So ya yesterday was the 4 month mark! Can hardly believe it! It seemed like last week I was saying it was the 3 month mark. But I guess that's what happens when you are just so ridiculously busy all the time.
So just to get some random things out of the way really quick. Sidewinder buses. I forgot to talk about them when I went down to bulawayo. There are buses here that have horrible alignment problems. We call them Sidewinders. They really stick out far! Like I'm not even joking. The driver has to look out the front window and his side window. They will be driving along being in their lane and then halfway in yours going straight.
Oh ya, so we just got a new assistant to the president this side. His name is Elder Lauaki. He's Tongan. But from Seattle. He is the only boy in his family and has like 10 sisters. But he's funny. We like to play jokes here in the office. And of course I do computer jokes so I was just going to do one and just sent a request to his computer to remotely shut it down and it has a message that said something like: "OH NO! WHAT DID YOU DO?! I GOT A VIRUS! I NEED TO SHUTDOWN NOW!" And he was freaking out and didn't know what to do. I gave it like 2 minutes and went over and acted like I was typing a bunch of stuff and aborted the shutdown. And was asking him all these questions. And then later I sent another one saying the virus was going to make it explode and he was getting up and going out of the room. We were all laughing so hard. I also changed the name of my computer to SYSTEM and I send him messages from my computer and he thinks the computer is talking to him. From my office I can hear things his is saying and then send him a message. And he's always like what the crap? This computer is scary it's talking to me! He still hasn't caught on yet. We'll see what happens. But ya good times XD.
Anyways still teaching. We have somewhere around 7 baptisms coming up on the 1st of May. We have way too many people to teach than we have time for. Like we are really struggling to visit the people we need to. And the funny thing is that we didn't tract or anything. These are all people who came to us. Or just showed up at church.
We were teaching Gogo this week. (Gogo is what they call grandmas) and she has been struggling for a while now. She says she gets no sleep and she can't pray and things. That every time she tries her mind is just blank and she feels like she can't. But she says she can't sleep because she doesn't know what to do with these kids that she's been left with. Her daughter died in December and left her with 2 mentally handicapped kids. And she was going on this week about how she doesn't know what she's going to do and does know how to take care of these kids and what what. But we were visiting with her and we were listening to her go on for a while and then I stopped her and just said Gogo, you are doing it. You think you can't but you are. The kids are happy and healthy and everyone is still here. Well that's the condensed story of what I told her but we left that night and came back a couple days later and she was much happier and she was thanking us and saying that she is so much happier now and that she can pray. And that she's much nicer now too. She said before that if the kids would do something, oh she would yell and beat them with a rod. She said everyone knew when gogo got upset nobody talked not even her husband because they feared the wrath! But she says now she is nice to people and doesn't yell anymore. It was pretty cool. I've had to shorten the story quite a bit for time and space reasons, but that's the essential story. It was cool.
But that's about it for this week. I will send more stories next week.
~Elder Vanderlinden
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Bonus Post
This is a small excerpt from a letter Jordan sent to my mom this week. It is really neat to see how excited he is about his mission and how quickly he is growing. She thought some of you might like to see this as well.
..."That's cool that all those new missionaries in the ward are going out. They have no idea how important the work they're doing is. I really like my companion. He's helped me a lot to get these things early on in my mission. There are a lot of missionaries that we say all the time "they don't get these things." I do see now how important my mission is and how important it is for me to bring the gospel into their lives. Also I know I wouldn't be the Father/Husband/Priesthood holder I need to be if it wasn't for my mission. I've come to see so much more about the atonement and the gospel and how it's the small simple things of the gospel that really make or break people and will keep their testimony strong. I've really seen how the mighty and powerful fall when they stop doing them and that's how they fall away. Keep praying and reading your scriptures. Don't go lax on thoughs. Everyday!!!"
..."That's cool that all those new missionaries in the ward are going out. They have no idea how important the work they're doing is. I really like my companion. He's helped me a lot to get these things early on in my mission. There are a lot of missionaries that we say all the time "they don't get these things." I do see now how important my mission is and how important it is for me to bring the gospel into their lives. Also I know I wouldn't be the Father/Husband/Priesthood holder I need to be if it wasn't for my mission. I've come to see so much more about the atonement and the gospel and how it's the small simple things of the gospel that really make or break people and will keep their testimony strong. I've really seen how the mighty and powerful fall when they stop doing them and that's how they fall away. Keep praying and reading your scriptures. Don't go lax on thoughs. Everyday!!!"
Jonny Lingo!
So anyways quick funny thing here so this is the land of the people carrying things on their heads and also paying cows for their wives! Ya like in Jonny Lingo. Except the church doesn't encourage people this side to watch that movie. They already don't have very much. But anyways the church discourages lebola(paying for wife) now. They actually put out a message to the members here saying they are trying to do away with it. Mostly because it constitutes your wife being more of property and have rule over her because of it.
But anways this week, scary sketchy hospital time 10!~ We went to visit this family in our area to give a blessing to the child who is in the hospital. So we went to the childrens ward. Oh ya right when you walk in there is this picture on the wall of a doctor painting a baby with black paint. It's like little kid style painting on the wall. It was funny. I wanted to take a picture but knew I shouldn't because I'd be given fire! But anyways it was after dark when we were there and the hospital and gnomes and clowns on the walls and there was paint chips of the wall and rusted metal beds and such and bars on the windows. Walking through I felt like I was in an old scary movie and there were little kids crying which made it worse.
But anyways we have some new investigators this week. It's the Kandawazvika family. Which means "throw when arrive". Don't ask me why but that's their name. But they are the happiest couple with one kid whos 5 named blessings. But Martha is always like "oh that's so beautiful to know" They are so cool and happy all the time. And they are really understanding the things we are teaching them. We need to get our other investigators baptismal dates. We'll let you know more on those next week hopefully.
Also we went to a memorial service today. It was pretty crazy. It was for a family member of one of our investigators. The family was roman catholic and they were doing the whole singing, dancing thing, playing the drums and such. It was pretty african. And then they preach and talk about the deseased. It was all in Shona. And they put us in the program. I had to give the opening prayer and my companion had to give a 10 min presentation. He did it on part of the Plan of Salvation from the Book of Mormom and took scriptures out from it OH YA!!!
But ya time is short and have to go to a braai at President Dube's house and watch conference. Talk to you all next week!
~Elder JV
Pictures:
1. Home
2 and 3. The chapel is the one in my area. Which also happens to be the sketchiest place in Harare but has the most powerful chapel in the country currently till there is a new one!
4. Scary face in the office for Adam Alex and Regan!
5. William Gondo is one of our investigators, he's powerful. That is the first time we caught him in his suit! He doesn't wear it to church yet because he has to wear it for work everyday. He works for the government doing something I can't really say. But we found out.
But anways this week, scary sketchy hospital time 10!~ We went to visit this family in our area to give a blessing to the child who is in the hospital. So we went to the childrens ward. Oh ya right when you walk in there is this picture on the wall of a doctor painting a baby with black paint. It's like little kid style painting on the wall. It was funny. I wanted to take a picture but knew I shouldn't because I'd be given fire! But anyways it was after dark when we were there and the hospital and gnomes and clowns on the walls and there was paint chips of the wall and rusted metal beds and such and bars on the windows. Walking through I felt like I was in an old scary movie and there were little kids crying which made it worse.
But anyways we have some new investigators this week. It's the Kandawazvika family. Which means "throw when arrive". Don't ask me why but that's their name. But they are the happiest couple with one kid whos 5 named blessings. But Martha is always like "oh that's so beautiful to know" They are so cool and happy all the time. And they are really understanding the things we are teaching them. We need to get our other investigators baptismal dates. We'll let you know more on those next week hopefully.
Also we went to a memorial service today. It was pretty crazy. It was for a family member of one of our investigators. The family was roman catholic and they were doing the whole singing, dancing thing, playing the drums and such. It was pretty african. And then they preach and talk about the deseased. It was all in Shona. And they put us in the program. I had to give the opening prayer and my companion had to give a 10 min presentation. He did it on part of the Plan of Salvation from the Book of Mormom and took scriptures out from it OH YA!!!
But ya time is short and have to go to a braai at President Dube's house and watch conference. Talk to you all next week!
~Elder JV
Pictures:
1. Home
2 and 3. The chapel is the one in my area. Which also happens to be the sketchiest place in Harare but has the most powerful chapel in the country currently till there is a new one!
4. Scary face in the office for Adam Alex and Regan!
5. William Gondo is one of our investigators, he's powerful. That is the first time we caught him in his suit! He doesn't wear it to church yet because he has to wear it for work everyday. He works for the government doing something I can't really say. But we found out.
Monday, March 29, 2010
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!!!
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!!!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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
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
Monday, March 8, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, March 1, 2010
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
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
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