Stories from Missionaries

 This is a post that I will come back to often and add to it. Elder Phelps and I probably won't be out amongst the people as much as the other missionaries here. However, I often hear the missionaries tell stories from their mission experiences, so I thought I should share 

From Elder Norris:

He has been a life saver since we came here. He is currently serving as an Assistant to the President and has helped us tremendously in learning our responsibilities. He reflected on a family here in Lusaka: Amos and Carol. Amos could not speak English but started reading the Book of Mormon and gained a testimony of it's truthfulness. He is vary faithful in coming to church. Elder Norris told me that one Sunday, Carol was not feeling well and even though tradition here holds the women as the care givers for the children, Amos brought their cute little boy to church. They do not have a car and the walk is far. As of the first of June, Carol is still taking the missionary lesson. She has not joined the church yet but comes almost every week.

From Elder Naegle (Bountiful, Utah): 

Elder Naegle taught a family who lived in a village far away from where the branch met for meetings. The father would ride a bicycle 4 hours to church and 4 hours back home. The dad was the only one who came because he was the only one in the family who knew any English. 

: From Sister Bhembe (Eswatini): one of the most important things she has learned on her mission is to have patience with people. One lady she taught couldn’t speak or read English. The missionaries suggested that she highlight the words she did know while reading the Book of Mormon. It took her quite awhile but she was persistent and determined. Afterward she could speak and read English. The power of the Book of Mormon in more ways than only of testifying of Jesus Christ.

From Elder Dlamini (Eswatini):

He said he is not a very good reader. When he came on his mission he had not read the Book of Mormon. With the encouragement of President Whiting he has now read the Book of Mormon all the way through twice plus most of the New Testament. He has developed a habit of scripture study that he wants to continue when he returns home. It makes him feel better.

In this picture he is eating a chocolate chip cookie. I packed chocolate chips in my luggage because I was told they didn’t have any here. The Elder’s told me that it was a wise choice of luggage space!😀😀

From Elder Dore (Zimbabwe): He served in Malawi for nine months before being   transferred to Lusaka. He told me that the thing he learned most from being there is     how we don't have to have a lot of things to appreciate the gospel and know it is true. Some    families have nice things like a couch and TV. Others have nothing: no power; they cook with wood or charcoal; no furniture, just mats on the floor for sleeping. But they invite    you in and have you sit on their mats. One particular family was very poor but the father had taught the children stories from the Book of Mormon and the children could retell     those stories very well.  They go to church every Sunday and they are faithful in paying their tithing. Elder Dore said that he would never forget this humble family. There are many baptisms every week in this area. Malawi is one of the poorest nations of the world.

The Book of Mormon is currently being translated in their native tongue, which is Chachewa. When that happens it will become it's own mission.

I wondered how the children knew the stories from the Book of Mormon. I later asked the Humanitarian couple serving in that area. They knew the family. The father had been the branch president for a time but later was discovered to be stealing money from the ward funds, so he was excommunicated. This is a mind set and cultural attitude...if I need, I take. Thievery is real here. Their needs are so evident and they are trying to sustain their families, but they just go about it all in the wrong ways.

From Elder Chombe (Uganda): He said there is a 95 year old woman who lives in the Copperbelt region who starts walking on Friday so she can get to church on Sunday!  She carries her own food and water or finds food along the way and sleeps in the forest.  There are no stores!  She does not stay with anyone and refuses anyone offering her a ride.  When church is over, she begins her walk back home, arriving on Tuesday.  The makes that trip every week!!

Elder Arnell: One time he was on exchanges with the AP’s Miller and Kasozi. They went to Ndola. Close to their house was a market. For an unknown reason at the time they decided to go toward their home. When they got close to the market they realized it was on fire so the missionaries helped move things. His testimony was that the Spirit truly guides your actions!

Elder Ngcamphala: They had a lady in their teaching area ask for a blessing prior to her going to the hospital to deliver a baby. The doctors had told her that she would not be able to to have a normal delivery. All we confident that the power of the priesthood enable her to have a delivery with no complications at all! Elder Ngcamphalal was concerning the Power of the Priesthood! He said, “Don’t take it for granted!”

He has been a member of the church for 4 years. His siblings served missions at the same time.