01/07/2019 New Year, New Zone

With this new transfer (that we're already like halfway done with?!), the zones of the mission got some realigning, and now the zone I'm in (Memphis North) is one of or the biggest zones in the Mission. We combined the previous West Memphis Zone (the zone I was in) and the Millington Zone and cut off the Arkansas side districts (West Memphis and Blytheville). So now the Zone goes from this area (Midtown) all the way to Jackson, TN. There are about 14 or so companionships in the zone. 

I spent the first day of the year in a new area on exchanges. I had not yet gone proselyting anywhere else other than Midtown, so it was a new experience, especially since it was Millington (where the zone leaders are). The Millington area is a lot more like most of the areas in the mission: rural countryside with a couple smallish towns. I haven't seen open fields in months, so it was pretty refreshing to get out of the bustling city and get out to the country. Life is a lot slower, and the people generally a lot more welcoming. 

We had Zone Conference this week too, held at the Bartlett Building. President Hansen gave a great explanation on the priesthood in general. keys and stewardship and authority. It's a subject not super well understood, mostly because it's not entirely necessary to know it and isn't often discussed, except maybe in an Institute or BYU religion class. We also got instruction on mission goals and how we can become better missionaries and stuff. Zone Conferences are pretty fun. 

We had a few lessons this week. One with the woman from Ethiopia (I think I mentioned her in last week's email) and her husband. They didn't make it to church, and so when we went to see them yesterday afternoon to follow up with them, they were have a large meal with a lot of their family and friends. Apparently yesterday was like their Christmas eve. They let us in and fed us (which was unexpected and we were fasting at the time). It was really good. It was like some spicy burrito/gyro thing. The meal comprised of this grey spongy bread, and then a bunch of meats (lamb and chicken were among the included meats) and I think feta cheese. Her accent is strong and I think was saying food names I was unfamiliar. You ate with your hands too. You use the sponge bread to hold the food that was on top. I was really good, but I ran out of spongy bread and didn't want to ask for a fork. My hands got messy. Elder Jolie referenced needing a fork and was laughed at. 

They also gave us perrier, a carbonated water. Carbonated/sparkling water is among those drinks that I simply cannot drink. It is just so not good. But when we got home Elder Jolie put some crush soda powder in it. He said it tasted really good so I tried it. There was some chemical reaction upon putting the powder in, but it turned what was once a drink I simply could not drink, to something truly amazing. It tasted better than the usual crush grape or orange sodas. We learned how to salvage carbonated water last night.

Also it rained a lot this week. That was pretty annoying. But on Saturday and Sunday it cleared up and were very warm days, so everyone was outside enjoying the day. 

Sorry didn't take many pictures this week

1) there's a street corner in the area that has lyrics from "The End" by The Beatles at each corner. Pretty sweet.

 

2) water tower in Covington, TN. [mom's note: he took this picture probably because I, his mother, "collect" photos of watertowers]