The All Day All American P-Day
This week was a busy one. Unfortunately we had a lot of visa work to do and I got sick so we didn't get to work much done. Still it was enjoyable.
It started with p-day. We had learned from zone conference we needed to go in and fill out forms to claim residency here in Mozambique (our visas only last two months). Also all of the missionaries going home would be having their "trunky p-day." This worked out great because all of the missionaries who needed to do visa work have dying (going home) companions (or in one case, their companion had to go to Beira to do their visa work). So the four of us America Missionaries met up the night before and prepared for the next day.
It was a pretty fun day, we started by going shopping and eating at a restaurant. Then we went back to get our papers ready. Then we went to the immigration office. But first we needed to print some papers we would receive from one of the office Elders. Fortunately there was a printing store right across the street. Eventually we got our papers and were ready to go in. Well, we found out you need pants to go in. And it being p-day and you know, hot, we were all wearing shorts. Except... for Elder Thornock who was crazy enough to wear sweats. So he had to be the one to go in. So while he was inside we waited anxiously outside. Out of all of us, only one of us spoke good Portuguese and it was Elder Maynard. This fact definitely made it a little more stressful. Eventually, he came out and explained that there was a small error in the papers and that they wouldn't be accepted. We also found out the office closed in 30 minutes and that if we didn't finish the papers today there would be a late fee of about $30. We quickly let the office Elders know and they got to fixing it. They had let us know that there probably wouldn't be enough time but we would wait until it closed.
About two minutes before closing we got the corrected papers. Printed them and gave them to Elder Thornock. He ran across the street and got inside. About a minute later, the guards closed the gate to the office. This was it, if the papers were good, we would be ready to get our residencies, if not we would have to come back tomorrow and pay a fine. After what felt like forever Elder Thornock came out triumphant. We had gotten our approval!
The rest of the day was just fun, our visa work had counted towards our proselyting hours that day so we would still have the rest of our p-day. We had gone shopping earlier and Elder Maynard had bought a travel addition Monopoly game. So we would spend our evening playing that. When we opened we discovered that while it was a complete monopoly game, it was super messed up. Like it was as if a monkey had translated every part of the game. Park Place was now Peace Street, you would collect $2,000 for passing Go and the rules were almost illegible. It was honestly hilarious. Our favorite was a chance card that proudly declared "Advance to Christ Redeemer" instead of "Advance to Community Chest." Google translate would have done significantly better than whatever translated this. The game itself was pretty disappointing. Turns out monopoly still isn't very fun to play. Elder Maynard and Gale had a lot more experience playing and were doing really good, but they ended up broke and giving their properties to Elder Thornock. I was doing alright but when your opponent owns 90% of the board, the game is over.
The next day Elder Icaro and I did some good work in our area. Then on Wednesday we met with the Americans again to get the last of our work done. This time we just had to wait for like three hours in the immigration office and by the end of the day, only two of ours paper work was done (but of course we would have to wait a few days to pick it up). We also ate lunch at the restaurant again.
And turns out that restaurant food made me sick because the next day I threw it all up. I think I just got unlucky because the restaurant we went to is pretty nice.
But if I had a nickel for every time I had gotten sick in Africa, I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice (so far). I guess it's just a testament of the difficulties of living here. Also to compare, in the six months I was in California I never really got sick.
Darn, I have already written a lot. Well the rest of the week was good. We have a really cool family we are working with. They have a couple of kids and a lot of family living with them, so every lesson it feels like a different set of people. But they are super nice (and pretty well off) and give us juice or soda each time we visit. The parents are pretty invested and come to church each week. The kids are interested too but their attendance is a little less consistent.
It definitely is still a challenge speaking Portuguese. I am not one to talk much, but Elder Icaro and I do not talk a lot. Like we can talk, but we can't have a conversation we both enjoy. It definitely makes it hard but we are working on it. One scripture that talks a lot about this is Ether 12:27. It promises that if we turn to God with humility, he can make our weaknesses strengths. Right now as a missionary, I have a lot of weaknesses, I am not good at speaking Portuguese, teaching or taking the lead on things. But, when I work hard, pray to God, and remain humble. I will become great. Enoch is a great example of this promise, he wasn't very good at talking, but because of his faith and humility, God made him incredible. So great were his words that he could move mountains (Moses 7:13).
Also there is a hurricane moving into Beira this next week. I have been told it will get pretty windy here.
It started with p-day. We had learned from zone conference we needed to go in and fill out forms to claim residency here in Mozambique (our visas only last two months). Also all of the missionaries going home would be having their "trunky p-day." This worked out great because all of the missionaries who needed to do visa work have dying (going home) companions (or in one case, their companion had to go to Beira to do their visa work). So the four of us America Missionaries met up the night before and prepared for the next day.
It was a pretty fun day, we started by going shopping and eating at a restaurant. Then we went back to get our papers ready. Then we went to the immigration office. But first we needed to print some papers we would receive from one of the office Elders. Fortunately there was a printing store right across the street. Eventually we got our papers and were ready to go in. Well, we found out you need pants to go in. And it being p-day and you know, hot, we were all wearing shorts. Except... for Elder Thornock who was crazy enough to wear sweats. So he had to be the one to go in. So while he was inside we waited anxiously outside. Out of all of us, only one of us spoke good Portuguese and it was Elder Maynard. This fact definitely made it a little more stressful. Eventually, he came out and explained that there was a small error in the papers and that they wouldn't be accepted. We also found out the office closed in 30 minutes and that if we didn't finish the papers today there would be a late fee of about $30. We quickly let the office Elders know and they got to fixing it. They had let us know that there probably wouldn't be enough time but we would wait until it closed.
About two minutes before closing we got the corrected papers. Printed them and gave them to Elder Thornock. He ran across the street and got inside. About a minute later, the guards closed the gate to the office. This was it, if the papers were good, we would be ready to get our residencies, if not we would have to come back tomorrow and pay a fine. After what felt like forever Elder Thornock came out triumphant. We had gotten our approval!
The rest of the day was just fun, our visa work had counted towards our proselyting hours that day so we would still have the rest of our p-day. We had gone shopping earlier and Elder Maynard had bought a travel addition Monopoly game. So we would spend our evening playing that. When we opened we discovered that while it was a complete monopoly game, it was super messed up. Like it was as if a monkey had translated every part of the game. Park Place was now Peace Street, you would collect $2,000 for passing Go and the rules were almost illegible. It was honestly hilarious. Our favorite was a chance card that proudly declared "Advance to Christ Redeemer" instead of "Advance to Community Chest." Google translate would have done significantly better than whatever translated this. The game itself was pretty disappointing. Turns out monopoly still isn't very fun to play. Elder Maynard and Gale had a lot more experience playing and were doing really good, but they ended up broke and giving their properties to Elder Thornock. I was doing alright but when your opponent owns 90% of the board, the game is over.
The next day Elder Icaro and I did some good work in our area. Then on Wednesday we met with the Americans again to get the last of our work done. This time we just had to wait for like three hours in the immigration office and by the end of the day, only two of ours paper work was done (but of course we would have to wait a few days to pick it up). We also ate lunch at the restaurant again.
And turns out that restaurant food made me sick because the next day I threw it all up. I think I just got unlucky because the restaurant we went to is pretty nice.
But if I had a nickel for every time I had gotten sick in Africa, I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird it happened twice (so far). I guess it's just a testament of the difficulties of living here. Also to compare, in the six months I was in California I never really got sick.
Darn, I have already written a lot. Well the rest of the week was good. We have a really cool family we are working with. They have a couple of kids and a lot of family living with them, so every lesson it feels like a different set of people. But they are super nice (and pretty well off) and give us juice or soda each time we visit. The parents are pretty invested and come to church each week. The kids are interested too but their attendance is a little less consistent.
It definitely is still a challenge speaking Portuguese. I am not one to talk much, but Elder Icaro and I do not talk a lot. Like we can talk, but we can't have a conversation we both enjoy. It definitely makes it hard but we are working on it. One scripture that talks a lot about this is Ether 12:27. It promises that if we turn to God with humility, he can make our weaknesses strengths. Right now as a missionary, I have a lot of weaknesses, I am not good at speaking Portuguese, teaching or taking the lead on things. But, when I work hard, pray to God, and remain humble. I will become great. Enoch is a great example of this promise, he wasn't very good at talking, but because of his faith and humility, God made him incredible. So great were his words that he could move mountains (Moses 7:13).
Also there is a hurricane moving into Beira this next week. I have been told it will get pretty windy here.
Holding a chicken
 |
| Weird Monopoly cards |
Comments
Post a Comment