New Era, New World

 Hello from Malawi!  

Wow this week has been amazing and insane. So after my goodbyes to everyone at the end of the week we had MLC. Mission Leadership Council. We meet together as leaders in the mission and discuss needs and ways we can help the mission improve. Its always a great experience for me and the best part was that Sister Kupu asked me and Sister Kivalu to give a presentation about our experiences with exchanges. It was a great opportunity for me to look back on my past transfer and see all the things I have learned. During companionship exchanges I learned so much about how to train and how to be a leader, things that I know will help me the rest of my life. I’m not perfect there is so much more I can improve but I know Heavenly Father gave me that assignment for a reason.  It was sad to leave my comps this weekend too but I have learned its part of mission. 

But okay I wanna explain everything about MALAWI! Sister Kupu told me it’s like a new era in my mission! True though, I may even finish my mission here who knows? But I’m excited to see what the new era brings. 

So on Saturday morning we went to the airport…

 I was traveling with another sister Sister Tuetau from Tonga (my new comps) and Sister Natengi (also from Tonga) Sister Tuetau was at MLC with me. Her old comps was Sister Godfrey (my trainer) so me and Godfrey switched places now haha! Sister Natengi is a new missionary being trained in Malawi! It was this super small plane but it was nice and they had great snacks anyways!  

Then when we landed I HAD TO DRIVE HOME! I was expecting it to be the same but haha this car was a little different so my comps luckily knows how to drive so she gave my some great tips and we made it home. lol. There are less cars here and more hills and more tiny streets and more people! But wow as we were driving I was just amazed. EVERYTHING was beautiful. So rich in color I don’t even know how to explain it but I just loved it. We drove in the country side and in the town and there was so much to see and I loved it so much. I saw goats and donkeys and amazing looking houses and wonderful smiling people. Man I don’t even know how to explain it and I wish I could get more pics but I was driving! But the weekend was District conference and wow there were so many people to meet, and our branch sang for the choir and I met some amazing people too. God is good and Malawian people are good too! 

Oh first experience in our area was very humbling. For the past couple months I’ve been in a very self reliant area where people have money and that day we went to the total opposite. These people live in different ways and for the first time I really felt like I was in Africa and I loved it and especially getting to see the different way people live and how they smile and say "bho" (it means hello in Chichewa) to a weird white person that is walking into their neighborhood.  We visited wonderful members and they welcomed us in with so much love and I am starting to realize why they call Malawi, "the warm heart of Africa," our first lesson though was a challenge for me. I am in a trio actually with another sister named Sister Endev she used to stay in Malawi so she speaks the language but now she is from South Africa. Anyways we are teaching and it wasn’t so easy and did not flow as nicely. I really struggled adjusting to new companions and new people and I felt so little compared to these sisters who have been on mission for a long time. And after the lesson I felt terrible and so little. It really humbled me and made me realize that I have ALOT TO LEARN. To learn about the people, about my companions, and even more about the gospel. You never know enough and that was something I learned that day. I know Heavenly Father does that to all of us sometimes. Sometimes when things are going so well when you get too comfortable Heavenly Father pushes you just a little and changes you just enough so that we can improve. So that we can experience and so that we can love and turn to Him more. Those times are hard but I know it is part of the plan and it keeps us form becoming prideful about our abilities. There is even a scripture we share a lot with people that applies to this as well. Its become one of my favorites 1 Corinthians 10:13 
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 It talks about temptation but even it applies to our challenges and tests. God will never ever give us something we can not handle. So even with the NEW ERA and the NEW WORLD I’m in, I know He has a plan and will help me be okay! I’m looking forward to the people I’ll meet and getting to know the branch better too. 

Anyways have a great week! Crazy how September is over, time flies! 

with lots and lots of love, 

Sister Moulton