Week #24 - They have Nothing, but they are Happy.

Its been a pretty good week! We are headed down to Maputo this week, very excited! Well we had 60 people this week at church and 2 baptisms, the work here is just going well.  I baptised a man named Andre, a really cool guy in his 20's. I don’t knock on doors for tracking because no one has a door.  We stand at the edge of their property and call out, “Com licenca.” (excuse me) to the people.  That is how we get their attention and hope that they will speak with us.  Not sure how to describe what it looks like here, think Africa, haha.  There are lots of trails to walk and brick buildings (different from our brick) with straw roofs.  We teach an average of six lessons a day.  That is probably the same as Elder Thornton & Elder Latu. 

On P-day we shop for like 2 hours and then email for like 7 hours because the internet stinks - it is snail slow.  At night we go out to eat at a restaurant, that fills our day with travel in between.  It is kinda a lame P-day compared to the ones I had in Florida.   

The African people are generally happy.  It is hard for them because tons of people don’t have work so its rough on the families and getting married and stuff.  People out here don’t have anything! Like nothing, nothing, just one thing of clothing and that is it!  I really need to focus on just loving the people.  It is hard when I am still just trying to understand what they are saying.  But i think over time I will come to love the people more. 

There are a few things that they do differently here.  One is everyone gives thumbs up all the time.  They also say, "bom Dia" (good morning) and "boa noite" (goodnight) to us often.  Just a different way to say hello and good bye.  They also dance really different. You need to ask Elder Grange and Thornton to show you their moves when they get home, haha!    I thought I would hear a bunch of African music, but I usually hear music in english which is way awesome.  I heard the song Perfect the other day and I always hear the songs from The Greatest Showman.  It makes me wanna cry.

We teach english class on Thursdays at 6 and they love that. I do sometimes see them playing on drums not much though.  I don’t have one, but I will have to save and bring one home with me.  It’s still really difficult with all the walking and stuff and the heat and bugs, but i can handle it.  Tuesday mornings are hard getting back to work and walking for like 7-8 hours a day.  I feel like my testimony and portuguese are getting better though.  So that makes me happy.

I think the greatest lessons I have learned so far is:

~ That I need to be more humble and willing to do hard things.  

~  That the Book of Mormon is Truly the Word of God.  There is great power in that Book that comes into my life every day I open it and share its message or read and study from it.  It is a big part in changing the lives of the people here.  I love it so much.

But really here in Nacala it’s just work, work,work!!  Then we go back to our place, with the other missionaries, hang out, study, and try to sleep.   It’s the mission life. It is way hard and I’m exhausted everyday, but I’m in the Lord’s hands, so all is well.

Thanks for the prayers and the love back at home.  I’ll  keep you guys in my prayers too!

Com amor,

Elder Rees