Family-
Howzit? Are things well? How's the summer weather? Have you been doing anything fun? How's the fishing been? How's the Paragon situation going?
Things are well here. I don't know if I told you about how when Elder Ballard was here he pronounced a blessing upon this area. His grandfather many years ago pronounced a blessing upon South America, before there were even very many members there. But he blessed them that there would be an incredible increase in the numbers of baptisms and that the members would be strong. We now see how incredibly well the church is doing in South America, well, Elder Ballard pronounced the dame blessing upon South Africa. (In fact, I'm sending enclosed a copy of the prophecy give to us at Stake Conference a few months back) Anyhow, it is amazing because we can completely see this prophecy coming true. I've told you how few baptisms we have in our mission, well, this month there is such a large increase. OK, granted, we don't have any baptism schedules here in Durban North, but every other are in our Zone has 2 or 3 and we hope to have 2 committed for the first part of August. (We have 2 goldens) :) But unfortunately, Satan
sees the work going forth and he is working hard on the mission. Things are crazy! Elders are sick and having emergency operations for freakish things, Missionaries are going AWAL (3 so far and hopefully no more). One was just found yesterday. We're still waiting to see if he's going to be sent home. Remember how I told you about the Elders who were car-jacked a few months back, Elder Hansen and his greenie, Elder Gubler? Well, Elder Gubler was transferred and Elder Hansen was called to train another greenie. This week they were car-jacked again! CRAZY! Elder Hansen wants to get home so badly. He leaves in less than a month, he keeps saying he just wants to get home alive! I guess it is totally inspired that Sisters don't serve in townships. He also happens to be serving in the most dangerous township in South Africa. Anyhow, Satan is trying his best, luckily we know that good always will win, especially when it comes tot he Lord's work!
I always seem to just start writing and sharing everything that goes on and not even thinking that this may be freaking you out. I hope not. I really am safe here! :)
I can't believe that Justin found a black mamba snake in his flat! I would have died! The day I got your letter we had gone to a museum and learned all about the black mamba and how deadly it is. Yuck!
This past week was so cold! It rained for like 4 days straight! There was TONS of snow in the northern parts of our mission. I was wearing all the clothes that I have. I was even wearing sweats under my dress. It warmed up eventually and we are fine now. It was supposed to get cold again today, but it seems fine right now.
Have you met Beth and Lorianne yet? Well, probably by the time you get this letter and you'll probably have met Elder Brown (or I guess Spencer by the time you meet him) It's just weird for me to picture people who I've just seen recently seeing you so soon.
Last night the missionaries in the ward put on a fireside for the members. Kind of a get 'em pumped up type of a thing. I read the letter you wrote about your conversion. Many people cried. It went over really well. I was speaking about fellow-shipping and how important the social conversion is and how crucial it is in the lives of new converts.
The fireside went off well. Poor Sis Allen has a really hard time speaking in front of people. She started crying at one point so she just stopped and sat down, refusing to continue. She eventually got back up and finished, but I felt really bad for her.
We got chased by a cop the other day. Not because I broke any laws or anything, but just because he was trying to pick up on us. It was pretty funny! He followed us forever and then I pulled over to park and he goes on but turns around and comes back and talks to us. He was acting like he needed directions, it was wacked!!! He's a cop! Like he doesn't know his way around! He was old too, he had gray hair, no offense dad! :) It was funny though!
Well, I think I've run out of things to say. I guess I'll end here. I love you all very much! I love the Gospel and I am grateful for my chance to be a missionary! Please take care! Cheers!
Love,
Michelle
(So, I will add here, that car-jacking was a major problem in our mission (as you call tell by what I shared in this letter. There were always more things going on than I shared with my family. I was trying to be somewhat mindful of my mom's sanity. One experience I didn't share was that my first companion (Sis. Merkley) and I had to drive to the mission home late one night. I am not sure of the circumstances and why we were traveling so late at night. But, at least at the time, it was NOT safe to be out past 9pm at all. But for some reason we were in Durban, trying to find the mission home at about 11pm one night.There was no one else out on the roads besides a very occasional car passing by us. We had pulled over to look at a map, because we were lost and a combie (van) pulled up behind us and shined a spotlight on us. This was not a good thing. The men who do the car-jacking always were in these vans. We knew it was not a good thing, so my companion just floored it. This began a high speed chase through the streets of Durban with them cutting in front of us and trying to block us so we would have to stop. We were driving full speed over medians and curbs etc to get away. We were blessed, and protected and we were able to lose them and get away. It was a VERY scary experience! I had only been in the country for about a month at that point, so I was always very aware of my surroundings at night while driving, from that point forward)
No comments:
Post a Comment