2 updates

Sorry there was no update last week - I was away from the computer for the week - while our mom had a brain mass removed. All is well, and everyone is now back home so now it's time for news from Ashley!

#1: This week I talked to my first drunk person. We were waiting outside an investigators house while he was getting his baptismal interview. We were talking to people that were passing by and handing out pass along cards, when this guy walks up to me and gets really close and says that he wants to marry a white american. He went on like that for a few minutes. He told me how he is going to England to study, and then he is going to be a famous soccer coach for chelsea, but he really just wants to marry a white american because he doesn't like the black girls from Botswana. This man could hardly keep standing. I thought for sure he was going to fall over. He kept leaving and coming back with more "brandy". He couldn't even walk straight. It was kind of entertaining. He told the district leader's companion that he was going to marry me. Man, he finally left for good when his friends came and led him back to his house. So that was my first encounter with a drunk guy. I hope I don't have too more of those, but I have to admit that it was pretty entertaining.My favorite investigators from this week was a husband and wife with a beautiful little girl. The lesson lasted TWO hours! but it was really good. We had our ward mission leader with us, and he got them so interested to read the Book of Mormon. It was great. The wife is so confused though. She used to attend this church here in Botswana, called ZCC, and they give their congregation this "tea" before they start their worship service, and she told us about the crazy things this did to her, make her shake uncontrollably, and have crazy dreams. It was very interesting. They also predicted that she would die last month. But she didn't so she left the church, knowing they weren't teaching about Jesus Christ. Then we knock on her door. We will do our best to unconfuse her. We have another appointment with her on wednesday. Some of the things you see and hear on mission are crazy! I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life, or I am sure I would be just as confused as some of the people we meet everyday! What a blessing to know the things that I know, and to be able to help my brothers and sisters here in Botswana to return to their Father in Heaven.

#2: This week we had two investigators get baptized. Tawanda and Nicolas. Tawanda is from Zimbabwe. He is amazing. I may have talked about him before, I am not sure. But we have only been teaching him for three weeks. He is so happy, and can't wait to get the gift of the Holy Ghost next week. He is a great man, and I am so grateful to have met him. Nicolas is an 11 year old boy. His whole family are members, but he wanted to wait to get baptized until his brother returned from his mission. So we have been teaching him, and he finally got baptized on Sunday. He is funny. We made him rice krispy treats as a present, and the first thing he said on Sunday morning was 'where is my gift?' Of course we didn't give it to him until after he was baptized. It was neat yesterday because we had EIGHT people get baptized into our ward! It is Africa's time right now. So many people are ready for this gospel! Africa is amazing. I am loving it here, and loving the people. I have met so many individuals who are so confused about their purpose in life and about God, and I love seeing them understand the simple truths we share. This work is great, and is moving forward well! On a lighter note, I did get proposed to again. i need to remember to try and stay away from men who have been drinking! Hopefully I will get more time to report next week

A Baptism!

As for Botswana, this week was good. So much happens in a week, I don't even know where to start. One investigator, Tawanda is amazing. He Texted us one night and said he knows this is the true of church of Christ, and doesn't want to wait til July to be baptized. So he will be baptized next week. We only started teaching him right when I got here. He said he has visited many churches but never got baptized in any of them because he didn't feel like it was the true church of christ. But he knows this one is! It is really neat to see how the Lord is preparing people to hear our message.
I feel like I have progressed so much in just one week. I am getting better every day at lessons and letting the spirit lead me and guide me in the things I need to say. It is a neat experience to not know what you are going to say, and open your mouth and out comes simple truths that people need to learn. It has been a struggle for me to do this because I have always thought about what I was going to say before I say it, so teaching by the spirit and not knowing before hand the things will say has been a bit of challenge for me, but I am getting there.
I haven't eaten anything too weird yet, but I am going to try chicken feet this week. I think...maybe. we will see, but I will let you know how they are once I do....Sounds horrible anyway. No worms yet, thank goodness!!!!
The Book of Mormon is a true book. If you haven't read it all the way though, read it, think about it, and pray about it. It will change your life! This church is the true church of Christ. I know this with all my heart. I love you all and miss you all. Til next week...
Sister Barber

New (& Quickest) address

It is quicker to send letter and packages here to botswana, or I will have to wait for transfers before I get them, so just send them here to this address:
P.O. Box 402041
Gaborone, Botswana

June 8 letter

I made it here to botswana! The people here are so kind and happy. i have met so many wonderful people already, and yesterday I got to witness my first baptism. Her name is Bakang, and she just started investigating last week! She is awesome. I was so happy for her. So that was a great way to start off my mission.
It is different here in that the houses are very dimly lit, only one light for the whole house it seems, so that is different. And goats and horses just roam free, crossing the street whenever. OH, and so do the people by the way. The just cross the street wherever whenever. I am driving and my companion keeps telling me I should just drive and they will get out of the way, but I don't want to hit anybody. That will take some getting used to! As for driving, I am already comfortable with driving on the wrong side of the road. It really didn't take long to get used to, everytime I started driving I just said to myself "the left side, the left side" But now I don't do that as much!
It really is a different world over here. So many people crammed into tiny houses with dirt floors. It is definitely an eye opener, but the people are wonderful. No one is rude, that is definintely a big change from Americans. No one slams doors in our faces, they all listen to what we have to say, they don't always accept it, but they always listen and thank us for our message!
Well, being a missionary is fun, but it is hard, and sometimes intimidating, but I am getting better and better by the day! Well, until next week.
Take care, I love you all, and miss you all more than you know.
Sister barber

June 1st Letter

Well, yesterday I met the mission president, and I meet with him again today. He is from SPRINGVILLE! He is a red devil, and so it was fun to talk with him about that! I swear, someone, no matter where you go, you have a connection with. Who would have thought my mission presdient would be from springville, utah. We should have a good time.
Last week was our last full week in the MTC. It went by fast. On Saturday we got to "Babylon" as Sister Cannon calls it. We went to the mall, and we met this awesome lady named Alice. She is from Zimbabwe, and she wanted to know where she could go to church on Sunday. My comp and I have no idea where the church is, so we told her we didn't know. But we got her number and gave it to the APs. They told me yesterday, that they couldn't get a hold of her! I hope they keep trying, because she was a really sweet lady, and ready for the gosple in her life. It made me so excited to leave the MTC and start teaching people who really need it!
Well, that is all I have time to write now. Hopefully next week I will have more time and attach some photos. Oh, by the way, for all you Springville girls, there is a store in the mall here named "LEGIT"!!!! No joke, I took a picture of it, don't worry! haha...miss you all!
I miss you all, and hope all is well in your life. The church is true :)
Sister Barber

Last post for the day -

Sister Barber can only receive emails from her parents - so all of the rest of us get to send her messages the good old fashioned way- aren't we lucky?
I will post all relevant info that she emails on this site and you are welcome to leave comments that I will try and get to her - other than that - enjoy the our postal system!
I am looking into whether you can send postcards via pouch, or if it has to 1 sheet tri-folded and will let you know as soon as I find out.

Addresses:
Letters and Packages using International Postage:

Sister Ashley Barber
Private Bag X4
Ansfrere 1711
South Africa
*nothing over 20 lbs

Letters sent through the pouch:
Sister Ashley Barber
South Africa Johannesburg Mission
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130
*No enevelopes, single sheet of paper folded into thirds and taped at the top.

Check back weekly for updates!

Botswana

After learning where Ashley will be spending her mission I did a little research and found some good info at this site. Here is just a tad of interesting info on Botswana:

- "The very best part of Africa. Botswana, a country better known for peace and tranquillity, diamonds and beef."

-Geographical Info:
Botswana is a land-locked country dominated in geographical terms by the Kalahari Desert - a sand-filled basin averaging 1,100 metres above sea level.
Botswana is bordered by Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, Namibia to the north and west, and South Africa to the south and southeast. .
The Chobe River runs along part of its northern boundary; the Nossob River at its southwestern boundary; the Molopo River at its southern boundary; and the Marico, Limpopo and Shashe Rivers at its eastern boundaries. With the exceptions of the Okavango and Chobe areas in the north, the country has little permanent surface water.
The country is situated in the Southern African region and about two-thirds of Botswana lies within the Tropics.
The distance between the extreme north and the extreme south of Botswana is about 1,110 kilometres. It is 960 kilometres across at its widest. The area of Botswana is approximately 581,730 square kilometres and is about the size of France or Kenya.
The eastern hardveld, where 80% of the country's population lives and where its three largest urban centres are situated, is a wide strip of land running from the north at Ramokgwebane to the south at Ramatlabama.
The Kalahari Desert stretches west of the eastern hardveld, covering 84% of the country. The Kalahari extends far beyond Botswana's western borders, covering substantial parts of South Africa, Namibia and Angola.
In the north-west, the Okavango River flows in from the highlands of Angola and soaks into the sands, forming the 15,000 sq. km network of water channels, lagoons, swamps and islands. The Okavango is the largest inland delta system in the world a bit smaller than Isreal or half of Switzerland. The northeastern region of the Kalahari Basin contains the Makgadikgadi Pans - an extensive network of salt pans and ephemeral lakes.

Climate:
Botswana's climate is semi-arid. Though it is hot and dry for much of the year, there is a rainy season, which runs through the summer months. 'Pula', one of the most frequently heard words in Botswana, is not only the name of Botswana's currency, but also the Setswana word for rain. So much of what takes place in Botswana relies on this essential, frequently scarce commodity.

Seasons:
The summer season begins in November and ends in March. It usually brings very high temperatures. However, summer is also the rainy season, and cloud coverage and rain can cool things down considerably, although only usually for a short period of time.
The winter season begins in May and ends in August. This is also the dry season when virtually no rainfall occurs. Winter days are invariably sunny and cool to warm; however, evening and night temperatures can drop below freezing point in some areas, especially in the southwest.
The in-between periods - April/early May and September/October - still tend to be dry, but the days are cooler than in summer and the nights are warmer than in winter.
Summer days are hot, especially in the weeks that precede the coming of the cooling rains, and shade temperatures rise to the 38°C mark and higher, reaching a blistering 44°C on rare occasions. Winters are clear-skied and bone-dry, the air seductively warm during the daylight hours but, because there is no cloud cover, cold at night and in the early mornings. Sometimes bitterly so - frost is common and small quantities of water can freeze.

Language:
Although Ashley's call is "English speaking, I'm sure she'll have to pick up a little Setswana:
Setswana is the national language with minor differences in dialects. However, English is the official business language and it is widely spoken in urban areas with most written communication being in this language. At the site you can click on different phrases to hear some Setswana and try and picture Ashley speaking in this language is quite amusing!

Culture:
Life in the urban areas has been most affected by western culture and increasing modernity. In the rural areas many traditions persist and ways of life differ from region to region. Some of the more obvious physical aspects of the different cultures have disappeared (such as traditional clothing, arts and crafts, most ritual ceremonies and some tools and utensils). Others remain important, however, such as cattle ownership, music and dance and the consultation of traditional healers.
Music and dance-
Music is the aspect of culture, which has perhaps best survived the onslaught of western influences in Botswana. Both traditional and modern music of numerous ethnic groups from southern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are heard nearly everywhere you go - in shops, malls, houses, schools, cars, combis, trains, taxis and bars. Music, dance and singing are an integral part of everyday activities and modern-day ceremonies such as weddings and even funerals.
Batswana have incorporated their traditional music into church singing. The result is some of the most stirring, soulful music on earth. There are a lot of church choirs, in both urban and rural areas.
Religion-
Early tribal religions were primarily cults. The supreme being and creator was known as Modimo. Religious rites included the bogwera and bojale (male and female initiation ceremonies) and gofethla pula or rain-making rites.
Today, Christianity is the most prevailing belief system in Botswana, with well over 60% of the population. It was brought into Botswana by David Livingstone in the middle 19th century who converted Kgosi Sechele I (Chief of Bakwena) to Christianity. The main denominations are - Roman Catholic, Anglican, Zion, Lutheran and Methodist Christian Church.

Lots more info at the website on "flora & fauna" and other fun facts for those who want to know more - these were just the basics, so if you have time check it out!
~Natasha