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!!!