This week was just a crazy fun week with so much happening. On Tuesday we went to Kenema in a taxi because our truck was broke down and when we got there the man wasn't there that we were supposed to meet! Ha-ha so we bummed around Kenema till we finished all our small small things that we had to do then returned to Bo. Where it was late in the evening and we had to stay at the couple's apartment and we were crunching numbers for hours trying to get all of our funds account straight. I tell ya i never was good with numbers but with all this boku 0's on this money imp getting pretty good at it. While we were in Kenema we were waiting for some missionaries to talk to them at one of the chapels. In walks some kids with Book of Mormon and they said they were coming for seminary classes. Wow i thought. They walked from far far far side of the village to come to seminary and they were just 13-16 years old. Then came their seminary teacher. He was an older man and when he got closer i recognized him as a convert that i taught and baptized!! It was brother Alimony Kano. (One of my favorite people i have ever taught) and he was doing great. My soul was just so filled with happiness to see him and to know that he was still strong in the church. Brother Kano is just a quiet and shy man but a profound and smart man. When we started teaching him he said you answer two questions every time you come and if you answer then correct and to my satisfaction you can stay and teach me, if not you must leave cause you don't know the word of God... the first question asked was do you believe in the gathering of Israel? But the spirit lead us in answering his questions every time! Ha-ha now he was strong in the church and had finished reading the whole of the standard works that i had bought and gave to him as a gift. How great shall be any returned missionaries joy to know that the people they taught are still strong in the gospel! Or me it was a joy. On Thursday we tried out hand back at Kenema again but this time with our truck nice and all fixed up! We loaded it full of things for the new sister's apartment and headed down. We were successful all the way down! But when we went to start the truck back up for our return it was dead... ha-ha no problem we just jogged with it a bit and started it right up! Ever since then it's been in the shop getting a little work done on it. The mission calls the truck "Baby" now we know why! During this time of crazy here's and there's we received transfer news for the mission and had to start working on all the movements of the missionaries in our side of the mission. It's always fun getting transfer news. And even more fun to get it earlier. I am still going to remain in Lewabu area with Elder Jones in the same calling of being an Assistant to the mission president. Looks like I'll be here for at least 2 more transfers, who knows maybe till the end of my mission. But that's okay because in our apartment we have some sweet weight sets and i got to get prepared and get yoked for the time i go home so i can stomp by brothers!! All 3 of them! Our efforts on reactivation in Lewabu are starting to show more and more. Each Sunday as i said we have been taking members around to go and see people who haven't been to church in a while or who are struggling in one way of the other and sing to them and pray with them. That's it just a simple opening song, opening prayer and then closing song and closing prayer (kind of seems strange for us western world people just sing pray sing pray right? but this is Africa and what we do here!) Sunday we went and sung to one sister who had got in a motorcycle accident and then we went to a less active returned missionary. After leaving their compound walking down the road was another family and to our surprise the branch started singing to them and welcoming they back to the "family" and then the elder's quorum president prayed for them. The spirit was so strong and continues to get stronger and stronger each week. The feeling of a "family" in the area connected to the church is becoming stronger and stronger with every activity. I always felt like being in the 14th ward there was a special feeling of a family. It is true there really is! That's why i loved it and i feel like i know personally many members there. I'm so grateful to have grown up where i did. I love everyone in that ward! On Sunday i also was privileged to give a talk in church. We started church with 6 people on time, so my companion and i were the designated "go to guys" for talks. Sure enough i was ready as always and had a topic and a talk already prepared in my mind that I've wanted to give for a long time. By the time i was to give my talk the branch members had made it to the building that time the chapel was FULL TAE! 100 people filled the place. I gave my talk on the spirit and its important role in our lives. I addressed and talked of how we can get distracted by the things and worries of the world and often times feel that we can just do things cause of our own knowledge and wit. I myself feel that God has blessed me with a great mind and knowledge of things, and at times feel that i can do everything without turning unto the spirit for help. This reality has hit me many times on my mission that i can't do it. I can't take the "knowledge and wit" that i have and do the things that i am required to do in this mission let alone my life. I know that the spirit is so important in our everyday lives. Many people of other faiths feel that its foolishness to call upon the lord for the smallest of things and decision dealing with people or of the world. But we as Latter Day Saints have a need and a hunger for the guidance of the spirit. I testify that everyone weather of our faith or not have that hunger within their soul. We all search for guidance and direction from a heavenly being. It is just our duty to be worthy of it, and enjoying its presence and direction and also our duty to share it with others and "let you light so shine" to all people everywhere! I felt like it was a great topic even for me with all the trials we have been facing in our area. I felt the spirit and learned much even from myself. On Saturday my companion and i were just walking down the road when i got the call from the office... "Elda Hales where are you flying into?" what what's this guys saying elder Jones?... it was a call asking what airport i want to fly into for when i go home... well i told them Vegas.. Can you pick me up there??? Ha-ha just kidding will be coming into SLC sometime in the near future! So crazy huh?! Wow that's weird to say coming home... yeah right.
SALONE FOR LIFE! Ha-ha Love you guys
--- ELDER HALES---
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