We've had an eventful last week together, Elder Sperry and I. Mostly full of goodbyes and whatnot. Some missionaries kindof just leave their sectors without telling their investigators or recent converts...but after a year I've come really close to these people. I had to say something! It was never my intention to solicit gifts, but that seems to be inevitable. I'll get to that later!
We filled our whole day Tuesday with people to see, and for once we actually saw all of them. Belna, Elvis, Stany, Leslye, Becho, Desty, Loïc, Euraste, Nathanaël (who welcomed us with a bowl of spinach, mushrooms, and fruit fly-infested, boiled plantains that were in the end delicious), Binta, Héléna, Didier, and Cédric. Weird to think that I'd never go back to any of their homes again...we met a new guy on our way home, too. Marcus - who tried speaking English with us, ended the conversation with something that sounded like, "Oobledigogglebogglediggi," to which I responded, "Ok!" which seemed to be an acceptable response because he nodded and turned away. We started back home, looked at each other and busted up laughing. There are things no one will understand...I think that's in that category.
We were inspired by our odd lunch to make an odd smoothie. Well, it wasn't intended to be odd at first. We blended bananas and tropical fruit juice, but there was just something missing. I added honey, Elder Sperry added cinnamon. Then I added mapeltine thinking it was vanilla, and then we threw in chocolate chunks. It wasn't good, but for the sake of boosting my potassium levels I drank my share.
We had a special district meeting when, after a great lesson from Elder Tripp, we went outside to toss around a baseball with a ball and mitts that he got in the mail from his mom. I never even really played baseball (except for 2 years in elementary school - I was the worst player on the best team and quit because I was afraid to move to Minor A where kids would now be throwing the ball themselves in imperfect paths towards my head. No thanks), but playing intramural softball in college left enough of a good taste in my mouth to love throwing the ball around that day. Just a little slice of America in the middle of nowhere, Africa. All we were missing was some apple pie.
I got to say goodbye to some more people afterwards - Josna, Danièle, Cécile, and Maman Jeannette (who cried - that poor, sweet, old woman just about broke my heart).
On Thursday we stayed at the apartment in the morning to do weekly planning instead of coming back later so we could see our friends who go to school in the morning and don't come back till the afternoon anyway. I got to say goodbye to Willvie, but after that we had a series of ratez-vous that ended in us walking around KM4 until we ended up at Paco's house (who'd been walking with us all day) to sit down with his sister Nabou to wish her a happy birthday and talk about how her fast and asking her dad to be baptized went. She told us that when she asked, her dad said, "I want to talk to those who gave you the courage to ask me to be baptized." That was kindof intimidating, but I was excited for the opportunity to finally talk to him. He even showed up while we were talking, but when I stood up to shake his hand he just went inside. So.
Friday was sad as I said more goodbyes - Marcus (the one born in Jamaica but grew up in Liberia, not the oobledagglebamadingdong), Darcyne and her kids Maya, Giorgio, and Laura. We had a classic African experience while we were there. Giorgio had been sick, and was sitting at the kitchen table while we were talking, and from the table he rips the longest, loudest fart ever. "Sorry," he says rather passively. Darcyne turned to him and says, "Don't poop your pants!" turns back to us and says, "That happened to me once. I wanted to fart, but it wasn't a fart! Surprise!" We just about died laughing. It was so funny, so classic no-filtered African. I love it. That's how I want my house to be. Maybe. ANYway, Loïc wasn't home, and neither was Lovely, so I was counting on seeing them at least at church for Conference. We walked to Josèphe's and said goodbye to Maman Nadège and Mémé Odette, who gave us a big sack of bananas and mangos, and gave me a new African name of "Mavungu," which is in Vili but I have no idea what it means...they were really sad though.
We started Conference on Saturday, and during the first session I got a call from Elder Rakotonindriana, so he could tell me, "I told you so!" and then pass me off to my new companion, Elder Mandefu! He seems like a really nice guy, really excited to work with me. Talking to me reminded of Elder Ndayizeye, so if he's anything like him then I'll have an excellent last transfer. Anyway, the rest of Conference was incredible. I learned a handful of new words, which was always great. I wish I could list off all the different things that I learned, but I definitely noticed a pattern in the Saturday sessions of families and protecting the home, etc., and then the Sunday sessions were about following and sustaining the prophet. Makes me wonder what's going to happen in the near future...after the sessions the Loandjili elders had a baptism for Maïck Spider Whisper and for Kiminou (Faith) Krishna. Welcome to Congo.
Sunday was hard...we left early in the morning to meet Paco's dad in the pouring rain, but when we got to his house he was still sleeping...so we went all the way back home and ate chocolate banana shakes for breakfast. Then at church, after the sessions were over I took advantage while I was thanking everyone for coming to bare my testimony for the last time. It was perfect because both the Mpaka and Aéroport branches were there! Then my crowning moment of Munukutuba learning - I got to bare my testimony in Kikongo. It was well-received, complete with several rounds of laughs. I got lots of congratulations afterwards and shook probably 500 hands and took a million pictures. It was sad. Turns out I even cry in tribal tongues. Dangit...there's no hope.
While there Darcyne and her family gave me a package, and then Maman Nadège gave me another package, both of them with a full set of African pagne. It was all so quick, I didn't really get to say goodbye to a lot of people, and people I did say goodbye to came and went so fast, but maybe it was best like that. After all was said and done I got to do a baptismal interview, and then we went home to make giant cheeseburgers.
And now we're having a last FHE with all the elders so I can say goodbye to them. Count on more tears.
Next week I'll write from Brazzaville! So, look forward to that. I'm anxious but excited. Proud to represent the mundeles in a city where there aren't any haha.
I love you all.
Elder Garland
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