Week 49 in Zimbabwe!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was a crazy week in Mbizo. haha We had a lot of investigators that are so prepared but had issues that will stop their baptism at this time but it is okay we can help them better prepare for when the time comes that they are able to enter the waters of baptism. First off I would like to talk about our amazing recent convert Reward. Reward came with us to an appointment and he knows his stuff and is very good at sharing his testimony. He than told us about how he had the opportunity to give a talk this past Sunday. He wasn't nervous at all and was so honored he would get to talk about Jesus Christ's Resurrection. He did an amazing job. Reward is a great example to me of someone who truly treasures the gospel and makes it a part of their lives. We are teaching a family called the Moyos. They are progressing so well and love the gospel. The mom came to general conference and loved the talk that talked about how you should listen to the missionaries and treasure what they say. She took this to heart and loves the teachings. She comments all the time on how there is more light in her home and there is more peace. I love being able to help in the work of the Lord and bring His light to the people of Zimbabwe. Then Sister Dephine's baptism... She came to church a couple Sundays back and told us she would like to be baptized. She was taught by the missionaries before but left for holiday before she could be baptized. She was so prepared. She kept all her commitments and was so eager to enter the cold waters of baptism. She is what you could call "a golden investigator." I love being a missionary and sharing my testimony of my beloved Savior every day. 

A quote I came across the other day: 

"It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve." ~President Thomas S. Monson

I am grateful for the Easter season and how we have a reminder to think about Jesus Christ but lets not just think about Him on holidays but all the time. 

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

Sister Arbon

Week 48 in Zimbabwe!!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

What I can say about this week is ...... it was amazing!!!! We were able to start teaching Bro Ngwenya's wife about the gospel. Her kids have never told her about it. My favorite moment of the lesson was when Bro Ngwenya bore his testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel. I hope I get to see him enter the waters of baptism because I am staying in Mbizo with Sister Wells for one more transfer. That would be my highlight to see him be baptized. We are finding more and more people to teach. We contacted a guy named Tinashe and he came to church. He left though before we got his info. We had a fall through and I just felt like we should walk up the street to a members house. The members weren't there and when we turned around to go somewhere else low and behold Tinashe was there. I love that if we listen to the spirit the work of the Lord goes so much better. We started talking to Tinashe and got his info. He told us he wanted to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We committed him to baptism then and there. One of the easiest baptismal dates I have ever given on mission. I love how the Lord puts His children in the path of the missionaries to help them progress. We had zone meeting and I loved this quote: 

"We are unwavering and energetic in fulfilling our purpose in earnestly and consistently finding, teaching and baptizing families and individuals into the household of God." - Elder Robison

I loved this quote! It truly shows that we always need to be working hard to do the Lord's will. My most favorite part of the week......GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!! Some of my favorite quotes:

"Be willing to stand out, speak up and be different from the world." Pres Nelson

"It takes different voices to make beautiful music." Elder Holland

"Don't fear just live right." Elder Sabin

"Sin resistant doesn't mean sinless." Sister Jones

"We need to preach what we practice." Elder Chistoffersen

I love hearing from the words of the prophet and his apostles. I learned that we are not perfect and we won't be in this life. We are here to improve through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I urge you to do this by daily pray, daily study of the Book of Mormon, partaking of the sacrament every week, and attending the temple as often as possible. I love this gospel and I know if we live these principles we will live with Heavenly Father again.

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

Sister Arbon

Week 47 in Zimbabwe!!!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was another blessed week in Mbizo! Ali and Lucy were baptized and confirmed. We had to have two baptism. Ali couldn't get work off but she wouldn't let that stop her from getting baptized. So how it worked, Ali was baptized first while Lucy watched over the grinding mill and then when it was over Ali replaced Lucy and then Lucy was baptized. It was amazing. They were so happy and excited even though the water was cold. haha When we visited them after church they kept saying how happy and peaceful they felt. I love being able to help Heavenly Father help His children make a covenant with Him. Bro Raiger's marriage bans are starting soon. I am so excited for him! We were able to meet his wife this week. His wife was telling us that the gospel brought them back together. Raiger was different and it caused his wife and him to separate. Then when we found him and started teaching him the gospel, the gospel started to change him to help him become a better man. His wife saw the change and now they are back together and so excited to be legally married. They cool thing is his wife now wants to learn because of the amazing change in Raiger. I love this gospel and how it helps bring families back together, us to improve and be the best us!!! We were able to watch a LDSFace2Face with Studio C. It was amazing. They talked a lot about the atonement and how that it is their strength and joy.

 The spirit helped me to think of this quote: "Make the atonement personal because Christ did it personally for you!" 

I love it because it is so true! I encourage you all to make the atonement personal. I promise it will bring you so much joy and happiness! I love this gospel and that I am able to testify of my Savior and His Atonement to help my brother and sisters. 

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

Sister Arbon 

Week 46 in Zimbabwe!!!!

Dear family and friends, 

This week was a blessed week in Mbizo and in Mabvukvu. Sister Wells and I went on exchanges this week. It was a breathe of fresh air. I got to see Sister Erickson! Love her and so grateful for her friendship! We were able to learn so much from our STLs on how to find new investigators and be better teachers of the gospel. I love that we get to learn from our leaders and learn to be better missionaries.

Our district leader came up with a KweKwe District vision. 

Always strive for:

1-Improvement

2-Obedience

3-Diligence

I loved this vision. It helps us to truly show us we always need to be working hard to improve and strive to follow the Savior and His example. We were able to visit a referral this week. Her name is Pamela. Pamela has been looking for a true church to join. She has gone to many churches and has seen some of the things they do and how servants of God shouldn't be doing these kind of things. It testified to me that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I love how our leaders are doing things the way the Lord wants it to be done. The leaders don't do it for money, they do it for their Lord and helping their brothers and sisters come closer to Christ. We visited Bro Ngwenya this week. He surprises me every week with how much he is progressing. This week he told us all the things he learns from the scriptures and how it applies to him. Also he testified to us about repentance and how it brings joy. I love that Heavenly Father lets me be an instrument in His hand and help His children learn of truth. Then we saw Ali and Lucy. We were able to finish the lessons with them for their baptism this Saturday. They love the lessons and always tell us how much they know the church is true. I love being a missionary and serving the Lord. 

I found this quote and thought it applied to everyone: 

"We should not worry that we are not professionally trained gospel teachers. No training class or manual is as helpful as personally studying our scriptures, praying, pondering and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit."

 (Elder Robert D. Hales Nov 2016 Ensign)

I love this quote because it shows us what we need to do to become the best us to help Heavenly Father and His work go forth. I love this gospel and how it always helps us to improve. 

Have a delightful week!!!

Sister Arbon

Week 45 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was a great week to be a Zimbabwe missionary. We had a zone conference this week! It was so good! I learned a lot about becoming and being a better missionary. I learned a lot about what repentance truly is and how as a missionary you need to repent before you call others to repentance. Some of the quotes I loved:

Sis Mkhabela: "We need to make Christ our priority." 

"You can't finish how you started."

"We start inward and then go outward."

Elder Wilken:

"Are you serving time or the Lord?"

President Mkhabela:

"We become perfect by repeating."

"Wherever you go take your hear with you."

"Your message comes second to your love for your investigators."

Elder Bednar:

"We need to remember the most important part of repentance is the Redeemer."

"Begin with the end in mind."

Elder Oaks:

"Conversion is a process that starts after baptism and continues throughout your life."

I loved these quotes! They teach us a lot about what we need to do as missionaries. Brother Ngwenya is one of my favorites. We were asking him if he would come to church on Sunday. We thought he would say no because of his baptism being postponed but he said, "Try and stop me sisters from coming to church." We said we won't. haha I love how our investigators and recent converts are becoming truly converted and not letting challenges derail them. Givemore is coming back to church! When I saw him this Sunday I was so excited. Sometimes we get lost and confused but we shouldn't let that get in the way. If we strive to always follow Christ we will be always find joy and overcome our challenges! Lee Matina was baptized this week! He loved the lessons and always took them seriously. He was so excited to be baptized! After he was baptized and confirmed he couldn't stop smiling and being happy. This is why I love being a missionary. I love helping my brothers and sisters come to know their Savior! If you are struggling I urge you to read and pray about the Book of Mormon again or start reading it if you haven't started reading it yet. It is what helped me to truly know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and Christ's church once again restored to the earth. I am grateful for the priesthood and how it helps us to make covenants and do ordinances that enable us to live with our Heavenly Father again!

Have a divine week full of the spirit!

Sister Arbon

A funny: Victor(ward missionary) told me my skin is as soft as a sandwich. haha 

Week 44 in Zimbabwe!!!

Dear Family and Friends, 

Another blessed week in Zimbabwe! I have some good news and bad news. Bro Ngwenya won't be able to be baptized this weekend because things came up. He isn't letting it get him down. He is still pushing forward. Now to the good news! We were able to visit Bro Raiger. This man's testimony is amazing! He loves the Book of Mormon and he loves the gospel and how it uplifts us and makes us better. It helped me to see what great blessing we have to be a member of the church and the knowledge we have of our Beloved Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement! Then we were with teaching Sister Ali and her daughter Lucy about the Book of Mormon. Sister Ali was eating it up and loving it. She said, "This church makes you work, but I love it because it is the true church!" I am excited for her to enter the waters of baptism soon. Bro Pedzei amazes me every time we see him. He has trial after trial hit him. The government beat him up for something dumb, family thinks the church is a bunch of Satanist and so much more. But every time we visit him he bears his testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and how the Savior is there helping him every step of the way. I love being a missionary and helping my brothers and sisters come unto the truth. Then we had stake conference in Gweru. I felt like I was back at home (in Zimbabwe). I was able to see a lot of people I know in the Gweru ward. I got to see Sister Shava! She is my Zimbabwean mother for sure. There were a couple of quotes I loved from the conference from Elder S. Mark Palmer of the Seventy:

 "Our temple recommend shows that we stand with the Lord." and "No trial is too great to go to the temple."

I loved these quotes because it shows how important the temple is and how we should  always remain worthy so we can enter the temple. I am grateful to be a missionary and to serve my Savior Jesus Christ and help Him do His work! 

Have a lovely week!!!

Sister Arbon

Week 43 in Zimbabwe!!!!

Dear Family and friends,

This week was another blessed week in Mbizo! Sis Nono, Tatenda, and Reward were BAPTIZED and CONFIRMED!!!!! I am so grateful Heavenly Father let me be a part of their journey to come unto Him! They were all referrals from ward members. Member missionary work is so crucial for others to come unto Christ! I hope you strive to be a good example and live the testimony that you have. People do notice what you do and if you are a light they will want to have that light. If you are happy they will want to have the same happiness that you have. A cute quote from a recent convert, Takudzwa, "The spirit makes me strong." I totally agree. Alma 26:12. We receive our strength from the Lord. He is our real strength. For example: Givemore and Pedzei. Givemore is a recent convert that refuses to come to church on Sundays and he won't tell us why. He has friends there and everything so I am not sure what is going on. It makes me sad that Satan can make you feel that the testimony of coming close to the gospel was not real if you don't continually nourish your testimony and come to church every week and partake of the sacrament. Pedzei on the other hand comes to church every Sunday. He reads his scriptures often and loves the gospel. He even talked to his boss about not working on Sundays. Pedzei not only tasted of the fruit but he kept feasting on the words and works of Christ! It makes me sad that some of the people I helped enter the waters of baptism are struggling and aren't partaking of all the blessings they could have. The Lord knows what is going on and will help us help Givemore.
Update about Bro Ngwenya is so beyond ready for baptism on the 18th of March! His son bore his testimony in sacrament yesterday and said that his patriarchal blessing said that one day his family and parents would accept the gospel if he stayed faithful. He is seeing that fulfilled with his cousin and his father at this time! I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am grateful Heavenly Father trusted me with His children in Zimbabwe. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

I hope you all have a fabulous week!!

Love,

Sister Arbon