Well, another week has come and gone. This one was a good one, but not too much to report. Right after I wrote you last Monday we had our DLC, which is like ZLC, with us leading it instead of President Packard and the DL's only get to come to our house instead of the Packard’s. It went very well. I had been worried about some of the DL's this transfer, however, after that meeting I feel much better. There was one point where I could literally see them realize the responsibility they now had. It was a good growing up moment for them. We were talking about how as ZL's, we often times act as councilors to President Packard when talking about ecclesiastical things and so at ZLC's about half or more of the meeting is spent talking about ecclesiastical problems we have and how we're going to fix them. We told them that the ideas that they give us at DLC, we take to ZLC, and then we give them to President Packard and then many times President Packard acts on the things we council. That’s one of the things I really like about President Packard is that he'll act on the council that missionaries give him. I've seen him take action on many things that I've suggested. And so after they realized that their ideas really had an impact on things, the meeting was a lot more serious and they grew up a little bit. So I feel a lot better about our new DL's.
The TR's are doing well. It seems like everyone is getting along and they all have good relationships with their kids and things are rolling along well. One of the kids is speaking quite well. He'll do well on his mission on the language.
Zone Conference is just around the corner and so Elder Smoot and I are starting to prepare for that. This will probably be my last Zone Conference as a ZL. Last letter I got from President he was dropping hints that I was going to Maputo next transfer or soon, and so I'm expecting to go next transfer. The longest amount of time any non-native missionary has spent in any one zone is 12 Transfers and I'm in my 12th Transfer in the Beira Zone. I can only think of 1 other missionary with 12 transfers in the Beira Zone and so I'm pretty sure I'm getting pulled next transfer. I'm hoping to get to Matola in Maputo. Apparently that Branch is just going nuts. Elder Buckner is training down there this transfer and so I'd like to go down there and live with him for a few transfers before he dies. It would be a lot of fun. I guess we'll see where President puts me. One thing is almost certain though, wherever I go, will be my last area on the mission. Weird to think (A) that I'm actually going to leave Beira in about a month... and (B) that I'm going into my last area. Elder Smoot has been doing well. He's been one of my most favorite companions. He's a fun kid to hang around with and a good comp. as a ZL. He's flexible and doesn't have to have everything his way, which is nice.
Glad to hear BYU beat Air force. I'm not looking forward to this upcoming Saturday as I think BYU is going to get plastered by the UofU. Have fun in California. I'll work on that picture though. I'm super excited to see all the movies I've been missing... Me and Smoot talk about it every once in a while. Thanks again and have a great week!
Elder Okazaki.