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

So ya not too much this week. Just keepin busy. We should have some baptisms coming up after I get done doing audits in Zambia. Then going to Bulawayo. Then also doing mission tour with the President for Zone conference. I'll be going back to Zambia and then to Malawi for that. And that's about the second week in March I think. We have to figure it all out that's why it's all crazy. But a lot of people are doing really well.
Also I wanted to share with everyone the most powerful shirt I've ever seen. I got it actually from one my best friends who's on mission right now In Richmond VA. A mister Elder Lowry. I still don't know how this kid draws these things. But I thought it was sweet. So that's what the pictures are. Oh and the gangsta ones are what happens when black people get a hold of you. The want to make you a baller or somethin. It was done by an Elder who was going home a couple of weeks ago. When they were in our house.
Also we found out this week that we finally found a replacement couple for the office. But they won't be here till the end of March so I'll still be doing financial stuff till then and be just as busy as all get out till then still.
But I'll take more pictures of some things here and show you what the country is like.
Bye for now.
~Elder Vanderlinden

Slashin Grass‏

So this morning for half our P day we went and did service. In the form of slashing grass. Lawnmowers are hard to come by here. But also they prefer slashin grass because it's cheaper and doesn't take petrol. But takes much longer. But there is a roundabout in front of our chapel and it had like 5 foot high grass and weeds and it was hard to see cars and things. So we decided to have an Elders Quorum service project and slash the grass. It took about 8 of us 3 hours to slash it. How you do it is basically with a sword with a bent end and you just whack at it for a while. Lots of blisters and sore chest/arms/hands/fingers. But it looks nice now.
So every Sunday we have an investigators class at the chapel. It was completely full this past week. We barely had any room to come in. There were like 20 people in there. We don't even have time to teach all the people that want to learn. They just keep coming. Our area is really just exploding. But the people we are teaching ish they are powerful! William Gondo is sweet. That dude is so intelligent. And it's nice we don't have to simplify our language we can just talk. But that dude just gets it. He works for the government. But we left him a BOM last time we met with him and we asked him if he was reading last night. And he's like ya, I'm in 1 Nephi......15 now. We were like whoa! And asked what he learns and he goes into Lehi's vision and goes into the part where Nephi explains it. His favorite verse was the one with the rod of iron being the word of god. And he said it really just jumped out at him. Many other cool things we talked about in that lesson but he was like referencing it to some parts in Revelations and stuff. Ah but he just gets it. He says so many cool things like "I feel as if I already knew this and I was just kinda remembering it." We're giving him a baptismal date here soon for sure. We're also teaching Amos. He stays with a member. He's a tenant there. And she is a powerful member. She gives us so many referrals and people just keep coming for lessons. She's going to fill up a whole bus with people to come to church on Sunday or something I swear. But Amos is cool. He came to help slash grass this morning with us. Dean is sweet he keeps telling us I want to learn it all. I want to learn fast and things like that. We're still working with Brother and Sister Maponga. He likes the TV Joshua too much. And we're still waiting for him to kinda calm down. We're teaching a few others but aren't too far along with them yet. We have way too many people to teach.
But other than that. Pretty much flyin solo in the office now. It's kinda ruff because there is alot of things I don't know how to do but have to just figure them out.
Also I decided that my companion is how I would imagine my brother in law Blaine would be on mission. I swear he acts just like him. And would have the same type of humor and so forth. It's not a bad thing or anything, I just think it's so funny.
But I think that's all for this week right now. I'll let you guys know how things are progressing.
Oh also. I found out that 4 of the people I was suppose to baptize in Lilanda got baptized last Sunday!!! I was so stoked when I heard. I was also sad I wasn't there for it. Because I worked with those people from the start. And I was suppose to baptize them if I wasn't emergency transferred early. But I'm gonna go visit them when I'm back up in Zambia in a couple of weeks. But that's 4 to my list of Baptisms already. That's kinda weird to think.
But I'll talk to you all next week.
See ya.
~Elder JV

The Mission Office‏

So My LDS Mail just changed over their system to google mail. POWERFUL! Because google is awesome. So it's sweet. But it gave me a new email address now. It's jordan.vander.linden@myldsmail.net Don't ask me why it's that. It chooses it for you. But it's sweet. I find it funny that the church even uses google apps. Some of you should be familiar with that. But that's what they use now. So you can now email me on that now.

The office is crazy! There's alot of things you don't think you'd ever do on a mission. You find you do alot of them. For me it's becoming the senior financial secretary for the mission and being in charge of all the money on the mission. People will ask what did you do on you mission and I can say I was an accountant for a while. Don't think I'll take that path but I've done it.

Also on mission you learn there is so much to this gospel and this church and you will learn so much! So many things you think you know and then they can just change. And you realize you only knew a small portion of it. One example is the atonement. The atonement is just huge! Like really huge! There have been so many new things that I have learned and gained a great testimony of.

Also in a new area, Mbare. It's sweet. We're having to start from scratch though and build our teaching pool. So besides being in the office we are out teaching. And we are busy! There aren't enough hours in the day. But we have some investigators now.

The first is Noel Maponga and his wife. Noel actually just came to church on sunday. So we sat with him and helped him out and have seen him a couple of times. He kinda has a pentacostal attitude towards everything. Man that guy can talk ish. And the whole time when you are teaching every 2 seconds, this isn't a joke. "It's true..., it's true...., Exactly..." Just over and over. It's kinda a distraction. But he understands. We ask him a question to make sure he's getting what we're saying and he gets it. But he just eat everything up and just believes everything. Like I fear I could say something bad and he'd believe it. But I guess it's good we're teaching him. He knows and says there is something different about our church and that's what drew him to it.

Also we have Dean. Cool story about Dean. We had an appointment drop and we we're trying to see what we could do. So we decided to talk to this member in our area. Her name is Sister Macheke. Originally we were going to go somewhere else but my comp said we should go see her. So we went and saw her and she said that just today she was talking with a guy who's really good friends with her. And kinda like another son to her. And he was asking her about the church and was telling him that the missionaries could come see him. So we show up and she takes us to him. And we start teaching him. And he's real excited to learn. He keeps telling us I want to learn as fast as possible. But he asks good questions and has a real desire to change his life. It's powerful. So I'm excited. The people here just want to know the gospel!

But ya. Lots to do here and we don't have enough time. We're busy from 6 in the morning till 9 at night. But then again it's also transfer time so maybe it'll cool down next week. But I also have to go up to Zambia on the 21st to do some audits of a district and some branches. Weird.... But ya more on that in the weeks to come. But that's all for now.

~Elder JV