First. I would love a couple
pictures! I want to see what dad looks like! I have heard he looks quite
different! Taylor did send a package and it had a little 4x6 of our
family picture! That is nice to have! Actually she sent a whole bunch of
pictures! It was great to get them! Good to see everyone's faces again!
Haha! It also makes talking to companions about people a lot easier
because now I have pictures so they can connect faces with stories! It
makes it more interesting!
Anyway.
I heard you guys went trail running while in Ely! I am so jealous of
that! I also heard of your snake experience! Yuck! That is not cool! I
would love to go train running here, but first, Elder Rako doesn't
really work out! I guess he used to run marathon's back home, but he
doesn't want to run anymore. So there has been no running for me since I
left Elder Wilkinson. It is odd, and probably something you probably
would have never expected to hear from me, but I miss running! Probably
because there is no way I can go swimming, so running is the next
closest! Haha! But I am sure there are great places to go trail running
here. But the problem is snakes. In SA there are these snakes called
Black Mamba's and I guess Green Mamba's too. But they are very
poisonous. And there are supposedly a ton in my area. I have yet to see
one, which makes me very happy. I would probably never leave our flat if
I saw one. So it's good that I haven't! Blessings from heaven?
Okay.
Next. We have exchanges again this week. I went back to Nelspruit with
Elder Mukasa this time. Because Elder Brackett had to interview our
baptismal candidates. Anyway. The split was fine. Nothing too exciting.
But I did miss KaNyamazane again.
The
next excitement happened on..Well I guess it was the morning that we
switched companions for the exchange. We were at the grocery store with
our branch president. He had to pick up food for a family in the branch.
Anyway. We went early in the morning. So we weren't dressed up. I was
just in sweats and a hoodie. I was picking up some food as well. I had a
bunch of stuff in my arms and this kid came and talked to me. All of
the sudden he was talking about pants and then he was like feeling mine.
I don't really know. I was kind of annoyed because I was trying to pick
out a candy bar, and that needed my full concentration! Plus he didn't
speak English too well, so I didn't want to carry on the conversation
too badly. Anyway, I looked down at what he was doing to my pants. Then
out of the corner of my eye I saw someone watching. So I looked. It was
only Elder Rako. But by the time I looked back down at my pants. The kid
had stopped. And he just walked away. I grabbed my candy bar and then
felt my pocket. Realizing that I had been totally oblivious to what he
was actually doing. He was pick-pocketing me! He stole our phone!
Luckily it wasn't my wallet with my cards, money, license and copy of my
passport! But still!
Anyway.
That was dramatic. But in the end, it all worked out. The Zone Leaders
were making the long journey down to KaNyamazane to give us the Zone
Meeting details that they had given the week before, and to go on splits
with Nelspruit and us. So they just brought us a new phone. It was good
to have the miniature Zone Meeting. It was a good motivation to work
harder. We needed it. Basically Elder Rako has been having a rough time
because he is so close to going home. (Only about three months) and his
uncle who has been serving in Ivory Coast is going home today. So he has
been struggling to find motivation. But this was a good motivator for
me, and hopefully we will start working harder this week. That has been
my goal. To work harder. There is a lot of time that is being wasted.
And I don't like that. The thing we need to realize is that the time
will go by faster if we are working. And get wrapped up in the work. So I
am trying to give Rako a little fire before mine dies out! Haha!
So
Zone Leaders. We were with Elder Searle. He is a nice enough kid. From
Idaho. He only has one more transfer left. So about one month! Well a
little over a month! I guess almost two months. Okay. So he has eight
weeks. There we go! Haha! Anyway. One annoying thing. I was working out
in the morning. He was as well. But then, in the middle of my workout he
comes in and says, "Want a good ab work out?". Umm. No. I don't. What I
want is to finish mine. I didn't say that. I just kind of looked at
him. So he brings all of this stuff in where I am working out and takes
over my workout! The stuff we did was good. But still. Don't disturb me!
Haha! No, in reality, it was fine. But just a funny story I guess.
Oh here is a bonus. He fixed our
shower! We have been waiting for a plumber. Because the shower was
broken. So because I refuse to take baths (because that is pretty
disgusting) I have been showering with a cup for the past four weeks.
But now the shower is fixed! Hallelujah!
Here was another bright thing from this
week. Taylor sent me a package and it arrived! So the ZL's brought it
down! I was so happy! So fun to get stuff in the mail! But I basically
have just been pigging out the past couple of days on the candy she
sent! She also sent a whole bunch of pictures with stuff written on the
backs! It was so fun! I love having pictures to actually look at! And
memories! To remind me that my life is still happening. That I haven't
actually been stuck in this black hole my whole life! Haha! Even if it
feels like an eternity some times! Haha! I really do like it here
though. Don't worry!
This coming Sunday we should be having
four baptisms! George and his son Pascal, and Alex and Mandela! I am
excited! They are too! I hope everything goes smoothly! We have a
portable font that we use I guess! It has worked, I just hope it works
this week! We had eleven people come to church Yesterday. So that was
promising! I hope they all continue to grow and learn and love the
church like I do!
I am so thankful for this gospel. I am
thankful to know that I have a Father in Heaven that loves me and is
watching over me and helping me. Especially on the hard days. It is good
to feel the little pushes he gives when it feels like I don't feel
motivated enough! I am so thankful for the family I have at home and the
love and support they give me! Some days I feel like these two years
are never going to end. But then I realize that four months have already
come and gone! The next few will feel the same. And before I know it,
this adventure will be over and I will be home! I just hope I can make
the most of this time I have in Africa!
I love you so much mom. I love you and
miss you a ton! Especially this past week! But I know, like I said,
before we know it I will be home! I love you so much! Thank you for all
that you do!
Love,
Turner
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