Nakupenda Kabisa!

Mambo! Habari za Leo?
    How is every one doing? Things went well this week. My comp thought i was over planning and over thinking the whole thing but when everything went smooth like a babies bottom he thanked me. Yes meree you teaching me the importance of planning is really paying off. I stress some guys out in our zone but things are working a lot better. Zone conference was so powerful. I got to have a nice chat with Elder Cook and His Wife and learned allot about how devoted these guys are. Every moment of his life is devoted to the Lord. I have a new appreciation for GA's. Oh yeah and our singing in the choir went so good and i really tore it up if i do say so myself. Yeah and Elder Cook commented on my mad skills. haha 
     Oh so the coolest part of the whole week was Madawa, the x muslim i told you about, got the interview and was approved to be baptized! She will be baptized this sunday. She is so awesome and is so excited. President B told here that he would make sure Elder Cook would report her name to Elder Holland that night while they skyped. And he also told her that Elder Cook would make sure Elder Holland reported it to President Monson. It was so powerful to be in the room with those amazing men hearing of the love they had for this young lady who had been waiting so long to enjoy these wonderful blessings.
     The reason it is such a process for people who are leaving islam can be put in physical danger because of their decision to forsake their former religion. It is a really serious thing to a point where we dont go looking for them but only teach them if they approach us. She has had to write like three letters to the area presidency and one from her family saying that she will not be harmed and she has their approval. Pretty serious stuff.
     The language is really hard and i find it really hard to stay positive with it. I get frustrated because most things until now i pick up on really quickly, but this not so. I just have to be patient but its hard not to want it now. I realize guys usually have a few months of language training and it takes about six months before they pick up on it. But that just isnt me. My companion had it down in just a few weeks because his language is almost the same. I will keep trying. I can bear my testimony and pray really well and teach a few principals but thats about it so far. I read the BOM everyday in swahili and it seems to be coming quicker now.
     Meree that is so cool you got to sing in that classy setting. Man i wish i could have been their. We both know i am classy and i would have just fit right in. haha Wow that is so cool Matt got to meet and talk with Holland. Man i hope he comes here before i leave! Wow you guys are just moving up in the world and are pretty classy yourself. That would be really cool if you could keep performing. I know how much you love singing and i still feel bad for being a punk and making fun of you when i was younger. I hope you continue have stuff like that come up. 
      Thank you for letting me know about my card. What is the news on that. Can i have a new one sent? I am sorry you got those checks scammed and i am so glad you got the money back. That is really scary stuff. Speaking of scary stuff, Two Elders were just mugged at gun point in Nairobi on Friday night. The senior companion has only been out 3 months and he is training. Haha poor kid. The new guys have only been here for 3 weeks and he gets mugged. They are fine though. They just took their scriptures and white hand books so hopefully they will get curious and do some reading between beat downs. haha Its not like that though if you know where to be. They were new and learned the hard way. 
       I did receive a package from Aunt Billie. Wow it was so nice. Another bag, Mac and cheese, jolly rachers. Man i am so spoiled. Please thank them for me! I will also write them an email soon. We really have some awesome family, and all this support makes me want to work harder and be a better missionary everyday. I hope i am making the Lord proud. 
      The best part of my week was getting to spend a few days with Elder Pocock. He is like my closest buddy on mission and man we have fun. He was in my MTC group and we are both in TZ now. He is a Zone Leader in Dar. We are so tight. We fill we have known each other forever. It was really cool because in Nairobi President both called is into his office and said Elders we really need your help. The work in TZ is struggling and we need you to turn things around. Talk about pressure. Elder Pocock is such a stud though and had the best trainer in the mission so he does work son! The only problem we have is the language but hopefully that will change soon.
     Well thats my week. I hope things are going well. Thanks for the mango sticky rice recipe. I dont think i will find cocoa lopzr here though. Is there another name for it? Anyway i love you all!!! Nakupenda kabisa!
-Unapenda Elder Haynes

Wow, Busy Stuff!

Hadleys and Other blog readers,
     So i am loving Dar. The work here is a little slow because i am learning the language and we also teach english class twice a week and are in the District choir. Yes meree i finally broke down and am singing in a choir. Only because its freaking awesome and we sing in Swahili which is so awesome. So this week is mission tour/Zone conference/Dars District conference. Wow busy stuff. We are actually performing for the district conference and Elder Cook will be Speaking, Crazy! I really like it though. Wow so we are staying busy from planning ZC to learning the language to teaching a language to visiting all our investigators. Its seems like the busy times is when you make the most memories though. So i love love love my companion. We get along so good. He is such a stud. He goes home in three weeks though which stinks cause this is the first comp i have really hit it off with. Next transfer is kinda stressing me out. The word on the street is i might be training. Wow training a kid and i dont know the language. haha Well the Lord knows best i guess.
      Meree, Wow no way your singing in that thing! Wow way to go. It was funny to read that you are singing again and me i just picked it up. haha Well go get them! Oh so when you meet Elder Holland tell him i say Hi and hope i get to see him here in the great KNM before i go home. He has come here the last two years, so i hope that is a reoccurring pattern. Wow it seems everyone is staying busy busy. I hope you are all staying sane. I am so happy that matt is having such success with work, what a blessing. Oh and im glad you got the package. Sorry it wasnt much but i wanted to send you a little something. But for Amy the reason she hasnt called you back is because she is in Germany! Wow crazy eh? She will be back soon though. But yeah you can either send it to her of just if you see her soon just pass it off.
      We are doing good. We just split our area here so we are just trying to build the teaching pool. We have a recent converts two twin 16 year old daughters who have been given permission from mom to be dunked soon. So we will have a few baptisms coming soon. Also we have been teaching this lady named Madowa. She is an x muslim and has to be interview by President B and Elder Cook to get baptized. So that will happen next week. She is awesome. We eat at her restaurant every day and she comes to church every week. So we got some good stuff coming. The branch here is one of the strongest in the mission. Full of RMs and temple goers. Its really nice to be in such a place of strength. 
      Well thats about all for today. i hope everyone is keepin on! Tell all the family i love Them and meree i am still in need of the mango sticky rice recipe!!!
-Elder Hayes

Dar Es Salaam Here I Come!

Hello Family!!!
     So i was playing Phase 10 last night with some elders when all the sudden the phone rang, Yeah it was president B. The first thing he said is this Elder Haynes, i replied ndio!(yes) He said wow Elder that thick St. George accent has gone, I thought i was talking to your African comp. haha But he said you guys called all worried and what not. I never called. He thought i had called you guys. I quickly let him know that i didnt and i am safe and had no concerns. I was kinda weirded out by the whole thing. Dont worry family i am wearing the breastplate of righteousness and wielding the sword of truth. haha wow that was corny! Dont worry about me! That is weird you got a call though. It might have my last comp to try and get me in trouble funny enough. ha He didnt like me to much cause i made him work. Well i have reached Dar es Salaam. It is just like mombasa here. I actually took a bus from mombasa to Nairobi which was a nice 10 bus ride, then i flew to Dar. That just shows you how big my mission really is, we have to fly to different areas. But what is hard is i was only allowed to bring one suit case under a certain weight so i dont have much here. Oh so my companion is Elder Nyzungu from Zimbabwe. He is a way cool guy. We get along so well. The bad thing is this is his last transfer so i am killing him. Man trunky should not be allow. It is hard but, "these afflictions will be but a small moment." haha So my first sunday i honestly didnt get the warmest welcome here. I translated a simple testimony to give and memorized it. As i stood at the pulpit i froze. I totally for got it! I sat for a second then it came to mind. As i recited it some people started laughing then i pronounced a word wrong then everyone in the congregation began laughing. Man Talk about humbling!!! It was a total other side of heaven experience. Members came up after and made fun. These people and serious about the language. Man my second day here people are blasting me saying i need to learn faster. They were comparing me to other white missionaries who had been here for a long time and were at the end of their missions, that just made me more frustrated. So with a dead comp and not much happening in this area i am just going to study study study! One great thing about Tz is the chips mayia. It is whisked eggs poured over a skillet of fries and cooked to perfection. Served with pili pili and tomato sauce which is like a jalapeno/ketchup sauce. So so good. Remind me to make it when i get home! Oh also i have been made the Zone Leader here in Dar! haha wow talk about overwhelming. A zone leader who doesnt know the language. And its the biggest zone in the mission wth two districts. The Lord is teaching me right now. Also, next week is mission tour. So the area 70 from SA is coming here to Dar for mission tour. His name is Elder Cook. He actually spoke this last conference. Meaning I have to plan the whole program and get the whole thing catered cause all the missionaries in tz are coming. Lots of responsibility! Wow so enough about poor old me. haha Tell Everyone sorry, i havent been able to write until now. Things are busy busy. Wow tell bronzen thats what having a little brother is. Remind him that he used to follow me around the house and when i got frustrated and turned around he quickly said "so where are WE going" I was like WE? haha he will learn. I am so glad i had a younger sibling. Meree i am glad you are taking a semester off of school. Its nice to get a break every now and then. I hope this SOS club you got going stays strong. Sadly it will never be as good as SLAM. Pole Sana. Thanks for notifying my bank for some reason i just knew that would be a problem in the future so i thought i would take care of it asap. Well we are headed to the beach to place soccer so i will let you know more next week! I love you guys and thanks for being worried about me! ;)
-Love Elder Haynes

Happy New Year Missionary Style!

Shikamoo !!!

      First off i am so sorry! Christmas and New Years are so big here we didnt get a chance to email until now because the cybers are ALL closed! So i am soooo sorry but there is really not much we could do. Tell everyone i am sorry and i will write once i reach my new area.(AMY;) But yes this week has been a rollercoaster for us. Baptisms transfer news etc. Luckily we ended on such a high note. My heart sank when i heard i was leaving my home here in Mombasa, but dar is as close as you can get to Mbs so its okay. We have 8 more baptisms I am leaving behind that will take place on Jan 22nd. I am sad but the Lord knows better. Man it was such a blessing to see a Husband and Wife enter the waters of baptism. Can life get better? I submit that it can NOT! Man i love this work. Its addicting. Its like JENGA! haha Well i am leaving for Nairobi on Wednesday and taking a 10 bus ride. Then spend a day there getting all my documents to travel to TZ. Then i will fly to Dar on friday. Seriously this mission is so darn big. I am so excited to be teaching in Kiswahili. Here we speak kidogo(a little bit) just to help them understand. But there its their official language. 

       So for New Years i invited all the elders over to our flat and we had a little BBQ. I marinaded steak red and green peppers, onions etc. With my awesome christmas present, Stubbs beef marinade. We got a little grill and made the best kabobs kenya has ever seen. Man what would these boring elders do with out me. Man it was soooo good! We even bought a fresh pinapple. Mmmmmm... so good! Then we stayed up and played Phase 10, and Monopoly. Yeah i havent slept much lately.

      But i am doing good things are rolling. I like change, it motivates. Sadly i am killing another companion. His name is Elder Nyzungu from Zimbabwe. I think President gives me dying missionaries so i kick them in the butt, but man it is hard. I will keep up my spirits though. I only get head aches if i dont drink enough so i am sure to stay hydrated. I am happy the scotts let you know about things though cause i havent been able to communicate. Oh which reminds me and this is very important, I need someone to notify our bank that i will use my card in TZ. I didnt tell them that i would be there, so if i use it it will lock the card. Also my card expires soon in april so is there anyway i can get another one sent and when i receive it can be activated. Sorry i am a pain i know but i really appreciate it. I got your christmas card, Man we are a good looking group if i do say so myself. I havent recieved anymore packages but i will see when i got to Nairobi. I did get Amys package. Wow talk about spoiled. I wont talk to much about it though cause i have a voice recording i will send here that will express my appreciation. I dont think i need anything else soon except that bank stuff. 

         Well im sorry its not to long today. I hope everyone is well and i love you all so much. 

-Love Elder Haynes

Ps I know i am terrible at getting back to some of you. Just know i get your letters and i am grateful for the blog to keep you updated. I am trying to respond to all but sometimes we are very limited on time.

From The Scott's

Jambo,
  We knew we couldn't keep him here forever, but it would have been nice.   Transfers are the worst when the missionaries are
awesome & we are not doing well with Elder Haynes leaving Mombasa.  Things are "fired up" here & doing so well, we hate it
to slow down at all.  But next week, about Wednesday, we will be loosing Elder Haynes & Harper.
  I think Elder Haynes is excited about learning "pure" Kiswahili.   The saints can speak Kiswahili in TZ & the missionaries are
expected to speak it.   They say that in TZ Swahili was born.  In Kenya Swahili was "raised" & in Uganda the language "dies"
  There are 2 couples in Dar, they are both great .  It's still very hot & humid there, but he's used to
it now & the flats are air conditioned as well.  He'll probably tell you all about it tomorrow with e-mail, but we just thought we'd
send some pictures of his last Sunday in Mombasa.  Six people were baptised today, so it was a good Sunday & he'll leave
on a high!!
  Again it has been delightful to get to know him & we hope to keep in touch forever!!
He's one of the shining stars here in this mission so wherever he goes, the area will do well.
Safe Journeys & the best for 2012

 Love, The Scott's

Merry Christmas!

 Hey guys Merry Christmas!!!!

       Meree your coupon book was a perfect success! You openly embarrassed me in front of thirty muslims cause your cheesy humor which is sorely missed and you had me laughing really hard aloud at the computer screen. Salam leko! Ask Matthew what that one means i am sure he heard it in iraq. Well christmas is this week and sadly its still getting hotter. Its pretty bad when your sweat adds the needed salt to taste requirement for every meal as it drips, nay Flows of your face. I am loving every minute of it though. We are doing service on saturday and having the pot luck box car social shin dig get together type deal. During which i will be calling to set up the best time for tomorrow to call. Have your phones close. Its still funny to think that i have to call you at like midnight here to talk to yo guys. 

      To answer your Q about packages, the Scotts travelled to Nairobi and headed back tomorrow so i hope i will get a few before christmas arrives. I do have some pretty awesome tan lines though. I have a nice pasty white band around my wrist from the watch and i have giving an entirely new meaning to the the term "Red Neck." And Meree seriously for how much you eat you should be obese but thats a gift from Mungo(god) so live it up! Yes its still mango season and please please please send me the recipe for the mango sticky rice. It doesnt need baked right!? I cant really tell if i have an accent, but i have been told i do. You really get an accent when you serve in the bush rather than the city. As far as sending something for the kids its really hard to give them anything cause everytime they see you after that they expect more. We are asked not to give money or items. Its sad but it makes sense. We need to teach these people to fish rather than just giving them one. Oh and you are more than welcome to invite Amnodes for christmas. I already invited her, haha but i bet she will be with her fam. Pres. B is really chill about calling on christmas so i will have tons of time to talk so have those phones charged, Meree!!! Is that a shida(problem)? Well i love you guys so much and miss all the laughs and family time especially during this time of year. I will talk to you saturday so dont forget. I love all of you and hope everyone is doing good. I pray everyday for you guys to be safe and have success so i hope my prays are being answered. Well take care, Talk to you soon!

-Elder Haynes

P.S. Oh so your, well i guess our bishop now, sent me a hefty email. Seriously that guys is amazing. It seems like this is the ward you guys have always dreamed about. I hope it treating you well and if you see him let him know i really appreciate it and will reply soon.

I Got An Air Conditioning Unit PTL!

Hey Hadley/Haynes,
    Haha how are you doing? I was informed i have received three packages in Nairobi. Thank you so much, i didnt need all that, Nevertheless not my will but thine be done! hahaha Hey i am excited for christmas even though its just like any other day here. Sadly though i wish it was just cold for a day at least so i could drink some cocoa and actually enjoy it. We drink it all the time infact, everyone here drinks it even in the heat of day and it just makes you sweat more. So today our branch is having our christmas party!!! Haha its nothing like home. So peparing food is for that many people is hard enough, let alone cooking everything with charcoal. Sister Mwambere is the relief society press and i cooked dinner for their family yesterday so they could get a break. Man these people work hard. They were so impressed with my skills. Its no big deal! ha But we also have been up since 5 this morning helping them prepare for this thing. We bought two goats and slaughtered them for the meat. Wow that was an experience. Haha Only in Kenya. We are headed back soon for the food. 
      So we are doing really good. We have six baptisms on Jan 1. Two of them are newely weds and have a baby girl. Woot woot! My first family! They got so excited when i told them the date for their baptism. They said, "We will start the year fresh!" haha Man i love it here. I have just found love and have kinda just said you know my comp isnt gonna change my out look on my mission. Just cause he is having a bad time on mission doesnt mean i have to. Sure we are connected at the hip, and i have learned that if i can get along with this guy i can get along with anyone. Man things are really good right now. I have learned so much. My eyes have really been opened the sort time i have been out. I had to realize every mission is so different and you need to adapt to culture and different situations. "When in Rome" haha. 
      So I have been slacking in the picture department, but hopefully today with the ward party and I think we are going to another animal park so that will help me get some more. My comp is struggling a bit with homesickness but i think as time goes on it will get better for him. Also President B just gave us the greatest reward for our hard work. We have seen the fruits of our labors! We just got a sing Air Con AC unit in our flat. Oh my goodness i forgot how amazing that cold air is. Well Everything else going well.
Family I Love and hope all is going well. So i am sorry if you dont get the stuff i sent for a long long time cause the posta here is on strike. But it will come.. haha
-Love Elder Haynes

Ps So is Tish engaged or what? She hasnt emailed me back!