January 22, 2018

This week has been busy-ish but super hot and humid. Every breath was like taking a drink of water.... 

Monday we actually got around to washing our car which was really nice. 

Tuesday we were fairly busy... With school starting up this week and work for a lot of people, we had some appointments drop. 

Wednesday was nice, we started with interviews with President Lebethoa and afterwards he came out proselyting with us. We had a powerful appointment with him, he invited the mama to pray about the Book of Mormon 

and there she went in the middle of the lesson and knelt down and pray. It was cool. I hope she progresses... we met her drunk and she told us she wanted to change. 

Thursday we had zone conference... It was a really nice one about a lot of the admin and process to get people prepared for baptism. Pres Lebethoa is a pretty funny guy because he understands township humor. We had a great lunch too. Haha, we as zone leaders decided to all wear the same tie, that we all bought on different occasions without really knowing we all had it. 

Friday I was on exchanges with Elder Tshwane in my area and we had a really powerful day. Elder Palavi and I recently re-activated a brother named Lulama, and he came fellowshipping with us. It was really fun, he's awesome. We enjoyed the exchange a lot and had some great appointments. 

Saturday I was on another exchange with Elder Dlokova. We got to help with the stake choir (i was playing piano) and it was awesome. One of the best stake choirs I've heard (including Utah sorry to say haha). We're practicing for stake conference coming up on the 3rd of Feb. The stake pres. is conducting it and he's really flamboyant haha. It's cool. 

Sunday was nice, we got fed by a mama who's back for holiday as a nurse from Abu Dhabi in UAE. It's cool, she was telling us how there is a stake there with wards from Qatar and all of those nations except Syria. Pretty cool stuffs. 

Remember Msi (Anderson) Bikitsha? 

He got endowed a few weeks back... he's the branch clerk right now in Mthatha and is putting in an appeal to serve mission (he's too old). Pretty cool stuffs.

Aside from that, it was a great week, and I'm excited for this possible last one with Elder Palavi, it'll be sad if he leaves though... we'll see come Saturday. 

Until next week!

Elder Smtih

Msi (Anderson) Bikitsha Baptism in Mthatha

January 15, 2018

This week has been SUPER busy...

but one of the best working weeks of my mission.

Monday was a typical P-day, although we didn't get the chance to wash the car.... so that is definitely happening today. We also had a nice FHE with a few ward members. 

Tuesday we were on Exchanges and I got to stay in our area and be with Elder Mauerman, one of the greenies. We had a fun time, he's an awesome elder- And we were able to see 13 appointments which was really powerful. He's a great missionary. 

Wednesday we were back at the work... we were super busy again, Wednesday and Thursday we had 12 appointments each and Friday had 11 after district meeting...

Saturday was another great day! I was on exchanges with Elder Senikuraciri from Fiji. He's one of the other greenies and yo, he's super humble but we had a lot of good laughs. It was a really really nice exchange in our area. We were able to see 12 appointments as well. 

Sunday was an average day at church, it was nice though. After church we were able to see 6 appointments and had a nice DA with Mama Jaco. 

All in all we had 67 appointments this week and it was worth all the effort. It'll be exciting to see what comes about from all of the work but it's paying off. 2 more weeks for the transfer so it'll be cool to see how the work goes. Until next week! 

Elder Smith

January 8, 2018

This week has been a good one,

Elder Palavi and I have been super busy with appointments and teaching this week. 

Tuesday I was on an exchange with Elder Tucker in his area and it was good to spend the day with him. 

Wednesday we had MLC in the morning and we found out President Monson had passed away. He was a great guy and the lord truly qualifies who he calls. Can't wait for President Nelson. We also had two DA's and so we were super full. It was nice though. 

Friday we had a great district meeting and after had nice full days of appointments. 

It's been interesting lately with our investigators because many are coming back from holiday so we get to do a lot of review, but it's good. We've got two baptisms in the pipeline in the next 2 weeks so fun stuff to look forward to. 

We rounded off the week on sunday with 44 lessons and several people came to church so it was great. Busy, but great. We've got several exchanges and 40+ lessons already scheduled through Thursday so good stuff to look forward to. 

Well, until next week.

Elder Smith

Hey everyone

2017 is gone and 2018 is here.... it's weird to think I'll be home this year but I still got a long while for that. 

These two weeks have flown by and I've stayed pretty busy. 

In summation because I can't remember it all, Christmas was nice, it was really laid back and we had a good time skyping. This past week though has been really busy. 

Thursday I flew to Cape Town for AP Exchanges with Elder Keetch. It's been fun to be with him since we haven't been together really since the MTC. He's an awesome elder. While we were there the fellowshipper actually had an accordion which was funny. Cape Town is really dry now, it's crazy how much the water has decreased there. Hopefully they get some rain soon. Friday was a full day in Cape Town. Saturday I was on my way back and caught the flight early in the morning back to East London. Just before we landed, the plane accelerated again and ascended back up, apparently, there was no visual on the ground due to a thick fog, sooooo..... we had to turn around and fly to Port Elizabeth. So, with that delay, I got some free food at the airport courtesy of the airline.... and once the weather cleared I was back in the air to MD and luckily we were able to land. 

When I got back we went to our ward Christmas party, which was again canceled, and so it being a slow day, it was chill and we got back later that evening. New Years Eve came on Sunday and we had to end the day early... East London town was a lot more chill then Mthatha.... so I slept nice but was super tired in the morning. 

Yesterday was fun.... We went to the Steenbeck's (in East London by Christmas Rock) and they stay in a beautiful place. They have a private river inlet and beach so we threw around a Frisbee and collected some shells. We went back and Sister Steenbeck made some nice food and me and Brother Steenbeck played their piano, he likes to play ragtime too so we had some fun. 

Other than that, time is going and 2018 is already on it's way...

Until next week.

Elder Smith

Steenbeck's beach

Parts of a shipwreck on the beach