From what I've read from emails back home, coverage of Madiba's funeral has been worldwide, as it should be. The more I've learned about him this last week, the more I realize just how incredible of a life he lived. Even thinking back to the heroes and forefathers of the United States, I can't think of anyone else who even comes close to fighting for a cause like Madiba did, and then turning around and helping out those who held him captive for nearly three decades.
"Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done. South Africa shows us that is true. South Africa shows us we can change. We can choose to live in a world defined not by our differences, but our common hopes. We can choose to live in a world defined not by conflict but by peace and justice and opportunity."
--Barack Obama
Not just South Africa, but the entire world has been unified in memorializing the life he lived. Going to members' and investigators' houses, the only thing things on TV this week were tributes to Mandela. The only newspaper stories covered the life and times of Mandela. Presidents from more than 50 nations gathered in JoBurg at FNB stadium to pay tribute. No matter colour, status, or background, the entire country mourned the loss. In townships, spontaneous demonstrations erupted. Elder Reeves and I got to be a part of it one night. At the circle in the middle of Galeshewe, a giant picture of Mandela with his arm raised was erected no more than a couple days after his passing. Each night since has been filled with candle light vigils, singing, and praying in Mandela's memory. We had some time before we had to be in and safe one night, so we stopped by and were greeted with our own candles, and to go clap and sing with everyone there, a living testament of Mandela's purpose in South Africa. Truly remarkable.
Other than seeing the whole world united in this cause, the rest of the week has been baie lekker as well. For the first time in at least a month, we had a whole week to be in Kimberley, and man, we worked hard! At DDM on Tuesday, we set a goal to place two Book of Mormons per week as we go a finding, as opposed to just pamphlets or pass-along cards. Wednesday, we set it in motion. The Lord has blessed us with so many opportunities to share this week it's ridiculous. A week ago the stake president was begging us to find father-led families, and today, we have eight new investigators, each part of a family with potential Melchizedek priesthood holders. And the best part, we didn't even have to go tracting! Through service opportunities, through talking to people on the streets, through making contact with old investigators, we've found so many Mormons-to-be this week!
But on top of all the work we've done, we've had ourselves a fair share of good times. Steve and Lucky helped us wash our car, we got to help the Dyers family set up their Christmas decorations, we went to the Mandela tribute, I sat in gum, and I think the gekste (craziest) encounter all week was our lesson with a less-active family called the Setilos... Hahaha ohhh man. So here's what happened. It's about four o'clock Saterdag middag (Saturday afternoon), and we show up to their place all dressed up in our missionary get up, looking as sharp and lekker as ever. The whole family just has these big grins on their faces the whole time...obviously they're up to something. They tell us they're going to welcome us into the family today. Exciting right? Wrong! Try most nerve wracking thing of my life... After they tell us to make sure we have nothing in our pockets that can get wet we are ushered outside to await our fate. Eventually they invite us in one at a time and tell us to entertain them for one minute. So after we start dancing and whatnot, they do as we do for a minute straight, and we're welcomed in to the family...so they say. Didn't get wet or anything, so there's obviously more to the story. We go outside to play a game similar to Down by the Banks of the Hanky Panky, but not the whole family... The rest had rushed to get the water ballons to ambush us. In a matter of minutes it had erupted into a full scale food fight, complete with flour and eggs. I'd like to say the Elders won that day, but that would turn me into a liar. But it was jolly good fun nonetheless. :) The downer is that we still had three appointments after them, and the trick was going to be explaining why we were wet, why my ear was caked in flour, and why there was egg dripping down my shirt... We probably could have explained that we were making a cake and it went horribly wrong, but we decided to just stop by the investigator we were seeing that night, reschedule, and then only go to our member appointments. As soon as we got to Duncan's house he gave us a really weird look, then was like, "You were at the Setilos weren't you?" Apparently we're not the first victims.
Christmas time is coming up, but man it sure doesn't feel like it! Blasting Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas CD just isn't the same when it's like 90 degrees outside. And to think that on the other side of the world there's snow and lights up at Temple Square... Tisk tisk, never take that for granted peeps! But on the plus side, the 24 days of Christmas presents from mi madre is going FANTASTICALLY! But I just want to let all you hooligans back in America know that South Africa does beef jerky WAY better. It's called billtong here and blows the doors off jerky. So freaking lekker. And they braai (barbecue) better here too. Gonna have to step it up, America!
So if any of you bump into my mama today, please wish her a very happy 25th birthday and tell her she's the best ever and could beat up your mom. :) K sweet.
Hope ya'll have a most triumphant week. Stay well, stay positive, love your life.
Much love,
Elder Kagisho
(my new Tswana name given to me by Disebo, meaning "Peace")
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