Colby in Kampala: Going from a boy to a young man

Hey guys,

This week was A+ in Megenagna! It was the first week of the new transfer. I am still with my companion, Elder Chandler. The only difference is we got two more Elders in the area and so now we are a force of 4 and not 2. It was much needed for the area and will help us a ton!

Ethiopia is the promised land and I love it here so much. The work is still going strong. We learned alot of things this week that will help us in our future missionary work. The two new elders are named Schuler and Diamini. Elder Schuler is from Oakland, CA area and Elder Diamini is from Swaziland. They are good elders and will work hard.

Every week I am good. I will be completely honest I have had very few bad days since being in Ethiopia. I have grown a ton here and learned SO much and I know this is the place I am supposed to be here. Since being here I have been able to receive confirmation on a lot of things in my life. I have grown in my testimony of the gospel as well as going from a boy to a young man. For that it is impossible for me to have a bad week. That is why they are all good! Ethiopia is my favorite place on earth. It puts Provo in the dust....

So just a fast update, I am still in Ethiopia as you know. Still in Megenagna as you know. Still with Elder Chandler as you somehow know. And still an office elder. It is all the ultimate combination of best mission experience. My area is the greatest and the most fun area I have been in. My companion is awesome. You are right, good companion after good companion. I don't want to boast but I have been told many times by many people on my mission that my greatest personality trait is that I can adapt myself to get along with anyone. I think that has played the biggest role in having great companions. I find something in each of them that I like and work with it. Elder Chandler is from Pocatello, Idaho and was adopted when he was like 9 or something. Yeah, good time every day.

This week we were supposed to have the baptisms of Abaynesh, Yiftusara, Alemu and Alemayehu. Of those four we had zero of them baptized..... Ara benat. No problems though. All will be baptized in time. For Alemayehu he didn't pass his interview. As we talked about serious crimes and asking if he ever committed one he told us he recently robbed a white guy in Bole, stole $30, a suitcase and then beat him almost to death for not having more on him. Then he and his friend fled. His friend was caught and arrested and Alemayehu escaped. Wooooo. We talked to our mission president who took it up with the representative of the mission in Ethiopia. It was all resolved and he will just pretty much have to repent and wait a few weeks. Alemu just said he would wait until that day to be baptized together. Yiftusara is still having a problem with tea. We politely laid the law and are going to work with her to stop. She will be a little while. Abaynesh passed and was ready to go. Sunday morning the power and water were out and the font wasn't able to fill. So she has been postponed to next week. So that is it for those four!

This week we weren't able to see many of our other investigators. Elder Chandler and I spent the majority of our time splitting with the new Elders in the area and showing them the ropes. Both are new to Ethiopia and let me tell you, missionaries are more green coming to Ethiopia than they are their first day on mission. Pretty much everything you know and have learned on your mission you just chuck out the window and relearn everything. So it has been fun showing them around.

This morning we were walking to a taxi to go to town and a random van pulled over. The guy asked where we were going and I said "Megenagna". He told us to jump in. I opened up the back and there were no seats, just a typical like kidnapper van. Me and my comp sat on the wheel well things. He started driving quick and turned up the radio and I hear, "AND YOU CAN SAY BABY" and I asked him in Amharic DUDE YOU LISTEN TO TRACY CHAPMAN ?? And he goes YEAH SHE IS MY FAVORITE. I reached up and gave him some knuckles. His name was Abel, super duper cool guy. Made a nice friend today!

I think that is about it. I am well and happy as ever! Love you guys. Have a great week.

Love,
Elder McLain