The Mama here,

Elder Wartena decided to have fun with us all this week and post parts of his email in Portuguese.  Kinda fun.  Try an online translator to help you understand.  If I can, I'll post the translation myself.  Perhaps the older Spanish speaking brother would help out here.  We'll see.

Enjoy the email.

Minha maé,
Então, eu acho que você precisa aprender português…então, eu não vou
escrever em englais mais, tá bom?

Então, entá semana foi muito diferente…nós tivemos muitos novos
missionarios na missão e eu e Elder Coombs andamos com eles desde
sexta-feira até quarta. A coisa boa que isso fez foi que tivemos 50
contatos qualificados.

Estou a chatiar? hehe...eu gosto de brincar contigo. Tá bom, vou
voltar para a lingua que tu intendes.

Fun little thing we did thing week was walking with the new
missionaries, and my goodness, my Portuguese really sucked when I
left the MTC. All the new missionaries, I feel, came here just a
little more prepared than I, perhaps. I guess I could just be hard on
myself, but I do think I could have been more like Elder Stubbs and
just talk regardless of the fact that I don´t really speak good
Portuguese more while I was in T3. Oh, well, I am just excited that
the mission gets to have such good missionaries come in to help with
this great and mighty work.

Fun thing number two that I got to do...and to answer a question...is
that the first Sister missionaries to ever serve in Mozambique(Sister
Smith and Sister Muhangueno) needed to have someone do the 12 week
program with them. The assistants were going to do it but their crazy
schedule got in the way for three days and they couldn't make it...so,
the two other Elders near the church(which is where the Sisters stay)
got called on to help. So, Elder Coombs and I have been helping them
do the practices and the trainings in the 12 week program. It is
interesting. 

I think the sisters will really help here in Maputo. They
can get in contact with families by a means that we cannot. They teach
woman and families, whereas we teach men and families, so they can
knock on a door in the middle of the day and start a lesson with the
wife. We, when we knock doors, often find a woman or only children,
and due to the rule that we cannot enter houses with only a woman
present, we cannot teach them. So, when the sisters teach the wife
they can come back later when the husband is present and start on the
whole family. The issue we run into is just finding men at home-the
Sisters have a way around that that is not at the Elders' desposial.
Also, to praise the womanly name, they have a different way than men.
Anyway, this wasn't to say that for us men missionary work is unfair
but rather to say I am excited that the sisters will be able to help
move the mission along in different ways than before.

Odd thing on the subject of eating: I have accidentally had a
vegitarian week. I just didn't eat meat. I had oats for breakfast, egg
or peanut butter sandwich for lunch(or top ramen), and an apple and/or
something else small(small dinners, nothing special) for dinner. I ate
well but I just didn't take the time to cook up my chicken I bought.
Meat is just expensive and takes a while to prepare. Odd little fact I
saw I accidentally did this week and only realized it today.

Hm...not sure what really to write today. I bought some capalana(some
of that fabric like the two I sent home in transfer one with Elder
Thacker- SERIOUS QUESTION/ANSWER ME: What did you do with that
anyway?) last week. Elder Coombs is trying to get some stuff together
to take home because he didn't get any his whole mission. Me? Why am I
buying again? Well, I am in Maputo and I can store the stuff I buy
here in my extra bag until next year if and when I get tranfered back
north. So, I might as well save time and hassle for my last transfer
while I am here and get a little bit put together-kinda what I did
when I was in T3 and Elder Thacker was buying that stuff.

So, good news and bad news: the good news is that I may get my package
today(the assistants are getting 16 packages from the post office as I
type) the bad news is I may not get my package. We'll see. Hope mine
is with the 16.

So a branch member made me feel old on the mission and young at the
same time Sunday. She asked me how long I had been in Mozambique. I
sat there and figured it in my mind-7 months in country, 9 months as a
missionary. Well, she then told someone else how long I had left-a
year and 3 months. I thought a number of things-A. I shouldn't be
thinking about how long I have left, I'll get trunky. B. In 3 months
it'll be hump day. A. I am still pretty dang new here. So, lesson
learned: Don't even care about time on the mission. Don't think about
it, don't keep track of it, (for heaven's sake don't make a calendar
or whatnot-stupid, and completely against the missionary purpose) for
your time is going and it will at its own pace. All that the
missionary should think is about the day he is currently living and
who he can bless with the gospel THAT day. Honestly, time left or time
spent should be the last thing on the missionary's mind.

So, I love the news from home. Elder Coombs made a comment about how
his neices and nephews are so much more different than when he left
and it made me think about my brothers and how they are changing and
how I will even have a sister-in-law when I get home. Gosh, I left and
Jo was six, I'll get back and he'll be almost 9. Nuts. I don't think
calling him booger will make him very happy then. Oh, by the way-hey
booger.

Well, this email sucked. Honestly what can I say? We've walked a lot
this week. um, oh, new family, they are really nice(prayed together
about Joseph Smith after the first lesson and started reading the Book
of Mormon we gave them before we explained what is was) and I hope thy
progress more. Oh, we taught a man from the congo that speaks French,
English, Portuguese, Swahili, and another I cannot pronounce nor
remember. He is IN LOVE with the Bible. We taught him the
Restoration and the Book of Mormon, so we'll see how he accepts it. Also, we still

have to meet his wife.

Well, I'm out. So, I love ya'll, time is short so is this email, don't
think I don't love you this week just doesn't have much to write
about.

Tchau,
Elder Christopher Wartena

PS. Portuguese joke: O que é que a peixe faz? Nada.
hahahahahahahahaha!!! Eu sou bem engracado! Também, eu não sei como
escrever "funny" em Português. Engracado, ingracado, engrecado,
não sei. Pergunte googletranslate.

He is doing well.  Sounds very good in fact.  Please pray asking Heaven to help that package get to our boy.  He asks for so little--it has his favorite deodorant inside with some candy.  Happy are we to see his confidence in speaking this new language increasing.  I just love this journey.  So much to be thankful for today.

Hope you all have a great day.

Signing off for now,

The Mama

Hehe, President Kretly told us in our Zone conference last week about a phone call he got: "Hello, President Kretly, Elder Neil Anderson would like to speak to you." President, "Um, ok, if he wants to, yeah..." pause, "Hello, Paulo, this is Neil." Yup, my Pres. had a phone interview with Elder Anderson. He asked about how we are baptizing like we are, so president told him about the marriage thing.

All the Zone conference was about how all of us can become better at what we are doing. The vision is that every month every companionship will be baptizing 4 families or more each months. It all starts with the small and simple things. If you find 1 family a week that will progress to marriage and baptism you will have, in roughly three months, 4 Marriages and baptisms a months. It's the snowball effect. You get it started and then it get's bigger and bigger until it's 4 baptisms a month. Pres. said that there already is 10 companionships who have caught the vision and it is working. Beira is exploding with baptisms and that is why. Maputo has been struggling for a while, but we are going to change that. Elder Coombs and I(together until he goes home next transfer) are finding all sorts of new families to teach. It is a huge challenge and requires you to get off your butt and work your head off, but we are finding many more people to teach.

One big difference I have found, and was a big topic in Zone Conference, was Boldness. You have to be bold. Be bold in spirit, power, and authority. Pres. Kretly tells all the members how we are angels sent to declare great tiding and bring the gospel to all to bless their lives and then turns around and tells us we must act like it. We have a great calling and great authority. We can do more with our priesthood authority and calling as missionaries than we could ever imagine. SO ACT LIKE IT! Believe it! Make sure the people know it!

Tell people your purpose, it isn't a big surprise. The baptismal invite? In the contact sometimes. Stop the man on the road, and don't be afraid to extend the invite if you feel so impressed. In one of the first lessons I taught I committed them to baptism in the first five minutes of sitting down. If you extend the B. Invite quickly and before the restoration A. It get's them thinking. During the lesson they have the goal in mind and they listen and apply it better. B. According to their response, you know what they need. If they say they have already been baptized or have their own church-teach Joseph Smith and the Priesthood authority (restoration Né?) If they accept it and just want to follow Christ and are open to your message, perhaps the restoration isn't the first thing to teach, perhaps the gospel or a commandment will help them get started. Usually it is the restoration that is best whether they accept or not, but when you know their desire and their expectations of your meetings, you don't waste your time or their's teaching something then having to reteach it at a later time.

Your young, timid son is coming out. I really am getting a lot bolder over here. I am more able to bear my testimony with greater power and without shame. I am a missionary of Jesus Christ. I represent him and bring his words to the people. I am to call people to repentance. Yesterday, instead of the Book of Mormon, as we planned, we gave the man a Word of Wisdom challenging him to start changing his life. I love the spirit. I am tired, I am sore, I am working hard and am burning my self in the hot sun, BUT I LOVE IT! This is a marvelous work and a wonder. To feel that spirit work through you, to see it work in and on others, to feel the touch in your mind to say something or to give it to you comp cause he has something that will help, is an experience never to be forgotten. We had new missionaries come in this week (with Sister Smith, weird, a sister) and I walked with them these past days till they got to their actual areas. Let me tell you, the Lord works through the small and weak things to take down the tall and strong of the world. Those Elders (because of their faith and trust in the Lord) despite not knowing Portuguese fluently testified and brought the spirit so strongly. I wish I would've opened my mouth more and just trusted in the Lord when I was were they were. They have power.

So, sorry I took so much time talking about me, but I love the news from home. Nate is driving, Josh leaving, Matt ex-tactic Oh, Dad, Happy Birthday. Fun fact, the 7th of April is Woman's day over here, so, all of Mozambique was partying on your birthday. hehehe

Actually, I am getting better at working out now. So there. Hah!

Love ya'll,

Elder Wartena a.k.a Captain Africa

P.S. Of course I know what ala mode is! Gosh, I'm offended. kidding. Love ya!

So, I now know that Mozambique does have Skittles...in one spot. Maputo shopping is HUMONGOUS! I don't know why it is here or who built it, but in a spot quite out of our way and hard to find there is a giant five or six story shopping mall...ok, by American standards it's a pretty normal if not a little low class, but here, wow. They sell skittles and peanut M&M's. The bad news is, I didn't have any money on me and it is unlikely we'll return due to the expensive nature of the place and how hard it is to get there.
So, update, package has not arrived. The assistants say that it is unpredictable how the post works here. Some Elders get their package in a month (like my first) others wait around 6 for it to arrive. We'll see. Not worried.

So, one complete family at church. Xavier finally came with his wife! The drop in numbers? Al's daughter was sick with epilepsy(not fun) and A's wife went to visit her Mom in Matola. Poo. But, it looks like we could get those three families all next week! And, our goal is to find at least one more to start progressing this week. YEAH! 4 full families at church...it'll be awesome. Our district made it a goal to get 12 investigating families at church this next Sunday. Oh yeah.

How'd my Easter go? Well, I contacted and learned how much false tradition is around the Easter holiday. There was all sorts of talk about palm leaves and special services for the different days of the week. In one lesson they started arguing about the exact time Christ rose on the third day. Just interesting. One thing we have found, but found more this week, is that people are very surprised we only worship on Sunday. Only Sunday?! All the other churches go around three or four times at least, if not much more. Also, when they find out we don't get paid to be missionaries they don't believe us at first. interesting.

Funny you'd mention deviled eggs, I'd been craving boiled eggs all this week. Mmmm. You are a mean mother to tell me of food. Kidding.

I love Grandpa. Oh, that reminds me, I finally got the dearelder he sent me from last December. Hehe...

So, this is a big week. We are getting eight new missionaries. 7 from the states. Two sisters! Crazy! They will be driving a car and working only in the more city parts of Maputo. It's weird how much you hear living in the house with the assistants and the office elders. The other sister is from Angola and is only here until she get's her visa to her actual mission. Then, here in the next few months we'll get a TON more Elders and the sister count will be 8 when all is said and done. I will be sure to see a lot of the new missionaries because of the house in which I live.

The weather? Rain, a little bit. Hot, humid, same old. "Cold season" is coming up. Hah! Maybe, MAYBE jacket weather. And that only in the early morning. Also, cold season lasts about two months. Yup, weather.

Hehe, yup, I now weigh around 140. I went to Africa and put on weight. Backwards.

Wedding ties...no comment. Hannah sounds nice from her emails though.

Focusing on the Celestial Kingdom. YES! One should focus on his goals. We focus on baptism and try to center our teaching around that. It really helps. Focus on the celestial kingdom and center your life around that(around Christ). If there is something that may block your way from that goal, remove it, it will hamper your progression and also block things coming from heaven too(like blessings). Our Heavenly Father never has any walls up to keep us from him, it's us who build those walls.

Oh, I told a random African guy I would dar comprementos (A.k.a say hi) to you. No, I don't know him either, just a guy who stopped us in the street.

I need another recipe: Dutch babies! A.k.a puffy pancakes! Heaven on a plate! Yummy. If you wouldn't mind it.

Well, I don't have much else to say. Next week is ALREADY transfers. E. Coombs and I both think we'll just stay together. This next one is his last transfer(that means we'll go lembrant/souvenir shopping soon).

Say hi to Elder Adam Ekstrom next time you see him for me.


Well, Love you all, hope you have a great General conference(I'll get it here in a bit when they translate it to Portuguese[and this time I'll understand a little more]),


Love,

Elder Christopher Wartena

saw a monkey this week.

The Purpose of A Missionary . . .

. . . Is to help others come unto Christ through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. How I have come to understand that out here.

Did you know that when Christ preached to the Jews many were offended and believed not. They were offended by the very teachings of our lord and savior! It shouldn't be that big of a surprise. They did crucify him in the end; so one should assume from that that the people didn't always take his teachings well, but it showed me something. I'll start from a short example.

In T3, in our contacting or door knocking (aka. walk up to the sheet metal they call a gate and yell "Com licensa!") we would often find people who told us "Oh, I already have a church. I already have accepted God in my life. The word of God is the same, it doesn't matter what church you belong to, God is the same god in all churches. After all, he loves all his children." Sounds nice, full of apostasy and teaching of men mingled with scripture, but it sounds really nice and tons of people use it on us, that God is the same god in all churches. They literally say "I accept anyone who talks of God and Christ." But they don't see that all the doctrines are against one another. Frustrating.

Anyway, back to the example, they'll tell us that they already have their church. Well, I remember doing something real stupid some of these times...I would tell them, "Oh, we're not here to rip you away from your church, we just have a message of Christ." WRONG! In all technicality and reality, the message of the restoration is exactly that: we are trying to pull people out of apostasy and help them know that God has called a prophet in our day to show us the true way.

The thing I have learned from this is that I need to be bold and not fear bearing my testimony. We are told every day that we are searching for those who are ready to receive the gospel. If a person is not ripe and ready for the picking leave them to ripen. They won't listen and obey until then.

I had a lesson yesterday with Elder Coombs. The man is pretty strong in his church. He was extremely nice (like most Africans are. It is so nice. I have yet to have a door slammed in my face.) and sat us down in his house and we started talking. Well, we got into the lesson and starting talking about prophets and Joseph Smith and how all the churches that were created after Christ and the apostles dies were created by men and not under the direction of God(nor his authority or power...all this in a polite manner with scripture). I testified powerfully of Joseph Smith and how he should pray to know whether Joseph Smith was a prophet, then E. Coombs testified strongly and asked him if he'd pray. Man, I know I felt the spirit and there was no way he didn't, but the thing is he was so brainwashed and led astray by the teachings of men that he was able to deny the feelings. I never truly believed that one could deny those feelings. Even when I don't want to believe and follow the promptings of the HG back home I at least acknowledged them.

I learned from this lesson (and many others) that we will offend people. Check that, the gospel will offend people. They have been led away in darkness for so long that the light hurts. Many churches teach things only because they know the people will like how it sounds and accept it for that. Saying that God only has one church and one gospel and that not all the churches are correct makes people say, "God loves all his children. The word of God is the Word of God, end of story. I have accepted Christ, I got baptized, I have been trying to do as my church said and now you tell me that it isn't teaching truth?!" They run from the truth for it is hard unto them.

So, lesson for all: when preaching the gospel not all people will accept it nor like you as the messenger. What we must remember is to preach and teach with clarity and power. Do not dress up the gospel to make it less "harsh" or more "nice sounding." If one is ready, the Holy Ghost will testify and they will recognize something different. The change comes when they try it. THEY PRAY! When they pray they feel that feeling they cannot deny and they see that this path, though difficult and not without challenge, is the true and only way to lead to happiness.

SO...SAY IT! Don't be rude and bash their religion and long held beliefs, don't be stupid but do teach clearly. There was a general authority who said once (paraphrasing) we don't teach so people can understand, we teach so they can't misunderstand.

The field (mission field baby!) is white. It is ready for the harvest. Our purpose is to find those who pertain to the field. There are many unripe grains; don't rip them up, they don't accept. We are called to find, teach and baptize those already prepared by our Lord to receive us. As Preach My Gospel and somewhere in Doctrine and Covenants states: Find those that will receive you.

One thing missionaries do (guilty) is they worry that if they are bold in finding and teaching the people will take offence and they will end up with no one to teach. True, you will have less lessons, but the lessons missing are because you aren't teaching those who aren't ready. Often, in the initial contact you can tell whether the person will progress or not (not every time of course, so don't judge too hastily) and then you know not to take their number. The first lesson reveals a lot about whether one shall progress in or reject the gospel.

Well, I must say that Maputo has not been the most successful part of my mission. We have few families and spend a ton of time contacting on the road, but I have learned a lot about being bolder in my teaching. I have also learned that I need to watch and pray especially hard when times are rough. The Lord has a purpose to me being in Maputo. He wants us to baptize. He has prepared people. Don't lose that thought. The adversary would have you get down and believe it is hopeless when you don't have much success. DON'T DO THAT! THAT IS THE STUPIDEST THING TO DO!

A. it is 100% false.
B. it makes life miserable and you start counting your days till home.
C. your comp. and area suffer when you do that.

Ok. Now, I shall better get to answering things and talking about other stuff or there is no time.

I am still going crazy about my bro getting engaged. Nuts.

Y'all are sick! Ick. I actually had a day where my head hurt and stomach didn't like me, but it passed real quick.

YES I LOVE EMAILS! Sheesh, yet sick of them. All right, come to Africa and see if you get sick of hearing from your family. It will never happen.

Update. We had 2 full families at church yesterday! WOOT! Eight investigators in total! WHOOP! A little low for Munhava, but this is showing a lot of improvement in Maputo.

A day in my life. I see pavement now. Weird, I know. Maputo has pavement and actually roads apart from the main ones. It still is chuck full of sheet metal houses and dirt/mud road. Well, so did Beira and T3, but the city itself is closer to what you guys might call civilization. Let me just tell you, I'll be another pesky "children in Africa" guy, but America is freakin blessed. The promised land is not a joke. Be grateful, there are many people here that eat beans and rice(and a flower based mush called Xima {Sh-ee-ma}) as their only food, and then they don't have that in abundance. I wish I could take pictures of everywhere for you all but two things are in my way:

A. Pres made a new rule that the missionaries aren't allowed to walk with cameras (not that I have one anymore anyway)
B. the handbook tells us not to look like tourists. This makes sense, try telling a guy of Christ after taking all sorts of pictures like a weird tourist.

Crimeny, well, seriously, I am out of time, gotto go.

Get some sleep. Get that brother of mine a license (without having him crash the car). Love life.

Love ya'll more that root beer  (another American luxury-small but makes a difference ;)

 Elder Christopher Wartena Africa


PS. "Extend a buttons" are beautiful things. They are also in the list of things I did not bring and would like. They along with my leatherman would be absolutely wonderful to find in a package some time in July or you know, whenever it wants.

PPS. I shouldn't be asking for another package already really, I haven't even received the last one you sent, still waiting for it to arrive. Just remember to add those two things to a little wish list for me.

Well, if you must know...I had lasagna for my birthday! HAHA! I had forgotten to get something special for my birthday to eat (besides cauliflower with cheese that I will eat tonight!) but Elder Ostler (who happens to be from Orem as well) came through and made lasagna for the house. Oh, yeah! No idea how he knew, but it was good.

In addition to that, we had a division(also with Elder Ostler) and it went quite well. We found many new potential investigating families and taught 2 great lessons. It was a good day.

Mom, telling a missionary about aunt Kari's Guacamole is mean. AAH! Man, I could use a good burrito with Guacamole about now. hehe, kidding. I'm eating fine over here. I eat oats for breakfast (a little Nesquick mixed in every once in a while makes it quite yummy), sandwiches or chicken or whatever for lunch and a smallish dinner each day. And guess what...I entered the MTC at128 lbs and now I am 145. Hehe...YEAH! So BIGGY!

All, right, guess what, you Americans are spoiled rotten. Our blasted washing machine decided to die this past week and we have yet to find a mechanic who knows how to fix it. So, it looks like hand-washing has become a necessity. I can't complain though, that is what nearly all natives here have to do. How do they do it? They scrub the clothes on their hands and then pound them silly on a rock, rinse. Fun to watch but it'll kill your hands. I have decided that when I am back in America I will never complain about things like walking to church or winter. We Americans are picky and sometimes complainy. I need to work on that.

How's the comp and the work? Well, it's moving along fine. We have found some new families to teach this week and are working hard to get even more. Our past weeks have been full of contacting and walking but it looks like it will start paying off here soon. My comps great, he is working hard to make his last two transfers count and it helps me too. Find, teach, (marry) baptize.

Well, gotta be moving on. Love you all a ton and wish I could just drag you threw the computer to show you Africa.

Crap, I almost forgot to say: my mind has now exploded. Josh is engaged...Holy crap. My bro is gonna get himself married. Well, just tell him I approve (the photos of this Hannah are acceptable) of his choice and holy cow. This cardboard cutout missionary in the reception line is going crazy over the fact that he is about to be a brother-in-law. Phew.

Well, Preciso sair para os outros ou eles vao zangar comigo,
Loves,
Elder Wartena

P.S. Thanks for worrying about me.

P.P.S. Man, the tradition to give people kisses instead of handshakes(like the french) is awkward  Yup, your boy got kissed this week. Only the cheek. Hehe, during a lesson one of the daughters of the family walked in and said "boa tarde" to us. Well, before I knew it she had done the funky kiss the cheek thing with me in place of the usual handshake. Let's just say that I pulled away fast and replaced the face with the hand real quick.

At last I shall update the blog again. I emailed Chris about the matter, and he says to post the emails. They shall be edited as is needed. Now, without further ado . . .


Let me tell you...I did not think I was going to be transferred, much less another plane trip back to Maputo. Gosh, you should have seen my face. Elder Brandao knew about this before the fact (that he'd be staying and TRAINING, weird.) so he was all smiley about it. He is very satisfied with what happened. Honestly, I learned a TON from him. I learned tons of Portuguese and a lot about how to be bold and teach with power. I will miss him.

Well, now that you know I am moving, where? Right? Well, like I said, Maputo is my flight destination. I am going to be working in an area Maputo 2C. It is right in the city, unlike T3 was, and I believe my house is with the assistants. (fun thought, if you use Google translate it will translate assistantes to wizards...so we don't have assistants, we have wizards who help the pres.) My new comp is Elder Coombs. I have never met him, but I am told he is great.

My district shall be made up of Elderes Rios, and Cyrier (the wizards), Elderes Greenman and Ostler (Ostler is from Orem), and Elderes me and Coombs.

Oh, yes, deep water huh? Rest assured now, Maputo city has no location such like Chota. Also, no, it was not normal...hehe...I think I half wanted to worry you, kidding. No, I have long videos of that trek, it was fun. Don't worry about being swept away either, if I fell I'd just get real wet and messy, then stand back up.
My gosh JOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! YOU ARE A REAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLYY OLD MAN! Eight, EIGHT! eight? Seriously, eight? WOAH!!!!!!! Who is gonna baptise you booger? Soon I won't be able to call you booger you are getting so big.

Mouth, fine, nothing wrong. Stop worrying and tell Dr. Jensen he is amazing. Congrats on the no cavity status. I'm impressed.

Enjoy the photos my family. There is a lot from the wedding and baptism. It was quite a day for us. Also, the baptism: 5 people. Our family, Mom, Dad, and two daughters. And Lavo a young man who has been attending church for over a year. I did not baptize a single one, all members of the branch. Actually, doing it like that is a little better. When the branch baptizes our investigators they develop a connection. When we baptize, we leave and don't see them much. Forming a branch family over here is essential. It is anywhere for that matter.

So you'll hate me for this, but I am sending a smaller email. I spent so much time on transfers and sending you those photos I don't have nearly enough time. Plus, Elder Vanderwerff (THANK YOU SO MUCH!) is getting a shout out from me. I love that guy. I miss him and his family. Tell Sister V. hi for me. For that matter, how is Nate and Brother Vanderwerff?

No port bible? That's fine. I realized that you might not find the one I wanted(with such crappy directions too.) I'll try getting one here(not sure how, but I'll try). I have one, but I want one that is small. About the size of the small Book of Mormon I brought. SO! No biggy. I will absolutely LOVE the package no matter what you put in it.

Language? Still moving along, but I am a ton better. My two transfers with a native REALLY helped with that.

I love you, why do you keep on complimenting me? I love it anyway. I feel more inspired to be and do how you view me when I hear what you say. Most of the time your compliments are way too nice. But I love you. Thanks.

Now, the person who should be complimented is you. Six boys...two gone off to far away countries for their missions with the possibility of more. You have raised us with Dad so well. I feel I was ungrateful for your great example to us.

Well, forgive me for the shortness, but Dad, Josh, Freddy, and Pres are in need of letters too. Love you all a ton!

Yo missionary in Africa,
Elder Christopher Wartena

PS--Particular areas? Nah. I said I'd like to move a lot, and so far I got my wish, but honestly "I'll go where you want me to go dear lord."

PPS-- I am looking forward to seeing those potholders.

We hope you enjoyed the email this week.  As always we loved it.  We are eternally grateful for the internet in our day.  What a blessing to hear from our missionaries each week instead of waiting for the mail.  Chris is happy and healthy.  

May you have a wonderful week in your part of the world.

Signing off for now,

The Mama

Dear Blog Readers,

You probably noticed that I haven't updated Chris's blog much in the past month--a.k.a. not at all.  We were warned recently about posting his emails to the internet, even told that it is a violation of copyright laws.  Well, then we were told the information about breaking the law was not true, but that we should really not be sharing his personal emails to us with everyone we know.  I am still processing all this info deciding what I am going to do for the rest of his mission. 

Christopher set up this blog with me with the intent that I would post his email correspondence each week.  We are doing this so that our family and friends near and far can keep up to date with what he is doing, how he is doing, and feel a part of this wonderful adventure in service to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I intend to keep doing just that.  I will be careful to remove names of investigators, and anything that I feel is just too personal or private or controversial for sharing in this format.  Thank you for your understanding.  If you ever feel I've shared too much or too little please let me know.

So, without further ado, here is Chris.

So, before I get to responding I am going to talk about my week before I forget and leave you without.

A. This week sucked for us. The actual work, the lessons, the day by day life wasn't bad. Nope, what sucked was that about half our investigators might be dropped as of this week.
Yeah, it really get's to you.

On a happier note: MY FIRST BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

Quina got baptized and confirmed this week. She got married in November (husband is already a member) and took the lessons until this week Elder Brandao dunked her! YEAH!!! The other three young women in the pictures are three baptisms of E. Barlow(in his last transfer) and E. Hales(one transfer behind me and was trained by Barlow. He'll send his trainer home.). Those three had been coming to church and doing EVERYTHING for a year. We are counciled not to baptize jovens (youngins or teens) unless they really show commitment. Instead, we shoot for families. These three however, after a year, really showed they were committed.

All right. Let's play a game:
Out of the next 4 blurbs three are true. Let's see if you can guess which is the fib.

1. Three aliens invaded our home. Their prince, in his sparkling green and blue armor flew in first. After marveling at him we electrocuted him. He wouldn't die, so we put him in a bottle. Well, they weren't happy with us and sent in heavy armor to take us out. They big guy, yellow and sharp, was hard, he fought, but we won. The little tank dude didn't even stand a chance. Now they are all in our living room in a bottle as our trophies.

2. Peixe seco...take a fish, stick it on a basket in the sun for four days or more till he's dry, then eat him. Let me tell you, after taking Elder Robinson's dare and trying it I resolved never to eat fish again. Nasty as all get out. Honestly, I have no idea what I was thinking.

3. The last lesson of the night, close to going home, and of course...a headache. Well, it didn't stop with my head, no, it moved down my body till I just rocked back and forth and Brandao took the lesson. We went home early. Malaria? Maybe, all I know is that is hurt.

4. So, when one feels the upper way back section of his teeth should one feel two bumps? Suspiciously, I felt again, yup, that feels like a tooth. Could it be that someone switched X-rays when Dr. Jenson checked for wisdom teeth? Maybe it's a rescent developement. Either way, I don't think having wisdom teeth taken out on your mission IN AFRICA is something one wants.

So, take your best bet at which one is false and in my PS at the end I'll let you know.

So, the four package rule kind of doesn't exist. It kinda does, but really that was Pres Spendlove not Kretly. All sorts of missionaries get more. The rule is...don't send lots. It cost money and time over here just to get them to missionaries. So, if you'd like, I would be more than willing to receive one at both those times...anyway, now that I've been selfish.

A couple of ideas for the next one though: A small Portuguese Biblia Sagrada. Small, as in the size of the Book of Mormon I have over here. It's got tabs on the side and weighs so much less that my chunky one. Also, it's pretty gold foil on the side, doesn't matter, but is nice anyway. If it's not too expensive, there's an idea.

4 things of deodorant...yup...or 6

Pictures...don't care of what, just of Home and of you guys.

Now to get in the responses. Crap, what time is it? OK, let's get typing faster.

Cold...I don't want to hear it. Ya'll can put on "blankets, socks, sweaters, scarves, hoodies, slippers, and hot corn bags all the time" but here I suffer from sweat and sun. Humidity sucks...wet and sticky all the time.

Kidding, I know cold weather isn't fun either. It sucks life from the bone. Hang in there.

Now that you mention Michael Buble, I miss that guy. Enjoy.

JesusChrist.lds.org...Nice! Maningue nice! *finger snap thing*(have Josh do it for me)

Shoes, they are wonderful. Right now they are covered in dried mud or "Matapi" as they call it here, but I love them-I think this one pair will last my whole two years(the other I left in Maputo and plan on never wearing them here...they are niiiice. I'll buy a pair up here if these die, which they won't). Boots... genius, an absolute necessity. The kind we bought was worth every penny. What I should have brought was a rain jacket.

Gray pants always... haha. I have three pairs of black and two of gray and I always take photos in gray. That's kind of funny. Yeah, they are holding up really well, haven't had a problem. Only, the black pants are fading to gray as well(that might explain the gray pictures too).

Socks...ug...these are great for Utah, but humidity makes them stick. Other than hardish to pull on though, they are great too.

"Well, I'm sending angels and love and happy wishes and thought of joy to you. Can you feel then? Can you feel how much I love being YOUR mom?"

Yes, I feel your love. I hope you know I love all of you over here. Hm...I feel really gushy saying that. RUB SOME MUD IN IT! There, some manhood in my letter.

Confident, me? Thanks for that paragraph. Eat me some of that popcorn.

Hehe...Nate...I can see the storage unit now. Tell Josh good luck with teh move when it happens.\

Well, gotta go use my time wisely and write everyone within my time limit.

I love y'all a ton and wish you could experience Africa with me a bit,

Elder Christopher Wartena


PS. If you guessed that #2 was false you were right! I did not eat that horrible fish, but they really do stick it in the sun like that and eat it. No cooking needed.

Alien #1

Alien #2

The aliens were three weird bugs. The first was a blueish green bee with a sick stinger while the other two were a giant bumble bee and a beetle. All three wouldn't die with our bug zapper, just were stunned, so we put them in a bottle. I think the beetle might even still live.

I didn't have malaria, just a night where I felt nasty sick. I got better by morning. This is the raining season and therefore the season of sickness here.

OK, please verify with Dr. Jensen. Did he tell me I would NEVER get wisdom teeth or was I just dreaming? No, don't say that, that's rude and I don't mean it. But I seriously feel two bumps on my upper teeth that feel like growing teeth. I'll keep you updated on what happens with that.

PPS. Chocolate? Yes, chocolate exists here and I like it. Some sucks and some doesn't.

PPPS. HAHA! Guess who tries to reinvent that last week without taco soup mix and succeeded! HAHA! I got to say I was pretty proud of my taco soup.


May you all be well and healthy in this season of winter.  Thanks for your love and support.

Signing off for now,
The Mama