Zone tour and baptisms‏

So ya we had baptisms a couple weeks ago. It was powerful! The ones we converted were Amos, Natasha, and Swemmah.Amos is so powerful though. He still studies every night and tells us now that he wants to serve a mission.He's 25 right now and will be 26 in a few months so he's pushing time but says he wants to do it.he was asking us about it and what he needed to do.Also cool story. When Amos came to his baptism he had on a purple dress shirt and some slacks. After he was baptized he walks out with with a white shirt and tie. Then the next day on Sunday he shows up to church wearing a powerful brand new suit. With Tie and matching handkerchief in the pocket! We were so stoked. He got the priesthood last week and will be blessing the sacrament this week and also will be giving a talk on the atonement. He's been working on it so hard. Everytime we come over we see him working on it. It will be good. He studies everyday. He is now in Mosiah 5 in his BOM reading. He's doing so good. That one will be a powerful priesthood holder for sure.

But ya, after those ones were confirmed we had to shoot to the airport so that I could go to the airport. The week before we were in Gweru for half a day then continued down to Blues(Bulawayo) which we stayed for a day and had to rush back to make it back to Harare before dark. So we were able to work in the office on thursday. We were suppose to go to Mutare on Friday but were way too busy to drive down there and back so we stayed then had our baptisms on Saturday. Now that we've caught up we had to fly to Zambia on Sunday. Got there and I went out with my old companion that evening in Woodlands. I remembered what I didn't like about Zambia when contacting people on the street there again. Which is that everyone there thinks they are priest or have studied to be a priest and will fight you on everything. So many people misinterpritating doctrines. But then next day Zone Conf in Lusaka, Then the next day, take a small little plane to the copperbelt and then flew back in the afternoon. Ate then slept. Woke up the next morning and had the fight of our lives with Air Malawi. They changed our flight and then didn't tell us. So we got there, had to leave for a few hours come back. Then get on a flight that which we hoped was going to where we were going. We were suppose to fly straight to Blantyre but were routed through Lilongwe instead. And hoped we would have a flight from Lilongwe to Blantyre. But it worked out. Zone conf the next day. Then the day after...Friday now I believe.....I went out and procelyted in Manase. And we walked for sure! We walked so much that day. That's also where I found a giant shaft of sugar cane for 15 Malawi Kwatcha, the exchange rate is 185 MK to 1 USD. So not a bad price. It was like 4 Ft long. Then the next day. Lots of flats. We had to fly from Blantyre to Lilongwe to Johannesburg, then up to Harare. So over 6-7 hours on planes that day. But it was good to be back! I didn't have my companion the whole week and was with Elder Roberts. He's one of the APs. The other AP Elder Shongwe was driving back from Lusaka to Harare. As they had to drive some people the week earlier out of the country to renew their Visas so that's why I met up and was with Elder Roberts while in Zambia and Malawi. But as soon as we got back from Malawi. Didn't waste anytime doing anything, went straight from there to an activity and then to teaching late at night. We work for sure here.

So ya that's the story of Zone Conference tour...............condensed......But ya lots of good times and experiences. It was actually really cool to go to all of them. Because they're not actually all the same. I saw president speak 6 different times. He talked about the same thing mostly. But it was different each time. Things were added or a whole topic done there that was not in the other ones so it was a good experience.

This week, the same as always, busy, busy, busy....But we have some new investigators we're seeing now. So always things to do. The new office couple comes on wednesday and we will be training them for I don't know how long. But they will also have to leave for a week shortly after they get here. Also they don't have TEPs yet so they'll have to leave every 30 days till they get them.

So ya. That's what's new. Let me know what's going on with everyone. I only got like 2 emails this week. But send stories/pictures/whatever else. I'll be back on later tonight because we'll be catching up on some work here so I'll be able to check my email tonight since it's still P day. So from 6 to about 9 I'll be here, and we're 8 hours ahead. So 10 AM to 1 PM your time, so if you have something to add send it before then.

Love you all!
~Elder JV

Pictures:

1. Driving to Bulawayo. The clouds look fake, but clouds are cool in Africa. Especially when thunderstorms, it's nothing like home, It's like the Lion King or something
2. Tire Sandals
3. Harare North and South Zone. Tall ones get hidden in the back.
4. Smallest Lizard in Malawi
5. Sugar Cane is so good!
6. (L-R) Peter, Elder Baird, Sis Macheke in the purple, Bishop Chabuda, Amos, Charity, Me, Leo and Lawrence. Second Row, Natasha, Swemmah and Brother Trust
7. Us with the ones we converted.
8. Me, my companion and Amos
9. Flexing!!!

Really Busy and no time‏

This is all Jordan has been able to send the last couple of weeks so here it is, but also he has been asking a lot lately for letters and pictures especially. If you could send some his way he would really love it!!

So ya I had a lot to email about and pictures to send but don't have time. Because I've been travelling and haven't really had the past 2 p days. But ya we had our baptism is was powerful! and I have sweet pictures. I was in Zambia and Malawi the past week traveling for Zone Conference. I'll tell you stories from that next week. Hopefully I have time. But anyways just wanted to let you all know I'm still alive and still doing work. Maybe a little too much! But ya things are good. More next week when I have time.
Bye for now.
~Elder JV

Techno Cafe‏

So ya this week lots of driving. We had to drive 5 1/2 hours down to Bulawayo for a stake conference that was going on down there that Elder Jensen of the first quorum of the seventy was attending. So we were sent down there in the bus to drive him around. So that was pretty cool. We get to do it again this week. Along with more driving! But this time it's for Zone conference. Well at least we're doing zone tour. Or at least I am. My comp will do half of it. But will stay here the following week when we go to Zambia and Malawi and I'll be going. So lots of traveling/driving... I'll probably also need to speak at some of them. The president has already hinted at it. So I'll have to make sure I'm prepared for that. Other than that Baptisms coming up next Saturday. We have 3 getting baptized this time. We have Natasha and Swemmah, then Amos. Amos is powerful! Some of the others we pushed their dates back. So in 2-3 weeks after these ones we'll have another big baptism with William Gondo and most likely his 2 brothers, The Kasimbe's, The Nzuwa's, and the Maponga's. It'll be powerful!
But ya that's kinda what's going on this side. Oh ya the techno café comes from when we we're down in Bulawayo trying to get breakfast before picking up Elder Jensen. The only place that was open was this Cafe and it was blasting techno music. It was really funny. It didn't look like it would be. It was part of a Spar. Which is a grocery store this side.
But ya, office is busy as usual and time is just going because we are so busy. More news next week on what happened this upcoming week and so forth. Bye for now.
~Elder JV

Pictures!!!

1. My comp (Elder Baird) teaching Elder Shongwe how to dance.
2. Driving down to Bulawayo. On the wrong side of the road?....
3. This bathroom is for disproportionate people only. Only people with small heads may use it!
4. How real men open cans!
5. Crane!
6. My comps shoes are finished!
7. COMBY driver JV... It's a long ride.
8. Powerful Mr. Rodgers sweater! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Elder JV the Comby Bus Driver‏

Welcome aboard the comby. Your bus driver today will be Elder Vanderlinden.

Ya this week we drove the giant comby down here to Bulawayo. We're here to drive Elder Jensen of the first quorum of the Seventy around town here for meetings and stake conference.I took some sweet pictures on the way down here. I'll send them when I get back.

Baptismal Dates! Amos, the Kasimbe's, Sister Nzuwa, and William all have baptismal dates for the 13th of March. They are all doing really good.

Quick story because I forgot and a short on time. We were teaching Amos the other week and he told us that he was upset because he lost his keys. I then told him. "Amos you know what? You can pray to god to help find your keys and he'll help you. You can pray for anything." He kinda a laughed but then we found out later he did it. He didn't find his keys but he was prompted to try this other random key he found and it worked! He was so stoked to tell us. And I was like oh ya the church is true for sure!

But other than that everything is going good. I'll send pictures and audio next week. to make up for this week. But keep on keepin on and "Do Work Son"

Elder Vanderlinden