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. :)

2017

The last two emails we've gotten were kind of short, so I'm just combining them into one! After Christmas, he was transferred to Bloemfontein and got a new companion, Elder Fransen. We don't know much about his area or his companion yet.

December 26

"well lets see.... what happened this week.

We went to see Sphe who is our most promising investigator. He was unable to come to church this week but hopefully he will come next week. We are teaching him about living and keeping the commandments and he is ready to follow them! He is a power dude and likes to rap.

We found a few new investigators while trying to find less actives in mzingazi. We found this girl thando and guy Chris, they both used to live with a member so they have seen missionaries but have never been taught by them, we spent a good hour talking and getting to know them better and then they started asking all sorts of questions that all lead to the restoration of the church. so we left them with a pamphlet and will try to see them some times this week.

It sometimes gets hard to work during the Christmas season but we keep up the cheer by singing to carols and looking for adventures and service a long the way."

It was awesome to be able to skype with my family this week, they are incredible. All of my younger siblings have gotten lots lots taller.... not sure how I feel about that but eish, life moves on. 

Being a missionary has and continues to change my life every day. I may say I knew about the Savior a little bit before mission, but as a missionary I am blessed to try my best to represent Him every day, to try and do what He would do. As you strive to be like Him you come to know Him and understand just a bit more of His endless love for you. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to come to know my Savior who is Christ. He was born of humble birth, in a dark cave in a manger. He lived an exemplary life. and died in suffering for you. I love the Lord, He is my reason for hope, for love, for peace in all things. 

I love you all and hope you had a wonderful Christmas" 

It was only the day after Christmas that he emailed that week, so it felt like there wasn't much to tell in our emails since we had just talked the day before haha. But his email was really sweet so I'll share it :)

"flipits that was huge news I didnt know how to react honestly!!! ah you are so amazing I just want to go around telling everyone how awesome you are.  

I was talking to some kids the other day and they were just so happy that santa came and they had stories and all sorts of fun things to say.

Christmas is an awesome time of year. I loved skypeing. I never really got "trunky" missed home a lot after skypeing but I dont know, this time I just missed you so much like it was weird how much I missed you after just seeing you.... but life goes on. Some how you are just more beautiful in every way than I remember and ah just everything you do makes me just swoon haha. 

The new area will be a tough one. we will see how it goes. Mission President called me to tell me about my comp, appearently he has had some struggles with companions and what not. He said that he is doing better but just hasnt hit the ground running sort to speak and he wants that to change, Elder Francen is from Cali I think and he has been out for about a year now. 

Babe, I just dont know how to express in words the way I feel about you, I have been praying a lot, like a lot a lot. About us about the future about all that good stuff. Over and over again I feel so good about it all. I feel assured that its right, its not all just in my head, some fantasy or delusion that I have come up with. I want to be with you, every second of every day for the rest of forever. its just it. I love you. nothing can will or ever can change that simple fact. You blow me a way each and every day and I will try my best to keep up you, hopefully I dont slow you down to much. Thank you, thank you for emailing me every week and never mission one. thank you for being there for skype, thank you for making me feel loved at every low, sad, and down moment. thank you for your example of love, charity, dedication, work, perseverance and joy. Thank you for being you! I love that :)"

January 2nd

"Not much time this week,

It was a great week Elder Fransen is a dope dude,

we have done a lot of tracting in town.... eish... but somehow it has been pretty successful.

Because of New Years there arn't a lot of teaching appointments

Love,

Elder North"

I can't believe it's 2017!! He comes home this year!!! Looking back, so much has changed since he left and originally, that's what I was afraid of. But now I'm so excited to be able to show him this new life that I have been living and for us to adventure and have fun together again. It's crazy to think that we're nearing the end of our time apart.

Merry Christmas

"This week I will begin with some stories of how the work this side is going and then I will share a few thoughts that I have about Christmas and the meaning there of.

We had our Mission Christmas party this week, that was a bunch of fun, half of the mission was there so it was good to see some old faces. One in particular who was Elder (Coleman) Nelsen, I had biology with him in high school and he is in my stake back home. It was cool to finally see someone from Riverton!!! We played some games at the Christmas party, did a nativity, and ate a great lunch. Day well spent. The problem was the taxi, because we are trying to save the amount of K's we drive we had to take a taxi which is pretty much a mini van down to Durban, it took about 2 and a half hours to get there and this taxi was ridiculously uncomfortable the entire way.... eish.....

A major blessing this week came for us just yesterday at church. So we visit this Sister who is Less active, she has been inactive for over 11 years and just recently have things begun to change. We meet with her fairly regularly but nothing to grand has come of it. She has been through hell and back with a lot of the trials she has gone through. Well this Sundays we saw her walk through the doors of the chapel. My jaw must have dropped. She came to church!!! we met with her that night and she has committed to get a temple recommend and get her life right before the Lord. As we were meeting with her we that night we made plans to begin teaching her daughter as well. I have been praying for a way to start teaching this family ever since I got here and now those prayers have been answered! Hallelujah."

Elder Nelson from Bluffdale!

"Now Christmas!!!!

What is Christmas? Well to me its family, gifts, laughs and fun.
Nights with grandma, mornings with brothers and sisters. days of anticipation, moments of thrill. hours of waiting and plenty of food. but is that really all? of course its not.

I am so thankful to my wonderful Mom and Dad who did their best to teach us the true meaning of Christmas, that is not about what you get but what you give. I love this time of year because its so naturally centered on Jesus Christ, we hear all to often the story of his birth. It is more than just a story though, it is so much more. It is hope, it is peace, it is joy, that's what the birth is all about, that's what it brings to me. When you are a missionary you spend Christmas away from your family for two years.... its tough... it really is haha. I remember last year at this time and especially Christmas day, nothing like it used to be and you quickly realize how important being with those you loved and celebrating together really is. You see how much you miss that nativity you used to dread every year. you realize that the most exciting part isn't opening gifts but seeing someones face light up and spreading that light to each other. I want to keep it short and I don't want to give a 30 minute talk, although I could on the subject. Its a season of cold weather, Now if you are anything like me, the cold brings us close. haha "cuddle weather" as I like to say, well isn't that a message in it of its self. We are supposed to come together, now I don't mean we have to physically be together but together in love and spirit. Its a season to make memories that last. As we remember the birth of our savior let us show that we love him in word and deed this year. do something more. the church has wonderful insights on mormon.org this year and a bunch of daily posted videos on how we can really #Light The World  we can spread the Light of Christ. its really simple and makes you feel all the warm and fuzzes inside.

Well There was just a bit of scattered thoughts and words that probably dont make too much sense but its alright. all in all I know that my Savior lives and loves me, and each one of you! Merry Christmas!"

mission mom!

His email to me this week was great, so I'll include it here! I've been driving him nuts with some big news that I waited to tell him until we skyped today, so that's what he's talking about keeping something from him haha. But I'm not going to announce it here because it's still on the DL :)

"thats good, People in our mission have been getting dear johns left and right... kinda scary... haha another person who we thought was gonna last just got the bad news as well.... eish... babe we are making South Africa Durban Mission history! ;)

oh you have no idea how much I miss cafe rio..... I wish wards and branches could do fun activities like that here.

Ya there are too many movies that have come out,  but thats okay, just more things to do together ;) I dont even know if well have time to watch them all with all the adventuring we need to catch up on ;)

eish #sendRolls haha cinnamon rolls are nice, especially home made. We just had our mission Christmas party and it is almost unreal knowing that I will be home for the next one. I cant believe that we are approaching the end of the year, the year I was able to give all to the Lord. Its just crazy to me.

Ah babe you drive me crazy in all the best ways! haha I cant believe you are doing this to me! It better be good or else Imma beat you up ;) I literally just cant wait to see you and my fam and ah skypee is such a wonderful thing! 

No packages yet so itll be after Christmas most likely, I have some cards I am sending your way, not much... sorry.... but I hope they still make you smile and know I love you so much!

Things have been pretty good with my comp lately, He is such a great guy and actually one of my favorite ones in my entire mission this far. its really hard because Christmas time everyone is on vacation or partying and all that so we end up having a lot of down time which sometimes makes us feel unproductive but overall all is going really good. We have been having a lot of fun the past few days. We stay in this big complex of flats and we have been playing cards with some of the neighbors the past few days so we havnt gone to bed till 1 or later for like 3 nights in a row. its taking a toll but worth it, we also play some games with some of the kids in the complex as well so that has been really fun :)

I am doing well. I have been reflecting a lot. Something that I am noticing a lot and really doing my best to change is my tone of voice, like you said. It has never hit me as hard as now realizing how condescending I sound all the time. I have a lot of work to do but I am trying to be a lot better in the way I talk to others and how I voice my opinion in a non argumentative situation and tone. You are just amazing babe, I am so luck to have someone who loves me and understands how I feel and always knows what to say to me. Someone I can turn to during any moment, any high, or any low. I know you will always be there for me to hold me, push me, and kick me when I need it :) 

Cant wait to see you and hear this big news you are killing me with! :)

Elder Mookie"

Skyping today was so awesome! It was so good to see him and hear his voice again. He sounds so good and is loving it. I thought he had a funny accent last year, but he definitely has one now :) But it's awesome haha. It was fun to see his reaction when I told him my news and to just hear his stories and talk with him a bit. His family is the best for always including me, I really appreciate it and it's fun to spend time with them! It made me sad (and I could tell he was sad) when we had to hang up, but it's crazy to think that when he skypes on mother's day he will have about a month left!! Ahh! It's also crazy to me that this year is coming to a close and that 2017 is the year that he comes home. There's still much for both of us to learn and more growing to be done, but it's exciting to think that the day that seemed ages away is so close! Only 6 more months to go!