Running in the Dark, Pleased with My Efforts, Spriitual Resurrection and the Atonement, Oh and Soft Serve

Hey fam
We had a pretty good week here in Kitwe. Funny story. The Kupu's (our mission president and his wife) were coming around for flat inspections on Wednesday just before zone conference on Thursday. In their effort to find the flat, they got lost and after about ten phone calls of me leading them all over Kitwe in the dark, I finally just told them to stay put and Elder Robins and I took off to get them. Picture this: Its pitch black outside and you have two young white guys in white shirts and ties sprinting through the dark with a flashlight. Yep, by the time we found the Kupus we had sprinted about 1.5 miles in just under 10 minutes (feeling proud about that feat in my current lack of conditioning).
We had a great zone conference and President Kupu says he's pleased with my efforts as a district leader.
Then on Friday, we went on splits with the assistants and that meant we got to work with one of my favorite missionaries, Elder Chartier. He was my zone leader back in Lilongwe and he's just a blast to be around and the boldest teacher I've met. We had some great contacts with him including a man that had been taught before but felt like God had abandoned him to which we said that the fact that two missionaries were standing in front of him shows that God still cares for him.
For me, I had a new insight when we were teaching the Plan of Salvation to a man the other day and he asked if there was such a thing as spiritual resurrection and then it came to me that repentance is the spiritual resurrection that comes through Christ's atonement. So that was a special moment for me when, as a teacher, I was taught.
Finally, we found an amazing soft serve ice-cream stand just by our flat!
Love you all!
Elder Lusk

16 Hours on a Bus, A Few Good Dinners, Dust Road "Sermons" and Jeus the Christ

Hey fam! This was a pretty crazy week that is turning into two crazy weeks! So, the beginning of the week was normal and we did a lot of finding new people until Thursday morning at 9:45. We had a great day planned and were just about to head out when the phone rang and one of the missionaries who is an assistant to our mission president  told me that we were due to appear at Zambia's immigration office in Lusaka on Friday morning. So, we had to cancel our plans for the day and rush to pack and then meet up with the other Elders in Kitwe who also had to go and then jump on the next bus to Lusaka for an eight hour cramped bus with no A/C. We get in late Thursday, got dinner with the APs (assistants to the mission President) and then crashed. The next morning I go into immigration and two minutes later walk out having signed the one form that was required. Then apparently a last minute law change came up and my companion and the other new missionary in our district didn't pass and we're still battling the red tape.
On Saturday morning, they put me and Elder Blanchard on a bus back to Kitwe (again insert 7.5 hours of no A/C with an active two year old next to you). So right now we are on extended exchanges till they get everything sorted out and we get our companions back.
As crazy as it was, I did get to enjoy a few good dinners at the mall in Lusaka and catch up with some old mission friends I have not seen in a while. We should still be having our baptism this week or next for a wonderful brother.
Also, with 16 hours in a bus this week, I had a lot of time to read and ended up covering a significant portion of the book, "Jesus, the Christ" by James E. Talmage. While it about as dense as a law text book, I ended up seeing so much strength in reading again about the simple and humble birth and life of our Savior. Somehow after 13 months of dust road "sermons", it feels a little more real to me as I understand more of the character and mission of our Savior.
Love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Lusk

Once Upon a Time.....

Hey Fam!
Once upon a time in the dead of hot season, two Elders were sent on a rigorous mission. Take a large area that has been left desolate for months, pour their sweat, blood, tears and prayers into it in hopes of a divine miracle in teaching repentance to its people. Who were these Elders? One, a brand new farm boy with a heart of gold and the drive that drove his ancestors across the plains. The other, a handsome, well tested veteran of many tough assignments throughout his extended tour of duty. They faced down the blazing African sun in defiance as they fearlessly and faithfully traveled the dusty roads, talking to all with their natural country boy charm, youthful joy and the unwavering strength of a lion in th efface of reveilers and challengers. Faithfully, on aching feet, they hit the roads before it happened. When the blessings of the their efforts showed. In one week they never sat but spent their days from sun up to dusk preaching and testifying. They taught more new people in one week than the veteran ever had before. Who were these people that they taught? Two brothers getting a new start at life, a women who had long given up on religion till a prayer that morning was answered with a knock at the gate, a dedicated grandfather full of love for all men, a new pastor seeking God's will, two Russians full of questions about America (yep, that happened) and a brother and his family long removed from the church due to living far in the bush. These Elders hit their knees late at the week's end thankful for the past days and hungry for more.
Oh, and my comp and I made homemade pizzas this week that were awesome.
Love you all
Elder Lusk

Only One Guard Dog, His First Nshima...and Then There was More, Excited to See the Miracles

Hey Fam! It was a busy week here in Kitwe. Elder Robins is the man! He came out pre-trained so we have gone straight to work here. So we have been opening up some new areas around our house. We actually had a lot of success with it and got in behind several gates and got about 50 numbers for people including a CEO of an international mine. All of that and I only had one guard dog nearly bite my arm off. Its great, though, and people are very receptive here.
We also met a super great guy who has been waiting his whole life for someone to come and share the gospel with him after he had some early signs in his life of the Savior's presence and plan for him and he even came to church with us.
On Tuesday we had dinner with our branch president. It was Elder Robins first nshima and we enjoyed a nice square meal and we were just saying thanks when his wife sets down two large plates of rice and beef in front of us...yes, we finished that also...barely! Also for Elder Robins birthday in line with our usual Sunday night District dinner tradition we went all out and had a nice feast which we super enjoyed.
We also had a great talk with our District President who thanked us for our efforts and told us that he can tell that we are serious missionaries.
We are excited to be here and turn this area around and see the miracles the Lord can work here through our efforts.
Love you all and have a wonderful week back in the beautiful fall weather.
Love, Elder Lusk

Heading Back to Normal, Good Ole Boy from Cache Valley, Sore Feet and Barrels of Sweat, Its What the Work We Do is All About

Hey Fam! This was a pretty great week and things are heading back to normal. On Tuesday morning, the zone leaders called me with the now all too familiar "you have two hours to get on a bus to Lusaka thing" Reinsert 8.5 hours of hot bus ride. Luckily this time good news was waiting for me there. The Lord knew I needed to learn from my mistakes of the first six weeks of being a trainer so he gave me a brand new missionary. My second new missionary is Elder Robbins, a good ole farm boy from Cache Valley, Utah. He's a great guy, hard worker (I will need a hard working companion since I have had two weeks out of the area and the rising heat wave temperatures) and he's dealing with the Africa transition a lot better than I did. We've gotten along great.
We went back to our flat, scrubbed it down and organized it and I have to say that Spirit of God was strong in our flat after that. Then we went and hit the dusty roads. We have a lot of potential new investigators. We also had a great lesson with a man that is a gardener for the church and he committed to baptism and then didn't come to church. We'll work on that but Elder Robbins did  a great job in his first lesson.
It's definitely going to take some sore feet and barrels of sweat but we can get this area back up to speed. We had a great experience with our recent convert, Brother Sydney. He's lived an interesting, long life but seeing the changes in him in the month since he was baptized is amazing, just seeing how he glows now, his smile, and hearing him speak of how the gospel is blessing him and his family is really what the work we do our here is all about. He got his first dress shirt and tie so he can prepare to bless the sacrament soon! Can't wait for that!
Hope all is well with all of you! All of my love
Elder Lusk

The drama continues, sweet baptism, Heating Up and All These Things will Be For My Learning

Hey fam. So the drama here continues. Our companions were not able to get Zambian visas so they got transferred to Malawi. I have been on permanent exchange with Elder Blanchard in his area and it looks like it will be Thursday or Friday before I can get back to my area because we are still waiting on transfer news.
We did have a baptism in Elder Blanchard's area on Sunday and it was a very sweet experience for that sweet sister who has been waiting patiently to be baptized.
Elder Blanchard and I have been able to get to know each other and I got to explore his area with him and meet the members of the Church in the branch here.
It's also heating up here as we head into another hot season and here in the Copper Belt is the hottest of any part of the mission we're in for a roasting the next two months.
Not much else to talk about this week but all is well in our service and I've got a lot to do when I finally get back to my area.
Thinking about all the challenges lately, I stumbled across the answer to prayer that Joseph Smith received from the Lord where he was told that if the very jaws of hell are open in front of him that it will be for his good and give him experience and learning. By no means are the jaws of hell open to me but I know all these mishaps will help me learn and grow in the long run.
Love you all so much!
Elder Lusk

Guarding the Church and Embracing the Truths, On My Knees, Setting Mission Records, We're Never Alone When We Reach for the Savior

Hey Fam! This was a bit of a crazy week but pretty standard. As far as the area goes we have a lot of work ahead of us. All of the current investigators we've meet have not shown any real signs of progress so we are pretty much starting over in regards to the teaching pool. We did however have a baptism yesterday which is special because that is Elder Jonah's first ever! Our convert is a great man who works as a guard at the church. He's lived a very interesting life and was so prepared to receive the gospel. Apart from that there were plenty of frustrations this week and moments where I was pretty exhausted both physically and mentally and then in the midst of that I found myself on my knees asking for some confirmation of success that day. I had read a scripture that said that "Love endures by diligence unto prayer". With that in mind we went out without a single planned lesson for the day (after a frustrating morning planning session where nobody answered there phone) and started walking. We ended up at the church and were lead to a golden contact. The man runs a construction company that is working on the meeting house and agreed to sit down with us. After teaching him he look straight in our eyes and said that this was what he had been looking for in his life for his family for years!  I'm so glad that Heavenly Father knows where we need to be and when. I can't wait to teach this wonderful family. He is also looking out for us in other ways I set a record for my mission by having four dinner appointments this week! So despite my frustrations and the times I feel like I'm just walking the hot roads of Kitwe aimlessly I really am being looked out for! So too anyone that feels alone....don't!  The Savior didn't do what he did so you would feel alone ,but that we would never have to be alone if we reach out to him! Love you all so much and can't wait for the week ahead.

Elder Lusk

Teaching A Pastor, Discussing the Bible with Missionaries of Another Faith, Teaching A Guard, Let's Talk About the Savior, and Stepping Up My Game

Hey fam! this was a pretty exhausting week but a good one at that. So we are learning our way around Kitwe and realized we cover like half the city and surrounding area so for the past week we've been walking upward of six-eight miles a day (looking forward to hot season) and spending more than a little on transport. But we had a lot of positive lessons and meeting this week. Among the highlights there was teaching a pastor who requested a Book of Mormon, having a constructive Bible session with some missionaries of another faith, committing a guard at the church to baptism for this Sunday, an unexpected dinner appointment, conducting my first baptismal interview, and getting to watch the live broadcast of Elder and Sister Renlund from Ghana with the youth. On top of that there where many times this week where I learned a lot of lessons in patience and humility. Training a brand new missionary isn't easy especially when they come from a very different back ground than you.  One thing I love about my greenie though is he is bold in contacting people. He just loves to stop everyone we pass and share his testimony of the savior. He's making me step up my own game in following his example. After spending my whole mission around old missionaries this has really been a learning process for me where in mind my I have gone back to my own experiences with my trainer and tried to follow the example he gave me. I have also learned that when those days come when you wake up and aren't feeling it. Just go out put on a smile and show one person love and by the end of the day you'll feel the joy that you have helped spread. There is real power behind positive thinking and actions that follow those thoughts.Not much else to say this week I love you all!
> Elder Lusk

Not Sure Where to Begin, Glad I'm Not Training...Just Kidding, President's Hands, I Needed a Kick and Some Humbling, and I'm a District Leader

Hey fam! well I'm not really sure where to begin.. I am here in Kitwe Zambia after a lot of travel. So, on Tuesday I flew from Blantyre up to Lilongwe and had a really great conversation with a nice Muslim man about my mission faith in general and he ended up inviting me to dinner at his home (unfortunately I had to turn it down).

 I spent the night in Lilongwe with the zone leaders there then flew to Lusaka on Wednesday morning. So for the first time since my first day I am back in Zambia. I ended up waiting in the airport in Lusaka for over an hour turns out there was a miscommunication on when my flight was.

 Anyway, at the mission office I was told that I wouldn't be leaving till Friday and I would just sit in on the meeting for new missionaries and trainers the next day. So, I sat there in the meeting looking at all the new missionaries thinking about how far I've come in a year. Anyway the meeting ends and I'm "thinking well that was all well and I'm glad I'm not training" when president's hand lands on my shoulder and calls me as a trainer and new district leader on the spot. Apparently there had been some last minute revelation. So I am now training Elder Jonah from Nigeria. He's got a great heart and really wants to work. He's a convert of about two years and he comes from a very very humble background. He's one of  two brand new missionaries that I am looking after in my new district here. The Lord must have known I needed a kick in the rear and some humbling because I am definitely feeling the weight of my new responsibility.

 On top of that we are practically white washing the area. There is another missionary here to show us around for the next two weeks then he's wheels up on the flight home and safe to say his mind and effort are already gone. That being said, I have a lot of hope for this. Honestly I've already white washed twice and all my new areas have been in a state of decline when I got then , but have been blessed with success. We got here on Friday after a seven hour bus ride from Lusaka so I'm still catching up on all the travel and lack of sleep. Kitwe is nice though. the only thing is our area is super huge so we can't walk it all and bus fair is high so where going to need to work smarter and find the key places to work. I hope everything is going great back home for everyone and things will all work out. Love you all!

Elder Lusk

Heading to Zambia, Not Sure if I'll see Malawi again, Where the Lord Needs Me is Where I'll Go, Listen With Love and An African Feast

Hey fam! So time has flown so fast and news came in and have been transfered to Zambia and I will be headed up to the Copperbelt to the city of Kitwe. (at least thats what we assume. I will get my offical assingment at the Mission offiice tommorow). The transfer came unexpected as they normally do but I was actualy looking forward to staying here in Beautiful Blantyre a little longer, but where the Lord needs me is where I'll go. I have really enjoyed my time here. This has been the most fun zone and companion. Shout out to my man Elder Day and the great times we had together. It's a little wierd leaving Malawi now after nearly a year and not being sure if i'll ever see this country again (we'll see what the next year brings). At the same time, i'm excited to serve in Zambia. I've heard good things about where i'm headed so this should be a good ride. As far as us this past week things went well. We had a great zone confrence where we focused on teaching individual doctorines. It was nice. you and your companion would be called up given the topic and an amount of time and would teach on the spot to another missionary then the whole zone and President would provide feedback as we discussed certain teaching methods and skills. Elder Day and I did very well. after 4 months together we had our teaching in unity down.  In the area we had some great lessons and decided to really LISTEN and HEAR what people's concerns are. I've learned that in life we hear a lot, but we rarely listen to what people are actualy saying. The great thing is as you show love you can hear across and cultrual, socail, or any other barrier we have created. We had two of our long time investigators pass their baptismal interview yesterday and they will be baptised on saturday (after i'm gone). They are great one is a 19 young man and the other is a hard working single mother of four. They have both gone through so much in life, but the whole time had this innocent sincere desire to follow Christ and they where so excited to get ready for baptism. We have been teaching the for about 2.5 months here and it will be hard to miss their baptisms. It's hard to leave behind the people you have served and come to love, but that's life for you people come and go as long as you learn from them the lesson that God wanted you to by putting them in your path then they are really never gone. For fun stuff this week had a fun dinner appointment with a guy in our branch who served his mission in South Africa and me and Elder Day proudly cooked everything ourselves and produced a mighty fine african feast that they where all impressed with. (when you watch the moms in the area cook for 12 months you pick up a few things. So with the coming changes I'm not sure what's instore but I know in whose hands the future is held. This is Elder Lusk signing out from Blantyre, Malawi for the final time. Keep the flame alive!

Love 

Elder Lusk

Train Hard, The Spirit Flowed, Back to School Blessing, A Spot For All of Us and a Pancake Breakfast

Hey fam! another great week here in Blantyre. We had one of our most succsesful weeks with a lot of mini miracles and lessons learned. In our efforts to try to humble ourselves and improve our time here Elder Day and I went back to the roots and every morning we where practicing teaching before we left. Now, no missionary likes role plays, they're silly and awkward , but we went all in and were open on ways we can improve. I read a quote a while ago that said "You never rise to the occasion under pressure. you sink to the level of your highest training....so train HARD". After that preparation we saw a big difference in how we taught and how people reacted to our teaching. The spirit flowed as we taught truth and it was accepted. We have a man now that we are teaching who came to church last Sunday because he had been dreaming about the name of the Chruch and felt that he needed to learn why. He accepted the invitation to be baptised in our first meeting and I have seen his faith in action as he is trying to work through his limited material possesions to become something more. We got to teach with the district President for Blantrye and he was a very powerful enhancment to our lessons. We were able to meet some new investigators when we stumbled upon another rented home for some local University students so we are excited on adding to our Young single adult group here. On saturday we had a youth activity where we set up a mini Missionary Training Center and had the youth serve as missionaries and teach us about the Restoration. Sitting there reminded me of the kid who was learning to teach like them about a year ago and then I saw each of them with their potential to be a force for good and go out and spread the gospel to all the world. Then on Sunday I gave my first back to School blessing to a young man in our branch who is returning to a school outside of Blantryre. It seemed strange to be on that side of it and having  someone my own age see me in the way I always look at Dad or other church leaders. The great thing about our Heavenly Father is he calls the weak and simple things of the world to serve in his way. If he can take some simple fishermen and turn them into his apostles then there truly is a spot for all of us in his army. We have our Zone Confrence on Wendesday so we are geeting ready for that. For fun stuff this morning we had a district pancake breakfast which was super sweet and I ate enough for breakfast and lunch. Love you all so much from the most beautiful corner of God's kingdom.

Elder Lusk 

Teaching and Bringing Souls to Christ is The Best

Cleaning Up After the Rain, Blantyre and Those Kids!

Sidelined for Two Days, The Love We Try to Give Comes Back to Us, I am Young but I know What I Stand For, Faith Unshaken and KFC!

Hey Fam! First off,  Happy Fourth tommorow go extra hard for me please!󾓦󾓦 This week was an interesting mix. We were blessed with many miracles in our area, finding wise. On the down side, I was also sidelined for two days sick as a dog. Luckily I pulled through , but it didn't help the frustration of staring at the ceiling when we could be in the area working. It was super sweet though when some of our recent converts and investigators that live by us heard I was sick the brought us food. So awesome to know that I am loved and that the love I try to give is felt by those we work with. The miracle was with two days down we found so many great people this week. We were finally able to contact a woman we had talked to on the phone when we first got here and it turns out she was supposed to be baptized in January , but wasn't and still has the desire to learn. We also met her super cool 8-year old son, her sister and two of her nieghboors. We also had one of our members little sister come to church for the first time since we started teaching her. We have two baptisms scheduled for the 15th of July for two more of the college students. They are progressing so much! Elder Day and I had an interesting expreience the other day. We were walking through a nice part of our area and saw a nice looking young man and started talking. He was an ideal contact spoke great English, studing at University and all asking good questions. Then suddenly he turned and went on a striaght attack on us. The usual "I have figured out the world, you're young and misled, we don't know the Bible, we believe whatever..." Not that this is new to missionaries in general and we have both been around awhile so we had seen this before. Usually I'm like whatever he's not worth my time. This time it was different Me and Elder Day both felt a strong impression to stand our ground and Testify of Christ. I remember one of the Brethern said defend your beliefs with courtesy, and compasion, but Defend them. If this guy thought he could tell me I didn't know this was true and was too young to know, he couldn't have been more wrong. I am young ,but I know what I stand for and why I am here. I have seen and felt too much. Plus why would I come all this way and give up so much if I wasn't sure if I knew what I was teaching was true? I come to understand now more than ever that trials really do make us stronger. The more someone tells me no, the more they throw fuel onto the fire inside. I am 100% sure that nothing could ever shake me from my testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's all my fire this week. Tomorrow,  we all throwing in $ and were going to get a couple of buckets from the KFC here (only American thing we have) and eat together. I love you all so much!  time is flying by so fast I can't believe it's already 11 months. 

Elder Stefan Lusk 

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AL

Audrey Lusk <lusk.family@outlook.com>

The Kupus, New Jersey, befriending others and "is knee length ok?"

Sun 7/2, 8:51

Two American Boys Doing The Best That They Can...and Heavenly Father Makes Up the Rest, Even When You Don't See It, The LineBacker Missionary and eating Cheesecake and Rat

hey family! it has truly been a week of lessons in patience and seeing the small victories everyday. First things first, our investigator Chimwemwe ( means happy in chichewa) was baptised and confirmed on Sunday! She is so strong and awesome. She is a single mom who is working her way through college and the sweetest thing. From the first time we met her till her baptism was three weeks to the day! #Golden. It's amazing to see that somehow in wandering Around the streets of Blantyre someone was prepared for the Gospel of Salvation and somehow two American boys just happened to meet her and then Heavenly Father in his greatness did the rest. I love that he has a complete master plan for us and the lives that we will touch. We also got to have a great talk with a member of ours who is having s tough struggle and were able to give him some peace at that time. That was the good because the whole week before that we had about zero success. . Starting Tuesday and going into Saturday almost all our lessons fell through and there were many moments of Me and Elder Day standing on the street corner going.....ok...well....don't worry have faith the next person will be there....nope. Finally on Friday we were pretty done so we went out to a spot in our area and told ourselves for the next hour we stop everyone who passes. We say a prayer and wait. If you're listening to this talk in church you would think that it ended up we found a whole family who had been waiting for the gospel....nope. Of all the people who passed they stayed outside our area, didn't speak english, were Muslim heading to prayers. Out of one hour we only met two people who stayed in our area. As we walked away to get lunch after our area, a  funny thing happened. We didn't feel discouraged. It wasn't that the people we met were super golden or anything, but we felt good. Sometimes the outcome doesn't matter. Even when we don't see it, good is being done. I wasn,t called to teach everyone I was just called to go and work the best I could. After that we had a member come with us to see some investigators we haven't seen in awhile and they came to church. Lesson: when in the Lord's service you will be blessed if you do your part. That's not saying you get everything but you get the perspective and peace of mind of meaningful service.
For fun this week Monday night we went out for cheesecakes to send off some transferred missionaries and then tried the local dish of Imbewa. (Rat) Jk none of us were able to actually get it down but the video was pretty good. We also got some great new Missionaries in this zone. I got to catch up with Elder Almedia who was in my first district for 6 months which was cool we also have an Elder here with a scholarship to play linebacker at Utah State..the guy is  massive. So I  think good times will continue here in this zone. Well it looks like we have a great week ahead and i'm excited for it. Love you all. 

Elder Lusk 

A Special Messenger, The Atoning Power of Jesus Christ can Transform Lives, Opposition Makes us Stronger and BACON!

hey fam! it was a pretty great week here in Blantyre. Transfers came and Elder Day and I get another six weeks  here so we're  excited. Things in our area are doing well and we have some baptisms lined up. This week, though,  started super rough with dropped lessons  one after another. Wendesday we where heading home having all our plans for the day fail and little succsess contacting so needless to say I wasn't really in a mood when some random guy walks up to us and says "Man I love you guys your doing a great good" then quickly walked off again. It was a special moment for me that ensured me that whatever happens Heavanly Father SEES YOU. He knows what you need. With that, we went home relaxed a bit and prepared to hit the streets with fire and we did. Over the next few days we meet 5 new investigators, had someone commit and be interviewed for baptism for this saturday, and had a lot of fun doing it. Back to our baptism this week,  it really is a miracle. We have been teaching this woman for two weeks and she is completley 100% ready. From the time we met her till now I have truly seen the miracle of the truth of the restoration. Nothing but the truth can truly transform a life so fully tn than the atoning power of Jesus Christ and I count myself so lucky to be a witness of that. It's awesome. We also had an interesting experience with my first professed athiest here in malawi. One thing i love about Africa is there is a strong culture of faith in God...whatever the belief may be. So this was actually a first for my mission. Anyway this guy was all science and how can God actually exist? Too me it's really simple and in the moment I asked him one question "How did it all turn out perfect? Speaking scientificly how did everything in the universe, earth, anatomy all just happen to turn out exactly perfect and this life exist? Simple, the same reason every society in the world has held some belief in a higher being....it's because we do have a Father in Heavan. To me that conversation we had just strengthened my faith kind of like Jacob contending agaisnt Sherem in the Book oF Mormon where he says his faith became unshaken when he was opposed.  Oppostion just makes us stronger. For fun stuff this week this morning to say goodbye to some Elders leaving on transfers we went went to a little american style diner we found for breakfast...and they had BACON! I have too say I wasn't supper obssessed at home but after nearly 11 months you learn to miss things. Well lots of love I hope your week is bright my best wishes from all the great members here in Blantyre that send there love.

Elder Lusk

 

He Blesses Us when we Reach Out to Him in Faith, The Poverty that Plagues this Beautiful Place and Tacos

Hey Family! Chimwemwe Tsikko (Happy Day)! Things are great here in Blantyre! We had a very succsesful week. We were able to have some very great lessons and finding activities this week. We had a sweet lesson with the sister of our new branch mission leader. We had met her a few weeks ago but kept missing her at home. We finally sat down with her and she had read the whole lesson in the pamphlet, then we watched the Restoration video and then her brother started bearing his testimony and it was awesome! It's great to see this young man's example of his faith to testify to his own family. Then our sweet investigator who had a super rough week last week told us on Tuesday how Monday morning after she had come to church the day before things started going right and she felt peace again. How awesome it is to see Heavenly Father bless his children when they reach out in faith for his help. Right now we are helping her to find the right time for her to get baptized as she continues to pray and come to church. What's even better is we are currently teaching four of her friends that she introduced us to which is fantastic.
Sunday was a great day for us. Our recent convert, Nelson, blessed the sacrament for the first time and I couldn't be more proud of him. He is great. We visited his clinic for the first time and he has the conference Ensign in the waiting room, a Book of Mormon on his desk and referred his secratary to be taught! He's so golden.
 Elder day and I were also teaching the perspective Elders class and I have never seen a more dedicated group of young men. Over the years I have sat in many sunday school lessons with teenage guys and usually they are dosing, texting, and just not really bothering to learn. But these guys were amazing. We were reading D&C 4 about the attributes of missionaries and we had an amazing discusion. I mean the guys understand their priesthood responsibility to LIVE the gospel. After that lesson, I made it a goal this week to study those attributes and to specifically pray and strive to live them more in my daily life.
Sunday night we where having a zone birthday dinner at the senior couples house and me and Elder Rose our Idaho cowboy senior missionary had a great talk about the poverty that plauges this beautiful place. Honestly it can be tough to work in. It wears on your soul each day to see the conditions these people live in and their reality of little to no future. As hard as it is, Christ is the only one who can take the slum out of a person. I realized that I was trying to suffer for these people but ultimatly I can't. My suffering doesn't help them because someone already has and that is what makes all the difference. The atonement is real and it does change lives and that is why I am here.
For fun stuff this week, my comp made pancakes the other day which rocked and the Elders in the zone pooled our money and we had a taco night complete with homemade tortillas.

Love you all so much have a great week and never give up ever! life is great!

Elder Lusk

Corrupitng Him With Cheeseburgers, Turning Into A Cry Baby, Christ's Infinite Love, And Famous French Toast

Hey fam! We had a great and very busy week. To start our week we got to spend a day teaching with a young man who is preparing his mission papers. He's a great guy and he loved teaching with us. To thank him, at the end of the day we treated him to a cheeseburger and chocolate shake. It was his first expreience with it and we've corrupted him to the world of junk food now.
We are currently teaching two young women right now that room together and attend college. They are just progressing so fast! I've never seen someone grasp the Plan of Salvation so fully and quickly as them. One of them ended up going through some very hard personal issues this week. It came to a moment when we were sitting in a lesson and she started crying when we asked her and so we all sat there and cried with her. (I swear mission turned me into a cry baby). We ended up having to seriously offer some comfort to her and testify of Christ's infinite love. She ended up coming to church and brining two friends and after the meeting I saw a look of complete peace on her face. It was a sweet moment of seeing divine intervention to save a struggling soul.
On Friday we had a great zone confrence and Sister Kupu gave an amazing discussion on Jacob 5 and for the first time ever I finnaly understand it's message now that I am a full time laborer in the vineyard. It was just a very strong conference with the Kupus. I also had a nice interview with President who said he is happy with my effort and progress after 10 months and the work Elder Day and I have done resurecting an area that has been suffering for a very long time so that was good. Then on Sunday we were walking to church for our District confrence and one of the kids we know (and give candy to sometimes) walks up to me and says I'm going to church today Elder Lusk. So we walked with him to church.   But the confrence was super powerful and it was so great to see the growth of the church here in Blantyre. President Kupu fully expects it to become a stake within three years.
 For fun stuff this week,we are going to have a district breackfast featuring my now famous french toast. Funny the very first time I ever made it was about two months ago. So I loving life right now! this has been my favorite time on my mission so far and I hope it continues. Love you all. Elder Lusk

 

Washed Clean As We Are Baptized, The Rising Generation Looking to Christ, Eating A Chicken Head And Who Are We Going to Become?

Hey Fam! We had an amazing week! a great combination of hard work and fun. The biggest news is Nelson got baptised on saturday! It was awesome! we combined our baptism with two other sets of Elders and had a total of 5 baptisms together. It was one of the most spiritual baptisms i've ever been to. He's such a great man and I really felt that he was being washed clean as he was baptised. Then on Sunday I had the honor of ordaining him to the Aaronic priesthood. I know the Lord just got a powerful servant in that man.
 We met some new investigators this week through one of our members who attends one of the local colleges. I love teaching college students because they are so ready to learn and they keep there commitments to help them learn and progress. It's great to see the rising generation looking to Christ for answers to life's questions when so much of the world choses not to.
On Sunday we had a specail fireside put on by a visiting senior couple that works for the church's public affairs for the Africa southeast area. The fireside was all about using social media to help spread the gospel. That's something the church has been working on the last few years but is still catching up on out here. It was a great presentation and I feel like that could be a great tool for the work in this area. I got talking to the senior Elder and he's been around. they had served their first mission in Cambodia and he had served in Army Specail Forces back in the day. Really neat guy. This coming week is pretty crazy. We have exchanges, zone confrence on Friday, Baptism for one of our amazing investigators named Eddah saturday morning, and District conference on Saturday and Sunday. I'm looking forward to it despite the crazy schedule.
For fun stuff this week, this morning we went to an international trade show with a ton of craftsmen from various African countries and that was pretty cool. Funny story. So the other night we were eating dinner at another missionary's flat and we made fried chicken. So it get my plate and I have a stranged shaped piece. I've eaten enough village chicken to not care to much so it start eating and it's super tough, bony, and has wierd stuffing in it. Turns out those guys gave me the chicken head to see if I would eat it. Well I can now say I've eaten chicken head.
The other day I came across a quote about missions. "You had eternity to prepare for it, you'll have eternity to reflect on it, and only two years to live it".  Put that into perspective and you realize how short of a time you have to serve and the question my companion and I pondered durning comp study the other day is "who am I goning to be when I step off that plane". So to each of us: who are we going to become with what we have been given? Think about it. 

Logve you all so much

Elder Lusk

Going All "Bear Gryles", Life Is Beautiful Sometimes, Reading Vs Studying and Now I'm Stuck Cooking

Hey fam! it was a pretty amazing week here. We had the most sucessful week we have had here in Blantyre. For starters, this morning we went all  "Bear Gryles" and climbed the highest peak in Blantyre (about 5,100 ft.). It was crazy! our member "guide" didn't actually know the trail so we bushwacked the whole thing. Literally trecking through brush and throrns for three hours. Although the view from the top peak was absolutly amazing. You could look out and see the whole valley sprawled out way below your feet feeling on top of the world. It was one of those moments that just takes your breath away and you think man.....life is beautiful sometimes.
As far as the work, we did amazing. After a few average weeks we said "man forget this let's go hard this week. And we did. We met a strong part member  family to start teaching. Then we stumbled upon a gold mine of a family who is from Mozambique and just came here and then they all came to church after one meeting! We also had our Doctor pass his baptism interview so he will get baptized on saturday. I'm so happy for him! he's such a great, humble man who really just has a pure, and loving heart and a desire to help people. He has been so great to teach! I think we only had four lessons with him and by himself he  learned the gospel by reading the things we gave him and praying about them. I just love it when people actually have the faith to do what we invite them to do to grow closer to Christ.
Then on Sunday my comp and I got to teach in young mens. We have a great group of young men here. Just strong, faithful boys all first generation recent converts who want to serve the Lord. They are going to be a big part of the future of the church here in Malawi as leaders once we get stakes, wards, or even it's own mission someday.
 This week I was really trying to improve my personal study and noticed a big difference in the work daily as I started the day by really focusing in on the scriptures instead on just reading. There is power in the art of proper preperation no matter what the situation.
For fun stuff I was acknowleged as the best cook in the four of us that stay in our house so that's cool cause i've really been learning a lot  about cooking. bad news is now I get stuck cooking a lot. Best wishes and all my love to ya'll!!!

Elder Lusk

Show Them the Love, Learning to Testify and the Power of Grit

hey! so great to talk yesterday. So for more on the past week. We had a great time this week. We had a record three dinner appointments this week and a breakfast appointment. Blessings for the work. We also had one of our investigators come to church this week for the first time and they  had a very positive experience with that. We actualy worked out a deal with them. It was their birthday on saturday and we suprised them with a big home made chocalte birthday cake and a firm commitment to come to church. Something I've learned is the more people feel loved the more they will respond the way you want them to.
We also got three referrals from current investigators this week which is great to see people who are learning to invite others to join them in their spiritual growth. We also got a new branch president in our branch and from the first coordination meeting we had with him yesterday, I can tell he really has vison for this branch and can help provide the leadership and support that can really help the work here. We also held our first fireside on Saturday with a missionary theme helping the members learn how to feel comfortable teaching others about the Restoration and then allowed them to open up and bear their testimonies of how the gospel has blessed their families. It was a very powerful time and the spirit was very strong. I also had my favorite kid climbing on me the whole time. On sunday Elder Rose, one of the senior missionaries, gave a really good talk on the Godly virtue of grit. He spoke of how grit is that inner fire that pushes on and says " I will never quit." and the strength, hope, and persaverance that is so powerfully shown throughout the sciprtures by a number of individuals including our Savior himself. Listening to that, I thought of all the examples of grit I have seen here and how I can work to strengthen the gift of grit throughout life. When in doubt say a prayer then work like it's all up to you with the faith that it's all up to Him. I love you all so much. 

Love Elder Lusk

Helping a 17 Year Old Who Just Lost His Father, We Fear No Man, and Can't Wait for Calzones!

Hey Fam! We had a very succsesful week here! We started the week by meeting with the family of one of our members who recently lost his father. As hard of an event as that is, I looked into this 17 year old boys eyes and saw the knowlege of the Plan of Salvation glowing in his eyes. We are now teaching his mother, sister and brother with his help. That was a super sweet experieence.
 We also got to go teach with our district president who is a very nice man. We went to see our recent convert and it was great!  our district president was telling him about how he was introduced to church by some friends, was baptized, finished his accounting degree, served a mission, came home got married had a family, and served in the church. Which is the exact point that this young recent convert is at just baptized and study accounting at the university. It was just powerful for him to get a glimpse of his potential from a man who has been where he has been.
 In our study, my companion and I set a goal to be more bold this week so we ended up putting 4 people on date for baptism this week. Every morning we would say we fear no man then go get to work. The most rewarding was Nelson. Nelson is a Doctor who is getting married soon and he has been the most humble man i have ever taught so far. he came to church yesterday and practicly ended up teaching the lesson in gospel principles. He is truly someone that our heavenly Father placed in our path because he has big plans for. I fully expect him to become a leader here for the church. We also just found a whole bunch of people who had been visited by missionaries nearly two years ago that we had no idea even existed so that was a bit of a pleasent suprise for us. We are also busy planning for a series of weekly fireside devotionals that we will be having here. In talking to the local leaders they would like us to help reteach all the gospel principles to the members here to increase basic understanding so we will be using weekly devotionals to hopefully also inspire some greater activity and member missionary work. So we're hoping that all goes well and we have people come out to these. So for fun stuff this week, one of our missionaries here Elder Harmon from Orgeon is pretty handing in the kitchen and is going to be making calzones for dinner this week and I am pumped out of my mind for that like you have no idea. Look forward to skyping on Sunday!

Love you all so much I hope this week bri9ngs blessings and smiles to all

Love Elder Lusk

Zebras, Elephants and Hippos, The Wedding Party, Knowing You've Been Part of God's Work and New Eyes

Hey fam! This week was great. Big news first:  this morning we woke up at five and spent all day out at a wildlife park just south of here. So it was awesome! The senior couple drove our district down and we had a blast. We saw a large selection of wild boar, antelope, baboons, zebra, stood on a river bank about fifty feet from a group of hippos, and at one point we were surounded by a family of huge elephants and then the young cocky bull started advancing hard towards the van so we booked it out of there. We also hiked up a huge hill and got a great 360 view of the Majete Valley which was truly amazing. When the pictures come through i'll send them. It was just a great time to relax and really enjoy the beauty of African wildlife up close and personal. So much fun.

 This week I also attended my first african wedding. Man, africans can properly throw a wedding in the gym of a church!   Dancing, singing, throwing money, tons of food. Seriously i've never seen a more energetic wedding. I love that about Africans; they just have a zeal for life.

The rest of the week was a little slow. my companion was sick for about half the week so we had a lot of down time letting him rest. That also gave me a ton of time to do a lot of reflecting and study on my mission so far and what the rest will bring then have great discusiions with my comp (who's a little older and wiser on mission on those goals.) Honestly, the last nine months have disappeared way too fast. In the area, though, on Sunday we got to give talks, along with our recent convert, who was baptized on Easter. you would think giving your first sacrament talk as a member of the church would be tough but he testified so beautifully and powerfully about the Plan of Salvation. It was one of those times when you know that you have been part of God's work when someone truly changes there life. I LOVE IT. We also found the first two story house I've ever seen here and are teaching the family. Might not seem a big deal to all those in the states but that's super rare. Especaily if you saw my first area. Plus we found a nice self- reliant family to teach!  Overall I just feel very blessed to have "new eyes". I remember seeing a quote once that said "you can either look at everything as a miracle or nothing". I have found more and more that just about everything in life is so wonderfully miraculous we just need to pray to have the eyes to see them, the heart to feel them, and the hands to make them and then we will see the influence of God every single moment we can. My best wishes and love to you guys!

P.s so turns out hippos make noises like chainsaws....who knew

Elder Lusk 

 

 

 

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Mon 4/24, 9:13 AM

Toss It Out, Bring a Solution and The Simple Joys of the Days

hey fam its been another great week here in Blantyre with the usual ups and downs of the work but with plenty of laughs in between. So me and Elder are loving our time together and we're starting to make some good progress in our area. White washing can be kind of frustrating and slow at times but we are learning how to work hard and look at the small sgins of succses as we work. We might only get to teach two people a day but we're meeting alot of great people, helping them change and creating networks in the area. We told ourselves whenever there is the tempataion to bring up a problem or complaint toss it out and bring up a solution instead.
 Right now we are teaching a number of university students which is an interesting change but they're great. They're young, smart, passioanate, and looking for answers and identity so as far as teaching the gospel, they are great to work with. We are planning on baptizing two of them this sunday so we are excited about that. We also got a nice dinner appiontment with them the other day which was fun. This week we also got to watch confrence which was very powerful and I really learned alot. It was also a cool experience watching it with our investigators. sitting with them as they hear the Prophet and apsotles testify of Christ really brought a special spirit in the chapel that I had never felt while watching confrence because i was not just watching but seeking to learn and not just for me but for the people i'm teaching. We're also planning to have some branch activites in the next few weeks to try to encourage more attendance and participation in the branch which i'm excited about taking that oppurtunity to get to know the branch a lot better and enjoy the company. I realize I don't have alot to write about this week but it's getting hard to describe just the simple joy of the days out here and how they are all just starting to blur together and time is flying. We are having a zone easter dinner on sunday so i'm really looking forward to that and we possibly might get to go visit Mount Mulanje next monday which is the second highest peak in Africa so thats exiting. Love you all

Elder Lusk

From Green, Fresh and Young to Experienced, Mature and Confident, Fist Pumping Behind the Pew and Ancient Prophets Going to the Mountains

Hey fam It's been a great week here in beautiful Blantyre! First of all,, yes I did get the package and man it was great to get the shoes as mine are just about done.
 So the week started with a great zone confrence and then me and Elder Day hit the streets learning our area more. We actualy know our way around now and only got lost once. We also had some success contacting some former investigators who readily agreed to meet with us again which is nice especialy because they had been contacted previously by sisters so at least we know their names are  not just taken down and they really actually are intrestested in learning from us. We also had this guy just come up and start talking to us and invited us to come teach him when we were eating lunch today. he's a retired police commander and he said he could even join the church if he likes what we teach so lets see. I also went on exchanges this week with Elder Tidwell who was also trained in my first distrcict in Lilongwe and was my temporary companion over christmas. That was fun cathcing up and laughing about how we were once these two green fresh young missionaries and now we are expeirienced, mature confident teachers and that was kind of cool. The biggest miracle came with these three guys we are teaching. They are all going to college together and are supper smart. We went to see them on saturday and spent about an hour and a half answering thier questions and testifying to them. Then on Sunday they all came to church and remarkably all the testimonies that where given where excatly the questions they had the day before and they got to hear it from their neighboors and friends who have taken the same steps that we were inviting them to do and testifying of it.  It was one of those times where me and Elder Day just fist pumped behind the pew...something we do a lot. we think alot alike,the two of u,s and we really enjoy it. The spirit was really strong and You could feel that they where really touched by that and so we look forward to thier progression in the gospel. We also had a less active sister we had been seeing come to teach and bear her testimony which was also very touching. For fun stuff this week: on saturday we had one of my favorite traditions and had a big BBQ for some missionaries hitting thier one year mark which was a blast as usual just enjoying some time together in one of the most specail and unique brotherhoods in the world. We also went out this morning to a big open air market and me and my comp bought matching futbol jersey's. All in all I'm really enjoying Blantyre it's really refreshing being around mountains. Something I've always felt and have been reading about was how many times in the sciptures the ancient prophets would go to the mountains to speack with God and I'v always felt that same spiritual conection looking at the majesty of his creations in the mountains. 

Lots of love too everyone

Elder Lusk

Heading to Beautiful Blantyre, I Took His Hat, Hit By a Spiritual 2x4, and The Kind of Love I'm Trying to Develop

Hey fam! Bit of a crazy week  with a crazier one ahead. First thing first, transfers news came in (already that fast) and I'll be heading down south to the mountains of Blantyre. Thats right, my time here in Lilongwe is over and I am needed elsewhere. Totally surprising because i've only been in this area for six weeks but I am excited to head to Blantyre. Ever since our trip down there in December I've wanted to return so I'm happy. It's kind of weird leaving this place after seven months I have really come to know and love this place and no matter where I go I will always remember Lilongwe as the place that built me. I don't know my area or companion yet but I guess i'll find out soon I believe we will be taking the bus down tomorrow morning. So next week expect some pictures of the mountains.

. SO for the work this week we had a big turnaround with a young man who said he would not be baptized and then he ended up having a change of heart and will be baptized on Saturday. I'm sad I won't be here for that but I am very happy for his decision and how that will bless his life.\

 I went on a great exchange this week with one of my best friends here Elder Stark who is actually coming down to Blantyre with me. Anyway we had a crazy day got lost, drank lots of coke, contacted a ton of people, and met a crazy guy. One guy was just sitting there and I reached over and took his hat as we walked by (love Malawi you can just do that without getting hit) and we ended up teaching him and had a great lesson. We also had a finding activity at a local mall that led to over 40 people requesting visits and materials from the missionaries which will hopefully produce some results. I also had a very humbling experience the other day we were in the area and me and my comp were struggling that day. Things weren't working out and patience was wearing thin, and I found myself just frustrated and mad. Walking around there feeling miserable we stopped by to see a member and found his daughter at home very sick with him stuck at work. We called him and he asked us to give her a blessing. As we stood there united in seeking the spirit to bless this suffering child of God the spirit came and just gave me a spiritual two by four and I felt all my pride and anger leave as I realize why we where there Heavenly Father put us at that time to bless one of his children and in my weakness I had only been focusing on my own needs. I was also humbled on Sunday as I received such an outpouring of love from the branch here after only spending six weeks here they embraced me like a son as I told them I was leaving to go to Blantyre. It's that kind of love that I am trying to develop just a pure whole hearted selfless love for everyone.  Anyway I love you all and hope that your coming week will be great stay chill next week i'll write from Blantyre. 

Love Elder Lusk

AL

 

Singing With a Fellow Christian Brother on a Bus, The Amazing Apostle Paul and Nothing Compares to Life on a Mission

fam Hows it going? The weeks are flying by like nothing here and we have been very busy. Funny thing is as busy as we are I can hardly remember anything that happened this week. Well, we had a fun day on tuesday where we went and visited one of our members who is recovering from an almost fatal bout of malaria. He is a great guy an RM with a young family of two adoarble twin 11 month old boys. We came with food and I grilled  some burgers and played with his kids while helping around the house. It was just a great time serving our brother for awhile. Apart from that, it was alot of finding and teaching for us. We met a few awesome new people and are working with some very nice families that are progressing towards baptism. We also had to drop a few people latley but sometimes you just do all you can do then just have to move on anyway. Had a funny moment the other day sitting in the bus talking with some guy and he was telling me how he gets to lead the praise at his church next thing you know you got the two of us belting out amazing grace. Now that makes people stop and stare! Good times. We also got to work closely with the local branch leadership this week getting ready for a joint branch/missionary finding activity that we are going to be holding at a local shopping center this weekend. The district leaders here came up with the idea from and our zone leaders quickly supported the plan so we were working to prepare/train some of the members who will participate in the missionary approach and contacting stratagies. It's very exciting to see the local church leaders and members stepping up and enthusiastically seeking to continue in the growth of the church here in Lilongwe. As far as personal growth I have been reading about the apostle Paul and looking at his leadership style. Man there was a man that had his work cut out for him and plenty of opposition but faced everything with a fire of faith and direct commitment that made people listen to him. His bold testimony is something that I hope to try to develop in my time here.  Man life on a mission...........nothing else compares.
Love
Elder Lusk

The Kids Walked Two Hours to Get to Church, Singing WIth Gusto and Crying Tears of Joy....over Spaghetti

Hey fam! I  had a really great week that went by too fast but it  was a good one. 

 We met alot of new people to teach this week and had some good lessons.  I also love how dedicated people here can be.  we had 8 kids ages 7-16 walk for two hours to get to church and were early (something africans don't do well) and they brought their neighboors to church with their parents. That was very humbling to see their strength and faithfulness. We also are partipating in an english class at our branch where we have about six students that walk to church to learn english and they are learning fast too. My favorite experience this week came when we where with one of my favorite families ever. The mom is one of the happiest people i've ever meet. She is kinda your stereo-typical big black crazy southern mama...but she's african so funny. We love singing hymns with them cause she just belts them out with so much gusto in here off key broken englsih. Anyway it had been a long kinda tough day with a lot of drops and some frustrating lessons and I was tired and not really in much of a mood when she brought out a suprise dinner. I was expecting the usual Malawian fair of nshima, vegatables, beans, and maybe meat. We she open the pot to reveal and big spagehthi dinner! Honestly I cried tears of joy. It caught me off guard and was exactly what I needed. After a tough day nothing is better than a big mamma cooked plate of spagehti just like home. Now i've eaten pently here when I make it at our flat but that's the first time I;ve had someone make it for me (and that is not usaual african food). man it compelty made my day and I'll tell you what my siging was pretty livley after that. Just one of thoose little moments that shows you that God knows you. It was like in the sciptures when when the Lord sent guardian angels to strengthen his servants. For fun stuff........man plenty of fun times we live next door to the zone leaders and we practically moved in because our a/c went but man we have fun times cooking, bro talk and the works and we are having a BBQ tonight with some other elders. But yea the work of God will go forth bodly, nobly, and independent, till it reaches everyone and if it's meant to be its up to me. Love you all

Elder Lusk

The Savior's Mortal Ministry, Washing Clothes with a Grandma, and Will You Name Our Cat?

Hey fam...... the weeks are going so fast. We had a pretty good week! our area is progressing pretty well and we are meeting a lot of new people. The weather behaved well this week which was pretty refreshing for a change. The last few weeks have really tuaght me a lot of lessons. Coming to a new area with a new companion and a new branch definitely forces you to change and adapt to your new enviorment. I think Heavenly Father knew I needed to come here and humble myself a bit fom my previous area. The past two weeks I found myself getting frustrated and irritated over things beyond my control. Sometimes you can't change the way things are and how certain situations and people turn out. You can change your attitude and outlook. This week I really just tried to lose myself in thoose little moments and find the joy in the simple things. The more i've read the scriptures the more i've come to see that the Savior's mortal ministry was defined by the simple random acts of service and finding the teaching moments in the simple things in life. This week I tried to do that and found a lot of joy that lifted my spirit. It came in many ways sweeping out a random porch, cooking with one of our investigators, washing clothes with an old grandma who didn't speak a lick of english, and the simple laugh of those darn street kids that kill my heart. At one point this week we were sitting on this dusty porch in the rain with some people we where teaching and i was craddling a little kitten in my lap. When they started saying "We don't understand you come here sit on our dirty porch, play with our animals, cook with us azhungu's (white people) dont just do that here!" And I just told them how much I love them that I didn't care about any of that stereotypes. They ended up having me name their kitten for them.......heheheh let's just say someone in our family now has a cat in Malawi named after them. Little moments like that just reasure me that this is where i'm supposed to be. Despite all my stupid weaknesses, or how frustrated I get with some things at times it's all worth it. Let's see, for fun times this week I made a big thing of mashed potatoes the other night that just hit the spot perfectly. We also played a fun game of street soccer in our area the other day with some misionaries and kids durning an interview for one of our investigators. Well not much else this week still living the dream here in Lilongwe have fun stay chill God bless

Elder Lusk