'Week of Blessings' what kind of Blessings did you receive? Plenty, but that's not what I'm talking about. I got to give two Blessings this week. One of healing for Elder Buthelezi (bu-te-le-zi), and one of comfort and counsel to a Brother named Mwaja (mu-wa-jah). It was interesting, because I had never given a blessing before. I have consecrated oil, and I have anointed with oil, but I've never actually give a blessing, so I was really nervous both times. I just hope that my words were in accordance with the Lord's will. I won't share the reason for Brother Mwaja's blessing, but I don't mind sharing Elder Buthelezi.
E. Buthelezi had both of his elbows swell up during exchanges, and the right one was so painful to bend that I had to do up the top button of his shirt. So he had me give him a blessing of healing. There really aren't many details to it. Nothing fancy. The reason the had swollen up was because he pushed himself too hard while working out. (Take that as a warning Papa Bear. Stay on the Kubex 'Kandy')
So, to answer some questions my mother had: "Did Brother L make it to church today (Er, yesterday)? How is it going with Brother D? It was brilliant to have Brother L friendship Brother D. What about V. Are you teaching her again?"
Okay, I'll start with Brother Laudain. No, he didn't come to church, E. Phokane and I are gonna start working him over this week. He's a returned missionary too BTW. Served in Johannesburg.
Okay, with Brother Dennis. I swear he senses that we're gonna try and commit him to something. He keeps setting up appointments, and not coming. People here are absolutely atrocious with commitments, to the point where they actively avoid doing them even if they have the opportunity. What are we gonna try and commit him to? Baptism. Since he didn't come to church yesterday, the earliest we could do it would probably be the 21st of Apr.. He probably senses the commitment. Like blood in the water.
Okay, Sister Veronica. We did get to teach her again. We just showed up at the shop she was working at and we got 15 minutes to teach her (I set an alarm and everything). So we had to teach the Plan of Salvation in under 15 minutes with a translator, and we were interrupted. That was 'fun' still got it done though. 😎 We'll try and extend a baptismal date to her later this week.
Okay, here's something fun. The people here don't care about picking their noses in public, then shaking your hand with the hand they were just using to dig for gold. Let me set the scene for one such occasion. I'm teaching English class. I'm currently teaching this really annoying guy (he thinks he knows how to spell, and when I show him the proper spelling he ignores it). So, I'm defining words for him, and when I look up to make sure he get's it, he's digging for gold. He does this for five minutes strait, and then shakes my hand as he leaves. I waited a minute to make sure he was gone, and went to wash my hands, with soap.
English Class has gotten quite a bit more interesting recently. I got to teach about active voice vs passive voice, and about Pre-fixes ans Suffixes. I really wish I had time to prepare on that second one, but it was fun.
"Elder Benson?" "Yes, imaginary question asker?" "Have you ever been cheated outta money?" Why, I'm GLAD you asked. Yes, I have. Three times. Two of the three times they just strait up kept my change. Once at the local gas station where E. Phokane and I buy food, and the other time a waiter kept my money as a 'tip'. The third time a lady doubled the price of something I was buying. So I've been cheated out of 1,500 Tanzanian Shillings (TSh).
Wanna hear about the most miserable fast I've ever had? You don't? Too bad, I'm sharing anyway. So yesterday, I had to fast (we were asked to by the ZLs). Here's how I fast during a mission: The night before Sunday, I drink a lot of water (though apparently not enough if yesterday is any indication). Since I have to take a Doxy (Malaria Pill) every morning what I do is eat half a roll, and take the pill so I'm covered for the day. Since I don't count that as breakfast, I fast through breakfast and lunch. I eat dinner at 9pm, so it's a long day for me. That's the usual pattern, but yesterday, E. Phokane and I had to take a Daladala ( over to Ubungo (which is an hour away) then walk for four miles without a bit of shade in sight. Keep in mind, I'm fasting, but I don't care about food, what I wanted was water. It was 35C for crying out loud! Then I had to wait for an hour while E. Phokane did baptismal interviews for the Tabata Sisters, then we walked another mile or so to catch another hour long ride on a daladala. Let's just say that my fast ended a lot earlier than expected, and that I didn't realize that it was so easy to down a liter of water.
I'll be honest with you all. I think most of you know I got sick right after I got to Tanzania. That was one of the most MISERABLE experiences of my life. I hadn't adjusted to the heat, the humidity, being away from home, or literally anything about being on a mission, and I was sick in bed. I asked the Lord more than once why I needed that trial, I asked him as I felt like dying during a Daladala ride back to our flat. I asked him as I laid in bed with my covers absolutely soaked in sweat. I asked him as I woke up in the middle of the night shivering so hard that I couldn't control my limbs. It was horrible, one of the worst things I've ever experienced, and the Lord gave me the strength I needed to overcome it. So, I would advise anyone reading this who is having a hard time in their life to reach out to the Lord. Say a prayer from your heart, and rely on him. If needed, ask trusted priesthood holders for a blessing. To refuse or deny any of the help you could be getting is prideful, arrogant, and foolish. There is no need to suffer. God knows what you are going through, but he can't help you if you won't let him.
I'll end this update on that thought.
See you next week!
Elder Benson
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