18 months in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week felt like a blur or that I am in the middle of no where. haha I cannot believe my time of mission has ended. I have loved every minute of it. It has been hard but to grow we have to go through challenges to become better. The best thing I have learned about is repentance. Before I came on mission I really thought repentance is for people that did really bad things. But I have learned a lot about how repentance isn't bad but joyful. It is for everyone and for everyday. It helps us to change, become better and relieve guilt and shame. I am grateful for the person Jesus Christ has molded me into these wonderful 18 months. 

Jacob was baptized!!!!!!! He is so powerful. He quit drinking and smoking in 2 weeks. He was so prepared. After his baptism I asked him how he felt. He said he was relieved. He was so excited. Lindani and Jacob are working on their marriage bans!!! 

I have come to love my brothers and sisters of Zimbabwe! I really don't want to leave but I know Heavenly Father has a new mission for me back in Utah! 

I love my Savior. He truly is our Savior, Lord, and King. I will always do my best to follow Him and become like Him through His atonement. The Book of Mormon is true. It is the keystone of our religion. I know Joseph  Smith was a true prophet. That President Monson is the true prophet today. I know without a doubt the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is True! 

I will see you in 2 .... days!!

Love you all, 

Sister Arbon

Week 77 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was the fastest week of my mission. I felt like I blinked and the week was gone. I would love to tell you about Lindani and Jacob. Lindani is a powerful recent convert. She loves the gospel and wants all her friends, neighbors and loved ones to have the gospel also. She keeps referring us to her friends to teach. Some are interested, some aren't but I love how she knows the great blessing of the gospel and how we should share it with others. Not going to lie the work is going down. Seems to be the usual for me. haha The work progresses when the members are helping the missionaries by either teaching with them and especially giving them people to teach. I know missionary work can be scary and something we are scared to do. But I promise you if you pray for opportunities to share the gospel and trust in the Lord that He will help you to know what to do and what to say everything thing will turn out just right. 

Now, I would love to write about Jacob. He is so powerful!! This past week we taught Jacob the Book of Mormon and then the next visit we asked if he prayed to see if it was true. He told us he feels different when he reads the Book of Mormon and knows it is true because he is learning more about his Savior Jesus Christ. He hasn't drank alcohol since we talked to him about it and he was at 5 cigarettes now he is down to 1 or 2.  Our goal is to have his baptism after church on Sunday so I could see it before I leave Zimbabwe. 

While I was running this week a thought or picture came to my mind. I was thinking everyone has a part to play in life. I imagined a canvas. God was the artist, Christ was the paint brush and we were the paint. God is the brains of the operation. Christ makes it possible so we can be apart of the picture. We are the paint to add color or uniqueness to the beautiful picture of life. It might not make sense but it made sense to me. 

Heavenly Father is so merciful. He knows we would be painfully imperfect and would make mistakes. But He knew how important it was for each of us to grow through these mistakes. He sent His Son so we could become clean and better if we choose too. I love being a missionary. I wish I could serve forever. 

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!!!

Sister Arbon 

Week 76 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was all about change, either in a good way or a bad way or not wanting to change at all. I will first write about the people that don't want to change or change for the worst I guess you could say. We were teaching a woman named Sicuthlele(if that is how you spell it). She is 45ish and has been taught by the missionaries before.  She was doing really well. She came to church twice and so forth. Then she let a bomb go off. She is doing things with her boyfriend that are breaking the law of chastity. So we told her to talk to him about it and see if they could be legally married. The next time we came she told us that he didn't want to get married. She was okay with not being baptized anymore and asked us to stop teaching her. 

Then another investigator of ours... Oh my! Her name is Rumbizai. She is 50ish. She came to church once and was enjoying the teachings. We went to her house yesterday because she didn't come to church. She was telling us her church (Roman Catholic) threatened to kill her if she moved to a different church and that she would be a church prostitute. So she told us to not come back. 

The girl Lisa I used to write about is the one that changed for the worst.  She was loving the lessons but struggling to come to church. Then she started hanging out with older girls that dressed inappropriate and loved to be around boys and disobey rules of parents. The light in her eyes isn't there anymore. She dodges us now. It is really sad to see what satan will do to people to cause them to fall. We need to be careful and cling to Christ! Mosiah 4:30. 

Now let's end on a happy note shall we. :)  Do you remember Lindani who was just baptized a week back? Well, her boyfriend or should I say the father of her last born came back into town. Sister Leslie and I were worried that the law of chastity might be an issue. We talked to her about it and were relieved a bit. She doesn't want to be with Jacob unless he changes. He drinks and smokes and Lindani doesn't want that for her new life. So we started talking to Jacob. He has a great desire to change and start a new life with Lindani. I hope wedding bells and the sound of water will be soon be in the future. 

There is a recent convert named Tafadzwa. He is powerful and had a situation happen. He had a disagreement with his mother and family issues keep piling. One day we received a call from a member that Tafadzwa wanted to commit suicide. He was feeling that joining the church has been causing more and more problems in his life. We were able to find him and discuss the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was one of the most spiritual moments I have had on mission. We were able to talk about what Christ did for us and what power we can get by asking Him for help! I was able to bear my testimony about my Savior Jesus Christ. It helped me to recognize how much I truly love the Savior and what He truly does for me each and every day!

I love being a missionary. Christ truly is everything. We need to make Him the center of our lives. The best tool that can help us with this is the Book of Mormon! 

I love you all!!! Have a glorious week wherever you are!

Love, 

Sister Arbon

Week 75 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was a crazy busy week. We had zone conference, exchanges with the STLs, and 2 baptisms. Zone Conferences are one of my favorite things. I always learn so much from President and Sister Mkhabela. We discussed a lot about obedience, humility, and the importance of having a testimony. President asked the question, "Who gained their testimony of the Book of Mormon here on mission?" It was crazy to see all the hands that were in the air. I honestly don't think I could have left home and go miles away without the testimony that I had of the gospel. Gaining a testimony is so vital because it helps us to truly trust in the Lord and act on what He teaches us to do. Some of the quotes I loved at zone conference:

"You either have pain of discipline or the pain of regret." Sister Mkhabela

"To know the truth we need to live the gospel." Elder Evans

"Without knowing everything, we can know the truth." Elder Evans

"You cannot defend the Book of Mormon, the Book of Mormon defends itself." President Mkhabela

"Work harder each day to receive salvation." President Mkhabela

Then I had exchanges with Sister Park. She is an amazing missionary. She always has her purpose on her lips. I learned a lot about how important it is to be lovingly bold. She is quiet but has a voice that everyone turns to hear. I learned a lot about how we should be sharing the gospel always. By asking everyone for referrals and sharing the gospel with everyone you can. 

Then it was Lindan and Ryan's baptism last Saturday. They are so cute. I love them. Their baptism was cute, simple and so peaceful. Ryan was scared of the water but the third time was a charm. Lindan used to have dreads but she cut them before her baptism. She said, "New hair, for my new life." I loved it. She was/is ready to make the change to follow her Savior Jesus Christ. 

I am so grateful to be a missionary. I have learned more than I have ever thought I could possible. haha I will never forget the experiences I had and am having in my Zimbabwe. 

I love you all! Have a great week! 

Sister Arbon

Week 74 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was a delightful week. We have a couple of investigators that are progressing so well. First off, I would like to tell you about Lindan and Ryan. Lindan is the mother of Ryan. They are so cute and love learning. Sister Leslie taught them with her past companion. They want us to come and teach them frequently. They are loving the Book of Mormon. They are excited to be baptized this Saturday! 

Then we have Lisa and Gugulettu. They are powerful sisters. They love the teachings and want us to come every day. They are reading the Book of Mormon and loving it. Their struggle is coming to church. Gugu had washing and Lisa went to her other church. We were able to see them yesterday and discuss the importance of the Sabbath Day. Also we discussed if you know the Book of Mormon is true it means that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church. It seemed like it finally clicked. Hopefully they will enter the waters of baptism the Saturday before I go home. 

Then we have a powerful boy named Arnold. He came to church with a friend(who was also investigating) but that friend stopped coming. Arnold came with two other friends to church. We were able to hit hard the Book of Mormon and I honestly think it will change their lives more than they can imagine. 

General Conference was my favorite part of the week! I received answers to my questions and drive to become better. Some or many of the quotes I loved: 

"Blessings will come because of our choices not abilities." Pres Uchtdorf

"Remember who you are!" Pres Uchtdorf

"Who needs me today?" Sister Oscarson

"God has important work for each of us." Elder Pingree Jr.

"If we are trying to improve, we are not hypo critics but humans." Elder Holland

"It isn't where we serve but how we serve." Elder Cook

"Somethings matter but somethings don't." Sister Marriott 

"Hard will be good for those who go forward in faith and trust in His plan." Elder Ellis 

"Service with out love is like faith without works is dead." Elder Alonso

I loved this conference it helped us to remember who we are and it gave us great motivation to become better. 

Some funnies: 

I was told I look like I am from Israel. 

I was called Sister Akaborn. haha

"When we keep the law of chasity our lips are dry." Recent Convert Romeo. haha

I love being a missionary. It is hard, fun, enjoying, and stretching. I wouldn't trade my time in Zimbabwe for anything. 

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

Sister Arbon 

Week 73 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

I am on a new adventure in the land of Bulawayo. It is weird being sort of back. haha Entumbane is a good area. The people are so kind and loving. There were happy and disappointing moments but still an overall good experience! There is an investigator that we have that is brilliant. Her name is Lisa. When we were teaching her about the Book of Mormon she realized that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are the same teachings just were written on different continents after reading the first paragraph of the introduction of the Book of Mormon. I have never had anyone pick that out before. She is genius and will be a great member of the church after she is baptized in the future. 

There is awesome a cute 11 yr old named Privi. We were able to help her enter the waters of baptism. Her baptism was delayed because she didn't seem to be understanding the teachings. So when we went to visit her this week she understood the teachings. We told her that she could be baptized this past Saturday and she was so excited. She came to her baptism 3 hrs early and she was 30mins early to church for her confirmation. I love seeing people get really excited about the gospel. It can do wonders if we let it!

A couple quotes I loved this week:

"As we strive to become like God, He can make of us more than we could ever make of ourselves." ~ Elder Grow

" Just as vital as what you do, however, is who you are." ~ Preach My Gospel

I loved these quotes. We can become you God needs us to be if we just turn to Him and let Him make us into someone amazing! I love this gospel. it truly brings Joy and happiness into our lives if we let it!

I hope you have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Arbon

Week 72 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This was a week of preparing people for baptism and saying goodbyes. We were able to help Darling, Kuda, and Tadiwa prepare for baptism this week. They were so ready and it was a privilege to teach them. Darling is such a spaz. Sometimes she would be at the shops and when she saw us she would come running! haha She was so early to her baptism. She was terrified when she saw the deep water 2 feet but she was a trooper and still was baptized. Kuda we struggled with language a little bit but Gladys came and saved the day to translate when we needed it. She was on time to the baptism and I loved her testimony. It was so sweet and genuine. Tadiwa is so powerful. He was there for all the lessons even when we were late.  He was so excited to be baptized. He even came to the church super early to be confirmed. 

Then there were many goodbyes. I received transfer news. I am going to Emtubane in Bulawayo to finish my last transfer. I will be serving with Sister Leslie. I am super excited. I was/am super sad to leave Mabvuku. While I was saying good byes I realized how attached I was to this ward and the wonderful people in the ward. I am sad this is part of mission but I am grateful for the opportunity to have more people to serve and love in Emtubane. 

I hope you have a great week!

Love, 

Sister Arbon