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