We went to Kariakoo (car-ee-ahhh-co(as in "co"operate)) today. It was a great, huge market, it looked almost like Times Square, it had shops and stalls lining the sidewalks and going down any alley felt like going in doors because of how many products they'd hung over head. I got a bracelet, and "something else" which will remain a surprise until I give it to the person whom it is intended for. My parents do know, but I have sworn them to secrecy. They are not to tell anyone!!! So don't tempt them.
Anyway, I had a bit of a heart attack at Kariakoo, I bumped some guy's foot with my foot by accident when I was rushing to catch up to the other Elders. He grabbed my arm and started saying something in Swahili, and gestured to his foot. I have no idea what he was saying, but I think he was demanding money.
I've heard about a similar scam in Japan where a person will claim that you've caused serious harm to them (just by bumping them), then demand a large sum of money. I'm just assuming that this guy was doing the same thing, I couldn't understand him after all. The other possibility was that he was cursing me witch doctor style. Regardless, I have the red marks on my arm (at 10 in the evening, 9 hours from the incident) to prove that he didn't just grab my arm, it was like he was throttling it like it was the neck of someone he'd hated for years. Ooh, look at that, I see a bit of purple, how nice. Anyway, my focus remained on catching up with my companion, so when I shouted for him the guy let me go. He probably thought I was calling for my buddies to come back me up. Well, they didn't hear me. I had to run to catch up to them. So if a spurious court case is sent my way...it might not be the photograph from last week. It might be a black guy suing a Mzungu for "causing severe trauma" or "breaking his foot" or something like that. I had a brilliant brain wave last week: instead of waiting for the Liahona to arrive in June. How about I buy a flash drive (USB stick/drive, what ever you call it) and put the conference talks on it to listen to at the flat? So that's what I did. I'm just missing three talks from the Sunday Morning Session, but I'll be able to get ahold of those really soon. E.Phokane and I need to take a survey, so we're going back tomorrow - I can download the missing three in the background. I'm pretty excited since one of the three I'm missing is President Nelson's talk.
4/23
I got the rest of the talks! I also went crazy and tried to download every talk given by President Nelson - ever. Well, I got half of them, so that 10 hours or so will have to content me for now. I did enjoy conference though. I got to finish the last session I hadn't listened to (Sunday Morning) tonight. I am noticing a theme I would encourage you all to embrace: "Personal Accountability." I would encourage you all to be personally accountable to the Lord for every commandment you keep, for every one you fail to keep, and for everyone you keep without true purpose of heart. I feel that we all fall into a routine too easily - we don't keep our covenants with the joy and hope that we should, we just keep them because we're used to it. I would just encourage each of you to embrace your own personal accountability. It will bring you blessings and strength beyond your means.
Anyway, E.Phokane and I met a Potential Investigator who's in the other Elder's area today. I must admit that I have a bit of a problem with the guy: he reeks of ulterior motives. I think he just wants to hang out with and talk to Mzungu (white person). I can -and will have to- teach him, it will just be hard for me to love him. Side note: I'm sick now. I can still work, but I have a head cold. I hate being sick, especially on mission. I need sleep. Goodnight.
4/25
Sleep, huh? HAHAHAHA!!!! Last night on exchanges I didn't fall asleep until AFTER 4! E.Buthelezi and I went to bed LONG before that! SLEEP DOES NOT EXIST. Still sick by the way.
Something interesting did happen though. I was reading the BoM right before we turned out the lights last night, and E.Buthelezi -who was in the middle of passing out- suddenly gets up and walks out of the room. He comes back a few minutes later and tells me that he had the thought that he needed to lock ALL the locks on the apartment's door. There are three of them. Two bolts, and the door knob. At about midnight, I heard someone either banging on it, or trying to force it open. The gave up in less than ten minutes, but I wasn't keeping too accurate of a time table. I was in the middle of planning my game plan of what I would do if he got though the front door, and trying to figure out if I should wake my companion. I reached the conclusion that I would have enough time to wake him if whoever was pounding got though the front door since our room door was locked too. I also reached the conclusion that we would hide on the balcony and attempt to dump the person off of it in the event that they got into our room.
We were on the third floor, and their floors are higher than the ones in the US due to their very high ceilings. Well, nothing happened in the end, the guy -who I assume was drunk-gave up, and we didn't hear anything else afterward. Though I did have to explain this to E.Buthelezi in the morning. Overall, fun! -_- Anyway, something cool did happen today, well yesterday. So while on exchanges E.Bailey and E.Phokane were stopped by a lady who they then contacted. Today, the same lady stops E.Phokane and I with questions, so we teach her a little, and set up a proper appointment for tomorrow. It was quite amusing. She seems pretty serious, so It'll be good to start teaching again. Things slowed to a crawl during -and after- Easter.
I also met a really cool member yesterday named "Prince." He's from South Africa and served his mission in the Kenya mission, back in 2011. He moved to Tanzania to marry a girl he'd met while serving. He's a really nice guy, and he fed us. He really knows the way to befriend missionaries. He also makes this cool little handicraft that I WILL be purchasing for myself, but as for what it is, I'll keep that a secret. I don't know if I'll be moved next transfer after-all.
I will admit, I don't know what he fed us for the most part, but some of it was really delicious. I did regret eating the rice later -they'd added coconut, my stomach and coconut don't get along- and I also regret not eating more Chapate. The Chapate they'd made for us was NICE. They also gave us this kind of smoothie that was excellent. I don't know all that was in it, but there was Avocado, and Kiwi, and a few other things. It was excellent.
4/26
Today was the day of English. We met about 4 people who spoke GOOD English. That never happens. 3 were random strangers we contacted, and the last one was sister-cousin to our newest investigator, the one we taught yesterday. So today was pretty good, but it was slow since we had Flat Checks. The Zone Leaders were really pick, our flat is probably the cleanest in the zone (Credits to E.Phokane, everyone who visits comments on how clean it is), but they still gave us a "yellow card." So they were really picky.
Nothing else really today, I'm still sick, and I've been listening to President Nelson's old talks. It's interesting to see how the changes to the Church are reflected in his earlier talks. He has spoken often on families, and the divine roles of Women - in addition to many other things. You should take a look.
4/27
Today was a good day. We weren't able to teach a lesson, the member we went to visit wasn't home, and only one person showed up for English class - an hour late. However, that wasn't what made today good. We did get to experience blessings because of those things though. Because we were un-able to teach -though we were able to see the person who we wanted to teach-, we were able to contact 10 people (11 counting the Muslim who rejected it). Because the member we went to meet wasn't home, we were able to meet her sister, who is less-active, and we've been trying to meet for a while. Because we were at English Class, waiting, for so long...I got to take a nap under the nice-cool A/C. Today was a good day, and I haven't even mentioned the fact that we were finally able to catch B.Steven. We've been trying to meet up with him for a few days now, and he hasn't been home, but we caught him today! It may, or may not, have been our second try at his home today. Seeing him was nice, we invited him to church again, and we shared a message before going. He really is a good Brother. When E.Phokane asked him to share his testimony -he thought for a moment- then responded: "I know the Gospel is True." It was interesting to feel the conviction behind his words. I hope he comes to church tomorrow.
4/28
"A Tough Decision"
So, about a month ago, I made a really tough decision. I decided to take off my necklace while proselyting. I am fully aware that Keaton, and Alekken, both have worn and proselyted with necklaces, and have had no issue what so ever with them, but I had impressions from the Lord for a long time to take it off. So I did. I still wear my necklace around the flat, and I miss it when I'm out proselyting, but I feel that this was necessary. I know and understand why necklaces are against the rules, and I know that my necklace doesn't infringe upon those reasons, but I still listened to the Spirit of the Lord in the end.
Anyway, today has been a bitter-sweet day. We finally got to teach B.Brighton and his wife: S.Mary. They have been attending church regularly for about...5-6 weeks or so, maybe a little more. B.Brighton has been a little less consistent about his attendance, but with good cause: he was either sick, or attending to family, so he gets a pass. I think I've mentioned S.Mary before, she's the one who commented that she like seeing the changes in her husband. It made me very happy to teach them today, they're rather hard to pin down because of how busy they are, but they (especially S.Mary) are very ready for Baptism at this point. We just need to help them make those commitments, and teach them.
Now, for the "bitter" part of this day: E.B. is sick. At first his symptoms sounded like Malaria, but after looking and listening a little longer, E.Phokane and I have concluded that it might be Typhoid. He's going to the doctor's tomorrow to check. Send a few prayers his way, yeah?
It's not just him today: S.Veronica was in the hospital with a blood infection today. She was admitted yesterday, but we didn't find out till after Sacrament meeting, so we visited her after we checked in on E.B. We also gave her a Blessing. Here's hoping she'll get better soon, we might have to reschedule her Baptismal Date again because of this.
 |
| Erik LOVES Chapate! It is nothing like a tortilla! |
No comments:
Post a Comment