Monkey Park
What’s up family and friends? This week I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Hawassa for missionary work and to watch the Hawassa Branch split into two branches. This is the first time this has happened in Ethiopia, and it was wonderful to be present and experience it. I was not sure if I would be able to do with everything going on with the conflict and timing. But at the last minute, President Tandoh told me and Elder Van that we were going and we were thrilled. Hawassa is about a 7-hour bus ride from my area in the city going South. It is the only area that we presently have missionaries in outside of the city. They also have an airport. Anyway, let’s jump into the week!!!
Oct 20th
Today was Zone conference for the entire mission, except Hawassa, because it is too far for the missionaries to come up to Addis. It was amazing to get to see mission buddies, and it was the first time that I was in charge of doing the training. I was pretty nervous, but I think everything turned out okay and I did a decent job. Overall, a good day! After training was done, we went and did a member visit that night. It was awesome! We work just as hard at missionary work as we do with teaching the current members. We are also working towards getting more priesthood leadership and encouraging our members to take charge so that they can lead their congregations. This is something we worry about in case we need to leave due to the conflict.
Oct 21
Today we had a lot of lessons and meetings, because we are leaving tomorrow for Hawassa. We slammed out a lot of lessons for today and then in the evening just hung out. We had the weirdest lesson; we taught a Kenyan and a Messianic Jew. The lesson wasn’t weird, but it was weird to have both in the same lesson because their beliefs are so different. Messianic Jews identify as ethnically or culturally Jewish but believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is the promised Jewish Messiah and the Son of God. They view both the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament as divinely inspired scripture.
Oct 22
Woke up bright and early at 4AM to go the bus station so Me and Elder Van could get a bus to Hawassa. President Tandoh took a plane. Which we would have too. However, we did not know if we would be going until the day before and then the tickets were too expensive. So, by bus we went. We arrived at about 11am, ate some lunch and had some lessons. After this we spent some amazing time talking with the Zone Leaders in Hawassa. Also, I had probably the best doughnut in Ethiopia ✊🏿
Oct 23
Today was also Zone Conference in Hawassa. We talked about the numbers a lot and how we can do better in certain areas. We also discussed how we can get people to church the first Sunday! Lots of discussion about how to make this happen. After ZC we went to the monkey park and got some amazing pictures and just enjoyed and relaxed with all the missionaries. Shout out to President for letting us go! We took a lot of photos!
Oct 24
Today was exchange day! Elder Van went to Tula, which is a group under Hawassa, he went to check on some people because the area is struggling and small. I was with the Zone leaders in Hawassa, and we had a good day. We had a small disagreement, but it was good overall. It was weird going on exchange with my old AP. He asked me, “what do we need to improve on" and i just looked at him and said," Oloyede what do I need to improve on 🤣🤣" It is always a weird thing when someone you have looked to for leadership then turns and looks to you. I felt a little underqualified.
Oct 25
It is Sunday and today was amazing! The branch split and became two. This step puts us a little closer to making this area a District. Which is important in trying to establish a larger congregation of a ward and then a stake. It was wonderful to see, my missionary friend Elder Kasim not an Elder anymore hahaah, he got a calling immediately to be the branch clerk. And Elder Oloyede who was also called as the new first councilor in the branch presidency. Flipping awesome! But after that we had dinner with President and Sister Tandoh and the other senior missionary couple that is serving in Hawassa at the nicest restaurant in Hawassa at the Hotel Hallie Selassie where he is staying. Me and Elder Van sleep with the other missionaries on a mattress on the floor, which we love because we were with all our friends. I stayed at this hotel with my parents and friends when we visited almost 3 years ago!
Oct 26
Right now, as I type this email on my phone, we are driving back to the capital city on the bus that left at 5 AM. We leave early so that it is safe as the driving all happens in the light and we are not on the road when it is dark and unsafe. We will arrive in maybe 2 hours to the house, perfect time to write an email, right? After I return home, I will need to do some cleaning and washing clothes and then just hanging the rest of the day
Eshi (Okay) nothing else, lowkey a fire week though! It was great to have a change of pace, and I hoped for my entire mission to go to Hawassa. Transfers are coming but I’m not going anywhere, but 6 weeks have never gone by faster in my life.
Anyway! Chow- Love you all!
Elder Frasier
