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.