Elder Corey Miles - Ethiopia Addis Ababa Mission: WK 20

Here I am, walking down the street heading back to our apartment when a young child comes up to me trying to sell some tissues. At first I tried to buy them because 1.I kind of needed some and 2. I felt bad for this kid and I thought they were only one birr. Well turns out I got the price wrong. So I decided I wasn't going to but them anymore but now that I had shown the money this kid was locked in. He followed me all the way down the street trying to get me to purchase these tissues and would constantly stick his arm out in front of me as I tried to pass him. So I decided to have some fun: I picked up a little bit of speed and hit him with a hard jab. This child went FLYING by. It was a career ending, NBA highlight reel sort of ankle break. What can I say I guess I've still got it. Props to the kid though because he got right back up and kept trying.

We had exchanges early on this week and I was with our District Leader Elder Rundasa. Cool thing about him: he's a native Oromic speaker, which is another widely-spoken language here in Ethiopia, but he also speaks Amharic and English. Our first lesson together was actually with his little brother, who is getting baptized soon. That lesson was entirely in Oromic so I had even less of an idea what was going on. But Elder Rundasa did a fantastic job translating for me. Our second lesson together was even more wild though. It was me, Elder Rundasa, a member, and our investigator. Elder Rundasa spoke Oromic to the member, who translated it in a half-Amharic, half-English jumble to the investigator, who spoke the same way back. Not even kidding they would start a phrase in English and then just morph to Amharic. Then I sat there and taught in English and said the first vision in Amharic (my pronunciation got roasted though). It went very well despite the trilingual mess! I had an opportunity to bear my testimony on Russell M. Nelson and the Holy Ghost and he was very agreeable with what we taught.

There's a ton of stray cats and dogs here in Addis Ababa. They are literally everywhere. Last night I woke up to what seemed like all the dogs in the city howling at the same time. It was super eerie but kind of peaceful. Straight up it is the Call of the Wild out here. I also finally got to pet a cat! We found him in the trash and named him Buttons. He came up to us meowing so we hustled and made him some chicken nuggets and while he ate he let us pet him. Don't worry we made sure to sanitize like crazy afterwards.

We've found a lot of new people this week and have been teaching a bunch as well. A lot of first lessons, but also a lot of promise! We put a man named Wendesin on date this week and he has some financial issues so please pray for him!

Last thing, we had our Area Seventy Elder Sitachi (I'm just gonna assume that is how it's spelled) visit and give us a short devotional. He taught us about how humility allows us to access Christ's power to endure all things God throws our way! As we humbly accept God's plan for us, difficult as it may be, we can be strengthened in the knowledge that it is for our good. And our Savior is with us every step of the way!

Thanks for all the support!

እግዚአብሔር ይመስግን

Elder Miles