Dear Family!
I am a little confused about what happened last week in terms of our emails. I have a few emails here from mom saying she didn't get an email and then emails later on responding to my email. I also got dad's email, both the one he sent and when you re-sent it. Something happened last week with the emailing. Elder Hughes did not even get a letter from his family, but I think it is all sorted out now, please let me know if I need to resend an email. If you don't get an email from me in the future for any reason don't worry about me, I will get an email off each week somehow, someway.
I apologize for not answering all the questions that are asked. I get a lot of questions each week and I tend to forget to answer them until my hour is already up so if you have questions that I continue to overlook, please just put them in a list form so that I can answer them.
This week was one of the best on my mission. Not because I saw any sweet wild life but because it was simply a good week for missionary work. It was also a little disappointing because this is the first month on my mission that I have not baptized anyone. This week started off with our training meeting on Tuesday. That was definitely a highlight. President/ Sister Poulsen and the AP's came up for leadership and I was able to attend with about 15 other missionaries. I have gotten to feeling the past couple weeks that they are preparing me for some kind of leadership in the near future, so I will find out this week whether or not that is the case. Transfer news is this Saturday so I will find out at that time. I expect to be leaving Botswana in 8 days. Hopefully they will find a way to keep Elder Hughes here for a bit longer so we do not need to be white washed. They were able to get the Sister missionaries residency so I hope they can pull some strings for Elder Hughes group, although I am not holding my breath for my group.
Back to the Leadership training! It was a great meeting covering every topic possible. It was the entire day, so I was exhausted at the end from taking so many notes, but it was extremely beneficial. Some of the key points of the meeting were learning how to be an effective leader in terms of motivating other, sorting out conflicts, focusing on our goal, and striving for exact obedience for ourselves and those around us. They also gave many suggestions of ways to improve our areas. One of the suggestions that I particularly liked and that Elder Hughes and I have tried out this week is called Book of Mormon Loan. It is just what it sounds like. Finding people, spending about 1-5 min introducing the Book of Mormon and then leaving it with them for about a week. If they read it, then they will get interested in it and we will continue to teach them. If we return and they have not read it then we just thank them for their time, take the book back, and give it to someone else. We have loaned out a lot of Copies of the Book of Mormon this week, so I hope we see success this next week.
Elder Hughes and I have really enjoyed this week because we have been thinking of new ideas for finding people. We plan out our days with finding activities and back up plans to our appointments. We are also striving for EXACT obedience. This is one I don't feel like we struggled with before, but in the training meeting they just emphasized the little things such as waking up at 6:30. Not 6:33, but 6:30. You work out till 7, not sleepily walk around till 7, but you work out till 7. We are striving for exactness in all that we do and we are beginning to see success and happiness from it.
Before I forget, I had to opportunity of Conferring the Melchizedek Priesthood to Malepa Herbert Mpesi of our branch, so I need a copy of my priesthood line to give to him. I don't mean to be bossy, but I absolutely need this one next time I get on the computer next Monday. This might be the last week I am ever in this country. You ask about spiritual experiences, this was a very powerful experience where you get to be a part of the priesthood line that the Lord has established on the earth.
I know I asked about my g-mail account a few months ago and you said that it was not in my password vault, but I am certain that I made one. Can the family check their emails and see if I have ever sent them an email from my g-mail account? I just need that address to give to others that I wish to keep in contact with in the future.
Other side not, you both seemed to be concerned about us not going to the game park. I would have paid the Elders way but he is making me dig deep in my pockets for all the times I pay his way ha-ha. One of the main reasons that we didn't go is because the animals they had there were not as exciting as you would have thought. They just had warthogs, springbok, and a few other random animals. Even in South Africa they have better ones then that so I will have the opportunity to visit one some time.
We are teaching many people, but there is one family in particular that I am attached to and that is Leslie and Tabello. They are actually married which is much less common here than it is in America. This is the family that randomly showed up to church for my first week here. It is exciting to see how the Lord has prepared this family for such a long time. Their home was filled with Literature from the church long before I came on a mission and they have both had personal promptings to stop certain things in their life (word of wisdom), long before they were taught these things by this missionaries. I was planning on Baptizing Tabello and her daughter this week and then working with Leslie (the father), but they decided that they wanted to wait until the entire family was ready (which I thought would be months if not years). We urged the family to go to Stake conference 2 weeks ago and it was a very positive experience for Leslie. He said while he was there he felt a peace that he had not felt in a very long time and he was prompted that he should be baptized in 2 weeks. This was great news until he got home and started doubting what he had felt, so he fell back into his thought that he would not be ready for months to come. We did not want the family to have to wait that long, so we arranged for President/Sister Morgan (mission presidency) to join us for this weeks lesson. Much to my surprise it felt like WE were joining THEM instead of the other way around. They really connected with the family and took an approach 180 deg. the opposite way of what I personally would have done. After the lesson I was a bit worried not knowing whether it really helped them, or pushed them in the wrong direction, but last night we stopped by and spoke with Leslie, and he said that he is still not set on a date, but he thinks it should happen in the Month of April. (That is RIGHT after I will be leaving!!!!!)
I am a little sad that this area really seems to be taking a turn for the better and I will have to leave right at that turn, but it is alright. I am very excited for the family and know that they will go far in the Gospel.
Last side note, last night while we were visiting people we ran into members multiple times out doing their home teaching that we organized just 2 weeks ago!! That felt good to see!
Love you All
Elder Williams
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Egg Test!
Hello Family!
I am sorry this email is slightly delayed. No worries Momma I was able to make it to a computer today so I could send an email off. However you referenced to an email from Dad and I did not receive that. Dad I did get an email from you with an attached article so I am working on printing that at the moment but I did not receive another email if you sent one.
Today has been a hectic day. I have been in Africa for roughly 9 months without seeing too much wild life, so today we decided to take care of that. We woke up early to go to a game park about 45 min away from our house but on the way I hit a huge pot hole that popped our tire. That would have been fine accept that we were missing a tool to change the tire. Long story short we got the tire changed, got to the game park, and then Elder Chidzawo decided he did not want to spend that much on a game park? So we didn't even end up going but it worked out because we left that one and went looking for this other game park that apparently did not exist and we found ourselves on some dirt road in the middle of Botswana when two Warthogs (Pumba off of Lion King) were just hanging out on the side of the road. That was definitely the highlight of the day, other than that it has been running around and driving.
These past two weeks have had many trials dealing with the missionary work. As a side note it is good to see the trials once again, it’s when you know your growing! Two weeks ago as you know the water to our city was shut off and created a road block for teaching people (when ANYTHING comes up in Africa people make excuses not to see you). Once that got turned back on a few days later our car broke down for about 5 day and we were left to walk everywhere limiting drastically the amount of people we could see. The day after last week’s emailing was the worst for walking. We literally walked all day and I thought that my socks were full of blood but later that night I found out that was just from all the giant blisters finally popping. As if our teaching pool is not already free falling, we had this fake "prophet miracle crusade" come to our town every day this last week and EVERYONE accept for the missionaries went to it. It was held in the large stadium and it was not good for us. Everyone got really excited to give their money away to a “fake prophet". Last night was his last showing. We counted up our teaching appointments and this was the worst week for appointments I have had thus far on my mission. We only had 8 appointments hold…40 percent of appointments held. A large drop from the average of 56 percent. We were really disappointed about that but looked on the bright side realizing that all the trials for the month should be finished. Then this morning we woke up and realized that the water to the city is shut off once again...and the cycle begins!
It has been a pretty eventful last couple weeks but I plan to enjoy my time here because it is looking like I will be Back in South Africa in about two weeks. I did get some good news last night though. Tomorrow our mission President and the AP's are coming up to Botswana to hold a leadership training meeting with all the district and zone leaders in Botswana. I am not a district leader so I am not invited, but due to a weird ride situation the zone leaders have told me to go with my district leader. I am pretty excited for this, as it is not too often that you get leadership training from the former CEO of American Express.
A couple random thoughts and requests:
1. Mom, do not send me more shoes! It is part of the mission experience to go without! And plus I could get quality shoes here for about $20.
2. Dad, can you check my account? I need to make a fairly large purchase on African standards and will need maybe $200 in the account. A bunch of missionaries are getting these handmade Africa shirts from this man in our branch (they are not cheap) and I will have to buy them all and wait for them to pay me back when I get to South Africa.
3. Are there any updates from the newlyweds as to new pets? Or any future children? Am I or Am I not going to be an Uncle before I get home?
4. How tall is Lincoln (random I know...)? But I need the answer to this in my next email.
5. Sorry I could not write individual emails this week, little time.
This week also I had a meeting with the Branch President again to discuss home teaching. Once again I love serving in a little branch where you are able to help out so much. This was an interesting meeting because the Branch President had some interesting ideas on how to go about home teaching. ex: Put the branch presidency as companions and have them teach everyone so that it actually gets done.
I am working on how to be a leader through others because I can't exactly step in and just take over and tell him that his idea is not the best for the branch. I was however able to convince him that it would be in the best interest to the branch to pair up strong members with the weak members as companions so that the strong can teach and strengthen the weak. We were also able to successfully divide up families and assign companions. It was a successful meeting and I hope that we can at least get it started with my last two weeks.
I received mail this week! I got a letter from Shelly in Texas, a letter from the Farmers, and one other. I was impressed with the letter from the Farmers, it sounds like they are doing very well!
With my last couple min I just wanted to address a question that I get a lot from people back home. A question that I have thought a lot about. This is "Do you have any suggestions on how I can share the gospel with others?" It is sometimes more specific than this, but basically I can sum it up with that question. And it is a good question to ask because all of us should be striving to fulfill that. You have been blessed with a gift from your Heavenly Father (the Gospel), and he asks you to share it. Even better, he promises you happiness as you do so!
I am going to call my answer the Egg test (why egg? Africans love chickens and eggs come from chickens!). The egg test is simple. If you are baking cookies on a Sunday afternoon and you get to the step of adding an egg and you realize you don't have any, are you good enough friends with your neighbors to ask them for one. The answer to this should be yes, but I know that it is often no. Sharing the gospel is easy, but it first requires knowing people! How many of us live around people that we don't even talk to? If you are to be a tool in the hands of the Lord, you won't be a very effective one if you don't even know those individuals with which you are surrounded.
(here comes my missionary part), I challenge everyone who actually reads this email to take the challenge of the egg test. Evaluate your neighbors. Would you feel comfortable asking them for an egg if you need one. If not, what are you going to do about that?
Don't just do it for one neighbor, but get to know all of those that live around you and look for ways that you can get to know them better. This is an excellent first step in introducing the gospel to individuals...the egg test! As well, if you would like to share with me some of the ways that you come up with, I would appreciate that. Have fun with it! And then if you really do need an egg some day, ask your neighbors! This is a win win.
I think I have talked about eggs for long enough.
I love you family! Do good in what you do, stay safe!
Elder Williams
I am sorry this email is slightly delayed. No worries Momma I was able to make it to a computer today so I could send an email off. However you referenced to an email from Dad and I did not receive that. Dad I did get an email from you with an attached article so I am working on printing that at the moment but I did not receive another email if you sent one.
Today has been a hectic day. I have been in Africa for roughly 9 months without seeing too much wild life, so today we decided to take care of that. We woke up early to go to a game park about 45 min away from our house but on the way I hit a huge pot hole that popped our tire. That would have been fine accept that we were missing a tool to change the tire. Long story short we got the tire changed, got to the game park, and then Elder Chidzawo decided he did not want to spend that much on a game park? So we didn't even end up going but it worked out because we left that one and went looking for this other game park that apparently did not exist and we found ourselves on some dirt road in the middle of Botswana when two Warthogs (Pumba off of Lion King) were just hanging out on the side of the road. That was definitely the highlight of the day, other than that it has been running around and driving.
These past two weeks have had many trials dealing with the missionary work. As a side note it is good to see the trials once again, it’s when you know your growing! Two weeks ago as you know the water to our city was shut off and created a road block for teaching people (when ANYTHING comes up in Africa people make excuses not to see you). Once that got turned back on a few days later our car broke down for about 5 day and we were left to walk everywhere limiting drastically the amount of people we could see. The day after last week’s emailing was the worst for walking. We literally walked all day and I thought that my socks were full of blood but later that night I found out that was just from all the giant blisters finally popping. As if our teaching pool is not already free falling, we had this fake "prophet miracle crusade" come to our town every day this last week and EVERYONE accept for the missionaries went to it. It was held in the large stadium and it was not good for us. Everyone got really excited to give their money away to a “fake prophet". Last night was his last showing. We counted up our teaching appointments and this was the worst week for appointments I have had thus far on my mission. We only had 8 appointments hold…40 percent of appointments held. A large drop from the average of 56 percent. We were really disappointed about that but looked on the bright side realizing that all the trials for the month should be finished. Then this morning we woke up and realized that the water to the city is shut off once again...and the cycle begins!
It has been a pretty eventful last couple weeks but I plan to enjoy my time here because it is looking like I will be Back in South Africa in about two weeks. I did get some good news last night though. Tomorrow our mission President and the AP's are coming up to Botswana to hold a leadership training meeting with all the district and zone leaders in Botswana. I am not a district leader so I am not invited, but due to a weird ride situation the zone leaders have told me to go with my district leader. I am pretty excited for this, as it is not too often that you get leadership training from the former CEO of American Express.
A couple random thoughts and requests:
1. Mom, do not send me more shoes! It is part of the mission experience to go without! And plus I could get quality shoes here for about $20.
2. Dad, can you check my account? I need to make a fairly large purchase on African standards and will need maybe $200 in the account. A bunch of missionaries are getting these handmade Africa shirts from this man in our branch (they are not cheap) and I will have to buy them all and wait for them to pay me back when I get to South Africa.
3. Are there any updates from the newlyweds as to new pets? Or any future children? Am I or Am I not going to be an Uncle before I get home?
4. How tall is Lincoln (random I know...)? But I need the answer to this in my next email.
5. Sorry I could not write individual emails this week, little time.
This week also I had a meeting with the Branch President again to discuss home teaching. Once again I love serving in a little branch where you are able to help out so much. This was an interesting meeting because the Branch President had some interesting ideas on how to go about home teaching. ex: Put the branch presidency as companions and have them teach everyone so that it actually gets done.
I am working on how to be a leader through others because I can't exactly step in and just take over and tell him that his idea is not the best for the branch. I was however able to convince him that it would be in the best interest to the branch to pair up strong members with the weak members as companions so that the strong can teach and strengthen the weak. We were also able to successfully divide up families and assign companions. It was a successful meeting and I hope that we can at least get it started with my last two weeks.
I received mail this week! I got a letter from Shelly in Texas, a letter from the Farmers, and one other. I was impressed with the letter from the Farmers, it sounds like they are doing very well!
With my last couple min I just wanted to address a question that I get a lot from people back home. A question that I have thought a lot about. This is "Do you have any suggestions on how I can share the gospel with others?" It is sometimes more specific than this, but basically I can sum it up with that question. And it is a good question to ask because all of us should be striving to fulfill that. You have been blessed with a gift from your Heavenly Father (the Gospel), and he asks you to share it. Even better, he promises you happiness as you do so!
I am going to call my answer the Egg test (why egg? Africans love chickens and eggs come from chickens!). The egg test is simple. If you are baking cookies on a Sunday afternoon and you get to the step of adding an egg and you realize you don't have any, are you good enough friends with your neighbors to ask them for one. The answer to this should be yes, but I know that it is often no. Sharing the gospel is easy, but it first requires knowing people! How many of us live around people that we don't even talk to? If you are to be a tool in the hands of the Lord, you won't be a very effective one if you don't even know those individuals with which you are surrounded.
(here comes my missionary part), I challenge everyone who actually reads this email to take the challenge of the egg test. Evaluate your neighbors. Would you feel comfortable asking them for an egg if you need one. If not, what are you going to do about that?
Don't just do it for one neighbor, but get to know all of those that live around you and look for ways that you can get to know them better. This is an excellent first step in introducing the gospel to individuals...the egg test! As well, if you would like to share with me some of the ways that you come up with, I would appreciate that. Have fun with it! And then if you really do need an egg some day, ask your neighbors! This is a win win.
I think I have talked about eggs for long enough.
I love you family! Do good in what you do, stay safe!
Elder Williams
Friday, March 18, 2011
One of my favorite Grant Quotes....:)
Grant: My friend Max told me not to put yellow candy in the sack when you catch a Leperchaun becuase they go crazy and eat it all up. They also pinch you even if you have green on!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Hello From Botswana Family!
How is everyone doing?
How is Carly and Joel? I feel like they fell off the planet! Little Grant forgot to write, but at least he sent pictures..he would be boxing! And Tyler, you should definitely get that foot checked out!
Mom, you said you sent the picture of the green mamba, but I didn't see it. In the mean time I will just assume that it is a green mamba and that Elder Finlinson gets a sweet story!
Thank you for the Patriarchal Blessings, I think that the internet shop got a new printer so I should be able to print that out this week.
Thank you for the CD's in the mail, I will be looking for them. Apparently I got 3 letters about 2 weeks ago, but our zone leaders have not dropped them by yet. They are doing exchanges tomorrow, so I should get mail tomorrow!
Mom, can I add a few things to my future package? Thank you, I need more socks! I don't know what my feet are doing, but I go through socks so fast! As well I still have a giant wart, and they don't sell wart med. on this side of the world, so if you could send the liquid wart med. that would be appreciated. Also, if you HAPPEN to be at BYU then you could pick up some of those "insight" things that sister Boyer bought me. I am looking for any of the insights for the triple combination. Also, if you’re going to BYU I guess this means you can visit the sister missionaries from my mtc group at temple square! Tell them I said hello!
This week...oh man...this week. The week started off really nice. Elder Hughes and I were meeting with our Branch President on Tuesday morning to get a Branch directory printed off. While we were there he continued to mention how busy he is and how he has too much on his plate, etc. I told him that he should not feel like that because he has 4 missionaries that can do almost anything. He got excited at the invitation and he had us start by helping him with counting and entering in the tithing for the week. After that he started listing off things he would like us to take care of, which include:
• Teaching a family in the ward how to play the piano so the branch can have a piano player (we had our first lesson this week, Elder Hughes plays piano)
• Working with the Second councilor to get seminary and institute running again
• Reminding all the aux. of branch council that week
• Set up interviews for him
• Work with 2 individuals to teach them how to teach Gospel Principles class (both of them have been baptized within the past year)
• Give recommendations for a branch mission leader
• Start a temple prep class
• Edit the Branch directory using the members (updating addresses and phone numbers and such)
• Type out a booklet that the branch has of historical events from the branch (the branch journal)
• And in 2 days we are meeting with the Branch President to establish a home teaching list for the members
I was pretty excited when we got this list, because it is SO much better being too busy than not busy enough. We have been working on this list and we have at least started if not finished most of the tasks he gave us.
On Thursday night (one of the only 2 days during the week that we are on bikes) the other missionaries called us telling us that the car was broken and that they were arranging for it to get towed to the shop. A few min after that I got a call from the security company informing me that the alarm to the house has been activated (second time that has happened here). We were a good distance away, but we had to go seeing as how the car was broken (this is when those 100 mile bike rides comes in handy). We rode full speed to the house which was probably only about 4 miles away, but it was up and down monkey hill and we were flying, so I was out of energy by the time I got there and found out that the security company had not even sent anyone yet (that will only happen in Africa)! So we had to wait outside of our electric fence until they got there to clear the house for us (the first time we just did it ourselves). Both times they found nothing, and we suspect it’s just a snake or lizard in the house setting off the motion detector. But while we were in there the security guy went around showing us the Emergency buttons that we have around the house "for when you get attacked" (Don't worry mom, we won’t get attacked). I just thought it was funny that we have emergency buttons around the house.
Friday we were informed that the car will not be ready until Tues. or Wed. so two of us are walking and 2 are riding bikes. This gets complicated when your area's are made for a car. It's been much more difficult than I thought walking and riding around. Our number of teaching appointments has gone down a lot as well. It would be the equivalent of having an appointment at our Texas home and then walking the Boyer's home for the next appointment, only to find out that they ditched your appointment so you have to turn around and walk to the smiths and then back to the house for lunch and then back to the high school (all the people we are teaching are really spread out). To add to it, Elder Finlinson and Elder Chidzawo are a little sick, so yes! Fun week!
We also had an interesting experience two days ago when we ran into the other Elders in the middle of the day. This drunk guy came up to us with an un-opened bottle of chibuku (the preferred drink of Botswana, costs less than water, and EVERYONE drinks it, accept for the members of course because it is beer). But this is very common because everyone is drunk on this side of the world. The guy said that he wanted to stop drinking (hear that all the time also), so Elder finlinson said, well if your serious give it to me so I can pour it out. He hesitated and stumbled with his words. I then told him that if he is serious he will give it to Elder finlinson...(stumbling of words).."If your serious, give it to him."....."AH!, alright!". And he gave it to Elder Finlinson! This was weird because we had never gotten to this step before, but Elder Finlinson proceeded to pour it out in a ditch and the whole world stopped and watched as this chibuku hit the ground and wondered why the heck we would pour out beer! Well, that was that story.
We have had a lot of random challenges this week and it reminded me of my favorite quote ever! By Brigham Young "We have to fight continually, as it were, sword in hand to make the spirit master of the tabernacle, or the flesh subject to the law of the spirit. If this warfare is not diligently prosecuted, then the law of sin prevails...the rule of the flesh brings darkness and death, while on the other hand, the rule of the spirit brings light and life." This quote helps me when I am choosing how to react to trials. It's a good one.
Random:
-Can you check my account and transfer money into if necessary?
-Mom, do you have any delicious simple recopies with few ingredients? Fav. ingredients include rice, pasta, and ground beef!
Well love you all! I got to go!
The church is true!
Elder Williams
How is Carly and Joel? I feel like they fell off the planet! Little Grant forgot to write, but at least he sent pictures..he would be boxing! And Tyler, you should definitely get that foot checked out!
Mom, you said you sent the picture of the green mamba, but I didn't see it. In the mean time I will just assume that it is a green mamba and that Elder Finlinson gets a sweet story!
Thank you for the Patriarchal Blessings, I think that the internet shop got a new printer so I should be able to print that out this week.
Thank you for the CD's in the mail, I will be looking for them. Apparently I got 3 letters about 2 weeks ago, but our zone leaders have not dropped them by yet. They are doing exchanges tomorrow, so I should get mail tomorrow!
Mom, can I add a few things to my future package? Thank you, I need more socks! I don't know what my feet are doing, but I go through socks so fast! As well I still have a giant wart, and they don't sell wart med. on this side of the world, so if you could send the liquid wart med. that would be appreciated. Also, if you HAPPEN to be at BYU then you could pick up some of those "insight" things that sister Boyer bought me. I am looking for any of the insights for the triple combination. Also, if you’re going to BYU I guess this means you can visit the sister missionaries from my mtc group at temple square! Tell them I said hello!
This week...oh man...this week. The week started off really nice. Elder Hughes and I were meeting with our Branch President on Tuesday morning to get a Branch directory printed off. While we were there he continued to mention how busy he is and how he has too much on his plate, etc. I told him that he should not feel like that because he has 4 missionaries that can do almost anything. He got excited at the invitation and he had us start by helping him with counting and entering in the tithing for the week. After that he started listing off things he would like us to take care of, which include:
• Teaching a family in the ward how to play the piano so the branch can have a piano player (we had our first lesson this week, Elder Hughes plays piano)
• Working with the Second councilor to get seminary and institute running again
• Reminding all the aux. of branch council that week
• Set up interviews for him
• Work with 2 individuals to teach them how to teach Gospel Principles class (both of them have been baptized within the past year)
• Give recommendations for a branch mission leader
• Start a temple prep class
• Edit the Branch directory using the members (updating addresses and phone numbers and such)
• Type out a booklet that the branch has of historical events from the branch (the branch journal)
• And in 2 days we are meeting with the Branch President to establish a home teaching list for the members
I was pretty excited when we got this list, because it is SO much better being too busy than not busy enough. We have been working on this list and we have at least started if not finished most of the tasks he gave us.
On Thursday night (one of the only 2 days during the week that we are on bikes) the other missionaries called us telling us that the car was broken and that they were arranging for it to get towed to the shop. A few min after that I got a call from the security company informing me that the alarm to the house has been activated (second time that has happened here). We were a good distance away, but we had to go seeing as how the car was broken (this is when those 100 mile bike rides comes in handy). We rode full speed to the house which was probably only about 4 miles away, but it was up and down monkey hill and we were flying, so I was out of energy by the time I got there and found out that the security company had not even sent anyone yet (that will only happen in Africa)! So we had to wait outside of our electric fence until they got there to clear the house for us (the first time we just did it ourselves). Both times they found nothing, and we suspect it’s just a snake or lizard in the house setting off the motion detector. But while we were in there the security guy went around showing us the Emergency buttons that we have around the house "for when you get attacked" (Don't worry mom, we won’t get attacked). I just thought it was funny that we have emergency buttons around the house.
Friday we were informed that the car will not be ready until Tues. or Wed. so two of us are walking and 2 are riding bikes. This gets complicated when your area's are made for a car. It's been much more difficult than I thought walking and riding around. Our number of teaching appointments has gone down a lot as well. It would be the equivalent of having an appointment at our Texas home and then walking the Boyer's home for the next appointment, only to find out that they ditched your appointment so you have to turn around and walk to the smiths and then back to the house for lunch and then back to the high school (all the people we are teaching are really spread out). To add to it, Elder Finlinson and Elder Chidzawo are a little sick, so yes! Fun week!
We also had an interesting experience two days ago when we ran into the other Elders in the middle of the day. This drunk guy came up to us with an un-opened bottle of chibuku (the preferred drink of Botswana, costs less than water, and EVERYONE drinks it, accept for the members of course because it is beer). But this is very common because everyone is drunk on this side of the world. The guy said that he wanted to stop drinking (hear that all the time also), so Elder finlinson said, well if your serious give it to me so I can pour it out. He hesitated and stumbled with his words. I then told him that if he is serious he will give it to Elder finlinson...(stumbling of words).."If your serious, give it to him."....."AH!, alright!". And he gave it to Elder Finlinson! This was weird because we had never gotten to this step before, but Elder Finlinson proceeded to pour it out in a ditch and the whole world stopped and watched as this chibuku hit the ground and wondered why the heck we would pour out beer! Well, that was that story.
We have had a lot of random challenges this week and it reminded me of my favorite quote ever! By Brigham Young "We have to fight continually, as it were, sword in hand to make the spirit master of the tabernacle, or the flesh subject to the law of the spirit. If this warfare is not diligently prosecuted, then the law of sin prevails...the rule of the flesh brings darkness and death, while on the other hand, the rule of the spirit brings light and life." This quote helps me when I am choosing how to react to trials. It's a good one.
Random:
-Can you check my account and transfer money into if necessary?
-Mom, do you have any delicious simple recopies with few ingredients? Fav. ingredients include rice, pasta, and ground beef!
Well love you all! I got to go!
The church is true!
Elder Williams
Friday, March 11, 2011
REALLY!?? Isn't it March and time for Spring!
You can't tell by this pictures but it is SNOWING this morning. I almost cried! I love snow and it is beautiful but it is March and I am so ready for Spring to come. My Canadian friends tell me that winter is not over yet. Now I know why they all go to Hawaii. I have been to Hawaii ( I actually spent some time at school there but it is not on my top 10 places to go.) BUT.... I think Galveston sounds good about now and I really don't even like Galveston! :)
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| This is how Grant left for school this morning! He looks like he should be headed up the hill the sled! |
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Grant ran into a chair a few days ago and cut his eye. Poor kid. He looks abused. Sorry for the
blurry picture. My other kids were wanting to see this picture and it is the only one I have.
I would take another one but Grant is at school...I am sure he is trying to take off all the snow
gear. And yes, they will send him out for recess to play in this crazy weather. It can only get
better from here right!?
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Monday, March 7, 2011
March 7, 2011 It is about time...pictures from Botswana!!
Hello Family!
I am sorry to hear that you still have snow all over the ground, I remember how that felt at BYU and it was always wonderful when the sun came out and the snow left!
Alright, well I just tried to attach 3 photos. I know it has been a long time since I have sent photos, but if you were able to see the places that I email, you would understand why I hesitate to send photos.
The first one is a photo from yesterday. We had a water pipe that leads to our city burst on Friday, so our entire city minus a handful of taps was out of water and it was a pretty intense situation. We found ourselves with about 5 liters of water and no shower or shaving for 3 days. One of our investigators really needed some water, so we took a few buckets from her house and waited about an hour in line at one of the only working taps in the city. As you can see in the background, that is the new stadium in our area. To the side of it (not sure if you can see it in the photo) is monkey hill. Where I saw the mini cheetah.
Photo #1
The second photo (if they hurry and download before my time runs out) is just a photo of the attention that we get as white people when we walk down every street. This was when we were sitting in the car trying to find contact information for an investigator of ours. Many kids flocked in the 2 min we were in the car.
The third is probably my favorite. This photo was taken in the village of Malipowabajawn. We were trying to track down a members home and we started talking to this lady on the side of the road. I enjoy that photo.
A couple days ago I took the coolest photo of my life on a donkey cart, driven by a guy that didn't speak a word of English (don't ask how I convinced him to let me take a photo without using words). But after taking the photo's we left and the camera didn't save the photo!
I am now going to have to format my letter similar to last week so I can cover all the needed information.
1. I need a photo of a green mamba sent to me. Two days ago Elder Finlinson was unlocking our gate to our house, so he had his arm reached through the gate when he felt something fall on his arm from the tree above. He paid no attention until he took his arm out and realized that it was a green mamba! (we are about 50% sure it was a green mamba), lucky for him his reaction was to jump and the snake fell on the ground and quickly left. If this truly was a green mamba then....yes, very intense story, green mamba would....But it was a baby snake, only about a foot and a half, green.
2. Can you scratch my Dr. Scholes order from last week and send me a size 11 instead of 10? Whenever you send the package of course. As well can you include some Paul Cardal music? He happens to be a legend even here in Africa.
3. Friday night when the water went out, the power was also out for a while. It was pretty sweet walking around with candles in our scary house! We did companionship planning and wrote letters by candle light...I thought that was pretty exciting.
4. No news on the sister missionaries yet. Last week they were granted 7 days so that they could just deal with the problem next week (today). I have heard rumor (over hearing president Morgan), that they might allow them to go and serve in the temple in South Africa, or work in the office or something until the problem gets fixed, so they should be OK even if/when they get kicked out of the country.
5. Mom, it's funny you just mentioned your desire for a nativity set again. I was actually just asking around for that this week. (I was also learning about that long list of things that are illegal to bring back to the states, but that is so cheep and easy to buy here, so it was good to find that all out BEFORE I tried to bring stuff back to the states.) But yes, apparently you can get whatever you want here in Africa and there is a place back in south Africa next to the office where you can get almost anything you want, so I am working on it!
6. This week we had an exciting activity. Elder Hughes and I organized a movie night at the church on Friday evening. We organized a projector and the Joseph Smith prophet of the restoration DVD (the really nice one that they show in visitors centers). We did not have the attendance that we hoped for, but for those that were able to make it, it was a very nice experience and it helped them see the struggles and sacrifices of the early saints.
One family in particular was able to attend. Leslie and Tabello, the one that just showed up to church one day. Tabello (the wife) is the most golden investigator in the world and can not wait to be baptized with her daughter. She has seen the blessings of the gospel in her life and loves the church. However, Leslie is not so excited about acting at the moment. We had a nice discussion with him yesterday and he said that he wants to get baptized, but he just doesn't feel ready (because he is not). However, I have been able to grow a good friendship with Leslie, so we had a good man to man discussion about actions he needs to take before baptism. It started off well, and ended even better. We started by talking about the baptism, finished that topic, and then talked about how he is arranging to take us missionaries on a tour of a local game park, and as well to take a tour of BMC (the largest meat processing place here in Botswana, he is pretty high up in that company). So I am excited for both of those experiences.
7. Last thing in my 1.5 min, dad you asked about how often we see the mission president. We have mission president interviews every 4 months, but because I am in a new country it might be longer than that.
The church is true!
Time is out!!
Love you all
Elder Williams
I am sorry to hear that you still have snow all over the ground, I remember how that felt at BYU and it was always wonderful when the sun came out and the snow left!
Alright, well I just tried to attach 3 photos. I know it has been a long time since I have sent photos, but if you were able to see the places that I email, you would understand why I hesitate to send photos.
The first one is a photo from yesterday. We had a water pipe that leads to our city burst on Friday, so our entire city minus a handful of taps was out of water and it was a pretty intense situation. We found ourselves with about 5 liters of water and no shower or shaving for 3 days. One of our investigators really needed some water, so we took a few buckets from her house and waited about an hour in line at one of the only working taps in the city. As you can see in the background, that is the new stadium in our area. To the side of it (not sure if you can see it in the photo) is monkey hill. Where I saw the mini cheetah.
Photo #1
1. I need a photo of a green mamba sent to me. Two days ago Elder Finlinson was unlocking our gate to our house, so he had his arm reached through the gate when he felt something fall on his arm from the tree above. He paid no attention until he took his arm out and realized that it was a green mamba! (we are about 50% sure it was a green mamba), lucky for him his reaction was to jump and the snake fell on the ground and quickly left. If this truly was a green mamba then....yes, very intense story, green mamba would....But it was a baby snake, only about a foot and a half, green.
2. Can you scratch my Dr. Scholes order from last week and send me a size 11 instead of 10? Whenever you send the package of course. As well can you include some Paul Cardal music? He happens to be a legend even here in Africa.
3. Friday night when the water went out, the power was also out for a while. It was pretty sweet walking around with candles in our scary house! We did companionship planning and wrote letters by candle light...I thought that was pretty exciting.
4. No news on the sister missionaries yet. Last week they were granted 7 days so that they could just deal with the problem next week (today). I have heard rumor (over hearing president Morgan), that they might allow them to go and serve in the temple in South Africa, or work in the office or something until the problem gets fixed, so they should be OK even if/when they get kicked out of the country.
5. Mom, it's funny you just mentioned your desire for a nativity set again. I was actually just asking around for that this week. (I was also learning about that long list of things that are illegal to bring back to the states, but that is so cheep and easy to buy here, so it was good to find that all out BEFORE I tried to bring stuff back to the states.) But yes, apparently you can get whatever you want here in Africa and there is a place back in south Africa next to the office where you can get almost anything you want, so I am working on it!
6. This week we had an exciting activity. Elder Hughes and I organized a movie night at the church on Friday evening. We organized a projector and the Joseph Smith prophet of the restoration DVD (the really nice one that they show in visitors centers). We did not have the attendance that we hoped for, but for those that were able to make it, it was a very nice experience and it helped them see the struggles and sacrifices of the early saints.
One family in particular was able to attend. Leslie and Tabello, the one that just showed up to church one day. Tabello (the wife) is the most golden investigator in the world and can not wait to be baptized with her daughter. She has seen the blessings of the gospel in her life and loves the church. However, Leslie is not so excited about acting at the moment. We had a nice discussion with him yesterday and he said that he wants to get baptized, but he just doesn't feel ready (because he is not). However, I have been able to grow a good friendship with Leslie, so we had a good man to man discussion about actions he needs to take before baptism. It started off well, and ended even better. We started by talking about the baptism, finished that topic, and then talked about how he is arranging to take us missionaries on a tour of a local game park, and as well to take a tour of BMC (the largest meat processing place here in Botswana, he is pretty high up in that company). So I am excited for both of those experiences.
7. Last thing in my 1.5 min, dad you asked about how often we see the mission president. We have mission president interviews every 4 months, but because I am in a new country it might be longer than that.
The church is true!
Time is out!!
Love you all
Elder Williams
Friday, March 4, 2011
A Few Of My Favorites....
Camille is in her second semester of Media Arts at her high school. Her teacher raves about her talent and eye for photography. I have enjoyed seeing her photos. It is fun for me because sometimes I get to drive her around and find cool things to shoot. I can tell what is cool but I have no clue how to set up the picture. Here are just a few of my favorites...
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| Self Portrait. She even has her own little watermark on her photos. |
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| My boys..WITHOUT SNOW on the ground. A rare day! Ha |
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| Transportation |
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| The teachers favorite |
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| A picture of an Apes hands at the Zoo. |
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| One of my favorites |
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| food |
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| Love this one to. |
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| Reflection |
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| When we went to BC last week we saw so many Mt. Sheep. We were sure this guy posed for her. |
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| This was at a playground in B.C. Canada. I have never seen anything like it before. So cool. |
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| Last semester was all black and white. This semester is all color. I can't wait to see what else she sees behind that lens! |
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