November 2012

Nov. 6
This week has been interesting.  Due to the security issues here they are putting in our new security system.  We now have motion sensors at our flat.  If it gets tripped the security comes right out with what is similar to a SWAT team in the US.  As I said in previously in emails there have been a lot of break-ins into the houses here as well as in the Lilongwe area.  The word from Salt Lake is that if there are anymore robberies in the area or at the flats then they are going to close the country and take us out of Malawi.  We have a few new rules. They are: only carry a little bit of money, but enough to have if we meet any thief’s, we have to be home by dark to avoid being robbed.  The crime is up due to the devaluation of the Kwatcha (money) and there is a big food shortage. The food will run out by the end of this year.  As a result, the prices for food are going higher.  As a result, the people are more desperate for money and when they see us, they think we have money.  I am sad for the people here and to see their suffering.  The people here are good.  They are just so poor and desperate they are only trying to survive.
Otherwise, everything else is going pretty good. In addition, we have a baptism for the 24 of November.  I am excited about the baptism and fell that the work here is going well.
Love you,
Elder Jasper

November 12-26
On November 12 we hiked Michiru Mountain today and went to the Hyena Caves.  That was awesome.  Hyenas are very fast!  I must say I was quite impressed.
Here in Chewa is the national language of Malawi. I have been speaking Chewa most of the time.  Sometimes it is hard for me to remember English.  Someone asked me what something met in English the other day and I really had to think about it.  Wow! That was a bit surprising to me.  I hope I don’t need to go back to elementary school when I get back home (LOL).  It’s a good think I read my scriptures in English and write my family in English!!
I will be here in Malawi for awhile.  I am still training a missionary. I will most likely be in Malawi until around February.  However, I might train again after I am finished training this missionary.  We are supposedly getting another twenty missionaries between now and March!!  We will have up to 60 missionaries in the mission. 60 missionaries will seem like quite a lot considering that we only had forty before.  
Elder Jasper