June 26, 2017

Well, the first 10 months flew by but there's a lot more work to do in Mandalay.

Last Monday was table mountain so you can read about that in the last post, but this week has been full of interesting things. Aside from trying to teach our investigator pool, we had a great AP training in Meadowridge. They trained about a lot of things but it was powerful. We also got to drive along the beachfront of False Bay to get there and it was beautiful. 

Also this week, we had to go into Somerset West to get a new battery for our car because it wouldn't hold a charge so we jumped it and drove it in. We got to drive past the full scale inland pirate ships that Disney uses for Pirates of the Caribbean. They try and cover the deck but you can't easily hide a pirate ship with masts, sails, ropes, and everything. I don't know if they're in the newest movie that came out but apparently, one of them is used as the Black Pearl which is pretty cool. 

I've appreciated your prayers from back home. It's quite hard still getting adjusted to this area and the people and everything but the prayers are helping so thanks! 

The bishopric wants me to teach a piano class on Saturday mornings so that might be happening soon. I'll let everyone know how it goes. And Elder Matare made a nice dinner of fried caterpillar/worm things and Pap. It wasn't bad but it was like eating rubber and dirt hahaha. Things you do in Africa lol. 

Until next week!

Elder Smith

worms and pap

Sunday after church

June 19, 2017

Hello everyone from Mandalay in Cape Town!

The prior week has been full of change.

Monday we started out by having our last district P Day in PE by going to Baywest and doing some Ice Skating. Elder Reedy was trying to show us some moves and I got a fun shiner after a slip haha. 

The following Tuesday we said goodbye to the members and people in KwaMagxaki, I really miss them a lot. By far my favourite area so far. 

Wednesday we started bright and early to the airport at 4 to send Elder Ondracek to East London and my flight left at 8 for Cape Town. It was a great flight and we got to Cape Town by 9. We then went to the mission home and then to the Office to pick up my car and then drove to our boarding. The boarding is interesting because it's in a coloured area so it's pretty sketchy haha. 

Our area is interesting and it'll take me a little bit to learn, it was a walking area but now we have a car so it's better. We'll be working really hard as there's a lot we need to do. We'll be building our investigator pool and working closer with members so hopefully that'll get the work up and going good. 

There won't be as many pictures from the area due to some reasons but I'll be sending when I can

Sunday we went to church and had a slow day. The ward likes to sing though which is good.

Today we went and hiked table mountain and my legs still feel like jello, but a must recommended hike. It was awesome, but all uphill. I hope I lost some weight from it haha. 

Well, until next week in Mandalay

Elder Smith

Bishop's family

Me and Elder Steffensen on Sunday

ice skating at Baywest

President and Sister Watson

Table Mountain from the air

Hiking Table Mountain

June 12, 2017

The time is far spent in KwaMagxaki and I'll be being transferred on Wednesday! 

My new area is going to be Mandalay in Cape Town! I'll fly Wednesday. My companion will be Elder Steffenson from Salt Lake Area. He's in the same transfer as Elders Reedy and Milne so it'll be fun. I'll be district leader there and I'm in Cape South Zone. I've just worked my way along the N2 (one of the Highways).

This week has been full of last times of seeing people but we had our last interviews and training/conference from President Merrill and his wife. We'll really miss them on July 1stwhen they leave but they've been awesome. We're all excited to have a new President though. It'll be fun to be in Cape Town and get to see President Merrill off and see the new family come in. 

The news here is Amanda was baptized on Sunday and it was really a nice baptism!

Her conversion story is awesome and I'd think you'd like it. Elder Milne and myself had been teaching her in January and got through all the lessons by April and she still hadn't received an answer about if the church was true/right for her. Conference rolled around and we invited her to come with a question in mind. Following up we found that Elder Holland's talk, touched her and she felt that was her answer. Here's an excerpt, 

"Fortunately, the seats for this particular number are limitless. There is room for those who speak different languages, celebrate diverse cultures, and live in a host of locations. There is room for the single, for the married, for large families, and for the childless. There is room for those who once had questions regarding their faith and room for those who still do. There is room for those with differing sexual attractions. In short, there is a place for everyone who loves God and honors His commandments as the inviolable measuring rod for personal behavior, for if love of God is the melody of our shared song, surely our common quest to obey Him is the indispensable harmony in it. With divine imperatives of love and faith, repentance and compassion, honesty and forgiveness, there is room in this choir for all who wish to be there. “Come as you are,” a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, “Don’t plan to stay as you are.” We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be."

(Songs Sung and Unsung, Jeffery R. Holland. April 2017 General Conference)

After going through most of the lessons again with Elder Reedy, now she is baptized! It's been an awesome journey and it'll be great for her daughter to be raised in the church. 

Elder Reedy has been awesome, I'll miss baking together for sure. 

Well on to new things! 

Elder Smith

Add caption

the Matshedi family

smashing oranges with a cricket bat.

Last zone conference with President and Sister Merrill

the Mgagulas

The DuToit family

Amanda's baptism

my barber

June 5, 2017

This week seemed like the days came to drag but the week flew right by. 

Monday we started with just a chill p day hanging out with the Uitenhage Elders in Uitenhage. 

Tuesday I was on exchanges with Elder Macamo in KwaNobuhle which was really fun. We had a powerful day and really enjoyed the exchange and learned a lot from each other. 

Wednesday through Saturday we were working hard but it seemed that Satan was working pretty hard against us. Especially with pay day this past week prior to the weekend.... people were always out shopping and towards the weekend everyone was drunk so we had appointments dropping left and right. - all is well though. The week closed off with an awesome Sunday! We were able to confirm Zuko, Yolanda, and Aphelele. Zuko was also able to get the priesthood so it was pretty powerful! Also, Amanda was interviewed and found worthy for baptism so next Sunday we should probably be having that baptism! It'll be awesome for her cute baby daughter to be raised in the church. Elder Reedy and I can't believe how fast time is flying, this is my last full week (we assume) in KwaMagxaki so I'll be leaving this next week. Hopefully I'll be able to find out at Zone Conference and interviews Wednesday and Thursday this week. It's sad though, it's our last with President Merrill, he's been an awesome mission president for I'll say the first half of mission. It'll be pretty cool to get our new president in July though. Big change is happening, time will tell!

Until Next Week!

Elder Smith

For my little brother Gavin

mega potato