Kids throwing bricks at our car while driving 80 mph

My week has been pretty eventful!

So we are driving down the motorway at night, going home for the night, and on this one banking corner, there is this group of kids on the side, with a few bricks in the middle of the road. They were throwing the bricks at passing cars (we're going like 80km/h)! Luckily we don't get hit, but the other guy got nailed just beneath their window! Scary

So we did have some more rain! Luckily we didn't get super rained on again which was nice! We managed to dodge inside... no wait I lie! On Wednesday we went to a part member family and the heavens had opened, it was raining really really hard! So we are biking through but the roads are flooded, so what happened was that because the tires push the water out to the side, every time our feet came down with the pedals they went straight into the stream of water! Our feet got completely soaked! 
That day it was also Elder Nielsen's birthday! So we all came over to our flat for cake, but I went straight in the warm shower and ended up just collapsing into bed!

I made a cake for Elder Nielsen! But I had to get creative! So I made 2 victoria sponges, jam in the middle and icing on the top, the icing was okay but not great, and I had nothing for the top, so I used syrup to decorate the top of the cake :D It worked out pretty well!

For his birthday celebration on Monday we simply just bought 4 large pizza's from Domino's and played pool at the chapel! It was actually pretty cool!

Then Wednesday was transfer news! I am going to be a District Leader in this new area. It wasn't too great having to say goodbye to everyone! The worst part that I didn't even have a Sunday to say goodbye! The only people I could see were the people that we said goodbye to on Thursday that we could go and visit. I managed to see most of the people that I wanted to and get pictures with them!
This time around getting transferred wasn't that sad! I know from Rabie Ridge I missed it a lot, but for Birch Acres I am getting used to moving to a new area.

Coming to the new area was still hard! I'm now in Glen Ridge! Which is part of Soweto! Africa's largest township! Every day we drive (yes I'm driving now!!) past the Soweto Towers (google it)
So I'm back to the deep township, and it's funny to go back! It's a change to Birch Acres, we just rock up at people's places!
The worst thing is that most of the streets don't have signs. And a lot of the houses don't have numbers! Thankfully my companion knows where everything is, but it's difficult to learn because I have a way of finding my way! The only way is to orient myself using local landmarks (like businesses) so it is tough!

My companion is Elder Ansumana. He is from Sierra Lione. He is 23 and has only been out 3 months!
It's quite interesting being with someone this young! It's funny because I see a lot of my greenie self in him! Luckily I'm a lot more patient now than I was at the start of my mission!
He is a great guy though! Powerful teacher and loves the gospel. He's pretty cool, although still adjusting!
Haven't found out so much about him but I know that back home he used to eat Monkeys and Snails! And then also when he first came here, his trainer had to teach him how to use a stove and a washing machine because they don't have those where he is! So it's been interesting. But he is pretty good! He knows English pretty well which is good!

I have to keep reminding myself that I've only been in the area 3 days and I don't need to know it perfect yet!

The trouble is that this ward is actually quite new! And new. So they've already had a couple of baptisms but not a very solid teaching pool. There is a lot of work to be done here.

The district is okay. A couple of things to sort out but they are cool guys to work with.

Something that I read this week which I really liked is in Alma 19:22-23 Heavenly Father protects his missionaries!

Getting hotter here in SA (although we did have hail the other day!) 

So that was my week!

I actually had an interesting experience that reminded me of the start of my mission but also showed me how far I've come.
We were planning yesterday for today, and I suggested that we go contacting, and Elder Ansumana said he doesn't like contacting and wanted to go tracting. So I was like yeah sure okay. It was interesting because I was completely calm and was fine with it, he was getting a bit agitated and wanted to do his thing. Looking back I realize that tracting is probably the better option so I'm okay with it but it was interesting to see the patience I've developed!

I discovered something while I was reading in Alma. Love is what gets people to listen, the Spirit is what gets people to believe. A missionary need to have both!

So now i'm in my 4th area with my 7th companion!

The funniest thing was that I had to do call ins (reports on sunday evening for the week) first with the district and then with the zone leaders.
Problem is I've never done them before! It's "learning on the job".

Love you lots!!

Jack!