Elder Warner Ashby in Africa: New companion

Hey everyone,

It was great to hear from everyone.

This week was good, but kind of long. Week one always is. Especially when waiting for transfers. Since we were waiting for Wednesday or Thursday to receive our new companions, we just relaxed on Tuesday. We saw a few referrals but that was it. On Wednesday, I got a call that my son would come that afternoon around 2, so we went to the market to buy some apartment supplies that we needed to double the size of the apartment. We got back just before 2 and I started cleaning out the other bedroom that I would be sleeping in. I finished that around 3 and still no one was here. So we relaxed around the apartment for a while. I then got a call from Sister Clawson around 6 telling me that he was still at the mission home and that the senior couples who were supposed to take him got reassigned to something else and he had been sitting there since. Finally around 7 he arrived at the house. His name is Elder Patrick from Nigeria. He is a cool guy, kind of quiet but he is a good teacher. I have wanted a Nigerian companion. On Thursday, we couldn't go out because we didn't know what time Samche's companion would come, so we waited in the apartment and when he did come, it was to late to go to Allentown. His name is Elder Carlson from Arkansas. We didn't start proselyting until Friday. We saw the Branch President and talked with him about what he wants from us now that we are here full time. We are going to work a lot with less actives in the branch and try to help them come back. On Sunday, we were happy to see that 2 less actives we talked to already had come.

Allentown is fun. Most of it is mountain. Allentown is high. By Sunday, my legs hurt. Elder Patrick is not used to mountains so he is even more tired. On Sunday, one of our members from Grafton invited all of us to come to her house for a Family Home Evening in hopes of helping her family become interested in the church. It was cool. We had a small discussion from last years president's manual and then ate some food. In other news, I saw a vulture on the roof of the couple's house the other day. It is about the most wild life I have seen here. I told them it was a bad omen. They laughed.

Vulture on Elder Carley's roof

Samche and his new companion will divide their time between Grafton and Kossoh Town. Kossoh Town was the largest of our 3 areas but we felt like Allentown needed more attention. Allentown is the second largest. I know I won't see all of it in my time here. 3 companionships used to cover the entire branch. And the 2 of us are only going to focus on a few parts and when more missionaries come, smaller areas can be covered. When more missionaries come, they will break the areas back to what they were, or what President wants them to be now. It made me overwhelmed at first, but we decided with Brother Quintin, the branch mission leader, to only work on 2 or 3 parts at a time. There is more to do here than the 2 of us can do even with the help of the branch missionaries. But in time more help will come. In July, another group about as big as this last group will come. Lots of these new missionaries will train half way into their training.

Having two new people to talk to in the apartment is great but having an American is better. Samche and I were started to repeat stories to each other.

We hear the mice, but no battles this week. We think they climb down from the roof using a bush outside and squeeze under one of our doors at night when we are asleep. But we are not sure.

Well that is about my week. Sorry it is not longer. Getting new missionaries was about the most interesting thing that happened this week.

Congrats on finishing school.

Love you, have a great week.

Love, Elder Warner Ashby