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

Mormons Helping Hands Service

Kids Make Your Day....

Soaking in the Sun...

                                                      A Big Cheesey Smile

                                                                   

Kids Will Be Kids

ADVENTURES IN THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY

This week has been full of adventures. On Tuesday we got a phone call from Brother Gopani, whose family got baptized on the 27th of July and who is getting baptized on Sunday, and he told us that his wife had just had a baby. So yep she was coming to church and got baptized when she was around nine months pregnant. They have two boys, one who is 13 and one who is 10 so yep the little girl was needed. Brother Gopani left it up to Sister Napwanga and I to name his daughter. Definitely something that is easier said than done, especially when some of the letters are not pronounced correctly. We look through the scriptures and decided on the name Charity. So her name is Charity Gopani, unless they added a middle name, which I don't think they did. That same day I also stepped in mud, well actually I came to find out that it was sewage that I stepped in. Not the greatest thing to step in especially when there is a ton of clean water anywhere. Don't worry I cleaned off my sandal the first opportunity that I got.

Friday we had an unexpected meeting with President Erickson. Not sure why he came to Malawi but it was still good to see him and hear from him. Friday morning we also spent part of the morning in the hospital for a follow up for Sister Napwanga. Not much has changed. She is doing better, but like every other time that we have gone to the hospital for her, they tell her that if she would lose weight she would feel better. That is definitely easier said than done for some of the African people.

Saturday was Mormon Helping Hands. Did anyone do anything for that around there? We went to Chimemwea School/Orphanage and painted one of the classrooms. Just like every other service project there were too many Chiefs and not enough Indians and definitely not enough supplies to go around. I was the official photographer, that is why I am not in the group photo, so while we were waiting for more supplies to show up I just went around and started taking pictures. I ended up taking a lot of pictures with this group of kids. It was so good to see them all relaxed and just loving the camera. After service we went to the area and taught a few people that weren't busy on a Saturday and while we were teaching a bird pooped on me. It was great. NOT!!!! Still a cool experience though. :) :) Before this we were teaching an investigator that has been meeting with missionaries since February and is not progressing. I told him, with the Spirit that he needed to do something to get from the 'starting line' to where that because of our weaknesses Jesus Christ would take over until the 'finish line'. He told us to pray for me and I told him that we were but that he needed to pray for himself if he wanted something to happen. I pretty much dominated the lesson but I think that he got the point.

On Sunday I got the opportunity to lead the music in Sacrament Meeting. Guess that all those years of leading the music in college and in the Singles' Branch is paying off. There weren't very many in church but it is getting hotter so people don't come out very much. After church we went to visit a few people but they were not home so we ended up at the Nandolo's, they are members, like the only ones in our area. They have two of the cutest little boys and it was so good just to be there and relax and have fun with the boys for some time. Missionaries need that every now and again.

Love you all.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is true and that we can gain strength from Heavenly Father when we feel like we can't take another step. He knows that we can and that is when He will carry us until we can walk beside him again. Prayers are definitely heard and answered, no matter how or where that we say them.

While sitting in the window seal of the truck looking for animals, this is what happens. 

Yeah that's what Sister Webster's tag looked like.

AWESOME BLANTRYE ACTIVITY!!!!

Happenings in Blantrye

Hello All!!!
You might have to zoom in on some of the pictures to see exactly what they are but it was a cool activity. Pictures from the Zone Activity. The thing that I did that wasn't that safe was to hang out the truck window. I sent the picture to Melissa of what happens when you do that.
We saw some sweet animals. We really wanted to see elephants and lions but they were no where to be found. We did see a water buffalo but I am not sure which picture that is, or even if I sent that one. I will look and make sure that I send it next week. Hopefully the one of the Blantyre Zone comes through this way.

This week has been good. I received the package that you sent back on June 24th. It took 48 days to get to me. Thank you for following the promptings of the Spirit and sending extra stuff. Thank you so much Mom for you letter, it was just what I needed. Thank you Kara for the picture, I love it and carry it in my scriptures so that I see it everyday. The pictures definitely make me laugh, especially the one of Jake (???) eating ice cream. Thank you also for all the shirts, the t-shirts are definitely appreciated as well as the other shirts. My white ones are starting to look a little brown, oh well I am in Africa.

I was given the opportunity to teach Relief Society yesterday. That is always an interesting experience when there is a language barrier. I taught lesson 15 in the Teachings of Lorezo Snow book. Definitely a good lesson to teach as as missionary and one that everyone needed to hear. Especially me. The weather is definitely getting warmer. But it isn't too warm yet, I think it feels somewhere like Rexburg or Logan weather with all the asphalt. I will live though.

I had a cool experience last week though. Sister Napwanga and Sister Wallin had this investigator that belongs to another church, not sure which one, and he hasn't come to church like at all. I have only text him and spoke to him on the phone like maybe once. Well, I had the opportunity to meet him a week ago, well on August 1st, and it was super interesting. The day before I met him we had run into the pastor at the church that he goes to and he had invited us to lunch the next day and right after he did that he said, "Come to lunch, I won't poison you". Definitely made me want to go to lunch, NOT!!!!! Well, we got a text the next day from our investigator and he was asking us, for the pastor, if we were coming to the pastor's house that day. We told him no but that we would like to meet with him to talk to just him and find out why he wasn't coming to church. Well we met with him at a less actives house and as we were talking I was pretty quiet but when I did finally say something it was something he needed to hear. "I told him that we were on mission to invite people to come unto Christ and to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and for no other reason." There was more that I said but afterwards I sat back and thought about what I had said and KNEW that it hadn't been me talking it had been the Spirit, it was definitely that powerful. I definitely KNEW that what I was saying was only coming out of my mouth and that it was someone, The Spirit, talking. I was just relaying the message. I said what I said because I found out that the pastor is super weird and has a weird thing for whites. WE ARE FINE!!!! We are not meeting with the pastor and actually haven't heard from the investigator since then. Other than that the work is going good. We find and we teach and we invite others to come unto Jesus Christ. Enjoy the pictures and I will talk to you later next week

Love you all!!!! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is TRUE and can be shared wherever we are and to whoever we come in contact with. Keep up the good work and remember to attend the temple, even if you have to drive to Idaho Falls. That is still closer than most of the people that live here. The closest temple is in South Africa which is like a two hour plane ride.

Sister Kelsey Webster

all 8 baptisms Happy Day!!!

Gopani Family

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                  

  unplaited hair -lion head me!!!!                                                 

Exciting News from Blantrye

1. All eight of the people that were baptized. Three from Blantyre 1st Branch and Five from Blantyre 2nd Branch (the branch that we are over).

2. The Gopani Family. Fatima, Charpen, and McLarin. Dad was supposed to be baptized as well but work took him away.

3. The guy on the end his name is Christopher Sitola. Michelle might know him. He knows her. He baptized the boys and then Elder Hill baptized Sister Gopani.

4. My hair after I took it out. I look like a lion. :) :)

Question: Can anyone be denied the ordinance of baptism just because they are not normal? (was sick when he was younger and it affected his brain) He understands but just can't explain it. He was baptized but I was just wondering because our DL told us that he probably wouldn't be able to be baptized because he wasn't normal. As much as you all know me you know that that didn't sit well with me. I have had too many Special Ed classes that I know that no one is normal. Then our DL told us that he would be able to go to the temple even if he wasn't baptized?

 

The baptisms were super good. I had a coughing attack during the talk on the Holy Ghost (yep caught a sinus cold, it is mostly gone now) but all in all the baptism was super good. The Lord's hand was definitely in it. Last Sunday, 21st the Gopani family was interviewed for baptism and Sister Gopani and McLarin passed and understood everything but Charpen we weren't sure if he would be able to be baptized. He was super sick when he was younger and somehow it affected his brain and learning, understanding, and especially explaining things are hard. So when the DL would ask him a question he would answer something completely different so we weren't sure. Then on Friday the DL came out to the house while we were there to interview them again, I guess just to make sure that they were ready for baptism the next day. Again the mom and younger son passed but we had a problem with the older son. Even before the interview the DL wasn't sure if he would pass just because he wasn't "normal". During the whole interview I had a prayer in my heart that all would be well and that the family would be able to be baptized together, minus the father but he was at work. He is a guard, like almost everyone that we meet, so he was called away to work somewhere else and so wasn't able to be interviewed for baptism. He knows it is true and has that super strong desire to be baptized so when he gets back, I think on Saturday, the interview and baptism will follow. Then the next step is preparing for the temple. Which usually takes longer than a year jut because funds have to be saved up to travel to and from South Africa. Makes having a temple, well actually around ten temples within six hours definitely a blessing. GO TO THE TEMPLE OFTEN!!!!

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 The church is growing like crazy. I heard that by the end of the year that we will have 90 missionaries just in this mission alone and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will have close to or over 90 thousand.
Crazy to think that it all started with a young boy and his question to God in 1820. I love the opportunity that I have to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and to truly know that no matter what we experience in life it is ALL part of Heavenly Father's plan

 

Thanks for everything  Love all of you  Sis Kelsey Webster

Children ---Make It All worthwhile!!!

A little boy I gave a marble to

                 Stephen Kalepa  he played with the home-made kite 

                                                                                 

                                                                            

 A group of kids that gather each time that we would arrive to teach

GREAT MEMORIES-- MAKES LIFE WORTHWHILE,,,

Sis. Webster
Pres, & Sis Padovich                                                                                      

   

 

                               

E. Arililo  Uganda   S. Webster Idaho  E. Speakman  Arizona                        

           

                                                                                                                        Sis Chua Tennesse
                                                                                                                       Sis. Ntuli  S. Africa

                                                                            

 Hair plaited

    Lots of Hair                                                                                                      

                          

                                                             

               

    

                                                                                         

News from Blantrye...pictures too

Not sure why I was transferred. Your guess is as good as mine. I do feel that I will see all four corners of the mission before I am six months old though. I am guessing that I am the first missionary, in this mission to be transferred three times in three transfers. Guess I will just set records my entire mission, starting with the SAMTC. I will see if anyone remembers a Sister Woolley. It is definitely worth the ask. Heavenly Father answers in mysterious ways that is for sure.

Blantyre is crazy, and actually a little chilly. But nothing that I can't handle. I don't want to admit that I am cold because then my body will have to get used to being really cold when I come home. My body is probably climatizing though. Oh well.

I guess I did touch that person but I am still wishing that I was back in Lilongwe. Guess I am needed in Blantyre though so who knows. I will go where the Lord needs me. Hymn 270 has pretty much become my motto because I am moved so much. Three months old, third corner, third area, third transfer. Loving it though.

The work is rolling forward and the weather is super crazy. Just like Idaho weather, hot one minute (day) and cold the next.The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and prayers are answered. Maybe not in the way or time that we want but they are answered. The Book of Mormon hold every answer that we might need to any question that we might have.Have a great week  Love all of you Sis Kelsey Webster

 My Lusaka Zone Leaders, Elder Aaron Ariho from Uganda and Elder Johnathon Speakman from Arizona

. President and Sister Padovich and myself at Lusaka Zone Conference 6/7/2013

. My hair plaited, the top

. Side view

 Sister Jerad Chua from Tennessee and Sister Ntuli from South Africa.

ON THE MOVE AGAIN!!!!

Yep getting transferred again. I will probably see all four corners before I am six months old. Oh well, guess the Lord needs me in Blantyre. My companion will be Sister  Napwanga.

Sounds like the ward was full over the fourth of July weekend. That would be nice if it was that full every week. We have anywhere between 30 and 65 each week. So yep definitely different but still the same gospel. There is not even a district (stake) over here in Lilongwe and only three branch. I heard yesterday that the church has only been in Lilongwe since 2007 so yep still pretty new.

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The little kids here are so amazing and it is always so amazing to see that they can enjoy the smallest, man made things, and find the most joy in them. On Friday we were in Area 50 and we were eating lunch with a member. I am slowly starting to like Nshima but still not something I enjoy very much. While it was cooking I was just watching the kids play. The members son had make a kite out of a plastic bag, a piece of a burlap bag for the string, and just little pieces of wood to spread it out and hold the string. It was perfect kite flying weather so they would drop the stick that the string was tied to on the ground and then chase after it. It was the smallest thing, to so many, but they were smiling ear to ear.

Thanks for the thoughts. They are definitely good ones.

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

Sister Webster

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.

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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