January 9, 2017

Hello everyone! 

Time flies when you're busy i guess haha. This has been a whirlwind of a week, literally. We traveled back from Queenstown Tuesday and we arrived home exhausted. 

The next morning our landlord came by and said hello and he had said there had been a large tornado that hit Pain location (a part of Mthatha in our area about 15 min away). We instantly realized that Mama Mayeki one of our recent converts and her family stays in Pain so we rushed out there to see what the damage truly was. 

Boy..... seeing tornado damage firsthand really humbles you at how powerful nature is, especially here in Africa. All across the N2 (the highway to East London) there were Zincs (the metal roofing people use for roofs) and the zincs were even wrapped around the trunks and branches of the trees. The trees along the side of the N2 are the size of the giant ones in downtown Santa Clara and many had fallen over and been uprooted. I couldn't see a home without some form of damage too it and it really made us worried for what Mama Mayeki's home would be. 

When we arrived her house was roofless, windowless, doorless, and they had taken out everything inside to dry (that was salvageable) and we began helping them continue digging out the mud and possessions in their house. It's a miracle the walls stayed standing as they are the mud brick type. Her other detached rooms were completely destroyed because the roof collapsed inward so we still have yet to remove the things there. Their toilets were also completely destroyed. Luckily one room was covered so they all are staying there until a solution is found. 

We missionaries took immediate action and went and bought her some staple foods and a paraffin stove with some paraffin so she could cook and stay warm (since it was still drizzling the next 2 days. The following day we took President Boateng to assess the damage so the stake might be able to do something and he was also to get her some more food and more supplies. 

We decided with Brother Nate (the Elder's Quorum President) that the first necessity their family needs is a toilet so that they can have some privacy so we got the elders quorum together and some other branch members together and we were able to round up some cement and we were able to begin constructing the walls for the toilet. 

It was quite a fun experience with all of us being able to serve a fellow sister with basic needs although I got one heck of a sunburn (even when it was cloudy). We were able to complete the walls to 1.5m and then we're allowing them to dry so that we can further continue and get a roof built with a door and further improvements will definitely come in the future with the house. Unfortunately the government said it may take up to 7 years to get the rebuilding process underway but at least they were able to provide some blankets and other essentials.

The greatest example of faith and diligence in keeping the Lords commandments came on Sunday, when Mama Mayeki and her son, daughter, and niece all walked the 10+ kilometers to church. She even paid her tithing on what little she had and she was so grateful to the Lord for our service and that her family is all safe as well. I really liked what she said when she mentioned the day after the tornado, that maybe the Lord is allowing her to start from nothing so the year can only get better. She is such an example of faith and everything. I don't know if I'd be able to have the courage and optimism she holds in her life. 

The Lord is truly able to bless us when we give him our all, trust in him completely, and rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ to carry us through our trials, tribulations, burdens and struggles. As we push forward and endure with all of our heart and a smile on our face we will be able to overcome any obstacle that is placed in our path. And like one of my favourite scriptures says

Isaiah 41:10 and 13

10 ¶Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

The Saviour Jesus Christ is able to carry us, and hold us up when we feel like we may drown in the depths like Peter. 

Matthew 14:30-31

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Let us learn from Peter and doubt our doubts, before we doubt the strength and the power of Jesus Christ. 

May he carry us in our lives, and until next Monday, which unfortunately will be my last in Mthatha.

Elder Smith

Mama Mayeki's home after tornado

Beginning of toilet

Halfway dry so we can do the roof next week

More tornado destruction

Sunburn

more tornado destruction

True purpose of a hand brake