Another week in Africa

tuesday September 12th

Well We went on the hike today and my legs are DEAD! I sent you guys some pics, But I had a lot of fun:) 

then we got some Groceries, took a little nap, Had an intense game of UNO with the District, Then went and balled it up with the boyz in the hood! and yes. I dunked it. and Yes Takau and I and WRECKED them in the paint. things got pretty intense out there on the court... but it was super nice cause it was a nice game, no cheap shots, no trash talks, nobody got mad at the other team.. we just had fun and had a nice competitive game of basketball:) haha Elder "MONEY" Abel Is a Menace at the three point line! I decided to Legally change his name to AB3L. That is how I will refer to him from now on!  And Elder Lucas- Rafael just broke ankles for DAYYYSS! hahaha Together team QWA QWA could not be Containnneedddd!! final score 33-13 White team (Thats us... cause we were, you know, white)...

now to finish our first Pday together were gonna watch the Best 2 years:)

Wednesday September 13th

well today Elder Ab3l and I tracted into a family and taught them lesson One... it was I guess your average lesson, but at the end we had them pray and It was so funny.. Elder Ab3l got to hear someone speak in "Tongues" for the first time... they started yelling "OH JESUS THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLOOD THAT SAVES US! THANK YOU FOR ASSA BUUNA LOOFI JEE BOO FA TOO ZEE MA LEMMA JESUS I LOVE YOU BOOFA LOOFA DOOFA DOO MAFI LAFI MEY...." Etc! ANd I opened my eyes just a bit and the Elder Abels face was just Perfect! I wish I had a picture of it! hahaha then what made it even better was when we got in the car he asked Katleho, a member from church that comes with us all the time, what they were saying.. and Katleho basically told him that that wasn't sesotho! Or any other language just Gibberish!  Or maybe we just havent been gifted with the interpretation of tongues! hahaha 

so that was the highlight of the day:) OH and we got Fed tonight! SCORE! we went to a super nice family, the Mabula family:) and I made a new friend! her name carol and shes awesome! haha Shes only 10 but were best friends now! we even made a secret handshake and she drew me a picture... So I guess you can say things are getting pretty serious! haha 

Also, Elder DePriest and L-R swopped for the day. DePriest is a Super nice guy! haha and Takau, DePriest, and I all know the Ukulele So we had an Intense jam session! :)

Thursday September 14th

well Today we found some really cool people to teach:) The teaching pool we  had last week was pretty small so Ab3l and I have been doing a lot of finding lately.. hmmm.. oh and Im going to Bethlehem tomorrow with Elder Jantjies, We were in the MTC Together so It'll be cool teaching with him tomorrow:) 

Also Great news! OUR WATER IS BACK ON!!! yeah that was the highlight of the day...I had to say goodbye to My Sprite bottle.. movin' on to bigger and better things! haha

but I was just getting it down to a science, what id do is I'd put a half a liter of Water in the... the water Kettle boiler thingy.. I dont know what to call it.. but Id do that for 4 minutes then id add the rest of the water to that and it was perfect! I was so excited when I started to use that.. until I realized how pathetic I probably looked... so yeah..

Friday September 15th

Well I spent the Day in Bethlehem with Elder Jantjies... It was your Average day... But I got to teach a guy with only one Eye... so that was cool... well He had an eyeball but it was a super hazy, foggy, Im gonna be honest it was kinda creepy) Lets put it this way.. an Airplane would not land in his eye.. it would have to circle it until things cleared up... Either way, he told me all about what happened. Nice guy. he was super drunk and only spoke sesotho. but, nonetheless, he was super nice:)

Im gonna be honest we met a lot of new people and had some really powerful lessons:) Jantjies is a Great teacher, Hopefully I can apply some of the things he used to my teaching:)

Saturday

Well today we Met a really nice family! and tomorrow is the daughters 11th Birthday so I told her I'd bring her a candy bar to church.. You know to give her a bit of an Incentive.. But I think It was quite possibly the worst decision... this is truely a test of my self control. I dont think I'll be able to make it all night... Its right here in front of me, calling me by name. 

Its gonna be a long night.

part of me hopes she doesnt come to church so I get to eat this............. I'm a terrible person.

Sunday September 18th, 2017

Today was niccceee:) It was super cold too! maybe thats why I liked it! I'm sick and tired of the darn heat here... I like wearing sweaters! haha

But church went well, we had a few new people show up for the first time! But usually when its cold people don't want to come to church... they'd rather stay in their warm bed.... I don't blame them.. especially if they have to walk haha

But we actually had a few MORE people come to church than we did last week! so that was nice:)

Elder Abel, brother Katleho, and I were knocking doors and we met a 14 year old girl, Relabahile,and she really liked our message of the restoration. and when she went to school she talked to her Friend Jennifer about us. Whats super cool is that Jennifer is actually a less active member and they BOTH came to church today:) It was super cool! they seem really nice and Promising!

Well it was a good week:) I hope you guys are all doing super awesome! I LOVE YOU!!

~CTR~

ZONE CONFERENCE PHOTOS

Mitchell in his new area

Tuesday 

Well I Said the rest of my goodbyes and Had everyone else sign my journal... It's Been tough:( I'm gonna miss these guys:(

Wednesday

Well today I woke up at 3:00am and Have yet to take a nap... I took a 5/6 Hour Drive to Bethlehem with Elder Jones, Elder Atkinson, and elder _____ (IDK? but he's from Ukraine and he would not stop talking about Russia. I know literally everything about Russia and Ukraine now BTW)... thennn I met my new companion Elder Abel and he showed me around Phuthaditjhaba... We got Groceries and unpacked and all that fun stuff but, MAN, the Sesotho people are Way different than Zulu's.... Its only been one day and I havent even sat down with anyone yet to teach but I already want to go back to Zulu Land! IT'S AN ENTIRE NEW LANGUAGE!!!! NOBODY SPEAKS ZULU! I keep saying Sawubona and the people just look at me like Im an idiot! Oops! I miss the Ocean and the Super cool people of Kwamashu.. Especially Elder harper, the Mkhizes, Lindo, the Msalis, and the Unity our district had last week! 

and above all I MISS ZULU! the culture shock of a five hour drive hit me WAY harder than driving to the other side of the world and serving in Toti! NOT EVEN EXAGGERATING! 

but I'm in a 4 man boarding with Elder Takau (Super cool guy) and his "Son" Elder Lucas-Rafael. He's black. But he's also from England! it was his first day today and he's pretty cool! the poor guys gonna get a hard time for not being able to speak the people's language... hahaha 

 We walked around PJ and a Gogo asked him where he's from and he told her England and the Gogo was like.. "No you're not... Probably Kenya or Uganda" Man, the look on his face was priceless!!

The Boarding is nice, good size, in a good spot, nice living room... but IT DOESN'T HAVE WATER! Bucket showers again this week. #AfricaCanBeAD-bagSometimes.

Either way Still not sure what to think of the area... Excited for tomorrow!

Thursday 

Well I woke up and played catch with Takau... He's pretty darn good! haha Its super cold in the mornings too! and our house is super cold now too! and guess what, we dont have any hot water! just a two litre bottle of cold water for a shower:) lucky us!

Thursday September, 8th. First real day of Training

This guy is very interesting.. I think the best way I can describe him would be "Mormon Dentist"... he's actually a really nice guy:) he's got a lot of good gospel Knowledge which is nice cause I could always use some more! hahaha Im excited to be with him. He works realllyyy hard and Has a Strong desire to be obedient! Just glad he's not super lazy and Bogus!

Saturday 

Well Im exhausted! This morning we did service at Branch President house:) it was fun... he actually has a pretty big house that he's currently building.. We just washed all his windows so they are spotless:) then, to get to know the new missionaries and to Welcome elder Lucas-Rafael to Africa we had a super nice Braai! It was Delicious and I was soooo full:) He seems like a super nice guy:)

By the way Elder Lucas has a super cool British accent so I've been copying him for the few days... I'm getting pretty good at it..:)

Sunday September 11th (First day at church here:) 

Well church is at 10:00 instead of 8:30 so thats nice! hahaha we had about 50 people come 45 of them were women and children the other 5 were from the branch presidency and a few aaronic Priesthood holder... sooo We're gonna need to change that.. gotta bring some more guys into this place! hahaha

Im excited though, We have a lot of potential here and I can see a lot thats gonna happen to this place:)

we also had interviews with mission president.. Hes a super cool guy! 

also, Im super lucky to be in a four man boarding with Takau and Rafael and Abel:) were having fun and pushing each other it's nice:)

Monday: 

I know i didn't email you today... we had Zone Conference! and it was a lot of fun:) I gave another lesson and it went well.. I only had to give a 15 minute lesson which was super easy! My topic was "Change" so I just kinda told a story and bore my testimony! Pump them up, make them repent, and move on! hahaha 

and it was pretty nice being able ot see Elder Huntington again, along with Elder Depriest, and Jaanjies:) 

We drove to Bethlehem (about an Hour)... the scenery is a lot different than it was in Kazadan! its a heck of a lot dryer and not as many people! but whats cool is on our way there we passed a guys house/animal reservation and he's got a bunch of Ostriches and a few Zebras:) takau and I decided were gonna go ask the guy if we can ride some anaiumals! thatd be dope!! hahaha But yeah my new zone looks a lot like umm.. Utah I guess... dry and we're tucked up right against the Boarder of lesotho in the mountains:) Tomorrow morning were actually gonna go on a hike to the top of the mountain! Ill make sure that I take a bunch of their Pictures:)

Also Elder Ottley said I can have his camera when he goes home! so just a few more weeks and Ill get to snappin'.. or shooting? either way today was a solid productive day, and I had fun:) 

Also, I LOVE YOU GUYS AND I HOPE MAX DESTROYED THEM IN FOOTBALL!

~CTR~

Pictures from Kwamashu

HIGHLIGHTS FROM KWAMASHU!!!!!!!!!!!

My second area after Toti!!

Well The I <3 Wood Has to do with one of the senior couples that yelled at us about going to A Burger place "Because its too far" (Literally 9 minutes from the boarding) But this week President Thompson Gave us permission to go because its week 6:) So we were Pretty darn Excited!

Last week in his second area and onto Phuthaditjhaba

WEEK 6! (Possibly my last week in k2)

Went to the Mkhizes tonight:) I love that family so much:))) They're sooo nice! and a lot of fun to hang out with:)

Tuesday...

Well we Painted the inside of the Msali's house today for what felt like my whole Mission!

they chose a very... Unique.. Smurf blue for their living room! nice touch guys!;)

We also taught Kwasa about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he has been loving the Book of Mormon but told us that he wants to wait till October to be baptized because he just wants to learn more. So we are taking things slow but he is still loving the church and everything:

Wednesday 

Not much to report... Since this might be My last week at church Ive been stressign to everybody to BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH. Mission President said He might come to church with us this week so were gonna try and break the Mission Record and get TWENTY TWO Investigators at church... so far our best was 16 so fingers crossed! hahaha

Thursday August 31st

Lots of stuff Happened.... went into A section to teach Kwasa and his cousin Azile the Plan of Salvation.. Did I tell you guys how Scary A section is? we went straight in, taught our lesson, then straight out.. and I kid you not I have never heard so people SCREAM Mlungu (White Guy) at Elder Harper and I... Luckily the lesson went well:) and Azile Invited her friend Sibahle to church this week:)

SATURDAY! 

well a lot of stuff happened today but President gave me a call and he told me my new transfer news..... I'M SOOOOO SAD:( I will be leaving this area and I love the people here so much. 

I'm leaving to Phuthaditjhaba..... Yeah good luck pronouncing that... its right above lesotho.. I'll Finish training Ellder Able... so that should be fun! 

It will be in a FOUR MAN BOARDING WITH ELDER TAKAU! he's super cool! He got a full ride scholarship to Play QB for Dixie State:) So were gonna play catch a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) hahaha And hes a super cool guy! he's on his last two transfers and he's gonna train so I dont know who he'll get! 

President said  Phuthaditjhaba Used to be super powerful with a lot of great missionary work... but right now its been really quiet.... so he wants us to PUMP IT UP! hahah I told a few Missionaries that I'm going there and they all said "Sorry, man..." so I'm pretty darn Nervous.

SUNDAY (MY LAST SUNDAY AT K2)

IM GONNA MISS THESE GUYS SOOOO MUCH:(

We had a few baptisms today and mission President came! so that was nice:) but two of the people we baptized were really excited:) theyre adorable:) IM GONNA MISS THEM SO MUCH!

Said good bye to some families including the Mkhizes. I LOVE THAT FAMILY TO DEATH! They all signed my Journal:))) theyre sooo sweet! I'll send you guys some Photos:)

I dont have a lot of time today but I will write more Next week.... still  need to go in to town to buy a camera:/ Hopefully we can get Permission.