Monday, September 30, 2013

Muddy Service and Shocking Transfer News

 
So forgive me about last weeks email!  It was long until the computer decided to chuck it away....  Its been happening again this week already and its taken everything within me not to chuck it out the window.  First off, I saw the pictures and I was super jealous of the snow!  Its getting hot again here and I'm beginning to not dry once I get out of the shower.  so yeah, I'm jealous of you all. 
 
 Second thing, the picture with dad roasting on your guys super cool portable fire pit, is legit.  But who in my family is wearing black crocs....  that is a Liberian thing.... not a Zaugg family thing.  No..... I just pray that none of you have given in to the croc temptation...  just let the Liberians keep this trend. 
 
And now another thing I'm jealous about.... you've seen more African animals in the past 1 week than I have in the last 7 months.  I haven't seen an Elephant or a Lion, and you've seen both. How does that work out..?  I'm in the place where they originate from and I can't even find them.  The only thing I see is the naked natives running around in the rain.  That's about the closest I get to National Geographic...  You probably explained in the email above, so I'll read it when i get home, but I hope the hunt went well! I didn't see an animal, so when I mean went well, I mean I hope you guys enjoyed yourselves!
 
This week, we had a few cool stories that I would like to share.  The first one was when we were in a lesson with a lady named T.  Her daughter is a member, but she is not.  She has been taught by previous missionaries, but because of past transfers, the missionaries lost contact with her.  Anyway, we go to her house to check up on her to see how everything is, and we see that she's reading her Bible while she's cooking.  Sweet, she likes God business already! so, we ask if she has small time to talk with us, and she tells us to go wait under the tree.  While we're waiting, I tell Elder Bowring to share a scripture with her since she doesn't have much time because her foods on the fire.  So, she brings chairs, we sit down, and we open the lesson.  We ask if she has any questions for us, and then my companion opens a scripture to heb 11:1 to talk about Faith with her.  After he reads it, she stops him and tells us that she had just finished reading about faith in James.  Well, that's sweet!! As, they're talking, I opened my Bible and looked down.  As I looked at the page that my bible had opened to, I saw a scripture that was highlighted and it was matt 18: 3-4 I believe.  Anyway, I was like nice, I'll be able to tie this in with what they are talking about.  The cool thing is, we didn't know she was reading about faith, and my companion shared a scripture on faith.  I wasn't going to share a scripture, but I opened my bible and that's the page it opened to.  It was such a spiritual lesson and you could tell that she was understanding everything.  When we were about to close, she asked something about the Book of Mormon so she went to grab it.  She wanted to learn more, and of course we took advantage of her giving us more time.  I told her to open up to Ether 2-3 and we would read about The brother of Jared and his faith.  At the end of the lesson, the spirit was so strong, and she just expressed how much she enjoyed the lesson.  Its moments like these that I live for on mission!! When everything just works and the spirits there.  Its a great reminder to you for why your on a mission. 
     Next thing, this happened on Thursday.  We were going as a zone to a service project and saw a truck carrying a bunch of bottles stuck in this huge puddle and mud.  Why not give some service before we do our actual service right? So, we walk up there and I'm ahead of everyone, so I pick up some concrete pieces and shove under the tire.  I then look at everyone and said,    " I'm sure we could push it out." Good thing I was wearing boots by the way, or that would have been bad. So, I walk to the back of the truck and step into the water.  As I was moving around the back, all of a sudden my boot goes under the water and now I'm standing up to my knees in this puddle.... Great, nasty poopy water between my toes.  Nice...  Well, I'm already wet, so I just stuck my other foot in there and got good footing.  Then my companion comes hopping in and of course, his boots disappear as well.  He gets into position, and I look to the driver in the passenger mirror and tell him we'll try it on 3.  "1.... 2.... 3!!" The driver punched the peddle and the tires started to spin.  Me and my companion are pushing, fully extended bodies, and this truck just spins. We tried it again, and as we pushed, I felt the truck become lighter and then it finally climbed out.  At this point, we have a lot of people from the surrounding communities watching the two of us white men push this thing.  After it climbed out, I had a guy come up to me and say, "You a strong man!!" and then the driver of the vehicle came walking back and thanked us.  Who knows what would have happened if me and my companion wouldn't have done that.  Their truck was already smoking a ton and could have ruined it if we wouldn't have gone.  Also, who knows, this could turn into a great teaching opportunity now. 
      Last thing, and this is the craziest of them all.  It was the end of the transfer yesterday, so we received transfer news on Friday.  Me and my companion didn't think anything was going to happen to us because they don't usually take trainers from their trainees, but it does happen on occasions.  Well, this was one of those occasions.  The zone leaders gather us together and start reading off all of the news and what's happening.  Everyone's freaking out and going crazy about the different positions they are receiving.  They tell Osayi that he is staying District Leader with his companion.  Then they look at Elder Bowring and tell him that he will be receiving....  We were thinking they were joking and going to say Elder Zaugg, but then they say Elder Guymon.  What?!  We were both shocked!! Then they look at me and say they'll get back to me on mine..... um... alright? They go to the last Elders and then they tell them.  Now Elder Skouson is becoming the new AP so we needed a new zone leader.  Elder Humphreys starts talking about it and then says, "And our new Zone Leader is..........." Then he points to me.  What?!?!  Zone leader?? If you could have seen how stunned I was, you would have laughed.  I haven't even been district leader yet..... crazy! So, now I will be the new zone leader with Elder Humphreys.  We already are good friends so it will be a sweet companionship!!  This is my second American companion as well.  He's from Utah.  He's sweet. I'm excited to be a zone leader.  It will be a change!  I haven't been anything other than a trainee to a trainer and now to a zone leader.  I'm excited! It will be good!  So, that is the crazy news that I have from this week.  Hopefully you guys will have an enjoyable week this coming one.  It will be conference weekend so cross off another conference! 2 down and 2 to go!  (: 7 months next week as well!! AND!!! 12 weeks until the call home! Things are getting exciting!  I love you all and keep telling me how things are going with you guys! Have you received any letters? and I still haven't received any letters from the grandparents or my friends...  I love you and pray for you always!
D&C 58:43
D&C 64:7,12
Moses 26:35-36
1John 1:9
Love Elder Zaugg
 

(Picture courtesy of Elder Bowring.) Elder Zaugg and his companion, Elder Bowring are in the middle of the back row. Elder Bowring is on the right and Elder Erickson is on the left.

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