Week #39 - A lot has happened these past 2 weeks!
I met with President Senna. He is a hard working Pres. He keeps us working hard. Our goals are 30 contacts a day, 10 lessons a day, and we need to prepare and train Melchizedek Priesthood holders. We have a branch here in Napipini and we are in a District. To have a Stake we have to have more Melchizedek Priesthood holders. He is firm with the Missionaries and he keeps things going.
We were able to watch General Conference! It was in Portuguese, but I was glad to hear it. My favorite talks were Elder Stevens, Pres Nelsens, & Elder Hollands. Our branch is stronger than my last area. They doing all the teaching and pass the sacrament. We usually baptize and confirm the members. Our Branch President served a mission in Zimbabwe. He is awesome. We have about 80 people coming to church. Victor from Nacala moved down here and is in my area.
Guess what? I got sick from some food or something and kept throwing up during the night. When I went to walk back to my bed I remember trying to turn on the light and then the next thing I know I wake up in the morning in my bed and my head hurt and I had a big bump. I must have blacked out and hit the floor and hit my head. I had a bad black eye. They took me to the hospital the next day. I don't like the hospital here. He looked in my eyes and then said I needed more water and not to do any more activity and to stay in bed for a day. He never checked my head. Then I had to pay $1,000 meticals. Just for looking in my eyes! I felt sick for about 3 or 4 days, but I am doing better now.
The energy went out again and Elder Johnson and I couldn't take it any more. We decided to sleep outside. It felt like a sauna in our house. The bugs were everywhere, they didn't get me too bad, but they attacked Elder Johnson. The sky at night here is amazing. The stars look beautiful.
We had to get to town today and the chapa was packed! No one else could fit in the van. But we had to get to town and that was the only way we could do it, so Elder Jennings and I rode holding on to the outside of the van. It was crazy scary! My legs started to cramp and I was afraid I was not going to be able to keep holding on and then the van would slow down. We made it. The white handbook that we read during companionship study? We can hardly follow any of the rules here. We just have to do what the people do here to survive.
All day when we walk around people give us Thumbs up! They also give us handshakes completely different. You place your hand together and rub your thumbs and snap your hands back. There are tons of dogs here. They are unhealthy and they keep to themselves. I am tired of the crows. They bug. The area we are in is confusing and huge. I am learning to get around better. Some of the poorer people live in mud huts and others live in stronger homes. The people make bricks or they sell fruit or veggies on the side of the road. I am not sure how the people survive here. Many of them do not work at all.
We are teaching 4 people right now. Tanya, Sergio, Apollo, and Abu. We try every day to do our 30 contacts and 10 lessons, but some days we don't make it! I do feel less tired than I used to. We eat Ramon every day. I love our morning study and companionship study together. We do some planning in the morning too. My companion does really good with Portuguese. With the new rule that you can only talk in Portuguese and not English all day every day, I think that has helped a lot. In fact I am dreaming in Portuguese now! It is weird I will see things back home, but I hear it or know it in Portuguese.
Don't worry, I am doing good. The missionaries are tough here and we are seeing the hand of the Lord in our lives. I am just grateful to make it through the chapa ride each week and when we have energy. Hopefully you are well. Go Toronto! I think Madison had some influence on them!!
Com Amor, Elder Rees
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