No, I was not in the Sahara Dessert but it was freaking hot this week. I still have no clue about Celsius so I'm not sure how hot it was but it was hot. Even when its overcast, its hot haha. Ahhh man I love it. Sweating like nobodies business haha.
This week was just short of super frustrating haha. We had so many lessons planned and had countless inspired ideas and scriptures planned for our investigators and we barely had any lessons this week. The majority of the lessons were with very active recent converts so they weren't too exciting. We had days where we would have lessons fall through and even try all our back-up plans and even they weren't around. And Saturday was the worst day because we had like 8 lessons planned with 9 backup plans and we only had 3 lessons, two of them weren't even planned. It has been so frustrating setting up appointments with tons of people and then having a lot planned for them and they they aren't around or they are too tired or are busy cooking sadza, (which is the most consistent excuse we hear haha). But nonetheless, we are still trucking and trying to find new people to teach. I think yesterday we went through our investigators and dropped like 5 of them because they were never around and its becoming a waste of the Lord's time to try to see them.
Despite the rough times this week, yesterday was a good day. In the words of Spawnbreezy, "Its gonna be a good day after all". At church we had 8 referrals from the ward, we scheduled 3 appointments with new investigators who all want to be baptized and we even had a lesson with a new investigator during one of the blocks! It was a refreshing change of tone for the week. Its always really cool to see someone bring a friend to church and then they ask us to teach them and they're excited to learn more. The work with the help of the members is crazy good.
On top of a more than wonderful day at church, right after the third hour we went to the Muchekwa family's home and they showed us how to make sadza!! This is the same family who cooked my first native plate of sadza. And it is actually super easy to cook, but its tough on your arms. I have mad respect for the mamas that cook it every day! They're freaking strong haha. I'm excited to make some for all of you at home. So good. While, we are on the subject of sadza, I feel like I'm missing something when I go a day without sadza. So its progressively becoming my staple food as well haha. That's all I'm going to eat in college.
So I love the wards we serve in. Every member is always happy to help us with lessons or to introduce us to their friends and they are so loving and helpful. The second counselor in the bishopric is Brother Chikenge and he teaches with us sometimes and he's so dope. The other day when we were walking around trying to find someone to teach, he was asking me about what music I used to listen to and to my surprise, we found out we listen to the same exact music and I was so happy haha. He's super chill and he's a powerful teacher. All the people here are powerful.
Funny story. So the kids here love talking to us in English, even if they just scream the word "Yes" at us, they find joy and excitement in the experience of talking english at a white person. And usually a group of kids will see us and then they form a circle and decide to volunteer someone as tribute to be the elected on to utter some kind of English words to us. So the other day it was the same old story and the elect one came running at us and right as he was about to say his first English words to a white man, I interrupted him and said, "Ayyyee murisei shamwari?!" (which means how are you my friend). And the look on his face was priceless, he was so confused hahahaha and his friends were all dying laughing haha Elder Till and I were also laughing pretty hard. The kids sometimes will be like, "ahh you arent white, you speak shona!" hahah I love the kids here.
So next week we have 1 baptism and the following week we might have some but I'm not sure. We had a lot of people planned for the 18th but they were either never around or they wouldn't come to church. Rough. But yeah the work is progressing slowly right now.
Okay so to clear any confusion I find it fit to explain to all the readers that missionary work here is straight up different. For example:
-Baptisms are easy to find but less actives are simultaneously abounding
-I teach 90% of my lessons under mango trees
-We never call to confirm appointments because most will say they are busy or will want to reschedule so we just show up haha
-We don't place Books of Mormon because people will just take it and then throw it away or something so we give pamphlets instead
-We are authorized by Pres. Mkhabela to leave the area at 6 if we have no appointments
-Minor disobedience issues are usually not a big deal to President because even he wants us to have fun. Although he still gives fire if missionaries get out of hand.
-Everyone says yes so its hard to find out if people are jing or straight.
-We lose power about once every two weeks
-All the cars are falling apart
And many more things that I couldn't mention at this time. Africa is amazing but just different. I love it. Its also funny because some of the things in Preach My Gospel weren't made for Africa haha but its okay. President still wants us to be PMG missionaries and its still possible but things are just done differently here. Its so cool!
This morning we didn't have power and it cut out midway through us doing laundry, so I used the cleanest water I had and put some soap in a bucket and washed my hair and that was my shower for today haha.
Also, we had 122 contacts this week. Whaaattttt yes 122. super cool.
Well this concludes Weekly Update from yours truly. Sorry I don't have any cool experiences or pictures this week but times are difficult in the area! We have had progressing investigators that all of the sudden dont understand anything and are having all of these questions and concerns so its been frustrating but we are looking forward to this next week. Mission is good. I love you all and like always, you stay in my prayers. All is well in Harare.
Stay Steady Grindin
Shakanaka (Its all good)
Tonana (See you later)
Cordially,
-Elder Anderson
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