MORE MALAWI NEWS GREATFUL FOR MIRACLES

Miracles happen everyday with investigators and we never know what seeds we plant with the things that we do and say

.The exciting news that comes from Malawi this week is that the work of the Lord is progressing and miracles happen everyday. Just this last week proved that over and over. We usually have a branch missionary to work with so they can translate from English to Chichewa and vice versa. This week we only worked with a branch missionary on Wednesday and Friday, which can prove to be interesting to say the least. Sister Khumalo knows a little bit of Chichewa and I am leaning little by little but neither one of us know enough to actually teach a lesson. So on Tuesday we were supposed to have a Branch missionary but she never showed up to work with us so we just did the best that we could. We went to investigators and members that spoke enough English that we would be able to have a lesson. Well we had got two referrals from Sister Chua and Sister Ntuli and we were in that area so we thought that we would just stop by the place that she worked and see if she was there. Well she wasn't and didn't work there anymore so we weren't sure what to do. We contacted the guy that was there and have taught him now once so that was a blessing. So we went in search of the other referral and actually found out that they were brother and sister so we found both referrals at the same spot. The brother couldn't meet with us because he was working so we just me with Tamandani and promised to meet with Enoch another day. It was so neat to meet with Tamandani because she had progress so much with the other sisters that she was ready to hear more from us. The first time that we met with her we invited her to be baptized on July 14th and she accepted so that day we will have two baptisms and then two weeks later on the 28th we could have between two and five more. Blessings come in all forms. We also started teaching the neighbor of one of our recent coverts, since the recent convert wasn't home, and the neighbor came to church on Sunday. It is so nice, and definitely different than Lusaka, to have investigators in church each Sunday. Speaking of investigators in church, Tamandani and her three year old daughter came to church yesterday and you know how three hours can be soooooo long to a three year old. Well, she got hungry and was super ready to go home even before church was over and so I happened to have an apple in my bag, that I think I had put in there like last Monday, that I gave to her. She didn't care that it had been there for awhile she was just happy for something to eat. Definitely won her over.

Yep, I beat you guys to the punch. The challenge to read the Book of Mormon is open to all!! It is such a good book and should never be taken for granted

Love you all and think of you often and feel the strength that comes from you prayers.

Sister Kelsey Webster

Malawis NEWS-- Great to hear

Hello from Malawi,

The bus ride over here wasn't too bad. It was only around 12 hours. The seats weren't too hard but after sitting for that long anything gets a little uncomfortable. :) There were five missionaries that got transferred to Malawi, three of us stayed in Linlongwe and two of them went down to Blantyre. Elder Dettamanti is still in Blantyre.The flat is super nice, smaller than the one in Lusaka but that is okay. I am here with Sister Ntuli, Sister Chua (from Tennessee), and Sister Khumalo (my companion, from Zimbabwe). We have had all sorts of fun, which is a nice change. I really haven't had a chance to get to know the Pretes. They left the day after we got here to go down to Blantyre and they will be back on Wednesday but only for a couple of days and then they are headed over to Lusaka for a farewell party for President and Sister Padovich. The ward meets in a house, not even a chapel, which was a little strange at first but I'm sure that I will get used to it with time. We cover four areas but we only go to one of the areas on Sundays because it is closer. What I will have to get used to is when someone speaks in Chichewa it has to be translated into English and vice versa, language is definitely a barrier. Good thing that the language of the gospel is all the same. :) We cover four areas; Area 18, Area 47, Area 50, and Saint. I have only been to Area 47, 18, and Saint. Saint the people are humble, 47 the people are definitely ready to receive the gospel, and 18 the people are a little prideful and resistant but who knows. There are areas like that everywhere.

The Book of Mormon and the scriptures hold all sorts of things to ponder, that is what makes them so amazing because no matter what we are going through they can give us both comfort and answers.

.

When we plant seeds we drop rocks into a pond and the ripples are definitely endless. I definitely planted seeds in Lusaka and I may or may never see the rewards of them but like you said, those people always remember those that lead them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and is being spread all over the world. The Atonement of Jesus Christ should never be taken for granted and should always be remember. Life may have it struggles but there is always a lesson to be learned and a prayer to be said and answered. Never feel like you can't pray to Heavenly Father. He is always there and wants to hear from you. The way that we talk to God is through prayer and the way that He talks to us is through the scriptures. I started reading the Book of Mormon again and I am only on 1 Nephi 14 but I have already read things that I needed. We should all read it together??!!

Take care and know that I think of you all often and feel the strength that comes from your thoughts and prayers.

 Sister Kelsey Webster

This weeks NEWS next weeks adventure!!!

Hello All!!!

Yep, I am getting transferred to Malawi. I am leaving on Wednesday. It is kind of a bitter-sweet feeling. I have only been in Lusaka for six weeks but I have learned to love the people. It is just that no missionary expects to be transferred after only six weeks. Oh well, it happens. It would also happen because we have three investigators committed to baptism on the 30th of June and three more on the 14th of July. Oh well, seeds have been planted. Sister Patterson went home just over a week ago so the missionaries in Malawi have been in a threesome ever since then. We had another sister missionary come in from Zimbabwe, that served in Kenya for a while and then went home for medical reasons and now is here in the Zambia Lusaka Mission. She is from Zimbabwe originally. I think President Padovich is keeping her here for a couple of reasons. I am a little nervous about going to Malawi (Ma l ou (like in ouch) i) but I am sure that I will be just fine because I don't think I would be the one going if the Lord didn't need me there. Plus that is where Sister Ntuli and Elder Dettamanti, from the SAMTC, are, so it will be good. The senior couple that is over there is the Pretes. The bus ride to Malawi should be fun though, it is close to 15 hours. I think they sent one or two missionaries today and the rest of us are going on Wednesday morning at the crack of dark, we have to be at the bus station at 4:30. So yeah pretty early. The gospel is needed everywhere and it is just like the scriptures say, "after the trial of your faith comes blessings". In Malawi the people are definitely prepared to receive the gospel and I have heard that the members just bring people to you to teach and you have baptisms like everyone other week or something like that. It should be an adventure. I will definitely be blessed but I really don't care how many baptisms I get because like I have said many times numbers DO NOT matter.

Thank you for feeding the sister missionaries! Nope that money will not be missed and will actually come back in blessings from above.

Yesterday we did have 80 at church but they trickle in and out so that is what someone counted right after the sacrament. I have heard that during the rainy season there are only like 30-40 at church. You would definitely have to have a strong testimony to walk to church, which is around 2 hours away, in the pouring rain, then go to three hours of church only to turn around and walk back 2 hours. I know I could do it but like I said your testimony would have to be super strong.

The Mission Prep class is important. You are never truly prepared though. Which is okay because you learned so much while on mission and you definitely learn to rely on your Heavenly Father. Which is the best lesson of all.

Thank you so much for those thoughts. I wrote them down in my journal. We are definitely blessed to have a Heavenly Father who cares. He knows all about us and still loves us. That is one of the many reasons that I am sharing the gospel here in Zambia and soon to be Malawi.

Teaching in HP can definitely be intimating but everyone needs that opportunity. Everyone learns. Former Bishops, High councilmen, and even former Stake Presidents need to learn from everyone. It is all part of life to be a teacher. We are really just the messengers and the Holy Spirit is the true teacher. At least in your HP meeting you all speak the same language. That is definitely a problem for me. I am learning the Nyanja language and now in Malawi I get to learn the Chiwawa, not sure if that is how you spell it but it is the language of Malawi.. Talk about blessings from above. Sorry I won't stay over my time just so the blessings continue. :) The way that blessings continue is by always doing what is right. I read the Oliver Cowdery account in JSH on page 59 and it kind of hit me like a brick. Maybe it is something that can help in any situation. Especially the part that starts "man may deceive" and goes to "from the mind". Every word that we teach is important because it is planting seeds. Speaking of planting seeds. Remember the lady apostle that I told you about. Well, the Lusaka Branch, they meet in the same building, had an activity on Saturday and the Elders were in charge so they ask us to help. Well she was there. When she walked in I was totally shocked and definitely blown away. She was there with a friend of hers but I can only guess but maybe the Plan of Salvation pamphlet that we left with her, after the prayer, struck something and sparked a question or two.

We had Zone Conference last Friday, June 7th. It started at around 9:30 and was only supposed to go until around 2:30. Well by the time that President and Sister Padovich presented what they needed to talk about and then we had lunch and then a testimony meeting it was close to 4:30. It was the final testimony meeting with the Lusaka Zone that they will have before they go home on the 29th. President and Sister Erikson come in at 6:15 and President and Sister Padovich leave at around 10.

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is something that we should never take for granted. Life may seem hard but with with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on our side we can accomplish anything. We have all been given the charge to be disciples of Jesus Christ and with baptism we have taken His name upon us and have covenanted to stand as a witness and to be there for all of our brothers and sisters. I know that my prayers are heard and answers. Never thought that I would be going to Malawi this soon but it is an answer to prayers. I am sure of that. Read a thought the other day from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about courage and it goes with the scripture 2 Kings 6:16-17. Look it up, but here is the thought. "In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointments and discouragement strikes - and they will - you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed." Not sure where it is found but I found it on my ipod, under my LDS quotes app. Definitely helped me feel better about being transferred to Malawi. Also the quote by John Wayne, that is on our calenders, Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyhow.

Until next week for Malawi!

Sister Kelsey Webster