Monday, March 21, 2016

Week 89

As you are probably expecting... THIS WEEK WAS OSUM!!! It was one of the best weeks of my entire mission. I missed Beira so much.

On Wednesday we had zone conference in Maputo/Matola. It went well. We didnt have energy for half of it because Mozambique cant seem to quite figure that out still haha so we werent even able to show our presentation, but it went good enough. We got our training out and it seemed to go swell.

Thursday we flew up to Beira around noon with Pres and Sis Koch. We got up there and stepped out of the plane and I was hit with a wave of heat! Oh my lanta I forgot how hot and humid it is up there. The humidity really makes it infinitely worse. That evening I walked with the Beria zone leaders which was a good time. One of them, Elder Rispress is a West Point cadet. We had some good fun walking together.

Friday was our zone conference for Beira/Manga/Nampula. This one we had energy and air conditioners so that was nice. It was kinda weird giving the same training a second time, but cool because we were able to change it up a little bit as it seemed appropriate for those zones. The whole theme of conference is faith. Pres obviously gave some sick insights, per usual. Part of our training we used the analogy of a rocket taking off for faith and works, so for a cool visual I asked Pres if we could do a coke and mentos rocket... he said yes! Everyone loved it. When we do it in Swazi this week I will try to get a video.

After conference I got to walk with the Elders in Chingassura, my old area! We went by and visited all my families that I baptized there! It was one of the coolest things ever. I was so happy to see them all and it made me even happier when they seemed happy to see me! I got to sit with Armando e Graca and we took some photos. She had another baby since Ive been gone! I told them that we will be coming by at the end of June so they can meet my parents... you shouldve have seen their smiles!

Saturday I got to walk with the Manga zone leaders, one being my boy Elder Couch! It was the first time we have been able to walk together our entire missions, even though we have been talking about it since the MTC. Only took 21 months! It was a good time. It was his birthday too, but that doesnt really mean a lot here haha. Elder Ence was also up in Beira and was staying in the same house with me and Elder Couch so it was a good MTC reunion.

Sunday we had Beira stake conferece. It was really flippin hot! 1,200 people makes for a lot of body heat... African body heat:) It was super nice to see all the member from Chingassura there. A ton of people I never expected to remember me were coming up to me and hugging me and we were able to catch up! Probably one of the best parts of this entire week was right after the conference. 3 of my recent converts were conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood. Matira, Lino, and Maechado! I got to sit in and watch them receive it. It was too legit! It made me so dnag happy seeing everyone doing so well and so happy. I told Lino, he is the one with the dreads, that I would bring Mom and Dad by as well in June because he is a super dope artist and we can buy some of his paintings. Also, he is just one of the coolest guys ever so I want you to meet him.

Ya so if you couldnt tell it was a really great week. I would give anything to go back and serve in Beira or Manga! There is nothing quite like it. Tomorrow we are off to Swazi until Thursday. No rest for the weary. Im excited to see what its like there... and I hear they have real pasteurized milk there so Im gonna pound some cartons for sure. Enjoy the beautiful Boise Spring weather!

Much Love,
Elder Hruby





Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Week 88

Now just a disclaimer before you all think that I'm not focused and whatnot here in Africa, I am still sweating, a little less now that I have a car, and I'm still trying to find families to be baptized, but yes I too had realized that we are now only in double digit days until I see Mom and Dad!

I'm looking to go out with a bang. I think the Lord has similar plans in mind too because this week was just a great big giant all in one blessing! For the first time since October we had 3 families at church again, all 3 were there for the first time too. It felt soooo good! Manuel e Maria are so dang sweet. They are prepping for 02 April for baptism, and hopefully there 5 daughters. Maria has some physical disabilities so she walks with crutches, but she still came to church. I love them. Candido e Ana, they are a young couple that I totally misjudged. Our first lesson with them was mediocre at best and I didn't think we would really ever see them again. The last 3 visits with them have been really nice and Ana who said a grand total of 2 words the first visit is opening up and smiling and its great. After church we went and sat with them again and Candido introduced us to 5 more families that we are going to try to teach... all his friends and family. Sick right!? The last family is Lloyd e Maria. Man they are legit. They mess with your heart a little though. They are young, but pretty wealthy and just a cute little family with their 1 daughter. We have extremely spiritual lessons with them, but he kind of has commitment issues, but nonetheless they came to church and seemed to love it. We got plans to take some powerhouse members over to visit with us! Blessings, well visible ones, are starting to pour out again and Im grateful.


We have been running around like crazy this week trying to take care of our area and get zone conference ready at the same time. We have our training done now (gonna talk all about faith) and the presentation is set so that's a lot of stress gone. We have zone conf in Maputo on Wed, in Beira on Fri and in Swazi next Tues! I'm stoked to go back up to Beira and see it. I have been gone for almost a year! And Swazi is just going to blow me away Ive hear. Elder Christiansen says its like Park City!

On Friday we got a little spoiled... we got to eat lunch at President's! Sis Kock mad a BOMB lunch. We ate probably enough for 10 people, but no regrets. She even gave us ice cream for dessert! We were over there because we had to fill out a questionnaire with Pres. At the end of May/beginning of June Pres Carl B. Cook is coming for a mission tour so we had to fill out some questions he asked the Pres and Aps. Then afterwards we spent like 2 hours with Pres Koch working on transfers. Who will go where and who can be comps and stuff like that. It was cool to see how Pres does that stuff and the amount of thought he puts into all the little details. Also, how much love he has for all the missionaries. He really doesn't judge us or hold grudges. Something I need to work on.

Today just trying to rest up for a busy week. I'm excited for it though. It'll be nice. I cant believe how fast time is going. It is a weird feeling to be where I saw so many other missionaries at as they were getting ready to go home. Good news is there is still plenty of time to take care of these families we are teaching and even find more before the end! Glad you all are doing so good. I love you all and hope you have a solid week!

Much Love,
Elder Hruby

Monday, March 7, 2016

Week 87

The mission just keeps a rolling on! I cannot believe it is MARCH! Basically everyone I met on the mission is already home. We are all so old now, not a fan.

This week was legit. Not because it was perfect the whole week, but it ended on a really high note. In all honesty it didnt start out that great. It is weird being an assistant. We live with just the office Elders and they are basically always at the mission home taking care of finances and whatnot so they hardly ever interact with anyone. Our house hasnt had water since Ive been here, and Elder Christiansen said it has been without water for almost 2 months, so now we basically moved into the mission home, but it feels more like we are encroaching, rather than living. I felt super isolated this week since we dont really get to interact with anyone else. Pres also told us that Elder Christiansen and I are going to stay together as aps until the end (we are in the same group). I love this guy, but serving 4 transfers with anyone is hard, so I was a bit overwhelmed earlier this week. Until Saturday we had interviews with Pres. I actually told him that I didnt think me being ap was the best bet haha. Im such a whimp. But as always the wise mission president explained why I was called and what I was to do. So long story short I was pouted for myself, but Pres cleared some things up and Im ret to go until June.

That was the majority of the week, but like I said the week ended on a super good note. Yesterday was Stake Conference and Antonio e Cartilha came... again! We taught them about the Law of Chastity this week and they are so down to get married asap! We just have to help them get their docs from their other provinces. We also taught 3 LEGIT families in the last 2 days. Lucio e Janita, he was a pastor for a local church, but he understood the Restoration and BoM better than anyone I have ever taught! We read through the entire introduction with him and his wife point by point for like an hour and a half because they were asking the sickest questions and understanding! He also came to church. This other family, Manuel e Maria, are too cool. They are a referral from a High Priest in the Stake. We sat with them last night at the members house and they basically said that from what they had heard from their member friends that they already wanted to join and be baptized... what?! In the span of 2 days our area flipped around and it is looking beautiful now! Feeling like Im back in Mahotas again.

Funny story... well at least to me. We were knocking doors this week and had this man open up and let us in for a lesson. His wife wasnt home so we kind of just got to know him and talk about who we are and what we do. He seemed pretty nice and like a good guy. At the end after the prayer we were heading out and he asked if he could give us new names... ok? Me being me, I was all for it so I said yes haha. He said I was Adam... I thought it was cool enough.Then he looked at Elder Christiansen and said, "hmm, your comp is Adam, and Im not gonna say you are Eve, bbbuutttt... you are the Eve here." HAHAHAHA what the heck? I thought it was bloody hilarious! Christiansen was soo mad too. He held a grudge for like 3 days and wouldnt go back to the guys house haha. So if you want you can address me as Adam from now on;)

I think thats all I got for this week. Im still not driving since I havent renewed my license yet, maybe by the end of this week I will be, but no stress people drive so slow here so there are never real accidents. Heading out to play gator ball now, wish me luck so my body doesnt die!

Much Love,
Elder Hruby

"We knocked on a door that turned out to be an art museum!"