Dear
Mom,
Well I
guess first off I am relieved to get a shorter email this week haha. After I
leave here I won't be able to have as much time as I need. I will most likely
be back to internet cafe's where I only have an hour.
I guess
this was a pretty short email because you are at the lake.
That is
awesome you are at the lake. I am so glad that Randall and Katrina where able
to come over.
So I received
transfer news on Saturday. I will be leaving Secunda. I have been here for 4
transfers, so almost 6 months. I am a bit sad to leave here. I really love the
area. I like being an outcast, and far away from other missionaries. All I know
is I will be leaving tomorrow. I don't know yet who my new companion will be,
or where I am going. I am a bit nervous, but I have been comforted a lot by the
spirit.
I guess
that is my spiritual experience for the week. Last time when I thought I was
getting transferred, six weeks ago, I was so nervous about packing my things. I guess just
actually really stressed to get all my things together. This last week I
haven't been stressed or too nervous. I got my things packed just fine Saturday
night and yesterday. I only have a few more small things to throw in. I have
been praying for comfort as transfers where coming up. I have received the
comfort I have been asking for.
I feel like I haven't got to know Elder
Johnson very well. I have really liked him as a companion. He has been
obedient, but very relaxed about it. He has worried about himself, and not
overly concerned about me
. I don't like when other missionaries
worry about everyone else, and not themselves. He is a great kid, and I really
don't want a new companion. I will really miss him. We had a lot of great
laughs together. I will try to get a few more pictures before tomorrow. I have
felt like I have made a good difference here in Secunda. I am sad to leave
here. I am also happy though because it means I am moving on and progressing
forward with my mission.
It is
very weird to me also to think I have been gone a full year. I still feel like
a new missionary sometimes. I guess also like I have told you that time goes
very slow at the same time. Time is such a weird concept, moving fast, but also
very slow. I am very happy though
to think I will be home in about a year. I have 16 more days until I hit one
year. September 17 is one year since I left home.
I am
actually hoping the time keeps flying. I am pretty ready to come home. I guess
that is a bit of a bad attitude. I am loving what I am doing, but sometimes I
just get tired of it. I guess my mission is teaching me to be persistent though
even when I don't want to be. I have felt pretty productive about my last year
as a missionary. I hope I can push it out hard this next year. I am sure I will
be able to.
This
week again has been pretty normal. Just teaching some, walking a lot, and
talking to a ton of new people. I have been saying goodbye to people all week,
because I was guessing I was leaving. I have people sign a journal I have, then
I take pictures with them. I have a lot of pictures I will try and send some home
this week. They are mostly with people I have been teaching, and then some
members. It is weird to think I am just surrounded by black people. When I look
at the pictures it seems weird, but everyday it is just normal. I am getting
better at Zulu, and I try and learn a new word everyday.
The
weather this week has been a bit like Utah spring weather, very bipolar. It was
pretty hot on Tuesday and Wednesday, then Thursday it was really windy, and
Friday it was really Windy and cold. On both Thursday and Friday I was in Emba
the township. With all the wind the sky was full of dust and dirt. It was
pretty cool. I got some cool pictures of the dirt in front of the sun. I will
send those as well. I also took some pictures infront of Frans' place, the
place you thought was a baseball dugout.
This
week we met again with Lindo. She is still struggling with Alcohol and smoking.
We made a plan with her to overcome stuff. There was also coffee at her house,
so we took it!! We just said we are taking it and we did. It was her
grandfathers as well, and he is an inactive member, so we thought it would help
him as well. It is super sad because we have been meeting the grandparents
separately. They really lack faith. They both have a lot of problems. Both the
grandparents smoke, and he drinks alcohol and coffee. I hope that there family
can be helped. Lindo didn't make it to church this week.
A great
feat we had was finally getting Lorraine to church. Her grandmother and her are
on date to be baptized. I have been teaching her since May. She is the one who
hasn't been able to get transport to church. The senior couple that drives from
Jo-burg every week volunteered to pick them up. They had a great time at church.
I guess the bad thing though is the senior couples aren't supposed to pick
people up, so they can't do it anymore, so we are back to the drawing board
with that. I really hope that she will keep coming to church so she can be
baptized.
It
sounds like you are having a great week. I will have to shoot Blake an email
and try and encourage him in school.
Oh yeah so you know I am receiving your written letters still. I
got 2 last week from the first of August. In the bowl is a little deep
dish chocolate chip cookie I learned how to make. It takes like 5 minutes, and
it is one big cookie. I thought I would just show you that I made a cookie.
Sorry I didn't explain that last week.
Love
Your Son
Elder
Mitchell Brown
No comments:
Post a Comment