Well, We made it back ok. It was another amazing ride. It was funbecause this time it was just me and Elder Fiallo. We saw some more huge tree's and took a couple of pictures. I'll have to send you some. We got some unbelievable pics. truly amazing. The rest of the week went well. We taught a lot of lessons and did a lot of mentoring with the branch leadership. It turned out to be a good trip. The baptism was by far was the best part. We ended up baptizing 7 people. We started the interviews in the middle of the day and they ran a little bit late and so I was getting a little bit nervous that the sun would go down before we were able to do the baptisms. We finally finished, organized a few more things, and then finally drove out to the location where we
were going to do the baptisms. It was amazing. We pulled up and the sun was starting to get low and so I was getting a little nervous. The location was perfect. It was this little cove along the side of a river bank. So we held the actual meeting out there on the river bank over looking the river and in the background the sun was going down. So we started with a hymn and a prayer and then we had a couple of talks and during all of this I was watching the sun, because it was getting dangerously close to the horizon. So finally the last talk ended, and we went down to the river and baptized 7 people. It was perfect. Everyone was on the riverbank watching us baptize in the river, with the sun inches off the horizon. Lots of colors and it was way cool and we got some amazing photos that I'll hopefully be able to send sometime soon. Right after that baptism we did the confirmations right there on
the side of the riverbank as well. And right as we were leaving, the sun finished setting. By far the most memorable baptism I'll have on the mission. It was way cool. The next day we taught one final lesson and did a couple of final mentor items and then went back to the hotel and rested up for the long drive home the next day. It was an experience of a life time for sure. The drive back went great. No problems. Fun to see the African country side, really dry but nice. So that was our Tete trip. This week on Wed and Thursday we'll be in Maputo again for another Zone Leaders Council. I'm excited to get down there again. It ought to be another great experience. Then on Saturday we'll have Transfer Meeting. I'm pretty 100% sure that nothing will happen to me. Elder Fiallo and I will probably be together one more transfer and then something will change, but we have at least another 6 weeks together. Anyways, it ought to be a pretty busy week for us. Tomorrow is Staff meeting. Those are always fun, we just go and sit around with the 2 senior couples up here, and talk about stuff. Its way fun because one of the senior Elders up here is a guy by the name of Elder Ross and he just loves to tell stories. It’s great. I love sitting there and listening to him tell his stories so we spend 1-2 hours talking about what needs to happen in the Beira Zone mixed with Elder Ross' stories. Way fun. So ya, it ought to be a good week. Next transfer I don't think we'll be so busy. It is nuts to think that I've been in Beira for over a year now. I remember getting and e-mail from you guys in my second transfer saying that you thought I’d be going to Maputo soon, seeing as how I had been in Beira for some time... ha. A year later and I’m still here and not likely to leave anytime soon. Sounds like you've got all the travel plans arranged. It’s funny, because I found out about alot of the things we're going to do while you are here, from Elder Gulbransen and some others. Apparently their moms told them... ha. About LAM airlines. It’s what the mission uses, however, I don't know if I’d call it reliable. Just be aware of the fact that you are coming to a developing country (that’s worse than 3rd world...) and so not everything runs like clockwork. It ought to be fine going from Maputo to S. Africa but other flights by LAM aren't exactly reliable. So ya. Hope the backpack trip was good. I'll be looking forward to the pics and to hear about the Palmyra trip with Bapa. Well, hope things are going well. I'll let you know how Maputo's doing next week and what
happened in Transfer meeting. Well, have a nice trip!

Elder Okazaki