The Chronicles of Zambia

Good morning and Greetings to my family and friends of all nations!
It’s such a beautiful day wouldn’t you say? This week has been one of
the busiest and craziest weeks we have had in this area. Somewhat slow
but full of action!
So this week we had a lot of activities that took up our time so we
weren’t able to really teach many people but the people that we were
able to see made it worth the while! So this week on Tuesday we had to
opportunity to go and visit with Andrew, the young disabled guy that
we have started teaching. We actually went to see him and something
quite off putting happened. I think it is well known among many of the
missionaries that the view of the church here in Zambia is sometimes
the opposite of what it should be. Many people have distorted views of
the church and there are so many rumors! Some say that we are
Satanists and that we drink blood. So when we went to see Andrew we
actually met his sister Venice and she greeted us and so of course I
was trying to be friendly and I think I opened up the floodgates. She
was asking us questions and so we started to introduce ourselves and
where we were from and she told us that she knew the church and she
hated the church. I asked her why and she said that many people told
her we were Satanists and she didn’t want to visit the church so we
shouldn’t invite her. It was very surprising and I think I was caught
off guard but it made me think of Elder Holland’s talk in the last
conference about the cost of discipleship. That is a living testimony
of our work here in Zambia. We are here to stand as disciples and oft
times we will face persecutions and we will have to stand strong and
firm in our beliefs. I think it is way easier to do it as a missionary
but I think it takes true courage to do it just in our everyday lives
as members of the church. That is something that I want to work on and
be prepared for when I go home.
So visiting with Andrew that day was such a joy. We were able to teach
him the Restoration and it was so great. He even opened up a lot and
we were able to extend to him a baptismal date for December 21 which
he accepted. He looked very happy and joyful. It’s like when we come
he finds relief. He looks very peaceful and I hope that we can find a
wheelchair for him soon so that we can bring him to church. So also
this week we had the chance to teach both Sister Meriam Nasilele and
her daughter in law Eliza. So both are on date to be baptized for the
16th and the 30th; So Sister Nasilele is doing so great! We visited
with her and taught her everything and then she had her interview and
passed so she will be getting baptized next Sunday. Her daughter in
law Eliza is also doing so great! She is such a joy to teach! She
understands everything that we teach and she always has questions
about everything and she asks the best questions! We finished teaching
her the Restoration this week and it was so powerful. She said that
she knew that it was true and that she had prayed about it and to know
if it was true as well. It was a really great feeling. She even told
us that she had a dream after we left and in the dream she was in a
garden full of animals and trees. She said that in the dream she was
collecting eggs and putting them in a basket in this garden and when
she looked she saw three people in the distance all dressed in white.
She said that they were coming towards her and she became afraid so
she turned around to go the other direction and when she went she saw
them again this time on the other side. Then she said she heard a
voice that told her that she was making the right decision. That she
was doing the right thing and then she woke up. So she said that was
her answer. I love her so much. She is so prepared and she is even due
in February to have a baby which is so exciting and great! I know that
we met her for a reason and that God was preparing her.
So the week continued in a great way until Thursday when we had to
opportunity to do a service project. Sister Nasilele was married and
her husband had begun building a house and since her husband passed
she received an eviction notice saying that she has until January to
move out. She doesn’t work and she doesn’t have a way to provide and
so we decided to help them in building the house somewhere near so
Thursday we went to this plot of land and we started to clean and
prepare for the building. It was very nice! We spent about 5 hours
doing that and we accomplished a lot and I’m hoping that we can
continue to get it done before January! And finally the highlight of
the whole week was we finally got to watch General Conference!!! Man
it was so great! So amazing and inspiring! I had many questions that
were answered and I felt very enlightened after it. I think overall I
got three themes from many of the talks. 1. Spiritual preparation 2.
Temples and preparation 3. Family History.  I felt like the prophets
are secretly telling us that Jesus is coming soon so be PREPARED. It
made me really realize that I need to work on becoming spiritually in
shape not just now but also for when I go home. Sometimes it worries
me when I think of going home so that is one thing I really want to
work on! I hope that everyone was just as inspired from Conference and
all that are LUCKY enough to receive ensigns and Liahonas  ; STUDY the
talks. Don’t take it for granted.
So overall I have been feeling mixed emotions as my mission is winding
down. I’ve been studying and all and its been very refreshing and
quite liberating. I have also been studying my patriarchal blessing a
lot too and trying to plan out my life. As I have been studying I have
had quite a lot of thoughts. In my personal study I have been reading
in Mosiah 21-24 and a lot of things came to mind as I studied about
the captivation of both King Limhi and Amla’s people. In this a part
of the Book of Mormon we learn of two groups of people who are in
bondage and how the Lord helped both of them in different ways. In the
cases of King Limhi his people were not following the Lord and due to
their past wickedness the Lord saw fit to chasten them. They were in
bondage so long that they were compelled to repent so that they could
be free. It took them a while but eventually they were freed. On the
other hand we have the people of Alma who were righteous and followed
God but as it says in Mosiah 23:21-22, ‘’Nevertheless  the Lord seeth
fit to chasten his people; yea he trieth their patience and their
faith. Nevertheless-whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall
be lifted up at the last day. Yea and thus it was with this people.’’
When I read over these stories it really made me think about God and
the way that he works. I learned that often times we are in bondage or
difficulties. But God delivers us in different ways; Sometimes he
frees us and sometimes he just gives us the strength to make it
through. Sometimes we suffer because of our own decisions and
sometimes we suffer because he Lord sees that we are ready to grow.
Without trials we never progress and grow. There is a quote that I
read that I loved that also showed that the way that we react to our
situations is important. It says that ’’Some people are like rocks
thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. BE A CORK.
When submerged in a problem fight to be free and serve God again with
happiness.’’

I know that the trials  that we face in life are necessary for
progress. I know that my mission has been full of ups and downs, and
so it is true with life. But we must trust in God and have faith and
know with surety that he one day will rescue us and we will rest in
the kingdom with our father. I am so grateful for my family and
friends. I am so grateful that I was able to reach my 15 month mark on
mission this week. I have learned so much and grown so much as well. I
look forward to these next 3 months of continued growth. I love you
all and I hope that all of you have a great week! ALSO CONGRATS TO MY
SISTER ON THE BABY :)))

LOVE YOU
Sister Scott