Nothing interesting, except one thing. We paid a visit to the empty and untouched Distribution Center, then we went and emailed home. It was a long day, there was a lot of walking.
That wasn't the interesting thing. The interesting thing was the tiny kitten that we found on the stairs leading up to our flat. It was tiny and adorable, but it was just standing on the stairs crying. I pet it a little on the way up. Just a single finger on the head for a second, and it tried to follow me up the stairs crying. I honestly don't know how it was getting up them, and I saw the little thing climbing them. It was probably 3-4 weeks old at most, quite possibly less. We grabbed some stuff from the flat then came back out, and it was still crying. I scooped the thing up and we went around trying to find who it belonged to. It will remain a mystery, the last group of women we asked were too busy laughing at my shoulder kitty to care. I think it's a "stray" since the compound where we live keeps a few cats around to take care of rats. Regardless, when I set it down and walked away this tiny little thing tried to follow me since I represented "safety" and "compassion" for it. Some kids scared it and it stopped. Broke my heart. I would have tried to keep it, or find it a home if this were the U.S., but nobody seems to care about the animals here. My comp doesn't care in the slightest, cats are food where he comes from - dogs too.
7/9
Today was a mess of being bounced: 3 times. Our morning was shot. We did a lot of contacting then we met with an RC and gave her a Triple Combination. We then read some stuff with her and had a pretty good lesson.
After that, we met with S.Linda, and we taught Tithing. I was feeling a bit nervous teaching this since I know the general Kenyan attitude toward money: Money > God. Fortunately, we did a good job teaching and she told us that she was excited to keep this one. I'll admit: I'm a bit thrown. It was nice, I hope it happens again.
7/10
DDM today, I was conducting. Of course, I didn't miss opportunities for a running commentary and dropped jokes. Not too many, but some.
We picked up my new suit on the way back from the meeting (since it was on the way) and it looks nice. Black Trousers (Pants) and Blazer (Jacket), with a purple Waistcoat (Vest). It looks nice. I had the trousers re-tailored since they were a bit too tight (I've gained weight here) they fit fine now. I was planning on ordering another suit, but the owner wasn't around, just his assistants. I'll do that later. Probably next week, but if I get transferred it'll be annoying to get a hold of. Regardless, I'm not going to miss an opportunity.
After that, we tried to meet with a guy whose name is Julius, but the guy bounced us. We went to see an LA after that, and we had a nice lesson with him. His daughter is one of the ones who got Baptized two weeks ago with the big group of 8-year-old primary children. It was a good lesson, and that ended our day. Mosiah 2:41
7/11
Well, not much today. We went to a Zone Meeting this morning, and it took a huge chunk of the day. We weren't sure when we'd get back, so the only thing we had planned aside from Comp Study was Weekly Planning. I was rather determined this week, so I started cleaning out the area book during weekly planning.
That's one thing that's important to me: leaving an EXCELLENT area book for the next missionaries. So I bought a little notebook today and I'm taking note of people's phone numbers (Potential Investigators and Former Investigators), and I'm just trying to get everything up to date. It's a good thing I decided to do this, my companion didn't even recognize some of the Recent Converts I asked him about, that's not a good sign. In a way, I suppose it can't be helped. There will always be people who slip through the cracks when new missionaries come in, but that's why an up-to-date area book is so important.
I'm also taking this as an opportunity to try and increase our teaching pool. I pulled out every "former" investigator and sorted them into piles. We'll buy infinite SMS for 30 bob tomorrow, then I'll get to work. I have a message pre-written and everything. I'll call the ones that actually seems like they could make some serious progress, but for the ones that were only taught one lesson (the vast majority of the 100+ records), I'll just send my pre-written SMS. It'll probably take all evening tomorrow. Took all evening today just to sort them all. Paperwork for the win! I'd make a great Office Elder.
7/12
*thump* *thump* *thump* "Stop hitting your head against the wall. What's will all the pieces of paper?"
"The half-completed process of following up on all the "former" investigators in the area book. 100 of the 200 or so of them, regardless, I got 1/2 of them done this evening, took bl**dy forever."
"Language, you're in a place where that word is offensive. Any success?"
"One guy."
"One guy what?"
"I've had one guy respond to my pre-written messages positively."
"Out of 100%?"
"Yeah."
"1% is a failing grade that I've never seen."
"Right? Fortunately, missionary work isn't like that, that 1% could be a major success if this guy is serious. We're seeing him on Tuesday."
"That is the upside to this work. Good going."
"Here's hoping the other 100 will give us another one."
Anyway, we started the day off by being bounced. The lady was home, but she pretended we weren't knocking. We ended up contacting and setting up a lunch appointment for tomorrow. Fun!
Taught a lesson, got a new investigator, always nice, we'll see how this new guy does.
Lunch, I still love Chapate.
Comp Study, then we visited an RC named Anthony. We're trying to get him interested in missionary work, so we talked to him about that, and invited us to work with us next week. He also gave us a few referrals when I ventured to ask. The guy recommended pretty much everyone in his apartment complex, I love him for it. I only counted one today since we only got one number, but I'll be able to get him to help us get the rest later.
Bounced again, then we visited another RC named Docila. We ended up helping with the Laundry, before rushing out to another appointment with some people who had called us outta nowhere. We won't be teaching them since they're in the other Elder's area.
7/13
*bam* *bam* *bam*
"Paperwork?"
*bam* "Paperwork."
"Why do you do this to yourself?"
"Because I'm stubborn about the paperwork I have to do as a missionary. The area book needs to be completely up-to-date."
"How's that working for you?"
"We bought a bundle for a week that lets us send 400 SMSs. We bought it on Thursday, and we have 200 hundred remaining."
"So you've contacted 200 former investigators?"
"Roughly 120 or so."
"Any success?"
"Some. We've had a few people respond, and we've given a few referrals as a result. I've also given 12 or so records to Lucky Summer 2."
"This is all never to be repeated, right?"
"Nope, I'll do this in my next area too. I did a mini version of it in my old area. Not quite a deep cleaning, like I'm doing this time around, but I went through and sorted out the area book."
We started the day with a new inestigator, it was very nice. From there, correlation, then we met with an extremely nice member (thought I was gonna die, we did lose E.Cole to a food coma). We had a meeting with an investigator in his kinyozi (barber shop), and one of his friends just sat around listening: +1 Investigators. We then paid a visit to an investigator who is using excuses to avoid coming to church. I thought we were gonna drop her, but E.Kanda wants to meet with her next week, so we'll see.
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| L to R: Elders Cole, Benson, Saunders at the Buruburu chapel |
I bought flour on the way back and Irene (shop owner who E.Kanda fights with) asked me if I was going to make chapate. I responded that I was, then she demanded that I explain the steps. I only got halfway through an explanation that used more pantomime and sound effects than actual words before she stopped me. She was relieved that I actually knew how to make it.
I was a super busy bee after that: SMSing people, following up on Former Investigators, Laundry, and trying to set up appointments. My evening was shot. The fact that I took 15 minutes per shirt instead of my usual 10 doesn't help anything. It was worth it though! By using better soap and taking more time I was able to get out stains that I couldn't do anything about in Dar. My shirt's actually white again! Huzzah Magic Powers!
7/14
Church today, we were fasting again as a companionship. We had the four kids from last week confirmed and the other Elders had a Baptism. We taught a lesson, caught the last few minutes of a fireside and headed off to an appointment. The appointment went well, so when we finished up we headed to the next one. We were bounced, so we paid a quick visit to an Investigator in his kinyozi, but had to leave when a customer came. We ended up wandering a bit lost since contacting on Sunday doesn't work too well. After killing time and trying to contact a little we headed to our last appointment. We taught S.Linda Chastity as well as a few commandments. It went well, then we headed back to the flat. I spent my entire evening making chapate, and only made 7. They. Were. FOUL! I added too much salt and couldn't roll the dough out thin enough, so they were all doughy and bad. Yuck! Still took pics.
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