What a Week(s)

Well, the end of the semester really had me stressed so that's why I'm late on all three of these letters. The semester is officially over for me now! I am no longer a sophomore, which means I'm now an upperclassman, which also means I'm halfway through my collegiate career... I don't want to talk about it. Time seriously flies and it's crazy to think that this summer, Mikel is coming home! It doesn't feel like it was that long ago that we were just graduating and starting our adventures. We got the official flight itinerary this week!! June 16 is the official day. It's starting to feel so real!

April 10th

"We had a lot of conference this week. General conference and then normal church and then zone conference. I was pretty exhausted by the end of it all.

Zone conference was super awesome! We talked about our desires as missionaries and discovering what our inner desires are and should be and how to fulfill them.

I learned something I thought was interesting. Two words were put up. "motivation" "uplifted" we were comparing the two. We kind of came down to this. It's like working out. If your goal is to get a six pack, then after you get the six pack you stop working out. However, if your goal is to be healthy, even when you get the six pack, you continue to work out to stay healthy.  One is short term and the other is more long term. Also, motivation is more temporal while upliftment is more spiritual. In life we sometimes get motivated to become better and do more and then it fades, we really want to get uplifted so that we can maintain that same motivation over an extended period of time. It was a really good discussion over the two words.

Something my companion mentioned was "becoming the real you".  Something that I always talk about is how we are all sons and daughters of God and how that is something quite extraordinary and special. Our Father is the greatest King to ever exist! He is our dad and that's why he loves us. I have talked about this before but I don't care. He is God, he is incapable of doing anything less than perfect. He created us and by divine design we are perfect, for God is unable to do anything but that. The problem is that perfection is deep down in us. Throughout this life we take on corruption, from all around us we see and consume corruption. Nevertheless, their is perfection in each on of us. The question then lies, How do we pull this perfection out of us? Now that is an interesting topic! Well, we always want some grand explanation or demonstration. If someone told us that to bring out the perfection in you and to become that perfected person you must climb the highest mountain and eat of the fruit there on, we would probably try it. The thing is, its much more simple and we can all do it. We just need to focus on the basic. Scripture study, prayerful conversation and relation, and thoughtful church attendance. If we are to do these small and simple things then great things are brought to pass. In turn we begin to bring the perfection out of us. the "real you" begins to shine. I could go on and on but sadly time never seems to be on my side.

I know that we all have perfection placed in us. We don't have to try to imitate someone or something else, just be you, do you and become who you really are! That's what God intends. Now this rarely is achieved here and now but is an eternal pursuit full of trials and learning. As we learn to become the "real you" You begin to see the "real you" in others around you. You begin to see the potential and value of all of God's children and grow to love them all in their faults, quirks and shortcomings.

Be the Real You! find the joy in life, find the presence of God within and around you! live it and love it!"


April 17th

"So we had some deep stuff happen this week.

First was with Nokozotsa, one of our investigators getting baptized on the 30th. We left her with a copy of "Family a proclamation to the world" and we were going to go over it. We got to her house at 3 o'clock and knocked on her bedroom door. no answer. We tried again.... no answer. We looked through the key hole and saw her in bed. We assumed she was sleeping. This was on Easter day. We came into the room and planned to scare her, you know me and my silly games. Well turns out she was not sleeping but was crying. We had no idea what was going on. She took a few minutes to try and compose herself and left the room. She came back and then proceeded as if everything was normal. We took her hand and asked her how she was and then she lost it all over again. We spent the next 15 minutes in silence, sitting on the bed side just being there for her. She began to tell us what was wrong. She explained how she didn't know what family feels like anymore. The pamphlet was too much for her, both her parents died while she was young and she had she had to take on the role of Mother for her siblings. She was in High school trying to do her best and also acting as a parent. no easy task. It was Easter Day and she was still in Bloem, she didn't go home for the holiday because there wasn't a true home to go to, at least not one with love. She sobbed as she told us the pain she has felt as she couldn't understand why she had to go through this pain. Why God had to take both her parents away, and so much more.

Its moments like this when you feel completely unqualified. After awhile I couldn't help but smile as my mind was flooded with pictures of the temple. As I remembered many experience while inside and also other experience about eternal family. After listening for a while we were able to gain composure and she proceeded to ask what we had to share. I lit up and said excitedly, this! While pointing to a picture of the Salt Lake Temple. I asked her what she saw. She told us she saw a beautiful building. I went on to say, let me tell you what makes it so beautiful. We began to talk about temple sealing, and baptism for the dead. We talked about how God will restore everything and every opportunity will be had again. I shared from experiences in my life of close ones being lost and how knowing where they are, how they are and how I can be with them again makes it all bearable. The spirit was felt and we were able to realize Gods love for us, even in the darkest moments. We then expressed on how we are on big family and we are never really alone."

"We were met with another instance of great turmoil as one young women whom also is studying at the college UFS here told us of some bad news. She has had a cyst on her ovary and has been in the process of removing it. She discovered at her last check up that it had spread and that they would now have to perform a more intensive operation that will no longer allow her to have children. She is in her early 20's and the news was devastating. Again, we felt unqualified and unsure of what to say to a soul weighed down so much. We listened and listened some more. I have come to learn a great way to solve a problem is by listening. As we listen not just to the person present but to the Holy Spirit, our minds begin to light up with insight and direction. We testified again to her and offered a Priesthood blessing. After which we were able to smile and to enjoy the rest of the day. Her outlook remains positive still and we are hopeful for good news tomorrow after her check up.

Wow isn't mission an adventure. I have come to learn as Elder Stevenson of the twelve apostles shared, The spirit is seemingly the only way we can gain comfort and peace in the tragedies of life.

Also, happiness never comes from looking around us but rather by looking up. Look up to our savior, look up to our Father and look to their guidance and love. The world looks to compare, discriminate everyone and thing. True happiness is not found in becoming better than another or having more of something but rather from within. From the peace of the Spirit of the Lord. True happiness is found in the soul and shine forth from the eyes.."

April 24th

"We are preparing two people for baptism on the 30th! One named Rethabile, she has met with missionaries in the past, just over two years ago but it didn't go anywhere. She grew up around some members and one even brought her to church a few years ago. She saw us in the street about two months ago and stopped us. She asked us to come see her that week! As we have taught her its been as if she has been teaching us. She really studies what we give her and has a great understanding of the gospel. She has been going through a lot of trials lately but through it all she says she has just been happier, more patient, and hopeful since we have started teaching her. She knows its true!

Nokozotsa is our other investigator getting baptized on Sunday. We met her almost three months ago. We stopped her in the road and began sharing our purpose. She said that she was new to Bloem for school and didn't have a church but really wants to go. She promised us she would visit that Sunday.... she didn't.... but we didn't give up. We saw real potential and new she was ready. We called her, it didn't work, called again she was busy. She had soccer. We decided to go and watch her soccer match. She afterwards came to church and has been ever since. She has had an incredible history and a tough one as well. She has risen to every occasion. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and is in 2Nephi. She loves it! We are really excited for her to make the next steps towards entering the celestial Kingdom."


I love hearing about his investigators and how well they are doing. The thing I love about it is that each of the people he is teaching or has taught has had different experiences and are in different walks of life, but the gospel applies to each of us. There is always something to teach us regardless of what we have done or who we are.

Just some quotes from church today that I loved:

"We are called, we are chosen, we are Christ for one another."
"It shouldn't be fake it til you make it, it should be faith it til you make it."
"Don't try to do one great thing in your life, just do many small things with great love."

No Email Last Week

"Sorry I didn't get the chance to send out an email last week. We were having some technical difficulties with my sons email account.... Still havn't gotten it sorted so that's a bit of a bummer.

Its been raining a lot lately, actually a ton, quite different for Free State area but its been good for the crops, we have been praying for rain for years this side. I think it might have to do with the dineo storm hitting the coast. It is sometimes hard to get motivated  to go out and tract in the rain, but nothing can stop us!

Anyways yes my son is Elder Mbangi from Cape Town SA, he is Xhosa. Maybe I will be able to learn a bit of xhosa now, xhosa is like isiZulu but has even more clicks. When I speak Zulu a fluent Xhosa can pick up the jist of what I am saying but when it comes to me hearing anything in Xhosa its over!

He is 19 yrs old, just a week younger than me and is the only member in his family. He is a power dude. He already is a great and powerful teacher and loves the book of mormon and the gospel. We both share a strong testimony of our Father in Heaven.

I know I have probably mentioned it before but Ill do it again and it probably wont be the last time. Who is God? think about that! He is the creator, the reason for everything the one who showers us with blessings right!? well that is correct, He is our creator which makes Him our Father. He is a perfect Father and because of that all He wants to do is bless us. He only wants the best things for us. (Matt7:7-11)  When we truly begin to understand that God is our loving Heavenly Father it answers just about everything! Why am I suffering, well if you know that God is your Father and loves you perfectly and would never do anything to hurt you then you begin to realize that these trials or sufferings are for our gain, our learning, our benefit in every way. If a parent was to scared to let their baby fall down while trying to walk, would the baby ever learn to walk? NO! We learn through trials. it just seems to be the nature of humanity. Even Christ himself learned through suffering (Heb5:8) 

God is perfect right?

-yes

Him being perfect can He make mistakes?

-no

So, every thing he does is??.....

-Perfect

Exactly, God our Father being perfect can not make mistakes, He can only make perfection, all He does is perfect.

So, who made you?

-God

And if He cant make mistakes that means you are perfect, we are all divine, we all have the potential for perfection, we were made destined for perfection. (Matt5:48)  You are perfect just the way you are! Not while you are trying to be someone else or do things to fit in, you, just the way your are is literally perfection. Because the way you are is the way God made you and we dont have to try to conform or change to feel acceptance or self worth. When we know that God is our Father than we already have an infinite worth and self value. Your Father is the greatest King known to all of humanity and you are his son or daughter. You are all Prince's or princesses! and the best part is you dont have to do anything to be that. you are just that. Perfect. I love knowing that we have a Heavenly Father who is there for us. just like the baby who falls down trying to walk. He picks us up. and encourages us to move forward.

Elder Mbangi and I have been continuing to try and find new investigators to teach. its going okay. We have had a few set back this week as some people have decided they would not like to visit with us anymore but hey, such is life and it just moves on and so do we. 

We are really excited about the people we do have though. Today we get to go see three young women we have been teaching for a little bit. Boy do I love them! I just love how excited some people are about the gospel. It makes me excited and so happy. I love seeing people smile and find joy and I think thats why I love being a missionary, because I just get to help others find that in their lives!!! its wonderful!

We will be teaching them about Faith, Repentance and baptism today. I am excited, they tend to ask a lot of interesting questions. like, What tribe is moses from or, Why was marry chosen to be the mother of Christ, or other wonderful and interesting biblical questions. I love them but we are going to try to shift the focus on to the things we have prepared to help them progress more.

I love kids! We are teaching this boy Nati who is a recent converts child. he is 8 years old and teaching him is a blast. We are hoping to get him baptized the beginning of the month but we will see. Kids just have this extra light about them and when they learn something new or for the first time you see that spark just fare a bit and its the coolest thing ever!

I see more and more why Children are the kingdom of heaven! (Matt19:14)

Sindi is also doing well, we just finished all the missionary discussion and will now be focusing on more direct principles and ordinances. She still isnt ready for baptism but I hope and pray she will be soon. It gets hard when you grow to love the people you are teaching so much and then they dont progress like you hope. It literally hurts my heart and just makes me super sad. Everyone has their time though and no effort is ever wasted, no good deed goes without reward.

I am excited for this week, we will see how everything goes. I am trying my best to keep up the energy and enthusiasm. Its a great feeling coming home at the end of the day just so tired that you dont even want to plan for tomorrow. The only thing you want to do is sleep so you skip cooking dinner and just go to bed.

oh that reminds me haha we made an awesome dinner last night. So like normal we get home about 9 to 9:30 and then we plan for tomorrow. this takes us to 10 we then have to cook to eat dinner. so I started boiling the chicken and then realized we had potatoes so I started boiling those as well. through some frozen veggies in it as well. Started to boil the rice. and then make the beans. We then baked the chicken to crisp it up and put it all together. It was a really thrown together meal because I started the chicken and rice not knowing what we would eat it with, then I realized we had potatoes and veggies but still we didnt have anything to make a nice chicken stew so then we found some beans and started those and by the end everything turned out nice and delicious. so we eat at 11 and then go to bed. I am used to eating late, my son is getting used to it now after two weeks. we eat lunch around 12 and then dinner around 10-11 somewhere in their. so its quite the gap.

Anyways I love you all and pray you are well,

Elder North"

He did mention to me that his companion was struggling a little bit with feeling homesick. He is the only member of the church in his family so they aren't really thrilled about him being away for two years and his father is sick as well as some other family issues. But I hope that he starts to get immersed the the work and his family is able to see the blessings of him serving. 

Jeepers Time is Gone Going!

"Yes I know my english is getting really really bad.... just dont judge to much.

So this week just flew past as well and a lot of things were happening all over the place. So on Wednesday we got to go on exchanges with the assistance in Durban. so we drove to stanger which is an hour away and met them and they took us the next hour to Durban. Its always good to seem them because the AP's are Elder Adams, former comp, and Elder Bennison, MTC comp. so I know them both decently well and its good to catch up. they work so hard and do so much so they are always just beat tired.

The next day the assistance got a call and had to leave. sooo we didnt even end up going on exchanges with them. so I went out with the Elders in Berea, Elder Sithole and Elder Huntington. We had an awesome day and taught a powerful lady about the word of wisdom she has some other personal issues she is working on before she can get baptized but she is just power. We met some members at their place and their were two sisters who are not members. so we were talking and getting to know them. they were super cool and we enjoyed the time we had to get to know them and then they fed us dinner which was amazing. She cooked us pap but her pap was mixed with butter and potato so it was almost like mashed potatoes but more like pap. I dont know how to explain it unless you have had pap before. it was super good.

Well because the assistance had to leave to take care of some things we had to stay another night in Durban. So we got back to our are in the afternoon of the next day. When we got home the Elders from Port Durnford where there so we had to take them home, they live about 30 minutes away, this was just after driving three hours back to our home from durban. after getting to PD we had to go to Enseleni another 30 minutes to do an interview. after that we drove another 30 minutes to our place, we drove for like 4 and a half hours just to get to our area that day. it was rough.

We have been having a lot of opposition in the work lately with investigators not keeping commitments or just not progressing and we have to drop them (stop seeing them and look for new people to teach) so this week not much changed until Saturday. We taught our guy Sphe and focused a lot about the importance of church, we also taught Zanele and her sister. Her sister seemed super interested and asked us a lot of questions about Joseph smith. When we gave her a book of Mormon and asked her to read the introduction page she said, what just one page we then showed her where to start in first Nephi chapter 1! She seemed super excited to read so we pray she does. sadly she said she had to go to her church this week. but we will see her again tomorrow and see where that takes us."

#lighttheworld

"My comp and I got a nice roti wrap :)"

"plumbing service has an awesome slogan"

"We really have been focusing on one in particular named Sphe, he is a young man going into his senior year so he is at a prime age for the gospel and could still go on mission if he gets baptized. His family is super traditional and are all sangoma traditional witch doctors. He doesn't think that the traditional belief is true at all and has great faith in Christ. He hadn't come to church though the past few weeks and we knew that if he didn't come now it was time to drop him. It was hard to come to that conclusion because he is such a great young man and understands so well everything that we teach him. He retains the information well and has a testimony of the book of Mormon. We let him know that if he didn't come to church that this would be our last visit and that we need to spend our time with people who are serious about coming unto Christ. Well Church started and he was no where to be found. I personally thought that, that was it. we are no longer teaching this guy. He wont come to church. With ten minutes left of sacrament meeting he walked in the door. I was pretty tired during the meeting and my mind was else where. Immediately after I saw Sphe in the door way my head sprung up and I turned to my companion. I am sure the smile on my face was just as big as the one on his as we finally had a break through with an investigator. its been a tough journey the past little while here in Richards bay to get a investigator to really come to church and keep all of our commitments. it was a much needed answer to many prayers and fasts. I think he really enjoyed church and should be getting baptized in the next coming weeks.

After that we went to go teach Mpume, now we tried to see her during the week but it didnt go to well, she hadnt read because she was super busy, we still tried to sit down and share something but she kept getting up to do stuff so we ended up leaving without sharing anything. We decided to try her again Sunday afternoon and we were able to have an incredible lesson about the plan of salvation. She really understands and just puts things together. she states answers to questions we havnt even asked her yet. We are really hoping that she will come to church this week and get baptized soon. She says to know that the things we teach are true because she feels more and more peace and joy and we talk and as she reads. We encouraged her to continue down the path of reading and studying and praying that she will be able to gain a firm testimony. God will always confirm truth so we can be sure of it.

At the end of the day we went to visit Njabulo (happy) This is a sweet dude. He came to church out of the blue one day and so we of course started talking to him. He is engaged to a member from new castle so they came together. we visted with him sunday night and got to know him a bit more and began to teach about how we can have eternal and happy families through the message of the restored gospel. We look forward to going to see him this week and really start teaching. He has so much potential to progress. I have never taught a family that actually has come to church so this is awesome!"

"Exchanges with Elder Sithole and Huntington"

"Downtown Durbs"

"I know that God does indeed lift us in the hour of our need. God being our Father in Heaven wants nothing but good for us. All that happens and is allowed to happen is really intended for our gain and benifit. its just really really hard to see it sometimes. If we can just take grasp to that simple truth that God is our Father and a perfect on in fact. That a perfect Father would only do what he know was good for his children. That a perfect Father wants the best for His children and would give them every opportunity to learn and become better than they currently are. If we just understand that principle, that truth. Our whole live really changes, our perspective takes a shift. our views are broadened. I know that we receive no witness until after that trial of our faith. As a missionary I see many trials that people go through each day. I do see people suffering in poverty and sickness but through those trials they come to find the true and living God, they come to know Him and feel his presence. The same applies for me and you. When we are going through what seems to be dark times, we must do the only thing we seemingly can. Look up to the Light of our saviour, Cry out His name in our need. Allow the Mercy of Jesus to lift and love you. He will carry you. He does carry me. I have a bit of a love hate relationship with trials. I love them after they are done as I look back and see the whole picture. That is usually when I can see the benifit that has come, the growth that was needed. We sometimes think that because God loves us, it is supposed to be easy. Well its not easy. but its is not because he dosnt love us. It is only because He loves us and wants us to return to live with Him again

I hope this isnt all confusing or rambling. This season is such a joyous time. We are given ample oportunity to turn and reflect towards the savior who is Christ.  Christmas is wonderful! Christ is wonderful!

Just know that however you are feeling, especially if you are feeling low. That there is Light, He is the Light. There is joy at the end of this road. there is hope.

I know that God lives. I know it, I really do. so can you."

"Elder Thorsen and I didnt have an oportunity to take our wonderful elders Dooley and Harper on Exchanges so we invited them over for a nice home cooked diner as we did there interviews. #momskills"

I love the stories he shares about the investigators they are teaching. Even though it may not always turn out how they would like, it's always interesting to me to read about how each person comes to find their testimony in a different way.

Finals are finally over! I can't believe how fast this semester flew by. It doesn't feel like that long ago that it started, but it was over four months ago. I'm really looking forward to skyping Mikel on Christmas, which is a week away! I've been thinking a lot today about how much has changed since last Christmas. There are a lot of things that are the same, of course, but especially in myself I've seen a lot of change. 2016 has been a year of so much growth and learning personally, and I know it has been the same for him. He seems to have matured a lot especially in this last year and his testimony has continued to grow. I love to look back at old letters and emails and read them not only to remember what things were like then, but also to see how far we have both come. It's kind of a crazy thing that I will see him again in about 6 months. There's so many different emotions that I feel when I think about it, but I try not to because it is still kind of far away. :) But anyway, I'm super excited to skype!

I'm also excited for Christmas because it's taken on such a new meaning for me this year. The Light the World initiative that the Church has done this month has been so cool to participate in. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to lds.org and look for Light the World.) I love how it takes attributes and actions of the Savior and gives us something we can do each day that Christ did for others. Today in Relief Society in my home ward the lesson was from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Howard W. Hunter chapter 24. We talked about what we are doing/should be doing in our lives to be like Christ, and then we talked about the question, "What manner of men ought ye to be?" I automatically thought of the answer that Christ gave right after He asked the question: "Even as I am." As I've pondered what that means, a video I watched at institute came to mind that I thought I would share here. As Christmas is coming closer, I invite everyone to focus a little more on Christ and how we can make room for Him in our lives.

Book of Mormon and Investigators

"This week we drove 750miles, YES miles thats crazy! we had MLC in ladysmith this week where we got to meet with all the other zone leaders and talk about stuff with the mission prez.  It was super sweet! :)

We also got to teach Baba Nnkosi and we will see him again tonight.  He is a reverend for his church and was in Swaziland this weeked for church stuff, buuuutttt he said that he would read the Book of Mormon and if it is true he will follow! Well, if he reads then its game over! It is  true and he will know it! Our last lesson was really grand, the spirit was strong and Baba was nigh to tears at the end as we testified of the Book of Mormon.

We found a new lady this week who is power, her name is Mpume and she is cool. We extended a baptismal date the first time we sat with her and she accepted!  It was stupendous! We just taught her about the restoration and she was getting everything, Usually when we ask question and get them thinking its kinda hard. They dont always put things together but she was getting it, she was putting it all together which is just awesome, she is awesome, mission is awesome!"

Driving to MLC

MLC

 best cooks in town. L to R Elder Thorkolsen, Smith, Thorsen, yours truly.

"Playing games at the mission home before MLC the next morning."

"Isn't our mission president just the cutest"

"elder Katimbo from Kimberely its been over a year since I saw him last, he goes home in about 3 months"

Elder Shinga

Elder Depriest

"We were able to teach Sphe as well and he is stud x2! We taught him about the Book of Mormon and when we followed up with him about it he bore a simple and powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon. He said "I just feel like its real" and that was cool! Sadly he wasn't able to come to church, not sure why yet. We are out of airtime and can't call anyone so we will be seeing him tomorrow.  I hope he gets baptized.

We are really trying to set things on fire and make December an incredibly awesome month. It's tough though because December is summer here and holiday and people party for days! We set a goal for the zone in baptisms and in our area we are going to try to get 10 by the end of December, well this area usually get ten a year so its gonna be tough but it is possible. I mean all we need to do is find one more family to teach and then boom! So much prayer and fasting will be put into effect.  

Well I am out of time so I gotta go buuuuuuuuttttttttt, I love ya'll lots! stay blessed!

Love
Elder North"

"so much crabs, such wow, many waves, very crawel."

"Weekly planning at the beach."

"Toothpaste proves the word of wisdom"

"soooo, we went to visit someone in the hospital and while walking down one of the halls we looked at a door and saw that it was barricaded. I think there must have been a small zombie outbreak....."

"Missionary or....."

Well I finally got his Christmas package sent this week, so that will probably be late but it's sent! And thankfully the semester is coming to an end. This is the last week of classes and then finals! Just gotta push through to the end. We're coming up on his 6 months to go mark, which is absolutely insane. One more semester and he's home! I'm really excited to skype him on Christmas. :)