I'm 20!

Hi from the Greatest place on this world!!! SA

Wow what a crazy week not going to lie :) 

Well it was just a normal week at the beginning then suddenly it change into the crazy thing ever!!!
So we had interviews with the mission president, which went really well. Then we went to bloem on Friday for specialized training.... well yeah let’s just say something happened that we were not expecting! We had the training then we were told that we would not be going back to our area that day... of even until Tuesday, because there were some bad things going on which for our safety we needed to stay in bloem... and we didn’t have a set of extra clothes or a tooth brush or what not what not well because we had to stay there, we ended up missing one of our baptisms ( patricia ) who was baptized by her son. We had to call the koloku family and tell them that we were going to have to postpone the baptisms to next week, then we realized that the ward was going to the temple and that no one would be there. So then we were like why don’t we just do it on Sunday. Now remember at this time we were in Bloem. And were not expecting to be able to go home until Tuesday, But because there was no more threat we were able to come home late Saturday night.  So Sunday morning we were pretty busy trying to figure out if we could actually pull of having the baptisms that day. We called the bishop and called the Kolokus, and they all said yes. So we rushed and got ready for church and then rushed to the chapel to fill the font. And we were able to have an amazing baptism after church!!! Number 8 in thaba nchu and we are not planning on stopping any time soon :) 

So now about the celebrations :) 

This morning for my birthday :) We got some of the balloons that I got in my birthday package and us elders had some fun breaking these huge water balloons over our heads and just doing crazy p day things hahahh :) It is really weird to think I’m not a teenager anymore hahahah :) it honestly doesn’t feel like I’m 20 years old hahah :) The only thing that felt a little different was all the birthday wishes (thank you everyone for those by the way :) I’m not sure if I’ll have enough time to fully email everyone like I want to so anyways thank you so much)

I ATE LEGIT CEREAL TODAY!!!!!!! FRUITY PEBBLES!!!!!!!! HEAVEN IN MY MOUTH HAHAHAH Like I ate half the box in one sit down..... And guess what I’m having for dinner tonight...... THE REST hahahaha. Seriously the packages that I got for my one year mark and birthday were like the greatest things ever hahahah :) 

After we email here we are going to the hotel to have legit burgers again!!! And after that to bishops house to party!!!!!!! don’t really know what we are going to do so that will be for next week’s email hahah.     

This week is elder welling last week... meaning its mears last week as well which is extremely weird ahhaha so we will be going back to bloem to drop him off and so a lot of traveling lately, BUT we are still doing the best we can to do the lords work!! 

We have a new family that we are teaching far away from the chapel but they are progressing and are in love with how the church is so that is the next family hopefully to be baptized!!! We will see though! 

I love my mission like I always say! It’s sad to think that this may be my last week to be in thaba nchu! Week six is already here and that is really weird hahah I’ll be going onto transfer number 10!!! That is just weird hahahah :) 

Sorry this email was short but I got to go and party for my big 20th birthday.... I’ll be home for my next birthday ahhah weird hahah :) 

Love you all!! 

ONE YEAR DOWN!

Hi from the other side of the world!!!

Well this well this week was seriously a blur week again. Like I don’t even know what to really say because it went so fast.... Not too much happened this week as well.

Hmmm seriously...... don’t really know what to say hahahahh :) 

Oh ok I’ll start with the best part...........

I HIT A YEAR LIKE WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then Next Monday I’m turning 20??? Wow parents you’re old............ and siblings you’re getting old too hahahahahh :) your little brother that bugged you as you went through high school is now 20..... hahahahh :) pretty weird!!! 

This week was awesome because I got the package from the family and from the ward!!! I loved it all from the ties to the jerky to the pop tarts to the sunflower seeds man all those things that were in there I have missed so much hahahah :) Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!! And it’s awesome to see people eat the war heads hahahahah!!!!!!!! So seriously thank you so much for the amazing package!!!! 

When I hit the year mark the ether elders made sure that we had a little bit of fun! So They bought me some sparkling wine ( Non-alcohol of course ) and so I popped the cork and sprayed them hahahah! Then as tradition burnt a shirt. Now the shirt that I burnt was the shirt that I burnt my face in-- so it was a little bit of revenge! Then Elder Vaughn Made some lemon Bars which were extremely good!! So that night was just a fun night and I can’t wait for next Monday for my birthday because the plan is to have a big party at bishop’s house. So Yeah that will be awesome as well!! 

We helped with a lot of people this week from gardens to pouring cement. At bishop’s other house we helped make a fence and mix cement so that was a little different than the usual cleaning yards and what not, to mixing cement and welding fences, it was really nice :) 

We were supposed to have interviews and specialized training this week but President Thompson got really sick. So pray for him. We are planning on having them next week! 

Today we are heading back to bloem for a zone activity so I’m super excited about that!! I wont tell you what it is I’ll just send pictures next week and you will be surprised hahaha I’M SO EXCITED lets just say that!!! 

This week I bought a springbok Skin so I guess that’s pretty nifty.

This coming Saturday we are having three baptism And if those end up happening that will mean that since I’ve been in this area it will make eight baptisms in the area.... that’s cool. And I just found out that over the mission on Saturday there will be 37 baptisms so that is amazing!!! Especially for this mission!!! The lord really loves the South Africa Durban mission! And Yes ITS THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD and if you want to compete..... all I have to do is send photos sorry. Especially...... when I send a pictures of me wrestling a lion... ( mic Drop) hahahha just kidding every mission is great! 

The work is going great in the area!!! we are having fun with the members with bishop just life is tooooo great!!! I don’t want to leave this area and if I do that means I’m leaving in two weeks..... ;( Sad...... well yeah I’m good not sick anymore just enjoying hahah ;) 

Thank you everyone again for the birthday wishes and the packages and the cards man you guys are the best!!!!!!! 

Love you all keep enduring!!! 

Sick Week :(

Well, Hi once again! 

This week has been ok, a little slow but then I look back and it always just feels like I just emailed!I'vee been sick this week and on Thursday I actually had to stay in the boarding and just sleep. I don't know what I have but its not really going away. People just are saying that I have the flu, but egh I'll get over it hahah :) 

Me and Elder Bringgold are having a great time serving together! We are at that point where we understand each other and like can pick out the little things hahha He is a quiet guy but when he says something it always makes me laugh! He is one of the most humble guy that I have met! He helps me out so much to stay focused and he helps me like when was sick. He would just randomly refill my water and just would ask if I ever needed anything! He is a great guy!

I am getting a little nervous, I don't want to leave this area, if I do it will be in 3 weeks. Like just like that this transfer is almost over.... where does time go? Anyways I'm praying that don't leave thaba nchu.... I need to still work hard here I need to be able to see some people be baptized. This week we are having another baptism of our investigator Patrisha. Her son is going on a mission pretty soon. And it is just so cool to see that He son was such a great example to her. And then next week hopefully we finish up with the koloku family, and baptism the little ones. This area is the best..... probably my favorite all around. I love these people I've made great friends.... how could I leave now? Ill be honest if I do leave I will be very upset.... But the lord knows what is best. 

We had a lot of fun being in bloem this last week. We had ZTM and it was pretty powerful, and of course its always nice to see all the other missionaries. And on top of that i received a package from that sparks family:) Thank you so much Family!!! lets just say that the sunflower seeds are already gone hahah :) I love everything that was in that package! Once again thank you so much!!! 

To my family!!!! SAM AND TYLER!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I cant wait to see my new niece Becka Rachel Grange..... cute name.... But it is pretty crazy that when I get home she will just be turning a year..... Because I recently found out that I'm probably coming home next August.... so yeah we will talk about that later in my mission I'm not trying to get myself trunky hahah :) But Tyler you're gonna kill it being a dad!!! Sam your going to be an awesome mom!! I'm so happy for you guys! Love you so much!!! 

Wow so much just happens while your gone but it is totally ok :) I love my mission.... Idon'tt think I ever want to come home.....ok well yeah you get my point! 

This gospel is so powerful! I love being apart of it! yesterday I was asked to give a talk about Obedience and it was a eye opener for me as well! Everyone can always find some way to be more obedient and more Christ-like. Obedience is the key to the celestial kingdom! Its an attribute that we need to all grow and strengthen! If we are obedient then its like all the other attributes that we need to attain just fall into place! Obedience shows love, and in the end, it just comes back to bless us more. There is now dead end in this gospel its infinite..... literally everything is infinite.... think about it.... there is no end or beginning. Its a mind scratchier hahah :) 

Well, I love you all! Thank you for your emails and prayers and support!!! Remember to read and pray everyday, the primary answers are the most important ones!!! Its the little things that count most! 

Golden Week

Well just like the title of this email says.... it was a gold week... Mainly Because I'm Now serving with Elder Bringgold Get it? haha! Anyways yes this week was pretty good! Elder Bringgold is a great companion who likes to work hard. It is needed in the area that we are in. The more that we work and the more that we work with the members the more success we see. I love this area and honestly, I don't want to leave anytime soon so, I think I'm going to start fasting and praying that I stay.... Because this area has made me fall in love with my mission and I still feel like I'm here for a specific reason and that I haven't found it quite yet. 

Well, this week... we work a lot with The member missionaries and Amo. So we were able to talk to people more because they were able to translate and build some more trust with people. Plus it is always nice to have members work with you because then they usually know either a less active or have a friend that they feel like we would be able to teach.

We ended up playing a fun game while we were tracting with them. What we did was each person was given 8 random words that they would have to say either at a door approach or during a lesson and they would have to tie it into the gospel or else it wouldn't count for instance.... I was given the words: 

Snakes 

Powerline

 Bird 

Indicators

 Supreme

 iPhone

 china

 and chocolate....... 

yeah it was extremely hard but it was very fun. And it was just so fun to see the others try to say their words! But of course, if it was in a serious moment we would take it seriously. Gotta have a balance in all things. 

People were super nice to us this week. For instance, we would have random calls or members asking us where we were at. And then they would say that they were having a Braii and wanted us to come over and eat with them. We had members give us referrals this week and now that we have a car more people want to work with us! Its is awesome! 

We are now teaching the little kids of the koloku family and they are well on there way yo being baptized..... The entire family is soon going to be baptized! I CANT WAIT! We are really enjoying Thaba Nchu it is really really fruitful and such a great blessing in my mission! 

So one of our investigators is a soccer coach and she was asking us if we could go with her one practice and help her.... She asked me if I knew how to play soccer I told her a little but not a lot.. I just played goalie and she was like yes!!!!! I needed someone to teach my goalies how to play so I remembered some drills I did and we went and practiced with them And tried to coach them I guess I don't know how well we did but it was still a lot of fun :) The little kids are so funny!!! 

This week we are in Bloem.... actually, right now I'm in bloem. We have ZTM on Tuesday so we thought we would just come here today for PDay. Plus I need a haircut so I'm going to get one later today! Nothing too crazy happened this week no lions or tanks just a solid missionary working week! 

Me and elder Bringgold are having some fun with seeing how many cans I hit while we drive hahah So far this transfer I'm at 14 cans. And still climbing. I love being with Elder Bringgold we are always coming up with fun little games that we can play either with the other missionaries or with members or with like investigators.... all in all, I'm really enjoying! This work is so awesome and so spiritual and so promising! I love it I love this gospel I love seeing it change peoples lives as well as changing mine!

IM grateful for all of you and your emails :) Have a great week!
Bye Bye From SA