Arriving in Zambia, Meeting President and Sister Kupu

After flying directly to the South Africa Missionary Training Center and spending 18 days there, Elder Lusk, along with these other missionaries flew  up to Zambia to officially begin their service. They met their mission president, President Kupu and his wife who are from Tonga. Elder Lusk then received his assignment and he will be laboring in the Lilongwe, Malawi area for at least the next 6 weeks.

Definitely in Africa Now and Heading to Malawi

Hey family i dont have long but we all made it safe to Zambia...yea i am definitely in Africa now. In the morning ill be heading to Lilongwe with my trainer Elder Ketchum from Las Vegas. He is the district leader and we are white washing the area. Of the six of us 5 are going to Malawi. I am so excited and i don't have much time so i will give you a big email on Monday. But I love you all and i love the gospel Of Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Elder Stefan Lusk

These pictures were taken in Johannesburg where the Missionary Training Center (MTC) is located. Elder Lusk will depart the MTC this week, as he mentioned in his letter, and head to his mission in Zambia. The second picture is all the Elders and Sister Missionaries who are also attending the MTC at this time along with Elder Lusk. And, yes, girls do serve missions as well! :)

We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Letting Go and the Strengthening Aspect of the Atonement

Hey Family so it has been a great/crazy/fun/long/hard week. So the temple was closed but we still went and I'm sending some pictures. It was cool to finally see some of Johannesburg and have that "We're not in Kansas anymore" moment where you see how another society lives. All the houses have gates and razor wire to deal with crime (big problem in SA they dont't even send sisters here due to the street crime). But apart from that it was pretty cool. So we're all super close now and it's gonna be hard to leave the others going to other missions. With only 19 of us here you really get personal with everyone. I am also learning what it really means to learn and teach. It's a pretty hard learning curve where you really have to let go of yourself and focus entirely on the person you're teaching and trust your companion. It has also been a great blessing to get deeper into the Book of Mormon than I've ever been. I really have felt my personal testimony and strength grow as i have found that the Lord gives us our personalities and passions to help other people see him in their own lives. I really feel so fulfilled here with my purpose and have felt the strengthening aspect of the Atonement bless my efforts to overcome my own weaknesses. I have also had so much fun seeing how God brings a bunch of young adults from different backgrounds and strengths and unites them in purpose.

I love you all!!!!!

Elder Lusk's Contact Information

For those wanting to contact Stefan during his mission, you can write to him and it will go the mission office in Lusaka and then get distributed to him. He will get transferred to a different area every 6 to 18 weeks or so, therefore, the best way is to send mail to the address below.

Zambia Lusaka Mission
c/o Elder Stefan Lusk
14038 Katima Mulilo Road
Lusaka, Zambia 10101

Please also remember that he has very little time for writing letters but all missionaries love getting positive, encouraging letters from home!

Alma 29:9 at Elder Lusk's Request

" I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."
Alma 29:9 (Book of Mormon)

Stefan asked us to put this on his blog. Just a little background, in this chapter of the Book of Mormon, Alma is expressing his deep desire to spread the gospel and share the message of hope to all the world. His deep love and concern for people everywhere and his humility towards God is evident in this entire chapter which is why Elder Lusk wanted us to share.

Brutal Plane Ride, Praying with the Pastor, Loving my New Brothers, Humility and God

Hey fam,

This past week really has been undescribable. I can't fully share all that God has done for me and the amazing things that i have seen, felt and done. To start, the plane ride was brutal but it did have its moments. Being able to meet up with ten other missionaries on the flight in the airport was a real blessing. We all had an instant love for each other like we had known everyone for our entire lives. we even shared our last american meal together at Panda express. Anyway on the flight(which was just like any normal plane disappointingly but some people where moved around and i ended up being between another missionary going to Zambia and an older man named Brian who was a pastor in another church heading to a conference and he really loves mormon missionaries and we prayed together which was pretty cool. so there are 19 of us here in Jo-burg right now and we have become one big family. Its amazing how much love i have seen this week i can't even tell you how loving theses missionaries are. They really do send the best to Africa. Also president and sister Aston are amazing and firm believers in fun. Food wise we are eating alot! Which is good because they pretty much said eat it now cause you ain't getting it in the field...oh well. I have been blessed to be paired with Elder Yosi from south Africa he is going to Botswana, wants to be a civil engineer, and he has taught me so much about love and humility i really love him and all the african they are the best! There are six of us going to Zambia....Elder Mira from Alaska my new poly brother who gives the best hugs, Elder Chauke from SA who is so humble and happy at all times, Sister Porter from Boise who has destroyed all of us in every sport and board game, and sister Gwebu and sister Marriot both from SA. Its amazing who specail the bond is here when we all have the same goals,faith, fear, joy,spirit, and love for christ and each other. I have grown so much and feel like a much different person. I have never seen God so much and i feel a great sense of peace and purpose like the weight of my old worries and cares are now replaced with a sense that i am home and where i need to be. I have never laughed, smiled, cried, or loved so much. The pure love of Christ that is here has change all of us an it beautiful. To see people from different countries and backgrounds totally embrace each other in love afeter only a few days and make so much sacrifices out of love to help each other. I can tell you God is close in Africa and he loves all of his children so much. I can only imagine how much i am going to expeierence the rest of my mission . I cant send any pictures yet but i promise some soon. I love you all so much. 

Stefan 

I know im leaving out alot here but i have more to tell in coming emails

         

 

The Mission Call and Beyond

This is Elder Lusk's mom and I'll be updating his mission blog over the next 24 months. Just to back up, though, Elder Lusk is a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (other nicknames for the church are Mormon or LDS). Elder Lusk  chose to serve a full-time mission upon high school graduation so back in January of this year, Elder Lusk began the process of not just completing forms electronically and getting physicals, dental exams and the like but also going through a series of interviews with his Bishop and Stake President (his local leaders) to make sure that his testimony of the Savior and of the restored Gospel was solid and that he was living as close to to the Lord as possible and seeking to do the best he can in keeping the commandments and, in essence, that he was spiritually ready to serve, but not only spiritually ready but emotionally and physically as well. You see, it's not just a matter of saying, "well I'm 18 now, let's sign up for a mission". It's been a process. But when that application was formally submitted to Church headquarters in Salt Lake City he beginning of March, we all knew he was ready. And then the waiting began. We waited for that assignment to come in the mail. Some people get theirs a quicker than others. And the wondering out loud in our family about drove us crazy. It was a daily conversation and it went something like this, "I wonder when your mission assignment will be here?", "will it take a week to get here or three weeks?", "maybe you'll serve in Montana or Montreal or Idaho or Ireland or perhaps Brazil or Boston". The following night was similar: "maybe it will be California but, if so, will it be English speaking or Spanish speaking? Australia would be nice but so would Arizona or Texas or Taiwan". And on and on it went! Zambia was never mentioned....or even thought of. In terms of his assignment, it is done by inspiration from the Holy Ghost. On certain days of the week, the church leaders assigned to make the missionary assignments will electronically  pull up the mission application of each applicant. They briefly review each applicant and consider the current needs worldwide and with a prayer in their hearts, they make the assignment. I know that each mission assignment is inspired of God and is not random or incidental. I know the assignments are not made until those making the assignment are confident that it is God's will. I know that to be true! I knew that Elder Lusk would be called of God to labor in his vineyard wherever that vineyard happened to be. It's a good thing everybody in our family knew that because when the assignment came in the mail and he read that he would be serving in the Zambia Lusaka mission, it was unbelieveable but we knew it was right.
Please join us for the next 24 months as we follow Elder Lusk's journey!! We're happy to have you along for what is sure to be an amazing adventure!