November Emails from South Africa

Monday November 6th

we went on a hike today! we went to Golden Gate, which has like a TON of animals in it! so we got to hike with Wildebeests, Zebras, Baboons, and a bunch of other super cool African creatures! haha But it was seriously one of the coolest hikes Ever. we went to the top of some random mountain. it was only about 2 miles or so to the top and just as we were about to reach the peak we came across a 'Pack' or a 'group', I dont know maybe a 'flock' of Baboons! You guys know me, my biggest fear is Gorillas. so when we got to these baboons it was the scariest experience of my life. Those things are so nasty and mean! luckily when they saw us, instead of chasing us like they did Tarzan and Jane, they ran away. Quite fast I might add! (we got a little video of them but its too big to send... so I guess you guys will have to suffer till I get Home! Mwahahaha) Either way, we were almost to the top of the Mountain and we then Knew that there were a bunch of baboons up there, but the ones we saw ran away... So we figured the others ran away too? so we couldn't just turn around, we finished the Hike to the top! and it was Beautiful:))

So that was the Highlight of the day!:) OH and we found a scorpion! that was cool!

Tuesday November 7th

well... Im too tired to write about my day. we had an Appointment every. single. hour of the day. from 10-8. It was awesome! but I'm going to bed! <3

Wednesday November 8th

well the highlight of my day was getting to teach this adorable 8 year old girl! we showed her the message of the restoration and she looked at it and said "Sorry, dude, I dont read anything that doesn't have princesses in it."

so I changed it up a bit. Her and I drew a princess crown on every single person throughout the pamphlet and we changed it a bit and told her the story of The Prince of Peace and his kingdom that he established. but the evil people in the Land they destroyed his castle and all that he worked so hard to build! but later Prince Joseph was called to bring back his Kingdom and Christs Knights came and anointed him King and gave him the Authority to run The Prince of Peace's Kingdom! (Thats a quick summery of what happened, but it was a lot of fun) 

She was so funny! I hope some day my kids are like that! hahaha we had some fun! haha

Thursday November 9th, 2017

well crap. i called brother Uithelar Today and asked him if He'd speak for a Little bit at the baptism... he said yes... but Now I have to give a talk on Sunday in Sacrament.

We also went to see sister Clourina before her Baptism and prepared her for sunday:) Shes adorable! she said she wanted one of the missionaries to baptize her so We told her that Elder Bennett will still be on Mission when her grandson returns from his mission next year! so theres a greater chance of them meeting and he can thank elder Bennett in person when he gets back! So Elder bennett is gonna have his first baptism!

Friday November 10th

....Elder Takau is SEXY!!!

          ...No He's not....

Saturday November 11th, 2017

well today we cleaned the baptismal font for tomorrow.... the water is shut off, so fingers crossed it'll be back on by the morning.

later we went to teach Relebahele and in the middle of our lesson a drunk guy Wandered into their house! so We kinda carried on with our lesson for a bit, and I was trying to figure out who the heck this guy is and why he's in their house?... I still don't know and I don't think they knew him either, but he walked in to their living room and was saying a bunch of Drunk Sotho stuff... Either way Relebahele's mom told him he should go and he was being very difficult and starting to get really angry... Like he was about to hit her. She was speaking mostly sotho and pulling on his shirt trying to pull him out of her house but, like I said, He was being very difficult... long story short, he got really angry and physical, so I Picked the guy up and pushed him out of their house...  He wasn't too big? I tried to be nice to the guy at first but when he started getting aggressive I figured it was time for him to go... genetically I struggle to stay completely composed in heated situations (thanks mom and dad!LOL)... but i think the situation was Handled well. Bennett Was terrified! hahaha 

It was Definitely not your "Ideal" Family Home Evening Activity, but I think as a whole, we all Bonded pretty well! hahaha:)

Sunday November 12th

Today started out pretty rough... the Electricity was out at the chapel so we had church in the hallway, that was new! luckily the water was back on, but it was sooooooo cold.

However, people actually showed up, The spirit definitely Helped me out with my talk today! haha the first two speakers literally spoke for a combined 6 minutes. so I Had the opportunity of addressing everyone for 35 minutes on Apostles! I was so scared He told me 10 minutes! I Prepared for 8 and a testimony! But it was actually really fun, it felt like I was standing there for only like 10 minutes but I looked at my watch and saw that time was up!  So I was Like Heyyy! Blessings! haha

Then the power turned on! Church was a success! 

The baptisms went smoothly, I conducted which is always terrifying, sister Clourina Dhlamini gave a beautiful testimony! She was so happy!

~Ngiyakhuthanda~

Last Week in October- Trying to catch up on his emails

MONDAY OCTOBER 23rd

Well today Bethlehem came with us on a hike!:) it was a lot more intense than we were expecting! haha we kinda just pointed to a Mountain and said wed climb it... as we got closer and closer to the top we had to rock climb up certain parts, we had to push through thorns and thick thick trees, and I swear we were on all fours crawling through the Jungle for a good 20 minutes... it took a few hours to get to the top but eventually we made it! haha then we took pictures, tossed some rocks off the Edge, and started our way back to the Bottom... turns out there was a very convient little trail that took us all the way to the bottom in only 30 minutes. Like, If we would have taken this trail it would have been WAYYYYY Easier! we just didn't see it! hahaha we ended up making our own trail to the top through some crazy stuff! but it was definitley more of an adventure and more memorable this way! haha

TUESDAY OCTOBER 24th

Today was Really nice! We had some of the most powerful lesson that Ive had thus far In Phuthaditjhaba. yes I said "Thus far"... And indeed it made me feel kinda fancy for a second.

1st we saw Sis Clorina: Shes about 86 years old and we taught her the ten Commandments. she struggles with English but the Spirit is the what does the teaching. the spirit was there so dag nabbit she learned some Good stuff! hahaha

2nd: we met with Brother Lorato. we taught him Gospel of Jesus Christ! Guess where we found brother Lorato! Well Thabo, the girl the Blugumboch met at basketball, referred us to her cousin.. and well its him! Lorato!:) He is the nicest guy, he has some nice Dread locks and truly wants to change. He always brings questions and truly wants to find the truth. I love this guy and I want to help him:))

then we saw Relebohile (Found tracting, 14), Karabello (found tracting, 37), and we met for the first time with Amanda (part Member Family, 26) Im too tired to write anything else, but they are all amazing people! I love them to death and I hope I can help them:) 

 

But I just got a call from Elder Huntington and he told me that in Madagascar they have a really bad plague so they sent a 7 of their missionaries to SADM. So I called the AP's and asked if Elder Lesch or elder Apie came... Those two guys were good friends in the MTC! Turns out Lesch is serving in Cape Town But Elder Apie is serving in Dundee! so I Hope I get to see him again! I gave him a call and Welcomed him the SOUTH AFRICA DURBAN MISSION FAMILY! haha But I asked him about the sister missionaries that were serving there and It turns out they all went to Zambia. One of my favorite Members in Amanzimtoti ,Sister Cebekhulu, was serving there. she went to the MTC for I think 6 weeks learning one of the toughest languages. went out in the mission field and had just gotten her second companion. and now she has to go to a completely new country. I cant Imagine how tough that would be, Keep them In your prayers, and pray that it doesn't spread to any other Country or mission area.

Madagascar Probably wont be Opened for a while either, Probably not till Max is going on mission. but hopefully a bit sooner than that!:/

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25th (my One Year Anniversary)

well today was nice:) I feel like thats how I start all of my daily Entries? Oh well..

Today we were finishing up teaching a lesson when We got a call from one of our Members, Sister Jennifer.. she told us she needed help with something seriousbut she wouldn't tell us what it was! I was like, What the heck is going on. Turns out her Roof was leaking... and it was about to rain again. so when we got there I jumped on the roof and Patched it up with this nasty Black Goopy stuff! Either Way it was a lot of fun! Except My hands have been stained black all day! I hope this stuff comes off! hahaha

I was gonna Burn my shir today but we dont have any matches... so Were gona do it Monday or something?

THURSDAY OCTOBER 26th

We took the first councilor, Brother Uithalar, working with us again today.. can I just say that having someone that can actually speak the language and knows how to teach others is soooo convenient! haha It Helps certain people understand so much better, You can definitely feel the Spirit a lot stronger when hes there to help them. We taught sister clorina today and she struggles a bit with her English. 

FRIDAY OCTOBER 27th

eish.. it was one of those days.... im Exhausted. Im going to bed. Goodnight.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 28th

Today I worked in Bluegumoch with Takau! I met some really kind and loving people! I also met some not so kind and not so loving people... but We can only pray for them.. 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 29th

Today was pretty crazy! In a good way:) We Had a TON of People at church again! and we had the Most investigators and less actives at church since Ive been here, so that was nice... kinda made me feel like Im Making a difference. But Above all, people were happy. this was the Happiest Sunday Ive had here! Every one was getting along and enjoying themselves:) it was really nice! I almost felt Like I was Back in my home ward.. Kwamashu!<3 Brother Andile Gave a super funny talk today in sacrament! haha yeah.. had to be there.. 

After Church we went to visit the Clorina and her daughter, both SUPERRR old. haha but they have a son/grand son serving a mission In Ghana right now:) the two of them are not members yet, but we are hoping they will very soon! :) 

Then we had a few more appointments and Ended at the Kiri family:) It was my turn to teach them! I love teaching at that house because the kids get so excited! So today I told them a story from Heleman 5, cause thats what stood out the most from my reading this week! haha It tells about the Nephi and Lehi and how they get arrested by the lamenites! then when their about to be put to death they are encircled by a pillar of fire! and yeah... lots of other stuff happens and they have like a cloud of darkness that blocks the Lamenites view and is super scary not very fun for them! so I blindfolded one of the kids and told him that right now hes in a cloud of darkness... yeah it was pretty fun and the spirit helped out a lot:) either way we ended up having a great time! 

I LOVE YOU GUYS! I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOURE DOING AWESOME!