Sis Webster seems to be adjusting to missionary life... Here are a few more pictures aren't we blessed to have modern transportation but the African people are happy people that just go with the flow of life and are eager to learn more about the gospel....

 These are Elders in the Zone at their Zone activity.

Looks like she's having a great relaxing Zone activity. 

Relaxing Zone Activity

BAPTISMS/ AND A LITTLE ADDED FUN!!!

SERVICE IN AFRICA

Hello to the wonderful Family and Friends that I have been blessed with!!

It was so good to talk to everyone yesterday!!!! HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY TO ALL THE MOMS OUT THERE!!!! Here are a few pictures. I will send more next week. I didn't want to overload you all at once. Hopefully they all open and come through okay. You might have to rotate some of them and fix them or whatever. The pictures are pretty self explanatory, if none of them make sense do the best you can. Thanks!!!

The Zone Activity today was super fun. We saw monkeys, gazelles, zebras, and I yes I even saw some giraffes. (Kelsey Hancock :)) I got pictures so once I switch them over to my jump drive I can send them to you over an email. It was nice just to relax for a little while, and just have some fun.

I seriously loved the 'interview' from my brothers it was just what I needed to be reminded that numbers really don't matter. I am here to touch lives and plant seeds. Yes, baptisms and all that is great but that is not the reason I am here.

We did have a couple of really good lessons this week. One day we had a couple of cancellations so we went and visited the Zulu Family, they are home most of the time and Lisa is one our most recent converts, along with Robert (I can't remember his last name). So after we visited with them we ended up going to an investigators house, well actually it was her sister's house but her sister wasn't home so we taught her instead. We didn't really have anything planned to teach her so we were just going to share a favorite scripture or something like that. Before we could share a scripture she stopped us and asked if she could ask a question. We were like sure no problem. Her question was something along the lines of, "How can I remain strong and keep coming to church when all the lessons are kind of boring and my mom won't let me get baptized until I am eighteen." She is only 16, (I think). I just told her to stay strong and the best thing that she could do was keep coming to church. She needed that support and then I got the impression to read the verses in Mosiah 24:12-15, and the spirit was able to testify to her, and me, and we are never alone and God does visit us in our afflictions. Definitely something that both of us needed.

We have also been teaching our guard, yes we have a guard and a gate to get to our flat. Which is nice at times and not so nice at other times. He has been taught a lot of the lessons already, before I got here, and so now he is reading the Book of Mormon. Sometimes when we teach him it becomes a Bible study which can be okay at times but not so nice at other times. We taught him on Saturday morning before we went to go and do service at the Distribution Center, and he asked why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is different than any other church. The only thing that I felt to tell was that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was different because it had the fullness of the gospel. The same gospel that Jesus Christ established while he was here on Earth. And we had the priesthood of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon was proof that he could hold in his hand that the church was true. All he needed to do was read it, (stop comparing it to the Bible) and pray and find out for himself. That is all that any of us can do. 

Yep, the mind of a four year. Gotta love the little ones. We have this group of little kids, that around 3-8 that run out almost every day that we pass and will just come up to us. Mostly to me, they honestly just want to shake our hands and give us hugs. It is so great. It is honestly the little things that make the most difference in my day. Then most of the time while we are walking away they will yell something like, "Miss you" or "I Love You"!! Definitely cute coming from the little ones, definitely not as cute coming from the drunks, that are everywhere. 

We live in a kind of a city but Ngombe is a rural area. So a little of both. We actually have a washing machine. We have to haul water in buckets from the kitchen sink but it is definitely better than washing by hand. We don't have a dryer so everything hangs to dry, which is okay with me. The mosquitos aren't too bad right now but I am sure they will get worse when the rainy season comes.

I don't know what it is about Sister Makau but we just got a phone call from President Padovich and we have to be at the Mission Home at 8 in the morning with the Zone Leaders. It might be an African thing or she might just think that she is THE TRAINER and no one can override what she has to say They have training so who knows what is coming. We are the only sisters here in Lusaka so really who knows. 

Thanks for keeping my personal account up. It definitely helps!!!! The backpack is definitely easier and better for my back. I will wear my Chatanga on Sunday and so we will take the pictures at the baptism so I will send them next Monday. There was even a little fabric left over and so it is like a mini chatanga for someone, either Mylee or a short one for Kara. I am just going to hang on to things because who knows how long it will take to send from here to there. 

Tell everyone that is returning to the Five hi from me. Yep, they will either be good cowboys and cowgirls by the end of the season and they will come back or they won't. David will definitely have some headaches but he can handle it.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true and there is definitely a comfort that comes from know that. Also a strength that comes from knowing that as the primary children sang, "I Am A Child Of God", and that we can be with our families forever. That is one of the main reasons that I am here, to share with the people here that there really is a chance for eternal happiness with your family that you love so much here on earth. The Book of Mormon is proof that we can hold in our hands that the gospel has been restored and it is the only church on earth that has the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Have a great week and know that I feel your prayers and I gain strength from them.

Sister Kelsey Webster

Great memories-- Faith builders!!!

Hello All!!!   

This week has been full of ups and downs. We had quite a few people cancel on us but we did our best and that is all that matter. We may turn our numbers in to the District Leaders and the Zone Leaders each week and they may look at them at super low but as long as we know that we have done our best that is all that matters.

Last Sunday as we were out contacting people we were on our way back and contacted (stopped and talked to) this lady. Sister O'Barr was talking to her, well we all were, and she was telling us that she was an apostle for her church and that she had worked in the southern states back in the 90s and raised $18,000 for her 'corporation'. We were like that is cool, glad you think of your church as a corporation. We were on the street so she asked us if we could just step into the parking lot for a minute. We were like sure no problem, we can talk anywhere. Well when we got to the parking lot she started to pray for us. :) She prayed that all the satanism, cultism, and all the other evils in the world be done away with. As she was praying it took all we had not to laugh out loud. I'm pretty sure that none of us could take her seriously after that. We did end up giving her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet though. It also took all we had not to laugh hard until we were around the corner. Definitely something memorable!! :)

On Tuesday the Zimbabwe missionaries found out that they had verbal approval to go back to Zimbabwe and they would find out more on Sunday or Monday. Well, both days have come and no one knows anything yet so a lot of us a kind of in limbo on what is happening. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for her but all we can do is keep up the hard work and trust in the Lord.

Sister Makau's problem was just stress and really not eating too much food that she was used to. The food here is definitely different but that doesn't mean that she has to eat what we eat. She can buy stuff that she knows she will like and can cook that. Oh well, life is happens.

Glad my package is getting closer, guess we will know now how long it takes for packages to get here. Which is nice to know for the future. I am guessing that the Transit Office is kind of like the Post Office but I'm not sure.

Brazil isn't the only place that isn't allowing missionaries in. Zimbabwe is only allowing missionaries from Zimbabwe to serve there. The church is growing but there has to be opposition in all things.

On Thursday we worked in both Ngombe and Kalingalinga. Everything was falling to pieces in Ngombe so we went on to Kalingalinga to see what who we could find there. We kept getting lost in Kalingalinga but it is like one big maze, with dirt roads that lead to nowhere and then dirt roads that lead to somewhere, you just have to figure out which one is which. It was fun though cause when you get lost you know you are never really lost because the Lord knows where you are and maybe someone along the way needs to hear the gospel.

On Friday we went back to Ngombe and we needed to get a signature from our investigator's parents so that he could be baptized, since he is a minor, and we got there only to find that he wasn't home. As we walked back he came running up behind us, mainly just to talk to us for a few minutes. That was definitely a testimony builder to me that he is READY to be baptized and that he won't let anything get in his way. Later that afternoon we went back to his place because his dad was now home and as we sat and talked for a few minutes, his little sister, whose name happens to be Faith, started to play with something that was on the ground. I would hold my hand out and she would drop it in. It was like magic to her that when she put it in one hand and I closed my hands and flipped them over the object, which happened to be a piece of plastic, would be in the other hand. We played like that for I'm really not sure how long but it was such a short relief. It also reminded me that even the smallest things can make you the happiest. He was supposed to be baptized on the 12th but we have District Conference, like Stake Conference, this weekend so we have to push it back a week. He was definitely bummed when we told him that. Definitely another indicator that he is READY to be baptized.

I bought a couple of Chatangas and had one made into a skirt and blouse by one the brethren in the branch, and the other I am just using as a wrap. A Chatanga is really just a piece of fabric. The one I use as a wrap is dark green, close to the color of my cowgirl boots :), so I am super excited about that. :) :) I am also buying a backpack today. Everyone out here, the missionaries, use them, even the sisters. My back keeps getting thrown out because the weight is either on one side or the other not centered. Plus my bag keeps falling apart in different places.

The branch is super small, yesterday we only had 76 at church and they call on just about anyone and everyone to help out. They were announcing the closing prayer and before I knew it my name was being called. I am glad that I've had practice with that back home. :) Sister O'Barr had to lead and Sister Louthan plays the piano. Elder and Sister Louthan are from Moab, Utah and they live right next to us. They are Public Affairs Missionaries. It is nice to have them so close. We have gone over there or to the Lyle's almost every Sunday for dinner. The Lyles are also from Utah, St. George I think. Elder Lyle has been hunting with Shon Kunz, Andy Davis, and Rob Kincaid before. It is always nice to find connections wherever you go.

Glad to hear that Grp is doing good. Yep, he probably will think it is time to mow super soon. Oh, well it gives him something to do and something to look forward to.

A place to call your own is always nice. Hope things come together for Nate and Kamille. Trust in the Lord and have faith and know that things happen when they are supposed to.

Tell Sis Inez that I am more than happy to be her missionary.

Can't wait to talk to you on Sunday!!!!

Sister Kelsey Webster