Only 3 transfers left

This week was alright. It ended very nicely. A young man I had taught in my previous area, Kabo Gugah was baptized in the singles ward. It is nice that the wards are so close, because I was able to attend the baptism the Elders were having in the family ward, and still make it in plenty of time to see Kabo get baptized in the singles ward! Kabo is a great guy. His friends are all members, and it is about time he joined them. That group of young single adults is great. We call them the Mmopane Saints. They live in the village of Mmopane just outside of Gaborone, and more and more of their friends keep getting baptized. Karabo Tshekoyakgosi was baptized in May, and now Kabo was just baptized yesterday, all from the influence of a few great saints. So, the Mmopane Saints keep growing, and they keep spreading the gospel. Which is just so remarkable to see. I miss Gwest. But Broadhurst is great as well. I am really enjoying the time I have had here in Botswana. It is the best place on earth. I am not sure if I will be able to leave. I was telling my companion yesterday, that they may just have to kill me and send me home, because I am not sure I will willingly get on a plane to leave this place. It is such a wonderful place, and the people here are so amazing.

Zone Conferce

This week was another good one for us here in Botswana. We had zone conference this weekend, and after zone conference, Sister Poulsen went with us to our lessons. She took pictures of the families we were teaching, and she is going to put them up on the mission website, so if you are interested, you could peruse the mission website and see pictures of me and some of the families I have been privelaged to teach and get to know. That was fun to have her go teaching with us. It was kind of funny because the Elders were all very nervous about who President Poulsen would go with, no one wanted to go with him, whereas the sisters were all very eager to have Sister Poulsen come with us. I am glad she ended up coming with us though. It was great to have her join us. Zone conference was very good. It always is. We talked about keeping focused on the work, and not letting our minds wander. It was good. It was what I needed to hear, because sometimes my mind does wander. Especially during lessons, because I have taught these principles so many times, I sometimes start to think of other things. So, it was a good reminder to stay focused, and to be where your body is. Self-mastery is extremely difficult, but I know I can master myself. It will just take some hard work and diligence. But I am working on it every day. This week we were supposed to have a couple we have been teaching get baptized (by Elders of course…sisters don’t baptize….thanks for the advice Ed!) but the rra’s mother went into acoma, and so he had to rush home to Zimbabwe to take care of her, so their baptism has been postponed to whenever he gets back. That was very sad, but we had such an amazing lesson with him and his wife on the plan of salvation and on temple work. It was an amazing lesson. The Spirit was so strong. Afterwards we were all in smiles and felt at peace, even during this difficult time. The plan of salvation is a perfect plan created by our perfect Father for our happiness. We can indeed find peace in this life even during the most difficult times when we know the plan of salvation, and know that it is true. This gospel is such a comfort and bring so much joy and peace into the lives of those I am so privelaged to meet and preach to every single day. I know God loves us, and that Jesus is the Christ. And this knowledge really does sustain me through my every day life. I don’t know what life would be like without this knowledge, but I know I would experience the joy I get to experience every day!

Tell everyone I say hi and miss them...
and tell shayla not to be stupid with her scooter!
And tell blake to just get married already. Thanks.

Happy 4th (a little late)

This week I made the move from GWest to Broadhurst. It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. It was hard saying goodbye to the ward I have served in for the last year, but things are great this side of town as well. Serving here in Gaborone is different than any other mission for sisters I am sure. Because we serve in the same town between two wards the entire time. So, I will still get to see everyone from Gwest from time to time, which will be nice. Things are great here in Broadhurst. We have a couple from Zimbabwe, David and Rose, getting baptized this coming Sunday. They are great! We are also teaching a couple of other great families, so things are great this side. I look forward to the next few months I get to serve here. My new companion is Sister Chirchir from Kenya. She is great. She is such a sweet girl. She is the nicest person I have met. She is so dedicated to her calling as a missionary. We will have a lot of success together. That was pretty much the week. I am still adjusting and getting used to the new area. It is a lot smaller than my last area. So far, it appears that most of it is not as wealthy as my last area, but that means the people are humble, and ready for the gospel, the only problem we will come across is getting people to come to church, because they will not have means of transportation. But we will see what we can do about that. I should have more to report next week as I get more familiar with the people and the area. And I look forward to seeing the baptism of David and Rose this coming Sunday. Mission is great. Well, thanks for reading and have a great week, oh and happy Independence Day. I forgot it was independence day yesterday, until one of the Elders introduced himself and said his favorite colors were red, white, and blue because it was the 4th of July. So, happy Independence Day, and remember true freedom comes from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the best of your ability!!!