Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Happy New Year, Am I Right!

Zimbabwean new year is a freaking riot. 
Okay so our adventure started out with a very slow day of teaching and then we left the area to pick up the other elders in our district from Kambuzuma.  From there we went deep into the middle of Harare and ate a fat dinner at KFC... and oh my goodness the chicken there was something else.  It was by far the best KFC I have ever been to.  It was fried perfectly and they put this chili powder stuff on the chicken and the fries and it was amazing.  Also, we downed a huge thing of Fanta and they had "sadza nuggets" on the menu haha.  Not the best thing in the world but I was a fan.  We all had a lot of allotment money left so we spoiled ourselves.  We are definitely going back there soon.  Then after we chilled at KFC for a while,  we decided to go back to the Kambuzuma Elders' house to watch the Restoration movie. Party right?  hahaha But on our way home we bought a 4 FOOT LONG ROMAN CANDLE... like what the heck.  Everyone was buying them so we decided we might as well.  Then we stopped by Pick and Pay and bought some soda and a cake.  After enjoying ourselves at the house, we decided to be disobedient and wait for midnight.  Then we went outside to shoot off this roman candle and right at midnight everyone in the neighborhood was going crazy!  The people we all yelling and shooting fireworks and singing and freaking out it was awesome! And we could see fireworks in the distance in every direction!  Party in the Z. I. M. pffff.  It was awesome though.  This lady came out of the house next door and she was wearing her white robes, that she went to church in, and was just banging on the fence and signing and screaming. It was dope.  I can only imagine what it would've been like in the city haha. 
Anyways I'll try to talk more about some spiritual stuff rather than me being disobedient haha. 
So yes we got the car fixed and now it is helping us a ton!  We have been able to get to the area quicker and to stay later to teach more people! 
The other day we had a super slow day and I was just not in a good mood.   We had been walking in the heat and our first 4 appointments got cancelled because the people were all gone...  And then at around 5 pm that same day, we met a member who wanted to show us some potential investigators and we ended up having 5 lessons and some were to whole families who were interested!! It was awesome!  After that I was much happier!  One of these new investigators is named Mai Katsande and her husband is a less active member and a soldier for the Zim Army.  At the start of her lesson, we asked what she expected from us and she was like, "Well ya know, I just want to learn more about the church and know everything from start to finish, and learn more about the book of mormon, and I wanna get baptized and then start going to church with my family..."  and she continued to mumble about some other things but i didnt listen because i just looked at Elder Till and was like whaaaattt.  haha So yeah she's super interested and going to be a great investigator.
Then I think the day after that it was another slow day and we finally got to a part member families home and taught one of the nonmembers a lesson and then everyone told us they were super sick and asked for priesthood blessings.  So my companion and I gave 4 that night! It was cool!  We've given quite a few since I got here!  Its cool to put the priesthood to good use! 
So this guy has been coming to church a couple times and we started teaching him last week.  His name is Brother Zuva and he has two kids.  He told us his life story and wow.... He grew up kinda going to church and then stopped going when he moved out of his parents' house.  Then he got married and had 3 kids.  Recently in 2012 his wife passed away, and last month, his oldest daughter got bit by a black mumba snake and died instantly. then on Christmas day he was driving with his friends in the rain and the car slid off the road and rolled a few times, and everyone died but him...  We were in shock after hearing this.  But Brother Zuva found the church after his wife died and has only recently started going and he is very excited to be a part of the only true church and he told us that when he joins, the remaining part of his family will come with him and he will encourage all of them to be baptized!   And he is the most humble guy ever and told us he had been through a lot but that he humbled himself to God and he was super grateful for the gift of life and for the family that he still has.  This guy is golden.  I can't wait to teach him again.
Our teaching pool is getting very big!  Its exciting to meet all these new people and start teaching them.  But like last week, I have taught the Restoration so much hahaha I am going to have to get used to that.
I finally tried the pizza here at Pizza Inn! And it was surprisingly good!  Like as good, if not better than the pizza in the states!  Going back there this week.  Also they have this stuff here called 2 Min Noodles and its just African top ramen but theyre so good.  I'm buying a lot more after we email today.  They have a steak flavor and its amazing.
Elder Till and I are getting super close!  We make each other laugh a ton! Its dope.
So last week we finally got to an ATM and got some money!  So the thing is that here in Zim, the money situation is tight.  The people have to wait in line all day at the few ATMs here and hopefully theyll get some money.  So there are always huge lines every day and it was especially crazy during Christmas.  But we went at night and took out money but the only bills left was $2 bond notes... So we took out $210 and got 105 bond notes hahaha just a fat stack of money it was pretty funny.  

The kids here are still amazing!  They just run up to us and ask to touch our arms and our hair.  haha  And Brother Mupambas granddaughter is named Mako and shes like 3 or 4 and shes the cutest girl ever.  She always comes out when we are teaching Mupamba and she hides behind his chair and peeks around the corner at us and then I'll look at her and then she screams and laughs and hides behind the chair hahaha she's awesome! And she loves saying hi to us whenever we come over!  She might be my new best friend.
Its cool how my favorite things to do have changed completely.  Now I love reading and studying the scriptures all the time,  I love reading Preach My Gospel,  I love talking to strangers,  I love highlighting scriptures,  washing dishes, wearing church clothes, eating sadza, listening to and singing hymns, walking through the city, and meeting new people, and serving people.  Also, doing my laundry in a bucket is kind of fun haha.  Its really cool to be so happy.  Even when we have a rough day I just sing Dont Worry Be Happy and then Elder Till whistles along with it hahaha. I love how true and perfect this gospel is and I know without a doubt this is the only true church.  I am starting to notice when I feel the spirit a lot better and I love being a missionary.  Wearing the name of Jesus Christ on my chest every day is an honor.  yesterday this guys car died right in front of our gate and they were hurrying to get the car out of the way because they saw we were trying to get in and they were kinda panicking and stuff so I got out in the rain and helped them push it down the street and they kinda just smiled and shook my hand haha.  Hopefully they'll start to see past my white skin lol.  Anyways I love this place more each day and love serving the Lord as a missionary. Family and friends, you all stay in my prayers and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and took time to recognize the Savior.  Also I wish you all a happy new year of 2017.  2017 years since Christ was born and we still feel his love all around us.  Love you all and hope all is well in the other promised land.

Stay steady grindin'.
Be happy.
-Elder Anderson



Pictures from first area














Kombis



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