Monday, December 19, 2016

Merry Christmas from Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends,
First off, Merry Christmas this week! Remember the real reason for the season! This week was a great week! Ether 12:27 is my favorite scripture and definitely helped me a lot. I love how it says if you humble yourself before the Lord, He will make weak things become strong. When things are tough in a new area: you need to first realize this is the Lord's work and not yours and attitude is everything. If you strive to always look for the good you will find it. Looking for the bad is easy. Pres. Monson said to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. During studies one day I received the impression: Jesus Christ is your companion and will always be there and will always support you. I was grateful for this impression. It helped me to know that the Savior will never leave my side. Brother Tapiwa was baptized this Saturday! He is awesome and will be a great member of the church. We have these 2 boys as investigators: Joywell and Praise. We went to teach them the Restoration and we said explain what you understand from your reading. Joywell explained everything in detail. I have never experienced that before. I was floored a teenager could do that. They told their mom that they weren't going to the wedding on Sunday they were coming to church. I love them. They are progressing so well. I hear the water dripping in the font already. I love being a missionary especially in Zimbabwe. The Lord is always there for you so turn to Him. I love the Book of Mormon and know that it will bring you closer to Christ than any other book!
I love you all!
Have a vivifying week!!
Sister Arbon



Monday, December 12, 2016

Week 31 in Zimbabwe!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has been a trying week for me. It has been a lot of adjusting. Adjusting to a new area, language, and companion. I am back with my trainer. It has been interesting. Sometimes I feel she still sees me as when I first came in but we are doing our best to figure out who each other is after we have grown for a couple of transfers. My new area is very different from my last one. There is not as many people walking the streets as there were in Epworth but it is all right. We are finding more and more people to teach everyday. We had our Christmas devotional this past Friday. I really enjoyed it. There was a quote I liked from the Christmas broadcast of the Church. Christmas is about giving and receiving gifts because Christ gave us the greatest gift of all. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord this Christmas and help my brothers and sisters to come to know Jesus Christ! 

I hope you have a great week!

Sister Arbon


Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Week 30 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was an amazing week! It was definitely guided by Heavenly Father. On Monday night we did Thanksgiving. Sadly enough Turkey is apana(none) in Zimbabwe so we had chicken instead. We went around and told each other what we were thankful for. It was very emotional. This was the best transfer yet for all of us. We have gotten along so well and have grown together. I am sad to leave these Sisters. I am headed to Bulawayo. My new companion is my trainer Sister Bandi. I am excited for the new adventure ahead. I was running this week and the wind was blowing against me and I was thinking it would just make the run easier if the wind was pushing me forward. I thought this applied to life: when the wind is pushing against us it is the time Heavenly Father is testing us and we need to keep pressing forward. Then those times when we need a little support Heavenly Father pushes us forward like the wind does at times. We needed this wind this weekend. We went to the church to prepare for the wedding and while we were there Sister Katonika calls us crying. So we hurried to her house to see what was going on. Her husband delayed at work on purpose to try and get out of having the wedding. Don't worry we talked to him and he came back to his home to get ready. Then we headed to the church an hour late but everything worked out. The wedding was so cute. Then it was time for the baptism and there was no water. Everything that could go wrong for Sister Katonika did go wrong. Satan knows how powerful that woman is and was doing his best to discourage her but Satan forgot that Heavenly Father was on our side. You always win with Him on your side. So with the water problem we had to push it to Sunday to after church. When we got to church the font was broken so the water was leaking out. But we managed to fill it full enough to be able to baptize Sister Katonika, Fadzai, Marvelous, Charmaine, and Munyarodzi. They were so ready. I am going to miss Epworth and miss being companions with Sister Jones. But Heavenly Father needs me in Bulawayo. 

I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week!

Sister Arbon




Friday, December 2, 2016

Week 29 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was another great and crazy week in Epworh! So during this week we met with a guy that we contacted the week or so before and he was majorly drunk when we contacted him. So of course we gave him the word of wisdom pamphlet and he told us he would stop drinking that day. A lot of drunks have told us that in the past so we kind of were like we hope but it usually doesn't happen. So we went back and visited him. He walked up to us and I almost didn't recognize him. He did stop drinking that day and he was so full of light and peace. Obeying God's commandments truly blesses us and we can be full of joy as we obey them. Simon's baptism this week didn't happen according to the plan but it did work out nonetheless. We got everything ready and good to go at 10 am when the baptism was about to start but there was no Simon and no ward mission leader with the program. It tells you how on top of things Epworth is. At 10:30 our ward mission leader shows up and 10 minutes later Simon shows up. The crazy thing was at around 10 a guy we contacted came to the church and wanted to know more. So I am thinking Heavenly Father delayed the baptism on purpose so the guy we contacted could hear the truth and the love of Jesus Christ's message. The baptism was amazing and full of the spirit. Simon was so ready and definitely prepared by our loving Heavenly Father. This weekend was also stake conference weekend for the Harare South Stake. I loved it. My mission president and his wife spoke at it. Sister Mkhabela said, "We are not here to like each other, we are here to serve each other!" I loved this quote because sometimes we feel that our leaders need to be approachable, friendly, and our best friends to like them but what we truly need from them is their guidance and love. This life isn't about us it is about serving others (Mosiah 2:17) and helping come to know the Joy that we experience everyday. Fadzai, Marvelous, and Charmaine are progressing so well. They come to church every Sunday and love learning every time we come to teach them. They are getting baptized this next Saturday. Also, Sister Katonika is having her wedding and getting baptized, and Munyarodzi is getting baptized too. I couldn't think of a better way to end the amazing transfer. 

Funny: I got another new name this week Sister Olivia. I have no idea how you get that from Arbon but oh well. haha Also cute kids started running with white powder on their face as we were walking to a recent convert's house. I started yelling murrungo. I thought it was so funny and so adorable at the same time.  

I love all of you so much and hope you have a vivifying week!

Sister Arbon












Week 28 in Zimbabwe!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week has been a crazy week. We had exchanges so we weren't in our area a whole lot this week. I loved exchanges. Our STLs are powerful sisters. I saw a lot of amazing people in Bindura. There was this one family that live hours from the church. I think around 5 or 6 hours away and they wake up early every Sunday to get there and they are always on time. It made me think how much we take for granted going to church. We complain sometimes if we have to drive 10 minutes to church but people here in Zimbabwe are so willing to walk hours on end to be able to partake of the sacrament to be able to renew their baptismal covenant. A couple of things I learned on exchanges: teaching simply and clearly will help the people to be able to understand and feel the spirit and compliments can go a long way. I have been struggling a bit with my teaching and Sister Steg told me "you are a good teacher." I am grateful Heavenly Father sends people to help His children when they are struggling and need a little encouragement. So when you see someone that looks cute, tell them but don't be creepy about it. haha Also if someone is doing well, tell them. Don't let pride get in the way! I got to ride in a combie for the first time in 2 months. I missed it but I am grateful we have a car. So Simon is getting baptized this week!!!! We are so excited for him. Once he decided he wanted to be baptized he did all he needed to get there. I love seeing the spirit truly testify to people that the gospel is true and seeing Heavenly Father's sons and daughters acting on the spirit. 

A funny this week: Our awesome member who works with us every Saturday and Sunday named Langton said this, "When we are full of the spirit, we are fullish!" I thought it was super funny and I hope you do too!

Have a great week!

Sister Arbon









Week 27 in my Zimbabwe!!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was a great, fun, and wet week here in Epworth. Rainy season is here upon us in Zimbabwe. I am loving the rain. It is harder to contact people but on the bright side it isn't as hot. haha Simon, Blessing, and Munyarodzi are progressing so well! Soon as we invited them to baptism they were and are truly committed and want to learn as much as they can about the gospel. I love how the gospel can transform people to become their best selves and who Heavenly Father wants us to be. While in Macomo Ext this week Blessing asked for my sunhat, my glasses, and name tag. He is the new and improved African version of Sister Arbon. Love my boys in Macomo Ext. The pastors have no desire to move from their church. I had a feeling that would happen but you always have hope that someone will come and accept the gospel. I think they are learning from us so they can use it on their congregation. Surprisingly this happens a lot here in Zimbabwe. But their son Peter is loving the Book of Mormon. I just hope one day that he will fully act upon the truth. We have a recent convert named Rafeal. He is so powerful! Yesterday he took us to so many of his friends that he wants to hear and learn about the gospel. It is truly amazing how much Joy the gospel truly gives you. I am grateful to be in Zimbabwe serving as a representative of my Savior. I love being an instrument in The Lord's hands helping my brothers and sisters come unto Christ! 

Another Funny: My new name this week is Sister Albert. Thanks to the drunk man trying to read my name!

Have a great week! Remember the Savior is always by our side and loves it when you lean on Him! 

Love you all!

Sister Arbon