So this week has been another awesome week! Lots of cool things have happened!!
I can't believe that I am already half way through the transfer now! Things are just speeding up so fast!! It's crazy!!
So last week Monday we had a really nice family home evening and dinner appointment with the bishop of Centurion 1!
He's a really cool guy, don't know exactly what it is that he does but we know that he travels a lot!
One of the great experiences that we had was teaching some of our investigators!!
So one of them is a lady called Franzelle, might have mentioned her before, but quite simply, she came to church by herself after being referred to the church by a member who is less active! Anyway, we'd taught her once before, and even though she works a lot, she was very willing to come to the church after work and still meet with us to have a lesson. And during the course of the lesson, we discuss the Book of Mormon, we even then give her a baptismal date on the second lesson! And she accepted, she is very excited for it! She told us that she has been to many churches before but all of them felt a bit weird and not right but when she came to our church she felt that this church was where she belonged, that this was home! So we are very happy to be teaching her!
That was on Tuesday but Tuesday was a pretty hectic day!! So what happened was that we were on our way to check up on an investigator but we get a call from some of the other missionaries telling us that they had popped a tire and then the spare tire as well! And so they needed us to go and pick them up! so we dropped what we had and went over to them. Picked them up, waited for the tow truck which took ages! But it was to be expected because we were stuck in traffic trying to get there too! Took us a while. Anyway while we were waiting we talked and just as the tow truck arrived, Elder Wilcox was ambushed by this old coloured woman!, It was pretty funny because she assumed that none of us could understand Afrikaans except both my companion and Elder Wilcox's companion, Elder Mbaki, could but we hear her and she starts saying stuff, now I only understand one word, it's a really offensive racial slur, so as soon we hear it all 3 of us excuse ourselves, apart from poor Elder Wilcox who doesn't know what it is and ends up talking to her for like 10 minutes :')
We take them back and then run to our last appointment, and THEN we were meant to go on exchanges with them that night too but we resolve, since we have to go down in the morning anyway, we would just start the exchange in the morning, which I was very happy for.
So we had an exchange on Wednesday, I was able to go with Elder Mbaki, he's from Cape Town, only been out 4 months, but is a really cool guy! He's awesome and a really good missionary! Anyway I get to go back to Rabie Ridge!!! There's only one area now that covers both, but it was awesome because I got to go back, see some of the investigators that I used to teach and introduce Elder Mbaki to them so he can continue teaching them, I also got to see the twins, and it was their Birthday!!! Which was awesome, I got to see them on their birthday, they have grown up a lot in a year. And then we also got to go see the Mokalka family (not the right spelling) They were one of my favourite families and it was quite amusing because they are very funny, in the sense that they are quite sarcastic sometimes. Anyway, we knock on the door. The teenage daughter opens the door, takes one look at me, I'm like "surprise", and she just says "Hell No" and shuts the door (shocked) :') It was hilarious, but it was great to meet with them and to see them again!
We had a great day that day, but the only problem was that the other missionaires, Elder Mpiyakhe and Wilcox, broke the cord for the GPS, and so couldn't find their way back to Rabie Ridge to switch back and got super lost!!! He he he, it ended up being 11pm by the time we got back to the flat! Ha ha , it was quite funny, I just took a nap in the flat until they got there
Apparently they had an interesting day and Elder Wilcox learned a lot. He's been on mission 3 weeks. Something I have come to learn a lot is that as you come from different backgrounds, different cultures etc. you can still like and appreciate people.
Thursday we had interviews at the mission home! They were awesome. President Leavitt is a really great guy. But the interview was quite different. It was actually very short! Just asked me about some of the missionaries in the zone. The best part though was that Sister Leavitt made cookies and they were delicious! He he! But also she handed out some of the mail and I think a couple of people got one or two pieces of mail, and then I got like 6 pieces :P he he! Letters from you and then also I have got a couple of birthday cards as well! I looked at them and was like, why do I have these? And then realised that my birthday is in like 2 weeks!
I've already opened them and they are on my desk so....
Package not here yet, but I'm sure that it is on it's way!
Not much else, apart from on Sunday we also went to go teach a Recent Converts sister, who is like 9 but understands a lot of what we teach her, it's great! Anyway, while we are there, it is actually the home of this guy, his name is Mike Mayfield. He's originally from America, like Carolina or something, moved here like 10 years ago, has a wife, (The recent convert) etc. But he's a really cool guy, super nice. Anyway, he is getting baptised on Saturday!! So we are very excited for that
The only other big thing was that we had our training from Elder Rasband! It was awesome! And well worth the sacrifice! It was a mission wide activity so it was great to be able to see all the other missionaries there, ex-companions etc. But the training itself, it was kinda short, only about 90 minutes, but it was amazing. He's a really inspired guy and I learned a lot from what he said! It was amazing. We all got to shake his hand. The funniest thing though was when President Leavitt got up to say a few remarks, before Elder Rasband came, he commented that we were very happy to have the missionaries from the MTC there, but also that the missionaries from our mission were very happy to have some female missionaries there as well! (There were 4 of them). All of us roared with laughter!! Simply because we didn't expect him to say something like that! It was hilarious!
But the training was great!
The other thing as well though was that we had to have an additional MLC meeting (all the zone leaders and the assistants) to discuss and talk about how to integrate Social Media more into missionary work here! So we are all now on different councils to determine the details of how to do it best! So looking forward to that and then we all went out for dinner together for nice restaurant burgers, which was awesome!
But that's about it!!
Love you lots!!
Jack
First of all! It was awesome to see you all!
This probably was the best Skype that I have ever done!! It was really nice, it was great to see everyone, to have granddad, Carol and Becky all to join in the call was great too, I loved it!
It's also my last one!!! AHhh he he he. So only 6 more months!
I think it will go fast and slow
Fast because everybody says it will and I think that it will, I'll be on the airplane before I know it
But also slow because I know that it is my last 6 months so I am going to be thinking about it kinda a bit.
Really the only next major event before I come home is my birthday, and that is only in a couple of weeks!
So this week was pretty interesting to say the least!
One of the first things was that we were able to go to the Robbins on Monday and catch up with them! It was awesome! I loved it a lot!! They are still really awesome!
The other thing that night though was when we went to this investigators. They are a young couple called Molefe and Neo. They are really sweet and actually really legit investigators. We went in there with nothing really planned, and so when they asked what it was that he had prepared for them we simply told them that we didn't have anything planned, and we just wanted to have a discussion with them.
So we did, and as it turns out that he had a really interesting concern, and something that we could really address! He had a question over ancestors and how they fit in with the gospel so we left them with a plan of Salvation pamphlet and we are going to go from there! But it was really awesome how we actually had a discussion with him rather than us just going in and just teaching and not really talking to him or resolving his concern. So that was a really powerful lesson.
Tuesday we went on exchanges!! But we got back really late from our last appointment, so we didn't get to the Hospital View flat until like 9/9:30pm at night!! Luckily I was staying there so I got to go to bed real soon, so that was really nice!
And then the day, I was in Hospital View with Elder Sousa. He is from Brazil and is a really awesome guy! He's super nice and a really cool guy. SO we had a great day in Hospital View, found a couple of people and talked to a lot of people as well.
One of the best moments was when we were about to get in the car and we were just talking about how it is funny when people look at you, they seem unhappy but as soon as you start talking to them they are much nicer. Well just as we are having this conversation, this guy walks past with a kinda unhappy face. So I start to talk to him and offer a pass along card. Well he brightens up completely and actually makes an appointment with Elder Sousa to find out more about the church! So it was proof right in front of us.
I had to do 2 baptismal interviews that day both went really well and both of them passed. I was going to do 3 but the funny thing was that one of the kids, she'd told the missionaries that she was 9. But when I ask her, turns out that she is only 8! he he he, the mother is a recent convert. She is actually turning 9 in a month or so. So they like to say that they are 9 when you ask them when in reality their birthday isn't for another couple of months!
On Thursday we were at the chapel for correlation with our ward mission leader and we had arranged for an investigator to meet us at the chapel for a lesson. Her name is Franzelle, and she has already been to church twice. She was actually referred to the church by a member. She was having questions about religion so the member told her to go to Mormon.org and request a Book of Mormon, so she came to church a couple of times. And on Thursday we taught her for the first time.
Anyway, we taught her the whole of the Restoration in one lesson, and by the end of the lesson, she completely understood and actually wanted to be baptized! So we are looking forward to putting her on date sometime soon, possibly even tomorrow!
Friday was an interesting day! We had to go to the Hospital in Roodeport so that Elder Mpiyakhe could have his wisdom tooth removed. It was really interesting though because it only took like 10 minutes! We spent more time waiting than it actually took to remove it! Apparently the doctor just grabbed it with the pliers and just pulled!
So we were out of there pretty quick.
The funniest thing though was that he is on these strong painkillers and they just get him out of it for the whole time!! It's been quite amusing!!
Saturday was cold and rainy but we got to have dinner with the bishop! They made soup, which was nice but also we got to play a couple of games with them which was really nice!
Then Sunday was Sunday, really really cold like the coldest it has ever been while I've been here in South Africa!
Missionary work here is interesting. WE can do it but it's more successful together with the members.
That's about it for my week
I love you lots
Jack
So this week has been awesome!!
A new area, new companion and new responsibilities!!! But it has all been amazing!!
First things first, my new area!!
Centurion!! This is the third time I have been in this Zone/Stake and so it was quite funny on Sunday when we go to church and there are a couple of people there that I recognize from the time that they came to the wards I was in on Stake Assignments, or from when we went there for Stake Conference. So it was really nice, but a lot of the other members are really sweet people, very friendly and inviting, so I felt very at home on Sunday
Also one of the greatest things about Sunday is that we get to church, and we get there just as they are about to start, and I spot the Robbins in the seats!! (they moved to Centurion a month ago) And so I walked over to sit next to them, and Sidney turned around and saw me, and the shock and surprise on his face was just so beautiful! They were very happy to see me and they invited us around for family home evening today before the end of church! So I am very excited to go and see them.
The area Centurion is a town! Lots of gates and fences, but luckily the members here are great when it comes to missionary work. They provide us with people to teach and a lot of the people that we teach are part member families that have recently returned to activity in the church.
The other thing is that part of the area includes quite a large township, so we work there during the day, and then go to the town in the evening when everybody gets home from work!
Oh and we are getting fed every night this week which is awesome!
Downside, since we cover 2 wards we get 5 hours of church, starting at 8am!!!
The Zone Leader stuff is actually going really well. Thankfully my companion, Elder Mpiyakhe, is a really great guy. He has been training me really well when it comes to what it is that we need to do. And it isn't all that difficult just a little harder work and more things to do. Attended the mission leadership council on Thursday which was pretty interesting. And reporting to the APs on Monday morning was okay but thankfully it was Elder Benson, my trainer, and so it was pretty chilled. Me and him are really good friends, we've both grown up quite a bit so we are good :P
Elder Mpiyakhe is from South Africa, East London in the Eastern Cape. He speaks Xhosa, and has said that he would teach me Xhosa! If I make him pancakes so..... he he
But he is a really awesome guy! I love him a lot, he goes home this transfer, in only 5 weeks!! But he is still holding out strong until the end
We stay with one of the bishops here, in a converted summer house or something. It is really nice cosy flat. The bishop is a personal trainer, and so every morning at 6am he gets us out and trains us in his like own personal gym, basically just lots of weights. It's tough, but I kinda enjoy it! Getting stronger!
This week has been awesome, meeting lots of new people and teaching them. Put 2 people on date to be baptized and had loads of people come to church this week so it was awesome!!!
Got letters this week from people and also one from someone who wrote for the first time. I like surprises like that.
Love Jack
This week has been a tough and trying week. Or as you would say back home "an interesting week".
Had things break this week which was super annoying and some issues during "flat reviews" with some of the others who overreacted over small things but it's all part of learning and getting used to leadership.
Oh also on Tuesday we found out that the niece of one of the members (Larry) who is actually a member was killed in a car crash last Monday!! They had a memorial service this week for her, even though they aren't getting the body until this week.
The point of this was that they used the chapel for the service. Even though her and her mother had been less active for ages!
But this highlighted one of the things that I love most about the church, that it doesn't matter where you go, or what you do, the church is always there for you to help!
Anyway, we were invited to the service, since the first counselor in the bishopric was conducting and he wanted us there. He actually did an awesome job of it all and it was really nice.
We were worried that some people wouldn't make it, but the Chapel was FULL like every seat was filled!!! But like almost all of them were not members he he he. But it was really really nice service, and I played the music (well the keyboard did) even though only like 4 people (the only members there) sung he he he.
So transfers!! Yeah after only 6 weeks I am leaving Alberton! I am actually really sad because we had just started building a strong relationship with the members and things were starting to really move! I love the people here, but alas.
So I am moving back to Centurion!!! The same Zone as Rabie Ridge and Birch Acres (my 2nd and 3rd areas), but I am going to Centurion itself.
Oh and I'm going to be a Zone Leader.
And my trainer Elder Benson is going to be an AP! Me and him are getting on really well so it will be great!!
On Saturday we helped some members move house!!
It was the Mukanga's. They are a really cool family, they feed us twice a week and are just such great people!!! Anyway, we were scheduled to go and help them move at 5 (that memorial service was at 3 till 4) but we get a call at like 1pm asking us to come and help them! So we go over, and with the exception of the memorial service, we were there until 9pm!! We were SO TIRED!!!! ha ha
Thankfully they were only moving 5 minutes down the road and had already moved some of their stuff, so just the big furniture to pack into a bakkie (4x4 truck) and unload and set up in their home.
They were very grateful for our help and we felt good about it!
It was sad to say goodbye to everyone but time to move
Me and Elder Brumpton are cool now, we are all good. Often I've seen him do things that I did at the start of my mission. Amazing how you learn so much the longer you do this.
I feel like the Lord has taught me a lot this week and I have grown a lot too! Lots to learn and something that I have found is that if you want to change fast, it is hard, and I have found new meanings to the phrase: a broken heart.
But I'm happy. I had a great spiritual experience on Sunday, when we were partaking of the sacrament, I got a great feeling of comfort and a beautiful feeling of the Spirit. That reassured me.
Have a wonderful week
Jack
Funny thing was that one of the Elders has a church manual called: Preparing for Eternal marriage, and so I borrowed that for a bit of bedtime reading, and it was quite interesting, a lot of lessons that didn't just apply to marriage but to life in general.
I got a bit scared this week as realised that I only have 5 transfers left and have been out for 17 months!!! I'm officially old on mission!! it is kinda scary. And when I Skype you I will have exactly 6 months left!!!
So this week kicked off with our Zone Conference on Tuesday! It was really good, I was very happy to be able to see some of my old companions, Elder Hosmer and Elder Andrews! I mainly just talked with Elder Hosmer a lot throughout the whole of the day. We had a lot of fun together and also we worked really hard together so that was awesome!! I loved it
Yeah Zone Conference was really really good! It was great to receive some instruction from President Leavitt and to be there with all the other missionaries. It was here that I also got my new scriptures!
The rest of the day was pretty good, had to wait for others to have follow up interview with the Mission President and after we really only visited one family :3 and had dinner there.
One of the things that was changed in Zone Conference was that they are no longer having Junior or Senior Companions. Now both missionaries are equal together in their responsibility of carrying out the work in the area. I think this will be pretty good.
One of the things that I have really noticed and one of the things that I think that the Lord is trying to teach me is that I just need to be more humble.
On Thursday we went to Broken Wings. It is the center for disabled adults, mainly mental disabilities. The people there are really nice, and I love going there and giving a couple hours of service every week! It's quite funny because one of the carers there (there's like 20 people there, it's more like a day care) she is old, and she often tries to suggest that we should marry her granddaughters, which is very funny! he he
Anyway,. this time we were there and I was with a guy called Connor. Connor can't communicate properly and is very basic but i love him.
Anyway at one point he picked up this toy car of Lightning McQueen (from the movie Cars) and asked me to draw him a picture of it, so using crayons I did! And it actually turned out really good, so I gave it to him, and I felt pretty good afterwards, it is so nice to serve them there!
Had 4 investigators come to church! And 3 of them were for the first time! One of them is a woman who tried to come last week for Easter, but came late, but she came this week! So we are seeing her tomorrow and are hopefully going to teach her! From what I gathered on Sunday she is struggling a lot, and amazingly the Relief Society lived up to their name and have made a plan to give her some relief! Which is a really nice thing to see happen!
One of the things that I learned this week was that one of the reasons the early missionaries were so successful, like Wilfred Woodruff, Parley P Pratt etc, was that they had to go without purse or script, and that requires A LOT of Faith!!! So that was interesting to learn.
I love you all and hope you have a great week!!
Love Jack
I'll be honest, I really miss the Easters from back home, next to Christmas, they were the best times of the year, everyone getting together and having a little Easter Party, although if you remember, Easter was the time when I had my crash! he he he, I still remember that, and if I could guess, you do too!
Easter here is interesting, most people go to church Friday to Sunday, like they are crazy about it!
We had 2 investigators at church! In fact one of them is the fiance of a less active who is returning to church. So we are going to meet and teach them this week which we are excited for.
We also found this really powerful guy, his name is Freddy. So we were just walking along, and all of a sudden this guy calls to us. I go over and he wants a message about Jesus, so this is pretty common so I sit down and start teaching him the restoration. We go back the next day and there he is. He tells us that he doesn't have a Bible, but he does have another book, and then pulls out a Book of Mormon. We just stare at it for a couple of seconds in complete shock! It was amazing!! So we taught him a little, and he already wants to come to church!!
I taught a lesson through a gate, and also scheduled an appointment over a high wall. he he, people here live in fear and don't open their gates after dark :/
Had exchanges this week, which was pretty good. The Elder I went with is a cool guy, it just takes a little while to get him to open up.
They have changed policy and have cancelled all Zone meetings forever. I found this out Thursday night and so had to prepare an emergency district meeting.
I also had to teach the Valiant class on Sunday, which actually didn't go so bad! It was a bit of a surprise, Sacrament finishes and one of the Primary teachers comes up to me and asks me to teach the class. I have no idea what to do, so I just go in and talk about Easter and the atonement.... it went well! They weren't too disruptive and were pretty nice about it! I got through at least!
Borrowed a keyboard from one of the Elders, so I can practice because they want to start a Priesthood choir and the person who was assigned came up to me after and asked me to help with it :')
The district is awesome, we did some really nice call ins, which I facilitated by playing a game of chess with each of them first! He he, also the Zone Leaders were super chilled, Elder Wardle, who I know is just awesome.
The baptism of Vuyo from my last area was this week. I asked for permission to go but It was denied. It was really good though apparently. I actually had a funny experience when I was talking to the mission president when my comp saw him on Friday. So I had called Elder Benson, who is still in that area and he'd told me they were having an Easter Fireside and that President Leavitt was going to attend. So while we are there I wish him well and to enjoy the fireside. He says thank you, and then turns back and asks "how do you know about that?" he he, it was very amusing. But I'm so glad that Vuyo got baptized, hopefully I'll be able to see them before I go home.
That was about it for my week!
I love you!!
Jack
So first off this week hasn't been as effective as we could have made it, we were quite tired this week and we've been kinda ill this week too, both me and Elder Brumpton, so it hasn't been the most effective week, but we are pumped up for a better week this week!
All in all the week has been pretty good! We have found 9 new people to teach this week!
one of them, we were looking for an investigator, and she wasn't there, so we turn to leave and the guy that we talked to calls to us, so we go back, sit down with him and end up teaching him a lesson! Turns out that he helped to renovate the Bedforview Chapel! And he'd met the missionaries before but nothing had happened! So it was amazing to meet him! We shall see where it goes with him!
The other was this family! So I talked to this guy on the street, just as we were going to the car, after an investigator wasn't home. I walked all the way to the end of the street until I finally got his number, address and an appointment!
I didn't think much of it, and my companion said that he thought he wasn't too interested, but I thought that we could get something out of it. Anyway, we go to the area and we were struggling to find the house, so we decide to try and go to one of our other appointments and come back in about 30 minutes. So when we come back, we get out and walk around a bit. Then this lady calls to us, so we go over and she invites us in! Turns out it was the house that we were looking for. And they had been expecting us!! It was amazing! It is a mother with 3 daughters, and her boyfriend (her husband passed away a couple of years ago) They are so nice and kind! They loved it when I spoke my limited Zulu to them. And they ended up giving my companion a South African name.
So my name that I was given back in Potchefstroom is Sizwe. (Sea s way), which means "the nation" and they gave my companion the name: "Lungile" (lun gi lay) which means; "Innocent one"
So it was a lot of fun!
One of the members, her name is Heather Wood. She is a returned less active that has a lot of health problems. We visit her every week but this week I took my photo album to show her, she really enjoyed it, and she told me to tell you that I have a very nice family! And that I should be very grateful for them!
Something else as well was when I got one of the members in Glen Ridge to sign my journal, she wrote in it that I need to thank you from her for raising me and allowing me to come to South Africa. She is grateful for you being my parents.
I remembered that just now :3 She was very nice to us and a wonderful family!
In other news, you may have heard that there have been some protests about the President of this country, Jacob Zuma. There were some protests in London I heard.
For us there was a couple of protesters, but for the most part we were okay, we only saw them once and that was in the richer part of town.
But apparently, in Central Jo'Burg it was very bad! There was a massive crowd and apparently if you didn't join them on their march they beat you up! Anyway it's all up in the air but we as missionaries don't really pay much attention to it!
We managed to watch Conference this week! All 10 hours of it!
The hardest part was on Sunday when we watched (with breaks in between) from 8am till 3pm
By the end I felt like it was night time.
But all in all it was really good! I enjoyed it, got a lot out and had a few questions answered! So it was really really nice!
I liked a lot of the talks from the Seventy, they were very good talks. The apostles didn't speak much and Dieter F Uchtdorf didn't mention planes once!!! I was very sad! he he.
I felt like it focused on the Godhead, the Plan of Salvation and Charity. Well at least for me, they were the areas that were emphasised!
I love my mission and it is going really well! One of the things that I've learned on my mission is that it is just easier to let things go. Some things don't matter so no point worrying about them.
Love Jack
We haven't watched the General Conference yet.
Conference... haven't watched it yet. The internet here isn't the best, and so what they have decided to do is to download it, and then watch it next week.
Looking forward to it though, think it is going to be good!
This week has been really warm! Like hot! It has been interesting!
Also realised that they must have struggled here before I got here with fewer people to teach but thankfully we seem to have changed that.
It's also been quite a tough week! We had 2 people come to church! A member brought her aunt and her niece! So that was very exciting!
Progress here is slow slow (I am used to faster) but we are getting there, people are starting to come "through the cracks"!
A lot of the times when we go and see people we have set appointments with often gets us to talk to other people there who we then set appointments with.
We saw some fruit too, one of the members, his name is Larry. We were helping to cut down a stump for the family that lives next to him, and last week we had gone in, blessed the grandma and gave the family a Book of Mormon. When we went by on Saturday to help more with the tree stump, the lady who we gave the Book of Mormon to comes up and asks us when we can visit because she has some questions about the Book of Mormon!
If these people get baptized it will be a miracle, but they do seem genuinely interested in it! Which is amazing!
We also had interviews with the mission president this week!
President Leavitt is a really cool guy, a very nice and humble guy, it was nice to sit and kinda talk about myself to him and get to know him a little more. So we shall see what happens. His dad was the mission president in the England Leeds Mission just before my dad served there so we had a chat about that too. Before doing this he was the CEO of a big company back in USA.
I still miss my last area but I found out that Elder Andrews is being ET'd out of the area because he can't bike because of a sore leg and he almost crashed his bike 3 times!
We had a fireside this week too at church. It was all about the Book of Mormon. The fireside was okay and turnout was ok but not amazing. It just made me realize, that one of the reasons that so many people came to the fireside in Glen Ridge was the effort that we put in to try and make it successful.
I looked on the Dunn's blog and under one of the posts, there is a picture of me and Sister Dunn basically said that I helped make it successful which made me happy.
Had a funny experience this morning, woke up early, and was lying there, and had a distinct impression to fast (since I missed it yesterday) thought to myself I would do it on Tuesday, but the feeling was so strong that I am doing it today, not sure why but I am :)
Love you lots
Jack
So a very interesting week this week that has resulted in one tired missionary and one tried missionary! He he, but I'm hanging in there!
In terms of everything, I'm fit, I'm well, things have actually gone pretty good this week, I'm just adjusting!
So a new area and a new companion. So Alberton is a great place. There seems to be a lot of potential for success, we just had to dig in and find the people that have been prepared! It is a town, which is a new thing for me because all of my previous areas have been townships! So it is something new for me.
But I think things will go well here. We just have to work on trying to get the members involved and also in finding some more people to teach! When I first came here there was only like 5 people!
This week we managed to find 2 families (4 each) and a couple of individuals! So all together we found like 10 people new.
This week I really hope we can step it up and find lots more people to teach, try and plan some good finding activities so I'm looking forward to that!
Elder Brumpton is from near London, just on the outskirts. He's like 22, and has been out for like 3 months, this is his 3rd transfer.
He is a solid guy. Friendly guy and is a really great missionary! Big desire to go out and work.
Although it has taken me some time to adjust! He's now my 10th companion.
It's been an interesting week, but I really only came to that realisation today.
Funny story. So we were sitting in Spur, it is this nice burger restaurant. Anyway, on Mondays there is a special where it is buy one get one free on the burgers. So what we normally do is that (there were 4 of us) we pay for 2, get 2 free, and split the cost 4 ways.
Now I assumed that this is what was happening, so I order, only to find out that 2 of the Elders don't have any money... so its a little mixed up and looks like I am paying for more. Feeling a bit annoyed but I don't say anything.
But then, half way through the meal, they guy on the table next to us gets up, and tells us that he is going to buy our meal for us!
I'm just like what??
The guy was having a bad day and wanted things to change and so he decided to buy us our meal.
I was very touched and was a very nice experience.
The area, Alberton is interesting. There is this one place called South Hills, that is pretty good, but apart from that there isn't anything else really to do. Most of the other places have big gates and big dogs.
Had an interesting appointment with someone this week.
So he is a referral and actually came to church last week (the week I wasn't here)
So we go to teach him for the first time and it was a little strange. Apparently he is Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian all at the same time.
And we got into a little discussion, he said that he couldn't accept a Book of Mormon until he got permission from his church leaders from all 3 churches.... so we were a bit confused, eventually I got him to commit to pray and ask god for permission because really, God is the only person you need permission from. So we did.
The other miracle that came was we were helping a member cut up a tree stump for his neighbour. And they invite us in for some juice, and they are like deep into this one church, the main woman in the house is going to like bible college. So we resolve to give them a Book of Mormon, but not sure how it was going to go.
Well we did and it turns out that they were so excited to have it! And they were really willing to read it! Which to be honest surprised me quite a bit! So we are going there in a couple of days to teach them more!
So my 10th companion, 5th area. I'm racking it all up!
Have a good week.
Jack
Had a good week this week! Things are awesome.
Well first thing first, I'm getting transferred!! Again only 1 transfer with my companion, and also I'm leaving Soweto!! :( I have loved Soweto. It is a great place and a fantastic place to do missionary work! There are so many great people here, especially the people that we teach, and when I got the call I was actually kinda sad to find out I was going. But I have to move on!
I'm going to be a District leader in a town called Alberton. It will be my first white area!! And I'm going to be with a missionary called Elder Brumpton who is from England too. I don't know him too well, but I heard he likes to exercise a lot. Anyway I'm going to be in the same Zone as Elder Hosmer! Which will be nice!
One of the great miracles was when we were trying to meet up again with this former investigator and we go to where he says he'll be, and he isn't there. This is in one of the outlying areas called Luftreng. On the way to Krugersdorp.
Anyway we go and his friend says that he isn't there, so we go to walk back to the car and we pause at the gate to the compound. So we turn to the car but then turn back to go and tract at a house that I saw, at that moment the guy's friend comes out and asks us what it was we were doing.
So we explain and he's like I wanna learn!
So we've taught him twice so far and he seems interested!
Another one was we went to this mining community called Slovoville.
Anyway we contact this one guy and set an appointment.
So we are driving round, can't find the house. We start to go back and I make one last turn, lo and behold there is the house and he was home! It was awesome
My last Sunday at church was quite interesting. I scheduled 4 appointments to go and see members to take a picture and to get them to sign my journal. But this lead to an interesting experience. We went to go to our last appointment and I had a subtle impression to turn the car around and go and visit one of the investigators we had that lived near by. I almost didn't do it, but decided to go.
As it turns out they had been waiting for us and talking about us! It is this really powerful father led family!
For the past 2 weeks they hadn't been around because the father's dad had died. But they were back that week and had been waiting for us! It was awesome and we got to set another appointment! It is amazing to see the little things that Heavenly Father does for us in our lives.
Something that I have been trying out this week is to be really plain with people. Not in a nasty way, but in a way that they won't fail to understand, which is just so terribly vital in missionary work :')
This week as well we had the great oppotunity to work with some of the missionaries from the MTC. WE got an Elder Rueben from Fiji! We taught a lesson with him and it was really powerful! He's a great missionary and will be fantastic.
It was a little amusing I must say to see their greenie fire!
I figured that greenie fire is simply a love of Jesus Christ!
I love my mission and it is going awesome!
I get to go to the temple this week because of the transfers as well!
One of our investigators, Vuyo. She is 18 and has completeled changed her life around because of the gospel. And it is great to see those changes!
Talk more about her next week
So that was my week!
Love you so much
Jack
So this week was stressful but it was still a good week!
Most of this week was devoted to preparing for the Fireside! It finally came!
Sunday at 4pm, President Dunn came and gave his Fireside talk on "Bears and Prayers"
It turned out to be amazing! The talk was excellent, it was very funny and lived up to everything that I wanted it to be! It was very amusing and a wonderful story that really builds faith!
And the turn out was amazing! Even though 10 minutes before it wasn't very good, eventually the chapel was full! Like Full!! There wasn't a spare seat! It was an amazing turnout! I was so happy that so many people came and that it was a success.
Although this week has tested my stress levels and built my faith a lot! he he.
There were many situations where my faith was tested and a lot of miracles.
One of them was on Sunday, when we went to a lunch appointment, they said that they were dishing up, well as it turns out it wasn't quite ready, and so we are waiting (Tangled was on which was nice ;) ) But thankfully they weren't too slow and we managed to eat and get to the chapel by 3:40pm, just 10 minutes after President Dunn arrived, but much to my relief, there were already members of the Ward there helping to set up
We ended up handing out close to 600 leaflets I think, I'm not sure of the exact number but it was something like that. I spent so much time cutting out those leaflets, but it was only at the end I found a very effective method, although our flat didn't look the best with all that paper strewn everywhere.
One of the most interesting points was when I was praying that it would be a success and the answer that I received was that it would be a success whether people came or not because it wasn't about the number of people that came, but that what people would gain from the experience.
Anyway, the fireside was really amazing and it was a wonderful time! I was so happy!
This week was also interviews with the mission president! So we got to go to the mission home on Wednesday and have interviews with President Dunn. It was a great time and it was nice to sit down with him and talk a little. In fact, this was his last ever interviews! Which was sad as he is going home in just 1 more week! I am really going to miss President Dunn! He is a great guy and I really really like him! He was an awesome mission President! Although I am looking forward to the new mission president and see what he is like!
The other thing that happened this week was that we were able to go to the temple!
It was an amazing opportunity to go down and visit the temple again! The peace and the time we can take to just relax from the things of the world is such a blessing! It was a great time and I felt so good being there! I remember all the times that we have gone to the temple especially as a family and on youth temple trips! It's a great privilege to be so close! I had a great time and it was awesome!
One funny thing that happened was that they had told everyone to be there by 7am and to be seated by 8am. Well turns out that we were going in for the 9am session! So we were there on time, and in fact we were the only missionaries there on time, just our district! So we decided to do some extra work inside with the time we had while we waited!
I also gave a 20-minute talk at church. The topic was about caring for others. It was very good and it turned out well, I was very pleased with it, I was quite bold with the members, but I'm used to that now. The funniest part of sacrament was actually one of the sisters' talk. She said "when was the last time we invited the missionaries for dinner without being asked" So I turn to her after sacrament meeting is finished and ask her when we are coming over? he he he, it was very funny and her reaction was a little surprised, but it worked! And we got a dinner appointment for Friday! So she is practising what she preaches!
Transfers are next week so we will be getting the news this week! We shall see what happens!!
That's it for my week!
Jack
So first thing was that we went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders on Monday to Tuesday.
It was a really great exchange, I went with Elder Hlope to Kagiso (their area) for the day.
It was actually really nice to just relax and not have to worry about who to see or what to do, just follow Elder Hlope's directions and teach the lessons! IT was actually a really powerful exchange and I loved it. The only thing that wasn't so great was that I had to be in a different flat, which I didn't really like. I like being in my own flat with my own things, but I got through, and it was quite nice to just have a bit of a change. I think we might do some exchanges either this week or next week within the district, mainly because this coming week is gonna be quite busy!
So this week coming up we have interviews on Wednesday with the mission president. On Friday it is our temple trip, which we are really looking forward to. And then on Sunday, we are having a fireside. President Dunn is coming down to do a fireside on how he was attacked by a bear!
So this fireside is the main thing that has been on my mind this week!
So they've been announcing it in sacrament meeting, but apart from that they haven't really done much to promote it. So what I decided to do is we decided to go and make some leaflets. So on Wednesday, we managed to convince one of the bishoprics to let us use the computer in the chapel.
So we were only there for 2 hours and by the ended I had an ok leaflet, but still wasn't happy with it.
So we decided to go back the next day, and this time I got the keys from the Ward Clerk, who we are good friends with and he happily let us stay by ourselves in the chapel.
Anyway long story short I got very frustrated at several points, and by the end my eyes were sore! Something that hasn't happened for a while, but I got it done
Then we ran into another problem turned miracle.
So we wanted to print some out, and I was thinking along the lines of 200-300 copies (4 per page so giving us like 1000)
But the printer at the chapel decided to run out of ink....
So we were searching all around for a printer shop, and eventually, I find one on Saturday night, willing to give me 200 copies for R300,
the only problem is that I had the wrong version saved on my USB!!!
I was going crazy, he said to come back tomorrow (Sunday)
So I thought about it and finally resolved not to break the Sabbath but just let it run its course.
Well as it turns out they found a new toner for the printer! And one of the less active's mother said she would print some out for us.
Miracles still happen!!
Other than that not much else has happened this week, to be honest! Put a couple of people on date and found a powerful Father lead family.
So on Wednesday we go to this investigators house, he wasn't there, so we decide to knock on his neighbour's door, we knock on the door and he decides to let us in, without even explaining who we are or what it is we are doing!! It was amazing, he accepted the restoration and a Book of Mormon and said he would read it!
Things are going well! I'm still moving on.
They've changed the Key indicators so we no longer report the number of lessons we had during the week. Obviously, it frees us up for service and things like that.
Loving my mission as always! But love you all too!
Love Jack!!
One of the big things this week is that we had 2 days of pretty much constant rain, although it varied in intensity, it was overcast for 3 days straight with no view of the blue sky! Something that is pretty rare here!
We think it is the outskirts of a Hurricane called Dineo, which hit Mozambique this week! The papers have all been complaining that it is going to hit ZA but nothing yet, they always hype it up :') The lack of heat was nice, and I was almost tempted to wear my jumper! But not yet! It is still only February, but thinking about it, this is going to be my last winter in South Africa which is kinda a scary thought! But still, it will be nice, because as a missionary, having to worry about jumpers and coats and things like that only add to the list of things that we have to think about, and I don't like it because it disrupts my usual 'wear the same thing everyday' schedule. Actually, it is something that I rather like, wearing the same thing every day, one less thing to worry about.
Have to tell you about this one person.
So we were waiting on the side of the road for this referral to come and meet us, and while we were waiting we decided to hand out a couple of pass along cards. And as we are doing this woman walks up to us and asks us what we are doing. SO we explain, take her details and set an appointment for a couple of hours later.
Now naturally we end up being late (curse of a car ;) ) by about 30 minutes, and she's not there, so we move on. Well on Tuesday we had a little free time so we decide to go and try and check on her, so when we knock on the door we here "Kena" which means 'come in'. So as we walk through the door she sees us and gets really excited! She is very happy to see us, she goes out and comes back with her two neighbors! And we teach them and then go back the NEXT DAY. And teach and they are just so excited about it!
Turns out, they tell us, that a few of them had been praying to know if they were on the right path and that God was happy with them. And then on the day that we contacted the woman, turns out that she had been driving in her car and pulled over. When she tried to start her car it wouldn't start. So she got out and came over to talk to us when she went back to her car it started working again! Pretty much a miracle!.
Had another interesting encounter. So we went to one of our most promising investigator's house, she is doing really well. But this time she brought 2 of her friends along with her. So we decided to give both of them Book of Mormons and then just reteach the Book of Mormon for them.
This turned out to be very beneficial, because the original investigator, we invited her to share her thoughts and understanding of the Book of Mormon, turns out that she didn't have everything too on point :') In the fact that she said that "anyone could write their own Book of Mormon" he he, so to try and avoid this disaster we kindly but firmly pulled her back to what was correct :')
The companionship and the district are all going well, not much is changing, except we had an awkward appointment where my companion was 'interrogated' by this member over the car crash, it was really awkward and kinda bad, but it was alright
Oh we also had Zone meeting this week which was pretty nice, got to see all the Elders and have a little laugh. Next week we are going to 'The Cradle of Mankind" which is going to be exciting, I'll tell you all about it.
The Elders Quorum President had an interesting tactic to overcome his transport problems... go teaching with the missionaries at 5, have them drop him off at 6 for the appointment, go teaching with them at 7 so they can drop him off at home :') he he, it was very clever!
I like that video clip with the long names. Tthe longest name we have here is a guy from Madagascar (they have long names) Randrianranasana he he
, try say that!
I love you all and hope that all is well
Love Jack
So a very busy week this week and so much has happened! Have to try and remember it all!
The first thing, which is quite funny, is that there were two football teams, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates! SO they were having a match (we weren't watching we've just been told about it from members ;) ) Anyway, Pirates are one of the Oldest and lots of supporters, well Sundowns (my team ;) ) beat them 6-0 but what happened is that the fans at the match started ripping up the TV cables on the fifth goal, and then at the 6th goal they invaded the pitch and had a big fight! :') he he, crazy people here. There are 2 things that people take religiously here: Music and Football!
Anyway, on Tuesday we had to take one of th
e bikes from Pimville to the office because Elder Ahome'e had completely destroyed it! Like the chain was broke beyond all repair, turns out that he got a brand new bike!
It was Valentine's day too, although we didn't do anything, just lots of people together as couples and the shops had all gone crazy with their underwear sales :')
Although that day was Elder Ahome'e's birthday, funnily enough, his middle name is Valentine!
The area is actually improving, the new companionship is really powerful, and just the whole district is on fire! Hopefully, we are going to have some baptisms flowing through soon!
Was able to go on exchanges with Elder Ahome'e this week! He is from Tonga, turned 21 this week, and he is such a funny guy! Been on his mission for like 19 months, but is hilarious, and is a super powerful missionary! I loved working with him! I had him teach district meeting!
ON Wednesday was our missionary activity!
We went to the Walter Sisulu BWednesday Gardens. Watched the worldwide missionary training, had a couple of speakers talk to us and some instruction. But one of the best things was that we had a presentation from Lee den Hond, who isn't a member of the Church, but she has summited Mount Everest! So she gave a presentation on that and about her experience! It was amazing and a really great motivational speaker. A lot of us wanted to climb Everest by the end! Although her story was crazy and some of the pictures were insane!
All in all the mission activity was really great, I got to see a load of my old companions which was really nice, including Elder Samuel who goes home soon.
What also feels good is when you are able to help other missionaries with challenges they are facing with other people. I let them talk to me and make sure to listen and then a few simple suggestions will come to my mind and seeing them take it is really good.
Talking about patriarchal blessings, I had a nice surprise at church when I found out that one of the less actives who we are reactivating was in an interview with the bishop for her patriarchal blessing! he he! (We'd talked about it with her a couple of weeks ago ;) ) Anyway I was in with the ward clerk in his office, me and him are besties, and the bishiop asks for the form.
Pretty much all there is! Going on exchanges with my "father" this week so that will be exciting! he he.
love you lots!
Jack
Apparently they had an interesting day and Elder Wilcox learned a lot. He's been on mission 3 weeks. Something I have come to learn a lot is that as you come from different backgrounds, different cultures etc. you can still like and appreciate people.
