Only 3 transfers left

This week was alright. It ended very nicely. A young man I had taught in my previous area, Kabo Gugah was baptized in the singles ward. It is nice that the wards are so close, because I was able to attend the baptism the Elders were having in the family ward, and still make it in plenty of time to see Kabo get baptized in the singles ward! Kabo is a great guy. His friends are all members, and it is about time he joined them. That group of young single adults is great. We call them the Mmopane Saints. They live in the village of Mmopane just outside of Gaborone, and more and more of their friends keep getting baptized. Karabo Tshekoyakgosi was baptized in May, and now Kabo was just baptized yesterday, all from the influence of a few great saints. So, the Mmopane Saints keep growing, and they keep spreading the gospel. Which is just so remarkable to see. I miss Gwest. But Broadhurst is great as well. I am really enjoying the time I have had here in Botswana. It is the best place on earth. I am not sure if I will be able to leave. I was telling my companion yesterday, that they may just have to kill me and send me home, because I am not sure I will willingly get on a plane to leave this place. It is such a wonderful place, and the people here are so amazing.

Zone Conferce

This week was another good one for us here in Botswana. We had zone conference this weekend, and after zone conference, Sister Poulsen went with us to our lessons. She took pictures of the families we were teaching, and she is going to put them up on the mission website, so if you are interested, you could peruse the mission website and see pictures of me and some of the families I have been privelaged to teach and get to know. That was fun to have her go teaching with us. It was kind of funny because the Elders were all very nervous about who President Poulsen would go with, no one wanted to go with him, whereas the sisters were all very eager to have Sister Poulsen come with us. I am glad she ended up coming with us though. It was great to have her join us. Zone conference was very good. It always is. We talked about keeping focused on the work, and not letting our minds wander. It was good. It was what I needed to hear, because sometimes my mind does wander. Especially during lessons, because I have taught these principles so many times, I sometimes start to think of other things. So, it was a good reminder to stay focused, and to be where your body is. Self-mastery is extremely difficult, but I know I can master myself. It will just take some hard work and diligence. But I am working on it every day. This week we were supposed to have a couple we have been teaching get baptized (by Elders of course…sisters don’t baptize….thanks for the advice Ed!) but the rra’s mother went into acoma, and so he had to rush home to Zimbabwe to take care of her, so their baptism has been postponed to whenever he gets back. That was very sad, but we had such an amazing lesson with him and his wife on the plan of salvation and on temple work. It was an amazing lesson. The Spirit was so strong. Afterwards we were all in smiles and felt at peace, even during this difficult time. The plan of salvation is a perfect plan created by our perfect Father for our happiness. We can indeed find peace in this life even during the most difficult times when we know the plan of salvation, and know that it is true. This gospel is such a comfort and bring so much joy and peace into the lives of those I am so privelaged to meet and preach to every single day. I know God loves us, and that Jesus is the Christ. And this knowledge really does sustain me through my every day life. I don’t know what life would be like without this knowledge, but I know I would experience the joy I get to experience every day!

Tell everyone I say hi and miss them...
and tell shayla not to be stupid with her scooter!
And tell blake to just get married already. Thanks.

Happy 4th (a little late)

This week I made the move from GWest to Broadhurst. It really wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. It was hard saying goodbye to the ward I have served in for the last year, but things are great this side of town as well. Serving here in Gaborone is different than any other mission for sisters I am sure. Because we serve in the same town between two wards the entire time. So, I will still get to see everyone from Gwest from time to time, which will be nice. Things are great here in Broadhurst. We have a couple from Zimbabwe, David and Rose, getting baptized this coming Sunday. They are great! We are also teaching a couple of other great families, so things are great this side. I look forward to the next few months I get to serve here. My new companion is Sister Chirchir from Kenya. She is great. She is such a sweet girl. She is the nicest person I have met. She is so dedicated to her calling as a missionary. We will have a lot of success together. That was pretty much the week. I am still adjusting and getting used to the new area. It is a lot smaller than my last area. So far, it appears that most of it is not as wealthy as my last area, but that means the people are humble, and ready for the gospel, the only problem we will come across is getting people to come to church, because they will not have means of transportation. But we will see what we can do about that. I should have more to report next week as I get more familiar with the people and the area. And I look forward to seeing the baptism of David and Rose this coming Sunday. Mission is great. Well, thanks for reading and have a great week, oh and happy Independence Day. I forgot it was independence day yesterday, until one of the Elders introduced himself and said his favorite colors were red, white, and blue because it was the 4th of July. So, happy Independence Day, and remember true freedom comes from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the best of your ability!!!

Devil's Chicken

This week I have two things to note. One, a family in the ward took my companion and I to a chinese place for dinner. I haven't had chinese food in a while. It was good. There were many things to order on the menu with interesting names and things like that, but one in particular caught my eye. It was called Devil's chicken. Yup, I had to get it, just for the fun of the name. Sister Mpho and I both got it, and it was very delicious. hehe. If you can't tell, it has been a very long time since I have been to a restaraunt. I enjoyed it a little too much. I thought it was funny anyway. The other thing that is wonderful to us here is that we had another baptism on Sunday!!! Our recent convert, Katlego Makati, who was baptized in March, baptized his best friend, Karabo Lobelo! It was amazing! It was such a sweet experience. Katlego did such a great job using his priesthood to baptize his best friend. And Karabo was so happy about it as well. During his testimony he said, "I am so happy to be called a Latter-day Saint". And he is indeed a saint saved for the last days! These kids are amazing, they are both young men, but spiritual giants. I love both of them. I see them both as my younger brothers. It was such a wonderful pleasure getting to teach the both of them. Man, it was just such a great way to spend my last sunday in the Gwest ward. And Nyasha, the less active that I talked about last week, he passed the sacrament in the Singles ward! Only, I missed it for Karabo's baptism! So, church was amazing. It was a wonderful way to end my service in the Gwest side. Now, I can move on to serving the people over in the Broadhurst ward. It will be fun. I am looking forward to the new friendships and new bonds I will make. As Elder Wirthlin said, "Come what may and love it".

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.