Shared 11/25/13 - Golfing at Emoya, a large Pig, Tacos, and Maas

Golfing at Emoya

 A large Pig...

Finally eating Mexican food after 4 months

Maas (Sour Milk)

A work of art! 

I've never heard such a smell...

"I love my husband so much. She's the best." If you don't see anything wrong with the title of the email or the previous statement, congratulations! You speak English like a real African! Haha, it cracks me up. Men get referred to as she, women as him and he... But I guess when you're in a country with 12 official languages, little things like gender aren't that important.

Anywho...man, it's been an exciting week! Saturday night we got transfer news, and Elder Kambuzuma informed me I was getting transferred to the coast!!! I was kinda bummed since I didn't feel my time in Kimberley was over... But I started packing up my closet, and then we get another call from Rocklands and Bloemanda... They were busting up laughing when they heard I was packing because they were just kidding and I'm actually staying in Kimberley one more transfer. Hallelujah!!! Those jokesters... Don't worry, I'll get em back somehow. 

So the Clusters are a couple that have been in Durban, but they just moved to Bloemfontein this last week and Elder Reeves and I had dinner with them last Monday. And you'll never believe what we had.... TACOS!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I probably shouldn't be this excited about something as simple as tacos, but when it's been four and a half months since you've had real Mexican food... Yeah, it's kind of a big deal. Anyway, Elder and Sister Cluster are the bomb. 

For p-day last week we went golfing at Emoya again. Just when I think my slice is fixed... Eish. One day. Even if it takes me til I'm an old man, I will fix my slice and be great at golf and hustle my grandkids out of money. K I probably won't do that...but you get the idea.

The rest of the week has been great. We've been out of pass-along cards though...and when I say we, I mean the entire Bloemfontein zone, so that's been kinda rough. I feel naked without pass-along cards. You share something short about the gospel with someone while you're standing in line at a petrol garage...and then that's it. You can't give them a chance to learn more by calling the number on the card and getting a free DVD about how they can find faith in Christ. :( But it's ok, the work must move forward somehow!

The Carliles were in Kimberley this week for our boarding check, and we passed with flying colors! But only after they checked off our car and boarding did the ceiling start leaking water, the shower drain get clogged, and the car start leaking petrol...eish. We've got it all under control though, don't worry!

We've been visiting lots and lots of less-active members, and one of them had a grandmother pass away, so Elder Reeves and I attended the funeral this Saturday. South African funerals are way different than American ones though... It's kind of an all-week ordeal. The whole family gathers, there's food all day every day (they slaughter a sheep or two just to feed everyone), and it kinda concludes on a Saturday. It was at the NICC church, and man... It's different than any Mormon funeral I've ever been to. Most of it was in Tswana, so we couldn't understand, but we're pretty sure one of the songs (one of the MANY songs they sung) was Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy in Tswana, so that was really really cool. It finished with the pastor yelling about how only God will remain standing.  Very interesting. But! We bumped into a couple members from JoBurg there, so that was pretty sweet. They came to sacrament meeting Sunday too. 

Thursday night we had dinner at the Visagies and they had maas for me to try (don't worry, there's a video). Basically what it is...is sour milk, but for some reason or another South Africans buy it and enjoy it. Anyway I wouldn't truly have been South African if I didn't try it at least once... So... Yeah. I've eaten sour milk. Hoorah for Israel!

And I think the highlight of the week... We got a call Saturday morning from a man named Richard. I dunno how he got the missionaries' number, but he wanted to meet at the church at 12. He brought his family and they are so ready to receive the message of the Restoration it's ridiculous. 

That's it for me this week! We're off to Bloem now for a turkey bowl and Thanksgiving dinner at the Carliles! Woot woot! They don't do Thanksgiving in South Africa... So this is the best we can do. We'll teach the young men football on real Thanksgiving too. Should be an awesome week.

Stay well, stay positive, love your life ladies and gents.

Much love,

Elda Man Skaap

(That's man sheep in Afrikaans...and that's what Smalls, Fad, and Bakang keep calling me...not exactly sure why, but they bust up laughing every time they do)

Shared 11/18/13 - Sunrise at Naval Hill & SBO Coke

Morning run to Naval Hill 

Beautiful sunrise!

Oh ya, an SBO coke.  Brilliant.

Darts at the boarding

There's unlimited juice?! These interviews are going to be off the hook!

Sawubona!

The search for Mexican food continued this week in the most unusual of places... McDonald's! They're serving a burger called the Mexican, but in my opinion, adding jalapeno sauce to a burger doesn't constitute real Mexican food...so the search continues in vain.

I forgot to mention a couple things from last Sunday...we have a ward mission leader now! Bishop called Vuyo Thompson last week, and I couldn't be more stoked! He had been less active for a long time, but as we started visiting with him, he started coming back to church, and had been praying for a calling... Well my friends, his prayers were answered, as were ours! The work is moving forward in Kimberley and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it! Also, last week I was asked to give a talk (if you'll recall...my phone number was wrong in the ward directory at my USU student ward...never talked nor had a calling...but this is my third time talking in Kimberley...I guess it all evens out!). Anyway, Bishop Tshabalala asked me just to fill the remaining time which should have been about 15 minutes. Welp...Sister Dyers was speaking before me and started about 20 after, so if she had spoken about 20 minutes, I could have done the same. But bless her heart, she spoke for a solid five minutes! And when I looked at the clock, there were 35 minutes left... Elder Reeves and Bishop looked at each other and almost burst out laughing. So I tried my best to fill the rest of the time but only managed to squeeze out 25 minutes... Bishop covered the rest of the time for me thank goodness! But it was ok, because brevity is the soul of wit, and Sister Dyers packed more of a punch into her five minute talk on sacrament than in my twenty five!

P-day last Monday was great. The plan was to play 9 holes, but we were all low on allotment...so we decided to push it off a week and do something that was a little more free. We ended up playing basketball and soccer with our whole district which was great fun! Man...one day I'm gonna be bending it like Beckham. One day...

Elder Gold and I started Tuesday off the best way possible...by waking up at 4:30 and running up Naval Hill to Nelson Mandela and watching the sunrise! Man...it got me pumped for the day! Elder Gold rocks man. He said I'd get along with one of his best friends back home because we're both "spasmadically musically oriented." I think I'll definitely take that as a compliment. After studies we went for lunch to this place that braais pork and beef...for 20 rand, you get a piece of pork or beef, a big side of pap, two salads, and a wors. And it's GOOD! You could never find that much food, let alone GOOD food, for that cheap in the states! Man...it was the best. After that we had interviews with President Zackrison, and I just can't begin to express how much I love that man. He's so inspired in everything he does, and he loves the missionaries of the mission so much! We talked a lot about Kimberley and personal conversion and being a consecrated missionary. It's crazy how he knew exactly what I needed to hear to help me. There's a scripture in D&C...I can't remember where it is exactly, but it talks about how if you can only bring one soul unto Heavenly Father, how great your joy will be. The first person you need to start with is yourself. The Gospel is true...that I can promise you!

We made it back to Kimberley that night and visited a couple less actives. Wednesday it was back to work! It's getting hot here, and we don't have an AC in our bedroom BUT we do have one in the kitchen... So I had the idea in the morning to move our beds to the kitchen. Elder Reeves was just sort of like "Um...ok, I guess we could do that if you really want to..." Kinda thought I was an idiot. But as he thought about it the rest of the day he realized the brilliance of it... Anyway long story short our beds are in the kitchen now and it's the best thing ever.

The rest of the week was filled with appointments (many of which were bunked but it was ok because the work has to move forward!) and lots of teaching! We had a meeting with Bishop Friday and guess what...his wife gave birth! She's in Bloemfontein though because the doctors that have to help her are there...anyway he hasn't had the chance to get there and see his new daughter yet, so we're giving him a ride today when we drive down! I'm so excited for him. This is his second child, and he's just so so so happy. So am I. So much happy!

Sunday Liberty was confirmed, which was incredible. So happy for her.  Zenzile and Liberty are both official members now! Woot woot! We had FHE with the young men last night too, and man...they're gonna make great missionaries one day!

Aight that's it for me! Off to the driving range today, and I'll have transfer news next week! Wherever I end up, I know it's where the Lord needs me. The church is true, my friends!

Lekker dag. Stay well, stay positive, love your lives.

Elda Johnson

Shared 11/11/13 - Thaba Nchu mountain, Sushi, Zone, Baptism, and carving pumpkins

 Thaba Nchu Mountain!!!

With his new companion

Sushi

Halloween pumpkin carving...

My ward is down for the #UNITY

Sawubona!

So You Wouldn't Believe this... Down here in South Africa the date is written backwards... 11 November 2013 instead of November 11, 2013. So that turns November 3 into 3 November, or 3/11/2013...meaning! I get to celebrate 311 Day twice a year now! Woot woot! If you don't know my love for the band 311 you're probably All Mixed Up right now.

Anywho...man, we worked hard this week! Lots of finding...but not in the sense of finding new investigators, but finding less actives! On average about 70-80 people show up to sacrament meeting here, and on the ward directory we Bishop Tshabalala...there are more than 200 members in the ward. Es muy Loco... So we took a map of Kimberley, the ward directory, and spent a couple hours over a couple mornings just mapping out where everyone stays! In our freetime instead of tracting, we just go knock on doors of less-actives and Visit. It's been good...but occasionally you find out that the person is either moved away or dead. Eish...no bueno. But! It's a great Use of Time. We've found some promising families. Families that haven't been to church in years...families that don't even remember who Joseph Smith is...we've got a ways And a Ways to Go!

Where to start where to start... Last Monday! For our zone activity we climbed Thaba Nchu mountain! It's been forever since I've hiked and man...it Feels So Good! It was about 3.5 miles straight up and straight down! The biggest mistake we made was not taking enough water. I had a litre and it was gone about halfway up the mountain. What Was I Thinking? But it was ok because the view at the top was incredible! You know the hymn There is a Green Hill Far Away? I think it's talking about the top of Thaba Nchu mountain...it was dry the whole way up, but the top was a green meadow with rock formations that resembled Arches National Park. The plan was to go to a buffet afterwards, but it was only open Saturdays. So instead, we celebrated the traditional African way...with Chinese food! Elder Gold and I ordered sushi. Kinda Random, but whatever. P-Day well spent.

Tuesday we had our zone training meeting, and the zone leaders taught us the same way that Elder Bednar taught us a couple weeks ago. Instead of preparing material, they assigned us chapters to read in Preach My Gospel and asked us questions. As opposed to lecturing us, we all participated in a discussion. Great stuff. Afterwards, Elder Reeves high tailed it back to Kimberley to make our appointments for the night. We went and visited a family with the Bishop, and it was really good talking to him. He's a powerful dude and has an AWESOME vision for the Kimberley Ward. I'm so happy to be working with him to make it happen.

Wednesday and Thursday consisted of our searches for less-actives. We found so much success! In the words of Ezra Taft Benson... "Work, work, work...there is no satisfactory subsitute, especially in missionary work!" We parked our car somewhere and just started walking with the map. We found a family called the Rammutles... Their address was wrong and they weren't home, but miracles do happen! Because we were stopped a ways down the street by someone who said he had been baptized in our church. When we asked his name, lo and behold it turned out he was one of the Rammutles' sons! We'll be having an FHE with them next week.

Friday, the Rocklands elders were here for exchanges so that Elder Kambuzuma interview Liberty for her baptism Sunday. I was with him all day, and man...I love that dude. He cracks me up. We worked hard, found more less-actives, and! We knocked on the door of an investigator I had taught once with Elder Kruger, and then she had just sort of disappeared off the face of the earth. She was home, stoked to see us, and had just had a baby! So we're teaching her next week, and she's stoked to be seeing us again! Elders Kambuzuma and Tibbits stayed at our Hive that night, and man...it was so good talking to another Dart! I love Elder Tibbits. And I love that he knows what I'm talking about when I say Club Chev.

Sunday Liberty was baptized finally!!!!!!!! Ah man, I was so so so happy for her! The baptism went smoothly, and her testimony she bore was so powerful. We asked Zenzile to give the closing prayer for her, and he was super nervous... He told me we could write his name down for the prayer, but he would be long gone by the time it happened. But It's All Right because he was there, he prayed, and we were blown away. One of the most powerful prayers I've ever heard!

Aight, that's it for me this week. If all goes according to plan, we should be playing a round of golf with the ZLs today and I'm pretty stoked. Should be Sick Tight. Interviews with Prez Z are tomorrow, and I hope he can tell me whether I'll be staying in Kimberley this next transfer or not... I'm really hoping I'll Be Here a While longer! Tune In next week to find out!

Stay well everyone. Stay positive, love your lives. Much love,

Ouder Johannesseun

(I think that's Elder Johnson in Afrikaans...don't take my word for it! Lakker dag!)

Saturday is a special day, it's the day Galeshewe gets wasted!

Sawubona!

Ah man, I am super super crunched on time today... We're hiking Thaba Nchu mountain for zone activity, and we have to be at the Bloemfontein Chapel in...well technically about three minutes, so I'm gonna have to be brief! But as Shakespeare says, "Brevity is the soul of wit." Mrs. Cross would be SO proud of me!

Highlights of this week...remember Thokozani? Crazy investigator from last week? Man...we have a renewed faith in him! You know how every ward has to have that one super powerful person that's just a wee bit (well...a lot bit) out there? Elder Reeves and I both see that as Thokozani! We gave him a Book of Mormon Wednesday, and when he came to church Sunday he was already at 1 Nephi chapter 11! He's loco, but he's gonna be power. We asked people what they thought of him...and Khanyi, the one who fed us worms a couple Sundays ago, said "He's weird!!!" She eats WORMS and calls him weird! Anyway...super stoked to teach him again this week!

Thursday was Halloween, but it sure didn't feel like Halloween...nobody celebrates it here! So we bought a pumpkin at the store and carved it with the young men. And that's another thing...pumpkins aren't orange here...it was green! But we carved it anyway, and I think I was way more excited about it than the young men... But whatever, it was great! And then after all our appointments that day Elder Reeves and I celebrated with bottomless pizza at Panoratti's, or however the fetch you spell it...

Friday we had a meeting with Bishop Tshabalala, and he's calling a ward mission leader finally! Man...this ward has had some trouble getting on its feet and helping people to be friends with each other, but things are happening! There's a chance I leave Kimberley after this transfer in three weeks...but I'm hoping and praying everyday that I don't, because we have some GREAT ideas for the area! Kimberley's gonna be on FIRE once we're through with it!

Saturday we were planning on helping some people in their yard, and the guy we talked to is named Bongz... And his name gives a really really good idea of what was going on in the house when we got there. Everyone was drunk and smoking hookah...typical Saturday in Galeshewe. So we rescheduled for Wednesday when they'll be sober! After we got home I asked Elder Reeves if people like that would ever accept the gospel... He told me a group of people in Swazi did, and now they're serving missions. Also...look at the Sons of Mosiah! So it'll be tough...but possible with enough faith.

So no pictures this week because of the time crunch...but! I promise lots next week!

One more thing...I've decided once I'm in a Zulu speaking area, I'm learning the language and reading the Book of Mormon in Zulu. Watch out Satan, here I come!

Stay well, stay positive, love your life ladies and gents.

Much love,

Sharp sharp boss! 
(In the township, everyone calls white people "boss" and sharp is pronounced "shop" with the accent here...but it's just like a greeting)