Monday, March 24, 2014
Shared 3/24/14 - Newcastle South Africa - fixing a broken pipe, playing guitar, goodbye Elder Armstrong
Take a good look, Newcastle, 'cause it's the last ti...ah, I'm just kiddin', I'm here to stay!
Sawubona!
I'm here to stay, but unfortunately that won't be the case for Elder Mukonda... His mission call is actually to the Kenya Nairobi Mission, and he's been waiting on his visa for the last four months. It could come at any point, so we may have played a joke on him this week, sending him an SMS supposedly from Big Z that it was in. Luckily he's a good sport and we had a good laugh about it. :) Well, lo and behold, we got a call from President this morning, and when I handed the phone to Elder Mukonda, I heard something along the lines of, "I heard that some elders may have played a joke this week that you're visa is in. Well, I'm calling you to tell you that that's reality." So he'll be leaving this transfer to make his way on up to kick Satan's trash in Kenya. Gosh dang it I'm gonna miss him, but I know he's got work to do a li'l ways north!
So this week has been a li'l bit on the cray cray side, both in matters temporal and spiritual. People go on strike fetching all the time in South Africa, and this last week it was the garbage men's turn. This strike left the streets an absolute mess and helped me to understand the importance of garbage men. Every job is important, just as every calling in church is important. The branch president is no more important than the greeter or the audio-video specialist. Speaking of branch presidents though... We told President Mabhena last Monday, "If you ever need help with anything, just let us know!" Usually when we tell that to people, it's an empty offer, but to our great surprise, he took us up on it, and we found ourselves at the chapel 7 AM Tuesday morning helping to fix a broken pipe! Woo, let's hear it for serving our fellow man!
We tried a new finding idea this week. There's a tech college right down the street, and over the course of the day there's a steady flow of students walking back and forth, so we decided to try just chilling outside our boarding with a guitar and piano in hand in hopes that people would approach us and ask about the gospel. Sadly, they didn't. Most people just kinda gave us a look that said, "What are these two hippies in shirts and ties doing playing Jesus songs?" But it's cool. Worth a shot, eh?
Thursday, we went contacting in an area called Ngagane about 10 k's outside Newcastle that President Mabhena is hoping to start a group in. There's one member family currently that stays out there, so we're starting from scratch. We're going to try and make it out there once a week, and our first trip turned out much success! Ah man it's great. It's just this cute, quiet li'l suburb and all the people there are so willing to talk to us. Missionary work is so much more fun when it's not people that throw their hands up when they see Mormons and yell "not interested!"
So a couple highlights this week... We were watching some...training videos? I think... I dunno, but they were to help us learn how to find through Family History, when who should appear on the screen other than Elder Raphael Johnson! I about jumped out of my seat screaming, "THAT'S MY COUSIN!" So that was pretty cool. Hapha if you're reading this you should shoot me an email sometime!
Our zone leader Elder Armstrong died this week, so we got to say our goodbyes to him. Man... Mission's a weird time of life. So many people come into your life and then leave just as quickly. It's easier if you look at it as "see you laters" instead of "goodbyes." Said final see you laters to Elder Stengile too. Man... Too many of my favorite missionaries are going home. But it's ok, it's their turn to find beautiful daughters of God to marry and mine to sing the song of redeeming of love!
And last but not least... Remember that soul I was supposed to save last week? Man, our lesson with this investigator was powerful. President Uchtdorf came to the rescue with a talk that answered so many of his questions! The church is true as ever my friends, and I'm so grateful to get to share it with the world! Sala kahle this week my friends. Stay positive, love your lives.
Much love,
Elder Johnson
Monday, March 17, 2014
Having fun isn't hard, when you've got a pass along card!
Sawubona!
Eish I really hope I haven't used that subject line already... If I have I'll go repent and try and do better next week. Sorry guys.
In other news, we did a little bit of habitat destruction this week. Elder Gonzales and I are to blame for this heart wrenching story. The dishes piling up in the kitchen, the food wrappers, and the crumbs all over the floor and counters have been cleaned, and the poor roaches making their homes there are going to have to find new places to stay. Please keep them in your prayers this week (just kidding, please please please don't keep them in your prayers).
Oh man... Another freaking lekker week in Newcastle! Last week, Elder Mukonda and I had the lesson at family home evening. We had everyone in the room write down something for someone else to do, whether it was dancing, singing, or rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time. The catch was after you had given something to someone to do... Uh oh! That's what you have to do! Thank goodness I can pat my head and rub my belly at the same time. Lots and lots of laughs were shared.
Tuesday was back to work, and yoh... The people we are blessed with to teach right now are incredible. Teaching honest seekers of the truth is incredible. There's the lessons where the person you're teaching could care less what the Spirit has to tell them, and then there are the lessons where people's hearts and minds are opened, and those are the lessons that every missionary should strive for. We've had so many of them this week it's been incredible!
Went on exchanges in Osizweni with Elder Morole on Wednesday, and holy cow... This guy knows more American music than any other South African I've ever met. Have any of you heard of Allred? Local acoustic guy from Utah that not too many people outside of the state have heard of? Yeah, Elder Morole was asking me about him! I was blown away! Also, do you remember me talking about sphatlos in Kimberley? It's like a quarter loaf of bread with a heart attack of meat inside? They have a version in Osizweni we tried called a quantum, and the difference is that it's a whole loaf of bread instead of a quarter. If I perish of cardiac arrest this week, just know that my taste buds died happy. Oh and we also committed two people to baptism, taught some great lessons , and found a referral for Newcastle that day too :)
So here's a funny story... Lungani's one of the young men, and he was talking to us Friday about teaching with us Saturday, but he couldn't until the afternoon because of a rugby game he was playing in by JoBurg. "Don't even think about calling me in the morning," he says, "wait til the afternoon." So we laughed it off and said ok. Then Saturday we get a call from him at 8:30 asking us to pick him up before we go out teaching. Lo and behold, he slept in 'til 5 and missed his 4 AM bus. So we laughed it off again and he came teaching with us and translated to Zulu for some of our investigators. Blessing in disguise?
President Mabhena had been asking about bringing two more missionaries to Newcastle, so I got a chance to talk to President Zackrison about it after interviews last week, and due to the number of areas doing the whole hastening the work thing, missionaries probably aren't gonna be available til the last quarter of the year. So Sunday, I was talking to President Mabhena about this, when all of a sudden who should walk out of the bathroom than President Zackrison himself! He paid a surprise visit to Newcastle, and we were able to discuss the direction of the work with him, our branch president, and branch mission leader. What a blessing! I guess he needed to do interviews with the Swazi elders still, and Newcastle was a good meeting place. They ended up sleeping over at our boarding last night which was buckets of spiritual fun.
Welp, I got a call from an investigator this week telling me it's my job (no one else's) to convert him this week and save his soul, so I've got that to prepare for tomorrow. Stay tuned next week so see how this turns out.
Sala kahle my brothers and sisters.
Much love,
Elder Johnson
Monday, March 10, 2014
Hlala emihle futhi athande impilo yakho
Sawubona!
Ah man… Every so often you just have to take some time to be creatures (for a while). Today's been a li'l bit all mixed up... We had our zone activity down in Dundee and just barely got back. But, it's been an exciting week with much to report on! So many exciting things happening… You can just feel the electricity in the air!
So the excitement started happening Wednesday at our zone training meeting. The area presidency is introducing a new booklet called My Family: Stories that Bring Us Together. Essentially it's a paper version of FamilySearch.org, and it can be a great tool to fill out and find out more about your ancestors. The Durban mission is piloting it, and they've asked us to use it in our finding, reactivation, and retention efforts. So far, it's looking to be a huge blessing to the area. One of the Zulu traditions that it's tough to help babas and the rest of their families to let go of is ancestor worship. Ya know, sacrificing goats to them and stuff. So essentially My Family we'll be there to help them pay respect to their ancestors through receiving the blessings of the temple. We're STOKED about it!
Also at our zone training meeting, Elders Armstrong and Kruger introduced the vision for the Newcastle District. The number of active, full-tithe paying Melchizidek Priesthood holders needed to become a stake is 150. Currently, there are 76. The number of ordained elders in the district? 170. The number of potential elders in the district? 339. With those numbers, we can see the direction we need to be taking the work. Instead of baptizing more people into less-activity, we've made it a zone goal to rescue those that have already made covenants with our Heavenly Father. We did the math, and to become a stake, all each companionship has to do is find/bring back nine Melchizidek Priesthood holders. So our new zone motto? "Rescue the Nine." Hehe, pretty clever, eh? And the greatest part about all of this is that the My Family books are looking to be an incredible way to bring babas to/back to the church! Ah man, it is an exciting time to be serving in the Newcastle Zone my friends.
Elder Mukonda and I got started quickly working on our own My Family books and realized just how much there is we don't know about our own families. Yoh… I looked at it at first and was like, "Man… I already know everything about my grandparents!" But lo and behold, I couldn't even remember the day they were married. Eish…you've humbled me again, mission. So it's been lekker learning about family history for ourselves before sharing it with others.
On top of all this training, the area still continues to be on fire! Man, it's so cool working with members that have such powerful testimonies. Ma Mdletsche had a family member pass away, so a lot of the family was in town from Durban for the funeral. We got a call from her Friday morning asking us to bring over a few copies of the Book of Mormon. She had been teaching them all about the Plan of Salvation! So we got to share a li'l bit more with them, and then give their names as referrals to the Umlazi elders. How power is that?!
Friday was looking to be a li'l disappointing… We had planned a soccer game at the chapel with some of the young men and asked them to invite friends. Quite a few had told us they were coming, but it got to be about a half hour late and no one really was showing up. But we decided to stay a little longer, and it's a good thing we did, because everyone ended up showing up, we made a couple contacts while we were at it, and even had a lesson afterwards and committed two of our investigators to baptism! Man… It's so great working with Elder Mukonda! He is one powerful missionary. And I think I found the reason I love him so much… He is Zambia's Spencer Hafen. It's almost ridiculous how much he reminds me of good ol' Sebby now that I think about it. Anyway, Saturday night! We taught the Restoration to a recent convert's friend, and man… He understood it better than I've ever seen anyone understand it! We must have done something right in the spirit world, because the blessings just keep raining upon us here in Newcastle!
Saturday President Zackrison was in town for more training on My Family and interviews. Lekker day. Big Z… Man, there's just something about the way he teaches. He knows exactly how to invite the Spirit to testify to us that whatever he's teaching about is true. He never gives fire, just loves us. From the ZLs on Wednesday, we learned the how of My Family. With President, we learned the why…the Spiritual side of it. When it comes down to it, that's what's going to hasten the work. The Spirit testifying to you is the most powerful witness of the gospel.
I was the last one to be interviewed that day, and man… I just love talking one on one with Big Z. It never feels like an interview… Just a conversation. We talked about everything...the area, my spiritual progression, why I left Queensburgh so quickly, how I can continue to progress… Man, he's doing the mission president thing right. He's a friend more than anything. One of the coolest parts of the interview was the lightning storm going on at the same time. Haha, we both got distracted by it. Glad he's human just like you and me!
Sunday was an adventure… Yoh. We got lost trying to find a member that stays about 20 k's outside Newcastle. As it turns out, we went 20 k's in the wrong direction, but eventually made our way to Brother Classen's. Man, they are such a cool family and stay in probably the coolest place in South Africa I've seen so far. It's remote, completely surrounded by mountains, has a golf course… Ah man, I tasted heaven. So I guess he's from Germany, working here in South Africa, and the rest of the family is based in California. One of his sons had a Dodgers hat on, which is so many different types of awesome. They've been members I think 40 or so years, and it was so cool to have a conversation about the Plan of Salvation with them.
There's a Jamaican word… Irie. It's a state of just feeling good. That's how I've felt in Newcastle. Everything here is just going great. I'm happy as I've ever been and the work is moving forward wonderfully! It's rained every day this week, which has made it tough to look beyond the grey sky in the literal sense, but in the figurative sense, it's easy to look past the setbacks when there are so many miracles happening!
To the excitable crew, I wish a very happy 311 Day tomorrow. :) Sala kahle my friends. Stay positive, and love your lives.
Uthando okuningi,
Umdala Johnson
Ah man… Every so often you just have to take some time to be creatures (for a while). Today's been a li'l bit all mixed up... We had our zone activity down in Dundee and just barely got back. But, it's been an exciting week with much to report on! So many exciting things happening… You can just feel the electricity in the air!
So the excitement started happening Wednesday at our zone training meeting. The area presidency is introducing a new booklet called My Family: Stories that Bring Us Together. Essentially it's a paper version of FamilySearch.org, and it can be a great tool to fill out and find out more about your ancestors. The Durban mission is piloting it, and they've asked us to use it in our finding, reactivation, and retention efforts. So far, it's looking to be a huge blessing to the area. One of the Zulu traditions that it's tough to help babas and the rest of their families to let go of is ancestor worship. Ya know, sacrificing goats to them and stuff. So essentially My Family we'll be there to help them pay respect to their ancestors through receiving the blessings of the temple. We're STOKED about it!
Also at our zone training meeting, Elders Armstrong and Kruger introduced the vision for the Newcastle District. The number of active, full-tithe paying Melchizidek Priesthood holders needed to become a stake is 150. Currently, there are 76. The number of ordained elders in the district? 170. The number of potential elders in the district? 339. With those numbers, we can see the direction we need to be taking the work. Instead of baptizing more people into less-activity, we've made it a zone goal to rescue those that have already made covenants with our Heavenly Father. We did the math, and to become a stake, all each companionship has to do is find/bring back nine Melchizidek Priesthood holders. So our new zone motto? "Rescue the Nine." Hehe, pretty clever, eh? And the greatest part about all of this is that the My Family books are looking to be an incredible way to bring babas to/back to the church! Ah man, it is an exciting time to be serving in the Newcastle Zone my friends.
Elder Mukonda and I got started quickly working on our own My Family books and realized just how much there is we don't know about our own families. Yoh… I looked at it at first and was like, "Man… I already know everything about my grandparents!" But lo and behold, I couldn't even remember the day they were married. Eish…you've humbled me again, mission. So it's been lekker learning about family history for ourselves before sharing it with others.
On top of all this training, the area still continues to be on fire! Man, it's so cool working with members that have such powerful testimonies. Ma Mdletsche had a family member pass away, so a lot of the family was in town from Durban for the funeral. We got a call from her Friday morning asking us to bring over a few copies of the Book of Mormon. She had been teaching them all about the Plan of Salvation! So we got to share a li'l bit more with them, and then give their names as referrals to the Umlazi elders. How power is that?!
Friday was looking to be a li'l disappointing… We had planned a soccer game at the chapel with some of the young men and asked them to invite friends. Quite a few had told us they were coming, but it got to be about a half hour late and no one really was showing up. But we decided to stay a little longer, and it's a good thing we did, because everyone ended up showing up, we made a couple contacts while we were at it, and even had a lesson afterwards and committed two of our investigators to baptism! Man… It's so great working with Elder Mukonda! He is one powerful missionary. And I think I found the reason I love him so much… He is Zambia's Spencer Hafen. It's almost ridiculous how much he reminds me of good ol' Sebby now that I think about it. Anyway, Saturday night! We taught the Restoration to a recent convert's friend, and man… He understood it better than I've ever seen anyone understand it! We must have done something right in the spirit world, because the blessings just keep raining upon us here in Newcastle!
Saturday President Zackrison was in town for more training on My Family and interviews. Lekker day. Big Z… Man, there's just something about the way he teaches. He knows exactly how to invite the Spirit to testify to us that whatever he's teaching about is true. He never gives fire, just loves us. From the ZLs on Wednesday, we learned the how of My Family. With President, we learned the why…the Spiritual side of it. When it comes down to it, that's what's going to hasten the work. The Spirit testifying to you is the most powerful witness of the gospel.
I was the last one to be interviewed that day, and man… I just love talking one on one with Big Z. It never feels like an interview… Just a conversation. We talked about everything...the area, my spiritual progression, why I left Queensburgh so quickly, how I can continue to progress… Man, he's doing the mission president thing right. He's a friend more than anything. One of the coolest parts of the interview was the lightning storm going on at the same time. Haha, we both got distracted by it. Glad he's human just like you and me!
Sunday was an adventure… Yoh. We got lost trying to find a member that stays about 20 k's outside Newcastle. As it turns out, we went 20 k's in the wrong direction, but eventually made our way to Brother Classen's. Man, they are such a cool family and stay in probably the coolest place in South Africa I've seen so far. It's remote, completely surrounded by mountains, has a golf course… Ah man, I tasted heaven. So I guess he's from Germany, working here in South Africa, and the rest of the family is based in California. One of his sons had a Dodgers hat on, which is so many different types of awesome. They've been members I think 40 or so years, and it was so cool to have a conversation about the Plan of Salvation with them.
There's a Jamaican word… Irie. It's a state of just feeling good. That's how I've felt in Newcastle. Everything here is just going great. I'm happy as I've ever been and the work is moving forward wonderfully! It's rained every day this week, which has made it tough to look beyond the grey sky in the literal sense, but in the figurative sense, it's easy to look past the setbacks when there are so many miracles happening!
To the excitable crew, I wish a very happy 311 Day tomorrow. :) Sala kahle my friends. Stay positive, and love your lives.
Uthando okuningi,
Umdala Johnson
Monday, March 3, 2014
Mormons. Being really freaking polite to everyone since 1830.
Sawubona!
You know how it's a horrible idea to go to the grocery store when you're hungry? Aight cool, here's the situation. We had a dinner appointment Saturday, a lunch appointment Sunday, and another dinner appointment Sunday... Being fast Sunday, we just decided to fast from Sunday night to Monday night. Seemed like a lekker solution!...until we hit the grocery store today to do our shopping. Ayayay... We were starving, and foods I had never even noticed before were trying to seduce me into buying them. Well brothers and sisters, it worked. So on the plus side, I'm going to be enjoying curry and plenty of delicious fruits and cereals this week. On the downside, I'm gonna have to be super careful with my allotment. Here's to fiscal responsibility!
Stellar week! Where to begin... Tuesday! Or Dinsdag, as the Afrikaaners call it. Our car had a bearing that was toasted, so we had to take it in to get serviced the whole day. Sounds like a downer, but turned out to be a blessing. Lack of a car gives you the chance to work and sweat and walk all day like the real missionaries we are. We had appointments that were FAR from each other, and it gave me and Elder Mukonda time to build companionship unity as we walked...and walked...and walked... He's helping me to learn the area, so he gives streets names that are easy to remember. There's one that had a huge flaming dumpster a week or so back. So he tells me, "You see this street? This is where the dumpster fire was. We shall call this street Burning Bush." Haha... Great times. Plus! I walking gives you a chance to talk to so many more people than if you're on your bum in the car all day! Wednesday was back to normal, and as much as I'm saying I love walking... Having a car is lekker.
Man, missionary work is awesome though. We saw a family this week called the Arens, and they've been coming to church when they get the chance. Their kids LOVE primary, Sister Herrington is going to start teaching one of them piano, the ma really enjoys that "society thing after Sunday school." Haha, man... It's families like them that just make sharing the gospel so enjoyable and rewarding! It's tough sometimes to find that golden family, but when you do... It's nirvana for your spirit. I'm so happy they found their way to the church.
A lot of missionary work is about being in the right place at the right time, too. We're teaching a family right now that Elder Mukonda found with his last companion. How did they find them? Well Elder Mukonda's from Zambia, and he heard some Zambian music playing across the street from our boarding. So, he went to go talk to them and they became friends right off the bat! I guess the wife is from the same town in Zambia as him. Act on spiritual promptings to talk to people, my friends... You never know who you're going to find that's prepared!
And then just to add to all the great things happening in Newcastle, I got a text from Elder Reeves in Kimberley this weekend telling me that one of the people we're teaching there is getting baptized this coming week! Ah man, I can't even tell you how happy that made me. Sometimes you're called somewhere simply to plant seeds in people's hearts, and the missionaries that are called there after you are called to continue nourishing and helping them progress.
The ward is great, the leaders are great, the members are stellar... Man, Newcastle is stellar. So happy to be serving here! A couple quick stories before I finish up. So we drive on the other side of the road here, and the other side of the car, which actually took more getting used to than the road... So much even, that just a couple days ago I tried to get in on the American side. -______- You'd think after 8 months I would learn. Ay... And then I sent a video this week of my new best friend Bella. Now Bella is a dog that stays in between our boarding and the Herringtons. She's no more than a foot tall, but she is absolutely vicious, and I think she's trained to come bark and snarl and growl at the missionaries as they pass on their way home. Little does Bella know, if she wasn't behind a gate, she would have been drop kicked to the moon by the missionaries years ago.
Oh! One more thing...a little Zulu lesson! So we're going to learn "sala kahle" today. "Sala kahle" means "stay well" and is the typical goodbye in Zulu land. I think the "hl" sounds is my favorite Zulu sound to make. If you've seen the movie Ice Age, you know how Sid the sloth talks. He'll pronounce it "Shid the Shloth," and the "shl" at the beginning of sloth is how "hl" in Zulu sounds... Does that even make sense? I dunno. I'll let ya'll play around with that for this week. :)
Sala kahle my friends!
Umdala Johnson
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