Shared 4/27/15 - Mission Home & Durban Botanical Gardens

"Oh I've got a little bit longer... I've got a ways to go!"

Sanbonani!

So last week I think al-Qaeda threatened to bomb Durban if all this xenophobia stuff didn't calm down, but I think things are ok now. The whole country's rallied in support of our foreigners, being all trendy using the hashtag #SayNoToXenophobia and whatnot. So that's cool. It's super funny though... Elder Kakar's telling everyone we visit #SayYESToXenophobia! And people will ask him, "Aren't you a foreigner...?" And then he'll say, "Yes! We have to go!"

Do you ever get random songs stuck in your head that you haven't heard in nearly two years? Oh, because I do sometimes. A Ways to Go by Grouplove... But it felt like a fitting title this week. After this week, it's single digit weeks left. But it's not time to slow down... It's time to go go GO!

Whoo, all in all this week has been great. We've eaten at the House of Curries like crazy. We've had some powerful lessons. The members are great. And I think we even figured out a cure for cancer. Ok that last one might not be accurate... But just roll with it.

I think it was last week... This kid named Sfiso randomly showed up to church. One of the members in Berea recognized him and got us his details from Facebook. Which, I felt like was a little bit of a breach of privacy, but it ended up being for a good cause... We found his house, and after explaining how we found it, we talked with him for a while. Found out he hasn't been to church in years, but just walking home from Musgrave Center one day, he saw the chapel and felt like he needed to attend. He told us he's been wanting to make some changes in his life, so we're really hopeful. Has a family too.

There was one day this week Elder Kakar took us to a couple former investigators. Baba Nkomo in the morning and Gogo Luwaca later in the afternoon. Most of our time with them we spent just listening. There's a lot to be said about listening. Had we just tried to plunge the Book of Mormon down Baba Nkomo's throat, we wouldn't have been able to learn his thoughts about God's love for all his children. Or had we testified boldly right off the bat that this is Christ's church, we wouldn't have been able to learn of the spirituality of her calling in her church. But because we listened, they both opened up to us and were ready to listen with open ears when it came our time to speak.

The Z Man's pushing member work big time this transfer, and we've seen a few miracles from it so far. On Wednesday night, we had a lesson with the Ngcobo family. Tino, who's preparing for a mission and comes teaching with us a lot, shared a scripture from Alma 34 about patience and hope, and the spirit was so strong. After a short discussion, we asked the family if there was anyone they knew that could use some more hope in their lives, and the older brother S'phamandla, suggested their older brother. The family nodded in agreement, and we have a time to meet with them this coming week.

We had the chance to watch conference this weekend (more on that in a minute), and afterward, Sister Zondi invited us over to teach someone staying at her apartment. Her name is S'li, and Sister Zondi's shared a lot with her already about the Book of Mormon, so we just spent some time answering questions. It was incredible... Most people we teach will either disregard entirely the Book of Mormon, accept it without really understanding what it means ("Yeah, your book is true, but all books are true!), or other stuff like that. S'li questions were bold, but they were honest, and she was willing to read and pray about it too find out if it's true. So we'll be following up with her in a few weeks. Cheers to Sister Zondi, though, for being such a great member missionary!

In the spirit of weekly planning in creative places, we went to the Durban Botanical Gardens this week. We weekly planned to the tune of a cool breeze blustering through the foliage, various species of fowl going about their days, and the occasional couple passing by. It's just a spiritual place to be, and I think we've got some good plans for the coming week.

Conference was awesome (as I'm sure you guys in Utah who watched like a month ago know already...). I think Elder Wilford Andersen gave perhaps one of my favorite talks I've ever heard. "The Music of the Gospel." Here's a quote I liked from it:

"When our children are little, we can sing them the lullaby of love unfeigned, and when they are obstinate and refuse to go to sleep at night, we might need to sing the lullaby of long-suffering. When they are teenagers, we can tune out the cacophony of arguments and threats and, instead, perform the beautiful music of persuasion—and perhaps sing the second verse of the lullaby of long-suffering. Parents can perform in perfect harmony the tandem attributes of gentleness and meekness. We can invite our children to sing along with us in unison as we practice kindness toward a neighbor who is in need."

This gospel is a gospel of love... And if we do everything else but forget that one aspect, our efforts are in vain. Love, love, love... There is no satisfactory substitute.

I stepped on a scale this week. Gained 10 pounds in Umlazi. Renewing my commitment to work out every morning starting today. Family, please follow up with me and give me fire if I haven't worked out next week. Deal? Sweet, thanks!

Should have a good week coming up. Zone training meeting on Wednesday, and for the first time in months, it won't be me teaching it! So I'm excited for that. Excited to learn from Elder Esplin and Elder Ocitti.

To House of Curries today, I'm hoping. Pops and Mama, don't worry... We'll eat there plenty once you're here. :)

Sala kahle, stay positive, love your lives.

Thanda kakhulu,

iGosa Johnson

Shared 4/20/15 - Umlazi and Berea

When you lock your keys in the boot, a palm frond does the trick!

#RIDOOKULOUSNESS

Sanbonani! Namaste! Shot bru!

Ah whatever greeting works... Berea is like the melting pot of the mission. You've got all walks of life here. Zulus, Indians, Mlungus...heck, even a bunch of foreigners! Perhaps I'll have to start learning how to greet in their languages too. Just as long as the xenophobia stuff that's happening cools down a bit. Eish... Have you guys heard about it on the news at all...? People upset that foreigners are here or something. Riots... Shops being looted... But don't worry, we've been safe! As long as we stay away from some parts of downtown and the township we should be ok. A combination of the Spirit and good judgment should do the trick.

Man... I don't think I've loved an area the first week this much since I arrived in Newcastle. Berea is the bomb. Elder Kakar is lekker. We have great people to teach. The ward is lekker. The members are lekker. Things are just going great. The biggest keys to missionary work in my opinion are unity and brotherhood. If you're working in one mind with your companion, with the members, with your investigators, with other missionaries... Great things will happen. We had interviews with the Z man on Thursday (more on that in a minute) and I was planning on getting some good sleep in preparation. But Elder Kakar and I ended up staying up talking until like 12:30... Just talking about mission, old areas, old companions... Crazy enough, he goes home just a transfer after me! Both of us are nearing the end. He's funny though... He says a lot of things are ridiculous, he pronounces it "ridookulous." So when I'm saying that at home, you'll know why. Yoh... So we were super tired for interviews, but it ended up being ok because we've got a great idea of what we want to accomplish in our time together.

Our first day together we taught a few lessons to referrals from members... So this is something cool. Remember a couple weeks ago I was mentioning that Mzansi loves Come, Come, Ye Saints? And that the staff of uKhozi FM visited Salt Lake last year? The Rowberrys have put together a short DVD... Kind of like a Mormon Message about their visit. We've been using it as a way to invite others to learn more about the Church. It showcases some of the good things we get involved in with faces the Zulu nation recognizes. So we've been able to teach a few people through that. Members are excited about it and we are too.

Interviews came early this transfer... Kinda crazy. My last one with the Z Man before my exit interview in July. We talked about a lot... Missionary work, home, school, marriage... Lots of topics. He gave me his blessing to pursue a career in law, which he's generally been discouraging lately, so I was pretty happy about that. We talked about working with members, and that's kind of going to be our big focus the next couple transfers. Elder Atkinson is really good with it (he's actually just forcing me to say this as he's watching over my shoulder...he's actually a bogus missionary). So we should get the chance to exchange this transfer and share some ideas.

In the time we weren't out working with members, we hit the pavement a bit. Went tracting on Saturday. Drove around a bit and found an area that looked nice. It was kind of your typical cliche missionary tracting success story... After about an hour of not getting in anywhere, we were walking back to the car and decided to talk to a ma outside her house. She opened up to us and told us how busy her day was and what and what... We offered to help her around the house next week and she accepted. Loves Jesus Christ too! So she made us a deal... We'll come do some service next week, and once we're finished, we'll talk Jesus. Looking forward to it.

The Berea ward is great. Elder Esplin locked their keys in the boot the other day, and all the members rallied around their car to help him. Brother Nolan got the window down just far enough to fit a palm frond in and unlock it. So if you need help breaking into a car... You know who to call!

Had lunch Sunday with President Bricknel and his family. Good people. And hands down the most stereotypical Mormon family I've met in a long time. They love each other and laugh and joke and like half their extended family has moved to Utah. I think the highlight of the lunch was one of their kids farting really loud during dinner. It was the best.

Another week down. I'm almost to the point where I can count the number of weeks I have left on just two hands. It's go time... Gotta make the best of it!

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

Thanda kakhulu,

iGosa Johnson

Shared 4/13/15 - Goodbye Umlazi...Berea, here I come!

 ...a monkey....

 Weekly planning by the Indian Ocean.....

 With my companion....

 ...food.....

 Goodbye to friends in Umlazi.....

 ...another monkey....

 Missionaries going home this transfer....

 Eating with the Childs'