August 20, 2018 - Mission Week 59: Jellous Of Hombres Noting (the) Coming End Nor Anything

Hello to everyone who just read this sentence. 

This has been a good week.

Tuesday, we used the Book of Mormon to Answer questions and put like 3 people on date. Sandra and her co-workers, as well as Koketso, a girl we met a few weeks back.

Wednesday, Everything just fell apart, but we did run into one of our investigators by "chance" and retaught the Restoration and since he wasn't High this time, he understood it and was excited to come to church

Thursday, we had an appointment with Lerato, who we met at McDonalds, and she gave us directions to her place, and then when we pulled up to the dang MANSION she came out to say hi and we had an absolutely amazing lesson, she already wants to get baptized and all that, but she just had a baby so she couldn't come to church this week, but she is super well educated, actually married, and has her own transportation. So yeah, excited about her. then we met with a bunch of the YSA at the University of Limpopo and that was the day. 

Friday, was another day of walking, and then Lesego's Birthday cake.

Saturday, was a branch Braai up in a canyon that was way fun, we had a competition of finding weird places to sit that i was the sole competitor of.

Sunday, no one came to church, and we were sad. 

But yeah, don't really have much else to talk about in terms of the week, except a funny story of an investigator. We told them to read 1 Nephi 3:7 for the next time, but they read 3 Nephi 3:7 which quotes " 

7 Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our ^asecret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance."

So Yeah, that was funny, had to fix that.

Random notes

• Develop your talents, its a lot of fun
• Winter was over suddenly, but then came back, so everyone is sick
• Met our first Anti-Mormon
• "What are you doing in Supermans mustache boat!!" -Sis Mynature
• Need more rice Recipies
• Meeting again in the Gospel principles closet
• Confidence vs God-fidence

So yeah enjoy the week

Go eat ham

kthanksbye

a random street that looked nice

a members way nice car next to our beater

vorse and chicken

Pictures of me sitting in weird places & pictures 

 elder roberts took in the process of me getting to the seats, that i'm gonna make so many memes out of.

August 13, 2018 - Mission Week 58: "This is what happens when you celebrate women"

Hello everyone, this was a slow week, mainly due to the public holiday Women's day giving everyone an excuse to cancel and leave town. The streets have been empty and we have had nothing to do, plus my comp was sick, so we didn't do a whole lot. 

Monday, we went to Lesego, and I recorded Mid-day with Elder Funk: Ep. 1. something I want to keep doing since it was fun.

 Tuesday, we had a good lesson with the 9 year investigator Marius, the guy with the legos. We talked about some deep stuff with Personal Revelation and how he can get answers to the questions he still has. 

Wednesday was actually good. We Clarified the Priesthood with Marcia, since she thought it was more the gift of the Holy Ghost, just a spiritual gift. and she wanted to take it to her prophet to help her church. SO yeah. fixed that. She seemed sad, but now at least realized the purpose of the Book of Mormon and said she's start actually reading it. 

Thursday, was Women's day. and it was way cold, so everyone was either locking in the gated houses, or out of town for the long weekend. So finding was unfruitful, and all our appointments fell through.

Friday, was the same thing after district meeting, excluding the way, way, way good Plan of Salvation we taught a girl named Renelwe. We taught her the Restoration about a month ago, and finally got her to meet us again, and she started off by saying, I've prayed about getting baptized, and its a No. but then we asked if she'd read the Book yet, and she said no, then we talked about the Plan of Salvation in its entirety for like 2 hours and she said she'd read and pray and give it a second thought. Then we walked. 

Saturday, my comp was way sick.

Sunday, was the same

And now here we are. On one of the days  we ran into a lady from Salt Lake who was here hunting with her Husband. So that was cool 

Also the Book of Jacob is very dense with some powerful doctrine. Things i suggest reading this week are Jacob 3 and 4. I enjoyed it thoughtfully. 

I've come to realize that my Mom was inspired to hate KFC, since it has given me the resistance  to getting sick of it until now, because you eat So much KFC here. 

but yeah, don't really have a ton to talk about this week 

• All my bands are breaking, first the belt, now my watch is on its way out. 
• Is there any new Piano Guys Album in the past year?
• Apples are good, especially Pink Lady apples (I am a man)
• "Metaphorical Dragons" 
• "Drama is Unfolding" - Sister Mama, the Relief society pres at Branch Council
• New Planners make things fun

But enjoy your lives. Remember the Covenets God has made with you and with your Fathers. 

Eat a bagel.

Kthanksbye

August 6, 2018 - Mission Week 57: A rather expected turn of events

So yeah, starting with Tuesday, we had a sick Zone Braai and played some games and had a dance battle to EFY

Wednesday, I was on exchanges with the zone leader Elder Homer who goes home tomorrow. We had a bunch of fun. had a blind man who has the villiage of Lenyenye memorized guide us arround. that was crazy. He's a way cool guy, very converted. 

Thursday, We met with Sandra and her question heavy co-workers. And she had read and understood a lot, and was backing us up like a member present and explaining things perfectly to her doubtful friends. So that was way cool, she'll get baptized on my birthday hopefully.

Friday, We had district meeting and cleaned out the font for a Baptism the Owens were having of a guy who's been an investigator for 9 years. His wife is a strong member and he wanted to suprise her with him actually finally making that decision, but that was on saturday, let me not get ahead of myself.  then we met a referal named Tshiamo, and had a great restoration lesson, she is looking for the true church and is sick of all the "half-truth" Put her on date for also my birthday.

Saturday, we had that suprise Baptism and his wife cried. Then we did a lot of finding a went to a Seshego members missoin goodbye thing, and got roped into the 5-hour PROGRAM of Speaches and that really messed up our day. 

Sunday, was a good Sunday. we saw a RM and his wife, then Tshiamos best friend Koketso, and had an equally good lesson and put her on date for the same day They had both actually read the Pamphlet, so that made it way easier i think. 

Transfer News came in on Saturday, and Elder Chokoe and I are staying together, Elder Roberts is coming to Seshego, so that will be a riotous time. 

Good week overall, the time is still FLYING. but time for everyone's (or at least mines) favorite part

• i get very onry when I am Dehydrated
• WWE is way popular here and It scares me
• Does America have the far superior Coke Life?
• Competition Breads improvement........... So fight me.
• When is the next 'end of the world day?'
• Meetings to plan meetings to plan meetings return
• "there is a problem with time management in this branch and I call you all to Repent!!!" our Branch Second counceler in Sacrament on Sunday
• Write your testimony and Read it every Day
• My boy Elder Fitzgerald is leaving in a week. 

sorry theres no pictures the upload speed is gone again

Kthanksbye

Sent from Elder Hale in the Mission Office

July 31, 2018 - Mission Week 56: 7x8 is 56 as we all know

Not that the title has anything to do with anything

The week has gone by very very fast. 

Monday, we did the exact same thing we did every other week, So if you really wanna know, just go read last week. 

Tuesday, We were teaching Marcia, who asked us who Moses was, since her pastor had told her that she wasn't supposed to read the Bible since he is her "Spiritual Father" and will give her the Words of God. So we fixed that...... but she still wont come to church since she has to minister to him all day Sunday. Then we did a lot of finding and met the Recent Convert Fortune, who really really like the the South African Idols. (they have there own Simon named Randall and he's way funnier and way meaner.) But he's doing great. He recently got the Priesthood. Going good in the Hood

Wednesday, We saw Jimmy and he started with the question of what Dope means because he hears all the kids saying it and wanted to understand. Then we talked about Satan and his ability to immitate the Miracles of God. Then we Saw the Long time Investigator Sarah, who is still working on stopping smoking so she can get Baptized. Way cool Grandma-ly Lady. Then we had another good Lesson with Marius the Lego man, his mother in law is a member and his wife is somewhat less active, and they joined us and it was a good time. 

Thursday, I'll just gloss over. by saying we did a LOOOOOTTT of finding. 

Friday, we had district meeting and helped the Owens (the senior couple) move into their new flat, then she made us lunch and it was way good. Then we met a referral named Bro Martin who is a friend to the ward mission leader who is "looking for a serious church, like how it was when Christ was here" So one restoration lesson, he is super excited and was gonna go tell his wife and friends that he had "found God's Truth" So that was a good day.

Saturday, We did some Baptismal Interviews, and  Saw some of the people we met while finding and finished the day Seeing Sis Matilda

Sunday, We finally had Faith come to church and she loved it and I think that will help her a lot when it come to her actually progressing. Then we met with a girl named Golden and her Cousins and had a FANASTIC restoration lesson, very spiritual and they understood it great.

Monday we Had zone conference, hence me being late. It was good, talked about the same things we always talk about. Work with members, qualify for the Spirit, and Follow the Rules. 

Ill send more detailed stuff from the conference, since I left them at the flat.

My comp doesn't have a camera so I let him borrow it, but then he left it in Mokopanes car. I got it back , but I  dont have any pictures this week because of that, but the sad news is My belt snapped in half so I had to buy a new one.

i also don't have time to upload that picture as I was about to since the internet is dying. 

So I love you all. heres the random notes 

• never go to zone conference without a belt makes it hard to shake presidents hand without your pants falling off. 
• Everyone says nefeee instead of Nephi 
• I'm getting very sick of people saying they are "born again" and can do whatever they want since they are saved
• 1 year to sexy
• How are the Kidneys?" overcooked
• Expensive Companions
• The Orient isn't jeruselem
• I am not longer getting haircuts from Indian people. English is vital to them not messing up
• New Testiment only Bibles

So yeah. Hope you have a good week. Go eat mexican food. 

kthanksbye

July 31 - From the Mission Office

Beholds the man of which i worked for 7.5 months to get to this point. So happy he got  baptized, so sad i wasn't there. 

From Elder Hale in the Mission Office:  Dinner after the baptism of Antoin - seated at the end of the tables. Two young missionaries who taught him, Elders Coka and Fitzgerald are out of the picture behind the lens.
I was honored to give a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost at his baptism. His wife Pat, seated to his right, was so delighted with her husband's decision to join the Church that she put on a tremendous spread. 
We were invited along with leaders of the Witbank Branch of the LDS Church, where we attend by assignment each week. Witbank is located 98 kilometers (about 60 miles) East of our office and flat in Pretoria East.
About 50 people usually attend the Branch. About 40 stayed to witness his baptism.
Pat is legendary for regularly feeding the young missionaries assigned to her congregation. Now I see why. The two will be eating her leftovers from this meal for a week.

July 23, 2018 - Mission week 55: Anotha One

So Monday, we spent the whole day cleaning out the flooding chapel, since the water was out, some one left a bunch of taps open,and when it came back, it came back...... so that was the whole day.

Tuesday, was zone service up in Lenyenye, We picked onions and did a bunch of weeding at whatnot at a Developmental Center. Took up most of the day due to the distance. Then we started exchanges of me with Elder Winterton who is From PG. I feel like I mentioned that before hopefully. 

Wednesday, Elder Winterton and I spent the day doing a bunch of finding and finishing getting all the water out of the chapel, and then Saw Marius the Lego collector again. 

Thusday, I had the flu, probably from wading around in cold water multiple times in the week, but we saw a few people Went to a place called Turfloop, mainly to see some investigators at the University of Limpopo. Did some finding with one of the YSA RM's. Had a good plan of salvation lesson with a girl named Faith, and she had a lot of good questions about Faith,(ironically) and we helped her to understand Faith in Christ vs Faith in a Pastor. 

Friday, ws District meeting and me being way sicker. spent pretty much the whole day at the flat. 

Saturday, had some great lessons with Jimmy and Gladis, met a new investigator named Flourance, who we put on date, and she was very doubtful of the "one true church" preisthood stuff. But one powerful testimony later, she got it and said yes.

Sunday, was a suprise talk at church, followed by A lunch with Sister Mimi and some fun with the YSA's and then Dinner with Sis Ruth. Shared some good thoughts about 2 Nephi Chapter 2:8 " Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." Which about sums up the reasons for missionary work and telling our friends the ghospel.

But jumping from the spirit to dumb notes in my planner

• Big fat black babbies are funny
• Personal Revelation is required for salvation
• The Flood returns to Church history
• Time Is Flying like the approaching airplane
• Marry in the Church. Makes life easier.
• Agency or Inspiration - by Bruch R McKonky? (can't spell) is way way way nice

So thank you all for all that you do. 

kthanksbye

 Sunset

 Marius's magic lego room

 Lego big bang theory

me on a mountain

July 16, 2018 - Mission week 54: All kinds of Dry

So this was a week with no water, and no appointments.

Monday we had FHE with sister Khetiwe and her family, so that was fun

Tuesday, we met the super awesome Dr. Reldando, who is looking for the true church with his wife, the came from a country that made Religion Illegal and want to worship Christ correctly, so the only problem is his busy doctor schedule, but we will work on that. Then we did a lot of finding.

Wednesday,we did a alot of finding. Got a lot of names, one great one is wendy who works at a ring store and really is excited to read the Book of Mormon.

Thursday was exchanges with Elder Smith in Seshego, had fun me there sister who got baptized on sunday after like 4 years of investigating. then the water went out.

Friday, we had District meeting, met with Wendy, who had read a bit,but didn't have to much time to talk. then everyone canceled, and we did a lot of finding

Saturday, we did an interview in seshego, watched the be one conference with the branch, did a bunch of finding, tried to fill the font for seshegos baptism, but the water was still gone. went to do more finding, and then had dinner with a less active family, the Matildas, they came last week, but couldn't make it to church this week due to illness.

Sunday, Church was just Sacrement meeting since the Branch president decided you can't have church without water. so then we spent the next 5 hours filing the font with buckets from a nearby dam. So my arms are way sore, but we made it happen since her famiy came from far and we couldn't postpone (the girl who i saw on Thursday, Milicent) It was cold but it happened! so yeah.

I have decided that the book of Moroni is the best part of th whole Book of Mormon, go give those last 4 chapters a read and try and dissagree, so insanely powerful.

And the random things 

• Eating skills matter in this mission
• I miss not having a broken Nokia for a phone
• Voicemail boxes are the greatest enemy to the botswana namibia mission
• Happy birthday Dad, I sent a letter a few weeks ago, hope it actually gets there
• Lifes good
• Church meeting vs Water Outage: Water Outage wins/ no unhallowed hand can stop this great work..... except the water being out for 5 days.
• Cheese is so expesive and only available in cheddar.

Thank you all for your love and support, go read Moroni and pray a lot, it helps with everything

kthanksbye

members, goat meat and pap, and my desk

July 9, 2018 - Mission week 53: Goat meat, and we did a lot of finding

So this week was great. Did a lot of good work, and a lot of walking. 

Monday after emailling, we didn't do to much, just went to the mall, ate food, and had an FHE with the Khetiwe family, which was fun.

Tuesday, we met David and his cousin David. They had some awesome questions about the kingdom of God, but one of them is having a hard time with the truth of God and Jesus not being the same being. But they are very excited to see us again, and to read the Book of Mormon. and we did a lot of finding

Wednesday, we met with a lady named Renelwe and her friend Queen. After a great restoration lesson we put her on date, and she said "thats a big step" to which i somehow responded with the most profound thing I've ever said. "yeah, but big steps help us move further faster, and heaven is pretty far away" and she was so stunned and awed and the spirit came in and she's like "yeah ok."  then we did a lot of finding

Thursday, was my year mark, and I filmed my shirt burning, but today i left my cord at the flat, so hopefully I'll be able to come back and send it later. otherwise next week.  After doing a lot of finding we met a referal from a Recent Convert named Faith, had a good lesson, put her on date. and then we had dinner with the Mynature family, who gave us some way tasty goat meat. It was awesome. So now I've had goat meat for the first time.

Friday, Was district meeting, and a lot of people canceling, thus resulting in  us doing a lot of finding. 

Saturday was super busy, Wrote down Jimmy (crippled member) testimony, saw some other members, taught a few people, got a  new investigator named Tshidiso, who was very interested, since he "only just barely started even believing in God, but all the churches are confusing him on what is the right way" then we didn't do finding because we went of to a place called Lebokgomo to teach some less-actives, namely the Matilda family,  who all came to church sunday. 

Sunday was great, but had a long talk on ministering, which I want to ask if its going well back home, since people are having a very hard time understanding/ doing it here.

Other random thoughts include

• Everyone thinks I look like the Belgian soccar player Kevin de Bruyne 
• KFC
• Goat meat is like sour beef
• Time is flying
• The PMG says we can't give money to beggers, which put me not giving money to beggers at ease in my mind
• Gluten Freedom is Bondage
• and Develop your talents, Its a whole lot of fun.

SO yeah, this week went by INSANELY fast.
Ill try to send that video and pictures later today,

Kthanksbye