Hi everyone!
So ya basically you probably know what scary thing I have been thinking
about lately... But I don't want to talk about it too much cause I don't
know how I feel about it honestly. Good and bad but we will focus on that
later. Let me tell you about this week!
Before I even begin I want everyone to know that I absolutely love my
companion Elder Merile! When you say Merile though its not how it looks.
When you get to the 'r' you have to make like a throaty H sound. Its hard
to explain and even to say so a lot of times I call him Elder Merls,
exactly how it looks. He is seriously the coolest guy in the world! You
could not ask for a better companion! I was telling dad, he has that
perfect combination of play hard, work harder! The best honestly.
Monday, P-day normal stuff, then had a family home evening with the Riese
family and watched the halloween party dance movies. I am still trying to
upload them but it takes a looooooong time! Some day you will see them all.
Tuesday wasn't very exciting cause we were getting some help from members
trying to target less actives that we could work on and going through
seeing who each auxiliary wanted us to focus on. The mission really wants
us to work closely with the wards and see what the bishops want help with
and being tools for them, not seperate things happening in one area. Good
advice buy yo less actives are hard! Funny story coming up soon about them.
We did some easy contacting around the town but nothing too exciting. We
finished at Sis Sue for dinner and played a ravishing game of Barbie Uno. I
got beat by a 94 year old Gogo... Self esteem destroyed haha!
Wednesday was kind of awesome. We were in a suburb called St Winnifreds
that is a totally rich part of town. We were looking for members there
cause there are some big families somewhere. We decided we might as well
knock some doors on our way. Obviously no one really let us in but we
talked to a lot of people and just had a fun time. We went to Innocents
house in the evening and talked to him and his wife. He is still in the
same position waiting for some good news about a job. We read the BoM with
him and he still loves it and wants to be baptized. We talked to the mom
for a bit and she is looking seriously ready to pop! She has been pregnant
for I swear 2 years. But she is still just happy to see us and Innocent is
still teaching her when we leave. She speaks french though and a newly
returned missionary named John Louie served in a French speaking area of
the Caribbean so he is going to come help us teach her too.
Thursday was probably the best day of the week. We found a newly moved in
member that didn't know where the church was so we talked and told her and
everything and sure enough she made it on Sunday! We had Sis Duplessis
translate Innocents CV so that he can look for more jobs. We went to a park
that is in the middle of town kind of close to the beach so lots of people
move around there. We usually contact there so we went and started talking
to people. There was a guy painting so we went and started talking to him
about his paintings and soon started sharing about the Book of Mormon. We
started reading from it and letting him read it and soon we were teaching
him and a few other people that were selling random things. We asked if we
could return tomorrow with BoM's for everyone and they agreed! (skip to
tomorrow if you want to learn more quickly) We left and headed to Tokoso.
We talked and finished up all the commandments with him and just reviewed
everything we have been talking about. He is preparing to be baptized this
coming week so we have been talking a lot of things. It seems like he has
been waiting for so long and finally he is able to do it. He is such a
great kid and its awesome to see him ready to accept the gospel. His mom
and family even said they want to attend to see it. Hopefully they will
feel the spirit and want themselves to be baptized! This is now where
the funny less active story comes in. We found a family called the Gumede
family that hasn't come for quite a while. We had visited briefly and were
returning for an appointment. As we pulled up we saw the gate was open and
the non member baba was outside. We parked out on the grass and said a
prayer. As we got out of the car and grabbed our bags, my companion says,
"hey this guy just closed the gate on us!" I turn and sure enough he had
locked us out! We walk over and start talking to him from outside and he
tells us that mom is sleeping and we should leave. We didn't want to fight
it out so we said alright and walked to the car. Well as soon as we get to
the car, the gate starts opening right back up. Eish haha. We just laughed.
Some people these days.
So friday now. So we went back to the park, with a billion BoM's. Probably
looked crazy walking around with them all but whatever. Sure enough they
were all there waiting for us and a new family was with them waiting as
well! We passed them out and they were so eager to get into it. We circled
up and started to read from the Introduction together. As we read they
would ask questions and someone else in the group would answer for us haha
it was awesome! We talked and explained and the spirit was there so strong!
They all said they wanted to read more and find out more about it. We
committed them to read from 2 Nephi 31 and they were reading before we had
even crossed the road! It was powerful! One of the best lessons in this
area for sure. They all wanted us to come back and share more so hopefully
we have some really good investigators here now! Saturday we had a game so
Friday we practice with the ward. We went and played and had a lot of youth
come and some investigators. Had a good time.
Saturday we played the game against Kwa Mashu. It ended up being a draw
4-4. But I want to make it known I played the first half and the score at
half time was 2-0 for us. I didn't pay second half and you see what
happened. Now I'm not saying anything but lets just think about that ;) It
was really fun though. Some good fellowshipping moments with investigators
so it was good. Soccer has been one of our best teaching opportunities.
After we got a call from Innocent that his wife was in the hospital! She
had finally popped! I knew it was gonna happen! We rushed to go find him
and went and visited her. And they have a lovely new son to join their
family! That makes 3 kids for him now. He was so so excited and it was fun
to see him that way. Work has been taking its toll on him so it was good to
see some joy in his eyes. He asked me to offer a prayer for the child and
we had a lovely moment in the labor ward of the hospital. It reminded me of
the day that E was born! Seems like yesterday!
Yesterday was crazy. The ward split this week so the other elders area
called Illovo split and is meeting that side now. So we were crazy trying
to help them get that side running and getting to our meeting and getting
investigators worked out and eish it was fun! But it turned out wonderful!
We had an attendance of 61 in Toti and Illovo had 65! Huge numbers for this
area! That side is growing to grow so fast I am telling you now. I would
love to get transferred there! I am going to tell President in interviews
on Wednesday. I have emailed him many times about it haha. After church we
had John Louie come with us and teach. It was really fun. We meet lots of
less actives and gave some gentle fire. Taught a few lessons and just had a
nice time. We went a little over board and didn't get done until past 9 so
that wasn't good. We fetched the other guys and got home about a quarter to
10... In and safe is 9 haha. But my favorite quote that I heard today,
comes from Sis Khetiwae. We were talking about Laman and Lemuel and how
they were disobedient and she says and I quote, "I was in a state of
Lemuelism before I learned about the gospel." We all laughed pretty good
but its so true! We are all in a state of Lemuelism before we choose for
ourselves to follow the gospel.
Its been a nice week! It might not sound like it but trust me it was! It
seriously flew by so fast! Me and Elder Merile are just kicking butt and
teaching people like no ones business.
But to the question about how I feel about reaching the " Hump Day"... I
really don't know what to say. I am so so happy I have actually made it
this far! I honestly didn't know if I would make it to this point. It
seemed like it would never come when I first got out here but now that I am
here, I realize just how fast time flies. Every older missionary says once
you hit the year, you might as well start packing cause it will be over
before you know it. I don't know if I like that or not. I am starting to
figure mission out, figuring out my way of teaching people and learning so
much. I can tell I have grown a lot in the gospel and even as me. I have
learned more about myself in the last year than in the 18 years leading up
to it! It really is such an awesome thing. I kind of can't explain it. And
I kind of don't want to admit that I am getting old on mission. Doesn't
seem right. But its a good thing. I am glad time is going by fast, it means
I am enjoying my mission and lots of good things are happening around me.
Obviously I miss you all so much and can't wait to be home and join back in
with the shenanigans but I still have a ways to go :) Mission is really fun
and I am really enjoying it! I just want to make the most of it while I
still have the time to be here! :) I am sure this is what every missionary
says because it really is such a weird thing haha.
Maybe next week I will have a few other thoughts since I will officially be
on the downhill side of things ;) I love you all so much and am so thankful
for the support you have given me each and every week for this last year.
It really helps so much knowing you are there cheering me on and your
prayers help so so much! and trust me, I have needed them!
One year down, one year to go! :)
