December 17, 2017

This week has been really busy as we've been wrapping up the transfer. 

On Tuesday I was on exchanges with Elder Le Brun (from Tahiti) and it was good to be with him in his area. 

On Saturday I got to be with Elder Wabwire (Uganda) in his area and also with Elder Dlokova (SA) because we had to take Elder Adam to the airport. His 2 years is up, it's crazy how time flies. So we were in a tri for the day and we had a really nice time together.

This week we were really busy teaching. We have a really powerful investigator named Ishmael and we teach him every day. He's got some things to work on but his potential is super great. 

Saturday we received transfer news and luckily Elder Palavi and I will both be staying another transfer together so that'll be great. Tomorrow we get to take Elders to the airport and pick up. 

Sunday sacrament attendance was super low because of holidays and it was raining but overall it was nice. 

Funny story, we were at a members house and all of a sudden her sister walked in with a massive tortoise, turns out they have two so that was fun to play with haha. The things you see in SA.

Next week  and new years the email shop may be closed so...... you may not get an email for a while. Happy Holidays!

Elder Smith - out

When it rains, the kids all put on their trashbags. They're super cute all walking around.

December 11, 2017

Time is flying by. Mdantsane is really nice. 

Monday was a very chill p-day, but towards the end Elder Greengrass and I and a few other missionaries practiced a musical number for zone conference. 

Tuesday was a pretty good proselyting day and we were able to meet with the Stake President and see his vision for the stake in Mdantsane and to see how our zone can help assist the stake. 

Wednesday we had interviews with President Lebethoa. Afterwards, we took him around the zone so he could see all of the areas and we discussed the work in the zone a bit. Following we were able to proselyte with him in our area for an hour or two and we had a powerful lesson with a less active brother named Lulama. The cool part was there were several brothers and a few sisters there that joined in the lesson too, and now we're teaching one of them and he's super powerful. We'll see how that goes. 

Thursday we had a really nice zone conference. Elder Palavi and I started out with training our zone and then we combined for President Lebethoa's training. It was a really practical and applicative training to life. Part of it we discussed budgets and dating and stuff and it was really nice, not only for a mission but for life. 

using the scripture D&C 88:119

119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

and we can replace the word house with, marriage, family, life, etc. It's a really great principle. 

Friday and Saturday were pretty slow–when holiday season rolls around it gets that way. Sunday was nice, we were able to watch the Christmas devotional after church which was fun. 

Well until next week. 

December 3, 2017

Hello everyone

Another week has passed in Mdantsane and time is flying.

Last Monday we got our mirror fixed that someone smashed and did a little driving around East London. It sure is beautiful. I'm going to miss being so close to the ocean all the time. 

The week started off really busy- we were able to see many investigators and less-actives, but as the week continued things started to slow. The problem is with holidays everyone goes out of town... 

We've started Light the World this week and it has been going well. We've been showing the video to a lot of the people we see. 

Saturday I was on exchanges with Elder Tshwane again. We had a great time but yo- it was super hot and humid. The only good part about the humidity is I don't sunburn. We started the day cutting and laying tile at a members house in Elder Msali and Le Brun's area. Afterwards, we went to the chapel and changed and we were able to see a few great people. I always learn a lot from Elder Tshwane, he's a great elder and good to be around. I hope I get to finish my mission in a walking area maybe, it'd help me lose some weight before I come home hahaha. 

Sunday was nice, it's always good to have fast and testimony meeting. We also had a really nice DA and were able to see some good appointments.

Well, zone conference is this week which will be really nice. Until next week.

November 27, 2017

Hey everyone! 15 months down and a lot of things happening. 

Haha after we emailed last Monday and went to the Dermatologist, we went to play sport at Amalinda Chapel. Long story short, our family home evening was spent in the hospital, with Elder Palavi's leg in a cast. Luckily it wasn't a bad break so he didn't have to go home from mission, but it's been a learning experience for both of us with him on crutches. But we haven't let that slow the work down at all. 

This week we've been really busy trying to make contacts with our less actives and set some baptismal dates with our investigators. It's looking like we might get one or two in December which is really exciting. 

Tuesday we spent most of the morning in MLC addressing some things. President Lebethoa is great and he has some nice direction for the mission. It's crazy the year is done just around the corner. Sister Davies (from St George) and Sister Stevenson are the best cooks ever. We had a nice lunch of enchilada's and salad and cookies. It was super. I hope I can find a wife that can cook like them someday. 

Saturday I was on exchanges with Elder Warren. We had an awesome time together and he's a great missionary. He was Elder Milne's last companion before he came to Cape Town. We had some great lessons. 

Sunday was really nice. We had a combined ward primary program and I had to play the piano which was fun. Yo, these kids are rowdy though haha. Afterwards Elder Hawkins and Warren had a baptism and following that we watched a really awesome Face to Face broadcast for YSA with Elder Oaks and Ballard. It's amazing to always learn from the apostles. 

Funny story, we were driving to an appointment and we drove past a bar and I noticed one of the drunk guys had an old University of Utah sweater on. (Shows you how awesome church humanitarian efforts are, and how far reaching they are). Needless to say, I had to get a picture with him. Haha, funny times. 

Well until next week, 

Elder Smith

Don't forget leg day

Lunch Time

U of U Brotha

November 20, 2017

Hello everyone!

Another week down in Mdantsane ward 1. I'm really enjoying my time with Elder Palavi and the area. This week was really really busy. Elder Palavi and I have had appointments pretty much every half an hour, every day from 12-8, 9 ish so it is exhausting. 

It also rained Monday - Thursday really hard so it's been a pretty muddy week too. Haha last week someone stole our hubcaps on our Toyota Corolla but this week as our car was parked in front of our house, someone side swiped it and took off the mirror so wo is that haha. But it'll get fixed soon. 

Friday we had a Zone Meeting and we talked about Ezekiel 33 and 34 which are really nice chapters about missionary work. We identified some things that we can do as a Zone and in our companionships and as individuals to increase our effectiveness as stewards (or watchmen or under shepherds as you may want to call it). 

Saturday I got to be a walking elder for the day which was super fun. I was in Mdantsane ward 3 walking area with Elder Tshwane. He was AP a while ago and he's finishing training an Elder Smith that just came in from 3 weeks in Madagascar. It was fun to get out and walk, all except for the big hills, but I learned a lot of great stuff from him. 

Sunday was a powerful Sunday. We had an area conference broadcast/stake conference and the speakers were amazing. Elder Cook, Sister Oscarson, Brother Callister, Elder Hamilton, and Elder Neil L. Anderson spoke to us. Yo, it was really nice and specified to the Africa Southeast Area. If you can find Elder Anderson's talk I'd recommend it, it was a really nice read. Following I went and did some baptismal interviews for a few elders. We also had a really nice DA. 

Anyhow until next week in Mdantsane ward 1!

Elder Smith

Zone Conference (Cape Town) with Elder Koch

November 13, 2017

Hello everyone! 

This past week has been a fun, crazy, hectic, but a good week of change. 

Monday and Tuesday I said some last goodbyes and well wishes to my families in Mandalay. It was a sad leave, but on to new and good things. 

Wednesday morning we went to Gugulethu chapel for transfers and I got to see my grandson, Elder Fullmer, (Elder Milne's son) and we got a nice 4 generation picture. Following we went to the airport about 9 for our 12:30 flight but it was delayed about 30 min so we sat a few hours at the airport. 

The flight was nice, I got to see all my old areas except for Mthatha from the air which was cool. The flight was pretty empty. 

I arrived in Mdantsane and was picked up by Elder Palavi. We stayed around to help with all the transfer stuff. We went to the area for an hour or two but then we headed back to the airport to pick up another elder coming in a little later. haha, there are 4 Elder Smiths in the mission now so it's easy to get mixed up sometimes. 

We've set some awesome goals and have fasted and we've already seen some immediate effects. We're working closely with less-actives in our ward and it's going really well, even to find investigators. 

Saturday we went to a funeral and had some good food after, following we went to the area and proselyted. 

Sunday we had tons of our less-actives and Investigators at church and it was amazing to have them there. We'll be working hard this coming week and we've already got 35+ appointments until Thursday so it's going to be a lot of fun. 

I'm so happy to be in Mdantsane (East London) again. I feel like Eastern Cape is my home. I can't describe how happy I am... There's going to be a lot of hard work, a lot of fun, and a lot of miracles. 

Our Fellowshipper Thandikhaya had a Mormon Message made about him and my companion and Elder Milne are in it for a second haha. It's pretty cool to watch.

http://africase.lds.org/thandikhaya-goje?lang=eng-za

Well, Until next week!

Elder Smith

Mama Doreen

Auntie "B"

President Matsaluka's Family

4 Generations 

Me, Our Fellowshipper "TK" and Elder Palavi

Xhosa Wedding

Singing time with Elder Smith and Elder Milne

November 6, 2017

Well Mandalay's done........ crazy ya....  transfers came.... but back to Monday. 

Monday Elder Milne and I had a good time going to Somerset Mall and looking around there. We spoiled ourselves with a hamburger. 

This week Elder Milne and I we were working hard and we actually got two new investigators which is good because the area will be able to get back up and running again. Elder Milne is learning his new area fast which is good. 

Friday was an awesome Zone Conference with Elder Koch of the Seventy and his wife. They gave awesome trainings and he was a really humble guy. I loved it a lot. The food was good too so that was nice. It's amazing how much these General Authorities know.... pretty powerful stuff. 

Saturday was one of the best days ever. In the morning we went and cooked bacon and eggs and made German pancakes at the Malaza's and afterwards, we painted a bedroom. That was a blast and we had a great time. Later in the evening we had nice vetkoeks with chips and really had some fun singing and ended with a nice gospel discussion. I'm really going to miss the members, and the Malaza family a lot. 

Saturday round about 10:00 I got a call from President Lebethoa asking if I could go be a Zone Leader in Mdantsane Zone (in East London) so needless to say, I'll be flying out Wednesday afternoon to be with Elder Palavi, an islander from Australia so that'll be fun. It'll be a whole new experience but I trust it's all for good. Elder Zongoro will be going home this week and Elder Mthembu will be with Elder Reedy in East London, so Elder Milne will be taking over Mandalay and Training haha! I'll have a grandson now. We'll try and take a 4 generation picture come Wednesday of all of us, Zongoro-->Smith-->Milne-->Fulmer? I don't know the spelling yet. 

Well big changes; Sunday was a lot of goodbyes, and a baptism for the other Elders. I'll miss everyone this side. From my Muslim friends from Egypt and Pakistan and India, to Pat's little girl, who's hair is my favourite in the world... I'll miss Mandalay a lot. 

Well until next week in Eastern Cape again.

Elder Smith

The Squad

Elder Milne's and Mthembu's Baptism

Sister Pat and the Girls

The "Wonder" House

Terresa and Coffart's Family

The Malazas

The room we painted at the Malazas

Steam Bread and Mince

Mahbub the Spaza Guy and Myself

October 30, 2017

Monday was a good p-day. We did service at Pat's Mama's house to prepare for the wedding on Saturday of Pat's sister so that was fun to do.  Tuesday was pretty normal too......... but Wednesday was when the fun began.

Wedesday we got a call from President Lebethoa while we were out and about that the Philippi elders had been hijacked BUT that they were safe and they got the car back. So, we went to the boarding to let them in because their house keys were stolen, and we had a quick meeting as a district with President. Needless to say, their area is closed now and we've been doing splits with them every day because they don't have an area so it'll be interesting to see what happens come transfers next week. We'll find out this coming Saturday though. We also had a good FHE at the Malaza family. 

Friday we had a good district meeting.

Saturday was really nice. We went in the afternoon to Pat's sister's wedding and it was really really cool. Traditional Xhosa weddings are pretty awesome, aside from all the booze... but it was a super super awesome event. The mama of the bride is the one who made my shirt. The food was super awesome too. Afterwards we went to the Malaza's house for another FHE but one with games and had some more food. haha a great night had. 

Sunday was nice. We went into Cape Town to a stake Christmas Choir and it was really fun. 

Well until next week.... with changes coming????? maybe I dunno

Elder Smith

October 23, 2017

Hello everyone,

Another week down in Mandalay and time is sure whizzing by. 14 months come Wednesday.... where has the time gone. 

Anyway, the work is still goin, trying to find those investigators that'll actually meet us and progress. We've been working a lot lately with the less active members in Delft and we've had some success in seeing them. 

We had an AP training this past week that was really nice- we got to go into Mowbray for that. We've also done a lot of splits while we've been having problems with the Philippi elder's area so that's been fun working with the other elders a lot. 

On Wednesday I got to go to Khayelitsha and I was on exchanges with Elder Hugo and we had a fun time there. We were able to see a lot of cool people. 

Well another week down. A busy one to come....... we'll see how it goes! 

Elder Smith

Battleship during downtime.

Elder Milne found Sunday dinner.

October 16, 2017

Hey everyone, 20 rolled around as planned.... still feel like a baby.

This week has been a busy but pretty chill/crazy week. 

Our area has been really slow because a lot of our investigators are just flaking out but the action is in Philippi. There's been a lot of gang and taxi violence there so parts of their area are shut down so we do splits everyday when they're done and we work double in Mandalay. 

Thursday we had interviews with president that were really nice. We had a good chat. 

Wednesday and Saturday we had some fun times at the Malaza's for FHE

Sunday was really nice though. The primary had their program and I got to play the piano for it and it was really cute. It was about keeping the commandments. Gospel Principles was also super nice about Missionary Work. One of the brothers, Brother Leonard, from Zimbabwe, gave a really powerful example I'd like to share.

Think of the whole of the human race confined and stuck in one giant room with several hundreds of millions of doors on the walls. Only ONE door will get us out of the room.

Now, we have a situation, if you're the lucky one that finds the door, are you - going to be selfish sneak out by yourself?

- going to find the door and take only those around you with?

- going to try and help anyone and everyone get out the door with you?

Now pretend that the door is the gospel and passing through it will help you progress to bigger and greater things. There's no reason why you'd be selfish enough to go yourself. So why don't we do member missionary work? Being a missionary is simply sharing the gospel with those around us. Ultimately in the end, they can choose the door (gospel) if they want it but it's their decision. Let's think again about member missionary work. 

D&C 18:14-16

14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Read this talk by the late Elder Richard G. Scott

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1997/10/why-every-member-a-missionary?lang=eng

Shap. Until next week.

Us and Brother Leonard

October 8, 2017

Heyo everyone

20 years down...... Goodbye teenage years. Fun stuffs. 

This week was pretty good, Monday we went into Somerset for a bit. It was a beautiful but HOT day. Cape Town weather has been weird lately. A day of hot, a day of wind, a day of rain, a day of wind, and then it repeats. 

Tuesday Elder Milne and I were on exchanges again. That was really fun. It's fun to be serving around each other. We found a really funny day care in our area (see photo below). 

Wednesday through Friday we were trying to work hard. We had a super great family home evening on Wednesday at the Malaza's house. Friday we had a Zone Meeting in Somerset but Elder Zongoro had a headache so I attended via Phone. 

Saturday and Sunday were by far the best days this week. GENERAL CONFERENCE!

Saturday sessions were powerful. The quorum of the 12 and Seventies are super powerful and I received a lot of answers to questions. I can't wait to get the Liahona next month and get to study all the talks again! Afterward we saw some appointments and then we went to an American themed night at the Malaza's house. Elder Milne and I made some awesome chili and we played some songs on the Guitars for them. Needless to say it was a good time. 

Sunday was really powerful too. The conference sessions were amazing but it's sad Elder Hales passed away. One of our investigators, Coffart, actually came to the Sunday morning session and wants to download the rest to listen to at work! I'm really glad he liked the conference and enjoyed his time there. 

In the evening we went to the "Mormon House" with the Babeeyos, Ngobenis, and sister Lindy. Sister Lindy made us some nice dinner and we had a good time watching mormon messages.

Well, another week and year of life. Until next week

Elder Smith

October 2, 2017

Hey everyone! 

Another week in Mandalay, 13 months and now it's October, It'll be my birthday come another week. Crazy stuffs.

This week for p-day we did a lot of well wishing to Elder Matare, It's crazy he's already home now. I've been working on my caricatures and I did one for Elder Matare and a girl in our area. I also draw on my hand sometimes haha. 

During the week we didn't have as many appointments because the ward was on a temple trip so several of the recent converts were gone, but it's great they were at the temple. 

Wednesday we said goodbye to Elder Matare and my son came in to be with Elder Mthembu. It's super fun to be around Elder Milne again. There's a lot to catch up on. 

Friday President Lebethoa came to our district meeting. It was really nice to have him attend with us and hear his comments. Afterward he took us all to KFC which was pretty awesome. He's really pushing for obedience in the mission which is really nice. 

Because our ward doesn't have a satellite we didn't watch conference but we'll be catching up on it this coming weekend. It was sad to hear of Elder Hales passing. He was a great servant of the lord. 

Well, another week with good stuff that can happen. Until the next!

Elder Smith 

September 25, 2017

Hey everybody. It's crazy, today I'm 13 months now, I'm a teenager again. Wohoo.

This week started out on a nice P-Day to Hermanus. What a beautiful place. Elders Gibbons, Behunin, Myself, and Mthembu hiked Lemoenkop (Lemon Head in Afrikaans) and also stopped at the waterfall on the way. 

On the beautiful drive back we stopped at a pull off and a guy offered to let us take pictures with his bike.... we couldn't turn down the offer. People say their mission is the most beautiful but mine is on top for sure haha. South Africa is such a beautiful country full of so many cool things.

This week we were able to get a new investigator and we saw a lot of members and had tons of DA's (dinner appointments) cause elder Matare is going home this week Wednesday.

Saturday rolled around and I was really anxious for transfer news. I was really expecting to be leaving but I got the call and.....

I'll be staying - which means I'll be here till mid December at least, so I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. What's funny is my "son", Elder Milne, will be Elder Mthembu's next companion so it'll be fun to have him around and in the ward and district. 

Saturday we also had a fun game night FHE with the Malaza family. They're one of the best in the ward. 

On Sunday it was Heritage Day and previously I had a Mama in our area make me a cool custom Xhosa shirt that I chose the fabrics and pattern for. So on Sunday, I dressed like a Xhosa and I was the Whitest Xhosa there. All of the missionaries got to speak and we got some great pictures. I love Xhosa culture, I'm afraid after mission I'll just come back and live here haha. 

Sunday evening we had a great DA at the Mtilas and afterwards we went and had a farewell party for Elder Matare at Bishops and it turned into a Suprise Birthday Party for Elder Mthembu too. It was super fun. Bishop and his wife are the funniest people ever. 

Well, change is coming........ later haha. Until next week in Mandalay

Elder Smith

p.s. nobody spoil conference for me, we'll be watching it on tape delay a week later so no conference reports till then thanks!