We had a tornado and buildings were destroyed

The biggest news this week was we had a baptism!!! YAY! So Durrity got baptised!

Which is amazing. He's really powerful, several people have said so already, and it was amazing to witness him being baptized! 

I was so glad, and I think that this has

made a change in his life! We had a couple of disasters he he. The first one is that the father almost ruined it. WE were visiting him and the father was there (he isn't usually around) but he doesn't like churches, and when he heard he was being baptized he started to argue that he wanted him baptized into the Catholic church. But thankfully his mother, who we get along really well with, defended him and said that he was old enough to make his own decisions.


The other was that the tap for the font doesn't work properly. Well it does, it's just that the water heater for it must have a very small capacity because it got about 1/4 or 1/3 full until the water slowed down to a dribble! But no fear, we got the fire hose to fill up the rest! It just meant that the water was kinda cold!

We did a service project on Saturday! We went to this center for girls (I think it was kinda like a foster home) and we helped them with some gardening that needed doing! All those years at the allotment paid off :P Anyway we were there for like 2 or 3 hours, doing all this gardening, there was quite a few of us there. It was really good to give some service and I really enjoyed it. Even though I was fasting that day :') Something that came to my mind was like what happened back home. When we did service (beach clean) afterward we'd come home, maybe take a shower, have lunch and then relax for the rest of the day. But as a missionary you can't, you have to go out and keep working! But it was okay.


The main reason that this week has been so long is because I'm learning how to get along with Elder Lino. He likes to be very tidy, so a little clash there between our personalities, but it's okay, nothing major. I have learned a lot of patience so far. Elder Lino is a hard worker and is very dedicated. So in reality, it's all okay, I think it prepares me for life and you need to learn to get along with everyone so yeah :)

Another one of our investigators, Brother Rams, who is a retired scientist, after watching the DVD: Families are forever, said that he wanted to get back with his ex-wife and be baptized together! Which is amazing, and it was wonderful to see that the gospel can unite families!

On Sunday we went to this appointment, now this was another miracle, because when we made the appointment, he was kinda drunk and so I doubted if he would be there. To my great surprise, he was, with his wife and their 1-year-old son! It was amazing, although the lesson was kinda difficult because they said they were born again Christians and they were not interested in being converted (didn't deter us) it was still a good experience!

So this week as well, something that has never happened before, happened. There was a tornado in  South Africa. Where? Pretoria, and it worked it's way down to Tembisa, which is maybe 10 miles or so away from us, so close! In fact, Elder Samuel was in that area, and he get's a call from the APs, they ask him that apparently there is a tornado in Tembisa, to which he replies: "yeah there is, I'm looking at it!" he he he, He is funny, anyway they told him to get out! Miraculously as well, no one died, one of our members was working in a KFC there which was destroyed by the tornado! But it turned out okay because she's been transferred to the KFC here in Mayibuye which is very convenient for her!

I met a guy who claimed that he loved Satan, and he also had 6 fingers! Which is the second person I've met with 6 fingers! The first is the baby of an investigator. With both of them there is in a sense an extra finger coming out from the joint of their thumb.

An investigator came to church by himself for the first time since I've been here, and we haven't seen him in like a month! it was amazing so I was really happy at that!

Something that I've realized I'm missing is simply the ability to casually go into a shop and just sit down and have lunch or buy some chocolate. Mission is always go go go and sometimes I kinda long to just sit down, have a drink and read the paper. But I remind myself that this is 2 years I will never get back and it is amazing.

I've learned a lot about not arguing with people because you never get anywhere like that. I can apply this in so many situations on mission, investigators, companions, leaders, people at church etc.

Love Jack