Saturday Jan. 9th

We went out with the Precision Grinding people to finish off the mills yesterday. They did get one fixed and then we had to sit and wait for about an hour for the power to come on so that they could test it. Luckily the power did come on without waiting too long. We then went back to the other mill and tested it but there is a problem so they took a part back to the shop and we will take them out again on Monday and with any luck that mill will be running as well. I took an armful of T-shirts with me and handed some out along the dirt road between the mills. That was fun to do – I think the guys in the back seat were enjoying it as much as the recipients. I gave some more out to some kids that live near the mill and they were thrilled. We had Seka with us for the day and he seemed to enjoy it. (we didn’t know we were going to be gone all day – thought we’d be done by noon). During the day, as we had some ‘waiting’ time, Jim (& Seka) taught the guy from Precision Grinders the first discussion and he seemed to be pretty keen about it. He is the same one I talked about in Thursday's letter who is getting married in April.

Today we also spent time with Seka and met his very good friend, January Williams, from Bindura. He is a policeman there. Seka has been talking to him about the church and he is eager to learn more as he has been to church there twice now. He was asking for literature. He had some things to do but may be calling and coming by our office today to talk. We were just talking and saying that perhaps we will drive to Bindura (about an hr. away) and meet up with him and introduce him to a branch missionary couple there. January came to Harare to talk to Seka as he is worried about him. Seka needs a job and was considering taking one that is 350 km. away where there is no LDS church. January told Seka that he should not do that after the progress that he has made with being baptized and all and he wants Seka to stay here where he can learn more and help his friends learn. Seka has 3 friends that are trying to move here so that they can be taught and they are all asking him not to go. We also suggested that it was a better idea to stay here so that he can progress. Seka did say that he thinks the job is just a temptation from the adversary to take him away from where the church is. Seka will be a great leader one day and he is going to bring a lot of people to the gospel. He really has become like a son to us!

We stopped by and saw Merci today and she is doing great. She is definitely like a daughter to us, as well, and Malayka like a granddaughter. This is the nice part of being here – the great people we are meeting! It is just too bad that it is so far from home!

Maize grinder at Rutope School that we refurbished and put new motor on.

New Dehuller at Rutope School

Elder Bullock with Rutope School Development Committee Chairman

Kids in their new t-shirts

Working on mill at Kadyamadare School (the guy in the center of photo is Isaac

Cute kids

This little guy was afraid of us 'white' people

Gave mom and little guy a t-shirt (no the one she has one).

Tomorrow we are off to Kadoma for church meetings. All is well.
Love from The Bullocks

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Hi to our family and friends,

We are about to wind up our P-day. We went grocery shopping and bought a few things - oranges, apples, cabbage, potatoes, butternut squash, yogurt, cheese and eggs.

We came to the office to meet a girl who we had given a wheelchair and it needs a new front wheel (we think she must have banged into something and bent it). We couldn't find a ratchet anywhere to fix it so we took her to her friend's house not far away, only to find out that the friend had passed away this morning. (We had met the lady before too as she works for the minister of health - apparently she had a stroke. - Too bad she was a lady that did a lot of good here in Zimbabwe). That, of course, was upsetting to her. We then took her to her uncle's place and left the replacement parts with them and hopefully he can fix it. We were late for an appointment so couldn't hang around. She will call and let us know.

We then went to meet Linda. She has a sister in Canada that works with Darwin Hawryluk (Kimberley's father-in-law). She is a really nice lady. We talked about our mission and what we do and a bit about the church but she didn't seem interested in learning more. They go to the Salvation Army church. She has two young daughters. Her husband was not there as he was working. We will have to try and meet him sometime.

This past Wednesday we went to a lunch where Pres. Dube was introduced as the new mission president to Gov't ministers and some ambassadors of other countries. Everyone felt like it went really well. One minister gave the closing remarks (at his request) and said he didn't
realize the church was even here and did not know about all that we do here. He offered his assistance if we ever need anything. That was a really good thing!! Someone was there to take pictures of the event so who knows, it could end up in the church news.

Yesterday we taught Merci another discussion and she is excited still for her baptism date and we are excited too. Our other family from Epworth, the Kureva family, are doing well and are postponing their baptism 1 week so that they can all be baptized together. It will be on the 15th of August, the same day as Merci. Won't that be a great day for us - 4 baptisms. We went to visit the Kurevas on Thursday afternoon and the son, Panashe, ask Elder Bullock if he would help him with his testimony. Elder Bullock ask him what he knows and Panashe bore his testimony just fine on his own. He's a smart young man - seems older than his 11 years sometimes. We asked him what the missionaries had been teaching him and he said chastity". We asked him what that meant and he held up his hand and counted off 4 things: 1) no kissing 2) no sex before marriage 3) no pornography, 4) don't go naked (dress modestly). :)

We have a new office couple coming this week to replace the Taylors. We will help Taylors get a flat ready for them with a bit of food and a fresh bed etc. They are the Deppe's. Sister Deppe doesn't know this yet but she and I have been asked to prepare supper for Elder Jeffrey R. Holland the night he stays in Harare, after an afternoon fireside that he will do here. The supper will be at the mission home. I have also been ask to play the keyboard (organ - hooked up to the sound system) for the fireside and for the choir. YIKES! I guess I will practice all month and then pray a lot!!! Elder Taylor played for the choir at their stake conference last month but he won't be here so I guess I am next up.

Elder Holland will do a fireside here on the 28th and then got to Mutare early on they 29th and do some District training there on Saturday and then conference on Sunday. We will be going there with him (probably not in the same vehicle). Sis. Taylor is working with the District president's wife, Sis. Chadambuka, to find a place for everyone to have supper in Mutare -- there are not a lot of options to choose from and no place to really be able to fix a meal ourselves. The missionaries will likely to invited to eat with us as well. (We will meet Elaine Edmonds nephew on that trip as he is serving there.)

Mutare District is one of our new assignments as Elder Bullock is now a counselor in the mission presidency. We will be going there fairly regularly (probably once a month at least) and attending meetings and doing training. We will also be assigned Masvingo branch. The
branch president was just released there last week (after 14 years) and the new one is feeling rather overwelmed and some new callings have been and are being made so they will need help with training. It will be a stretch for us as well - we will spend lots of time reading the handbooks!!

President Dube is out of town right now so Elder Bullock had his first situation to deal with yesterday with a missionary that wanted to go home. He has already been sent home from one mission but Pres. Dube felt like he is a good young man and decided to keep him here to
finish his mission. (his home is only an hour away). The AP's had talked with him and he was walking out to go home when Elder Bullock went after him and sat on the grass outside and talked for a while. He came back in, hugged his companion, and they left together much happier. Today we haven't heard anything so we are assuming that 'no news is good news'.

Tomorrow we are off to Marondera for church and Elder Bullock has to do the branch audit. Next week he will do the one in Kadoma too. Hopefully they go smoothly because I am suppose to be at the choir practice at 3:30 p.m. with my keyboard.

We are hoping some of the white shirts that have been sent to us arrive soon as we really would like to give one to Panashe and his dad when they gets baptized on the 15th. We will cross our fingers or try and search for some in the clothes we received in the container. I know there is one there that will fit the dad but nothing for Panashe and he would be so pleased to have one. I think there are some ties in Pres. Nield's container.

That's about it for our week. Hope all is well back in America with our loved ones!

a bit of news

We were just called into the mission president's office and Jim was
called to be the second counselor in the mission presidency and was
set apart. We certainly were not expecting that.
We still do our LDS Charities responsibilities but will fit this in
along with it. We will be doing more traveling and training and Jim
(oh - I mean, President Bullock) will be doing interviewing for
baptisms and such. We will have to get more organized and schedule
ourselves better.

Must get on our way home as it is getting dark. Just wanted to share
the latest turn of events.
Jim is feeling a bit overwelmed but he will do fine.

Love to all, President & Sister Bullock