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

October 23, 2017

Hello everyone,

Another week down in Mandalay and time is sure whizzing by. 14 months come Wednesday.... where has the time gone. 

Anyway, the work is still goin, trying to find those investigators that'll actually meet us and progress. We've been working a lot lately with the less active members in Delft and we've had some success in seeing them. 

We had an AP training this past week that was really nice- we got to go into Mowbray for that. We've also done a lot of splits while we've been having problems with the Philippi elder's area so that's been fun working with the other elders a lot. 

On Wednesday I got to go to Khayelitsha and I was on exchanges with Elder Hugo and we had a fun time there. We were able to see a lot of cool people. 

Well another week down. A busy one to come....... we'll see how it goes! 

Elder Smith

Battleship during downtime.

Elder Milne found Sunday dinner.

October 16, 2017

Hey everyone, 20 rolled around as planned.... still feel like a baby.

This week has been a busy but pretty chill/crazy week. 

Our area has been really slow because a lot of our investigators are just flaking out but the action is in Philippi. There's been a lot of gang and taxi violence there so parts of their area are shut down so we do splits everyday when they're done and we work double in Mandalay. 

Thursday we had interviews with president that were really nice. We had a good chat. 

Wednesday and Saturday we had some fun times at the Malaza's for FHE

Sunday was really nice though. The primary had their program and I got to play the piano for it and it was really cute. It was about keeping the commandments. Gospel Principles was also super nice about Missionary Work. One of the brothers, Brother Leonard, from Zimbabwe, gave a really powerful example I'd like to share.

Think of the whole of the human race confined and stuck in one giant room with several hundreds of millions of doors on the walls. Only ONE door will get us out of the room.

Now, we have a situation, if you're the lucky one that finds the door, are you - going to be selfish sneak out by yourself?

- going to find the door and take only those around you with?

- going to try and help anyone and everyone get out the door with you?

Now pretend that the door is the gospel and passing through it will help you progress to bigger and greater things. There's no reason why you'd be selfish enough to go yourself. So why don't we do member missionary work? Being a missionary is simply sharing the gospel with those around us. Ultimately in the end, they can choose the door (gospel) if they want it but it's their decision. Let's think again about member missionary work. 

D&C 18:14-16

14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Read this talk by the late Elder Richard G. Scott

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1997/10/why-every-member-a-missionary?lang=eng

Shap. Until next week.

Us and Brother Leonard

October 8, 2017

Heyo everyone

20 years down...... Goodbye teenage years. Fun stuffs. 

This week was pretty good, Monday we went into Somerset for a bit. It was a beautiful but HOT day. Cape Town weather has been weird lately. A day of hot, a day of wind, a day of rain, a day of wind, and then it repeats. 

Tuesday Elder Milne and I were on exchanges again. That was really fun. It's fun to be serving around each other. We found a really funny day care in our area (see photo below). 

Wednesday through Friday we were trying to work hard. We had a super great family home evening on Wednesday at the Malaza's house. Friday we had a Zone Meeting in Somerset but Elder Zongoro had a headache so I attended via Phone. 

Saturday and Sunday were by far the best days this week. GENERAL CONFERENCE!

Saturday sessions were powerful. The quorum of the 12 and Seventies are super powerful and I received a lot of answers to questions. I can't wait to get the Liahona next month and get to study all the talks again! Afterward we saw some appointments and then we went to an American themed night at the Malaza's house. Elder Milne and I made some awesome chili and we played some songs on the Guitars for them. Needless to say it was a good time. 

Sunday was really powerful too. The conference sessions were amazing but it's sad Elder Hales passed away. One of our investigators, Coffart, actually came to the Sunday morning session and wants to download the rest to listen to at work! I'm really glad he liked the conference and enjoyed his time there. 

In the evening we went to the "Mormon House" with the Babeeyos, Ngobenis, and sister Lindy. Sister Lindy made us some nice dinner and we had a good time watching mormon messages.

Well, another week and year of life. Until next week

Elder Smith

October 2, 2017

Hey everyone! 

Another week in Mandalay, 13 months and now it's October, It'll be my birthday come another week. Crazy stuffs.

This week for p-day we did a lot of well wishing to Elder Matare, It's crazy he's already home now. I've been working on my caricatures and I did one for Elder Matare and a girl in our area. I also draw on my hand sometimes haha. 

During the week we didn't have as many appointments because the ward was on a temple trip so several of the recent converts were gone, but it's great they were at the temple. 

Wednesday we said goodbye to Elder Matare and my son came in to be with Elder Mthembu. It's super fun to be around Elder Milne again. There's a lot to catch up on. 

Friday President Lebethoa came to our district meeting. It was really nice to have him attend with us and hear his comments. Afterward he took us all to KFC which was pretty awesome. He's really pushing for obedience in the mission which is really nice. 

Because our ward doesn't have a satellite we didn't watch conference but we'll be catching up on it this coming weekend. It was sad to hear of Elder Hales passing. He was a great servant of the lord. 

Well, another week with good stuff that can happen. Until the next!

Elder Smith 

September 25, 2017

Hey everybody. It's crazy, today I'm 13 months now, I'm a teenager again. Wohoo.

This week started out on a nice P-Day to Hermanus. What a beautiful place. Elders Gibbons, Behunin, Myself, and Mthembu hiked Lemoenkop (Lemon Head in Afrikaans) and also stopped at the waterfall on the way. 

On the beautiful drive back we stopped at a pull off and a guy offered to let us take pictures with his bike.... we couldn't turn down the offer. People say their mission is the most beautiful but mine is on top for sure haha. South Africa is such a beautiful country full of so many cool things.

This week we were able to get a new investigator and we saw a lot of members and had tons of DA's (dinner appointments) cause elder Matare is going home this week Wednesday.

Saturday rolled around and I was really anxious for transfer news. I was really expecting to be leaving but I got the call and.....

I'll be staying - which means I'll be here till mid December at least, so I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. What's funny is my "son", Elder Milne, will be Elder Mthembu's next companion so it'll be fun to have him around and in the ward and district. 

Saturday we also had a fun game night FHE with the Malaza family. They're one of the best in the ward. 

On Sunday it was Heritage Day and previously I had a Mama in our area make me a cool custom Xhosa shirt that I chose the fabrics and pattern for. So on Sunday, I dressed like a Xhosa and I was the Whitest Xhosa there. All of the missionaries got to speak and we got some great pictures. I love Xhosa culture, I'm afraid after mission I'll just come back and live here haha. 

Sunday evening we had a great DA at the Mtilas and afterwards we went and had a farewell party for Elder Matare at Bishops and it turned into a Suprise Birthday Party for Elder Mthembu too. It was super fun. Bishop and his wife are the funniest people ever. 

Well, change is coming........ later haha. Until next week in Mandalay

Elder Smith

p.s. nobody spoil conference for me, we'll be watching it on tape delay a week later so no conference reports till then thanks!