Hey,
Thanks for the letters this week. It was fun to hear about everything
going on back home. Sounds like it is kinda a building year for the
BYU
football team. That’s too bad but to be expected. We had a great
season last year. Maybe when I come back in 2 years they’ll be
amazing
again. I hope so. So the same day I sent you my last letter I got
franny’s package. I’m sad to say most of it is already gone. That
was
really good. I loved the cookies and rice crispy treats. Everything
was so
good. The zone leaders brought it over that night I sent my letter. It
was funny as I opened it there were like 4 other elders leaning over
my
shoulder holding their breath waiting for me to open it. Then when I
did a lot of noise left their mouths. I ended up sharing some cookies
with them. So thank franny for me. The package was received well. So
today for P-day we’re going to the beach again. Last time it was
sooo
fun. We played American football. I’m hoping it will be the same
thing
again today. Ya, we hear about all the fun stuff the South African
Elder
get to do too… We never get to do any of that cool stuff. I guess
the reason is because South Africa is developed for tourism. So they
work
in the city’s and then on P-day they visit the game reserves and all
the cool places like that. Here they don’t really have game
reserves. Or at least they don’t anywhere close to us. They really
haven’t
developed for tourism out here. South Africa has the money to have
stuff like that. Here.. they really don’t have money. So on P-days
we
normally play soccer or go to the beach or just stuff like that. Never
do
any real tourist stuff. So ya. That is what our P-days consist of. So
that’s cool that the Bailey’s are coming out here. That would be a
lot of fun to see them. I don’t know if we could take a whole day to
go help with the orphanage but I’m sure we could meet up somewhere
in
the city of Biera during out lunch hours or during P-day or something.
Maybe if we met up on P-day we could go around with them and help them
buy suvoners and take them around a little bit. We’ll have to check
with president first though. I’m not sure what the policy is on
seeing
people that we know out here. I don’t think it comes up too often…
But that would be a lot of fun to see them. I would love to take them
around and if they wanted to buy suvoneers, we could help with that. I
don’t think they’ll have that hard of a time getting around over
here. A lot of people actually know English down here. Not very well,
but
they know different phrases and things like that. So it shouldn’t be
that big of a deal. But when are they coming over? I would love to at
least go to lunch with them. Also do you think that I could maybe give
them a few things to take back home? And No, sister Bailey has not
e-mailed me yet but if she wants to its totally fine. Not against the
rules
to e-mail really anyone out here. And if she wants to ask president
I’m sure that will be fine. Never hurts to ask. The rest of the this
week has gone fine. The one family took the marriage thing fine. Right
now it cost like around 1000 MT to get married which is like 40$. But
actually that is a lot for people down here. In our area a lot of
people
only make enough to live off of. It can be really are to save money
out
here. Especially 1000Mt. However, they are in the process of changing
the marriage thing. If things work out I think it will only be
300MT($12). That will help a lot but is still a pretty large
sacrifice. It can
take months for people to save 300Mt. But I think that this family
will
do it. We also have another family we’re teaching right now who’s
going to get married too. The dad is super ready to get baptized.
He’s
pretty much been golden. He’s kept every comittment we’ve given
him and come to church and is actually asking us if we know what
people
need to get married. He comes to church every week and if just really
good. The only problem is his family. The wife is an average
mozambiquan
woman who is pretty lame and doesn’t have much of a desire to learn.
So we’ll keep working with here and see if we can get the entire
family baptized. This week was a little below average for us. We
didn’t
do as well on the numbers but we had a lot going on this week. We lost
a
whole morning because we had to go and do e-mail again because it
wasn’t working on Monday. And then on Friday all of Munhava didn’t
have
water. The just flat out didn’t have water. They have these little
spigots scattered through out our area that people carry their buckets
to so they can have water that day. Firday, they weren’t working. I
think the city turned them off because the simply didn’t have water.
Not quite sure. So we wasted a lot of time trying to figure stuff out.
Then on Sunday the same thing happened. No water. So we have a huge
tank
out back for the church so we filled up peoples water from that. So
another lesson: be grateful for water.. ha. That’s too bad about
Andrew
and the varsity thing. He should really stick with it. It sounds like
he’s a great runner. 18:45 on a tough course.. he’s already seen
my
times.. I could never do that. He’ll be on varsity for sure next
year. I actually hear this inspirational poem that might actually help
him:

The average runner sprints,
Until the breath in him is gone.
The champion has the iron will,
That makes him carry on.

For rest the average runner begs,
When limp his muscles grow.
On leaden legs the champion runs,
His spirit make him go.

The average man is complacent,
When he tries his best to score.
The champion does his best,
And then he does a little more.

Just a good little poem I remember when I’m tired or sick of
Portuguese that I thought might help Big O. so ya. But it was nice to
read
that note from Bapa. I love hearing from him. I did get that letter
from
dick Hansen though. That was nice of him so you’ll have to thank him
for me. Well, that’s about it for this week. The last time we saw
the
investigator I help hands with was 2 Saturdays ago so don’t worry
about that. The picture is of my “buscaring agua” the women use
these
tanks to get water for the day. We help them everyonce in a while.
They
are flipping heavy!!! They carry them on their heads too. Just like
everything else.. Well, thanks for the letters. Hope all is well miss
you
all and Halo III. Tell Andrew not to break the X-box so I can play it
in 2 years. Well, talk to you again I a week. Unless the internet is
down then who know.. have a good week!