STAYING OR LEAVING THAT IS THE QUESTION????

This week, event though it was the week before transfers, has been pretty good.

Monday while we were tracking and teaching, in the morning, we were talking to this young man, I can't remember his name and didn't right it down, another young man showed up and after we told him a little bit about who we were he sat right down and wanted to learn more. We taught him again on Friday and this morning but he is going out of town for two weeks so we will see what happens when he comes back.
Tuesday we were teaching our recent convert, Charles, and we were talking to him about the temple and about Baptisms for the Dead and I had a question come to my mind. Is it still a year for recent converts to go to the temple, even to do baptisms for the dead? Aunt LuAnn might have to help on this one. Even if it isn't a year it probably will take that long to save up the money to go to the temple. Since the closest temple is in Johannesburg South Africa. Tuesday I was also grateful for the promptings of the Holy Ghost in a very uncomfortable situation.

Wednesday we met with this women who has met with missionaries before, but we didn't know that the first time that we met her, but Heavenly Father did. She is super interesting in learning more. We went back on Saturday to drop off a Book of Mormon and to teach her again but she wasn't home but her son was and so we taught him a lesson and left both him and his mom a Book of Mormon. He was super interesting in learning and we invited him to church and he was sure that he was going to make it but he wasn't there yesterday so we will see what he has to say when we see him either Wednesday or Saturday. There is a Relief Society activity on Saturday so not sure what will happen then. Wednesday we also went to talk to this young man that we had briefly talked to on Saturday and when we were teaching him about the Creation and Adam and Eve, he looked directly at me and asked, "Was Adam and Eve black or white?". He was totally serious and we tried to tell him that it Heavenly Father doesn't see in Black and White because we are all His children and He loves us all the same. He wouldn't take that answer and he was stuck on the color thing. I knew that I would get that question eventually on my mission but I was hoping that it would be a little later on but oh well, now I will know what to say when it comes again.

Fridays we go out to the Gopanis and that is always fun. I love going out there because of their desire to learn more and their love of the gospel. Even though they have only been members since the end of July and the end of August they were golden. We got them the hymns and the Church History and Doctrine and Covenants DVDs and they watch and listen to them over and over again. I am so glad for there enthusiasm and willingness to learn more and strengthen their faith and testimonies.

Sunday Elder and Sister Lyle were here from Zambia to help with a program called, Helping Babies Breathe. It was so good to see them and to connect to that chapter of my mission. They go home shortly before I do and who knows we might be on the same flight, well to Salt Lake anyhow.

Well, that is the adventures from Blantyre this week!!

I know that prayers are not only heard but they are also answered. Sometimes the answers come in ways that we don't understand but they always come in ways that Heavenly Father knows is best. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and was translated by the gift and power of God. I am so glad for the young boy, Joseph Smith, who 190 years ago wanted to know about what church to join and who prayed to know the truth. I know that he saw what he said he saw and I have a testimony of all the things that he has done to further the work of the Lord. As it says in 1 Corinthians 3:10, "I am laying the foundation and another will build" or something like that!!

Until next week!

MISSIONARY WORK GOES FORWARD....

The missionary work here in Blantyre is progressing. We spend a lot of time finding and then time teaching. We are seeing new people each and every day and some of them are progressing and some of them are not. That is the joys and challenges that come with missionary work though. This past week I went on an exchange with Sister Getts. We went to mine and Sister Napwanga's area so it was mostly me leading that day. I was a little nervous at first but things turned out okay. Our first two appointments fell through but I took a second to refocus and things went pretty smooth after that. We went and met with an investigator that has been meeting with missionaries off and on since around January or February. He has A LOT of questions and a few things to work on. I am glad that we got to meet with him because some of the things that we were teaching him were things that all of us needed to hear. Funny how Heavenly Father works that way! :) The weather is getting warmer, 86`F on Saturday and only getting warmer. It is summer here and every one keeps saying, "Just wait until October". Not sure if I want to! :) Saturday we did spend some time under the shade of a big tree. We stopped to see one of our members and she kept talking to us even though we tried to leave a couple of times. It was good though because I think that she just needed someone to talk to.

We ran into another Jehovah Witness, this time it was lady. She was nicer than the last one but still as interesting. Every time that we would bring up the Restoration she would change the subject. I am SOOOO glad that I have a firm knowledge of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and why that it is so important to know. She did give us one of their pamphlet so we gave her one of ours as well. It was on the Plan of Salvation because we ended up talking about if suffering will ever end. Quite an interesting experience to talk to them.

Yesterday we had a lesson with a LA by the name of Hope. He was struggling with the decision on whether to just work or to go back to school. We talk to him about how that sometimes we have to make the decision first and then take it to Heavenly Father to make sure that it is right. We read with him some of the verses from Ether 2 and 3 and talked about the verses that we read and then committed him to reread those chapters and to let us know. We haven't heard from him yet. He told us that we really helped him in making his decision though. It is truly amazing what just a few chapters of the Book of Mormon can do. I seriously love the Book of Mormon. I am truly a country girl that is for sure. This morning the lady that came to do our laundry today, a different one than usual, which is stopping it sounds like, needed to know where to hang the clothes, and without even thinking about it I just walked outside to show her. No shoes or nothing, my feet must be getting used to the ground or they already were. People around here walk around with no shoes on all the time so really it wasn't that different than a Malawian or a Zambian, cause they do it there too. You can definitely tell where my watch sits and where my sleeves end. My skin is definitely not as dark as there but I have some great tan lines and they will only get better with time. :)

My testimony this week is that the Book of Mormon hold any answer that we may be seeking for. Heavenly Father knew that WE would need the Book of Mormon and the advice that it holds for everyday living. The Priesthood is real and should never be taken for granted. Definitely something I have learned time and time again. If you need a Priesthood Blessing don't hesitate to ask, we are actually serving them by asking. Prayers are heard and answers, sometimes even when we don't realize that we are praying for that particular thing. Malawi is beautiful but plenty warm so enjoy the rain and snow( I know not yet) for me!!! :)

Sister Kelsey Webster

ZLM 04/13-10/14