Elder Dallin Johnson's Mish

Monday, January 6, 2014

Shared 1/6/14 - Friends in Kimberley South Africa, Chicken Enchiladas & SBO Pudding, and a War Museum

Hello Chicken Feet.....

Made Chicken Enchiladas for the Carliles

Made Dave Miller's famous SBO Pudding!

War Museum

Didn't see the sign until we were leaving...

Just say...I love really thin pancakes. I don't want to break your arm, Elder.

Sawubona!

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

Monday, December 30, 2013

Shared 12/30/13 - Christmas Party, Escargot, Naval Hill - Giraffes & Ostrich, Sheep for dinner, S'mores, and a Beautiful Sunset

Christmas Party

Eating Escargot

The Zone

Naval Hill and Giraffes!!!

Finally seeing a Giraffe

Ostrich too

Game of UNO

Watching a sheep get ready for dinner

S'mores

Beautiful Sunset!

Show me the Tswana that doesn't love his culture, show me the Afrikaaner who doesn't love to braai, show me the true-blooded Aggie from Utah who doesn't do the Scottsman when the Aggies win!!!

Sawubona!

Wooo!!! Big shoutout to Aggies for winning the Poinsettia Bowl this week! Elder Reeves and I got the news from the Clusters and spontaneously burst out into the Scottsman in the middle of our boarding, and then ended up teaching it to Khanyi and Sister Mpho. Best Christmas present ever!!! But only just kidding...as exciting as it is, definitely not the highlight of the festive season!

Yho man...I heard from so many missionaries that Christmas away from home is the pits and it sucks and blah blah blah... But I have no idea what the fetch they're talking about. Sure, my family's on the other side of the world. But does that mean they love me any less? Does that mean Christ's love and the true spirit of Christmas isn't there? Heck no! With a positive attitude, any situation you're in for Christmas can be great.

Monday we had a Christmas party hosted by the Carliles and the Clusters. Amongst the festivities were a visit from President and Sister Reber of the South Africa MTC, a talent show, Nerf wars, dinner at a fancy schmancy New York restaurant, a white elephant, and a whole lot of good times. I graced the zone with a Christmas classic on the guitar at the talent show... The Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler. :) It was a hoot, but doesn't even compare to Elder Gold's talent. You're gonna have to make a mental image here... So imagine a stage with a missionary laying on his back with his feet aimed towards the audience... Now imagine him throwing his feet back behind his head, his shirt falling down to reveal his bare back with two giant eyes painted on it, and then his arms at his side, acting as arms for this giant head that was once his back. He did some magic tricks and other stuff with it and we were all busting up laughing. He's a crazy one that guy... And if that doesn't prove it, I witnessed him attempt (almost successfully) to ride a wild ostrich the next day. Anyway, the whole day was a blast. We are so blessed to have the Carliles and Clusters with us. They do SO much for us missionaries and love us just so much I can't even explain.

The next day, Christmas Eve, we had ZTM in the morning and then lunch/dinner (linner?) with the Van der Leeks afterwards. Again...SO incredibly blessed to get to spend time with them. No matter how much they tell me I'm a fruit cake or remind me of how loud I am, I love them to death. Oh! Funny story real quick... While we were there, Elder Gold and I needed to run and grab a couple memory cards. Karma ended up kicking us in the butt for ditching the party, because we ran out of gas on the way...and neither of us had a phone. But thank goodness for good Samaritans someone let us borrow their phone and we were able to call the Carliles to come rescue us! We ended up kicking karma in the butt again while waiting, in that we placed two Books of Mormon in the process. Car running out of petrol...blessing in disguise? Anyway, we partied a little more, went up to Naval Hill afterwards and guess what... I FINALLY SAW THE GIRAFFES!!! They exist! I can bare witness now! So much fun. It got late, and we headed back to ZLs boarding and ended up playing Monopoly. Craziest thing happened... I discovered a sense of greed inside me that I never knew I had. Eish...we played til like 1:30 in the morning then finally decided to go to sleep. The lateness probably wasn't lekker...seeing as Elder Gold and I had decided to run to the Carliles in the morning instead of driving. It was roughly six miles, so we had to wake up at 5:30 to be able to make it there at 7 AM Christmas morning to Skype home.

Man... Big shoutout to the fam bam for being the fest fam bam in the world. :) Oh man, I missed talking to you guys so much... Although it was only an hour, it was hands down my favorite hour all week.

After Elder Carlile took us back, we had to jump start our car and make our way back to Kimberley (my second to last time driving back...crazy right?). Man it was so good. After ZTM and Christmas, Elder Reeves and I were stoked to be back in the area. We spent time with the Ludicks, Sister Mpho, Khanyi, and Duncan. Practically perfect in every way. Well, for the most part... Elder Reeves ended up with a runny stomach, so we went back to the boarding a little early. Gave me time to open up presents...and man, I had told Sister Mpho and Khanyi that I was a tough cookie and didn't cry at my farewell or while I was talking to my parents on Skype, but when I read the book of letters from the whole family that my mama had made... There were tears. I can't even begin to describe how much I love you all and how thankful I am to have the support and love from everyone. :) Best family ever, and I will fight anyone who tries and tells me otherwise.

Thursday it was back to work! Oh, one crazy story real quick... I guess I'm a super heavy sleeper, because that night apparently our door handle started moving and Elder Reeves was freaking out. He said he was calling my name and even turned on the lights, but I was dead asleep. Anyway he went and opened the door and there was a tiny dog there. Nothing too out of the ordinary, other than the fact that we don't have a dog and there's no way we could think of that it could get through the gates. We were super confused, but I guess the landlords said it's a neighbors and it comes uninvited every holiday season while its owners are on holiday.

Anyway... work work work. The work in Kimberley is moving forward and I'm so excited to be a part of it! I don't remember if I mentioned it before, but President Grobler's vision for the Bloemfontein stake is to split it into two wards and two districts, which will pave the way for a Bloemfontein temple. To do this, the Kimberley ward has to split. At first we were shaking our heads...even Bishop Tshabalala! But as we've really focused and looked at what needs to be done...it's possible. It's so possible that we even got approval from President Zackrison to bring two more missionaries to Kimberley to make it happen. The plan was introduced to the ward this Sunday, and everyone is so excited. The idea of a temple in Bloemfontein...man. So cool. I get chills just thinking about it. Granted, I won't be here to see it all happen, but I'm just so happy that I've been able to be a part of building the foundation for those who are here ahead of me.

Love you all! Hope you've had the merriest of Christmases, and that your New Years celebrations will be safe and sane. Stay well, stay positive, love your lives.

Baie liefde,

Elder Johnson