Wow it is scary how fast time goes. Half a year! On the one hand it feels short, but on the other it feels like mission has been a long time (probably because i'm completely settled into missionary life now)
So with taking the lead, i'm learning more and more. I'm almost always the one with my planner out. My potential inv, inv and member pages are full so its really good as I am learning to be super organised with planning and scheduling. I tend to take the lead in the lessons most of the time and making sure we are always going and doing something.
It is teaching me a lot. Especially the lesson that if someone doesn't do something they should, you do it yourself! MY companion Elder Samuel is a very good people person, he knows and remembers people really easily and on Sundays he talks to the ward leaders which is a big help. I don't know how he does it but we'll be walking down the street and just greet someone (an inv or a member) who I just failed to recognise, he's good at that which I am grateful for! So if we use our strengths to compliment each other it will work out.
I love my mission a lot! I am very glad that I came on my mission. I have learned a lot and it has really helped me spiritually to understand the gospel more and to strengthen my testimony and every day I learn SO much about life in general.
I have also learned I am so lucky to have my own family as we often see so many broken and challenging family situations here that I have never had to face because of the choices and commitment my parents have taken.
To those with very challenging situations I try to teach them hope that they themselves can break out and have the family life they want.
There will be something that happens that sparks me to research something, I take a course and I learn a new perspective on something, which I use as lessons to teach members.
I have learnt how important it is for us to partake of the sacrament and how keeping the commandments is such a big part of it. You can't continue to sin and then take the sacrament feeling it will fix it. Actions are required.
So many people just need a helping hand to be "reached out to" because "the fire has just gone out a bit".
One funny thing that happened this week was we were walking to an appointment and this woman calls me over, so we go over and she is sitting next to a... shelter? With some of her friends (or sisters, people mix those things) Anyway she starts talking about because she is hungry she can't read the word of god (bible) or listen to us because she is hungry, this goes on for about 5 minutes during which she points out that I am white, and she is black, and because of that I need to go and buy her some food (or give her money to buy...."food") While they were all drinking. It was interesting to see, and a common thing, that some people see a white person they think money. Anyway i didn't say anything because i didn't want to be judgemental. I let Elder Samuel talk, gave them a pass along card and walked away. I always find giving people pass along cards work well, especially drunk people, if ever they are asking for something, usually money.Interestingly what she wanted was Phuto. Which is Pap and Inkomazi (which is basically sour milk) Which people here love, but I haven't caught the same love for it :-)
ON Sunday we visited with the Bishop which was nice. He was sharing some stories of the experiences he has had. Oh ....the things that leaders have to deal with :') he he he.
Funny thing. So we... I mean I got mail this week!!! (the only one in the district he he he) I got the family photo album, which I love, the pictures are all really nice and I love them,.But yes the mail came, and I got a letter from Nana... from 5 MONTHS ago! I was really surprised, it was quite funny, but i counted and i think that i'm only missing maybe 1 or 2 if they've wrote them every week.
Message to anyone who has written to me. If you write to me I will reply, it might take me a month or 2 (to get here and then for me to write back) But I will reply to any letter I get. So if you haven't got a reply.. write again!! (That being said please thank Carol and Ken for their cards, I love them and haven't had the chance to reply yet, i will soon just thank them for me :) )
So the fumigators came on Tuesday and found a nest of cockroaches behind the fridge! There was about a gazillion of them!!!! (I took a pic) It was nasty, so they fumigated the flat and now it is a lot better! Then on Wednesday, Elder Wells from the office came up to fix some of the lights in our flat. We thought it would take maybe an hour or so.. it took 5!! He he he, but Elder Wells bought us KFC so it was okay! It was delicious
The only other thing was Sunday! I love Sundays here. Particularly at church because it's so nice and peaceful. Although this week I was conducting the music. I have started noticing the spirit a lot more at church and I enjoy church a lot.
As a missionary you get asked an unbelievable amount of questions. This week in a lesson someone said "why was the Sabbath changed from Saturday to Sunday" Now there is a question for you to think about hehe. So many could learn a bit from the attitude of Nephi from 1 Nephi 3:7 as the first guide.
I love you all and I am thankful to everything my parents have taught me in life.
Elder Jack Jorgensen
xxx
