Trying Not to be Tired (And Failing)

Well I guess it is back to writing regular length emails. Last week's email took quite a bit of my free time to write so I hope you liked it.

On P-day the chapa went on strike and stopped doing their routes. I think it is because last time they tried to increase their prices the governor denied it (which I guess is something he can do). So they have decided to stop driving until they can up their prices. This is particularly frustrating for us because one part of our area is very far away and chapas allow us to cut a hour-long walk to a 5-10 minute chapa.
But without chapas and people to visit there we had to bite the bullet and spent a bunch of time walking to and from there. But it was a solid day and we had a lot of good lessons.

The next day we actually couldn't get very many lessons so we did a lot of contacting. We knocked a lot of doors and actually got some solid lessons and return appointments.

Remember that less active we visited with Bishop that was pretty crazy? No? That's okay. Anyway she found us when we were walking around and scheduled a visit with us. Then when the day arrived she took us to "go save some souls." Then she showed us a family that was actually super cool and we started teaching them. The family had talked to the missionaries before and one of the grandkids names was actually chosen by one of the missionaries. As we were teaching in the middle of the lesson the crazy less active was like "we have to leave, lets say a prayer and go" she kept on pressing us to wrap things up until we did. Then she took us to some other less actives that we already knew. She told us that they have the devil with them because they don't come to church (she doesn't either). But they weren't there so we just waited around. She also is convinced I have to learn Makuah, the African language here. But her idea of teaching was just yelling at me in Makuah until I understand. So after doing this for about five minutes she said "alright I got to go" and left. A little bit later we left to go to our next visit, both fairly disturbed by what had happened.

The next day our last lesson was with an old lady we met pretty recently. Everyone in her family is super successful and well educated and she was very happy to meet with us. But what weren't expecting was her drunk husband to join in on the lesson too. As we were teaching the Plan of Salvation he persistently mumbled to us about how he wanted a prayer, how we needed to talk louder and that he needed a Bible. She was apologetic and told us to ignore him. It was a very fun lesson trying to ignore the drunk guy behind me and teach about God's plan for us. But we managed to finish and she understood it well and really loved it.

Sunday was cool. Our church attendance is still very much lacking but we did have ward council for the first time in a while. It went really well and I was reminded just how solid our leaders are. They are good members they just don't have very experience. Covid devastated the church here and most of our leaders were baptized just a few years before the pandemic. But we managed to have a solid meeting and now we just need action to follow it.

I still haven't received any transfer news but it is this next week. I should be leaving but where is still unknown. If I get something on P-day I might send an email about it. Or maybe I will stay, at this point I don't really want to stay more but I would survive.

My time here in Napipine has been really good. It is a really solid area and I wouldn't be too upset returning here towards the end of my mission. I have learned a lot in my time here and it has been good. I have tried to help the ward and the area to the best of my ability. Often it looks like nothing has changed but I remind myself that rarely will I see the results of my efforts. It is just how it is as a missionary. I have to be happy with what I have and what does happen. Such as when two of our friends show up for the last 10 minutes of church or when one less active manages to show up to church. It isn't much but it's honest work. I have enjoyed a lot here and I am excited to see what more I will see.

With ice cream: Our district leader has made it a tradition to go and get ice cream after a baptism interview

Stuck Truck: I guess they missed the entrance and got the semi stuck in a ditch. It was pretty bad but kinda funny to me. Eventually they got it out but they had to tear down a wall to do it.

Six Elders: shortly after the ice cream

In the Elevator: Self explanatory

Building at night: our local Ford dealer with exactly two cars inside

A Road in our Area: Self explanatory