December 11, 2017

Time is flying by. Mdantsane is really nice. 

Monday was a very chill p-day, but towards the end Elder Greengrass and I and a few other missionaries practiced a musical number for zone conference. 

Tuesday was a pretty good proselyting day and we were able to meet with the Stake President and see his vision for the stake in Mdantsane and to see how our zone can help assist the stake. 

Wednesday we had interviews with President Lebethoa. Afterwards, we took him around the zone so he could see all of the areas and we discussed the work in the zone a bit. Following we were able to proselyte with him in our area for an hour or two and we had a powerful lesson with a less active brother named Lulama. The cool part was there were several brothers and a few sisters there that joined in the lesson too, and now we're teaching one of them and he's super powerful. We'll see how that goes. 

Thursday we had a really nice zone conference. Elder Palavi and I started out with training our zone and then we combined for President Lebethoa's training. It was a really practical and applicative training to life. Part of it we discussed budgets and dating and stuff and it was really nice, not only for a mission but for life. 

using the scripture D&C 88:119

119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

and we can replace the word house with, marriage, family, life, etc. It's a really great principle. 

Friday and Saturday were pretty slow–when holiday season rolls around it gets that way. Sunday was nice, we were able to watch the Christmas devotional after church which was fun. 

Well until next week. 

December 3, 2017

Hello everyone

Another week has passed in Mdantsane and time is flying.

Last Monday we got our mirror fixed that someone smashed and did a little driving around East London. It sure is beautiful. I'm going to miss being so close to the ocean all the time. 

The week started off really busy- we were able to see many investigators and less-actives, but as the week continued things started to slow. The problem is with holidays everyone goes out of town... 

We've started Light the World this week and it has been going well. We've been showing the video to a lot of the people we see. 

Saturday I was on exchanges with Elder Tshwane again. We had a great time but yo- it was super hot and humid. The only good part about the humidity is I don't sunburn. We started the day cutting and laying tile at a members house in Elder Msali and Le Brun's area. Afterwards, we went to the chapel and changed and we were able to see a few great people. I always learn a lot from Elder Tshwane, he's a great elder and good to be around. I hope I get to finish my mission in a walking area maybe, it'd help me lose some weight before I come home hahaha. 

Sunday was nice, it's always good to have fast and testimony meeting. We also had a really nice DA and were able to see some good appointments.

Well, zone conference is this week which will be really nice. Until next week.

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