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