December Emails

Monday December 4th, 2017

 today we went back to the Lion Park, but with Hoopes and the rest of the Bethlehem Elders. This time we got to pet the lions Mane and its face and all that fun stuff. we also got to play with the a female White Lion! super pretty! but the Huge Male one got pretty ticked off when i was Petting it... which was super scary. I ended up petting its face and it tried to bite my hand so I obviously pulled my hand back... then Its Eyes got super big and terrifying. He gave me the "Im about to eat you" look.. I dont know if you guys have ever sat two feet away from a full Grown Lion and looked deep Into Its Eyes as it looks back at you Like youre dinner... Because I have, so I stood up slowly to walk away.. that was a bad Idea... that made it stand up too and we all nearly died. Luckily I am now officially a qualified Lion Fighter... I did exactly what I thought I'd do in that situation, I froze and stood there as it circled me. It was so cool! but I don't think I'm gonna go back any time soon.... at Least until after I Christmas and my birthday:) 

Tuesday December 5th

Today was really nice:) the best part was when we went to Leratos house and he brought a bunch of his friends; Andries and a guy named Dork... he refused to tell us his real name.. oh well.. they're cool:) We had an interesting discussion about all types of random stuff... either way they said they'll come to church! and were gonna see them on Thursday (Bennett and Futter will, I will Be in Bluegumbosh with Lucas)

Wednesday December 6th

Today we went to Bethlehem and had a nice meeting about the Christmas Party.. President gave like a billion goals and challenges for us to attempt... but we got to Plan our christmas party and we decided to do a secret Santa thing.. everyone drew a name of a missionary and they have to buy them a gift (30R) and bring it next week for the party..... guess who I got... fricken MISSION PRESIDENT! What the Heck Am I gonna get this guy????

After the meeting we went as a Zone to get Lunch and we found a CHINESE RESTAURANT! I havent had Chinese food in Forever!!! It was awesome! but it took the guy TWO HOURS to bring us our food! then another hour to eat it! Then our whole day was gone! But Im not complaining, it was Delicious! On the way home we stopped in a small town called Cestel and we found a little store that Sold ROOT BEER and DOCTOR PEPPER!!!!! It was a good day! 

When we got back to Qwa Qwa we were still able to teach sister Connie and her daughter.. she wanted to learn about Temples, it was a good discussion:) and we also saw sister mabula and her family and we had afun FHE:)

Thursday December 7th

we had a DDM, we taught sister Queen (SHES SO SMART, IT'S AWESOME), Visited Tia before she Leaves for the summer to Jo-burg (ill add Pictures for you guys), taught some other lessons, and finished the day at Lesegos house.. also, I wanted to beat up a guy in a goblin mask.... Luckily he ran away when I got out of the car... Its a long story, dont worry about it:) hahaha

Also, Elder Futter traded me for one of his cool Ties from Madagascar! so that was a highlight of my day:) hahaha

Friday December 8th Exchanges 

Today I was with Elder Lucas Rafael and we had an awesome day, got to bake Muffins and visit with Thabo before she leaves for Jo-burg as well.. (Pictures as well). Thabo is the girl we met at Basketball... She wants to get baptized Sooooo bad but her mom isn't letting her.. Darn Catholics. Keep her in your Prayers:) she was super nice so I let her sign my journal, so Lucas and I signed her journal as well!

we taught a bunch of other people, But I dont remember their names... Lucas is a funny guy! haha

Bennett and Futter were in PJ... they taught Lerato and his friends and they got them all on a solid B-date! 

Im tired but yeah, everything went well! Im excited for our area:)

Saturday December 9th 

Eish... today was a struggle. Not gonna lie.. We tried to work alllllll day...but nobody was helping us out! all our investigators are leaving for the Holidays and nobody tells us! So we ended up tracting for a few hours today:) we had some good Lessons though!

We taught Doctor and his family about the 10 Commandments and it was a lot of fun! we also helped him with his garden when we got there:)

I really hope these people come to church tomorrow:) Im excited for these people, they've changed a lot as we've visited them but They really need to start coming to church more consistently! haha

Sunday December 10th? I think?

Either way church was nice! sister Tummi came to church with her son for the first time, and Sister karabelo came with her niece as well... Relebohile was confirmed and is now officially the newest member of the true church! Elder Bennett was given the opportunity to confirm her and he nailed it!!:)) 

Monday December 11th

Today we met with Jenifer and we walked to setsing (The Saturday market) to look for stickers.... we didnt find any... so we walked allllllll the way to the other side of town to a little shop called Magestic signs, and he made us some cool stickers! I got a silver one in the shape of africa that says MERRITT. it looks pretty cool. I put it on the back of my Uke. Bennett got the same thing... except its colored like the south African Flag and it says BENNETT... I told him he should get one that says MERRITT but he wouldnt listen! 

I also had the guy make me a sticker for Mission President (For the Secret Santa thing) and he did.. it looked pretty cool, it was our mission logo with Africa and Moroni and all that... pretty nice! haha

Then we went to FHE and there was only 2 people there. EVERYONE IS LEAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!! But it's okay, I'm sure their all having fun:)

Tuesday December 12th

pretty typical day.. everyone is doing pretty good:) we taught Karabelo's mom today and she said she'll be coming to church so that'll be fun:)

Wednesday December 13th (CHRISTMAS PARTAAAYYY!)

the Christmas Party was a lot of fun! I hung out with Hoopes, Bennett, Lucus, wilson, gelbach, and well basically everyone else in our zone... it was different this year... Last year all of KZN Came together which is Multiple zones and we had a HUGE party! this one was smaller... but kinda nice:) We had a lesson from president, Played Christmas Mafia, had Lasagna for lunch, watched the End of the year slide show, and then we played chair SOCCER!

First of all the slide show was actually pretty good:) there was a lot of people in it from madagascar so it was cool to see who's new in our mission. President Thompson had a strong Desire to learn more about the Lion Park that we went to... So he might come with us next time? hahaha I'll try and send you guys the Slide show so you can see how everyones doing..

Chair Soccer was pretty fun too... but man, it was exhausting... Im so out of shape! hahaha

also president told us that last year our mission had 250 Baptisms!!!! which is pretty good... but this year we nearly hit 600!!!!!! which is... like... a lot better! so that was cool to hear:) everyones working a lot harder, and president is doing a great job leading us:)

on our way home we went through Clarens, got some Dr. pepper... then we saw a huge pack of like, 20 Baboons!! Those things are Pretty darn ugly.

Friday December 15th

Eish today I was with Elder Futter in PJ on exchanges and Every single appointment we had fell through. But we stayed positive and made it through the day. 

Saturday December 16th

just got done at Jenifer house. President challenged us to do a ton of service as we come closer to Christmas... so we helped her with the Garden... it looks niccceeee now! haha

Sunday December 17th

I totally forgot to write in my journal so ill do that now.... Sorry guys!

Eish.... rough week at church... But I gave a talk and it was pretty funny! haha it was about the light of christ:)

MONDAY DECEMBER 18th

Today was Elder Hoopes last real P-day, so he came and spent the night at our boarding last night.. Today we left bright and early to go hike Sentinel Peak again.... Sadly, it was super cold and Extremely Foggy! we got to the water fall and we met a guy at the top... apparently  Its one of the largest water falls in the world! (its the second highest, next to Angel falls in south America). Google it, its called Tugela falls! hahaha.... if it is, I totally Peed off of it! Im sure its super pretty, too bad it was so foggy... If it truly is that tall, that explains why we met so many people from Germany, and Belgium, and... ummm Jo-burg.. hahaha

Also we crossed the Boarder of Lesotho in our hike!!!  Now I can say that I've been there.... ILLEGALLY! Mwahahaha

To finish the day we did a combined FHE at Phuthaditjhaba with Bluegumboch and Pj and it was a lot of fun! we played 30 seconds and Elder Lucas gave the lesson:)

Also, Yesterday, Branch president taught the youth about dating... including our newest member Relebohile... president told them that they shouldn't date until she's 16... guess what she did right after church... she broke up with Katleho!! hahahahaha it was so funny! she's awesome! Katleho's cool with it! hahaha

TUESDAY DECEMBER 19th

Today was nice:)) We taught some good lessons and met some cool people... We met Lawrances daughter... apparently she had been going to  church in Bloemfontein so that was awesome! 

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20th

We did service again today for Sis Jennifer... her roof started leaking again so that was a shame... We fixed it up for her and then went home to shower and go tracting.... However our water was out again, Like the 1000th time its been out, so we couldn't shower... so we called president Moeta and went weeded his garden and all that fun stuff! then we came home and the water was back on!! And we had a pretty darn good day after that:)

THURSDAY DECEMBER 21st

Today I went on exchanges in Bethlehem with Elder Wilson, He served his first 15 Months in Madagascar but now he's here because of the Plague! He's a cool guy! We taught some very... interesting people... and for lunch we went back to the Chinese food place with Brown and Isooba:) Elder Brown is pretty Darn funny!  

FRIDAY DECEMBER 22nd (MY  BIRTHDAY)

Blew up a chicken.... visited tons of people.. had a bunch of water thrown in my face because its a "South African Birthday tradition"....  So that was.... cold.. hahaha our land lord surprised us with a bunch of Meat so we had a birthday Braai with hoopes:)

We had cake and stuff at the kiris and they sang happy birthday and all that fun stuff:))

SAUTURDAY DECEMBER 23rd (MEGAN'S BIRTHDAY)

Well we had service this morning for sister Mohohlo and it was probably the easiest service ever! we mowed her lawn, WITH HER LAWN MOWER, Yes I repeat, She has a LAWN MOWER. We Didn't have to use Slashers this time!!!!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 24th 

Relelebohile gave a talk!! So it was the first time I got to here someone that I found, taught, and baptized, give a talk:)))) She did awesome! We helped her out this week:))