When it Rains in Africa, it Pours!

Dear Family and Friends!!

This week has been pretty normal!! haha I don’t know what to say anymore. Saukalani’s mom is progressing very well!! Saukalani’s a branch missionary that works with us and is super awesome!!! Completing families is the sweetest!!!

Sister Thomas will be baptized next week on the 30th!! She is the best!! She doesn't speak a squat of English, doesn't even read Chichewa but I love that woman to death. She grew up and both of her parents were blind. It is very humbling to be with her. I want to know how to help someone so uneducated grow and develop in the Gospel. It’s a hard situation but I am grateful to teach her. I truly believe the Lord will take all things into consideration when we are judged.

James lives in 47/2 and is progressing very well!! He wants to be baptized on December 28th! We were thinking about moving it forward because he is ready but we might have to keep it the same because he missed church this Sunday.  He had to go and see a friend. He’s the guy who when we asked a member to teach him with us, they ended knowing each other. They were COLLEGE FRIENDS and went to school together!! It was so sweet to witness that tender mercy.

OH MAN!!! We had our first African rain this week. When it rains in Africa, it POURS!!!!! We were drenched from head to toe!!!! We were out for an appointment but it fell through and our back up also fell through. We were in the rich area so no one let us in their house to teach. It was freezing cold after but felt nice!! I am grateful that the hot season is ending!!

I am grateful for the area I serve in. My recent converts are doing well except for Anita Nyondo. She was baptized Sept. 28. Her mom is very sick so she has to go and visit her for like a month!! And she has already missed three Sundays because she was helping her Mom. I just hope the missionaries follow up when she gets home... Or I follow up! Depending on if I am still in this area.

Thanksgiving looked like fun!! Wait isn't it this coming week?! (We had Thanksgiving dinner with my brother on Sunday and posted photos in our email—which is why she was confused.) I love the Smiths so much. They are definitely the funniest people ever!! I am grateful for the relationship we have with them!!!

The Gospel is true and I am truly grateful to be a missionary. 

Love you all!

Sister Falco

Love it when photos come in the mail!!

 Relief Society in Lilongwe Branch

 Sister Lunguzi's Family

 Off to Market

Loving Lilongwe

Hey Family and Friends,

Well this week has been awesome! We basically hit every goal we set so that was sweet!!

Sister Thomas! These people humble me. So this woman has never been taught by missionaries but has been coming to church here and there for about a year. We started teaching her. We needed some information for the baptismal record.  She is blind and when we asked her to sign the baptismal record, we realized she didn’t know how to sign her name! Talk about culture shock. You get to know and love these people in the slums and forget what their circumstances are until you take the time to ask. And it’s humbling because they seem so happy and normal. She has been to church for five weeks in a row so we’re excited. We’re taking our time with her so she’ll be a solid member—not go less active, since that happens a lot, especially in the slums.

Remember that picture I sent of Enock at his baptism and I said his dad will be baptized one day? Well, he will be very soon! We are hoping for December 28, maybe even earlier. He came to church this Sunday! We went and picked him up because he hasn't been keeping this commitment. It was pretty sweet walking with their family to church. I love these people I am not ready to leave Lilongwe Branch for a long time. It’s the BEST!!!

We met a great investigator in area 47 named James. He is funny and makes jokes all the time. We had a super sweet moment when we invited a member to come with us to teach him and the member and him were like best friends. I love moments like these--miracles from our Heavenly Father. And if someone joins the Church from area 47, it’s always a miracle :) :) :) I am so grateful to be a missionary.

My district is the BEST!! I am really grateful for them!! Right when I don't know what I think of my district, they change my mind and make me love them. We have a new Zone leader and he is literally the coolest guy ever! His name is Elder Cholo. He is like the most humble and a powerful missionary!! I love serving around these people! I’m so grateful I have the opportunity to serve with obedient missionaries. So many people told me that their biggest surprise on mission was getting there and seeing all the disobedience of missionaries. Well, I haven’t seen it. I’m so blessed.

Well, that’s all for now. I love you! And thanks for all you do!!

Sister Falco

November 10, 2014

Hey Family and Friends,

I used to think the sweetest moments on mission were when our investigators got baptized, but I’ve learned instead that it’s when your recent converts progress like crazy. SO SWEET!! I am so grateful to be able to work with the people here in Malawi. I love people. I think being around people and talking with people is number one on my list of favorite things. I love it! It’s the best. So grateful to be able to serve a mission!! Sister Lunguzi and Steven Lunguzi have shown me there is a difference between knowing the Gospel, reading the scriptures, and living the Gospel. They understand and apply the Gospel and it’s the sweetest experience to see this. I love them. Best people ever!! :)

Training is going good! My companion is good!

Well an update on investigators--I am so impressed with Geophrey! He is a general manager for a non-profit company and he is SO GOOD!!! Like awesome! I don’t know how to explain it. I love when you just connect with people and he is just one of those people. Like you meet them and you automatically love them. He would be a great leader in the church. I pray it works out for him!!!!

Raymond—I’m still am upset about him. We didn't really even try to see him this week, wanted to give him a break but we are having Steven Lunguzi go and talk to him to see if he can figure out what his concerns are. So hopefully that will work out. This guy named James who lives in area 47 came to church, which was sweet!! Oh, we had a baptism this Sunday, too. So great!!

So anyways! This week I have thought a lot about justice and mercy. Sometimes we think, "Oh that's a gray area" so we really don’t have to follow it. But as we read in the scriptures, things are pretty black and white. The scriptures give us the two extremes because we are expected to live the extreme. We might fall short here and there and that’s why we need the Savior. When we justify our actions, we fall short of the blessings that come when fully living as God wants us to. The Savior knows our intents and he knows our heart. I want to always follow Richard G Scott’s advice, LIVE WELL WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THE LORD HAS SET!

Love you!!!!

Sister Falco

November 3, 2014

Hey Family and Friends,

This week has been super good!! We’ve had some “father-led” lessons, which is always great and taught several in Area 47, which is even better!! We met two guys both named Geoffrey!! One was planning to be a priest but for some reason changed his mind. He is very aware of the dark ages or apostasy and agreed to read the Book of Mormon!! The other Geoffrey goes to a Pentecostal church but is interested in learning more about ours.

We went and visited Brother Mkwandawiri (the investigator from forever ago) and he thinks our Church is true but he doesn’t fully understand why he needs to leave his Church. This guy is pure. Our hope is to get him to read the Book of Mormon every night and hopefully he will progress and have the desire to come and visit. We will see! He’s a good guy!

This week someone asked me what it means to depend on the Lord so I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic. To me, depending on the Lord means we are humble, knowing we can't do anything without him. It doesn’t mean that we spend time putting ourselves down. I love the example of the yoke used with oxen.  If one animal is doing more work than the other, then they will go in circles. They need to be equally yoked to move forward. We all have access to God and if we seek God, we’ll find Him. Investigators sometimes don’t progress because they don't take the time to seek God. They are comfortable where they are. It comes down to agency. If we want to PROGRESS in life, we need to yoke ourselves with God and work hard to follow His ways.

Well…I love you guys!! You’re GOOD PEOPLE. Remember to read your scriptures and pray!

Love,
Sister Falco :)