinner because they had some "news" . . . We went over there and they told us that President Bester had changed his mind about transfers and now Lusaka was to be split into two zones! You'd think for something this big we would have to know at least a few days in advance, but nope only two! Elder Musgrave is now companions with Elder Lawrance in Lusaka branch in the first zone (12 missionaries), and I am now companions with Elder Woldemichael in Matero branch in the second zone (we have 14 missionaries). There are several reasons this is so crazy: 1) Elder Lawrance has only been on mission for 7 months, and Elder Woldemichael 9 mo., 2) No city in this mission has ever had this many missionaries or more than one zone before. 3) it may mean that we are not expecting to get any more TEPs for Zimbabwe in the future. So I hardly had a chance to say goodbye to anyone in Lusaka branch. Wednesday was my last day in that area. I will miss this branch dearly. So many great members and investigators.

Thursday Elder Woldemichael arrived from the Ndola and the Stevens (missionary couple) went back to America so we got their old car, the same type of Corolla. E. W-Michael and I will still be living in the same house with Elders Musgrave and Lawrance which I am happy about. Even though we are a bit far from Matero area we have a car so it is ok. So we are whitewashing. Thursday afternoon Elder Cole was able to show us around the area a bit, so we knew some investigators and members. In the evening the APs arrived from Zimbabwe with 9 new elders, 5 for Lusaka, and 4 for Copperbelt. It's great being around new missionaries, so excited and happy! Friday morning we had to drive 4 to the bus station at 5am, ugh.

Elder Woldemichael is a great guy. He is from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The only Ethiopian in the mission. I believe there are only 3 or 4 branches in that country. He's 24 and has been member of the Church for two years now, the only one in his family. He was introduced to the Church by an American girl who was living in Addis for a while. Now she's in America but marriage may be in the future for them. . . He replaced me as district leader when I left Ndola in February. I knew him before when I was in Lusaka last year. He's pretty quiet and reserved but also very smart. He drives which is a relief because most African elders don't have licenses. We will have a good time together.

Matero branch seems like a great branch. It is much smaller than Lusaka branch, but the branch mission leader (Owen Kuseni) is awesome as are the branch missionaries. Whitewashing is cake when you have branch missionaries who know investigators' homes. Saturday we had coordination meeting with the BML and branch missionaries. It may have been the most effective coordination I've had on my mission.

We have a sweet investigator named Dr. Peter Shumba. He has gone to many churches throughout his life (he's 55 or so) but about 10 years ago vowed never to go to another church even though he loves and reads the Bible religiously. He just began meeting with the elders a couple of weeks ago and he, yesterday, told us he would without a doubt come to church next Sunday with his wife. A direct quote from him: "I probably will become a Latter-day Saint." Excellent!

Well, I love you all very much! Have a great week and talk to you later!

Elder Mckay Moline