3 January 2011

I know it has been a while since the last post. Robert's letters have been really short. Shorter than usual. One week was only "I'm ok. I miss you too, Mom."  so blogging that is well, dull. We did have a great visit with him on Christmas day. After many tries to contact the land line number he gave us we finally were able to speak to him. ( he was on his mission president's wife's cell phone) We are so grateful for their generosity! He's doing well in Harare and just loves the people. Things are a bit more primitive there than in Zambia. Water & electricity come and go unpredictably. His new house has no washing machine for clothing, just a bucket. Lucky boy! He wants letters, please consider writing him!! So enough from me. Here is his letter from this week...

Hello All!!!

Life in Zimbabwe is doing very well.I got very sick this week throwing up and other lovely symptoms. But I’m much better now. My Shona is getting much, much better. I am able to speak small phrases and works. Uno Penga means You're Crazy!

New Year’s Eve we had a party and went home at 0100-0130. It was with the AP's, ZL's, and a senior couple. We bought 2 live chickens and killed and ate them. very yummy. In fact best chicken I've had in a looonngg time. We then proceeded to blow up the chickens heads with fireworks and part of it hit me. very cool. We then set off many other fireworks and watched "The Other Side of Heaven". I spent the time talking to the senior couple, the Bowens, about gun collections.

Saturday we played American Football with some guys from the embassy (not marines) and had a great time. I needed that game. Felt good afterward. We then moved to our new home. It's HUGE!!!!!!!! It has a car garage and a well and 4 bedrooms or so. We have a nice size kitchen but unfortunately no furniture except beds and 1 desk. But we enjoy the new house very much. I also recently got double stuff Oreo's. mmmm. I've lost much weight here but if I stay I'll get fat-er. haha.

So we had 16-17 people come to church yesterday and we had to move the class because there was no room for them all. It was crazy!!! 12 baptisms are this Saturday and we have 31 Baptismal dates (including the 12 this Saturday) so this week has been very exciting. Also found out that all pianos here (keyboards actually) have hymns installed to play prelude music because no one can play. haha. I love it here. Oh! The mission President calls me the Captain as well as the AP's. I hope to hear from everyone very soon. Please don't forget that Elder Robert Hales is still alive for now. Well That's Alllll Folks!!

Love to All,

Elder Robert Hales "The Captain"