In December drinking horchata...

Sawubona!

We blessed the snow down in Africa this week my friends and family. After dropping into the negatives, we were bombarded with with a couple meters of heavy snow. The plows in Kimberley were out in full force, all the schools were shut down, tin shacks were collapsing by the dozen...it's been bad news.

But only just kidding. It's been hot as ever this week! We had our ward Christmas party on Saterdag... What did we do? Braaied, played sand volleyball, played with water balloons... Ya know, typical Christmas stuff. :)

I'm short on time this week, so I'll just include some highlights and then get to the really good juicy stuff next week. Stay tuned.

Have I talked about sphatlo before? It's a food here. Basically a quarter loaf of bread, egg, chips (fries), cheese, palone, Russian (sausage), tomatoes, green onions, and sauces all crammed together. It's a heart attack waiting to happen, but it's absolutely delicious. There's a shop in the township we eat at every once in a while. It's just a couple of guys that run it and they are the dopest dudes ever. We were finally talking to them this week, and lo and behold we ended up teaching them! One of them, Letlhogonolo, has been looking for a church to join. When we started talking about Joseph Smith and how he was confused about religion, he said, "Just like me!" Isn't it great how the Lord prepares people? He's always watchin out for us missionaries.

I can cross another food off the bucket list this week... We helped a ward member paint her house purple, and our reward was chicken feet. I'm short on time so I'll include pictures next week, but what you hear is what you get. Feet, straight from the chicken, battered in spices, with everything still there... Talons and all. They gave Elder Reeves a li'l bit of a runny stomach that night, and I was making fun of him for it, only two hours later to be hit by a gut torpedo and have to run straight to the toilet. Karma sucks :(

But in other good news, Vuyo was sustained as ward mission leader this week, we have been answering President Grobler's plea to find father-led families, our members are getting involved in the missionary work, they're learning to love each other, the work is moving forward, the church is still true, and praise Jesus almighty my guitar finally has strings on it!!! In the words of Thokozani, we've had a "hallelujah week" and expect more good times ahead. 

So to close up, we stayed with the ZLs last night and they took us to the CRC church as a Christmas present. Don't worry I'm not converting or anything, but a lot of investigators attend it so we wanted to see what it was like. You hear the term "happy clappy" churches a lot here, and ohhh man this was as happy clappy as it gets. It was more of a rock concert than actual church. Again, pictures and a video are coming next week. I think they missed the scripture that talks about the Spirit communicating with us in a still small voice... If anything it just confirmed to me the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hoorah for Israel!

Oh and then we made horchata last night too. Blows the doors off the stuff at Cafe Rio. Baie baie BAIE lekker.

Hope everyone has a merry Christmas back home! Don't take for granted the cold or the snow or skiing or anything like that... I'd give so much to be tearing up the slopes right now. But it's cool, because how often in your life do you get to spend Christmas tan, in short sleeves, playing volleyball? 

Stay well, stay positive, love your lives, and have a most merry Christmas!

Baie liefde,

Elda Johnson

Shared 12/16/13 - Rhinos, Car Wash, and Mandela Vigil in Galeshewe

Rhino!

Washing the car

Mandela Vigil in Galeshewe 

I'm not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying." --Nelson Mandela

Sawubona!

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")

Shared 12/9/13 - Kimberley and Bloemfontein

Elder Gold and his Star Wars hand

 Elders who were at the MTC together

Ready for Christmas

Paparazzi 

With Elder Carlile

"There is one regret I've had throughout my life -- that I never became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world." - Nelson Mandela

Sawubona!

"In the end, Nelson Mandela showed us how to love, rather than hate, not because he had never surrendered to rage or violence, but because he learnt that love would do a better job." --Bono

As I'm sure a lot of you have heard, Nelson Mandela, the father of South Africa passed away this week. I'm sure after his long struggle with different ailments, he's in a happier place now. The more I learn about him, the more I learn just how incredible of a man he was. Truly one of the most Christ-like people to ever walk this earth. He led a country divided to stand as one. After being jailed for nearly 30 years, never being allowed to leave even for the funeral of his son, he fought for equality rather than vengeance. Instead of seeking to oppress the Afrikaans population that suppressed him and his people for so many years, he sought to become one with them. How amazing it is to see an entire country rally and mourn one of the most philosophically sound people of our time. You will be missed, Madiba, but never forgotten.

As for this week though... P-day last week was... Haha, it was good...for most of us. We were playing soccer on a basketball court, and Elders Gold and Jeppesen both went for the ball...they collided, Elder Gold fell on his wrist...one thing led to another and he had a torn ligament or something and wound up having to have surgery the next morning. Crazy, right? But it's cool, he has two wires sticking out of his hand which I believe is the closest to a Star Wars hand he'll ever have.

Tuesday we had DDM and made it back to Kimberley, worked, and then got a visit that night from Elder Cauble! He's in the group that just went home, but him and his dad have been visiting his old areas. I'd heard nothing but good things about him from the members here, so it was baie lekker finally getting to meet him. I guess he's the one who baptized and taught Bakang and Tshiamo! Two of my favorite young men!

We did a fair mix of service, finding, teaching less-actives, and teaching investigators the next couple days. The people we're teaching are progressing incredibly! Elsa keeps blowing me away. Her testimony now compared to when we first started teaching her is absolutely incredible. It's crazy what reading the Book of Mormon and praying can do for you. 

Thokozani's looking so desperately for truth, but there's a little bit of a crazy side to him that we have to take care of... Haha, when he hears a creaking in the roof, he blames it on snakes. When he's sick, he tells us there's a cat trying to escape from his stomach. Dogs are always following him, and the best part... He knows mermaids (in the Biblical sense). But all things said and done, Christ doesn't deny the gospel to anyone, and we're doing everything we can to bring him the truth. 

Friday we had zone conference, and yho... SO powerful!!! President Grobler of the Bloemfontein stake spoke, and man... His vision for Bloem is big, bold, and I can't wait to be a part of making it happen. He wants to see Bloem turn into 2 stakes, 2 districts, and eventually see a temple. He was pleading with all us missionaries to find father-led families, to find priesthood holders to be able to make it happen. The work is hastening and I'm stoked to be a part of it!

Saturday we went looking for a less-active who turns out had moved, but that turned out being ok because we found a man named Leandro and his family who are willing to let us come by and teach them! Very humble, respectful family.

So you know how in Utah it can be a blizzard and everyone will still show up to church? (Unless you're in St. George apparently...) It's a li'l different in Africa. Typically the Kimberley Ward has about 80 people show up to sacrament meeting. But if it's too cold, the number sharply drops. If it's too hot, it's the same thing. And yesterday I found out that rain'll do it too. But I guess we can cut them some slack since a lot are walking 5 or more kilos to get to church. But it's cool...it was a great Sunday, felt the spirit, and got pumped for the week ahead. :)

Stay well, stay positive, love your lives. 

Baie liefde,

Ouderling Johanneseun

Turkey bowl....

Celebrating Thanksgiving the Monday prior

Lightning storm!

Service...Helping landlord out

Christmas decorations from home

Spider?

We come. We eat. We leave. #missionarylife

Sawubona!

Man...where to start this week! So much excitement, so much work moving forward, so many good times...

So since the whole zone was going to be in Bloem on Monday for transfers, we spent the whole day celebrating Thanksgiving the American way. It was the best ever... We are blessed with such amazing couples and missionaries in this zone. The Carliles and Clusters spent the whole day preparing food for us and just making sure we had a good time. We had a turkey bowl earlier in the day and taught the African elders how to play American football. Elder Carlile even played with us! I think play of the day goes to him...caught the pigskin and fell but turned it into one heck of a somersault. Dinner was absolutely incredible. We all went around and shared something we were thankful for. It's amazing to hear how the perspectives of young men change as they devote all their time and talents to serving the Lord. The elders I'm serving around are such fine young men, and I'm so grateful for their testimonies. There was a lightning storm that night too which was pretty sweet. Seemed almost appropriate for the departing elders. We dropped them off at the bus station late that night.

Tuesday we were on our way back to Kimberley! Man, it's been a crazy week... Stake conference and a mini mission for the future missionaries were held in Bloemfontein, and we supposed to be helping with that starting Thursday, so we spent most of Tuesday  cancelling our Thursday and Friday appointments. Anyway, we get a call Wednesday saying they don't need us till Saturday, so our Thursday and Fridays end up being completely empty. It frustrating, but ended up working out! But before we get to that, on Wednesday both Elsa and Thokozani committed to baptism!!!! I'm so stoked for them. Especially for Elsa. She's been reading her Book of Mormon like crazy and has found out for herself that this is the true church. The best part is SHE asked US about baptism! And the other best part is that it'll be the last Sunday I'm in Kimberley! Could there be a better way to spend my last Sunday?!

Thursday ended up working out... We had some solid teaching appointments and got to celebrate the real Thanksgiving day with the Visagie family. We didn't get turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, all that jazz... But! We had chicken. And in the words of Elder Reeves, "Well...at least it's a bird." Haha, we had a great night and did a thankful circle again. Great fun.

Friday, we ended up doing service all day. The tenants at another one of our landlord's houses got up and left without paying rent in the middle of the night, and they left it an absolute mess. We helped them with the clean-up process all day and got to know them a little better. Such great people. 

I've decided to try and learn Afrikaans, so I bought a "Teach Yourself Afrikaans" book on the way to Bloem, and so far...it's gaan goed. (I think that's "going good" but don't quote me on it) I think my favorite part of the book is that one of the example names they use is Dave Miller (s/o to the King of Life!!!). Here's your Afrikaans lesson today... "My pen is in my hand" translates to "My pen is in my hand" with a little different pronunciation. Boo yeah!

Stake Conference was stellar. Just wish more Kimberlites could have made it... The big focus was member missionary work. Lots of good stuff. It was a Saturday and Sunday ordeal, and Elder Gold...hahaha oh man. He's just super spontaneous. So him and Elder Stengile found a crazy spider looking thing at the Bloemanda chapel this week. Anyway they caught it and keep it in their drunk. It's huge and devours the other bugs they feed it. So yeah. That's the guy I was on exchanges with all of Sunday. Had some interesting appointments... Met a less-active with him that told us there are members of the church were vampires. She was serious...I was trying not to laugh. Oops. :/ But we got to have dinner with President Grobler (and just FYI...that's an Afrikaans last name and you're probably pronouncing it wrong...the "g" makes a phlegmy sound similar to the one you'd pronounce Achmed with, and the "r" is rolled...but don't worry, Sister Carlile struggles with it too!) and his family, and man...they're the best. Such strong members and just an awesome family. Did I tell you fools bout the smoking test he does? He has this li'l thing he made like 35 years ago...it's a prank. If you're in the know, you blow into it and a little pin-wheel thing turns and you're not a smoker. If you don't though, it doesn't turn and shoots flour at you instead, and you're a smoker. Anyway they got me with it right before Elder Francom left, and they got Reeves last night. Holla! 

I'm short on time, but first wanted to give a HUGE shoutout to my mama for the Christmas packages!!! The tree, the ornaments, the presents for each day in December...do I have the best family ever or what?! Looking at pictures of Christmas past...man, I didn't realize how long the pirate picture tradition has been a thing! Hahaha...I can't remember even how that started! Mama, Pop, Blake, Kiley, Biz...anyone wanna shed some light?

More good times ahead this week. The work is moving forward! Hope you cats in Utah are enjoying the snow...don't take it for granted! No snow for 2 years will really make you miss it. 

Much love. Stay well, stay positive, love your lives.

Elda Johnson