Third Times a Charm!

Hello! 

This week was good! The reason I say third times the charm is cause this week I had nshima for the third time since being on mission. Sister Sila and I were starving and we have been wanting to try this restaurant in our area (its not really a restaurant as you would say but more like a little shop on the road). So we go in and we wanted chicken and nshima but they only had GOAT. haha But I wanted to try it so they give us these huge servings and we sit down to eat. And I actually liked it! I ate some of the relish (pumpkin leaves) and the goat with the nshima and it was so nice. I guess I’m becoming Zambian?! We didn’t end up finishing all of it cause nshima fills you up real quick but I didn’t get sick and it was a fun experience so it was definitely a win. 

This week Sister KUPU our mission president’s wife went with all the sisters to Lusaka to some appointments. She came with us when we taught a new investigator named Charles. It was kind of intimidating at first but I realized that when we teach people its not us teaching it is the Spirit. So Sila and I did our best to rely on the Spirit and it ended up being one of the best lessons I’ve been in. I am so grateful for our mission leaders. I learn so much from Sister Kupu and she cares so much about us as missionaries. 

So an update on Sam and Chi Chi the guys we have been teaching. They are progressing so well! They have decided that they are willing to give up their habits of drinking and smoking. They set goals and plans of things they want in their future and have been working together to find other things to do with their time. They say that reading the Book of Mormon is the best thing. And they are getting so far. Chi Chi always likes to talk about Nephi. They are always fun to teach and I love to see how the gospel changes peoples hearts and lives. I hope that they will continue to work towards their goals. 

This week one of our investigators had an interview with the bishop so we walked with her to the church. Its probably a good thirty minute or so walk. But she had to bring her baby with her so she let me and Sister Sila take turns carrying her baby the Zambian way with a chatange! You basically sew a big piece of fabric and tie it around you with the baby inside! I don’t know how they do it though cause this girl was heavy but they can do anything with those babies on their back it amazes me. 

I wanted to share a scripture this week that really had a impact on me. This week we didn’t have a lot of progress with our investigators. Many of them choose not to come to church and I felt so sad that they weren’t keeping commitments like reading the Book of Mormon. Even many of our recent converts didn’t attend church. I felt like I was failing. But on Sunday I sat there during church and as I was watching George pass the sacrament I was prompted to read this scripture and it brought me so much comfort. The scripture is in Alma 29:9 it reads, “I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." 

When I read this I realized that I’ve been called to serve and this is His work not mine. That my success is not me but him. Missionary work is about learning to rely on the spirit and turn to Heavenly Father with concerns and helping others do the same. My job is to be the best instrument in Gods hand I can be and do all I can to bring souls to repentance. I know that this work is real and so important. I’m not the perfect missionary and people have their agency to make choices but I can try my best and in the end there will be some soul that is brought to repentance and that will bring great joy not only to me but to my Heavenly Father. 

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father. He truly does bless us in little and big ways each and everyday no matter who we are. Keep looking for those tender mercies and you will see them! 

with lots and lots of love

-Sister Moulton