Hello From Harare!

 While walking one morning this week,  I noticed this group of students walking ahead of me.  They were heading to the public elementary school across the street from my apartment complex.  I caught up to them right outside of the school which is behind the fence.  They had stopped to clean their shoes before going into the gate.  I asked them about it and they said their teachers check to see if their shoes are clean before they can enter the classroom.  Their uniforms are also checked.   Never mind that they walk 30 minutes each morning, most of the time on the road but sometimes they have to walk on paths of red dirt.  Children here are very respectful to their teachers and very obedient.   These girls are Maybe and Chelsea.  They are in year one of high school and also walk 30 minutes each day.  Chelsea's favorite class is English.  Maybe loves mathematics.  I told her she was a girl after my own heart....

We senior sisters enjoyed our Saturday by going to lots of shops and finding some fun souvenirs for family and friends.  This was the view from one of the shops we visited.   This is one of my English Connect students, Elder Mfitiye (pronounced Fee Tee' Yee).  He is from a very small country in Africa called Burundi.  Before coming on a mission, he completed a four year college degree in Electrical Engineering.  While at the university, he became friends with a member of the church and was baptized at the age of 23.  He is now 26.  After graduation, he found a very good job in his field and worked there for a year prior to leaving for a mission.   I asked him about his decision to serve a mission.  He said that he was so thankful for the blessings given him from Heavenly Father that he wanted to show his love for Him by dedicating two years of his life in service to Him.  He spoke no English before entering the MTC 4 months ago...

 The happiest 50 minutes I had this past week was in Nursery this morning.  One little girl wanted to play with my badge.  I showed her how I could put the back  magnet on a table and if she put the badge close to it, the magnet would "jump" onto the badge. She laughed so hard.  The other two children heard her laughter and wanted to see what was going on.  They all ended up belly laughing as they held the badge and saw the magnet jump on.  What a fun morning.  We had a lesson about Jesus calming the storm and they loved watching the Bible Video about it.   This is Godfrey.  He has a table at a small market the single sisters and I go to often.  He does beautiful woodwork and I have bought some items from him to take home as gifts for family.  He is so kind and gracious.  Every time I buy something from him, he puts his hand over his heart and thanks me many times over.   During my morning walk, I often see ...

 There is a public elementary school across the street from our apartment.  While doing my morning walk this week, I walked for a while with this little boy.  Notice his uniform.   All school students, elementary through high school,  wear uniforms.  No exceptions.  Even though schools are "Public", there is still a small fee to attend.  Some families, especially in the rural areas, can't afford the fee so the children can't attend school.  Bishops and Branch Presidents have recently been instructed to assist all ward or branch families with the fees, if needed, so that all children can attend school.                                                             Classes are often held outside.   Our former Mission President, Gary and Julene Judd returned home to Utah after serv...