March 12, 2018

This week has been a week full of good, but a lot of busy-ness and our progressing investigators are doing well. 

Mama Themba in an appointment finally said quits to tea so hopefully in the next few weeks she'll be getting baptised which is awesome. Her appointments are funny because she basically teaches and commits herself and she does all the talking. 

Aphiwe is doing well, one of our best investigators, he's come to church on his own the past 7 weeks now and he's really committed and reads and has a great testimony of the BOM. 

Vuyo is doing well too, he understands now the importance of the sabbath day and hopefully soon we can get him baptised. 

Transfer news came, Elder Hawkins will be going to Hermanus so I'll be getting Elder Monoalibe, I've never met him but it should be fun. We've got a lot of good work coming here in MD 1st and 4th wards. 

Sunday was Bro. Molteno's farewell- he's been fellowshipping a lot with us lately. He's going to be a powerful elder in Johannesburg. 

Well, change coming, but goood change. Well until the next week!

Me, Lulama (less active that we reactivated), Azukile Jada, Elder Hawkins, "Shakes" (sitting down) 

Us and Elder Molteno

Cute kids

Me and Hlumelo (one of our fellowshippers)

Aphiwe and his family (he is standing next to me)

March 5, 2018

Hello everyone, another week by

and Rain

This week has been super rainy and has dumped buckets, and also had a lot of thunder and lightning. You always know when it's going to be a big storm here in Africa because it's super hot and humid in the morning/afternoon and then it gets really really cold quick and the storm rolls right in. The other night we were probably driving in about 6 inches of water. It's a shame Cape Town isn't here to get any of it. I almost got struck by lightning the other day too, it was pretty crazy, it struck just right across the road in a field about 100m away.... all I can say is I've never jumped back into a car so fast in my life....

We've been working with some good investigators between wards 1 and 4. We've also been able to reactivate some less actives which is cool, the biggest things with less actives, is helping them build courage to meet the bishop, then he gives them a calling, and then they're active, not much too it. 

We're teaching a really old mama named mama Nothemba, and she is quite a funny lady. She's in her 60's and has really gained a strong testimony. It's just funny cause she brags to her friends that her church doesn't charge a fee to be in the women's organisation (relief society) and doesn't have a uniform lol. She's quite a lovely lady. 

Olwethu is doing good, she actually gave the closing prayer in church which was pretty cool. Her son loves primary and isn't afraid of elders anymore haha. 

It's crazy, It's march, and next week is transfers so depending on Saturday, I'll know if I'm leaving or staying. I'd prefer to stay- MD is really nice. 

Until next week. 

Elder Smith

February 26, 2018

Hello everyone, another week by...

Last Monday and Tuesday was spent dealing with the Police because of the burglary.... not too fun... especially because the cops are REALLY slow and hard to work with here. But oh well... all part of the job. 

It's been hard using scriptures other than my own (due to the burglary and them being dumped in the rain), it's like an extension of my brain is gone and so teaching is much harder... and since I can't memorize scriptures worth my life, I only remember my highlights and notes as I flip through. 

Tuesday through Saturday was as busy as normal.... quite a crazy experience in the two wards. Our bishopric got reorganized in Ward 1 (at least the counselors) so that'll be cool to work with and see how the work goes now. 

Sunday was my 18 month mark.... time flies pretty quick, it's pretty amazing. I'm no longer a sister missionary haha :) Elder Hawkins has been sick so we've been pushing to do the work. 

Haha, funny story, we had our scriptures ruined by the rain so we baked them in the oven, takes a new approach to feast upon the words of christ, you first have to cook them to feast lol. 

Until next week

I found this comment in a 1979 Ensign at a member's house, you may recognize who wrote it haha.
(Kaden's great uncle, Blaine Lee) 

February 19, 2018

This week has been a bunch of ups and downs. 

Monday we did a lot of cleaning at the 4th ward's boarding that they moved out of. 

Tuesday through Thursday we were super busy in the area working both of the areas. Thursday we had interviews with president Lebethoa which was nice. 

Friday we had a zone conference which was great and it's always good to learn from president Lebethoa.

Saturday and Sunday were very exciting... we baptised Olwethu on Saturday and Confirmed her on Sunday. It was a great service. 

By the end of the week we were really tired... too tired in fact that we slept through a burglar coming into our flat through a window last night haha. Fortunately all is well, most of the stuff was recovered, and the police have filed a case so all is well!

Love you all, 18 months is pretty much here..... it's amazing how much time flies!!!

Elder Smith

February 12, 2018

Hey everyone! Another week has passed by and by far one of the craziest on mission so far. 

Monday was a decent p-day with us doing some indoor soccer at Belgravia chapel with the other elders. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were really busy work days.... Elder Sibiya and I also did a lot of service on Wednesday for two different mamas. Tuesday we had MLC and we discussed a lot of things going on in the mission, especially with Day Zero coming up in Cape Town. 

Thursday we got a call at about 10:00 p.m. from Pres. Lebethoa that Elder Sibiya was being E.T'd to be in a different assignment in Cape Town and Elder Hawkin's companion as well, and that Elder Hawkins and I are now to be working both areas and wards. It's pretty crazy. 

Friday morning after district meeting Elder Sibiya and Mauerman left so we began our new work in our massive area. 

Saturday was our first full day but we've really seen the hand of the lord directing our work and helping us see what we need to focus our work on. 

Sunday was crazy..... Elder Hawkins and I were super busy attending double wards and sacrament meetings. There were double child of record baptisms after ward 1 and we were super happy because bishop was able to coordinate and Olwethu's baptism will be on Saturday of this week. It's pretty exciting stuffs. Afterwards we went to a nice DA at bishop's house

Well this week is going to be pretty crazy... it'll be a good work to be done. 

Until next week! 

Elder Smith

February 5, 2018

Well a new month, new transfer. 

Monday we had a decent p-day, just wrapping up things for elder Palavi. We taught our Jehovah's Witness investigator Masixole in the evening and then we went to our family home evening. 

Tuesday was a good wrap up of the transfer. We had a really great time together Elder Palavi and I, I'll miss him but that's how a mission is. 

Wednesday I dropped Elder Palavi off at the airport. Elder Sibiya was already serving in East London so he just met up at the airport and we went and got his stuff and went to the boarding so he could unpack. He's a very clean person.... so we did some cleaning. After we got out to the area and did some teaching. He's a semi pro rugby player from Ireland/England so he's a very straight forward guy, quite the opposite of me I feel haha. He's also a personal trainer so each day we've been working out.... and on a diet...... eish..... no bread, sweets, noodles, anything. My new favourite foods will be rice cakes and tuna lol.

Thursday was a great day of teaching, we were super busy as well as Friday. Friday we had a nice zone meeting setting some goals. 

Saturday we spaded Mama Mcata's yard after a run and that was a great service. We got a lot done and by Sunday we were exhausted.

Sunday was great, it was the first stake conference of Mdantsane after the stake split. I played the organ for it and accompanied the choir as well. It was pretty fun. We even got to hear from Pres. Lebethoa too.

After we were super hungry and didn't have time to go back so we prayed that people would feed us and we got fed like 3 times so it was awesome. 

Well a good week by, new month, new week ahead. 

Until the next

Notice my nice tan line watch hahahaha lol.

January 29, 2018

Well this week has been a good wrap up of the transfer. We've been working a lot to get things going with our progressing investigators. The biggest issue is coming to church, whether it is transport money or walking distance. But we are working with a lady named Olwethu and she is super sweet. We've been teaching her since I've been here and we're hoping her baptism will be on the 11th of Feb. 

This week we've been saying bye to lots of people because Elder Palavi will be leaving this Wednesday. He's going to Milnerton in Cape Town and my new companion is Elder Sibiya. He's South African but from Ireland so we'll have a good time. He's currently serving in East London so transfers won't be too hard for him. 

It's amazing January is already here and gone. Can't wait to see what February has in store. Love you all. 

Elder Smith

Nomphe, her brother, and son

Olwethu and her son

Three upcoming missionaries (Elder Gcwabe leaving for Joburg this Wednesday)

Bishop's Family

Mkwando Family