Dear Mom
and Dad
Well
this week has been a good one. We have been busy this week, and taught more
lessons. We have still been struggling a lot with teaching investigators, but
we met a lot of recent converts this last week. We have continued our finding efforts,
and we have not had a ton of success. We go out for about an hour a day and
just walk around the streets and talk to people. This is the most effective way
in our area. I really don't like knocking on doors because it just isn't very
effective. I have in my past area's, but not really her in Voosloros.
A bit of
a disappointment yesterday at church. We only had 2 investigators come to
church. In the past we have had about 10 every week. Our investigators aren't
really leaving for the holidays, they are just not serious anymore, and we need
to drop them. They have been cancelling appointments, and not coming to church.
It has been a bit frustrating, but we are working through it.
At the
moment our most promising investigator is Zanle. She has been coming to church
for about 5 weeks. She is so interested in the gospel, and has so many
questions for us. We saw her 2 times this last week. I will keep you up to
speed on a baptism date.
During
the Holiday people go "home", like were there family is from. Most
people head to Limpopo. Also people just get very busy with the holidays, so
they don't have time for us as missionaries, especially our investigators
because they don't really have us at the top of their priorities. The members
and recent converts will still let us come and teach them. The children get out
of school most of December. Most of them end this week. It is there summer
break. So they start into a new school year in January. They only get like one
month for summer.
I am able to
see dropbox pictures. I really
enjoy getting your pictures. It is fun to see family and events that are taking
place at home. I will keep trying to take more pictures of my area and send
them to you.
I will
put some pictures on later of me getting my package!!! Yes - I finally got the
package you sent back in August. It has been all cut open, and then taped back
together. I think everything was inside, except maybe some candy. I really
enjoyed your fun decorations of the box!! That was a cool creative idea- fun to
celebrate my One Year Mark 3 months late. So I guess some mail coming through –
did not get any letters.
It is
weird to think Christmas is here. It doesn't' seem like it at all here. I still
think it is because it is not cold and there is no snow. That is how I have
always known Christmas. I guess either way it is coming. I am sure you are
happy to get your decorations up, and the lights on. I miss seeing all the
decorations, because really no one here puts them up, and to me that is part of
the Christmas spirit. I always appreciated how pretty all your decorations are.
It
sounds like life is busy, with planning for Christmas parties, and putting them
together. I am sure you had the ward amazed at the Christmas party with your
nativity. We will be having our Christmas party this Saturday the 13th. I
miss the Christmas music – good luck with Messiah this next week.
I can't
believe that Calvin will be getting his license possibly next week. He doesn't
seem that old yet!! I am sure it will be nice for you so he can help run Carson
around and do stuff for you. I am sure he is super excited. Tell him
Happy Birthday and I am sorry I can not mail anything to him.
The swim
team continues to do well it sounds like. I love hearing about there success
and that they are still winning there meets. That is too bad they won't swim
against Park city until state. I am sure they can beat them if they keep
working hard!!
It has been
pretty hot this last week. We haven't got much rain this week. Some rain comes
later in the evenings. Normally it is really really hot from like 10-5, then it
will rain. It is still nice in our apartment. We have fans that keep it pretty
cool in there, and it still cools off at night. We can open the windows to cool
off, but then we get mosquitoes.
I am doing ok
with my companion. His English is coming a long well. He is still not very good
at teaching, so it seems like I am teaching like all the time. I a lot of times
just sit there and I have to make him talk. He is getting better at teaching,
but he is just not really confident enough yet.
You asked where I took those pictures last
week. The shopping mall
we go to is closer to Jo-burg. We email in downtown Germiston at an internet
café, then we drive to Befordview to Eastgate mall. It is a really new
mall, really big and nice!!
Well
Vosloorus is like any other township. The standard of living is just like town
really. It is all black people that live there. there really are no shacks in
township. Everyone has a home, the homes are just small. The blacks really have
just as many opportunities as the whites, so their standard of living is the
same. The blacks though really don't priorities the use of their money. They
buy super nice cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi’s. They do this while still living
in township and living is a small home. The only difference between township
and town is no white people, and it is a bit dirtier. I will try to take more
pictures.
I have
seen that really without the gospel in our lives there is something missing. I
have gained such a strong testimony as I have been here. I really don't think I
could ever turn away from the church or it's teachings. Everything just makes
so much sense, and I have felt the spirit too many times. I am grateful for the
wonderful experiences I have everyday. Thank you for the constant love and
support. i am truly grateful for everything. I know the work I am doing is
true, even though it gets very tiring sometimes. I am grateful for the gospel
in my life. I am especially grateful for you and mom, and the way you raised
me. I have known from little what was wrong and right, and how to follow the
gospel.
I do still have
my tree, and I will hang it up!! I can print things off, but it gets expensive.
I am at an internet cafe to email. If I was at the church it would be
free. I would love peoples emails but I will not have time to respond, and
if they send messages to print I could print some but not a lot.
That
sounds like a good plan for skyping. I think that will work just fine from 7-9.
We can plan on that for now, and keep talking about it as we get closer. We
will have a Christmas party in the morning and then go to church after 1 which is 5am for you. I am grateful for your love and
encouragement. I hope you have a good week. keep smiling!! You are in my
prayers
Love
Your son
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