Week 2

 On Thursday,  Sister Nancy Turley and I went to a school in a rural area outside of Zimbabwe.  Nancy is a linguistics professor at BYU and currently teaches the English Connect classes to the missionaries.  I will take over the classes when she leaves next week.  A volunteer group goes once a week to do activities with the children to help them learn English and to be reminded of God's love.  Most of them speak Shona, one of the major languages in Zimbabwe. 

The children are being taught some English through songs accompanied by sign language.  In this picture they are being taught the Primary song, "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus".  Nancy is accompanying on the piano.  I'm just enjoying the show. 

T

The middle and high school students were given English Connect books and Nancy gave them a short lesson on how to use the book to improve their English.  The boys sit on the ground on one side and the girls on the other.  The picture of the girls is of them singing their National anthem.

This is President Marshal Bomba and his family.  He is the First Counselor in the Stake Presidency in our area.  He is 32 years old.  Three months after returning from his mission

at age 24, he married his sweetheart and was immediately called to be a bishop.  He is an auto mechanic and much of his business comes from repairing missionary cars.  The driving situation here is a topic for another time.  There is much emphasis on young men and women serving missions here.  When they return, they are often put in leadership positions.  The church is in young, faithful hands in Zimbabwe.  There are 5 of us senior single sisters in the mission.  We invited the Bombas to dinner at one of our apartments and we all pitched in with the cooking.  They are a delightful family!

The highlight of my week was attending the temple site.  Brother and Sister Anderson are missionaries assigned to oversee the construction.  It felt like a holy place when we entered the grounds.  This is Fungai Josiah, the paint foreman at the temple site.  He was baptized after meeting the Andersons.  He told them he had a dream when he was 9 and he was building a temple.  He was happy to meet the Andersons and then the young missionaries and was ready to hear the gospel.  Several other workers have also been baptized along with many members of their families.  Many in Zimbabwe are very spiritual people and are receptive when they hear the message of the Restored Gosepl of Jesus Christ.  

 I taught Primary in a rural area today.  Primary children from Nursery age to 11 have singing time and the lesson together.  There were about 24 children.  I was in my element and loving it.  Most of them speak Shona, but I planned a lesson with an activity that didn't require them to fully understand what I was saying.  This sister is a counselor in the Primary Presidency.  This is how the women carry their babies and toddlers.  They use a beach towel.  She is standing in front of the baptismal font which is in the room where Primary is held. I saw 5 people baptized here last Sunday.  It has been another happy week!

We're going on a Bear Hunt.  We're going to catch a big one.  What a beautiful day! WE'RE NOT SCARED.  Oh-oh! Potholes! Multiple, deep potholes.  We can't go over them.  We can't go under them.  We can't go around them.  Oh, no!  WE'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THEM!    Bump, Bump!  

Bump, Bump! Bump, Bump!     

Some may recognize the book.  It is very applicable here.  This is the road that runs beside our apartment complex.  

There were lots of outings with other senior missionaries this week.  A visit to a cave and zoo last Saturday, dinners, lunches, visiting markets and other interesting stores.  Lots of fun with great company.