Elder B in Zimbabwe: The Second Email from Zimbabwe written by Elder Anderson to the people of America.

Another good week in Zim!!!

I tried to make the title of this email like the title of some of the books in the bible. Like CORINTHIANS, the

second epistle of the apostle James to the people of Corinth. or something like that lol. Sorry i can tell my sense of humor is lacking this week.

A lot happened this week but I forgot to bring my notes with me so I might be choppy with this email. Bear with me.

So on Tuesday we had our first district meeting and our district leader made me be the chorister hahhahaa and when they lead music here, the chorister has to lead and sing the first line of the song solo, and then everyone joins in.... so that was rough. I feel bad for my district for having to hear that. Its hilarious at sacrament meeting because bless her heart, the ward chorister is quite tone def. Surprisingly a lot of the people are hahahaha oh well.

Sadly on the same day we figured out one of the investigators we had previously given a baptismal date, is no longer interested and still doesn't get why there's only one true church. Our efforts didn't convince her so we had to drop her. We dropped a lot of investigators this week because the people are too friendly and they always accept invitations and commitments even when they have absolutely no intent to follow through with them. So we are now slim in investigators we aren't going to meet our goal of 5 baptisms this month. But next month our goal is 6! And its possible but it will take a lot of work.

On Wednesday we had a Christmas devotional and then a gift exchange party thing with a couple of the zones in the mission. During the devotional, my zone sang a couple songs and did really good! And then the other zone got up and just did awful on their song and right as they finished, President Mkhabela stands up and is like "Wait! Stop!...." and we all turn in suspense. And then after a long pause he looks at us and tells us to go up and help them out. And then we all sang their song together and it sounded a lot better hahahaa. And then when we finished. President was like, "Yes that was much better" hahahaa he's hilarious. then after, at the gift exchange, I got a dope little chess set. I'll attach a picture.

On Thursday We had a lot planned and a lot of baptismal invitations to give and then only one of our lessons worked out. We planned for 6 lessons and 5 contacts and we ended up with 1 lesson and 21 contacts.... Weird turn of events.

Then on Friday we got up, planned a lot for the day and then right as we got off the kombi in our area, our zone leaders called us and told us to come to the mission office so we could go to Mutare. And no one told us about it until they called us. So we scratched all our plans and then headed to the mission office and then took a three hour drive to Mutare. When we got there, we spent the night and then 3 zones met at the stake center with President. We then split up to contact for 3 hours! It was insane! there were so many missionaries and we just dominated this city. The city was beautiful too! sadly I forgot my camera. But yes my companion and I contacted 60 people in 3 hours. We were cookin. And a contact is defined by someone we talk to and give a pamphlet and then invite to church. So its not just saying hi to someone on the street. So think about us two doing 60. and there were at least 50 missionaries also contacting the whole area. Needless to say, we talked to a lot of people. President Mkhabela had the idea for all of us to go there because the area was struggling and people had a bad idea about the church and no one was talking to the missionaries there. So hopefully we influenced some change! When we got back Saturday night, Elder Till and I collapsed and passed out. Best sleep I've had in a while.

Sunday was awesome too! We had a new investigator come to church and we met a lot of members that wanted us to come for dinner and then some gave us referrals! Super good day!

So I finally had sadza! like authentic Zimbabwean sadza! We had it at the Muchekwe family's house and it was one of the coolest nights ever. These guys are members and they made us sadza with spinach and beans. And it was amazing. We ate it with our hands too haha that was weird to get used to. But yes sadza is very good. And when we tried to make it before I left, it wasn't even close to how its actually made. Africans do it right. But after we ate I shared Romans 8:31 with the family and also my new favorite scripture 2 Nephi 7:8. It was a very nice evening and It was so humbling to be with such a happy member family in their tiny 10ft by 10ft home. And yes, their home was barely enough room for the bed. But the parents lived there with their two little kids and were so happy and loving! Really made me miss my family. I also just felt so safe when we were in their home. Kind of felt like I wasn't in the middle of such a poor and rundown neighborhood in a crumbling country. Just felt at peace. It was so cool! Also we learned that Brother Muchekwe is a professional rugby player! And has played on several teams in Africa. Super dope.

We had a cool lesson today with a Seventh Day Adventist. hahaha they really like to focus on the books of Revelation and Daniel and he kept trying to prove us wrong and we slapped him in the face with scriptures in the bible that answered his questions. We also taught him about the Book of Mormon and he seemed really interested in it. His name is Benjamin and his girlfriend is a member. So we hope to baptize him this next month! If he keeps progressing.

It so funny when we talk to drunk people because they always ask us to find them a scripture that says not to drink alcohol and we're always say that we don't need to show them a scripture for them to know that drinking isn't good for you. Or we ask if they think God would want them to drink. hahaha humbles them pretty freaking quick. And when they ask about why Jesus drank wine, my companion is always like, "Ok but do you think Jesus was ever drunk? or taught his followers that getting drunk was okay?" and then that shuts them up quick. Super funny. We were talking to this guy named Hugh about not drinking or smoking and the Word of Wisdom and then this other guy comes up from behind us and interrupts our discussion by mumbling about something and he had an empty beer bottle in his hand and a cigarette in his mouth and the most idiotic, dumbfounded and confused look on his face. After he walked away and we all laughed at him, we turned to Hugh and said, "So do you wanna end up like that guy" hahhaha super funny. Hugh is actually super interested in changing his life and coming to church. We'll see if he's a straight or if he's a joker if he comes to church or not.

Here in Zim you are either Straight or Jing. Straight is good, Jing is bad hahaha

These people are so kind. I love talking to new people because they always try to act tough and cool and then I smile and nod and they usually smile back and ask how I'm doing.

There are a lot of different churches here. I dont think there is a dominant religion. Maybe Christian or Catholic idk. but there are also some weird ones. Like these people that dress in all white and go kneel in circles on farms and stuff. Interesting. If only that had the restored gospel.

Also I need to tell you guys about Brother Mupamba. He is a recent convert and he's almost completely def. But when he has his hearing aids we can communicate easily. And he has a deep and powerful voice so when he walks in late to church and sits by us, he greets us very loudly and then everyone turns and looks at us hahahhaha its hilarious. I wish you all could meet him because he's a really cool and funny guy. Whenever he like makes fun of us or jokes about something he always gives us a firm handshake hahaha he's cool. Last time we taught him about something after church and he was like, "Okay so guys i have no idea what they were talking about when we all raised out hands to sustain at sacrament meeting today. They could've been voting to cut off someones head and I wouldve raised my hand hahahah I had no idea what they were saying" it was hilarious. I was dying.

So today we went to a zoo park thing where we got to drive around in the animal enclosures and we saw some massive lions up close and some monkeys, and zebras and stuff. It was pretty sick. I'll attach some pictures.

Saw some pretty beefy spiders this week. They always just chill above my bed. Its hard to not freak out. There was also a lizard in our room yesterday! It was so cool!

Its so weird that its almost christmas here because its hecka hot. And when its not hot, its raining hahaha. And it rained sooo much this week. The crazy thing about the rain here is that it doesn't ever build up. Its like a switch turns on and then out of nowhere its just dumping rain everywhere. Like almost flash flood status. But yes christmas here is different because there is no such thing as santa claus. But they still get gifts i think. If the parents can afford it. And people dont have room for trees in their houses to decorate and they cant afford a lot of decorations. We have a blow up Santa thing in our house and then some santa hats tho. So its pretty festive. Also, the shops play american christmas music hahaha and my companion and i sing hymns and carols at our flat.

Honestly the poverty is so sad. The streets and buildings and houses are all falling apart. Granted, there are nice areas of the cities and nice neighborhoods but we usually dont serve there. But yeah, there is trash everywhhheerrrreee and the other day I saw kids playing in the mud and eating it. And the houses are so small and cramped and falling apart but the people are still so happy and friendly and still always give us a snack and a place to sit. So so so so humbling.

Funny thing. The fast food here is dope. The only restaurants are called Chicken Inn, Chicken Slice, Pizza Inn, Pizza Slice, Bakery Inn, Bakery Slice. hahaha the difference is that Slice are smaller restaurants than the Inns. But the chicken ones are the only ones we've been to and its better than KFC. Its amazing. And cheap! There is also KFC's every once in a while but I have yet to go to one.

I had a Mountain Dew today. Its been a while and I was so happy when i drank it.

We saw monkeys running through the streets yesterday hahaha just a normal thing here I guess.

Oh my gosh I had a Jesus moment this week! We were walking through the street and like 20 little kids came up and wanted to touch my hands and they kept saying "Hi how are you" or "Yes" or "murungu!!!" hahahaha it was amazing. I was so happy after that. It happened just after we had a lot of lessons fall through and not work out. Much needed moment.

Another funny moment with our hilarious ward mission leader. He told us when he was learning english, he didn't understand slang at all and that his companion in the MTC met him and said "Whats up dawg!?" and he was super confused and was like "I just met you and you are already calling me a dog. Why is that" hahahaha and then they explained it to him.

I'm getting mad tan lines on my neck and arms hahaha love it.

We had dinner last night with a member of the bishopric and his family and their home was as small as the Muchekwe's home and I again felt that peace and happiness in the home of a member family. I know the gospel blesses families because this is the same feeling I have whenever I'm with my family. Miss you guys. But two years is short haha. This family made us sloppy joes and i ate a lot haha super good. They also warned us about the food here but so far I like it all a lot! Can't wait for the tiny fish, the caterpillars or the termites! I just want to say that I tried it. And redeem myself from the terribly picky eater i used to be. Stay tuned.

This one elder that is about to leave came up to me the other day and was like "Elder Anderson, i have recieved revelation for you this fine day. You will be an AP during this mission" So we'll see if that was legit or if he is a false prophet.

So many people here say they believe in the Bible and love it and learn from it but at the same time they think its okay to have all these different churches. Then we show them Ephesians 4:5 (in the Bible that they believe in and learn from and love) which says "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" and then they're like..... ohhhh. hahaha so funny.

Wow this email was long. Oops.

Sorry I don't have any crazy conversion stories or powerful lessons or anything this week but hopefully next week! We were super busy with the other missionaries and the activities and the events so we didn't have a lot of time to teach lessons and proselyte in our area. Next week we have no distractions and a lot of lessons lined up. Wish us luck! I love you all and you still stay in my prayers. I love this work and so much about the gospel just makes sense. We truly have the fullness of the everlasting gospel and it is 100% true. No doubt. I can't wait to see the spirit teach people and watch them change as they're faith and testimonies grow. I'm starting to really love the Book of Mormon. Its so clear and correct and right. Teaches a lot about what we need to know. I read it every day now. Well Stay tuned for next week. Much love. Stay steady grindin. The church is true. Cash out. God Bless.

Enjoy the pictures Below.