Baptism

Hi all, Here are a few pictures that we took from Mayfield's camera (as we are still waiting to get a new one). This is Lawrence and Doreen's baptism day. He was just standing beside her and I told him that she is his wife and he should put his arm around her. He did, and she got a nice smile on her face!! (so did he but then he is always smiling!) We really love these two. We will get to see their new baby when it arrives in July.




Love, The Bullocks

Baptism

Zvikomberero, Sis. Bullock and Panashe

These two finally got baptized yesterday by Elder Bullock. It was a good day yesterday and today Elder Bullock also confirmed them both. We've known them for several months and they have worked through some challenges.

Pananshe, Elder Bullock and Zvikomberero - baptism day Dec. 12, 2009

Panashe and his mom, Zvikomberero with Elder Nel

Friday, December 11, 2009

December 11, 2009

We have been without internet for about 3 -4 days this week but it seems to be back up and running now. It leaves a lot to be desired but I guess we will take what we can get.

Elder and Sister Watson were here last weekend for the Harare Stake conference. Elder Watson is a counsellor in the SE Area Presidency. We actually didn’t get to the Sunday meetings as we needed to be in Kadoma but we did get back in time to have dinner with them and the Stake Presidency & wives and also President and Sister Dube at the mission home. (We got invited because Elder Bullock is a counsellor in the mission presidency). We had a nice visit after dinner. Before Elder Watson was a Seventy he spent 30+ years as secretary to the First Presidency and the quorum of the Twelve. He had a few good stories that he shared with us and talked about things that happened in his younger life that helped prepare him those responsibilities. The Lord definitely was preparing him.

Monday we had Zone conference and it was good, as usual. We give our regular report on what LDS Charities has been doing and had lots to report this time as we have 6 projects approved now and are working on some of them.

We paid a down payment to Precision Grinders so that they will start building the mill and dehuller for Kadyamadare Primary School. The people out there have pretty much gotten the building secured and are now putting the electrical wiring, etc. into the building. As soon as they are finished (Monday) they will call us and we will then take the Zimbabwe Electrical Co. People out there so that they can connect the building to the main line (well actually they are increasing capacity for the mill). We have had to buy quite a bit of supplies to make this happen. Hopefully everything is about ready. It was a real experience shopping for the supplies as we had to go to several different places to get the things. The shops are in the “very busy” part of downtown where traffic is a nightmare, to say the least. It is amazing that anyone can get anywhere down there. Once the power is hooked up then the mill can be installed and we are hoping that it will be done before Christmas. The people out at the school really have come through and done a lot of work. We are pleased about that. The school head took us to his ‘plantation’, as he called it. He has a nice place (for Zimbabwe). He took us into his home and his granddaughter offered us Mazoi juice but we declined as we have to be really careful about the water and besides, I am not eating sugar. Their houses here are nothing like ours but they are really clean. Their painted floor shines. They have no electricity but they have a solar panel that charges a battery that they use to operate their radio and they had a small television. They have a nice looking field (probably a couple of acres) of maize that is starting to grow. They have chickens and he has 2 turkeys that he hopes will start reproducing.

The grinding mill motor that we bought and had installed at the Old People’s Home in Mutare is about done. We were hoping to have the ‘turn-over’ ceremony today but they weren’t quite ready. A belt was the wrong size and they had to get another one in from Harare. The ceremony has been rescheduled to this Wednesday afternoon. I guess we (LDSC) are buying some refreshments for the occasion (at least enough for the special invited guests). We will take biscuits (cookies) and Mazoi juice (a concentrate that they mix about 1:4 with water). They love that drink here. It reminds me of the punch that grandma Godfrey used to make.

We took the Sister Missonaries with us to teach Carol, Ellison and their neighbour. It went well and the Sisters are meeting them again this afternoon. We thought we would be in Mutare but since we aren’t we may try and be there as well.

Zvikomberero and Panashe are getting baptized tomorrow afternoon. We are excited about that. We will go to their branch Sunday morning for the confirmations but will have to leave right after and head to Highlands Ward because we need to meet Carol, Ellison and their mother Mavis there. They are coming to church for the first time. The neighbour is coming too as well as Mavis’ friend.

Merci has invited us to dinner on Sunday afternoon (for Elder Bullock’s belated birthday).

That is about it for our week – at least that I can remember at the moment. I will admit that I have felt a little homesick this week, shed a few tears, and wished I could go home, but..... we still have a few months to go and LOTS to do so I will just get over it and carry on.

Love to all, The Bullocks

Seka's Baptism

Well today was the big day! It was a nice baptism and Seka had a big smile on his face. He was really ready for today. He has been waiting a long time for this and has given up so much. There were two girls baptized as well at 2:00 p.m. into the Highlands Ward.

At 3:00 p.m. there was another baptismal service for the Epworth Branch (part of Queensdale ward). There were 6 baptized and one of those was Gift Kureva. (we didn't get his picture so will get one later). If you remember we were helping teach him and Zvekomberero (sp) and Panashe back a few months ago and they had a falling out and Zvekomberero left Gift. Since then they have both still been coming to church (not Panashe though as he is with his uncle in Ruwa). Gift has done some repenting and was cleared to get baptized. Zvekomberero will get baptized in a couple of weeks - she has taken longer as she wasn't coming to church for a few weeks as she was out 'street vending' trying to make a living for herself. She has quit vending on Sundays and has been coming out to meetings again.

Anyway -- what a great day. Two of our contacts baptized!!

Sekanipo (Seka) Kapatamoyo's Baptism day - November 14, 2009

Seka and Brother E. Mataranyika


Zone Leader Conference November 11-13, 2009


Flamboyant Tree

Can you see the crocodile sunning on the lower rock?

Lizard

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!

Baptism Date

We are really excited. The elders called us last night to tell us that 'our family' have agreed to a baptism date of Aug. 8th. This is the family that came to us because they had been robbed and we gave them blankets and some clothes. We talked to them about the gospel and they came out to the first 'branch' - well not a branch yet - meeting that was held in Epworth and at that time set a date with the missionaries to come and teach them. We showed the elders where their house is and sat in on their first discussion. They have the 11 yr. old son that we gave shoes to - the one who threw his arms around Elder Bullock and said 'thank you, papa'. He is a great boy - smart. He will be a great missionary one day!!!!! Their names are: husband: Gift Kureva, wife: Zvikomborero (means - gift in Shona) so the elders have nicknamed them the Gifts, children: Panashe - 11 yr. old boy, Poshia - 9 yr. old girl, Rumbidzai - 3 yr. old girl.

Sister Bullock & Zvikomborero Murniro in Epworth
(I have sent this picture before, but thought I would put it up again so you could see what she looks like again.)

We visited with our other investigator, Mercy, late yesterday to see how she is doing. She has been reading and praying. We left her another pamphlet and a Liahona. She said she believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet. We haven't taught her about the word of wisdom yet and she said, "I've been trying not to drink coffee or tea because I know you don't do that". She said that she drinks a coffee now and then. We told her she could drink herbal tea if she wanted to. She then said that she wondered how it would work since part of her restaurant business is selling coffee and tea. We told her it was fine. She might decide differently down the road. She is really doing some thinking though. She is a rather independent type girl -- I wondered how she would react to only men holding the priesthood and interestingly enough she asked about that. We explained it and she thanked us for not beating around the bush. She said she liked the answer -- that God created Adam and Eve to walk side by side and to work together. I told her that I had never felt 'put down' as a woman in the church and that we have women who have leadership positions in the Relief Society, primary, etc. She was okay with it. Anyway - she is doing great and we think she is just great!!!! She is really an intelligent, sharp lady. We will introduce the sister missionaries to her so they can visit with her while we are in Johannesburg next week.

Our mission isn't a proselyting mission but we do try and talk to people whenever we can. We also have another man and his wife taking the discussions with the missionaries (Funuel) - the man we met when we walk in the mornings. His brother and wife are also listening and it sounds like they are doing well. We also have 'Answer' a waiter at a restaurant that we talked to and he has been to church a couple of times but we haven't gotten missionaries to him yet. We need to get on them again to go visit him as he has great potential too.

We went to the 4th of July celebration at the ambassador's yard. It was hamburgers and hot dogs and potluck salads and desserts. We ate too much!!! They had a bit of entertainment and some games for the kids. We didn't stay the whole time but it was an enjoyable couple of hours.

We are off to Kadoma tomorrow for church.
We love you all, E/S Bullock

Friday

Good morning, It is a holiday here today - labor day - so everything is shut down. We got up early and met our 3 golf friends at 6:30 so that they could teach us how to play 'squash'. It was really quite fun and a very good workout. I think I may have some stiff muscles tomorrow. They play every morning at 5:30 and the club is very close to our residence so maybe we will take up squash. We were suppose to go for another golf lesson after but decided we had done enough for one day so we will go for golf on Monday morning! They also brought me another Ziploc bag of the cereal they make up out of a lot of healthy things. It is good.

They leave next Saturday for their European golf tour and are gone until Christmas. We will miss them. They are really fun and wonderful at sharing the gospel with all they come in contact with. They keep a supply of scriptures in their vehicle (Bible and Book of Mormon) in a cloth scripture case and give them out. They gave out 2 this a.m. at squash and gave the two men a quick overview and invited them to church. These ladies have a fair bit of money and they spend it doing a LOT of good things. They have an organization called: Eyes4Zimbabwe and they have helped people get cataract surgeries, etc. They really are a great trio. One is Pres. Nield's daughter, and the other two are converts (because of her). Great ladies!

We went home and bathed (yes we actually had water for a bath). We then went to the Chinese Consulate and met a man named Lee. He was referred to us by another couple that we met at the MTC who are serving as teachers in Beijing and met his wife who teaches at the University there. He works here for 2 years at the consulate. He gave us some tickets for a Chinese show here in Harare this afternoon. It sounds like it should be quite good. There will be Chinese dance, acrobatics, magic and martial arts. He was a very nice man and we shared with him about our mission here. He would like to go to church with us one Sunday! We also suggested we could get together and go out for supper one night and he seemed to like that idea. Perhaps we will be able to teach him of some eternal principles and our MTC friends in Beijing can teach his wife. (they are not allowed to proselyte there). Perhaps they already are teaching her some things because he told us that his mother is Buddhist but that he and his wife are not. They have a 3 year old daughter.

We are also going to start teaching discussions to Phillipa and her two boys (12 yrs. and 17 yrs) so that they can get baptized. They have been coming to church for a long time and want to get baptized. I am not sure why it has taken so long but sometimes there are special requirements here. By the way, I have meant to tell you that in our branch in Marendera there were 13 convert baptisms and 3 child of record ones last Sunday. Unfortunately we could not be there. We really wish we had been. It would have been something to see. There are no missionaries stationed out there so the ward mission leader etc. teach the investigators and then the missionaries go out from here and do the baptism interviews. That branch is growing and are asking us if we can get them more chairs -- however, there is no room for more chairs. I think they are going to knock out a wall and make the room bigger for them. They meet in a house -- maybe one day they will get a church built. (It is on a large lot - they have their garden plots there). Apparently the church is no longer building chapels for just one ward - there must be two. So I guess these people will have to do with what they have for now.

We are now going to give Huseni a ride home so that he can take his maize harvest from his garden plot here. After that we will go to the Chinese production. This evening we are invited out for supper with the stake/district presidents in the mission and Elder Bricknell (the Area Authority
Seventy), the mission president and also the Taylors. Pres. Bester said he wanted some female influence!! Apparently we are going to a really nice place. Tomorrow morning at 7:30 they are having a meeting and we are invited to report on what we have been doing. They are having an open meeting to discuss whatever they feel they need to discuss. We were in on a meeting with some of these brethren when we first arrived here and were really impressed with their leadership.

I must run. Love you, Mom/Nancy/Sis. Bullock