December 30/2013

     So we've had a great week.  Here are the latest of Carson's emails.  The first one is Carson's letter to Ken.....

On Monday, December 30, 2013 5:23:33 AM, Carson Williams wrote:

Hey that sounds like alot of fun. I can only imagine what was going through Grandpa's mind when he saw those dogs coming. ya hey Merry late Christmas and a early Happy new year. For the Visa i think we will either be going to get our allotment out tomorrow or wednesday. Ya finally we will have actually money again. kind of ran out this last week. but hey sorry about that. I ran out of money again. but it was late and i really didn't have enough to go and buy some more but ya even the next day we were talking to the other Elders and they wanted to beat the ZL because they only were able to talk to their families for 15-19 min. so everything is pretty heated right now. Oh and also i got an email from pres. saying that me and my comp are doing amazing that we are getting so many lessons and so on. and he told us the highest member present lessons were 14 for the WHOLE mission and today i went and put in the numbers for pres. guess how many we had this week... 19 baby!! it was awesome. we have been going on splits with the branch missionaries and it has been awesome.

Have thanks again really miss you guys but it's great over hear. and also Tyler Moline got in this last transfer and apparently 7 others got the visas so we will probable have some more missionaries in our area pretty soon. Ya Big B miss working there too. but i'll be back in 2 years but i don't know what time or if i'll go back to school immediatly or chill for a bit that is still along way away so whatever. Hope you guys are doing good. Loved talking to you guys.

Love you guys.

Carson.

Here is his letter to me!

Hey that sounds good. Really excited for Brett he will do well i think. But hey really enjoyed talking to you guys. I just remembered i sent some letter to you so that you can take them to Bishop and the stake president. Please if you could give them to them that would be awesome Asante sona. oh and also my email that would be awesome. Thanks again.

Hey sounds like you guys are having alot of fun. Merry late Christmas and a early happy new year.

So now to answer your questions

It worked last time to send him a list of questions to answer so I tried it again...

1.  Swahili lessons for me!!!  What does “Ishirine na tano” mean?  Did we get “Krismasi” right on our Merry Christmas poster?  And then what does “kesho kutwa in” mean?  I’m thinking something like “day after tomorrow”? 

1 ishirine na tano = 25 Krismasi. ?? i don't know sounds close enough. ndio=Kesho kutwa is day after tomorrow.

2. What did you have for Christmas dinner?  I know you said you went over to the Knecht’s  for dinner that day, and I was just curious what you had.

2. ALOT of food. it was wonderfull. We had a bunch of people wanting us to go over to there house to eat but we had to go to the knechts. So the did the lodgical thing... THEY brought it to us at the church or to our house. Our Fridge was full. we had soda and cake, rice and some hot sauce and other wonderful goodies, It was a wonderful christmas.

At the Knechts we at, Roast beef, chicken, mashed potatoes. and PIE and not just any pie

CHERRY pie. but all i wasn't the only one who wanted cherry. Elder Knecht and the other senior couple elder LOVE Cherry pie so all three of us where like fighting over this pie. After the sister broke it up i had a piece an some ice cream. and they continued with there brawl. It wasn't as good as you make it. But it wasn't even really cherries but it still was good. also yes we have ice cream here but it is really expensive. so ya lots of fun. Then we ate the rice and this very hot sauce for supper. and then this sister in our ward had left over ham and mashed potatoes so she asked us we wanted it. I tried to contain my excitement but i probably answered alittle fast with a YA SURE WE CAN TAKE IT OFF YOUR HANDS. then i tried to rewind and say it alittle more politly but she already left to get it. SO now we got this huge ham in our fridge that we are slowly working on. :)))))

3. How do they celebrate Christmas in Tanzania?  Any thing really different?  Anything really similar?

3 Not very much celebrating but there was a few places that had lights up but not to many. also apparently for some people they have a overnight church thing for christmas. All of the members stay at church to celebrate the savior birth. I cringed at that ALL night at the chruch. Yikes

4. I’m concerned about all the deep fried food your eating!  Between the chips mayia and the deep fried banana, I’m wondering what your cholesterol is!!  Ha ha!  Actually, my question was…how do you like deep fried bananas?  Do they put it in some kind of batter first before they deep fry it?  Do they serve it with anything…like ice cream or icing sugar?  Do they have ice cream over there?

4. ????? I think they just throw it all in and let it simmer for a bit then take it out, It is really interesting kind of like a fried banana. They even have roasting corn (Maize) over here it is very good.

5. Did you ever figure out how to work the ATM card?  Brother Ryder suggested you use the “Barkley Bank”.  Whatever that means.  I guess it’s a more reliable bank that he used.  

5. We haven't go yet we will go either Kesho or Kesho kutwa and i'll just use the visa like you guys said.

6. Also speaking of money…sort of…  How is your companion?  Let us know if we can help with anything.  And please let him know that while she’s cute to look at when she’s smiling…your sister Kaylee is a little high maintenance.  

6. ya he's doing good. he is kind of the ladies man right now. he has a bunch of girls writing him and are begging him to marry them. so i don't know what he sees in Kaylee but who knows.

7. Ok…final thoughts.  You mentioned in your phone call that you were being criticized for having yellow shirts.  Brother Ryder has the solution!  He said to get some “blueing”.  Have you ever heard of that?  I remember my Grandma Walburger using that in her old ringer washtub when she did laundry but I have never used it myself.  But never fear…your Grandma knows all about it.  I called her this week and asked her to write to you about how to use it.  (I think you just put a capful in your rinse water.  Do you have rinse water? )  How do you wash your clothes?  Do you put them in soapy water first and then just scrub and hang to dry?  Or do you have an actual “rinse cycle”?  A bucket to rinse out the soap?  Anyway, grandma said she had a bottle in her house and she would write how to use it.  So hopefully you can find somewhere over there that sells it.  I’m sure one of the members would know all about it and be able to direct you to some.  Well, good luck with that.

7. My clothes aren't really yellowing just they are really dirty around the collar and where i stick them into my pants. so tonight i think i will just scrub them to death, Because i still don't have the technique down yet so i will try and see it i can find some.

Sawa asante sana. Napenda wewe sona pia

have a good rest of the week.

And then it was instant email time!!!

Hi Carson,

   Very funny about what you ate for Christmas.  But I'm so glad that they are feeding you so well.  Love that you got cherry pie!  

     What email do you want me to give the bishop?  I got a copy made of that picture of you at Carren's baptism and will give that to the bishop next week to put up in behind that glass bulletin board at the church.

     Talked to Grandpa tonight.   He got kind of choked up while telling us about you and said that you were always good to him so he wanted to do something good for you.  

  Thanks for the email to me.  I missed you last week but was so excited to hear your voice.   You sounded so good and I loved it.  Best Christmas present ever!!!

The lds mail one. Hey tell him much thanks and i will be back in 2 years to help him out.

Any exciting missionary news this week?  What ever happened with the woman who came up to you at the shack where you were eating, then you invited her to church, then she came but also brought some friends with her and then after two lessons, you said she wanted to be baptized?   Are you still teaching her?

ya she came to church but she is really busy at work so we haven't been teaching her. Also another first. there is a less active that we have been teaching. and before he got into some drugs and other stuff. and the marijuana is very very strong here so he went crazy. Hipper active crazy. His dad chains him in his room as medicine, kind of crazy but we have been trying to help him. Also we have been talking to his dad who has told us because he wants his son to live that is why he is on the chain. Kind of crazy. Thanks for not punishing me like that. But he is in his room for anywhere to a day to a week or longer. 

Wow.  That is kinda crazy.  Thanks for not getting into marijuana and other drugs so I didn't have to chain you to your room!!!  Though between you and me, with how cute your sisters are getting...chaining them in their room might have its advantages!!!    So is that not considered against the law over there?  I wonder if that sort of thing is commonplace.  If it happened over here...it would cause an uproar and child protective services would be in an upheaval!!!

Well the guys is 28 and realistically it is against the law but it is for this guys benefit his father is trying to help. but lots of people have been saying, Since meeting with those kids from that devilish church that guys is becoming normal. So he is improving but all that is left is for him to gain back his parents trust to let him out, because a few days ago they let him out to go to church and after he went to a friends house and so now he failed the test and is now on the chain for the last week,

Not much we can do but help him to show respect to his parents.

Really???  They call you the kids from that devilish church???   Wow.  That's a pretty amazing story!  That is am awesome attitude you have to be able to show respect to his parents when all that is going on!  Can't tell you how grateful we are that you are you and not stuck in this kind of situation like this guy is.  I can't imagine that!  

Hey, good luck with that laundry thing.  It sounds like a pain in the butt to do all that scrubbing.  Do they have any stain remover for the collar stains?  And how are your hands holding up being exposed to all that water like that?  Your dad's hands would have been toast by now....probably all scaly like an alligator!

Actually right now they are healing up nicely you wouldn't believe it. so long as i don't pick at it it's fine and actually in all serious nice it's getting better.

Well that's good to hear.  I was hoping the humidity would help kind of soften them.

Any exciting plans for the upcoming week?  I get to work the next three nights.  So excited to see what the New Years Eve drunks will look like!  Hopefully the girls will let me have a nap today before I have to leave.

Not really same old same old. But on New years eve we are going with the other Elder to hang out for the new year. Don't know how much a party it will be i don't know first is always the funnest right?

Right.  But who knows what kind of trouble you kids from that devilish church can get into!!!!!  Ha ha...ok don't!!!

You never know do ya... >:)))))))

No...I guess I never do...stop the wicked smiling...but I do know you.  And so I don't think there will be much trouble!

Are you still writing/reading letters to other people or are you just about done?  I really appreciate you taking the time to write/chat with me. But I hate to think that I'm taking you away from what you need to be doing.

By the way, have you received any more mail or parcels lately?  When is the next zone conference?

No your good i'm done and just chilling right now. so whatever. no i haven't recieved anymore parcels. but the Knechts are in Nairobi and hopefully they will have something for us including ojjogolo because he is getting one from america so you never know. But also ZC is next transfer Around my Birthday :) last day of that transfer is my b-day Sunday so it will be party at church it will be wonderful.

How long are the knechts in Nairobi?

How do you know Elder Ojjogolo is getting a parcel from America?

What kind of party do they have for your birthday?  Is there anything we can send over to you?

Do you have any jam left or is it all gone by now?

Just a week. this girl in america likes him so she and her family sent some packages to him. ???????? I really don't know Knechts might bring me a cake but i really don't know. No i haven't got any bread yet so its just looking at me. i've almost resorted to eat it all with a spoon along with that peanut butter, and also the fruit loops we got milk now but i was about to eat it dry and call it good. ;) but i have resisted so thanks for reminding me i need to go buy some bread. Thanks again.

You're very welcome.  You're pretty tough/determined if you haven't eaten it all yet.  Or the Froot loops.  Good for you.  I don't think I could have waited.  

How often do the knechts go to Nairobi?

Did you ever take your companion out for supper?  And not just that shack to get chips.  Is there some nice restaurant you could go and get say a nice steak supper or something?  Maybe if you get around to it you could go do that.  And then maybe for your birthday you could go out again...or whatever.

Ya i know this last few days i have been showing get patience because everybody here believes i don't have any. The knechts ???? i really don't know they will just come up to you and it like we where in niarobi and there was nothing for you sorry. So i don't know. and we don't really now any nice places but this last few days he has no money so i have been supporting him a bit. OH ya definitely.

Thanks again i think we are leaving soon.

Thanks again talk to you later

Love you guys

Napenda wewe sona

Well, thanks for talking to me.  Have a great week.  We're very proud of you.  Thanks for helping out your companion.  You are an awesome missionary.  And a great example to us.  We love you tons.

Love you!

Mom

December 29/2013

     We had a great talk with Carson on Christmas morning.  He told us he would be calling at 8 or 9 am our time, but ended up not calling until about quarter after 10.  That would have been about quarter after 8 pm for him.   We didn't really recognize his voice when we answered his phone call but after a second or two we were so excited that it was really him!  We attempted recording his conversation so hopefully this makes sense.
     He wished us a Merry Christmas and then told us about what he had done that day.  "Went to the Knecht's, (it's pronounced like "connects")  had dinner over there.  Then went to the church, had an investigator chill with us and then we came home and chilled...did some laundry."
    He said he had a bit of a hard time trying to figure out how to call out to Canada and had to have the senior couple search on the computer first. '
     He asked for the "Mzee".  (pronounced "Ma-zay")  which meant that he was asking for Dad.  Carson told us that if you look up Mzee in the swahili dictionary it actually means "old man" but it can mean father/elder so over there "Whenever we're talking to someone we say 'I'm Mzee Williams, and this is Mzee Ojogollo," etc...
     This was his reaction when we asked him if he liked the present we sent with him to open Christmas morning..."Oh my goodness, I almost cried!  I was bawling...I was on the ground bawling!  It was funny because the week before I was talking to one of my brothers from the MTC and the both of us were saying we want peanut butter and homemade jam.  I was...I was...it was wonderful!   I went and made myself a sandwich right off the bat...right when I saw that.  I was...yes...I went and made myself a sandwich.  It was wonderful!  It was so good!  It was awesome!"

     Then Ashlee asked him if he had seen any exciting wildlife yet.
     "No I haven't seen any wildlife except for some crazy huge frogs.  Lots of frogs and crickets.  The one I found yesterday was about tennis ball size.  It was the biggest one I've seen.  It was pretty fun!"

(Taylor later told us that Carson had sent her a picture a few weeks ago of a frog like the ones he talked about on the phone.  So here is the picture he sent a while back...)

     Kaylee asked him if he had eaten any frogs and when he said No, she told him to let the inner Duck Dynasty out and have at it.  

     He told us "the craziest thing I've eaten so far is an octopus.  I liked it.  It was good!"

     

     I was excited to tell him that I got a 22 rifle for my Christmas present this year.  That may not have been a good idea because it started this conversation...

Carson:  "Awww  crap!  Nooooo nooooo!  You guys are torturing me right now.  Awwww.  You got new carpet in...you got the kitchen all renovated and now you got...awwww."

Mom:  "Just think how nice it's gonna be when you get home!"

Carson:  "You guys better stock up on ammo for when I get home.  I'm gonna be gun happy...trigger happy!!!"

Kaylee:  "And we got a John Wayne lever action 243!"

Carson:  "What???   Lever what???   Lever action???"

Kaylee:  "It's like hardcore!"

Carson:  "Ohhh that's awesome!  Oh shoot!  Now you know...you guys are gonna make this mission go on a lot longer.  It's gonna feel like FOUR years now!"

Mom:  "Naw...just think of it as we're setting up the house for when you get home."

Carson:  "I've been thinking the last few weeks....   Once I get off my mission, this is what's gonna be happening...hunting seasons gonna be starting.  Hockey seasons gonna be starting.  Football seasons gonna be starting.  Duck Dynasty's gonna be there waiting for me.  And now a 22!  I'm just...I'm just...The blessings are coming!  Even before they're happening!  It's wonderful!

     (He used a lot of "Like" and a lot of "wonderful" when he talked to us!)

     There was one point when he was talking to Kaylee about rugby vs. soccer vs. football.  We made him say the word "football" over and over again.  He said it soooo funny!  "Phooot-a-ball"  We laughed at his little accent that he's getting.  

     He talked about his chips mayia which is pronounced "Chips My-eye."

     We asked him about his laundry.  He said, "Everybody's been criticizing me because my shirts are turning yellow...and they have big black spots on them!  So just before I phoned you guys, I scrubbed all four of my shirts that I have.  Right now they look very clean but in the morning, they're probably gonna have like bird poop all over them or something like that.  ...   I just wash em in a bucket, throw some soap in there, and then throw em on the line to dry.  ...  Well, once they're dry, I just kinda casually pitch them in my closet and then once I need to wear them, then I iron them."

   We also asked him how often he goes to the members houses to eat...  

Carson:  "Uhhh...like my first transfer was every Monday.  Every Monday night we would go for Family Home Evening but like lately this lady's mom...the moma...has been traveling so we've not been able to but the last transfer, we've been going...uh...once a week?  Pretty much once, maybe twice a week."

Mom:  "So do you eat at home the rest of the time or just go out to eat?"

Carson:  "So most of the time we're eating out.  We don't have time to cook and we don't have the energy or the creative mind to do it."

Dad:  "What does it cost to get a chicken dinner?"

Carson:  "Like you can get chips kuku which is just a chicken and chips, like a lot of chips and that'll be 2500 tsh.  Or you can just get kuku which is chicken and a little bit of chips and that's 2000 tsh.

Dad:  "That's like 2 dollars?"

Carson:  "Ya...that's pretty close to 2 dollars."

Dad:  "I wouldn't cook there either.

Carson:  "And then chips, just plain chips, is just 1500 tsh so that's kinda what I go for."

Kaylee:  "Are they as good as Wendy's?"

Carson:  "I don't know.  I can't remember what Wendy's tasted like.  I've ate chips so much here.  The thing with these chips are they're like deep fried and well...they're warm too.  Like we'll get there and they're just taking them out of the batter.  Slap em down and you're like "fix me some chips buddy!"  They wrap it in tinfoil and you bring it home and it's steaming warm and you're just ahhhh...yes!"

   We asked about the shopping situation over there...where can you go to buy fruits, vegetables, shirts, shoes, etc...

Carson:  "Ya...there's like shopping malls all over the place.  Like in my first area there's a city mall where we could go and there's a big grocery store in there and you could go get whatever you wanted.  You could get apples, oranges, pop, mango juice, and like, basically like a Walmart.  Ya, just a little bit smaller than a Walmart.  And there's lots of places like along the streets where you can get apples and such.  Apples regularly cost about 300 - 500 tsh."

Dad:  "Could you ever go buy a new shirt or a suit or some shoes anywhere over there?"

Carson:  "You can...it's just for me...I need to know kiswahili so I can bargain with these guys cause right now...they see me and they're like..."woooo...mazo (?)...lots of money...let's get as much money from them as we can!"  So if Elder Ojogollo walked up to the guy and said, "Hey...how much is that shirt?"  He'd say...maybe 9000 tsh.  Then I'd walk up..."How much is that shirt?"  He'd say 15,000 tsh.  So I haven't bought a shirt or shoes here but once I know kiswahili I'll be able to talk them down.  Cause usually a shirt costs anywhere from 9000 tsh to like 15000-20000 tsh.  It's just you gotta bargain with the guy cause they're just trying to get as much money off of you as they can.  And so you just gotta play with them a little bit and be like..."Oh ya...all I got is 9000."  Well, can I do 10?  "No, all I got is 9" and they say no..."Ok...see ya!"

Dad:  "So how much is 9000 in our language?"

Carson:  "Pretty close to 6 dollars cause 20 bucks is 15,000 tsh, so 9000 is...pretty close."

   The talk turned to money after that with us giving Carson a bit of advice on how to get some extra money from home.  He's having some trouble using the bank machine so we've been trying to figure out another solution for him.  Unfortunately...about halfway through that conversation...Carson's phone ran out of minutes.  So twenty LOOONG minutes after that, he called back!  He had to run down to some store to buy more minutes for his phone.  Dad finished giving him the money advice and then talk turned to missionary work.  

Dad:  "So how's the missionary work going?"

Carson:  "Oh...it's going great.  So like right now our area's looking great.  We got two areas now.  So this other area is doing very well.    We actually got this referral from the other missionaries.  We taught him for about three weeks and then he said he was going off to his home...like for about a month.  We didn't hear from him.  And so this last week he came back and he was talking to us and he's like, "Hey, can I have some Book of Mormon's?"  And we're like "sure...how many?"  "Seventeen!"  So we're like, "why?" and he says , "Oh, I've been teaching my family back in Punda."  That's 3 or 4 hours out of Dar and they all want Book of Mormon's and they all want to be taught by the missionaries and so we're like..."Ya, sure we can get you all these materials."  When we talked to the senior couple and they're like we can't go see them but the senior couples and them can go see them.  But missionaries can't until we get some new missionaries to come in.  But it was very good.  

     It was funny, this one day we went to this one place and all of our investigators that were in that area (he whistled here) were stone cold drunk!  And all these guys were like...looking at us and "Oh hey, the missionaries are here."  And they were talking to us.  And like we started talking to them and they're like..."you know, we don't want to do this anymore.  We don't want to be drunks.  We don't want to be drinking anymore.  We want to change.  Can you help us change?"  And we're like sure.  It was awesome.  So we were taking down all their contact information and we were teaching them.  It was great.  But the thing was, they were stone cold drunk so I  don't know if in the morning they remembered anything about it.

Dad:  "You'll just have to see.  So how often do you tract?"

Carson:  "Uh...not really.  Not too much.  We have lots and lots of lessons right now.  Like, I've gone tracting a few times.  But right now we have lessons, lessons, lessons, lessons.  We get referrals from the members and from the investigators and so we go and contact them and we go and we see people.

Dad:  "So how many discussions do you teach in a day?"

Carson:  "In a day...seven.  Well, actually, the last (?) day, we split and Elder Ojogollo went with these branch missionaries to Sinza area and I went in Kinondoni and we got a total of nine lessons.  Nine member present lessons...like ten lessons overall in one day.

Dad:  "So the language...are you figuring that out pretty good?"

Carson:  "Oh ya.  It's very very good.  Like it's awesome!"

Dad:  "I still laugh when I think of you teaching english though!"

Carson:  "Ya, I know.  I'm laughing too.  These guys, they have me teaching the advanced class.  Elder Ojogollo takes the young bucks so they can speak kiswahili, then I take the old bucks and it's funny.  These guys are asking questions and it's like...ummm...let's look in the dictionary for that.  Like they'll come up to me and they'll be watching scientific movies..."hey what does this mean?"

     We were worried that the phone might cut off again so we asked him to bear his testimony for us...

      "Ya..ok...sawa.  This missionary work over here is awesome.  Like it's just...these people are so powerful and they're so chill too.  Like you'll talk to them and they'll be like "ya, sure, teach me the discussions, I'm all for it."  Lots of these people are sacrificing and they really don't have much.  They're so willing and they're willing to do all this stuff and it's just wonderful!  We've been having all these discussions and people have been changing.  Like this one guy we've been teaching him and at first he wouldn't listen to us.  He'd just ask us the same questions over and over again.  And this last week his countenance kinda changed and so he's been kind of...changing.  And he's like..."I wanna be baptized", he broke down..and whoo."

      "So it's been great.  Ya, I know this is the Lord's work.  And that this is what God wants us all to do.  In church we got to watch the "Work and Salvation" video.  It's basically the prophet and all the apostles doing this devotional for the new missionaries to train them so that when they go to their areas that they get the members involved.  And how to spread missionary work and how missionary work happens and that most importantly investigators will relate to the members more.  That's why member present lessons are so important.  We're gonna be leading this discussion next week and I hope it goes good."

     "Like it's awesome!  This is awesome!  I'm really feeling it over here!  I'm very grateful for what you guys have done for me and been helping me to do.  I'm especially thanking both of you guys that have such an influence on my life and you help me to be out here and I'm very happy and I'm loving what I'm doing!  I'm very exhausted from all the walking that we have to do.  But it's awesome!  I'm loving it over here!  Lots of fun!"

     "I miss you guys.  I don't know, you guys tell me negative 50 weather and I'm just like, uhhh...I'm ok.  I'm okay with this positive 40 weather...getting sunburned and all that.  I miss you guys.  I know the Church is true.  I've seen it affect people's lives and I've seen it help people for the better.  And I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

   After drying some of our tears then...we still had a few minutes so we asked him about his malaria experience.

Mom:  "How sick were you?  What was going on?"

Carson:  "It felt like the flu but just ten times worse.  I was out of energy.  I had a huge headache and diarrhea...like explosive diarrhea!  It wasn't good.  So we just went to the hospital one day.  This Roman Catholic place.  So there were all these nuns running around.  They're like "What's wrong?"  And yelling at me in kiswahili and I'm like, "I don't know what you're saying to me...I'm just having some problems and I don't know what's going on with me." And they're like..."We understand English."  Oh...ok.  So I started talking to the lady and she's like..."oh...you've got malaria.  This is what you need.  Go get some pills."  Ok.  And then about a week later I was starting to feel better.  But then we went to the hospital again just to kind of make sure and they took some more blood.  They used a huge needle too!  Drained some blood out of me and then they came back and said, "ya, you're free to go."

   And then that's when we lost him for the last time.  But we're still so thankful to hear his voice and hear how excited he is to be over there.  We are feeling so blessed and very thankful for his health and safety!  Overall, it's one of the best Christmas's we've ever had!  

December 25/2013

     So nice to finally hear from Carson today.  He told us he would be calling at 8 or 9 this morning but he was late.  It was a little after 10 am and I had been pacing and pacing.  Finally, I flopped on the couch by Taylor and yelled, "When is Carson going to call?  He better call RIGHT NOW!!!!"  I must have roared loud enough for Carson to hear because 10 seconds later, the phone promptly rang...and it was the number one son!  FINALLY!!!   The connection wasn't too bad, and there was a funny 3-5 second delay that took a while to get used to, but we got cut off.  Then he called back 20 minutes later but that one only lasted another 5-10 minutes before it got cut off too. So we didn't get to tell him how much we loved him and we didn't get to say goodbye, but we did get to hear his voice and he told us a couple good missionary stories.  He sounded very excited...everything is "wonderful" and he's "loving it" over there.  I'll try to post some of his comments tomorrow or the next day.  Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!!  And just think...only four and a half months till Mother's Day!!! 

December 24/2013

This is a poem that we got from a sister in our ward.  She sent this to Carson and then also forwarded it to me and told me that it helped her when she was on a mission to Samoa with her husband and for the first time had to be away from her family on Christmas.

A Christmas Prayer

Tonight is Christmas Eve and my home lies miles away

Several mixed emotions crossed my heart as I knelt to pray.

I felt it was an honor to serve my mission here,

But tonight, how I missed my loved ones, the family I hold so dear.

In my mind I could see their faces, in my heart I could hear them sing,

The songs and carols of yesteryear, to treasured memories I did cling.

And my soul was filled with love for each face I hold so dear

First my mother, then my father, then my sisters came in clear.

The tears began to flow and the memories began to glee

And in that quiet moment a vision appeared to me.

I pictured a quiet field with angels singing above

Praising the baby Jesus, with their glorious songs of love.

Then from amongst the angels, came one to speak to me.

Her message was pure and simple and plain for me to see.

"How far would you travel dear, to see that Heavenly King?"

"Would you follow the star in the East?"  Her voice to me did speak.

A new feeling came from within and I felt my soul grow weak

"For that was your call," she continued, "in this sweet and humble place."

"I promise you will glance the Christ Child in each new contacts face."

"For you are one of His angels on earth to carry His good news on.

And your message of truth and Peace, is the sweetest Christmas song.

Never regret a moment of your labor of love for Him.

Though He's taken you from your home, your family, your friends and kin

For His gift in return for your service, comes from Heaven above.

His gift, my dear Elder Williams, is an eternal gift of love."

My angel softly slipped away and a warm peace filled my heart.

Tonight - more than ever before, I came to realize my sacred part.

Just then, His spirit entered, where He found me on bended knee.

My dear precious Savior had come to spend Christmas Eve with me!

And the feeling of His glorious presence, was worth the hours that had slipped away.

As I raised my head from the side of the bed, I saw the sun's golden ray.

The night had been a long one, but a sweeter lesson could ne'r be learned

For the Savior had touched my soul and His love within me burned.

Christmas Eves shall come and go, and all the years shall pass away,

But never, no, never, will I awake to a more sacred Christmas Day!

December 23/2013

Here are some pictures we sent to Carson this week...

We opened up our Christmas pajamas early so that we could send some pics to Carson!  But now...onto Mondays adventure!!!

     So we're going to change things up a bit and show you the letters Carson wrote to Ashlee,  Ken and Grandma first...then...for the grand finish...we'll end with what Carson wrote to his mother. (Who spent all day Sunday prepping and taking photos for her son's enjoyment, then sending them and then writing a very interesting and insightful letter to her favorite son!  Then got up at 3:30 am just to specifically hear from him only to have him write at 8:45 am!)

So this is Ashlee's letter to Carson this week...
mom's excited to to get your phone call!!!!!!!!!!!
hey carson i guess i sould not say only mom's excited because i'm really excited to hear from u too........ 1 problem with that i dont know if i can wake up at 3:00 in the morning to talk to you !!!!!! hope so??!!!!  so the last day of school was on Friday and that was fun .... had a sleep over with madison zobell and got go get kaylee and taylor's christmas preasent .... ya its been a crazy busy week ..... taylor got set apart to be the presadent in young women's today .. that was cool we also set up the christmas tree and i put up your decaration's up and i saw the small deer compared to the big kaylee's deer... it made me laugh    :) we love you lots though


well i miss you lots thanks for all you do !!!!!!!!! love you lots and hope to hear from you soon ashlee


And this is Carson's reply...
Ya but you really want to hear my voice so you'll sacrifice right... :) don't worry i'll just phone you guys really late for me on wednesday (Jumatano) and it will only be somewhat early for you guys. Hey that sounds good except for the whole deer thing that still makes me kind of ticked. but oh well.
Hey love you and miss you guys alot toooooooo. 
Talk to you on Ishirine na tano.

And then this is the letter Carson wrote to Ken...
Hey that sounds good. that is very good that you had the funeral for her, actually trent emailed me and said she had passed away. so ya, but ya sounds like you guys are recovering from the cold. I would send you a picture about what is happening here but i think you would be really really jealous!! :) so it looks like christmas is going good for you guys i saw the pictures. they were pretty fun, but i think i liked ashlee's poster the best. Who's Carson??? It's like she doesn't miss me at all. oh well. So hope christmas is good for you. Actually this week has been lots of fun we went to this beach and took a bunch of photos but i forgot my camera so hopeful i can get some pictures from some of the other elders. But other than that it was alot of fun. Also we had a district christmas party where all the branches came together and it was just a huge party. It was alot of fun and alot of good food. Just the nor, Rice beans Chapatii. some Deep fried Bananas it was good. Also we had a football game (soccer) Missionaries vs YSA young single adults it was alot of fun but we lost. So hope you guys are doing good and hopeful work is going good for you too. Looking forward to phone you in Kesho kutwa in (day after tomorrow) 
sawa talk to you very soon 
Love you
Carson 


This is the letter that Grandma Walburger sent to Carson...
Helloooo Elder Williams, Your family is soooo excited to be able to talk to you... They can hardly wait. Guess that means that all that complaining about your teasing was just a "front" ; they really did enjoy the attention... Yah Right! We sure love you . Hope you are feeling better now. Are you really going to play the tunes at Church ? Way to go!  I tried an experiment on you ... I sent a little package last Monday mailed from the States  and then on Tuesday I sent another little treat via the Canadian postal system... So which package do you think will arrive first? Surprise, surprise... The package mailed in the USA was $ 0.80 more?
For your birthday or maybe sooner... we will try again.. Hope you have an excellent Christmas. It will be interesting to find out what they serve you for Christmas dinner... Do you go to the member's homes to eat? 
We love you tons and wish the best for you. Take good care of yourself (that also includes eating lots of green veggies!) May the Lord continue to bless. Merry Christmas, love G&G

And then Carson wrote her back...awwww.....so nice!
Hey that sounds really good. Hope you guys are doing good. probably thought the American one could get here first it all depends on the office though because they just might keep it there until ZC and send it when they come. oh well. one way or the other i guess it will come. For this year we will be spending most of christmas at the senior couples place and we will eat food there. and then around two we will go and visit some people i guess. but i'm really excited and thanks i probably should start eating better. Chips and eggs aren't probably the best think to eat all the time.


Now here's the letter that I got....his mother...who loves him the most...
Yes the pictures where very nice. and i can't answer or write to you right now because i have ran out of time. Pole sona hopefully i can talk to you on wednesday. thanks again 

?????????
And then my panicked reply....
Bye...love you! What time on Wednesday?????

To which he did answer....
probably late but we are coming back kesho so i will tell you then.

And then my last ditch effort at some sort of update...
whats kesho? And by late, do you mean about this time?  It's just after 9 am here right now.  Perfect time for a phone call...whatever you can do...we will be here!

And then...nothing....

Really?  Wow...I can hardly contain my excitement....wow...

But thankfully, the senior mission sister came through for me and sent me these pictures...since apparently Carson can't remember to take his camera.  (Wasn't he packing that around on his belt in a past post?)

Attached you will find the pictures that we took at Cocoa Beach. See you soon!   Love, Sister Knecht

Well...at least he's alive and looks happy and well.  I'm still really excited for Wednesday!!!!  I must be his mother if I still love him after all this.  He's kind of a great kid...even though he's crazy!!!

December 24/2013

     Just a quick update...I worked nights last night and around six am happened to find this message on my email...
ya probably around 8-9 hopefully. but Kesho equals tomorrow which is leo. :) (Today)

And now we know.....

December 16/ 2013

   Well, another week has come and gone.  This week, I wrote Carson out a list of questions for him to answer.  He must have been feeling the letter writing thing today because what he wrote seemed a little longer today.  Either that or he's just getting better at writing letters!  With all this practice, I can't wait to see what he writes at the end of two years!

1.  How did your baptism go last week?  We would love to hear all about it!  Any other teaching experiences or missionary experiences you want to share with us?  We LOVE hearing about what you're doing over there.  And would love to hear about the people that you're meeting.  Dad taught the Sunday School class today and told a bunch of his missionary stories.  I love them and never get tired of hearing them.

Hey sounds like it is alot of fun back home. For it hasn't been too exciting, Other than going to the beach to today to celebrate the dedicating of Tanzania by Elder Nelson. oh and getting in two car accidents which i will explain latter. but i will try to answer your questions to best of my abilities.

1The baptism was very good. The speakers we good and the Baptism was great. we even had refreshments after so for me it was a big 10/10 for me. it was alot of fun. and then the next day we confirmed her a member of the kanisa (church) and i particapated and one of the Mzees (Elders) in our branch gave her the blessing it was very good and alot of fun. For teaching appointments. we have been meeting with alot of people and are having alot of success with a few members we are having alot of fun. and also in Kanisa i might have to start playing the piano, (YES we have a key board in our chapel.) and i have learned how to play 19 and also 27. Lots of fun

2.  I've heard a couple rumors about you this week. The first one has had me a bit worried.  So I wrote Janae a quick note on facebook this week that you had received her package this week.  She answered back and asked me if you were okay.  She said that in your last letter to her you mentioned that you had a touch of malaria.      (awkward pause)     Is there something you need to tell us? 

2 we as for Healthy i am all good Now. before i wasn't doing so hot. yes i maybe had contacted Malaria and we went to the hospital and they gave me some pills and now i' am ok. we went for a check up at a different hospital and they took blood, and HOLY CRAP they used a HUGE NEEDLE I didn't like it at all. but after they did some tested they said i was clean, so now i'm 100% and doing fine. Thank you for your concern i really appreciate it thank you. : - )

3.  The next rumor I heard isn't so serious.  I heard from one of the mission moms this week.  She was asking if there was an Elder Williams mom in the group because her son had a new companion by the name of Elder Williams.  But she doesn't know where her son is.  And then I remembered in your last letter that you ended it by saying it was transfers week.  So all week long I've been wondering if you have a new companion and then also wondering if you are still in Dar or if you've been moved to a new area.  SO EXCITED TO HEAR THE NEWS!!!

3 the last week we where having a missionary that didn't have a comp who's name was Elder Kunz and since then he has left and has gone to Kenya. They said they had his stuff but apparently they don't but he was able i guess because he is no longer in Dar.

4.  My next question...what are the plans for the Christmas phone call?  I know you're probably getting tired of me asking.  But I'm so excited!!!   Can you let us know if we need to do anything?  Do you have any idea about what time you would call...or what day that would be?  Can't wait!

4. I don't know we will be having a christmas party at the Knechts home and i don't know exactly if we have to work on that day but ya i think later in the day maybe joni that day or mchana. other than that I don't know.

5.  In your last picture of you with the other elders and that girl that was baptized...I noticed that you were wearing your leatherman.  Do you always wear that?  Are you ever worried that someone is going to steal it?  What are you using it for that you are wearing it all the time?

5 That wasn't my leather man it was my camera case. i was had it there so i could hold my camera.

6.  In your last letter, you mentioned about the president asking you about emailing during your interview.  So I have to ask, is it okay that I try to catch you when you're on the internet so we can email "in the moment?"  And I also wanted to ask you...who is allowed to email you?  The bishop told me that only family is allowed but I would be interested to know what you're president told you.  

6 i don't know he just asked me about who i'm writing to. and i said my family and extended family and i was about tell him about the others but than he moved on to the next topic. so ya he didn't say anything about it so i don't know. 

7. Speaking of your president, Dad was mentioning that you had said something about having to report if you'd taken your malaria meds to the president.  Do you have to do that? 

7 No we are given free range on that. govern ourselves. so ya since my sickness i'll be taking them now religiously.

8.  Any more parcels or letters this week?  

8 Nope. no packages or parcels but the knechts are going soon to Niarobi so they might bring me something back. :) cross your fingers.

9.  Do you want to know when we send you a parcel?  I know we said we wouldn't be sending many of them...but I have to say that I've been enjoying myself so much trying to find fun things to send to you.  But it might be hard to hear that we sent something and then you never get it.  Let me know your opinion.

9 Na you don't have to if you don't want to let it be a surprise. but if you want to you can.

10.  Taylor just got home from babysitting Randy and Candice's kids so they could go perform at the Stake Christmas Music Festival. She brought home a message from Randy for you.  He said to tell you "Hi and stay out of trouble!"  Those are WORDS TO LIVE BY!!!

10. yes definitely those are words to live by. i think i'll right them down in my planner.

And then...the rest of his letter... 

Thanks again for writing to me. oh and i better tell you what happened this week.

so this week has been relatively just the same but the other day we where walking across and just as we got across we saw a car accident happen right where we were walking. no one was seriously hurt but it was still pretty crazy.

Then today as we where going to the beach we where trying to make a left hand turn and boom Elder Knecht clipped a biker and he went and fell over in the sand. Everybody was ok. surprisily because where the guy feel on either side there were huge rocks so if he would of hit one of them he would have been bye bye. but everybody was ok.

Ok better end this on a lighter spiritual note. So we where walking to get food and we where trying to get food and this place that we usually go didn't have what i wanted the week before. So this week we went and tried it and when we got there this lady sat with us. so we ordered and we where able to get the food we wanted and then we struck a conversation with her and it was awesome she was asking us alot about us and kind of what we did. and then we invited her to church. and later that night we got a text that she would be there. We get to church and she was there and a few of her friends and it was just awesome, we have taught twice this last week and she wants to be baptized so it was like. YAHOOO!!!! look at us go. overall it has been a good week. hope you guys are doing good.

I love you too.

Thanks again.

And then it was our "instant email time"...

Sounds like a great week.  So do you have a new companion?  Or are you still with Elder O?

Still with Elder O. 

So glad and relieved that you are ok.  Would love to have you stay away from the hospitals there.  But would actually be interesting what that looked like.  

well pretty much like in Raymond. But it is more of a 3 story house then an actually hospital. 

Cool about the teaching that lady!  Way to go.  That's an awesome thing!

Yes it was AWESOME. angels where singing Hallelujah. and it looked like there was golden light every where.

Please let us know when you can about Christmas.  We are really looking forward to it and don't want to miss you.

 same here. very excited to talk to you guys. Try and prepare your self for my funny accent ok

What is this about Tanzania getting dedicated by Elder nelson?

Dedicator prayer to set apart the land for missionaries to teach people. It was kind of like a blessing of prosperity and love and protection

Well, that's kind of cool.  Did you get to meet Elder Nelson or have any kind of meeting with him?  

No this happened in 03 it was kind of like a re-memorial of sorts.

Also...can't wait to brag about you playing the piano.  Finally the day has come when forcing all those lessons on you has paid off!  Ha ha!  So proud of you!  Love you tons!

maybe i don't know yet. they might ask me. or i might fly under the radar i don't know yet. 

Well maybe you should just hop up there and volunteer!  That would be fun. 

thanks again love you guys talk to you next week.

Sounds good.  Love you too.  Can't wait to hear from you again.  Have  a great week.  Take care.

Love

Mom and Dad

sawa. Asante sone Moma na mzee.  (OK.  Thanks very much Mom.)

Na wewe pia                                     (And you too.)

mimi naitwa mzee Williams                (My name is Elder Williams)

Here's Carson's letter to Ken...

HEHE.., that sounds like Canada/ Alberta weather for sure. but haven't i been saying that you should buy a tractor for years... :) that this sort of thing would happen. why is this all happening when i'm not there. Don't get me wrong i don't miss the cold but i miss the snow. but please don't send it here. oh boy it would be like world war 3 if it snowed hear. cars and buses would be all be in the ditches and people would be all over the place running around saying the world was going to end. oh well. but ya i don't know how the best way to send money. like last week time i went to the back i had trouble using my atm to get money for this thing. so i think i will try again. But i don't understand it worked in south Africa why not here. I'll try again soon but i don't know. The machine's haven't been working lately i don't know. But this last week we had to move Flatts. because now in our Branch of Kinodoni there is now Two missionaries me and my comp so now we have a huge area to cover. and this other flatt is kind of more in the middle of our areas and closer to the church. so ya we will have to see if my card works in these other machines. so i will have to get back to you to see, But for Christmas this year they have changed there kind of schedule. so we will be spending it with the Senior couples and the whole zone. so it will probably be a party. but ya sounds like you guys are doing good. hope the Chinook comes in for you guys.

You know this week actually it was pretty crazy. On thursday we where walking across the road. and we dodged around traffic and we got to the other side unharmed. and as we were about to enter the church. BOOM!!! a car accident happened right where we where walking. It wasn't anything serious. (Just a women driver trying to do a left hand turn hit a oncoming car) nothing serious but ya it wasn't good Elder o had his camera and was able to get pictures. And also even today as we where driving around with the knechts (the senior couples in our area) we were going to the point of land where the land was dedicated by Elder nelson for the work of missionary work. Elder Knecht was driving and was trying to make a left hand turn and clipped a motorcyclist. the car was fine and the motorcyclist was surprisingly was fine to. surprisingly because where he land there were these huge rocks. and where he landed was lots of sand so after he fell he got right back up. so it was kind of a crazy week and looking back on it i sure hope i don't have to drive in this area and i'm very thankful i don't have to ride a bike. Like it would be nice for transport but i would probable end up under a bus or something like that so ya leaving the driving to the pro's and i'll just keep walking.

Hope you guys are doing good. and don't worry about me i'm doing good.

Thanks for writing to me. I'm always excited to read your letters. Thanks again

Love you

Carson  

Grandma Walburger forwarded her letter to Carson and his reply...

On Sun, Dec 15, 2013 at 11:59 PM, Sharon Walburger ‪<yzbarw@gmail.com> wrote:

Well, How is the greatest missionary? Hope you are healthy… over your touch of whatever. I enjoy reading your Mom's blog, so we get to hear a little more from you. We are all interested and wish the best for you. Are you still in Dar es Salaam? Do the Muslims have any Christmas type celebrations? What about the Christian Africans? If you were on the east coast of Africa instead of the west, I'm sure you would have felt our hurricane winds that we have been having… 

What kinds of vegetables do they have over there? peas, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes… anything really different? 

I took Ashlee and Taylor out to buy their Christmas presents… blue jeans…Kaylee was at a basketball game. Your Christmas present is a "do it yourself" but with mega amounts of love. We are putting extra money into your account so do something special for yourself and your companion… if it is proper. It will be interesting to see how long your card and little packages take to get to you. 

Do you have a scripture study session at night with your companion or is it only in the morning? I find that when I read the scriptures each day that my day seems to go better. I need to get your determination. We love that about you too. We wish you the best … May the Lord continue to bless you. Take good care, you are important to us all. Love you G&G

And here is his reply to her...

sawa me i'm doing good. how are you. Yes i have recovered from my down spot. The Muslims and the christians i don't know  what they do i haven't been able to ask since the language barrier. but still i try and communicate as best as i can.

Ya there is all kind of those vegetable things here. masi-Corn and they roast it and it is very good. cucumbers, tomatoes, and lots of mangoes and Apples and oranges.

That sounds like fun Christmas shopping with the girls hopeful they got along. i imagine so. ;)

For us we have personal and comp study in the morning then at night we account for the day and wrap up. so ya it is a lot of fun and it helps us to prepare for the day.

Hey how's they Mzee doing? and how is the Old Homestead. Getting by... Hope so i really miss that old place. Driving tractors and driving Quads ect all that fun stuff. All ways enjoyed going to your guys house thanks Again for making it fun and support and writing me on the mission. Thanks again

Love you guys too.

Carson.