Teaching and Finding

February 6th

"We work mainly with university students which is fun because they are fun to talk to and get to know and also great because they are receptive.

We were able to see Ntate Tladi this week and he is doing great. sadly he will be going to kzn for work for a few weeks which means he wont be getting baptized any time soon.... but all is good :) he continues to be interested and have good questions. We have had some real good discussions with him. This week we talked about the Atonement and what it really means. It was power!

The other exciting visit was with Michelle, She is super awesome and from Lesotho. I love Lesotho!!!!! Well she is super smart and knows a lot about the Bible and that's rare to find. So we get to have great conversations and really talk about the gospel in depth. It's cool because when you teach you learn and I am definitely learning lots. She invites her friends to come with us as well to join in the discussions. Their names are Grace and Bonny, They are also both great! We meet with them in the lobby of their flats which can be a bit of a hectic area with people coming in and out and what not. We decided that we would start by opening with a hymn, (Be still my soul, because its one of my most favorite hymns.) As we sung people stared but we didn't care! The spirit was strong, we all felt it. Super cool. I just love that feeling of peace and love. I really love these girls, as you feel the spirit with someone you grow to love them! We then continued to talk about the plan of salvation, where we came from, why we are here and where we go after this life. It was a great lesson."

At Brother Mandas House

"Sindi came to church!!! woot woot. We are now focusing on reading the Book of Mormon. The only way that anyone will truly come to know that these things are true is if the read and pray about it. so thats what shes gotta do if she really wants to know.

It is the end of the transfer and Elder Fransen will be leaving to New Castle. I will be receiving a brand new missionary so I don't even know his name yet haha. It was a great transfer and we had a lot of fun and worked a lot. It would have been nice to stay together another transfer, but the Lord is in control of his work and knows where we need to be.

I love you all and I love life!"

"The Robert's are home now :("

Mikel's mom included this in his group email. The mission president's wife posted it on her blog and I thought it was cool!

"Here are some common words in South Africa different than what I'm used to:

small truck = bakki (bah-key)

BBQ = braai (bry)

trash = bin

trunk of car = boot

pleasant surprise = eish (ay-sh)

really? = isit

stop light = robot

you're welcome = pleasure

grandma = gogo

woman = ma

grandpa or father = baba

how are you? = howzit

french fries = chips

beef fillet = fillet (fill-it)

zucchini = marrow

bathroom = toilet room

napkin = serviette

diaper = napkin

beef jerky = billtong

When South Africans shake your hand, they reach one hand out, but use their other hand to balance their extended arm...this is a sign of respect.

Grocery stores are in all of the big malls. It's common to see grocery carts being pushed through the malls.

Driving here is on the left side of the road.

Almost every home and apartment has metal bars on windows, and metal gates in addition to front and back doors - they are called burglar bars!

The thing that surprised me most when we arrived 7 months ago is that most homes have high fences with sharp spiked tops, and an electric fence on top of that, or curled razor wires. At first it looked daunting, but I hardly notice it anymore!

Most South Africans are very well versed in the Bible.

A taxi here is a van-like bus. They fit at least fifteen people in them, and they seem to rule the roads here!

Lot's of people hitch hike. There are different hand signals to represent where the person wants to go!

People walk on freeways here!"

Sneaky tank

Got to be on the radio!

We didn't get a group email this last week so hopefully we will get one tomorrow. He has a new companion who he is training and he told me he was nervous but also excited. In our personal emails we've been talking a lot about what's going to happen when he gets home which is crazy! It's getting so close. There's so much that could happen and so many ways it could happen but I know that as long as we trust in the Lord it will all work out. :)

Visit to Kimberley

Two in one! :)

January 23

"This might be a bit short because of the lack of time I have today, eish, ngiya xolisa.

So I had the great opportunity to go up to Kimberley this week, some of you may remember that is where I started my mission. We had to go up there to interview someone who is preparing to be baptized this coming sunday. now here is the best part. the lady (kayla) is the daughter of Philda Williams! I baptized Philda 15 months ago! and now her daugther has moved back home and is getting baptized. it was so amazing to get to see her again and to see how strong she has been this year! what a blessing to be a part of her daughter being baptized. It was one of the most spiritual and touching interviews I have been able to conduct. I am just super happy and excited for this family!"

Kayla left, Philda Williams right

"I also go to visit a few other old friends from Kimberley. I saw Liberty who is a member and also Smalls and Fadd, two youth that would work with us a lot. Smalls has gotten older for sure and no longer sounds like a 12 year old he now sounds like a 16 year old.

Also we saw sister Dah who is like the missionaries mom that side, she really takes care of us and helps in every way she can to help the work. It was super weird being back in Kimberley. It didn't feel like that long ago when I was there. the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Sindiswa came to church this week as well so that's awesome. We will just about finish all the lessons with her this week and she is scheduled to be baptized in Feb. I am super excited, she is an awesome women. This will be the first person who I have found by knocking on a door and been able to teach all the way to baptism. that is if everything goes well. One thing I really like about the lessons we have with her is we sing hymns each time and its always a powerful experience. There is power in music!!!!

Ntate Tladi is progressing well and is now meeting with the senior couple as much as  possible before they leave back for home in Sandy Utah. We are hopeful that he will be baptized in Feb as well.

The work is awesome and I am so lucky to be apart of it all. Mission is too cool!"

Fadd left, Smallz right

Sister Dah

January 30th

"Now nothing unusual or grand happened except for the day to day life of a missionary!!!! I think this is why they call it the best two years!!!!

so we saw Sindi again this week. it was a bit rough because she told us how much she loves her church. We asked her if the Lord was to tell her to go to a specific church would she. She hesitated but reluctantly agreed that she must. I hope she gains a firm testimony. She is just a power girl and has a lot of love for God but she has a lot of love for how her life is right now. It is difficult because we know the best thing for her is the gospel. the direction and peace it brings is found no where else. and the blessings that come through restored truths and eternal families are incredible. I hope she can listen to the spirit as she reads and prays.

We met with Thando who is from Port Elizebeth in the cape town mission. she was referred to us by the Elders that side. She is doing well and keeping commitments. its still early but we will be putting her on a baptism day this week and hope that she will make it church on Sunday.

We did a lot of finding this week which was super fun and incredible. We met some great people. we met two young women who really have a firm and unshaken testimony in their Father in Heaven and in Jesus Christ. we look forward to seeing them tomorrow.

We met a group of new investigators who are going to school. they all seemed very interested as we shared about the book of Mormon and Joseph smith. at then end they were telling us how excited they were to pray to find out if these things are true!

and now one of my favorites is a new Investigator named Michelle. She is going to university and really knows her scriptures. She was asking great questions about the 12 tribes and lineage and possibilities of lineage. also she was talking about the lost books of the bible. and about what hell really is. just awesome questions that we don't get as often because people don't really study their bible. so it was dope.

We saw Narky as well. she has been struggling with her boyfriend lately. but they have a kid together and so it makes things complicated. they have been together for a while but things have been getting rocky. We are praying that the message we bring will bring them closer together. One of the first things we teach people is that the gospel blesses families and individuals. The thing is it takes effort on each family member to do what is needed to invite the spirit and blessings of the Lord into their homes and hearts.

We have been playing a lot of soccer which of course I love. we play on Mondays. and also Saturdays with the branch in the town ship. our first time playing them at the beginning of the transfer we won 6-3 the next time after we won 7-1 and the time after that we won 10-3 sadly this morning we tied 6-6 they really pulled up their socks today and played a good match. so that's been fun. I got some gnarly road rash the burns like crazy so that's fun as well.

Mission is just great. talking to people everyday is great. learning, living and loving is great. life is great. people are great. the gospel is great. My Mom and Dad are super great. my companion is great. my friend at home is great. everything just seems to be going good.... it can be scary because life is always full of opposition so I am waiting for the guillotine to drop and the pain but for now I will just soak up all the joy I can :)

Find the Joy in the day to day."

It's getting kind of real here people... I mean we have a little over four months left! That is just crazy to me. There were so many times early on where I felt like time was standing still and that we were never going to get to this point. Now I'm sure that these last few months are going to go a bit slower than the rest have, but I just can't believe that there's only FOUR left. Life is going to change again when he gets home but I'm excited for this change. Life is crazy and busy and it will be interesting to see how things work out and how we adjust, but I'm just excited to have my best friend back :) Now all that's left to do is get through spring semester....

Good Week!

"Eish I forgot my camera so now pictures this week.... sorry. I have also been really bad at taking pictures so Ill try to start taking some more this week.

Where do we start.

Monday -
So Monday's in this area have been nice because we play soccer. We go to the university which has super nice fields and play with the missionaries, we play 4v4.  It's really fun. Then we sometimes go out to eat together and then email which of course is nice to hear from everyone. Next we go out and teach. Today we have some appointments at 5,6, and 7.  So, we met with Thapelo. He is an adamant Roman Catholic. The Catholic belief is that the authority of God never was lost. As to our belief that authority and power was lost at the death of the apostles and Christ. The only way to really know is to pray and ask God. So we gave him the book of Mormon and just invited him to pray saying the only way to know what is really true is to ask of God if these things that we share are indeed true. We will be seeing him tonight so I hope he read, if he did then its easy. No one can read and sincerely pray about the book of Mormon without feeling something in their heart telling them that its true. So I am excited for that. We also teach his roommates but I can't remember their names because they are Xhosa names with lots of clicks. I am starting up my Zulu study again because a lot of people here speak Xhosa so they can understand Zulu. my Sotho is still shaky though.

Tuesday! A LOT OF FINDING
Another grand day came to pass as we started our morning work out. I am always sore and its bitter sweet. We got bunked at our first appointment which was fantastic because it gave us the opportunity to go out and find other people to teach. The thing is if you are just motivated as a missionary then knocking on doors all day really isn't as terrible as it seems. If you are just melancholy when it comes to the thought then you will just want to die....
The bad thing is that I am trying to drink a lot of water which is kinda of turning into a bad thing, I think I was blessed with my moms small bladder so I have to go pee like 8 times a day. We are walking down the street in the middle of town and then it hits me hard like oh I really really need to pee now. We just start walking down the street passing every house looking for a hiding spot where I can well ya.... sadly this isn't a township. While serving in townships everywhere and anywhere can be your toilet. (you don't want to know how many kids I have seen pop a squat in parking lots) but nope this is town and they have rules. I thought I was going to die!  Luckily we were able to solve the problem with a nice group of trees we found. haha We did a lot of street contacting. I love street contacting because we just teach lessons for Africa! We teach everyone and its awesome!

Wednesday
ELDER ROBERTS
The Roberts, they have been mentioned here and there throughout my mission but pretty much Elder Roberts is a scripture guru, he has memorized the entire Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants and the whole Bible. If you ask him any question or scripture he will tell you where the answer is. So he goes home in three weeks so we had a good bye night with the whole zone where we got to sit for a few hours and ask him lot of questions. It was dope.

Thurs,Fri ZONE CONF AND NTATI TLADI
So we had zone conference which is always a blast and we focused on our purpose.  We then went to see Ntati Tladi, His wife is a member who was introduced to the gospel about a year and a half ago by Elder Adams. At the time Ntati had no interest in listening to the missionaries. Now he has committed to come to church whenever he is home and to be baptized. He works in the military which can be a struggle because of his hectic schedule.
We then saw Sindi, she unfortunately was not able to come to church this week do to financial strains but we are working that out with some members who will be able to give her a ride. We taught about the Book of Mormon and wow, boy oh boy was it powerful, the spirit was strong through the entire lesson. We are excited to follow up with her tomorrow and how her prayers have gone and we will set her on a baptism date.

Well...now the email is getting too long aye?

We taught some more lessons on Saturday and it was pretty normal and then we had church on Sunday.

Over all I think it was a pretty good week.

I got mail from the ward, a sweet package! Thank you!!!
Also got a south Africa flag tie from mom.

Love you all!
Elder North"

Sad because he hasn't gotten my Christmas package yet :( Guess that's what I get for waiting too long to send it!

I started my first week of spring semester last Tuesday and I'm sure you can guess that's why I'm a little behind on this post. :) Spring is different soccer wise for me because it's our off season and we're only allowed to play so many games. So we run, and run, and lift, and run, and play a little bit of soccer here and there haha. All of our trainings are in the morning though so we have the rest of the day for classes and homework and somewhat of a social life. My roommate and I have some good friends in our ward that live down the street so we're hoping to hang out with them a lot more! Its been hard for me to make friends in college for whatever reason, so I'm excited that we have friends now!

In our personal email last week I told him about U23 camp and how it went and all of that, but I also talked about playing professionally and how that could potentially be an option one day for me. I say one day as if it's far away but I really only have two more fall seasons left which is crazy. But anyway, I just kind of told him that it stresses me out a little bit to think about how things would work with that if we did get married, and his email to me surprised me haha, he had thought everything out pretty thoroughly. But whatever happens, I know that as long as I trust in the Lord that He will show me the path that I need to take.

"I have thought a lot of about that too, what exactly it would mean if you were to play professionally. I have prayed and prayed and I feel confident in doing the dev mountain schooling. that means Ill be working in less than 6 months of being home. ya I would like a formal degree but for what I want in life it actually isnt the best option. secondly the best thing a bout computer programming is no matter where we live I can find a job as long as their is a city with a decent population then I will have ample opportunity. at any city there are plenty of certification courses to increase my skills in computer software and development so I can continue to climb the business latter. I support you whole heartedly in going professional. Think about it, you wont be playing your whole life. when you retire from soccer you can pick right up with teaching. I just like the idea of being by your side. if its in Chicago, Portland, Washington, new york, Seattle, Kansas, Huston, Boston, ect or even over seas. I am down! lets do it babe, dont let anything stop you. eventually I see us moving back to utah having a family and being around family we can have both. I just want to let you know that I have thought about it. One thing I know is I want to marry you Hailey Kaye Skolmoski, and I want to marry the you now and the you then and forever. the soccer you, the Friend you, the shy you, the outgoing you. the embarrassed because of my dancing you, the mom you, the old cute granny you. all of it. It is honestly the only decision that just brings so much peace in my heart. I have never been so sure about anything. When it comes time to draft or what not then we will find out whats right. Heavenly Father always confirms. He will not just leave us guessing. Just know that I am following you wherever you run to babe, you cant shake me :) The beauty of what I want to do for a living is that it fits in perfectly with whatever we decide there is such opportunity in computer programming and they need people all over the nation. As much as I love Utah, I know I would love exploring new places with my you whom I will call my wife. nothing sounds better. just thought I would let you know that you dont gotta worry about me babe, Im stuck to you and no matter what things will work out :) the only thing that wont work is living apart, after 19 months of that and 5 more I am sick of it, I aint never leaving you again. haha

I really do love you! :) It is real babe, can you believe it! soon we will be together, it is starting to seem like it actually might happen, I at the beginning of my mission just thought it would never end, that the end was so far that for some reason it would never come but now I know it will. I know we will be together. I know I will get to love you all over again! I know that we will get to be together for eternity. That is my motivation, my hope, my dream. its what gets me out of bed in the morning knowing if I work hard, if I am a good boy and do what I am supposed to do then I will be one day closer to being with you forever.


Always
Elder Mookie"

Bloemfontein

We got some details about his new companion this week, so that was good! And while it seemed like the work was slow at first, they have found some people to teach and are super excited about it.

"So sorry for the short email last week. let me make up for it :D

So Elder Fransen, my new companion. Awesome dude from cali! (mom, what city are our relatives in california from?)  He was a wrestler in high school so we are starting to work out hard in the morning! getting "yoked" or "swoll" as they call it haha. he also did a lot of welding which is pretty cool so he would make his own knives and belt buckles and what not. pretty impressive.

He has been on mission just over a year now. We are really getting a long and the work is starting up now.

Bloemfontein is a town area, and towns are known for being a bit rough and tough on missionary work. Because of the holiday season a lot of our investigators are out of town so we have a lot of open time.... like all day.... so we go tracking, try to set up booths and get denied and all. the frustrating part about town is when you knock on someones gate you will see them peak out the window and then hide and not answer the door.... silly people don't they know that their families can be together forever through the message we share.... I guess they don't otherwise I don't know why they wouldn't answer."

"So the work has been a bit slow and disheartening. but luckily these past two days we were actually able to find some awesome people. things are starting to look upwards and momentum is coming. We met this guy name Thapelo and his two buds. they are going to the university and they had quite a few questions about why there are so many interpretations of the bible and all that jazz, we were happy to invite them to learn more of the restoration of the gospel that answers that question perfectly and how God has provided a way for us to know exactly what he wants us to know. to get rid of all confusion. its through the Book of Mormon.

NO one can know if the Book of Mormon is TRUE unless they READ, and PRAY about it! the best part is if they actually do that, they find out it is true and life becomes so much brighter!!!!

We also found this young women named Sindi, she is studying Psychology and is super cool. Her parents are pastors of her church but in recent times she has had lots of questions about the bible and things not making sense so she has stopped reading it. we told her its normal to not understand everything. I mean I teach the gospel 7 days a week and still learn more each day. the gospel is like a puzzle. you start with the corners. if I give you a middle peace and you haven't built the sides then you wont know where it goes. the peace none the less still has a purpose and place in the big picture but it needs to wait. we need a foundation. it is the same with the gospel and principles in it. for example if I don't have faith then why pray. there would be no point in prayer if I didnt have a belief that God hears me and answers my prayers, that He loves me, and Knows me. So we see we have to build from the foundation and hold on to those pieces we don't quite understand yet and continue to build our knowledge until we find out where it fits.

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is awesome because it puts forth the doctrine of salvation so clearly and helps us really understand the teachings that get so mixed and confused in the bible. I love the Bible, I love the Book of Mormon and know them to be the word of God. I know the best way to find peace in your life is to read the Book of Mormon and pray. search it for answers. It is full of them.... you'll be surprised! :)

My good friend Kayla asked me this week what has been my favorite thing on mission... what a good question, I couldn't really give an answer because I just love so many things and there are to many to chose just one but  I did try my best with this reply.

I have loved being able to just meet so many wonderful people on my mission to see all the different backgrounds people come from and how the teachings and love of Jesus Christ fit perfectly into each of their lives. I have loved being able to learn more about my Savior and also about myself and I have done my best to serve with all I got. As a missionary people seem to naturally trust you and that is one of my favorite things is people trusting me enough to tell me whats really going on and coming for help. I love seeing how in all these different struggles, weather it be money, family, relationship, personal, or other all these struggles seem to find answers through Christ and it amazes me. It is something I didn't know before or even understand. Its still crazy to me how it happens. I have loved meeting new and incredible people everyday. learning different cultures and coming to love them. it'll be hard to leave them. I don't know its hard to say just one thing. I have loved my mission and look forward to the last months I have.

its been tough though. some days really suck. you just go out and try to find people to teach and no one wants to even look at you. it can get discouraging but one thing I have learned is hard work. I have really learned to work on my mission. to not get discouraged. and to press forward knowing all will work out. I have learned so much about life and how great it is. 

It doesn't come close to describing the love and joy of missionary service but maybe it gives you a hint of some things I love about being a missionary."

"The Roberts. Sadly they go home next month"

"Elder Henley and I"

"Elder Benissan and I"

"This was a great week. It has been a bit of a tough start. A lot of our investigators are out of town due to the holiday season and because of the recent baptisms we are really trying to build a teaching pool. We haven't been successful in the past as we have been doing all we could think of to find until these past two days. it seems like people are now just showing up, and real people with potential. Its actually really exciting. I was starting to worry about this area and that it would be too hard to get things going but now things really are starting to happen and it gave us the much needed moral boost to start of this week. We both look forward to working hard this week and getting all the little things in. Ie studies right on time, out to the area early and finding meaningful activity for every hour of the day. I look forward to great memories, and love to be had here in Bloemfontein. I am feeling more and more a sense of urgency as I feel I have lots of time to make a change not only in myself but in the area and others but at the same time I don't have anytime to waste, I really have to use it all and be effective in the way we do use our time.

Also gotta give a shout out to Hailey for getting a call to go on a camp with the U23 US Womens national team.... isnt she just incredible!!!! WOW!!!! :)

I love you all so dearly and I am grateful to be here in South Africa. It is home. God bless you all with the best new years ever!!!!

Elder North"

"New investigator Lethabo"

"She gave me a braid!"

It was super cute of him to give me a little shout out for going to camp. :) Camp was super fun and a really good experience. I learned a lot and hopefully it will only help me to progress even more!