Which is a shame really because between walking and using a car I think that I enjoyed walking more, but ah well can't complain about having a car, Birch Acres was a biking area, so I'm glad that I don't have to bike, although you get more tired during the day using a car than walking because you aren't really moving around but alas!So the first day was tough! Getting into a new area, and not knowing anything, and just following Elder Chingomanje around, it is always a learning experience.
But pushing through that it taught me something new. Well I actually experienced something I already knew, that you should keep going, because tomorrow will be better. And it's true, while Tuesday wasn't so good, Wednesday was better so that has helped me get through the week.
So I'm happy to be emailing!
So the place where I am, Birch Acres, it's interesting.
It's more of a suburb than anything else, not a township at all, but that brings the problem of pretty much every house has a gate and a fence/wall.
So for the most part you are stuck outside the gate, there is one area though that is more townshipy (in the fact that the gates aren't locked) so that is the only place where we tract.
Also, most of the day, people are at work, so it's difficult to actually see people during the day, and unfortunately people cancel as well, but we keep going, we keep pushing!One of the great things this week was that we went to a potential investigators house, and luckily they were home (after getting past the security) Now there was the sister, mother, and the brother was there. Now the brother works far away (like 4 hours drive) and only comes home once a month. So we get introduced and start talking, and the brother turns to us and says "Oh by the way I hold the Aaronic priesthood" I was like okay.... wait what?!? He'd joined the church in Durban but when he moved here he'd lost contact so yeah :)
One of the funny things too is that we were trying to find this less active using the ward directory. So we go to the street and start looking for the house, and we find 61 (looking for 60) and the woman was just coming home from work, she was white, and she accept the pass along card I offered her and she was quite polite about it, so that was nice. But then we find the actual house, and we knock at the gate, and we are about to go in when this vicious bull dog comes running out barking, so we're like no way! Anyway the owner comes out, and she says she doesn't want to come near the gate because she was scared of the dog... which is hers... anyway she didn't seem 100% and she didn't like us, but it was fine we left.
Another time we were visiting this member, her daughter is in the hospital being sick. Side note here, the hospital looked like a cross between a school and a prison! And we visited her on Saturday.
Anyway, we park outside their house, and someone is trying to get out the driveway, so I reverse so I don't block them, it being dark I don't realize that I've parked right outside the neighbour's gate. So they come and ask me to move, which is no problem. But they are in a bad mood :') They really aren't happy, so I just say, no it's okay, I'll move it, but they are still angry. I didn't get annoyed and just moved the car, they were ranting over nothing, so it was funny to see that just because you get older doesn't mean you mature!
Then on Sunday I was reminded of this great quote "A wise man talks because he has something to say, a foolish man talks to say something"
For me I'm taking the challenge of the former AP, Elder Pickup, to try and read the whole of the Book of Mormon in 1 month! So I shall see how that goes!
Lastly, something funny, last week when I went to post my letters I was sending one to Sister Tait, Germany, and then one to you, England
And the woman behind the counter asked me if England was US or UK...... I almost laughed in front of her :')
The main thing that I've cooked for myself this week for dinner has been noodles and pasta with baked beans! he heh he!
I also got 13 pieces of mail at transfers!!!!!! Including 4 postcards from mum, and one from nana, and also a letter from nana from 5 MONTHS ago! Wow!So I left Rabie Ridge really strong, I hope they continue the good work. Although I'm going to miss a lot of the members there because I got really good friends with them. And I also got to go back this week yesterday for Mbali's baptism which was wonderful to see! As always the water was pretty cold!
I'm looking forward to getting the work going here in Birch Acres
For this transfer our mission president took his time to write to me in person to tell me why he was sending me here and that was a great motivation.
So that was nice to hear!
Oh and the church meets in this like office space, kinda small and almost reminds me of a chapel building that you might find in England. So it is interesting!
Hopefully this week goes well and things are okay!
Elder Jack Jorgensen
