Thursday, July 31, 2008

Don't have a clue....

I don't have a clue about this blog stuff and was so excited that I figured out a slideshow - but the pictures are really small. So I think I have figured out how to share them through an email - so if you want to see them BIGGER - and who wouldn't want to see the spiders and food? - email me and I will email you a site you can see them at (even if you are a lurker - I am happy to share the pictures - just let me know)

~Tracy
:)

abcslamb (at) SFCN (dot) org

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Missionaries can really clean their plates!!!

Hello Families
To say the missionaries enjoyed their Chili Size and chocolate cake is an understatement as you can tell they even licked their plates clean. Elder Lauti said if I had a chocolate cake laying around anytime! He's in luck his apartment (Spencer's apartment) is the only apartment with a birthday soooo.... I'll be dropping off cake instead of cookies this time. These young men ate well cleaned up and were so grateful with amany thanks and smiles of appreciation. Love Sister Wire

Navajo Tacos and Chocolate Cake!!

Elder Lamb and Elder Gaxiola
Hungry Elders
Feasting on the Scriptures
Skinny Elder Lamb - Where is all his fluff!!

Guns..Farmer Tans...and splits - Oh my!!!


hi this is my favorite notice Elder Onouha is showing his farmers tan with his Elder Companions, I'm sure you spotted the Elders doing the splits. These Elders are happy, Joyful and wonderful men!!! You've done a great job! Love Sister Wire


Elder Gibson, Elder Lamb and Elder Gaxiola doing the splits


Elder lamb, Elder Gaxiola and Elder Gibson showing off their guns??

I laughed so hard at these pictures!! I don't know what makes me smile more: Elder Gibson showing off his "tan" leg, Elder Onouha showing off his tan, or how funny they just all look. It is kind of like Charlies Angels goes LDS. Sister Wires must be amazing to get them to pose like this - or they are just crazy missionaries.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Letter to Mom - I am so lucky :)

…got yours and jamies packages yesterday!!!!!!!! i was so excited. we dont have conference and interviews until tomorrow. and i dont get any of the letters til tomorrow. today we had a super p day and went and played football (aka soccer) in duala. it was a blast and i still have a few skills from my youth. i havent even eaten anything yet. i just sit and stare at it all. the sandals you sent are awesome and everything is just like i wanted. dont worry about another package i am doing fine and have plenty of food and stuff. THANK YOU!!!!!!! dont worry i will share.
i am doing good and we have 2 people ready for baptism soon. the others we have found problems with them saying they are married when they are really not so we have to work longer with them. other than that the work is going great and the rain has been pouring all the time. i feel bad for elder seawright. sometimes his apartment floods because it is in the swamp area. but they are managing and it has only happened once so far this year.
all is well and i just found out about transfers. i will be here until mogotsi leaves in september so i will either start as a sr or just get another old missionary then. but who knows what will happen. president has said he wants each missionary in the area for around 7 months now so maybe i will be here for a long time. that is fine with me. gardnersville is a good area and i like the work here.
i am doing fine. elde iosia says i look nothing like i did when i first came. i dont know how many pounds i have lost but it is close to 40 i believe.
anyways all is well and i cant wait to hear from you next week.
love
elder lamb
ps i love you!!!! thank you for everything and you have a nice long letter coming soon

What soccer skills?

amy lyner,
....i am doing good. i am practicing my soccer skills and it is fun to play in the rain. the 26th was party day here so we got to eat a lot of food and visit a lot of people. it was fun. i got your package. its a good thing you sent the instructions for the propel water ;). ha ha thanks for everything.
i love you!!!
until next week.
love
elder lamb

Christmas in July!!!

hey everyone,
yesterday was christmas in july!!! my mom and aunt jamie both sent me a package and i got both of them yesterday. i was so excited. thank you both for all that you do. i loved them and havent even eaten any of the food yet. i just sit and stare at it still.
all is well in liberia. we learned about transfers today and apparently i will be here for at least 3 more months so i better get used to the area. i love the area and the people and i am doing well. we have 2 people commited for baptism and they are doing great. we have a lot of others who have issues with getting married so we are working with them.
the 26th is liberias independence day and everyone celebrated by staying home and eating. lets just say i tried to put some weight back on but didnt do very well. we had 5 meals and carried home a big cake. it was a great day. everyone is so willing to share and they have so little that we know it comes from the heart. the people here either love white people or hate them. there is no middle. most of the people love me and the others are the beggers i have to turn down. then they hate me and say unchristlike things. but what can ya do but smile and walk away.
i am doing good and so far i have learned so much. i have no worries and i know that God is watching over me and my family. i hope my dad will finally find a job. maybe he has taken the time to train casey. ha ha it was like a one two punch for him. me leaving then brenton working and going to football. i am sure they are fine though.
the work is moving along well. if it doesnt rain most of the people come to church. we are working on getting them there on time. the people here are later than jenny. i guess the Lord knew i needed more patience and maybe that is part of the reason that i am here. but i know for a fact that this is where i am supposed to be and i love it here. i still have my kidneys as my mom found out. who told her???? i know one of you did.
the other elders are great and i love all of them. no fights or anything. i am just layed back and let whatever happens happen. it is great and we have had many good late nights staying up talking about stuff.
i am working on the new testament now along with all the things we teach everyone during the week. i learn a lot and it is nice to have so much time to really study the scriptures.
all is well and i cant say thank you enough to all of you who are watching over my family and taking care of things back home. with love
love
elder lamb

Monday, July 21, 2008

Dont worry... Doesn't that mean the mom HAS to worry??

This is excerpts from email to his mom:
africa is wet. i am thinking about building the ark now. the wires bought every missionary a big trench/rain coat. it helps a little but i still come home soaked from the thighs down…..
i am doing well. i have only been using 2 pairs of my pants and saving the others for later. presidents flight got cancelled last week so he is coming this week. the ap's are the only ones that come and stay with us. we have the biggest apartment in liberia so they like ours the best and stay with us for a few days. i am hoping that sister squires has my package from either you or jamie. kayla and marybeth and kassi sent me 2 last week and i think kathryn sent me one also. and you said i wasnt a ladys man ;). ha ha i am excited for more letters on friday and i will send you a nice long one.
president called the other day and told us to be sure we are in before dark. people are very desperate for money and they are amping up the robberies after the sun goes down. so we carry little cash now and we have to be in the apartment by 7. dont worry though the lord is watching over me and most of the problems are on the other side of monrovia.
i am doing well and my farmers tan is nice. my gut is slowly disappearing. casey said he finally is able to buy his xbox. ha ha he will be to fat and lazy to beat me up by the time i get home.
i hope all is well and that dad finds a job to fit his new happy attitude. i love you and pray for you everyday!!!
love your best friend and son
elder lamb

He mentioned in emails to other people – not his mom so as not to worry her – more about the robberies and now the people are out to steal you kidney. So if he emailed you and told you he still has his kidneys, that is a very good thing :)

No swings in Africa?

amy lyn,
i have seen no swings in africa yet. maybe somewhere. i am doing good and maybe i will be as skinny as alyssa when i come home. we have ice cream here and i love it! mainly because it is so hot. but it has rained almost every day for the last week and it is fun to walk through the swamps...... NOT!!! my shoes get wet almost every day and i have to put them in front of the fan to dry them for the next day. but i am doing good and teaching a lot of people. look after sadie for me and i love you!!!!!
love
elder lamb

Rain - Rain - EVERYWHERE!!!

hello everyone!!!!
this week in africa has made me realize what the rainy season really means. if you have seen jumamji you can get a glimpse of everyday life when at the end it starts raining and floods everywhere. that is what liberia is like every day now. it rains and rains and rains for days and days. we go out with our rain coats and umbrellas and come home soaked no matter what. it is nice and i spent all tuesday in my flip flops splashing through the swamp known as my area. at least with the rain it cools down a little bit.
i am doing fine and i am loving the work. we have picked up a lot more people to teach and we are staying very busy. some of the people are doing extremely well and others are being lazy so we will see who wants to really come unto christ. the main problem we have here is people getting married. no one wants to be tied down to one woman and so they dont really get married. we lost one investigator because her member boyfriend wouldnt marry her or seperate. so they dropped us instead of doing the right thing. it is sad to realize that 2 souls are traveling down the wrong path and there is nothing we can do. owell hopefully we planted a good seed in their heart.
i wish i could send pictures. i have some really good ones that i will have to share when i get home. i just took my camera to the cafe and had them transfer all my pictures to a cd so i wont lose any and have more space in my camera to take plenty of pics.
presidents flight was cancelled last week so he will be coming down on friday. i cant wait to see some letters or a package maybe. supposedly i have a lot of packages coming!!! one from my parents and 2 or 3 others from my great friends at home. thank all of you so much!!!! i cant wait to read some letters or get some things from america.
shopping here is a little different. everyone just puts all thier stuff in a wheelbarrow and pushes it out to the street. there is no set price and you can almost always haggle anything down. most of the time i feel bad for the people and just pay what they ask if it is reasonable. there is no tax and everything is cheap. i found a woman who will sell a bbq chicken thigh with macaroni salad for 200 libertys so that is my new favorite place to eat. pb and j is always good also.
i get some free meals and they are usually very hot. not from the stove but from the pepper. the people here love hot things. they feed little children meals with so much pepper inside it makes me cry. the 2 year old kid just eats it and smiles. it is funny and i fear no hot sauce anymore.
i am losing weight pretty good. my diet is rice and excersize while skipping lunch and just drinking lots of water. it is a good program and i dont have a scale but i would say i have lost close to 40 pounds. watch out becca i am coming for you. i also have a very dark farmers tan with a very white body. it is funny.
i am doing well and the work is moving along great. we arent having any baptisms this month but we will have some next month hopefully. it isnt about the number of people baptized but the number of souls that have come unto Christ.
thanks for everything and i will have another update next week.
love
elder lamb

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Pictures from the Wires


Elder Spenny just chillin' in the Africa HEAT!


Carrying propane - What a strong missionary!!

Nice PJ's Spenny Boy!!

It is HOT or HOT AND RAINY!!

hey bloggers,
here is the update for the week. i have been super busy teaching people and we have a lot of new investigators. i love my new companion. we get along great and stay super busy which helps me a lot with focusing on the work. elder lauti is going through the phases of homesickness and it is funny to watch and know that i did the same thing. i have been a lot more healthy this week and i feel great except for the craving for some hamburger meat. but there are no cows here so i will live with corned beef.
the teaching is going along great and we had to bump our baptisms for this month into the beggining of next month. we have to many people to teach and there is not enough time in the day to see everyone.
i get up every day at 6:25 and do companion study for an hour. then i shower and get dressed then i do personal study and eat until around 10:30 and then we go catch a taxi to my area. after teaching about 7 lessons we catch a taxi home around 6 and try to make it in the apartment by 7. then we go find something to eat study and goof off til 9 or 10. then we sleep and start over.
it is a good schedule and i love going out. i hate just sitting around all day and i love being out and teaching people.
the weather has been somewhat nice. it is either really hot or it is really hot and it rains at the same time. that is your 2 choices. i have a wicked farmers tan now and i am learning a lot and working more on my christlike attributes.
all is well and i am doing good. thanks for the support and i hope to have some letters when president comes on friday. thanks for everything!!!
love
elder lamb

Monday, July 7, 2008

Picture of an alligator swamp??


Elder Lamb in the road in his area of gardnersville

(Casey and I thought it looked like he was standing in an alligator swamp - ya never know!)

Misc stuff from this weeks emails:

i am doing fine and the weather has been rainy and hot or sunny and hot. imagine how hot it is there with 100% humidity. i have had diarria the last week and now i am better. i have lost more wieght and am maybe going down to the 200 area.
we didnt do anything for the 4th. just taught and did the same old things. we are teaching a lot of people over and over.

i use a crappy little razer every other day. they cost like 5 liberian dollars and i cant find any replacements for the razer i brought. but no worries me and elder lauti cut each others hair now and i am doing just fine and tell the missionary mall guy he is retarded and i should of bought a size smaller pants. but no worries i have 2 good belts and can buy another for cheap here

i am mastering my liberian english and i have learned how to haggle for everything. it is fun and all is well.

to eat a mango you bite the top off and suck/squeeze all the juice into your mouth. dont try to eat it like an apple or you will make a big mess.

The Mighty Spider Killer

hey everyone!!!
this week has been nice. my new companion loves to walk really fast and waste no time. normally i would love this. but with diarrea it makes it complicated and i had to ask him to lower the bar a little on the walking speed. luckily i am better now and had no accidents. oh by the way there are no bathrooms anywhere and i have only seen 2 members houses with a toilet. everyone else is just camping.
the members here are great and they all love it when we come to visit. we have one investigator benjamin who is a great man. he is 55 and now workin on his masters degree. he has always wanted to be a lawyer and he is doing his best. i think he is ready for baptism and i hope to commit him for this month some time. he is a great man. most of the other people here all have a problem with the law of chastity. especially during the rainy season when it is a little cooler and better to stay inside all day. owell we are doing our best.
we have started the book of mormon with a lot of members. i almost have 1st nephi memorized. it is fun to see what people understand from the same scripture and now i am working on the new testament in personal study.
the weather here has been rainy or hot and sunny. there isnt really any other choice and it is going to take some time to get used to.
my new companion is great. we work together really well and we have a few members convinced that i am the senior and i am training him. by the way he is the ex ap lol.
elder lauti has been fun to get along with and we talk about things from home a lot. this morning me and elder ukpong woke up to a huge spider in the kitchen. lets just say we used a whole can of insect killer and i think it finally died. i havent seen any snakes. if there were i dont think there would be so many chickens running around so no worries. the insects and plants are wierd and i even saw a type of pine tree the other day.
gas is now 5.30 a gallon and the government just put a law and said how much drivers are allowed to charge for a ride. now they are on strike and findin a car is difficult. i have to take one to my area and back from my area every day so it is fun to fight for 2 seats.
i was reading the ensign the other day and i came across a great quote from robert hales, " friends are people who make it easier to live the gospel of Jesus Christ." i am so thankful for all of my good friends who have influenced my life and for all my great leaders and my family. you guys made me the person i am and i am so thankful for what i have.
thank you for everything!!!
so write me a letter and i will send more next week.
love
elder lamb

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Mugshots


Elder Agamah and Elder Lamb


These are the mug shots for the bank atm cards I thought they were so cute (not really a word you use with Elders but that's OK) I knew you moms would like them. have a great day!
Love Belinda Wire


Elder Gaxiola and Elder Onuoha



Elder Seawright, Elder Rogers, Elder Gibson

I guess after filling up on their "American Kid" Lunch they were happy campers for these 'mugshots'.




So happy to see Mac/cheese

Doesn't that look YUMMY!?!?!?!

"American Kid" lunch at Zone Conference
**Mac n' cheese
**PB&J sandwiches
From the Wires: We had a great conf. with the Elders. They had an American Kid Lunch The loafs of Bread you see in yellow bags are giant Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwiches, plates full of Kraft mac/cheese and marshmallow rice crispy
treats.

It is amazing the amount of food these Elders can eat. they were happy campers and Elder Lamb said "Thank you Sister Wire I can't remember when I was so happy to see Mac/cheese"! Don't worry moms all your Elders said thanks at least 3-10 times so lunch was a success.... then we had them do paper work the mission is in the process of putting them in to a ATM account where they can draw money out as needed and there won't be so much cash in each of the apt. or on them less danger of losing it and such.

Elder Gaxiola received his box thrilled with the watch and Elder Lamb was able to talk him out of a treat these Elders are so generous and kind to one another it is a tribute to you as great parents thanks you we are reaping the fruit of your Labors I'll send more pictures later.
note:
Elder Lamb has lost some of his baby fluff as we call it here and is looking good that's what Exercise and Rice will do for you