The Field is White... and Mostly Black.

Got an e-mail this morning from Elder Beadle.  I guess he's on regular Monday P-day schedule now.  He had a little more to share this time, including individual messages for each family member.  I can tell he's missing his brothers and sisters a little but he is happy and grateful to be serving. 

I wish I had pictures to share with you. He is taking pictures, but he doesn't have a port on the computer where he is emailing me to upload the files. His area is called "stongueasea."  He and one other missionary are the only white people in the area. 

The children yell, "Marango" at him. This is what they call white people. He has learned that and 7 or 8 other Shona words. 
He says: 
The MTC was fun. President Reber is so powerful. he is a patriarch and been mission pres. like 3 times bishop and stake pres. i think. it was a great experience. I felt like i was home the whole time there. I didn't think i was in Africa. but that all changed when i got sent to Zim. I am so tired all the time and managing the meals is tough. but i am getting used to it. Four of us share an apartment. The two Elders from Africa are just like " Don't die elders!!" and laugh and say "This is Mission!!" 
my schedule is like this:
     *wake up and fetch well water in which i bathe
     *then eat what crumbs i can put together
     *then study
     *study
     *leave and go to appts. it is tough.

I wasn't ready for this at all.
My apartment is crazy. If you think your house is dirty come live with me. I inherited a hole in the wall that has electricity when it wants to (like three-four days out of the week) and water that shuts off when you need it most and it is infested with roaches and huge wall-crawling spiders and my carpet.... is pretty much fungus and the bathroom is terrifying! And i love it. coming home and resting from a hard days work is nice. The work out here is good. The whole of Zim is ripe and I am still sharpening my Sickle!!! Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! all you future missionaries. My trainer is from Uganda, Elder Dwoka. He is powerful, most of these Africans are.

One thing that Will has mentioned several times is that the way to find happiness is to serve others.