July 14, 2014

We asked Carly to tell us about the six sisters she lives with. And she answered--One is from Canada, two from Utah (Sister Proctor is one of them--I went to lunch with her before my mission), one from Ghana and one from Zimbabwe (there’s seven but the one from Zimbabwe is leaving tomorrow) and then me and my companion who is from South Africa.

July 8, 2014 - Monday

We had a Zone Meeting today! Our ZLS are great; they put a lot of effort into planning. We taught Nzinza after that! He’s great but he’s hard. He refuses to read the Book of Mormon. He says he can't believe in the Bible if he reads the Book of Mormon. He is a wise man and if he reads the Book of Mormon, he would gain a testimony. I’m sure of it.

We also taught Mkanadawir today. He is the best! I seriously love that man. He knows everything is true. He just has to be willing to change. I know it’s hard for him. His life is so centered on Christ. He really is someone I look up to who genuinely tries to have his will swallowed up in Heavenly Father’s.

We saw Grace. She’s a great lady!!! She was sick though. Also visited with Paul but didn’t have time to teach him and saw Belta on the street. Good day!

July 9, 2014 - Tuesday
We met with Robert who is awesome and a good guy. He always gets side tracked but he committed to be baptized so that’s good!!

Fred!! WE TAUGHT FRED!! Woohoo!! We taught him about temples and about the true church. He asked, “Why does everyone at your church believe that it’s the only true church?” We explained how some people have some truth but not all of it. And then he was like "if this is the only true church and no one knows about it then we have got a lot of work to do!!" His testimony is there. He just needs to get it confirmed. He hopefully will be baptized the 27th.

We also taught Cynthia, today.  She is 20 years old and a beautiful girl!! She invited her two friends for the lesson. It was a great lesson!!! Great referrals!!

July 11, 2014 - Thursday

Spent some time in Nseliza. We taught two less actives and invited them to Institute but they didn't come. We taught Patrick who is a good guy but doesn't really believe in God.

July 12, 2014 - Friday

We had coordination today. Man our Branch missionaries, Vincent and Saukani, literally dedicate their lives to serving the Lord. AND GUESS WHAT?!! Their passports came!! AWESOME RIGHT!???! SOO good!! I’m so happy for them!! They can now go on their missions finally after over a year of waiting. They basically serve missions by translating for us. They are great!!

We met quickly with Mkandawiri and reminded him to read. And then we had to meet with the Branch President. Man he’s a good guy. We need to figure out how to get Institute to kick off and Elder Jorgensen came up with an idea to do a big devotional with food to get it going. Hopefully it’ll be good.

July 13, 2014 - Sunday

Awesome! THE ZLS went to a new area to administer the sacrament. These people are members but they can’t attend church because they live too far away. They will do this every other week and soon a new area will be there, I’m sure. 35 people showed up!! Awesome!! :) It was great.

We had 4 investigators come to Church!

Love you!
Sister Falco

 On a VERY small plane, headed to her first area in Lilongwe, Milawi

 Sister Falco with her mission president and wife, The Erickson's

New missionaries who arrived with Sister Falco

Sister Erickson wrote, "Sister Falco, Natsala, Elder Maaka, Sister Quaye, Rasband and Mbonyana. This group is powerful! We could feel it the minute we picked them up at the airport....good energy and strong testimonies!"

July 7, 2014

July 1- July 2, 2014

My comp is in Lusaka for three days so I went on a threesome with the other sisters. It was fun and I learned a lot from them. It’s awesome to see how everyone does things differently and you can really learn from EVERYONE. I loved a lot of their styles of teaching planning. And I got a lot closer to those girls, too. Their area was AWESOME!!! I loved it!! It was more middle-class not so richy rich.

July 3, 2014

I've only been out a month, but one of the biggest things I’ve learned is to trust Preach my Gospel. The prophets wrote this to help us be great missionaries. I know I’m not going to be perfect as a missionary but I would hope my companion would correct me when I’m not, rather than have me continue in my error. Another thing I think is important is to just appreciate your companion or wife or husband. They aren't perfect but they are trying. They might get annoyed with you or whatever but just appreciate them. It reminds me of my favorite quote on Charity--the one from my talk.

Today was a good day!! My companion was sick, though, so we went home early but we had the opportunity to go to Nseliza and meet some awesome members--sometimes active members and sometimes inactive. Ha-ha. Nseliza is awesome! Christopher and Blessings Kapopo. We went and visited Alex and Jennifer (Lehi’s dream people) but they weren't available. I think I might of talked about this before but I love how the prophets and leaders in the scriptures are so compassionate to literally EVERYONE. "Did cause them to quake and tremble." They were "weighed down, anguish to the soul" what an awesome awesome example! I hope to one day be able to understand the value of people like the people in the scriptures do.

June 4, 2014

Today was a great day!! So awesome!! We did weekly planning and then went to the leaders meeting (the sister leader (my comp), zone leaders, and district leaders, and then me ha-ha). They set some goals as a zone. Wow I love how much love they have for the mission and how much they care about reaching their goals.

After that we went and taught Fred!! What a great guy!! He’s awesome. He read three chapters of the Book of Mormon! WOOHOO!! We read the Doctrine of Christ and he said he would be baptized if he came to know it was true. But then he said; "Now I can tell the Book of Mormon is not replacing the Bible." WOOHOO! What a beautiful statement from an investigator.

The lesson with Brother Mkandarir was hard!! He’s such a good guy. My heart just hurts for this man! He knows it’s true but he can't give up everything. It’s so sad. He’s struggling with the idea that he has to give up his calling as a church elder. His wife is supportive of seeing us and talking to us but she has no interest. He’s so good. He says he prays everyday that he can be a good servant to the Lord but he doesn't want to leave his church because he is being a good servant and feels like he’s doing a lot of good. I love this guy! Just pray for him. 

The UGANDANS!!! POWERFUL LESSON!! We taught with Elder and Sister stones (senior couple)!! They are powerful!! They blew this lesson away and at the end, Enoch (the dad) said, "Not gonna lie--these young people always brought the spirit but I didn't really believe them, until you guys came”. (the older couple) What beautiful words! We just need to make that foundation stronger by getting them to read the Book of Mormon so the family continues to know it’s true. And they committed to be baptized.

July 5, 2014 

Brenda!! We taught Brenda with a member present. Those are always the most powerful lessons when the member is present!! Africans are great people. 

We met with Belta and her brothers!! AWESOME FAMILY!! We walked in and her brothers were HUGE. There muscles were HUGE. Like HUGE. I was afraid of them! ha-ha. But they ended up being really awesome and spiritual! Africans are so awesome and humble.

We visited a less active member. The members are so great, even the less active ones. So humble. So willing to listen to you as you call them unto repentance. So great. I’m learning a lot from these people and their humility. I look at myself and think if I was less active, I would definitely not want to talk to missionaries. But they are so willing and so willing to say they are making a mistake. It’s amazing. Truly is amazing. I’m grateful for their examples.

July 6, 2014

THE UGANDANS AND FRED came to church! WOOHOOO. So nice to have progressing investigators.

Thanks for your support!!

Love you all!!

Sister Falco

June 30, 2014

Tuesday, June 24^th

Missions are the best. I am grateful I chose to come on a mission. We had a powerful district meeting. I feel like it’s important to not get comfortable but to always continue pushing ourselves to be a better person. It’s important to keep working hard, to keep trying. I also feel like one of my biggest struggles as a missionary is not really stating my opinion or even trusting in it. But I’ll work on it and have it become a strength ha-ha.

Today, we taught Sylvester who is an awesome guy! We taught him the importance of following through with commitments--he’s the one ready for baptism. He asked us how he could become a missionary. WHAT?? Pretty awesome, right? He is going to Blantyre to take exams and will be gone for one month so hopefully he doesn't lose interest. We’ll keep following up through the phone!

Mkwanaris is also awesome. We taught the Restoration and talked about the priesthood. He accepted to be baptized but isn't going to come to church anytime soon unless we figure out something quick--he’s an Elder in the CCAP (Church of Central Africa—Presbyterian). We will figure something out. He really knows the Bible--it’s kind of intimidating.

Sister Grace: We didn't really plan a lesson at all and I remember just praying and praying that something would work out. She opened the door and we began the lesson. She opened up and told us all about everything in her life. It was great. She also told us that many missionaries have come to her door and she has denied them but wasn't quite sure why she decided to let us in. This reminds me that no missionary work is every wasted.

Wednesday, June 25th
We met with Fred--what a good guy! He read everything we asked him to. However, he doesn't know if he believes in the Book of Mormon yet. He says anyone can claim something is true, but how can they actually know. He kept asking where is the evidence. And I said, “You’re holding it in your hand.” We asked him how he knew the Bible was true and he told us it was because he had read it and prayed about it. And so we encouraged him to do the same with the Book of Mormon.

We finally got to meet Molly. We have been trying to contact her. She’s a genius and knows the Bible so well. She’s a nurse and very willing to work for the community. She’s a great woman and will be a great investigator.

I almost forgot to tell you about the miracle! It truly was a miracle. So…as the day was closing we were contacting and I saw this man. And I felt so strongly that I was supposed to go to his house. I remember thinking this family needs the Gospel. And my companion was feeling exactly the same. So we went and ended up talking to a woman. She told us that her brother’s girlfriend had passed away and that she was doubting God and felt like we were sent to her to remind her that He is real. Awesome right? She’s going to the funeral and for who knows how long. Africans just go on vacation and never come back sometimes.

Thursday, June 26th
Well, Africa is a humbling place. Although everyone here struggles, they honestly would be offended if I were to tell you that everyone here is poor. To be honest, Africans hate this stereotype. So…I want everyone to know ha-ha that not every African is poor! But I saw something that was so sad. We were walking to the taxis (yes, mom, like the ones in Uganda) and I looked over and there were kids going through the trash looking for recyclables. It was so sad. They weren't teenagers but like four or five years old. It’s a humbling place. And I will forever be grateful for everything I have been given in my life.

Today I had probably the coolest experience on my mission so far. We were working in Nseliza, which is a poorer area. Sikonni, our branch missionary, was with us to interpret. We met with his uncle and his wife. We walked in a little earlier than planned and the family was watching a movie about Christ. So I’m thinking…solid family. Woohoo! Little did I know I was going to witness a miracle. We started talking about the forbidden fruit. The wife then told us about a dream she had. She literally told us Lehi’s Dream. She said there was a man in a white robe and he asked her to follow him. He led her to a tree, which had fruit that was desirable, and there were many good people who had partaken of the fruit. We had the family read the verses in the Book of Mormon. The husband said maybe the dream came because we have to change something as a family. We started talking about what gives us eternal life—faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. She then told us she had another dream of being baptized by being  immersed in water. And in that same dream, she said she was told to read a scripture which let her know not to delay this baptism. Pretty cool!!

Friday, June 27^th

Nothing super exciting happened today to write about.

Saturday, June 28^th

Today was INCREDIBLE. It was Zone Conference and the mission president came and spoke to us. MAN, how lucky I am to have a mission president like him! He is literally one of the coolest people I know. Today he talked about goal setting and planning. He talked about his career in finance. He said that all the time when he was working for this company, he would find awesome things but his boss would say no to the awesome thing to invest in because it was not part of the company’s purpose. He related it to missionary work--that we must do only those things that help us achieve our purpose and not anything else. We have to find activities that are the best, not just good. This can be applied to any goal we have in our life. We need to eliminate activites that don't help us accomplish the goal. Evaluate our life and make the needed changes. It really does take a lot of effort to make a change. We are people of patterns. We learn from patterns and we act in patterns. Change is possible through the Atonement.

I also liked what he said about living where we are. We need to live in the present and not worry about things at home. We need to be focused on the work so our mind and body can be unified…be where our body is and not have our mind thinking of things not related to the mission. Also he taught us that if we understand our purpose as a missionary, the work becomes more enjoyable. As our testimony grows, our love for the work grows.

My mission president is awesome. He talked about how he grew up in a dysfunctional home. I won’t go into details out of respect of him. He wanted things to be different for his future home. And guess what, he made that happen. You can tell his marriage is happy. You can tell that everything surrounding him is happy. Because of his goals and because he was motivated to make that change. He’s awesome. He really is such an example. He said the only way he made this change was because he set goals. Having goals in our lives makes our lives more purposeful. It helps us to go from going through the motions to having motive behind those motions. My mission president is an admirable man. I look up to him a lot.

Sunday,June 29th
No investigators came to church. Man it stinks but its okay!!! We will figure out a different way to get them to come. Ha-ha but a less active came!!!! woohoo!!!! We taught Jackie and extended a baptismal date. She said yes but she’s scared. Will keep you posted.

We also taught a teacher at CCAP, and it was awesome.  He’s a little prideful hahaha but he’s great. We gave him the Book of Mormon and man our testimony of it was so powerful, so inspired. I hope he felt the same. “I’m out here because of that book. I know its true without a doubt. I’m a 19 year old and you know way more than me about that Bible. But I wouldn’t be here today if I didn't know that book was true. I can bear testimony of it over and over and over again but the only way that you will ever know is if you read it. And I know you are probably thinking these young girls don’t know what they are talking about. But I know that you know God is real. I know that you know God will answer you. And I know the only way you will know if that book is true is read and ponder and pray about it. I can promise he will answer you." It was pretty powerful lesson. He agreed to read it at the end. So please PRAY for him. We also taught Brother Mkandarir, the Elder for CCAP. Man we keep teaching all these people who have callings in the church, which makes it hard. Because that’s their job and that’s their life and people are expecting them to be true to their church. But we need them and I believe its no coincidence we are teaching people who have leadership in other churches. We need it in our church. It’s a small branch and we need people who know how to be leaders. So please pray that we will be able to create that strong center that I was talking about in my first letter.

Love,
Sister Falco

~Sister Falco & Sister Ntuli~

Lilongwe, Malawi

"We call him "Einstein". We aren't teaching him but see him all the time. One day we will!"

June 23, 2014

June 16, 2014

Nothing too exciting happened today except after Pday!! We emailed at the internet café and it is horrible hahaha! Later we emailed again because my companion’s sister is in the hospital!! But I didn’t really get on because nothing new happened in the middle of the night!! My mission president isn’t strict about emailing—we can email all day as long as our companion is not just sitting there! But he does care about traveling around on Pday to see the touristy areas. No beuno! A guy started talking to me and telling me I wasn’t Christian cause I cut my hair! It was so funny! I feel bad though cause I just start laughing and I shouldn’t but it’s so funny and so hard for me to not laugh all the time. We taught a Ugandan FAMILY!! It was the best!! So spiritual! Man missions are THE BEST!! They really are! SO Great! And so awesome!!! We talked about eternal families! AND THEY LOVED IT! They are really Catholic!! But they have so much potential!! They fed us a small dinner! The Ugandan family was in Area 9, which is a very Muslim place with a Muslim temple. So we aren’t allowed to teach many in that area so we’re happy to find a family to teach there!! And not just anyone! A great, great family!

I feel like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are so loving. I love the verse in 1 Nephi 21:14-16 that talks about how our Father in Heaven doesn’t forget us. I wonder what it’s truly like to lose one of your children. It has to be hard. I can’t even imagine. If you look at the prophets they are literally begging us to come to Christ. And God talks through the prophets! It shows the love He really does have for us. He literally is begging us to come back. He also talks about every member a missionary. Remember that. Just cause I’m on a mission doesn’t mean you can’t help with the work. Especially you mom you have SO many friends who don’t know about the Gospel. Although our Heavenly Father is merciful, he still is just, and who satisfied the demands of justice? Jesus Christ. Its important to remember our Heavenly Father does love us but he expects a lot. His plan shows the love He has for us.

June 17, 2014

Today was the best day ever!! We taught Andrew and he said he prayed and felt joy that he knew the Restoration was true. Missions are THE best. They really are so cool! I can’t believe it! He is struggling to accept the Book of Mormon. He says he can find revelation through the Bible so why would he need a Book of Mormon! BUT, still AWESOME, right?! He has been avoiding us a lot lately but we’ll keep trying.

We also taught Steven the Plan of Salvation! THIS MAN IS SO HUMBLE!! He believes different stuff but accepts what we are teaching him immediately! It’s so awesome how willing he is to learn!! Humble people are great!! His dad is in charge of something in the Catholic Church so it will be hard so pray for him and his family.

Mkwandari!! AWESOME GUY!! He’s probably my favorite guy ever!! He is so awesome! He is so humble! He is an elder for the Presbyterian Church but he is absorbing everything we are teaching! We haven’t taught the Restoration yet! But he loves the Plan of Salvation and eternal families! We gave him a picture of the temple and he wants to go so bad! It’s hard because every church pays their people to work for them but if they know it’s true then they’ll be willing to give it up. Heavenly Father made the greatest sacrifice for us by letting his Son come to the earth and atone for our sins. And this was done for all of us so we have to be willing to sacrifice for Him as well.

THREE LESSONS in one day! Tons of fall-through lessons but that always happens TIA (This Is Africa) . We usually plan for nine lessons and always expect fall-throughs.

2 Nephi 1:25, shows the importance of doing things for the right reasons. Remember it’s never about recognition just following our Heavenly Father.

June 18 2014

MAN the mission is the best!!!!! My mission is already going by so fast I don’t want to come home! I miss you guys but you’ll be there in a year and a half and these people won’t! I love the people here!! So many people are mean to us too but its okay. We got canceled on a lot today.

We did taught Noah. He didn’t really understand the purpose of our visit but thought we were there just talking about God. But it was still good. The guard behind us was listening the whole time!! Sweet, right?! And we talked to him before we started with Noah because Noah was late (TIA). The guard is more interested than Noah so that’s good!!

FREDDY!! We taught Freddy!! He is AWESOME!! His father was a polygamist and his mother fed him beer when he was 10. But he has basically changed his whole life around!! Awesome guy!! He is a Pentecostal. Man they are tough--believe they are saved by grace, no works. But he has so much potential. He is VERY interested in how our church is organized with prophets and the 12!! He is like amazed!! That’s basically where we left off!

The Bible is so cool!!! It testifies of Christ and the Book of Mormon so much!!! IT’S SO COOL!! So many verses talk about the Restoration and the temple ordinances and the priesthood and everything. I wish I read the Bible more before my mission.

As I have come on my mission, I have learned a lot. I feel like I understand the relationship with our Heavenly Father a lot better. I feel like I understand how much he truly does love us and how much he truly does care for us and wants us to come back. I have felt so much love for these people. I can’t even imagine how our Heavenly Father feels about the people here. It must be so hard for Heavenly Father when people rebel because He loves them so much. I feel like the atonement is so perfect. It shows so much love but it also shows us that Jesus Christ did not just atone for our sins. We have to turn to him. We have to become clean through Him. Like everything in this Gospel, it shows how much Heavenly Father loves us.

June 19, 2014

We did a service project today!! Man it was awesome!!  I felt like I was back in Tijuana or Fiji or Uganda again!!! I loved it!! So much fun!! We worked on a farm with cow manure to help fertilize the plants. My companion and I were COVERED in manure and when we got home, the showers were turned off hahaha!! We served in the village--the most humbling place of my area. It’s great though. All our appointments fell through today but it was probably our fault. The service project went longer than expected and we couldn’t ride with the ZLS or DL because its not allowed. We had to go with the lady who owns the farm. And she was a little slow. Haaha but it’s still okay!! And it was still a great! We met with some members and some youth that are inactive! The priesthood is so needed in Africa. Well, actually punctuality is needed because no one comes in time to prepare the sacrament and we start a half an hour late every time!

June 20, 2014 - MIRACLES

We met with Grace who literally is the sweetest lady and lives next to the church. She has a Book of Mormon that the branch president gave her. She has been taught by missionaries and loves discussing the gospel. We talked about 2 Nephi 31, which talks about the authority to baptize, and she LOVED it! And it was so inspired that we talked about it because she asked us, “Why did Jesus walk all the way to John the Baptist?” The Lord is a miracle worker! We explained the priesthood quickly because we had to go but we will teach her again!  AWESOME right!!

The next guy we visited was Mkwandavi!! AMAZING moments like this make a mission all worth it! We talked with him about eternal families and he LOVED every second of it!! I wish I could describe it! That’s the thing--mission moments are indescribable. He is so humble and so willing to learn. He didn’t know he could be with his family again and when we told him, he was just shocked and amazed. He kept repeating things like “you have enlightened me” We asked, “Do you have any questions?” “No I agree with everything you are saying.” “Well we aren’t perfect teachers so we might be confusing” “No You are perfect; you are called by God to teach this message to me’. After the lesson, he said, “When we get up to Heaven, I will point you out to God and tell him that you two sisters were the ones who inspired me.” Man what a miracle lesson! (teared up a little).

The next guy we taught was so prepared by the Lord. He called us because he’d read a pamphlet and that NEVER happens but he did and we asked him why and he said, “Because you guys were different. To be honest, I’ve met many missionaries (Jehovah witnesses) but you guys were just different.” His concern was that his baptism was not done correctly. Man that was a miracle guy that just walked into our hands.

This first month of my mission has been amazing. It has made my whole mission worth it.

June 21, 2014

Today literally every lesson fell through. :( You can have the longest day though and still be happy.  We did teach two people. My weaknesses as a missionary is being bold. My companion is great--actually every African is great at the bold thing. But I am horrible at it. And I always start writing in my journal and go to bed a little late. So I’ve got to work on those two things.

BUT!! Missions are the best!! If I had days like today for the rest of my mission, my mission would still be the best! Lessons, personal study and learning the importance of prayer have changed my life.

Personal study has changed my life! It really has!! It’s so great! The Bible and Book of Mormon are so cool and they work hand in hand! I’ve read the scriptures before but studied them like I do here? Not really! And I promise myself to never just read my scriptures again. I wish everyone understood the beauty of really studying the Book of Mormon. It’s so awesome!

Teaching--I could write a whole page about teaching but I won’t. It’s indescribable. It’s the best feeling in the world when you see someone’s face light up, when you see something click and when you see them feel the Holy Ghost. It’s the best.

I set a goal to pray aloud and on my knees daily. I never did that before my mission. It changes your life, your perspective. Do it.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

CHURCH IS GREAT!! There are about 40 members!! And it’s awesome!!!

After church we met with a family that believes they are saved by grace. They are the greatest family ever. They fed us and we taught them a small lesson! Man they have so much potential to be amazing leaders.

Today we explored area 1 which is a dead area. There are huge houses but no one lives in them!! Except a miracle happened--we met a young girl who is so prepared to find the gospel. She said she lost Jesus and is just barely figuring out her life. She is very interested and is so stoked to read the Book of Mormon! Missions are full of miracles. Actually everyone’s life is filled with miracles

The best missionary advice I would give is to go and accept that you aren’t going to be perfect and don’t get upset with yourself when you mess up. Just rely on Heavenly Father and the atonement. I’m far from being a perfect missionary. My advice is to just go. Just do it and then rely on your Heavenly Father. It might be hard but its so WORTH it!! It’s the best decision I have ever made.  

Love
Sister Falco

June 16, 2014

Hi family and friends. . .

We arrived in Zambia and my mission has finally begun! Our mission president is a gentle and kind guy, but you can tell he is strict but in the best way possible. He is so loving. His wife is very sweet as well. The mission has doubled in size since my mission president has been here (1 year). The growth of the Church is awesome. They have to make strong center points and build out. Something that is even cooler about the growth is that the people are already meeting without any assistance from the missionaries.

My first area is in Milawi!! Lilongwe is a nice city, not like Johannesburg but we have hot water and we use the couples’ washer and dryer. And the BEST part--we have a truck! What a perfect mission!

The flight to Malawi was literally the craziest thing I have ever done. It was 1 hour and 45 minutes long and the airplane was about the size of a bus with 19 seats and 7 windows. Crazy! There was no bathroom and I had to go to the bathroom the whole time. And I could only bring one suitcase and the weight limit was 50 pounds. The AP's will bring the rest of my things when they visit my area.

The food is the same as in Uganda but the grocery stores are WAY nicer with more access to American food.  Road conditions are better than in Uganda and the people are AWESOME.

My companion and I are whitewashing an area. The area book has no investigators though... so yeah. It’s literally white washing with no direction. So we have been tracting and tracting and no one wants to hear our message. But it’s okay!!! We went and visited members the first day to find referrals and the spirit is so strong! It’s SO awesome!!! It really is!! The GOSPEL really is the best way to raise a family. It really is! If you remember what you are doing--you are bringing people unto Christ. It makes things a lot easier when you tract all day long and get one lesson in—it’s hard but it’s fine. It really does make things easier when you remember your purpose and the importance of what you are doing. The mission is awesome. It really is!!

We did get to teach Msue. She is AWESOME!! Super prepared by the Lord!!! She will be a golden investigator. She is a young girl and she is wondering about where she will go after life! She asked us for the Book of Mormon because someone gave her a pamphlet. She is a sweet, sweet girl!! She has such a good spirit about her!! I feel so much love for her even though I barely know her!!

We also taught Andrew--He is awesome and super sweet!! He’s a good guy!! And, we taught Jonathan--He is a Pentecostal and he believes that he is already in the kingdom of God. So he’s a little tough! His friend was there and was just telling us all his beliefs. Other than that we have just tracted!! but its still good!!

And English speaking mission?? haha funny. It’s Chewa (Malawi's main language) with English! Both for sure!!! Chewa is more common though!! President Mckay is genius. well…He relies on God obviously!! (President McKay blessed her with the gift of tongues when she was set apart).

I don’t know if I added this in my last email but this happened at the MTC.  They had investigators come and practice with us. I didn’t know it at the time but I had to teach a nonmember and the best part is I found out AFTER that the investigators were Elder Maakas family. He got to teach them after me. He told us that his family wasn’t interested in the Gospel before he left on his mission but when they were helping us practice, they ended up with a testimony. Both Elder Maaka and his family were crying!! I hope they get baptized or converted!! So awesome!!

I remember watching Elder Bednar’s video about Africa and how there are people meeting with no assistance from the missionaries and thinking that oh that’s so cool, but probably not that common! Well, it is common!! And, it’s happening in our mission too!!

There’s a place in Africa where 25-30 NONMEMBERS meet and act like a "branch" They even have an investigator class! UNREAL right!! How blessed I am to be serving in a place where the Church is so young and growing. Even though Satan is in war with righteousness, Heavenly Father’s power is ALWAYS greater. We have to remember that! We are never powerless if we depend on our Heavenly Father!

A minister just recently found the Book of Mormon. He has read it and believes it is true. He recently contacted the Church for copies. Cool, right? A minister!  But want to know what makes this story even cooler. He isn't just a minister of 20 or 30 people, but 400 people attend his CHURCH!! This CHURCH IS TRUE AND THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE!!

I have a testimony of this Gospel through prayer and consistently searching the scriptures. A boy could NOT translate or "write a book" so powerful unless it was through God. There is NO possible way. Every verse has meaning. It’s so powerful and amazing! And I’m grateful for this Gospel and everything I've learned! And because I know it’s true, I must DILIGENTLY seek after it. We must be constantly trying and reading and praying. God knew it wouldn't be easy so we needed to have a Savior!! What a blessing and perfect plan! He knew we would make mistakes so he gave us Christ BUT WE MUST turn our hearts to Christ and lean on him!

By the way, internet speed is HORRIBLE but our president let's us take as much time as we need with emails as long as we're respectful to our companion.

LOVE YOU GUYS!!
YOU ARE THE BEST!!

Carly