Shared 3/3/15 - Umlazi and Baptisms

Wozani, Wozani, Nina Bangcwele

Sanbonani!

So just FYI, that subject line is Come, Come, Ye Saints in isiZulu. It's kinda been the theme of the transfer for me, and especially this last week or so. I think on three different occasions we've been able to sing it, and I was able to mention it in a thought at a funeral and an impromptu sacrament talk. Come, Come, Ye Saints has meaning especially to the members here, but to the Mzansi nation as a whole. One uKhozi FM's former DJs (I think his name was Kansas City) would always play the MoTab's version of Come, Come, Ye Saints before signing off, so most people in the country are familiar with it. I think it kind of came to be an anthem for those fighting apartheid, drawing parallels to the Saints crossing the plains. Ah, music... How powerful it is. 

This week! Has been busy. Busy busy busy but great great great. We started off last week with probably one of the bolder moves that us and the Z Man have made in a while... For the first time ever, two sets of missionaries are living in Umlazi! We talked with President a lot about this decision, weighing all our options, and ultimately we decided that if ever missionaries were going to live in the township, this would be the time and the place to try it out. Umlazi's the second biggest township in Mzansi, and the largest in our mission, and thus the most developed and able to host the elders. One of the fears was break ins. Every time we asked members, they'd tell us it wasn't safe. But at the same time, missionary boardings in some of the wealthiest areas have been broken into. President was saying that if that's the only thing that would be keeping us from moving to the township, let's go ahead and do it. There would be something not morally right about us not moving there simply because of race issues. Living amongst the people we're teaching... There's something good about that. So! Last Monday, we spent the morning helping the W elders move into their new place. Funny thing is, it's actually way nicer than the place they used to be staying at. They're excited as well.

The week got moving with a couple exchanges. I stayed in the area twice this week with Elders Van Winkle and Fox. Great guys the both of them. I think Elder Van Winkle is of German descent or something, but Van Winkle in Afrikaans means "of the shop." So sometimes people just call him Elder Shop for short. We had a great day together though. Got to teach some good lessons and do a little bit of walking around and talking to people. That's one of the things I love the most about mission... Just talking to people. Seeing what makes them tick. Elder Fox was all pumped up ready to do that as well. He was telling me after planning he just wanted to jump and sing and all that stuff! Hurrah for Israel!

We had the chance to follow up with a few of the people that came to church last week. One of the families that seems promising is the Shabalala family. Ma came to church, and she was telling us how much she loved it. A few of the members had told her about it, so she decided to come and check it out. She wants to come back again, but the concern is that the family has been Methodist for a few generations, and Baba is a very traditional man. (Traditional meaning ancestor worship, and Law of Moses style sacrifices and whatnot.) Change would be tough. I guess missionaries used to visit them a couple years ago as well. Sthembile is one of their daughters, and she was telling us that they have Books of Mormons and everything. They're awesome though. Baba, as traditional as he may be, greeted us with smiles and already invited us over to braai. Perhaps friendship, brotherly love, and the Spirit can soften his heart. We have hope, though. He already offered us his daughters as long as we bring cows to pay lobola, so I guess that's a good sign, right?

Some sad news came our way Wednesday evening. Sister Magaqa, Bishop's wife, lost her mother that morning. But in the Spirit of ubuntu, the whole ward and community rallied in support of her loss. Vigils were held each night of the week, and on Friday, we were able to attend. Bishop gave each of us some time to share thoughts with the crowds that had come in support. He's a great man, that one... A lot of people fear Bishop Magaqa. I'd heard about him in a couple previous areas, being known as one that "gives fire." But as I've grown to know him, he's one of the wisest men out there. He understands and loves people and knows how to, in the words that carried David O. McKay through his mission, "Act well [his] part." Even at a funeral where someone close to him passed away, he was able to play the part of a pastor and lift people's spirits in this time of sadness. The service that happened on Sunday was beautiful. Sihle Mabaso shared a though that was rather interesting. There are three things that need to be in agreement in your life: what you say you are, what others say you are, and what you really are. Sister Magaqa's mother was truly an example of that.

But, the week wasn't all sad. We finished it up with three baptisms on Sunday. And what a beautiful service it was. Punky was a brother we've been teaching for about a couple months now. Ah... And he's progressed so well! Funny thing is, he's actually the cousin of Brother Mthembu in the bishopric, and he's been inviting Punky to the gospel for a while now. I guess the timing was finally right. His testimony was beautiful and sincere. I think the gospel's truly made a difference for the better in his life, and he seems grateful for it. Silindile has been investigating the Church for a little while longer... Something like three years now! Most people had assumed she was a member. But for her, I guess the timing was finally right and she was ready to make that next step. The third was Athenkosi... Our nine year old friend. I think he had accidentally slipped past eight years old without getting baptized as a child of record, so we taught him the lessons and got him dunked! Great service, and a great end to the week.

We're going at it again this next week with three more exchanges, and then finally things will be back to normal... The work shall roll forward!

So this is kinda funny... The batteries in my alarm clock died this week. But that's totally ok because I'm so used to waking up at 6:30 that I don't even need an alarm clock. I'm just awake at that time anyway. Go figure.

Aight... I think I better tap out for today. I think we have like missionary work to go do or something.

Sala kahle, stay positive, and love your lives my friends.

Much love,

iGosa Johnson

Shared 3/23/15 - Umlazi, Margate, and a Zulu wedding!

 Beautiful Indian Ocean...

 A monkey walking down the road.

 Beautiful!

 Zulu wedding....

 A break from helping with food, chairs, plates, and what ever was needed.

 At the end of the day, our labours were rewarded, though. After we had passed out on our thrones with non-alcoholic wine, we were blessed with leftover cool drink to take to the boarding and drink in times of thirst. Awesome end to the week


                                         

UBUNTU

Sanbonani!

So! To pick up from last week... I had a conversation with a member (who recently returned from serving her mission in Jamaica! Yah man!) and she mentioned something called "ubuntu." Ubuntu is a word I'd heard a time or two before, but never quite understood. She explained it to me, though, and it made perfect sense. It's this sense of humanity that the African cultures have for each other. The way she was explaining it was similar to the scriptural injunction to mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort. When tragedy strikes a family, the whole community responds. When a child is born, the village rejoices and raises it. It's the reason that when you walk past people on the street, there's a warm smile. It's the reason it's so easy to have a conversation with complete strangers here. It's beautiful and I'm gonna miss it like crazy when I go home.

Ah... Another fantastic week in Umlazi. It's kinda crazy. All the big events for this transfer happened last week... Zone activity, MLC, zone conference, so Elder Aman'galia and I were kind of expecting the rest of the transfer to drag on a little bit... But then we blinked and it was Friday already. And thus the week happened. So! What exactly happened this week to make it fly?

Well first... Tuesday was fantastic. Your faith that people are ready to accept the gospel will shift over the course of your mission. It can rise and fall over weeks, over days, or even over hours sometimes. Tuesday our faith sky rocketed. It's so easy to find people to talk to (see first paragraph), but people that will commit and make return appointments are another story. We spent a little bit of time Tuesday following up with a couple guys we thought were just gonna be the same old song and dance... Ageko (meaning not home) or "I'm busy eish..." To our pleasant surprise, two times that day we were able to have lessons with a couple contacts that actually had a desire to learn! One of them thanks to a member! So, let's hear it for member missionary work and following up! Woo hoo!

Wednesday we got to gather the whole zone together for our zone training meeting (kinda weird to hold it after zone conference...but we rolled with it anyway!). Elder Aman'galia taught a great lesson on using the Book of Mormon, and I got to teach on one of my favorite topics... Brotherhood, unity, love, and joy. I guess it's like four topics, but they all kinda go hand in hand. We opened up the discussion of when each of us had been the happiest on mission. Where were you serving? Who was your companion? What was it that made you so happy? Almost unanimously, the answers were some form of working in unity with their companions and districts. And it's interesting, because sometimes the happiest times were the times people were facing the most challenges. I think there's something to that. Somehow, that's kinda been the theme of the Church since the early days... We love to do stuff that's really really difficult. Like travel across the whole United States in covered wagons. Or in these days, recreate travelling across the whole United States in covered wagons. And in that, we seem to find joy because we're working together. The front of my planner this transfer has the music to Come, Come, Ye Saints on it. (There's kind of a story to it... I found an ancient hymn book in Brother Bunny's place as we were going through the rubbage. The edges had been burned, but I was able to salvage a couple of the songs.) If you've got time this week, read its words, and I think you'll get the point I'm drivin' at. 

So that was a good meeting. We exchanged with Margate afterwards and I got to be with Elder Chapo in Umlazi. Funny thing... Elder Chapo's been on mission as many days as I've been on months. It's crazy... There's this thing they call greenie fire, and it's what makes the new guys awesome. If everyone in the mission was as motivated as greenies are... Ah man, we'd be ready for the Second Coming by next week! So we had an awesome day working together and exchanged back the next day. Since Margate is fetching far, we met Elders Doane and Aman'galia halfway. Well, what we thought was halfway, anyway. It ended up being a lot closer to Umlazi so we ended up getting to just chill by the beach and take selfies while we waited for them. Some monkeys were watching us and the sun was setting. It was #delightful.

Mmmm... Pretty average week from then 'til Saturday. Brother Kleinjte (which is an Afrikaans word...pronounced "Klanky") and Sister Luh tied the knot, and man... Zulu weddings are something to behold! We were basically at the chapel the whole day. Oh, we had to be there early to meet the Z Man to do a baptismal interview for us... Which, bless his heart, he completely spaced on, but it ended up working out anyway. Oh! I guess this is something before I get to the wedding... So while President was doing the interview for us, we were chit chatting with Sister Z. She's so funny... She LOVES to talk about lobola, which is the African bride price. It's something that creates a lot of debate amongst members... Some say "to heck with lobola!" Others say "long live lobola!" And I think she's finally found a good middle ground. You can get rid of lobola, but it has to be replaced with something. Kind of like in the scriptures... Christ came and fulfilled the law of Moses and animal sacrifices were done away with so that we could live the higher law of coming forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And in that same sense, that's how lobola should be dealt with. You can do away with it, but a potential husband still needs to show his potential spouse's parents that he's going to be a good husband to her. As bubbly as Sister Z may be sometimes, she's a wise woman that's given this a lot of though. Elder Aman'galia and I were impressed.

So anyway, the interview went well, we said bye to the Z Man, and then it was wedding time! I've decided 100% there needs to be some sort of traditional Zulu something at my wedding. The Zulu culture is rich and beautiful and exciting and creates so much unity (again, see first paragraph). There are songs and dances that everyone knows by heart. It's just a good place to be. For us though, we were running up and down the whole time with food, plates, chairs... Whatever they needed. It was tough work. We took time for selfie breaks when we had the chance, but that wasn't often. At the end of the day, our labours were rewarded, though. After we had passed out on our thrones with non-alcoholic wine, we were blessed with leftover cool drink to take to the boarding and drink in times of thirst. Awesome end to the week.

...but that wasn't even the end. When the whole congregation had been gathered at the wedding, Bishop Magaqa and others who had been assigned gave talks. Lo and behold, we had around ten new people come to church the next day! Ah man, and they loved it! So a wedding and sharing the gospel... Does life get better than that? I submit that it does not!

I dunno how we're gonna top this last week, but somehow we'll manage. The work of Zion moves forth! Hee yeah!

Sala kahle, stay positive, love your lives my friends.

Thanda kakhulu, 

iGosa Johnson

Shared 3/16/15 - Food and Fun with the Zone

 At the President's Home

My group...

"It's about eternal life..."

Sanbonani!

Man... That subject line is just a tid bit of wisdom we gained from Bishop Magaqa this week. In our weekly meeting with him, we were reporting some of the less active members we're working with, and above all he simply encouraged us to keep trying. Sometimes it feels like we work really hard and nothing seems to happen. Sometimes we get frustrated when it seems as if nothing we share seems to be getting through to those we're teaching. But if we just take a step back, and look at what's really happening, it puts everything in a new perspective. Are we working to boost sacrament numbers? Are we trying just to get someone to church? Or are we working towards something higher than that? Are we actually trying to help people attain eternal life? Are we trying to help people view life as an ascent to exaltation, and help them know that they can indeed have hope for something greater? Sometimes things don't happen as we'd like them to, but if we're following the Spirit and working our hardest, things will happen as we need them to. With the member we met this week that's been absent from the church and living a lifestyle of partying, Bishop encouraged us to keep trying. Keep encouraging. Be his friend. Because in the end, that's what it's gonna take. True brotherly love.

Ah, my friends. Every once in a while you have one of those weeks that just leaves you on a spiritual high. Even if everything doesn't go exactly as planned, everything just seems to be right.

Where to begin...

I guess the logical place would be MLC and zone conference. I think the word in isiZulu to describe them would be amandla! Or in isiNgisi, power! We had a discussion in MLC on Tuesday about what challenges the mission is facing, and we decided one of the big ones is a culture of bad habits. Habits like waking up late, not leaving the boarding 'til 12, being discouraged and unmotivated... All things that new missionaries arrive and adapt to. Our question was, how can we solve this? So we brainstormed ideas for creating a positive mission culture and identity. Creating traditions. Being positive in all things. Sharing experiences of hope and tender mercies as districts every night. Ah. Hands down the best mission council I've been a part of. I see the mission going in great directions.

Zone conference the next day, the Z Man introduced all these ideas to the mission. Elder Childs taught us a great lesson about the value of a mission. President gave us some ideas for finding, for gaining hope, and for finding joy in the work. The Spirit was there in abundance. As soon as you start looking for tender mercies, you start to see that they're there more than one might expect. Just after zone conference, we had an appointment with Ndabe, one of my favorite members in Umlazi. He wasn't home, but we were able to talk to his uncle that was staying with them. We introduced the Book of Mormon, and he told us he's been wanting to learn more about Jesus Christ and make him more a part of his life. I mean, that's nothing big... But hey, a small tender mercy that brightened up our day.

And after that, it was finally time to get back into the swing of working full time. Hee yeah!

There's this member in Umlazi that we've seen on the streets from time to time. In every instance I'd seen him before this week, he'd been drunk. Some people get dumb when they're drink. Some get really honest. Some get over the top polite. For him, he just turns rude and flat out stoopid. So in his drunken state, he accuses us of being liars, acting like we owe him something and comes with all these sad stories... So I was less than enthusiastic when he told us to come visit him. We make the appointment, we go, and we find him for the first time sober, and man... It's crazy how much nicer he got whilst sober. He told us his whole story of joining the Church, all the way up to his decision to be absent for a time. He told us he was a naughty teenager, and when he'd see leaders from church at the parties he'd go drink at, he just got upset. If the people he's looking up to at church are there, why should he even try? Which, honestly, can you blame him? It was interesting to hear him open up like that, but it was good and I gained a lot of respect for him. In light of Bishop's wisdom, we're gonna keep trying with him.

Another family we've been working with the last little while is the Myende family. They've been inactive for a long time, but the Spirit has been working on baba hard lately. We've been visiting them since I was with Elder Okeng, and finally, after five months, the whole family came to church. We were so overwhelmingly pleased, and they were too. The last couple weeks, ma's had a huge smile on her face, and it sure didn't disappear at church.

Bishop asked Primrose and Yiva both to give talks this Sunday... Like what, two weeks after they were baptized?! Yebo! Were they nervous as heck?! Oh you betcha! But did they give talks better than I could ever dream of?! Of absolutely! Like not even kidding... I try to pepper in jokes to my talks, and maybe I'll get a chuckle at best. Primrose? Had the entire congregation busting up, and to top it off, was one of the most heartfelt testimonies I've heard. Let's hear it for recent converts!

Another tender mercy from this week... We're teaching Brother Mthembu's cousin Punky right now, and his baptism is planned for the end of this month. We've been kinda nervous about getting everything taught with his work schedule, but lo and behold, he's taking leave until a couple days after his baptism. Don't you love when things work out like that?

Hmmm... We saw Meet the Mormons this week at our zone activity. Everyone was stoked to see Elder Armstrong. Something funny though... There's a part where it shows him "street contacting" in downtown Durban. And as Elder Faganello was looking closely at the person Armstrong was talking to, he was just like, "Hey... She's a member in KwaMashu!" Which we all had a good laugh over. 

One more thing before I wrap up. Well, actually... I think I'll save this one for next week, just to keep you on your toes.

Should be another tops week. How it will top this last week, I'm not sure... But we're surely gonna try.

Sala kahle, stay positive, love your lives my friends.

Thanda kakhulu,

iGosa Johnson

Shared 3/9/15 - Umlazi - tired people, cooking, and a beetle

 Tired missionaries

 sleepy kids...

 Cooking in a large pot

...and one beetle.