Harper's Adventures in Africa: It's Not About You

This week was kinda sad to be honest. Not because the work is worse, don’t worry but because I had to say goodbye to another companion. Sister Teuatu is going home! Before she left she taught me how to play this Malawian game called Baw.

Its like Mancala and its so fun. We had became really close and I will miss her dearly. Because she was leaving this week we said goodbye to lots of people and worked extra hard to reach our goals. I have seen how on mission how there really is a difference between just going through the motions and when you really, really put in the effort. The effort spent is so much better.

But I wanted to share the biggest lesson I learned this week. Because it was sister Teuatu’s last week some of the people we went to wanted to just sit and talk and talk when we went and EVERYONE WANTED TO SAY GOODBYE, and because she was leaving there were lots of technical things we had to go and sort out and I was so tired and stressed from those times running around and seeing random people. It was very selfish of me. I was constantly thinking about how I felt about things and the things I needed to do and things that I wanted to get done. But this week in the car we were listening to this song that hit me so hard. We listen to like gospel pop songs a lot of them from our church about missionary work and there is this one called "Its Not About You." The song talks about how this kid is scared to go on mission he doesn’t feel like he is ready and that he questions if he is good enough but then his dad reminds him "Its Not About You." I attached the link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXtjZfue5kk) cause it’s a good song haha! But this really just made me remember that its not really about me. Its about the people I serve and the people I teach and those that I live with. When I focus more on others and less on myself I find that I’m happier and more like our Savior Jesus Christ. His whole life was spent thinking of others before himself. I know that my time left is flying by and I want my last months to be spent on me thinking of others and focusing on why I am really here.

Oh and also our district meeting this week was so fun. We have the best missionaries ever gotta say....

This week to send sister Teutua off strong we had a baptism... of one of the couples we have been teaching! So before they were baptized they got married in the church. So on Friday we got to go and it was so cute to watch this awesome couple commit to each other and they looked so nice. We are happy for them and now they are officially married!

Then on Sunday was their baptism. Teutau and I had matching blazers made to wear! The joy on their faces was so great. Edward’s family are all members of the church and they were overjoyed that day as their final brother entered into the waters of baptism and joined them. It was so nice to see how a family can be united through the gospel. Kind of funny story though so Vanessa, the wife, she wears wigs to cover her hair and she kind of forgot to take it off before she went into the water, so when she got under the water the wig came floating up to the top! haha It was so funny haha oops! After the baptism Edward and Vanessa bore their testimonies. They spoke about how true the church is and how the Book of Mormon is true. I love seeing how powerful conversion can be.