Elder Kaden Smith: November 28, 2016

Hello everyone!

Time flies for sure, I've already reached 3 months on the 25th and I'll be getting my next companion (my mother-follow up trainer, Elder Zongoro is my father-trainer) on the 7th next transfer. That will be my last 6 weeks in Mthatha unfortunately :(

We've been really busy this week, Monday it rained and rained and rained so we visited the Nelson Mandela museum. Because he was raised in a village not far from Mthatha (we'll be visiting that village for Tata Mbilase's 80th birthday this coming Saturday, he was also born there) they have his museum here at the building where he founded the ANC Party. It was amazing to learn about such a man as he and see all of his awards he received even the Nobel Peace Prize. He was a very influential man and did much for south africa.

Tuesday through Friday we were busy teaching and preaching. We have great investigator families, the Mayeki's and Mama Njinsane and her family. We're preparing the Mayeki's for their upcoming baptism which will hopefully be this upcoming Sunday the 4th. Likewise in the future we hope to baptise Mama Njinsane and her family, along with our other investigators. Keep praying for them, they are truly growing in the gospel and seeing the truth but it is not without your prayers and help from the Lord.

Saturday we were BUSY. We started the day early by going to Ugie at 9:00 to try and hit all of our follow up appointments early. Unfortunately we forgot Saturdays are funeral days so everyone buries on Saturdays so none of our appointments were home. So what did we do?? Tracting!!!! What was nice is we were able to make a lot of contacts and have 3 new appointments with people that were interested. Ugie is quite the place for sure, we're hoping to start a group here once we can get some people baptised.

Saturday we left Ugie at half 3 and got to the YSA Activity at half 4. It was a great activity with food, games, and music. What was great is we got 2 of our investigators there and members brought another 3 so we had 5 investigators there which is wonderful. We hope they were able to get a little interested in the church more so that we can contact and teach them in the future.

Sunday was fun. We had the Primary Presentation and I got to play the piano and accompany the primary kids. They're really great kids. They were able to memorize all of the 13 articles of faith as well along with their presentation which they were all able to recite. They sing loud too which was fun. And guess what?? We broke 100 on attendance 3rd week in a row with 101 people in sacrament meeting!!! We're hoping and praying that continues.

I gave the lesson in Gospel Principles class about fasting. Fasting is a wonderful way to help others receive blessings along with ourselves as we turn to our Heavenly Father and we all have the opportunity this coming Sunday. We must remember that fasting is not only going without food, when we fast we must remember to pray and have a purpose.

When we pray we allow our Heavenly Father to see what we truly desire for ourselves and others- of course he knows us personally, but when we pray that door is unlocked to receive his blessings as we communicate with him. As we fast we must also have a purpose, with purpose we are specific in what blessings and things we need from God.

When we fast not only do we receive blessings but others as well- The fast offering being an important aspect with that as the funds are used directly to bless the poor and needy.

I like Isaiah 58:6-11 as it talks of the Fast.

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

8 ¶Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Until next week!

Elder Smith