Go and Do

This week was surprisingly busy. I know I said previously that the World Cup time would be slow and no missionary work would be happening, but I was wrong. This was surprisingly one of the busiest weeks of my mission. We started work about 8 o clock every day and didn’t finish until 9! Most days, we did get to watch a game. That was fun. Every day we always had investigators and members in attendance. Which was the goal. The only thing we would like to improve on is that more members bring their friends which is what we stressed in church yesterday. So, it should be another great week of soccer and missionary work. We had quite a few new people at church, who came because they came to the world cup activities. It was exciting to see. Also, church yesterday was amazing in the Singles Ward. We have been working with this less active for a very long time. He has been a member for a while, but never received the priesthood. So we have been working and working with him, to get him ready to receive the priesthood. Personally, I felt he was ready a long time ago, and have been wondering what the Bishop was thinking, not willing to give him the priesthood. But yesterday Bishop Matswogathata, came to me and asked me to make sure that I was in their sacrament meeting (They meet right after the family ward dismisses so we sometimes miss their sacrament meeting to do things for the family ward). I told him I would definitely be there, thinking he wanted me to give my departing testimony before I change wards. But as I was sitting there listening to the prelude music, I looked at the less active, Nyasha, and it hit me, that he was going to be sustained to receive the Aaronic priesthood! Wow! The bishop walked in and smiled at me, and I knew what was up. He was sustained! And then Bishop asked him to give a testimony! Which was powerful! I love this kid! He is amazing! And then, to top it all off, the priesthood was singing the special musical number, and Nyasha was leading them! Wow! It was powerful. I lost control of my emotions. It was so touching to see him sustained, bear a powerful testimony, and then leading the priesthood choir! Wow! Bishop came up to me after and thanked me for all the hard work I have put in to helping Nyasha, and how the Lord’s timing is everything. And it really is. If it were up to me, Nyasha would have received the priesthood months ago. But he wouldn’t have been ready, and wouldn’t have honored it, or used it the way God intended. The bishop is truly inspired, and did things according to God’s timing! It was powerful, and made a huge difference in the life of Nyasha. He will be a powerful priesthood holder, and a wonderful missionary, and a great instrument in the hands of the Lord as he honors his priesthood. Wow! It was an amazing Sunday! Helping less actives back to the fold and to see them progressing, is just as rewarding as seeing an investigator being baptized! Missionary work is great! But here comes my plug for home and visiting teaching. While on mission I have come to learn that home teaching and visiting teaching is the backbone of the church. Without it, the church would not grow or progress. It is so important. There are many less actives out there across the entire world, that just need a little love, support, and encouragement, that can only come from a diligent, concerned home teacher or visiting teacher! And the rewards for both are so outstanding as they both start to progress in this gospel! Really, do your visiting and home teaching. No excuses. It is really the most important calling in the church, and the most rewarding! So go, do it, and change the lives of those the Lord has assigned to you!

Ke Nako!

This week the World Cup 2010 in South Africa started! KE NAKO! It was fun! We watched the opening game at the church! The church leaders were all doubting Thomases when we presented this activity to them, but it went so well! We had around 70 plus people in attendance! It was awesome! It went much better than any of us expected! People came, enjoyed, brought food, and all had a good time, and it was a great game! President Poulsen told us we had to be neutral during the world cup games, but I couldn’t help but cheer for the South Africa team. It was a blast. Man, I miss watching sports so bad! It had been over a year since I’ve watched a sporting event, and I forgot how much I love it! It was awesome! We also watched the game on Saturday between Nigeria and Argentina, and so far my favorite player is Messi from Argentina. He is good! These activities are great though. I get to watch soccer, and the members and the investigators really bond and get to know each other and are forming friendships. The best of both worlds! I am so glad president said we could do that! If we weren’t able to do these activities, than missionary work would probably stop during this month because we aren’t really allowed to proselyte during game times. Needless to say, I am having a lot of fun! At church this week we had a whole family come, that we have been trying to get to come for months. The mother has come many times, but never with the father, and this week he came with her and their child! It was amazing, and he is so excited to come to church and watch the world cup! I am so happy for them! They are amazing! I am very sad to be getting transferred out of this area in two weeks! I will finally be leaving GWEST the ward I have been serving in my entire mission! Over a year now! It finally happened, I will be serving in the other ward! Crazy! It will be difficult to leave my gwest family behind, but I am excited to make new relationships with those in the broadhurst ward and serve them with all of my heart might mind and strength, just as I have in the Gwest ward. But I think at this point my heart will always be in gwest. I love it. I love the people. Leaving is not easy. Good thing it is only across town, and I will still see these people occasionally! Well, that is the news for this week! Enjoy the world cup! Ke nako! I know I will enjoy it this side!!!!

WOW - 211 baptisms last MONTH

Well, the World Cup starts this week! Everyone is really excited
about it. Everyone, except missionaries that is. During the month of
the World Cup, we are not allowed to tract, or teach really, during
the game times. Which is pretty much all day after 1 p.m. So, we
will see how this next months goes. The World Cup will be put
missionary work on hold for a month. I am hoping and praying we find
families or individuals to teach that do not like soccer. But really,
everyone watches the world cup whether they like soccer or not. So we
will see how this next month goes! We are planning on doing a lot of
service in the morning and studying and things like that at night. It
will be interesting. Keep us missionaries here in Africa and all over
the world in your prayers. On a really high note though, our baptisms
for the month of May were record breaking. We had 211 baptisms as a
mission in May! We have been working to break the 200 mark for a
while, and this month we finally did. If we can keep the momentum,
then the world cup won’t hold us back too much! Another positive, is
that I will get watch the opening ceremonies, and the opening game.
President Poulsen said if we organize an activity and watch the games
at church with members and investigators than we can watch them. So
we rented a projector and are going to watch the game, at least the
opening game between Mexica and South Africa. That will be awesome!
If it turns out well, we will do more of them. So maybe I will get to
watch some of the games! But that is pretty much the excitement here
in Botswana. As they say here, “Ke Nako.” Meaning, it is time. It
is time. The atmosphere here is crazy, all everyone talks about is
the world cup. It will be fun.

Answered Prayer

This week was another great one. We had a lot of investigators show up to church. Which made all our hard work throughout the week worth it. They didn’t show up on time, though. Actually before sacrament, we only had one there. Look at me, saying only one, but honestly here in Botswana, having one investigator at church is a common occurrence, and I often take it for granted. Having one person’s life changing is amazing, but I was just praying in my heart as the meeting started that more would come, especially one of the families we saw throughout the week. I was really pleading with God, asking Him to bring a family to church, just one. Asking what more I could do to get those families to church, just really pleading and praying hard. Come to find out, one of my companions, the ward missionary, Sister Magibisela, was doing the exact same thing. So, the sacrament prayer was being said, and I heard the door open, and people walk in. I knew that probably wasn’t a member, because a member wouldn’t walk in during the sacrament prayer, so immediately after the prayer was offered I looked over to where I heard the steps, and I couldn’t believe it, this man, Richard, had brought his wife with him to church. It was their first time at church. The Lord really answered our prayers. I quickly tapped Sister Magibisela and showed her them, and she looked and her jaw dropped, literally. I had to close it for her. She was shocked. We both were, and we both were filled with joy as we saw them, knowing the Lord had heard and answered both of prayers. It was powerful! The church lessons were great today, we talked about baptism both lessons, which is really what Richard asked about the first time we met him! He and his wife loved church! We were so thrilled. Then after church we had 5 baptisms, 3 in the family ward, and 2 in the singles ward. In the family ward a husband and wife were baptized. I started teaching this family when I first came to Botswana, now finally, a year later, they got baptized! It was amazing. They were so happy, you could see the change in their faces before and after. It was great. Then in the singles ward, the baptism on our side was Karabo Tshekoyakgosi, (yeah, I know can you say that?!?! Hehe…I can J ) She is great. She has a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon, and her Savior, Jesus Christ. She was so happy, they all were. It was cold on Sunday, and the geyser, which warms the water was broken, so they were baptized in water straight from the hose, and it was freezing, but they were still so happy and excited, despite being freezing. Inside they were warm! It was wonderful. A great week here in Botswana. Zion continues to grow here in Africa. It is so exciting to be a part of it.

(Sorry it's late this week)

This week I got my companion from Madagascar, Sister Randriampamonjisoa. She got her visa, but it is only for three weeks, so we will see what happens, they will try to extend it here. We will see what happens. Hopefully all works out so she does not have to go back to Johannesburg. The member, Sister Magibisela, that filled in during Sister Randria’s absence, is going to stay on and we will be in a threesome until zone conference, which is next week. That will make the transition much smoother. It will be great. Sister Randria already amazes me. She learned English in three weeks in the MTC, and speaks it as if she has been speaking it her whole life. She is a black belt, and an accountant. And she is funny. We will work very well together. But it may take some time for her to be comfortable teaching lessons, but we will work on that, and the area should do great as we continue to work hard. So that is the update on that.
On a different note, we went to this man’s house, Richard Tsedi, he had met the senior couple, the Olsons, and we finally got a hold of him and went to his home to teach him. The maid welcomes us in and starts telling us how in the town she is from in Zimbabwe, the church has a bad name because of some bewitching incident that happened, and pretty much called us Satanists, but that is a story for another day, but then Richard came in, and she left. Richard was, on the other hand, very excited to see us, and the first thing he says is “I want to baptized and a member of your church!” HUH? Did he really just say that, were my thought. My jaw about dropped to the floor. I looked at sister Magibisela, and back at him, and was like “Ok…..do you know what baptism is?” and he did! He had a great understanding about baptism. He then said, “Do I have to take lessons first, or can I be baptized first and then take the lessons.” This guy was serious. We talked more about baptism, and gave him a baptismal date of june, and told him we would be working with him to help him to be baptized and understand fully the covenant he will be making, and why the priesthood is essential for proper baptism. It was an amazing lesson. Pretty much unbelievable. He is a great guy, and we can’t wait to help him work towards his baptism! Hopefully his wife and children will join on his excitement and their whole family can be baptized and then go to the temple. That is the goal. Thanks for reading. Have a great week.

Enjoy your Families!

This week was really good. A wonderful ward missionary, Sister Nonofo Magibisela, who is not even from my ward, but from the other ward in Gaborone stepped up big time to be my companion while Sister Randriampamonjisoa is waiting in Johannesburg to get her visa to come here. It was a great week though. Sister Magibisela is great, she served 6 weeks already, and knows how to be a great, effective missionary. We had a great week. We worked hard and found lots of great people. We also got this rra or husband, Dallas Bantshang, of a wonderful lady in our ward to come to church. We have been trying to get him to church forever and this week he came! It was wonderful. We were so excited and happy about that one. Other than that, sister magibisela and I just worked very hard this week, and saw good results, and are very excited for a few families that we met this week. I want more than anything to find and baptize a family. A father and a mother with their children. That would be the most wonderful experience in the world. I want that so bad, so we are working really hard to find a wonderful family that is ready for this gospel. Teaching individuals is great, don’t get me wrong. But teaching an entire family and helping them prepare for the temple would just be the sweetest experience I could ever imagine! This gospel is really about families, as I am sure you all noticed from last general conference. Families are central to this plan. They are just that important. Alright. Thanks for reading. Have a great week. I know I will and enjoy your families this week, they are a blessing from God!

Happy Mothers Day

I hope you all had a great mother’s day yesterday. It was very nice being able to talk to my family. That was my last phone call home. The next time I talk to my family will be in person! Crazy. I have been here for a year! This week was crazy. It was transfers, so sister lyon and I had to go down to Johannesburg to get our new companions. My new companions name is Sister Randriampamonjisoa from Madagascar! She is an accountant, and a black belt, and she learned English in 3 weeks at the MTC. She seems pretty great, only I don’t know much about her yet because after we picked up our new companions we drove back to Botswana, only to get stuck at the border and find out that my companion, cannot enter Botswana without a visa, which she did not have because there are only a few countries required to have visas to enter Botswana. So, it was 9 p.m. and we had no choice but to drive the 4 and ½ hours back to Jo’burg! Eish! It was fun though, the mission president told us we needed to stop and by cokes. Haha. People here think coke is against the Word of Wisdom, so it was pretty funny having him tell us to stop and buy some. Coke is NOT against the WoW by the way, in case you were wondering. So, we drove back to Jo’burg Wednesday night, spent Thursday touring around Jo’burg. We took pictures from the tallest building in Africa, the Charlton Tower, and went to the apartheid museum. That was interesting. What a sad thing apartheid was. It was very eye opening. I am glad it is over, but you can still see the effects of it. On Friday morning, sister lyon and I left our greenies in jo’burg, and drove back to Botswana to see our investigators. It was quite the interesting, but very very stressful week. So my companion until sister Randriampamonjisoa can get her visa will be a ward missionary, sister Magibisela. She is wonderful, and I am so grateful she stepped up to fill the place of my companion, so that I can continue to work. It nearly killed me being away from my area and my investigators for the week! It was horrible. It is great to be back serving the people I love. It is a wonderful work, there is nothing better. I don’t know how I will be able to leave this place and these people behind!