I am doing well. I have some news!! I am being transferred to Malawi!! The mission president called me Saturday morning I will be in Blantyre serving in sunny-side. My companion will be Elder Ahrio from Uganda. I will be driving with president to Malawi tomorrow morning. It’s a six hour drive to Malawi to get to Lilongwe and then another five hours to get to Blantyre. So it will be a bit of a car ride. So, I have been busy packing!! Today I will make some last preparations for leaving for Malawi. I am excited to go to a new area/country! It will be a great experience for me. I am excited to meet the people in Malawi and learn about the culture there. There is only one thing that I am not excited about and that is the heat. Malawi is even hotter than Zambia!! I think I could melt (lol). Seriously, I am excited and I love serving the Lord.
We had our district conference on Saturday and Sunday. It was great to go Elder Carl B. Cook of the seventies was there and we got to talk with him. In addition, it was fun because; I was taking lots of pictures with missionaries that I will most likely not see again, because they are finishing their missions here. I took a picture with all of the Chinama Elders that have served with me in Chinama. I did not get a picture of Elder Horne and Mahachi because they were not at the conference. Elder Horn wasn’t there and Elder Mahachi is in Copperbelt.
Till next time love Devin.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
5/7/2012
In a few days it will be my birthday, my mom’s birthday, and mother’s day! I am excited to talk to my family and my mom on mother’s day! It’s hard for me to believe that I got my mission call about 1 year ago. Wow, time goes by fast when you are working and doing what you are supposed to be doing.
I’m not too sure what we are going to do this week. We have district conference on Saturday and Sunday, so we will be doing that which will take up most of our day. I think we might go get some Shawama’s for lunch today. They serve some food that is similar to a burrito. It’s chicken with lettuce and some other things inside a tortilla.
Things are going pretty well here we have some new missionaries coming at the end of May to replace those who have gone home or finished their missions. Due to the changes there will be a bit of moving around in the mission.
I would really LOVE some LETTERS. EVERYONE, please Write when you can I appreciate it.
Anyways, that is all I have for now till next time love Devin.
I’m not too sure what we are going to do this week. We have district conference on Saturday and Sunday, so we will be doing that which will take up most of our day. I think we might go get some Shawama’s for lunch today. They serve some food that is similar to a burrito. It’s chicken with lettuce and some other things inside a tortilla.
Things are going pretty well here we have some new missionaries coming at the end of May to replace those who have gone home or finished their missions. Due to the changes there will be a bit of moving around in the mission.
I would really LOVE some LETTERS. EVERYONE, please Write when you can I appreciate it.
Anyways, that is all I have for now till next time love Devin.
4/30/2012
I’m doing great. I know I am not the best pen pal but, I sure like getting letters from family and friends! They really help me and keep me going!! Please forgive me for not being a great pen pal. I know it is not a good excuse but, I get extremely busy, my time is limited, and some days I am so exhausted I feel too tired to write anything. So I guess what I am saying is…..Even though, I am slacker when it comes to letter writing I really want your letters!! So, keep them coming!!! I may not write back as much as you want but, I will bring you back something fun from Africa!!!
Right now, we try to visit less activity members. Currently, there are about 150 inactive members. If more members start to come to church we will be able to build a chapel here. Building a chapel here would be a great blessing.
This week have an activity planned for the branch on Saturday. We are going to have a talent show and play some games. It should be a fun activity. I will be sure to take lots of pictures.
It’s hard to believe that I have been here for almost 7 months now. Time is going by so fast!! I have gotten to meet so many wonderful people here. Yesterday, I met a member from Congo. He is very intelligent and a great baseball player. He said baseball is his favorite sport. Which is out of the norm for here, most of the people here prefer criquet over baseball. He was telling about the diamonds in Congo. Right now there is a lot of fighting going on in that area of Africa and in Sudan Uganda, Nigeria, and Congo it’s quite interesting and I sometimes here about the unrest in those areas through the media here. I must say how much I enjoy meeting new people, learning about them, teaching them and having them teach me.
Anyways, till next time love Devin
Right now, we try to visit less activity members. Currently, there are about 150 inactive members. If more members start to come to church we will be able to build a chapel here. Building a chapel here would be a great blessing.
This week have an activity planned for the branch on Saturday. We are going to have a talent show and play some games. It should be a fun activity. I will be sure to take lots of pictures.
It’s hard to believe that I have been here for almost 7 months now. Time is going by so fast!! I have gotten to meet so many wonderful people here. Yesterday, I met a member from Congo. He is very intelligent and a great baseball player. He said baseball is his favorite sport. Which is out of the norm for here, most of the people here prefer criquet over baseball. He was telling about the diamonds in Congo. Right now there is a lot of fighting going on in that area of Africa and in Sudan Uganda, Nigeria, and Congo it’s quite interesting and I sometimes here about the unrest in those areas through the media here. I must say how much I enjoy meeting new people, learning about them, teaching them and having them teach me.
Anyways, till next time love Devin
4/23/2012
My week has been good! It is still hot here in Zambia. I have accepted the inevitable and decided that it will never cool down.
This week we have been progressing with our investigators, we have four investigators that are progressing. We watched general conference on Saturday and Sunday. I enjoyed the messages very much. In addition, I am learning a lot through my scripture study especially the Book of Mormon. I would encourage everyone to read it and prayerfully study it and to find the hidden treasures of life.
I am doing great. I think we are going to play some rugby today, go and get some ice cream at mikes kitchen, and then do some light shopping for the week.
Anyways till next time love Devin.
This week we have been progressing with our investigators, we have four investigators that are progressing. We watched general conference on Saturday and Sunday. I enjoyed the messages very much. In addition, I am learning a lot through my scripture study especially the Book of Mormon. I would encourage everyone to read it and prayerfully study it and to find the hidden treasures of life.
I am doing great. I think we are going to play some rugby today, go and get some ice cream at mikes kitchen, and then do some light shopping for the week.
Anyways till next time love Devin.
4/16/2012
I’m doing well. We had two baptisms on Sunday. We are baptizing the Boneface family and Sunday Ngandu on Sunday. In addition, we have some more at the beginning of May and one more on mother’s day!! In addition, this week we are planning on watching general conference. I am excited to watch it this week. We don’t get to watch it live. We have to wait for them to put it on DVD and send it to the mission. I am excited to hear all the messages given by the leaders of the church.
In about July the mission will be a year old and soon there will be a few changes to the mission. The changes will most likely take place in May. A lot of missionaries are going home and other missionaries are finishing their missions. This mission is a difficult mission and it is hard for a lot of missionaries to stay and finish their mission here. The poverty in Zambia is high, people live simple and it can be difficult to adjust when you come here from a developed country and you never need to worry about getting your basic needs met. However, being here has humbled me and I understand just how blessed I truly am.
I am anticipating that I will be leaving this area soon with all the changes that are coming to the mission. It will be a new challenge to get to know a new area. I know my way around this area well. Newer missionaries and some not so new missionaries get lost in this area. It can be difficult to find your way around in the compounds. There are no addresses or street names in the compounds, as a result you could wander around for days and never find your way home. I am happy to report that that has not happened to me (yet)! We do lots and lots of walking here. In fact, we walk so much that I think I am going to walk right through my shoes. The terrain here is rugged and wears out your shoes fast. In addition, the rainy season is over and it is very muddy.
I’m continuing to learn the languages here and I am getting to speak the languages pretty well. It has been fun to learn so many different dialects. However, they may be difficult to retain when I return home. Not a lot of people in the US speak them and I want have any one to practice with.
Today we were going to go shopping but, none of the cards are working. When you try to purchase anything it comes back as insufficient funds. That is a little frustrating. So, I think that my companion and I are going to a place called Mikes and buy some pizza.
Anyways, that’s all for now till next time
Love Devin
In about July the mission will be a year old and soon there will be a few changes to the mission. The changes will most likely take place in May. A lot of missionaries are going home and other missionaries are finishing their missions. This mission is a difficult mission and it is hard for a lot of missionaries to stay and finish their mission here. The poverty in Zambia is high, people live simple and it can be difficult to adjust when you come here from a developed country and you never need to worry about getting your basic needs met. However, being here has humbled me and I understand just how blessed I truly am.
I am anticipating that I will be leaving this area soon with all the changes that are coming to the mission. It will be a new challenge to get to know a new area. I know my way around this area well. Newer missionaries and some not so new missionaries get lost in this area. It can be difficult to find your way around in the compounds. There are no addresses or street names in the compounds, as a result you could wander around for days and never find your way home. I am happy to report that that has not happened to me (yet)! We do lots and lots of walking here. In fact, we walk so much that I think I am going to walk right through my shoes. The terrain here is rugged and wears out your shoes fast. In addition, the rainy season is over and it is very muddy.
I’m continuing to learn the languages here and I am getting to speak the languages pretty well. It has been fun to learn so many different dialects. However, they may be difficult to retain when I return home. Not a lot of people in the US speak them and I want have any one to practice with.
Today we were going to go shopping but, none of the cards are working. When you try to purchase anything it comes back as insufficient funds. That is a little frustrating. So, I think that my companion and I are going to a place called Mikes and buy some pizza.
Anyways, that’s all for now till next time
Love Devin
Thursday, April 12, 2012
4/9/2012
This week we went to a place called Eureka Park it was like a campground with a game park inside. The animals just roam wild and you just walk around and look for them. I saw some zebras, impalas, antelope, Giraffes, and monkeys, it was pretty cool.
Our most progressing investigators are Boneface’s and Sunday’s. They are going to be baptized next week. In addition, Linda, Bwalya will be baptized on the 29! In addition, we have some more investigators and if it goes good we may have some more baptisms on the 5th of May.
Kathy wrote to me and told me about going to Oregon over spring break. That will be so much fun for them. It is hard to believe that a year ago we were in Oregon touring the coast! It seems like time goes by so fast. We stay very busy here and I think that is good for all of us. I don’t have time to get home sick and time seems to go by very fast. I cannot believe that I have lived in Zambia for 6 months! The funny thing about living here for an extended period of time you start to feel like a native. I am starting to feel more African than American (LOL). For example, I don’t speak English on a daily basis and when I do I have learned to speak slow, loud, and simple; I prefer to eat nshima or ugali; I use a fork instead of a spatula to cook with, I eat with a spoon instead of a fork, and now when I see America they seem strange and talk fast. I wonder what is going to be like when I get back home. I think I am going to have a big adjustment.
It is pretty hot here today I’m surprised because this whole week it has been pretty cool. I have been enjoying the cooler weather lately. It is suppose to be winter and the temperature is an average of 80 degrees. As you know it is the Easter holiday. The people here take the holidays seriously. They started the holiday on Thursday and it ended on Monday. All the stores are closed or close early. It is pretty interesting. I am getting along well with my companion and the other missionaries in the house. However, our food goes quickly. Elder Ngira is from Kenya and he can eat like nobody’s business. He ate 3 loafs of bread in one day! However, it is pretty fun at our house!
Till next week.
Love Devin
Our most progressing investigators are Boneface’s and Sunday’s. They are going to be baptized next week. In addition, Linda, Bwalya will be baptized on the 29! In addition, we have some more investigators and if it goes good we may have some more baptisms on the 5th of May.
Kathy wrote to me and told me about going to Oregon over spring break. That will be so much fun for them. It is hard to believe that a year ago we were in Oregon touring the coast! It seems like time goes by so fast. We stay very busy here and I think that is good for all of us. I don’t have time to get home sick and time seems to go by very fast. I cannot believe that I have lived in Zambia for 6 months! The funny thing about living here for an extended period of time you start to feel like a native. I am starting to feel more African than American (LOL). For example, I don’t speak English on a daily basis and when I do I have learned to speak slow, loud, and simple; I prefer to eat nshima or ugali; I use a fork instead of a spatula to cook with, I eat with a spoon instead of a fork, and now when I see America they seem strange and talk fast. I wonder what is going to be like when I get back home. I think I am going to have a big adjustment.
It is pretty hot here today I’m surprised because this whole week it has been pretty cool. I have been enjoying the cooler weather lately. It is suppose to be winter and the temperature is an average of 80 degrees. As you know it is the Easter holiday. The people here take the holidays seriously. They started the holiday on Thursday and it ended on Monday. All the stores are closed or close early. It is pretty interesting. I am getting along well with my companion and the other missionaries in the house. However, our food goes quickly. Elder Ngira is from Kenya and he can eat like nobody’s business. He ate 3 loafs of bread in one day! However, it is pretty fun at our house!
Till next week.
Love Devin
4/2/2012
I'm doing well. However, I am still a bit under the weather. I went to the doctor on Tuesday. He said I had bronchitis and put me on antibiotic and gave me some cough syrup. As a result, I stayed home on Wednesday to get better. I didn’t want to be breathing in dust causing the bronchitis to get worse; however I feel lots better now.
I am getting more and more accustomed to the food here. However, I’m still losing weight, but I grew a half inch! On our p-day I like to eat at this place called Nandos. They have flamed grilled chicken with Piri Piri sauce on it. Piri-Piri sauce (used as a seasoning or marinade) is Portuguese in origin and especially prevalent in Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa. It is made from crushed chillies, citrus peel, onion, garlic, pepper, salt, lemon juice, bay leaves, paprika, pimiento, basil, oregano, and tarragon. The food is nice and it’s fresh, unlike some places. In addition, this week I ate Ugali this week. Ugali is an East African dish (also sometimes called sima, sembe, or posho) of maize flour (cornmeal) cooked with water to a porridge- or dough-like consistency. I like it a lot better than nshema.
This week we have our zone activity today it’s going to be at a game park just outside of Lusaka. I am going to bring my rugby ball. I hope the other missionaries from South Africa will want to play some rugby as part of the activity. All the other missionaries always want to play soccer and I am just ready for a change up.
Today we will probably shop today and eat at Nandos. I feel like i could eat a whole chicken! I ate half of one last time I went there. We haven’t had much in the way of food last week, so I’m pretty hungry. Our allotment is supposed to be every two weeks, however sometimes it’s every 18 or 19 days. However, today we did get our allotment and we are going shopping for food!!
Till next week love Devin.
I am getting more and more accustomed to the food here. However, I’m still losing weight, but I grew a half inch! On our p-day I like to eat at this place called Nandos. They have flamed grilled chicken with Piri Piri sauce on it. Piri-Piri sauce (used as a seasoning or marinade) is Portuguese in origin and especially prevalent in Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa. It is made from crushed chillies, citrus peel, onion, garlic, pepper, salt, lemon juice, bay leaves, paprika, pimiento, basil, oregano, and tarragon. The food is nice and it’s fresh, unlike some places. In addition, this week I ate Ugali this week. Ugali is an East African dish (also sometimes called sima, sembe, or posho) of maize flour (cornmeal) cooked with water to a porridge- or dough-like consistency. I like it a lot better than nshema.
This week we have our zone activity today it’s going to be at a game park just outside of Lusaka. I am going to bring my rugby ball. I hope the other missionaries from South Africa will want to play some rugby as part of the activity. All the other missionaries always want to play soccer and I am just ready for a change up.
Today we will probably shop today and eat at Nandos. I feel like i could eat a whole chicken! I ate half of one last time I went there. We haven’t had much in the way of food last week, so I’m pretty hungry. Our allotment is supposed to be every two weeks, however sometimes it’s every 18 or 19 days. However, today we did get our allotment and we are going shopping for food!!
Till next week love Devin.
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