Week 33: Zone Conference and whatnot - February 19, 2018

So the week went as follows:

Monday, we went up to Pretoria for zone activity, played soccer, and hakkie sack, and Stayed the night with Elder Voyles and Elder Ruben. In Mamelodi

Tuesday, Zone conference didn't start till 2, so we did some finding with 10 Elders in Mamelodi, which was funny, we all parked in one spot and just all went in different directions, and at the end gave like 40 names to Elder Fitzgerald and Elder Maziza, since it was there area. At zone Conference, we had Elder and Sister Palmer of the Area Presidency, and Elder and Sis. Soarres, of the Presidency of the Seventy. The Palmers just shared testimonies of the work, Sis Soarres talked about not giving up when it seems like things are going backwards, and Elder Soarres talked about So much stuff. The main thing I liked was him talking about how in places like here, we need to focus on building up the wards, having them split and having the newly split wards built up, by people living nearby. Basically he talked about Less-Actives, since all 3 of the wards I've been  in have at least a 60% inactivity rate, as do most of the places down here. This Branch has 400 members and an average attendance of 60, and like 10 Priesthood holders. So it is definatly a need.

Wednesday, was pretty normal, had another great lesson with Nfumoneko, and she's actually keeping commitments, which is always a nice change.

Thursday, we went to Middleburg, and mainly saw members, nothing real special to talk about with that

Friday, we had District meeting of Cleaning out an old flat that they are getting rid of. then we went to Phola, on exchanges with Elder Harms, which went well.

Saturday, we were in klarinet, and saw a few people, lots of cancelations, but had a good lesson or two Saw the Ngubane family, which is always fun.

Sunday, was just good, i don't know why, but I really enjoyed. Lunch with the Ganagkomos, and dinner with Sis. Pat, Elder Harms is getting transfered, so he came with to say bye to Pat. Getting Elder Critchfield, who i dont know, in his place, me and Elder Mbir are not changing.

Life is good, look up something called "the Jadite Cabbage" its way cool. its in some liahona, i dont know which, which is why google exists.

i need to buy more Pickles today.

kthanksbye

Mission week 32: The Whole Chicken - February 12, 2018

As of eating Literally the Ribcage and spine yesterday, I have eaten EVERY single part of the a chicken. From the Head to the Toes, litterally all of it. 

Monday was a crazy rainstrom, so we had to cancel the Hike we had planned, I got a small video of it, I'll try to send. And the power went out, pretty much everywhere except us, so every canceled, and we could go finding, since lightning actually hits people here and things were flooding, so we just stayed in a watched some church movies. 

Tuesday, was more rain, but no lightning so we had a pretty normal day, Nothing out the ordinary, we watched the Restoration movie with on of our on date investigators and she Cried, so that's a good sign. 

Wednesday, we met with a lady who came to church, and told us she wanted to be a member afterwards, and she told us that she was looking for the "New Life church" just down the road, that has a sign pointing right to our chappel, but decided "ours was better" so that was cool, put here on date. Nmfumoneko is her name. 

Thursday, we had a normal day in Middleburg and Mhluzi. 

Friday, we had Exchanges with Elder Kiiza in Kwa Guqa, which was kinda a Blast from the past. So that was a... day. 

Saturday, we had Elder Ruben the Zone leader with us in a tri-panionship. We had a lot of fun, had some good Appointments in Klarinet, good times all around. 

Sunday, the person we are baptizing didn't come because they hadn't had water for 4 days in Phola, (which is about an hour away, and they didn't tell us till the person who gives them a ride had arrived at the building and told us) So no baptism, but the new office couple, the Hales, came and attended in our branch, which they are assigned to, they got here like 5 days ago, and were still Jet lagged from Oregon, so that was funny. Then we had lunch with some guys preparing for missoin, and had a way fun time, Nickson, Naison, and Tapiwa. And then we had dinner with the South African Mom of Witbank, Sis. Pat. Played some games with her as well. Yesterday was just Fun.

Today is Zone Activity, Ultimate Frisbee, So we will be heading up to Pretoria, and staying the night for Zone Conference tomorrow, which will have President Sorres of the Seventy. So that will be cool. General Authority.

Other wise life is good, heard a way good quote on a comercial as we taught someone. "Falling down is life, Getting up is Living" I thought that was cool. And its true. 

valintines day is this week, and I hear that that can get crazy, so we are on "red Alert" so thats fun. 

Crazy to think its been 7 months. and that its February. And that I'm in Africa, And that People here always think I'm Afrikaans (the dutch-ish white natives.) and that i speak afrikaans. and when i tell them i dont, they are confused.  Got some cool stories about that for another day. 

Got a lot of pictures to send, and can actually send them today, so there will be 2 or 3 emails of that as well. 

kthanksbye

Sunsets and cool clouds 

Some birds at someone's house 

A door at someone's house 

 A bird on our flat

A Tuck Shop in Klarinet 

The Dzeka Family 

 Flowers at the church from Sister Pat

Mission week 31: Decided to start Labeling these. - February 5, 2018

Another week that went by really fast, but didn't have a lot really happen.

We played Ping-Pong and ordered Dominos last week, and it took the guy forever to find us, even though we kept waving him down as he drove by, he called saying he couldn't find the adress, and we said "you know the two guys in white shirts that keep waving at you" "yeah"   "that's Us."   "oooooooohhhhhhhhh, ok ill be there now now"

Tuesday met with VIvian and Tobile, who told us there parent had forbid us to return, which sucked, since their baptism would have been on the 18th. but we met their neighbors, Zola and Ntombi, who are awesome. pretty nomral day otherwise, 

Wednesday we did Service for Sis. Pat, which had me edging her entire lawn with a pair of sheep sheers, which was slow work. Thursday, we were in Middleburg, got some new investigators, and in the morning President came for Interviews, which was fun. Friday we went to Phola, Kenny (the guy with a wife in malowi and 3 kids, and a girlfriend and 4 kids) went back to malowi for 3 months, yesterday, so we said goodbye and goodluck, and reminded him of the fact he needs to make a choice, to be baptized. 

Saturday, we put Zola on date, after she expressed that she "feels she's on the Right Path" and got caught in the rain. We watched the Joseph Smith movie with Casandra, which really changed her attitude about things and she seems like she is gonna take things more seriously. 

Sunday was Church, we had a Baptism all figured for Sharon, but her mom couldn't make it so she asked to move it to next week, which sucks. but we had a few "walk ins" at church, who seemed to really enjoy and want us to visit because they "want to become members"

Ok I guess a decent amount did happen this week. Life is good. Curious to see what will happen at tranfers, I don't know if I'll be staying in Witbank or not, but we'll see. Good to hear from those of you I hear from, Would love to hear from others. I got some decent pictures ill send in a minute.;

kthanksbye

There is something wrong with the upload speed, and it would take 3 hours for one picture, so ill send them next week when things are normal

This week on 'The Flash' - January 29, 2018

This week went by Insanely fast. Yet not a lot happened. 

Monday, we Played Ping-Pong. I started teaching my companion how to  read music, and we had the usual FHE with Sister Grace. 

Tuesday, we had everyone Cancel, but we did get 2 new investigators, Shirley, she's pretty cool and very interested, as well as Gloria, the very enthusiastic owner of a shack that we bought fries from. We will be seeing them again this week, so hopefully they progress. 

Wednesday, was Maximum cancellations, Our main plans canceled, our backups canceled, and no one would answer their door. So that one kinda Sucked. 

Thursday, We were in MIddleburg, and had a decent day, got some good potential investigators, and had some 1 good lesson, since everyone else canceled. 

Friday, we had Exchanges, since Elder Harms the District Leader needed to come interview Sharron. who will be baptized next week. We had a fun time there, and she's way excited to get baptized. That night we went to visit the Wonderful Sis. Pat, had a good time talking with her about her friend who is literally named Hitler. 

Saturday, Everyone canceled, so we did more Finding, and met some decent people, got some new investigators, Namely Micheal, who has a cat, is way interested, and would be a Priesthood holder for Klarinet, when they start the group later this year. We also saw the Jehovahs witness couple, Joshua and Agnes again, and are still trying to help him to have the Faith to actually pray about what he's reading and not just argue with us about the "lack of historical Evidence"

Sunday was a nice service, had the Stake 2nd Councilor Speak. ate lunch with Bro Mdluvi, the Clerk, and Dinner with the Ngubanes. We had a good time, they are fun families,.

That's about it. Life is good

kthanksbye

A nice sign thats all over the place in Duvahpark

a nice pigeon picture

our flat

Some of the Money, front and back. I didnt have a 50, wich is red with a lion, and a 10 which is green with a rhino

I ate chicken feet. - January 22, 2018

The week has been good. 

Monday we didn't really do a whole lot. Tuesday we Saw Sibongile, which is always awesome. We taught her the word of wisdom and she still loves it and loves us. Otherwise we went around Klarinet, and had all our appointments cancel. 

Wednesday, we had Elder Voyles the zone leader with us. We went around Phola and saw a bunch of our investigators, we had a lot of people cancel, the curse of exchanges. Nothing really super rad to report from that. 

Thursday, we had everyone cancel in Middleburg, so we walked around the township of Mhluzi, and met some somewhat promising people. 

Friday, we went around Tasbet, had everyone cancel, but then saw some members and had a nice chat with the Branch President, Edwin. 

Saturday, we had everyone is Klarinet cancel, except Sibongile, who we had a nice lesson on the book of mormon, and gave her a priesthood blessing, since she felt "attacked by Stan, and also had a boil forming on her foot" After the blessing we organized for a member to bring her to church. After than we went to visit a few people I hadn't met with Pres. Edwin. Then we went to Ngubanes for a delicious dinner as usual. 

Sunday, we had Sibongile come to church with Sis. Mahlangu, and love it. She is excited to come again next week. + her foot was feeling better. it was a good meeting, the Stake Counciler came and talked about how if we can get 7 more Melchezidek preisthood holders to be full tithe payers, it will make Witbank a Ward again. And if we get 30 total, it can split to two wards. So thats the Stakes goal for this year, as well as starting groups in Klarinet and Middleburg. Life is good, I ate chicken feet, but couldn't get a video, since we had to eat by CandleLight, and I kinda forgot as well, since i was distracted by the fact i was eating a Chickens foot, so that happened. Its just skin and bones, i had no idea how to even go about eating it. So that was a wild ride. Always good to hear from people. hope everyone is having a good time in the snow. Its hot here.

kthanksbye

Didn't take many picutres this week, so I appologize

just something a drew and more of the Phola Countryside.