Thursday, May 13, 2010

Homecoming Talk

Elder Lamb will be speaking in the Spanish Trails Ward
on Sunday May 16th at 11AM.
98 South Main Street, Spanish Fork.
A luncheon/open-house will follow at
Grandpa and Grandma Lamb's house from
12:30-5:00 - 327 North 100 East, Payson

Out of Africa! Home sweet home!

Waiting......Waiting.....Waiting...
Do you think he might have missed us?? This is only part of the group waiting for him.
Every person we saw with a suit on we just knew it would be Elder Lamb
Finally!! Our first glimpse of Elder Lamb after 2 years...

Getting closer to us!! (all of us were cheering and clapping)

Amy ran to give her big brother the first hug!!
She told me later she would have ran up the escalator, but there were people in front of him.
Elder Lamb hugging mom!

Elder Lamb with his siblings - He said they all changed while he was gone.
The brothers got fatter and his sister got woman huge.

HOME SWEET HOME!!
Elder Lamb must have been a VERY faithful missionary
because he got his wish of SNOW when he came home!!!

Final Week - April 19th

Well,
Hmm it’s an interesting time. Next week I might not even get a chance to email, so this may be the last one. I have been trying to stay focused and working so I wont share what is deep inside me now{fear, happiness, accomplishment, sadness, and others.}. But I had the chance to go to Bo for super p day today. We played some games and watched the Work and the Glory. One of the relay races involved spinning on a stick. I almost fell down pretty good. It was very very funny. Volleyball was also fun except the sun was soo hot I almost died. But luckily the room had air conditioning that we were in. The only problem was that it broke at the end of the movie. Owell.

We had a chance to see a family in my old branch. They are all doing well and their little girl was soo big that I got scared thinking about seeing little Amy again. I won’t even recognize anyone again. But it was nice to see them and talk. I haven’t seen too many others around but that’s ok. They are fine without me - and will be.

This week was awesome as we got to be with Elder Golden and his wife. They have lived a great life of sacrifice to the Lord and it was so amazing to have some of his vast reservoir of knowledge about the gospel. He knows so much and his scriptures are soo marked. It was a highly spiritual day. We learned about many things but the focus was on Christ basically. We gained much and are trying to share it with others. I have it all carefully recorded in my journal and notebook. Sadly he had to quickly travel to Freetown shortly thereafter. But it was wonderful being with my dear Mission President and him at the same time.

Not really a whole lot else has happened out in the good old bush. I am doing well and trying to stay strong to the end. Me and Elder Priddis have decided that this week we will eat like kings. Haha it should be a great time and I will probably gain I few more pounds to work off in a few weeks.

Keep the snow cold for me because I am just dying to see it. I love you and can’t wait to see you all next week. Wow that sounds so crazy.
Love
Elder lamb

Monday, April 12, 2010

Loving every minute

Hey Everyone,

Well I got a few last letters. By the way it’s too late to send anymore so don’t. Haha!! But I did receive one about my Uncle Wynn. Well my great uncle. But the story I read of his experience was inspiring and has really helped me to bunker down and hold out to the end still. It hasn’t been too bad. We start early and come back late. That keeps us to busy to do anything else.

Today we had a branch missionary in Bo over. (We are in Bo fyi.) He has a monkey. So we played with a monkey today and did about nothing else. Well actually we helped clean the apartment so that it will be spotless for Elder Golden of the 70 on Thursday when he comes to visit. He is a very perfect man and likes everything perfect. Even the apartments -which I have no problems with. Our house is good but he won’t go out to Kenema. Last time he came in Liberia he told us that we had the most clean apartment he had ever seen. Ohh the time we took to clean that place. Haha. I am excited to see him again. He has the spirit very strong.

Sorry this letter is kind of wacked. I am trying to get some new conference talks printed off now. I have Elder Holland’s now. It’s good. Haha I haven’t even looked at it yet. Just a scan. But I am excited to read them with some spare time in the office in 2 weeks.

Not much else going on out here in the bush. Just working hard and doing my best. We are getting along well and eating some good food. I am loving every minute and trying to use it all.

See you all soon.
Love
Elder lamb

Misc Info - Only 2 more!!!

Misc Info:
*Sorry not a whole lot today. I am trying to print conference talks at the same time. Haha.
*Africa is still hot. My heat rash is pretty sweet. And lets just say that I can name less places that its not.
*Who flies home with you??: Elder Stice from north west Idaho and Elder Gaxiola from Reno. They will be on the same
flight to salt lake and then fly to Reno and Idaho. Maybe they will get off and meet you all. Haha!
*don’t worry I am doing great and working hard. I love you and can’t wait to see you.
*only 2 more. Haha

Monday, April 5, 2010

Mangos and occra - YUM!!

Hey Everyone,

Well I missed conference. But only because we are too far away. I will have to wait until later to watch it on the computer or something. But I will learn some more patience I guess. I got a good summary from everyone today, but to listen just isn’t quite the same. Hopefully I get it soon.

Well the highlight of the week: I pulled the first mango off the tree and ate it. No more yet but there should be this week. It was so nice and I will miss them a lot. Right now is the season so they are all over the place. It’s my goal to eat as much as possible of them. We also want to try and make pizza today. Last night we made fried okra. Elder Hickey should of never shown me that because now I am addicted. Do they sell okra at home?

Thanks for the emails. I enjoyed reading through Franks and Glenda’s among all the rest.

Things are going well out in the bush. We had to leave the Book of Mormon class early when the members started arguing about dating. It got out of hand and I didn’t want to yell. So we walked out on the class. They were a little surprised but I was tired of the nonsense. Sunday was nice though as I taught the gospel principles. The spirit was awesome. It helped the people stay awake. If they didn’t I would throw chalk at them. No one sleeps in my class. Haha

Not a whole lot else has happened. It’s funny to recognize any holiday here. Everyone has fancy hair and shiny clothes. It was a little entertaining to watch. We used the fasting excuse to not eat a lot of rice. It worked fairly well.

Well I guess I should be off to family home evening. Another victim of the flour game is waiting. Haha

Thanks for the letters and emails and support. After today it will be too late to write so just keep it for me. Don’t worry I am still workin hard and doing my best. You should see the map I have drawn of this whole city…..almost.
Love
Elder Lamb

Misc Info - I ain't done yet

**What do you want stocked up to eat when you get home: pizza, baconator. pb and j. basically anything.
** I have heat rash like crazy and am now addicted to fried okra. Yeah it’s good.
**Late today because we had a long day up the mountain - the one next to the house. Aka the Kenema spa
** Things are going good. Save some Easter candy for me. Save some snow also. **Things are going good out in the bush. We are working hard and keeping busy. It really helps the time to fly by. Geez where did the last 2 years go? Any who it was for a good cause. But I aint done yet.

Monday, March 29, 2010

The time is slowly melting away...

Hey everyone,
Well another hot and short week has flown by. Some times I really wonder where the week has gone. The time is slowly melting away. Today we just came back from Bo. We went to join the zone dinner. Elder Eshun made me some Ghana FUFU with groundnut soup. Probably the best food in the world. Yeah I said it. It is nicer than a big burger. Well for now it is. We actually found a restaurant in Kenema that sells hamburgers - very small expensive ones. Of course I had to be the one to find something like this. Haha
Today we played soccer in Bo. They played a little rough and started doing some bad things like sweeping peoples legs out and things. So some were ejected from the game so that no one would get hurt. I did my best to make a solid wall to let them run into. I only knocked a few down this time. Haha
The week was good. We had a lot of work to do and things to fix. The baptism went well. We had 2 people be baptized. Two 20 year old men. We are getting them ready to go and serve a mission next year. They should be some good converts. I made extra sure that they were ready and they were. The water for the font wasn’t the cleanest but we managed it and had a good baptism/branch activity. It’s the end of the quarter you know. We need to enjoy sometimes . Haha
Other than that we are doing well and exploring the good oven in the apartment. The classics are banana bread and German pancakes, followed with egg sandwiches and french fries. No I didn’t burn my hair again.
The week was short and not much else happened lately. Today as I sat in the car squished next to a lady and her son, I was thinking amidst the noise of squeaky breaks and the wine of worn out wheel bearings that the time is really getting short. Only 4 more weeks now. But I don’t focus on those thoughts. If I do it’s more like a challenge to make sure that I use all the 2 years and not waste any time, no matter how old or tired I am. So it should be a lot of fun to work my new companion to death almost. Haha
Well that’s about all that happened. I am doing well as ever and working harder than ever. I have to finish the map before I go. Haha and find a lot of new people and give the next elder a big huge group of people to teach and baptize after I go. All is well and thanks for the support. This week should be the last one to send any letters if you hope to have it reach me - so you should all send one last one today. Thanks!!!
I love you all!!!
Love
Elder Lamb

Trash talkin' in Krio (the edited version)

Misc info from this weeks emails:
**”Everyday is always the hottest day here. The weather doesn’t change.”
**I am doing great and don’t worry I am fine. I am hanging in there for one more month.
**Email to Casey: KC Man….(trash talking from Africa in Krio)…. well things are going well over here. Just kicking strong and doing my best. The sun is hot but the days are short and I am wondering where they have all gone. April will be here this week and its starting to hit me that I am almost done - but not yet.
**I almost forgot that general conference is this week. Tell me about the good ones and record it for me. By the time I will see it I will be home. The DVD won’t be here in time. So keep for me o!
**Until next week - back to the bush

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

My name is Elder Lamb, and I am a pyromaniac

Hello all of una,

Well the big news is out. My new companion is Elder Priddis from Big Pine, Wyoming. (I think he means Big Piney) He is the last of 10 children and all his brothers and sisters have served. He played football and basketball. He likes country and rock music. He loves hamburgers. So basically we are twins. We are getting along great and working hard. There is much to do and a lot of work and things that I have to help him learn. It has been a new experience for me. But I am getting the hang of it a little bit now. Since the master of sardines is one transfer in Liberia, we have had a chance to start trying out some new food. Sister Squires made us a small cook book and our new favorite is German pancakes. We are doing our best to enjoy breakfast now.

We had a fairly boring week. On Wednesday I traveled to Bo to take Elder Amoa and pick up Elder Priddis. I got to see all the elders and they actually had an appreciation dinner for all the missionarys and Bo district leaders. We went and had the program and then President showed up with my companion and we put him in the taxi with 4 in the back. He was probably wondering what in the world we are doing. Haha!! But we arrived alive and are settled down now. He is a great Elder and we are getting along and working hard. I am trying to show him some things and the Krio is coming slowly. But we are practicing.

The branch had Relief Society Day on Wednesday - only no one came so they took Sunday instead. All women gave talks on things and after church we had a sandwich and juice. I don’t really think that we were supposed to have something like that on the Sabbath day. But we are working with them to slowly change some things around. First we need a counselor in the branch presidency. The 1st hasn’t been here since I have. Haha but we have a good president who listens to what needs to be done. The only problem is he can’t figure it out on his own. But we are doing our best to make things right.

Oh yes!! Today we had a bunch of limbs and grass and leaves that we had been collecting. So we decided to burn them like everyone else. Well the fire got really hot and I singed some hair on my arm and leg. It smells funny. I have no idea why I am writing this but I guess I will let you know the exciting thing that happened today.

We also had a new elder decide that he couldn’t make it and go home. So we had to help a branch missionary to get ready to go and replace him for 5 weeks. We convinced Sister Squires that we needed some dumb bells for the apartment. We paid him for them and the rest of the money was complete for him to finally get his suitcase. So now he is serving in Njagboima branch with Elder Tippets.

Umm.... not much else has happened. Today we hiked up to the river and took a small break. Then I bought some cool flip flops to show off with when I get back.

Other than that nothing really. Just kickin hard still and losing myself in the work.

Love
Elder Lamb

Elder Abralamb means.....

Misc Info from March 15th:
**Please write back. You only have 5 more chances.
**Elder AbraLamb = Abraham and Lamb. Cause Abraham didn’t give birth until he was old. I didn’t train until the last one. Hahahaha get it?? I am so funny
** Maybe it will snow in May too. Haha I would love it. Except I will freeze to death. The ac is broken so only a fan sometimes. As long as it rains we get light small more.
**Just keep kicking. You only have 6 more weeks left until the work horse comes home. I need a good job quick. Haha
**I am working hard and doing well don’t worry. Oh I am training my last transfer. It should be a lot of fun.
**Dad…I am just trying to work until the end and stay strong. Well don’t worry I will be there soon enough. Today I had to change the oil in the generator again. Good thing you taught me something right? Well stay strong and try to write me back. You only have 5 chances more.

Elder Abralamb

Hey Everyone,
Well I have a new name. Elder Abralamb. I will be training my last transfer on mission. It is the first time I have trained. I don’t even know who my new companion is. They still haven’t really decided which one is going where yet. President Squires will decide tomorrow after he interviews them. The Lord sure works in mysterious ways. I am excited for the new opportunity and it will be a great strength to my patience. This was wearing a little thin the last few days. But I am doing much better and taking things in stride as they come. That’s what life is about right?
Other than that not too much news. I am doing my best and working hard as ever. I have been adding to the teaching pool like crazy and the results are beginning to show a little. Whoever replaces me should consider himself lucky. Haha but we are not allowed to think about that yet. There is still much to do and I need to learn a lot more.
We have been working on making sure that the correct curriculum is being taught on Sunday. Because it wasn’t. But we got them back on track and will keep them going with it. Hopefully they actually learn that they should do what they are told. It’s a slow process to build a foundation. But we have a good humble branch president.
Things are going good and there really isn’t much going on. The transfer was a big one and a lot of people moved around. I am so happy that Elder Hickey came out to my zone. He is a great elder. I love him and many others. The mission clown Elder Visser is still here to make us laugh so I will be safe from insanity my next transfer. Things are going well.
It was good to hear from you all and you should go and write one more letter this week. I think it might make it and how great should be my joy to hear from you one last time. Thanks for all the support and love.
I love you all
Love
Elder Lamb

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Working smarter now....

Hey everyone,
How is life treating you this week? I am in Bo and loving my old town and areas. It is nice as I run into old people and see what they are up to now. It is a good experience I will be sad to finally leave here, but lets not think about that yet. We had our super p day today. We had a game of volleyball and then played dodgeball. My companion was trying to mess around and just getting on others nerves, so as we played dodgeball he got on the other side and I targeted him until I drilled him good. It was fun and after that we played kickball. It was funny as some elders didn’t know how to play and then didn’t listen when we explained. So they were getting out like crazy for not running and things. It was a good time.
This week was good and over before we knew it. It was so nice at sacrament meeting though. We had a good sister give a talk on testimony last week and we did follow up with all the members we saw to make sure that they had heard the truth and didn’t give a storymony as I call them. So due to our dedication and God blessing them almost all of the people got up and gave a real testimony. Oh I was so happy. It was one of the best testimony meetings I have had here. It was great as we worked hard and saw a tangible result.
The teaching pool on the other hand is starting to slack. We were left with a lot of 20 something boys that don’t go to school or work. They just sleep at home all day. So we have been trying with them but some are getting scared of Elder Lamb. They apparently never knew that we expected them to keep the law of chastity and things. So they have been running away small. Its been a problem with people like that before. But we are adding and doing well. I don’t think I should have many more baptisms here but maybe one or two.
Kenema is big but we are working smarter now and not just jumping all over the place. We work with the same people in the same area and it saves us so much money on taxi bikes. Elder Amoa is doing well and liking the work so things are great. Sometimes I get a little frustrated with how immature he can act somedays. But we are doing well and getting along much better now.
Things are going well and I am working hard and keeping my mind busy so that I won’t think about anything but the work. I am doing great and am healthy. So things are well.
Remember to choose the right and read your scriptures.
I love you all.
Love
Elder Spencer Lamb

Monday, March 1, 2010

Don't give glory to the shovel

Hey all you blog readers,

Where in the world did March come from? Geez I am still trying to figure out what happened in February. But the time seems to be eluding me as I bury myself more and more in the work. But that’s ok as I have come to love it. The town of Kenema is doing well and we are starting to see the things that we want. The hard work is paying off a little. But we are far from what I want to be.

This week we had a great chance to travel to Bo and have zone conference. President talked about honor and glory and power. The whole reason Satan was cast down was because he sought God’s power. That is what Satan will try to do to us now. To make it all about me and not about God. But in reality all the glory should be passed on from us and straight up to God. Don’t praise me for being a good missionary. Praise God who made me what I have become. See the picture? Christ was our perfect example. He gave all the glory unto god and took none for himself. He never wanted to be recognized. He put all the honor on God. So that is what I have tried to do - to help people see that I am just a tool in the Lords hands and that we don’t give the glory to the shovel.

So that is a taste of what I learned. As we were coming to zone conference I ran into my old Branch President. He gave me a warm hug and we talked for a while. After we were preparing to leave I ran into a recent convert who also gave me a warm hug and we talked small. It was a wonderfully happy feeling having all those people still active and working hard to do the lords work. I was sure happy to see them again. Plus we had burgers for lunch and President Squires gave us a ride home to Kenema. They made the speed bumps higher just for him I think. We were flying and he thought they were the same. But they grew a lot and we shook up Elder Petersons Ford pretty good. It gave us all a good laugh. I think that I almost had too much joy in one day and then I had a wonderful interview with President Squires and it just got better.

Not much else has happened this week. We are going on exchanges tomorrow but that is about it. I was very happy that day and next Monday we have super p day. Still haven’t heard what we are doing yet but it should be fun.

All is well and love you all. Thanks for the support and remember to praise the Lord and not me.

Love
Elder Lamb

Monday, February 22, 2010

Mark your calendars......

Elder Lamb will be talking in the Spanish Trails Ward on
Sunday May 16th at 11am.

The Music Man

Elder Lamb playing a homemade guitar

Working hard in our sweet little village

Hey Everyone,

Things are going very well this week and we are still working hard in our sweet little village. The time is still flying and we are wondering where it went. Today we decided that p day was a little boring, so we took a hike up the mountain to a spring that feeds the city with water. It was fun as we soaked our feet and cooled off for a while. Then we cleaned our big house spotless. We had to make a new rule that if you don’t clean your dish that you will pay a fine. So far it has worked very well for Elder Amoa. So hopefully he remembers it - if not a free drink for me. Haha!!!

Things have been going well. I finished my little Book of Mormon challenge to mark all the references to Christ and things. Only I forgot to bring all the numbers for you. But there were a lot. Over 7000 if I remember correctly. But it was a great time to learn more about Christ and become more like him. I think that has helped me a lot to continue to improve. So things are going well there.

For our service project we went and cleaned a house and office. It is on a dusty road and had gotten very dirty and unkept. So we came and helped them clean and also to cook lunch. It was fun and hopefully will do some good to soften the mans hard heart.

I had an interesting experience the other day. We were walking down the road and a man on a motorcycle pulled up and ran over to me. I recognized his face but not his name. I knew he was from Njagboima Branch somehow. He reminded me that he was Mohamed Jusu and that I had tried to teach him in Bo. The problem then was he was in college to get another degree to be a doctor. But we chatted and now that he is done with school we are planning to go and teach him next week. He is very prepared for the gospel and will make a great contribution to the Kenema branch.

Another funny story was that the branch president was giving a talk about the temple. He mentioned that we must do anything to go. He said for his family they had to sell their TV just to afford going to the temple. It was a bit humorous at first but in the end I realized that he had made a great sacrifice to do the right thing. I don’t think any of you have to sell your TV to go to the temple. But I think a few of us could benefit from it. Haha

Things are going well and I am working hard as ever. We are not allowed to talk about home in the apartment so things are great and we are focused and working hard. We have zone conference on Friday so that should be a great boost and change of pace. I am doing great and working hard.

If anyone has any crazy idea about driving to LA to get me - think again!!!

Love
Elder Lamb

Monday, February 15, 2010

Doing my best and working hard

Hey Everyone,

Well another week has passed. Actually it has passed to quickly. The time is flying by. Just so you know Bryce - I don’t come home until April. But that is still a ways off and I am working hard and loving all the room to do things. We have been working on our map in our spare time. Looks like the off-road trips with dad getting lost paid off a little. The problem is that the map is very old and there are a lot of new streets and things. So I have been adding them myself and trying to draw them on there. It’s a lot of fun sometimes but I think that is going to help a lot.

We asked our dear big white friend, Brother Tye, to help us teach on Thursday. It turns out he is a returned missionary. Well we went to teach and the first thing that happened was a big bowl of rice and jola. Plenty of hot pepper and red oil. He managed very well and took his share well. I was surprised. He helped us teach and it was fun to have him with us for a little bit.

President Squires has informed us of his replacement. I don’t remember his name but I know that he is from Texas and was big in the army. So they found someone to replace Elder Wire finally. Haha!! He should be a great president especially for this place. Although no one could be as good as President Squires to me. (The new Mission President’s name is Richard Roggia)

Our service project this week was to be human rota-tillers. We went and broke up some ground for a recent convert. He gave us some okra. Which resulted in much happiness for me because Elder Amoa can cook things here very well.

Not really a whole lot else has happened this week. Just doing my best and working hard.

My aunt sent me this so I figured it was worth the blog. Maybe it will give you a hint to send one last one. Haha

Love

Elder Lamb

Lovest thou me?? Fill my mailbox

In the beginning was the mailbox and the mailbox was void of letters.

2 And the missionaries said "Let the box be filled" and the box was not filled.

3 And the missionaries beheld the continuing void and were not pleased.

4 And lo, it was the first day of the week and there was no mail delivered, but this was good.

5 But on the second day was the mail delivered, yet the box remained empty.

6 Yea, even from the second day unto the seventh was the mail delivered.

7 Even so, the box retained its void.

8 And yea, great mists of darkness spread forth from the void and enshrouded the missionaries. Yea, and did bring much sadness to their otherwise cheery days.

9 Even the long hours of fruitless tracting, being attacked by the fowls of the air, and being pursued by the beasts of the field were not as disheartening as the lack of blessed objects known as letters

10 Yet they persisted

Chapter 2

And, lo, on the second day of the second week, the mists still encircled the mailbox.

2 and on the third day, from within the depths of the void was a single postcard.

3 and this postcard put forth a ray of light that pierced the darkness and overcame the mists.

4 And the missionaries were well pleased, and there was much rejoicing.

5 But, alas, their exclamations of joy were in vain. For the postcard was from someone else.

6 But if their joy was so exceedingly great over someone else's mail, how great would be their joy at partaking of their own mail?

Chapter 3

But some will say, a letter, a letter. We have already written a letter. We have no need to write any more letters.

2 Know ye not that there are more days than one, and more events than one in a day? Why think ye that these events need not be reported?

3 Yea and ye need not worry that your letters will go unanswered.

4 But you should say, I will go and write the letter that a missionary requests. For I know that he giveth no requests except he be prepared to speedily respond.

Chapter 4

And the missionary said unto his friend; lovest thou me?

2 And the friend said, of course I love thee. Then the missionary said, fill my mailbox.

3 He saith a second time, friend, lovest thou me? And the friend said, thou knowest that I love thee. He then said, fill my mailbox.

4 He then spake a third time saying "Lovest thou me?" And the friend said, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.

5 Then the missionary said "stuff my mailbox before I get home!"

Monday, February 8, 2010

This is Kenema....maybe

Facts from Wikipedia about Kenema and misc stuff:

It is the 3rd largest city in Sierra Leone (1st Freetown, 2nd Bo). It is 185 miles east-south-east of Freetown. The 2004 census said it had just under 130,000 people –Elder Lamb said WRONG! So maybe that is the Kenema District that has that many people. It is ethnically diverse and the main language is Krio – WRONG AGAIN! It is Mende (not his favorite). Yeah I don’t like speaking it. My mission language is English. So I am obedient to that ;)

* Kenema is nice. Yeah, well compared to Freetown this is bush. We still have 2 supermarkets where all the Lebanese people shop. Not to great but cant complain. The calculations for this place are a little off. Didn’t think they have 1300000, but its not too big. The main language is Mende actually. I thought I escaped it but didn’t Haha. Yes there are a billion diamond dealers all around. There are places that are just huts and things.

*we have a big group to teach but they are all 21 year olds. I like to teach families and future branch presidents. So we will have a small change but nothing to big. I think that things will work well.

*we both are the cooks. He can cook good rice and I make American things. We enjoy breakfast now instead of force it down like we used to. Haha

A little taste of awesomeness!!

Hey Everyone,

Well this was a long trip to make it out here to Kenema. Its not that small of a village so don’t worry. I still have 2 supermarkets and a lot of Lebanese diamond dealers and cocoa bean traders. Yeah those are the 2 major exports out here. So I am enjoying the town. It’s not my first time to be here but it is interesting trying to learn the area a little better instead of just following people around. The trip out here was interesting as it took us ( Elder Lowe, Afadi, and Stice.) 10 hours to make it. First Elder Jones dropped us at the bus stop in Freetown. The normal bus was dead so we got the 3rd hand one. Yeah as we left I noticed that the transmission wasn’t quite right. So about 1/3 the way out the transmission went out at a small junction called Masiaka. We waited for about 2 hours for the next bus to come and rescue us. Which finally it did and slowly carried us to Bo. From Bo we rented a car to carry us to the elder’s house and then me and my companion to the car park for Kenema. We loaded my bags and were on our way to Kenema. 1 hour later we reached here. Only one problem. No bike would run through town the way we wanted to go. Apparently the president of Sierra Leone was in town. So we had to pay a taxi to take us around the back back way to the house. It only cost us $2.50. That’s actually a lot here. Yet I made it alive. I only had one suitcase. Which was good. My small one is packed full of junk to take home so I left it locked up in Freetown.

My new apartment is big and spacious. There are 4 bedrooms. Which of course we only use one. We have 2 bathrooms. One for me and one for my companion. There is a lot of fruit in the yard. We have a few banana trees that are producing now and we are enjoying them. We also have some papaya trees that are also producing and we are enjoying them too. The mango tree hasn’t started yet but it should start here soon. We are enjoying the fruit out here. It’s much cheaper than in Freetown and we love it.

The branch is interesting. We had so many people at church that we had to have people sit outside. The branch is near splitting and we are doing our best to find a good way to do it. The map needs a little work and we will be the ones to do it now. So we have much to do and a lot to learn about the area. It should be good to keep me busy these last few months. We don’t get to see anyone really out here. We are loners. Yet at church on Sunday I was asked to bear my testimony as the new missionary. So I stood up to start and was a little surprised to see a white man sitting in the crowd. I had to pause for a moment and recollect myself. Then I bore my testimony. After church we talked small. He is from California. Is a member and is here for work. Some economic thing. It was interesting and kinda funny.

Oh yes the best part is that our room has air conditioning. It won’t run on the generator though. So we pray that light comes every night. Which of course it doesn’t. It comes maybe 1 in 3 or 4 days. So I do get a little taste of awesomeness on a lucky day.

It is a little boring with only 2 people in the apartment. But the CD player helps a lot. Elder Amoa only likes to listen to one efy cd but I usually change it when he leaves the room. He is funny and amusing sometimes. But we get along and will enjoy our time together.

I am doing great and working hard like always. Letters will be very slow but that’s ok. There aren’t much more to write.

Thank you all and I love you

Love

Elder Lamb

Monday, February 1, 2010

Holy Smokes! What a rollercoaster

Hey Everyone,
The title this week is..... HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I choose this title with the fact that I am on an emotional rollercoaster here. Sunday morning one of our recent convert’s daughters died. She was 9 years old and got malaria and typhoid and within that day she died at the hospital. It was a tragic experience but the light of the gospel has helped me and her family feel much better about it. It was most sad because we went and gave her a priesthood blessing. But the will of the Lord was not that she should live. But her temple work will be done and all will be well for her in the celestial kingdom someday.
As for the other "up" of the week. The transfer news is in............. remember when I was in the bush called Bo? Go about halfway across the country heading towards guinea. I am going to KENEMA!!!!!! Yeah it will be me and my companion covering a whole city and living with only ourselves. It is under the Bo zone that I have served one year in. Looks like I will tack on another 3 months. Many people asked me if I was sick of Bo. I told them that I was excited to go to Kenema. It is different from Bo and there is a ton of work to keep me busy. It should be amazing.
My companion will be Elder Amoa-Ohenakwa - or Elder Amoa as we call him. He is a little new on mission and it will be nice to work with him. We will be in charge of a large city that needs a ton of work in the branch. It will be very nice to see my beloved Bo again and all the elders there again. I am going to enjoy working my tail off these next few months.
Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I will try to reply those I can. But with me going to Kenema the letters will be even slower. That’s ok though I guess. I only need a few more before I have to go home. I don’t think about that much.
The work is nice and my small stay in Freetown was enjoyed. I was shocked to go back to Bo but I am happy and feel good about it.
For my birthday today I went and spent a bunch of money buying my family things to bring home. They should like them. We are making tacos tonight. But the best thing that happened today is that my new camera came. Thanks to my grandparents, mother, Cutlers, Wires, and Squires it actually made it to me. Thank you all!!!! (The Cutlers are a couple that left Thursday to serve in the mission. I got a camera to the Wires who handed it off to the Cutlers when they met with them two weeks ago at the MTC. You have got to love those missionary couples!!)
Well not much to talk about this week. Write me a letter or something.
You probably won’t get a reply until its in person. But go ahead and write.
Love
Elder Lamb
~ The Village Man ~

Monday, January 25, 2010

Africa in pictures

This is shopping in Africa. If you are in a vehicle you just drive down the street and hope the people move - kind of like driving through a herd of cows - haha!!
Yes - that is garbage on the side of the road.

If you have something to sell - you just bring it out in your wheelbarrow
and set up on the side of the road.

Send your B-day wishes!!

Monday - February 1st - is Elder Lamb's 21st birthday!!
Make sure you send him an email and wish him a Happy Birthday!!

Super p-day at the white man beach

Hey Everyone,
Well it’s a good thing that they talked me out of staying at the beach today so that I can come and email. We had our super p day today and went down to the white man beach. Basically the only tourist spot here. We played human foosball. We all had to keep a foot on the line and it was really funny. It is hard to shoot a goal with a foot on the line and 2 defenders and a goalie. We had a blast and did very well. Then we had a sandcastle competition. Elder Lowe won of course. Then a relay race type thing. It was lots of fun. Some elders chose not to participate which can be a little annoying when you are the one trying to have unity and let everyone enjoy the activity, but it went well anyways and hopefully everyone enjoyed it. I sure hope so because it caused me a big head ache. But it’s over now and all went well.
It was nice to get some letters from a few people. It only took my Uncle Mike 21 months to write but it was a wonderful inspiring letter. Thanks Larry!!! My Grandma Pay also did some research for me. In Elder Perry’s talk about the Manti Temple it mentions the death of Gordon B Hinckleys wife’s relative. So my Grandma Pay found the story and it turns out that it is my relative. It was a wonderful story and I am very grateful for my grandma’s hard work searching for the people of the past. (Grandma Pay talked to Sister Hinckley’s sister and the story actually is not on the Pay side of her family but the Paxman side - but had a lot of great information and family meaning for us.)
We had a nice member present a lesson. Well I should say a member lesson. We asked a new convert and her daughter to find us a referral and help us to teach them. Well they brought their friend into their house and then we went to start the lesson and they took over and taught the entire message of the restoration without missing a single principle, in order, and most likely better than I ever could. It was nice for me as I sat back and learned myself. Then they bore testimony and then committed her to pray. It was a perfect lesson in my eyes and I walked away stunned at how amazingly well they did. It was a wonderful lesson.
We are also teaching one retired man who is a very well off person and has a big position in his church. His name is Walter Davis. Anyways we taught him the plan of salvation and when we got to Adam and Eve he basically denied everything that we taught. So we took a new approach and touched on the things that he did believe and then we tied in the restoration and how we know about Adam and Eve through the Book of Mormon. I was amazed at how well it ended up sounding. It’s funny because most the people we teach here are very humble. So to go teach a more proud man was a very different change. It can take you out of your comfort zone. But it was a much more interesting lesson. Most of the people we are working with we are hoping to become the future leaders of the church. So far so good.
Just so you all know the 28th is my mom’s birthday. She is getting a little old now so make sure you give her a big hug for me. Cushe mom I love you!!!
Well the week has flown by again and I am back off to let another one pass like crazy. Don’t worry about me. This is probably the best I have ever been in my short life. Thanks for the support and keep writing.
Love
Elder Lamb

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Life in Liberia

These are some pictures I got off a CD from Sister Wire.
Elder Lamb took these when he was in Liberia. Woman with chicken

Elder Lamb with some of his African fan club

Skinny Elder Lamb

Hey Look!! They have Larry's in Africa!!
I wonder if their names are John or Jordan??

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Running out of time

Elder Lamb in Liberia:Hey Everyone,
How is the week for you? I am doing great and still super busy. I really don’t even know where this last week went to. It just runs away so fast that I can’t even find it again. Good thing I have my journal. We had a nice zone conference this week and President really helped us understand what the purpose of the Sierra Leone Freetown mission is. He always wondered why the Lord would give us enough missionaries for each branch. Then he finally figured it out. The Lord needs each set of missionaries in each branch to help this new area of the church grow the right way. We have to spend almost half of our time helping the branch and the other half bringing people into it. It is wonderful because it helps us to work with the branch leaders and get along. If you don’t then the branch will go nowhere. So far we are doing well here and have a good relationship in the branch. We have some good members who are doing what is right and we are still working with the others so all is well and going right. We are really focused on having the members help us teach and fellowship. So far we have started the ball rolling and each week it is getting better.
The other day we were walking up the big mountain and say a woman who needed some help. She had 2 huge bags of fruit. Each one about 100 pounds. So I decided to help her. She was waiting for her son to come and we walked up and contacted her. She explained and we offered our help. She refused. So I asked where the house was to make sure that we would be able to accomplish the task with out dying. She pointed to a house about 400 yards straight up. There was a cut in the dirt trail and so I heaved a sack over my shoulder. Elder Andersen did likewise. We carried them up to the house and God really blessed us that we didn’t have a heart attack. She was very grateful and we are hoping to go and teach her this week. It should work well.
We have many good families here that we are teaching. One family I just can’t figure out. The Saffa family is strong and likes the church. But they just don’t really come to church. The message is good and they are doing well in everything else. They like the church and members have welcomed them. We had them meet the Branch President when they came and we just can’t figure it out. So hopefully with their new fellowshipper they will open up to them and then they will let us know.
It’s funny. The more I have been out here the more I figure it out. Now that it is starting to make sense I am running out of time to do everything. But I still have the time to teach the other elders and hopefully they can start to do it. Mainly we are hitting on the use of members in helping us teach. That should make everything much better.
Being here in town has really changed my view of mission. I will always remember the times out in Bo with not many people and lots of bush around. But now that I am here and they have things like meat pies and all kinds of nice things. We keep seeing all the rich people driving around in crazy cars and we have a game to see which car is the most expensive. The BMW x6 wins so far. It is interesting and has changed my view a little of what I will remember about mission. I can’t forget my beloved mission president and all my great companions and friends made. Things are going well.
This week we also had a small accident. Elder Andersen was taking a picture of me. Since his camera broke we have just been using mine to take all the pictures then I will send them to him latter. Anyways so he was taking a picture and dropped my camera. Yeah it smashed the lens so I think that she is toast. But he is very good about it and wants to send another one. Hopefully it will come quick. It was just an accident and we can’t change it so now I can just steal everyone else’s pictures from their cameras until I get one again. Haha isn’t life full of fun.
Thank you all for writing. I am doing well and working hard. The time is flying by and I swear that it is just being stolen. Owell I am doing well and working hard. The time might be over before I know it.
Haha!
Love
Elder Lamb

Monday, January 11, 2010

Christmas Miracle = GOOD Deodorant

Hey everyone,
Well happy birthday to Kayla and Amanda. If your name isn’t on the calendar sorry if I forgot.
Things are going well in the busy concrete jungle. It is amazing how different these places can be in the same place. It is still taking some getting used to I guess. There are just soo many people compared to Bo. But I am working on it still.
Well there was a miracle last week. My Christmas box came somewhat fast this year. Thank you to all who wrote or contributed. It was all very nice and I finally have some good deodorant. Haha you wouldn’t think that was a big thing until its super hot and you can’t find any. But I am blessed with a great mother who loves me and always tries to take care of me no matter how far away I am. She is doing great isn’t she?
I got to go and work with Elder Mills and Elder Kenner. Apparently we all have a lot of links at home. Which is nice as we talked about missionary work and adjusting and working hard. It was easier to relate and give them good ideas for the work. They are both doing great just like everyone else here. Trying to cover so much area is not easy but I am doing my best and hopefully the Elders know that.
We had a nice family home evening game. It’s called the flour game. Let’s just say that people had to stick their face into a pile of flour and pull a coin out if they lose. So it was really fun and I got some pictures that are hilarious.
Well not much else going on. We have zone conference on Thursday which should be good. I am going out to Wellington today to do some interviews and visit a district meeting. So I better get back to work.
Love
Elder Lamb
Endure to the End
CTR

Monday, January 4, 2010

I am staying strong

Ow di bodi?
Things are going well here in Freetown. Today we went to the beach to play a little soccer. We all had a good time and I skinned my knee pretty good. It was worth it though to score the goal. Haha. It was nice to go and play and let loose. Here in town is very busy. Especially for me. I have so much stuff to do that I don’t have time to do it. It is nice somedays but I just wish that I had more time to do a few important things. Like the new challenge President Squires has given us. We are to read the Book of Mormon and mark every time it has a reference to Christ or his words or his attributes or any gospel doctrine or principle. I have gotten to 1 Nephi 18 so far. I hope to read more though. Maybe if you want to try it you can. I think it is wonderful.
This week has gone by very quickly. We had 2 more people baptized this week. Yeah I just got here and 4 are already baptized. It was a nice service and things went well. A man baptized his son. And our counselor in the district baptized his niece. It was great.
Things are going well here in town. I have to learn the area a little more. It is hard to learn because it is so big and everything looks the same. All the houses look similar and the street system is not organized well so to find the right shortcut can be difficult. But is still have some time. I have no idea what the next transfer could bring. This could be my last area or I could go. I don’t know. Maybe the Lord will keep me here, maybe he wont. I won’t have any problem with either one of course. Haha! I will go where you want me to go.
We are having a few struggles in our apartment with an elder leaving this transfer. I guess I just expect more out of him. So we are doing our best with him but it’s not easy. There are a lot more elders in this zone to work with (20) and it’s much harder to get out and visit them and things. But we are doing our best and hopefully the elders can see that. It is fun to learn and stretch but it should wears you out. As President Squires can say “This place is trying to make an old man out of me.” Haha but I am staying strong and as Elder Uchtdorf said in the priesthood session there is no retirement plan in Gods plan of happiness. Haha I liked that one. So no worries I am enduring to the end and working harder than ever before.
I am definitely grateful for the amazing support that I receive. I have a wonderful family that is a great strength to me. My parents did their best and now I am trying to live up to that name. Good thing they brought me up right. Cushe to them.
Love
Elder Lamb