So you know how when you have your mission call in your hands waiting to be opened and it's super intense because ya know, your life for two years will be summed up by a few simple words? That's kinda like transfer news night but on six week instead of two year schedule. After a long day of appointments, you're in early and just sitting by the phone, waiting for Elder Kambuzuma to call with the news, all the while having started your fast already. It's really intense because you've been in Kimberley six months now, which means it's about time to go to your second area. After playing go fish for an hour or so, the call finally comes...the news with where you'll most likely spend the next six months of your life should be there, only to find out that you're not being transferred. But wait, there's more...NOBODY is getting transferred. At this point, there are three possibilities in your mind:
1. President Zackrison's lost his marbles.
2. He's procrastinated working the transfer board.
3. He's super super inspired in ways that us elders can't even imagine.
I'm leaning towards the last one, because after reading his email to us today, and all the visa papers and stuff and elders that are supposed to be in Kenya and elders coming from Provo and so-and-so training so-and-so and what and what... It's hectic and definitely requires some divine intervention. But anyway, long story short, transfers are happening next week instead and I'm guaranteed at least one more week in Kimberley! Hoorah for Israel!
Man...been a great week though. Lots and lots of exciting things happening!
Tuesday we went on surprise exchanges with the Rocklands elders, so we were out of our area all day. I had the privilege of working with Elder Tibbits, a fellow Dart, and man...we defended the tradition so hard while we were together. He's a fetching powerful missionary with such a strong testimony. We taught hard, and then made it to the Van der Leeks for a New Years Eve feast. Slowly but surely I'm learning the art of braaiing. Sorry America, South Africans just do it better! Spent our New Years...well, on top of the world you could say.
So we have an investigator named Jeshuwa right now who's just power power power. We found him through doing service at our landlords' and he's just a testament to how prepared some people are for the gospel. He's already through Alma 8 in the Book of Mormon, he's coming to church every week, he brought his son this week, and when we extended the baptismal invitation, Elder Reeves accidentally said January 12 instead of February 2. We got an SMS from him before one of our appointments that said, "I'll be ready January 12. I can't wait any longer!" How cool is that?!
Work was a little tough this week, just because so many of our investigators and members we're working with have been out of town for the holiday, but the ones that we were able to see were power power power. Jeshuwa, Elsa, Vusi... All so much stronger than when I first met them. They have such a desire to find the truth, and I'm just so glad I can be there help them find it.
I've found a love for food on mission that I didn't know I had before. It's fantastic for my taste buds, but my belly...not so much. We had dinner with the Visagies Thursday night, and we had the most bizarre combination of crepes with, get this...curry. But don't dis it til you try it, because man...it was baie lekker! And then a big shoutout to my mama for sending Las Palmas Enchilada Sauce for Christmas. We got to enjoy our first Mexican dish in months with the Carliles Sunday. To all you hooligans out there that take for granted Del Taco, Cafe Rio, the Red Iguana, Javiers, Taco Bell, Betos, and any other Mexican restaurant... Yeah none of those exist in this part of the world. But then again, you don't get to eat chicken feet and sheep head, so who's the real winner here? Also made SBO pudding Sunday night...still the best desert around!
This morning we went to a war museum and got to climb all over a bunch of old tanks and stuff (just for the record, Elder Gold and I ran there at 6:30 AM...solid 6 miles to start the day. B-e-a-utiful!). One of the army guys even took us inside one and turned it on. So cool. But as we walked out we saw a sign (camouflaged, just fyi) that said in big letters: PLEASE DON'T CLIMB ON THE VEHICLES. So I guess...if soldiers are watching, it's ok?
Love and miss you all! Hope this next week is lekker as a cracker. Stay well, stay positive, love your lives.
Baie liefde,
Elda Johnson
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