Toti (02/03/97)

Family-

I just wanted to send you a copy of a letter the Sister Bennion and I were given on Monday. It is from Veronica Vilikazi who I was able to teach and see baptized.  She is 19 years old.  She was just married about a month ago.  (So I guess her name is now Veronica Lechole).

Just a little background on the letter.  We are teaching one of their family friends.  He's a really cool guy, but on Saturday he was giving us a really hard time.  After we left, he started ripping on me because I  wasn't able to answer all his questions about Satan and the mark of the beast etc.  He was telling Veronica all of this.  Anyhow, she stood up for me and they fought back ad forth for a few hours that night.  Anyhow, she (Veronica) told me about all of this the next night at the baptism.  The scary thing is, Tracy, the one who was baptized on Sunday, was there Saturday night and she got really confused.  She almost called off her baptism because of it.  But she decided that she knew that it was true.  Things have calmed down now.  Tuto is back to his normal cool self.  I really think Satan was really using him to try Tracy.  Anyhow, Veronica wrote us this letter Sunday night.  I hope that you can understand her broken English.  Another thing to know while you are reading it, is that in the Zulu culture it is a sign of true, deep friendship or a close relationship between sisters to share a bed and to bathe with each other.  Anyhow, it's an awesome letter.  I bawled my eyes out.

President Stevenson has told me my whole mission that he wants to give me the Priesthood and call me as his A.P.. I've always just kind of laughed at him. But yesterday we were having an interview and all of a sudden he tells me that since I am his "Sister A.P." that he would like my help with transfers.  So he opens up the transfer board and asks me to do transfers as I would think would be good and left the room for 1/2 hour.  He came back and we talked about it and he said he'd pray about it.  Anyhow, it will be interesting to see what happens at transfers, to see if I am inspired at all! :)  He told me that he'd like me to start coming to all staff meetings and transfer meetings - We'll see what happens.

Pres. made me promise to write to you and tell you that I am a fabulous missionary. (Pride??? But he made me promise to write it.  Obedience???) :)

I am excited because I'm learning a bunch of really cool recipes that I can make when I come home.  I'll have to bring home spices, but I think that it will be really cool.  I think that Mom & Kim & Mark will like it, I'm not sure about everyone else. It's just HOT food.  I don't know, maybe you all will like it.  We'll have to see.  It's different Indian food.  Mom, what exactly is it that you use in the stuff that you call curry chicken?  Is it actual curry?  What is it?  I'm just wondering if I can get curry there.

Well, things are well.  I've been struggling a bit lately, but I really think I just need a change.  There will be a change this next week with transfers.

Pres Stevenson told me that he too had a very similar experience with the S.E.C.. He said that he too understands perfectly.

Anyhow, I love you all very much.  I'm really dying for letters .. hint, hint.  I get a letter from Mom almost weekly , but that's about it.  I think my friends have forgotten that I exist.  But I suppose that's fine, I'll be home soon enough.

Take care!  Good luck with everything.  My prayers are with you!

I love you!

Michelle :)

P.S. (a few days later) Well, I guess I was pretty inspired.  Transfers happened how I left them.  Pres. said that they tried to change them but they couldn't (oh, I don't think I mentioned that it was only transfers for the Sisters that he had me do)

I've been sick in bed for the past few days. I've had some stomach virus or something.  But this morning I also woke up with some eye infection. It may be pink eye. I'm going to the doctor today.

We had an awesome baptism yesterday.  Her name is Jennifer Pillay.  She has such a strong testimony. She bore her testimony in church yesterday. It was so neat, I was really bawling my eyes out.

Well, take care!  I love you all

P.S.S.  I guess I should tell you, I'm staying here in Amanzimtoti and I have a new companion. Her name is Sister Sargeant. She is really cool!  I'm excited to be companions with her.

(the letter from Veronica Vilikazi Lechole)

Date: 27
Day: Sonday
Time: 231722
Moods: Happy
Weather: Raining
Place: At my bedroom
Thinking: About what we shared in Bluff Chapel
Hope: That God will bless both of you for the new happy life you have brought to me.
Wish: That while you buzy teaching us about Christ that you also gain some knowledge and grow stronger in spirit.
Message: It very hard for you to leave your family and come to serve people you don't know (for mi, I really don't think I can do that!) what I want to say is keep on being strong, caring, loving, honest, and understanding because those are the things that will make you reach in spirit.  I love you.
To: Sister Zenger
Sister Bennion
From: Veronica

Happy Greeting are the keys when writing to someone special like both of you.

Sister Zenger and Sister Bennion I would like to say Thank you.  Thank you.

I was lost and you find me.  You taught me to be a better person. I now know what right or wrong.  Before you came I was just like a dumpt envelope with an address.  My only problem was that I was dirty and I didn't have a stamp.  But you took me and put me in a new envelope and re address me and post me.  And I know I haven't reach my destination but I know I will because I'm clean and I'm addressed.

To me it means that I am now clean and prepared to endure with him.

Sister's I would like to share my testimony with you and tell you that: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is a true church.  Through this church I have found my spiritual sisters and brothers.  I would also like to say that I believe that Joseph Smith is a real prophet and that Jesus Christ really die for our sins.  I would like to close my testimony in the name of The Father, the Son and the Spirit.

Today I'm somebody whose happily married, repent, baptised, recieved Holy Ghost but most of all I'm happily that I have both of you.  You just remind me of my sister because she always teach me about good things and bad things about the bible.  Although she never read the whole bible but she knew a little beat.  Sisters Thank you again.

It very hard for me to bellive that you are going to go back. when I think about it, it seems like I'm not going to go on with my life without you.  Really it hurting for me to think about it. Okay for you, you are happy because you are going back to your family back to your lovely arms.  I'm also happy for you and I wish you good luck.  What ever you do back home I want you to know that I love you and I won't stop loving  you.  I sometimes wish that you were my sisters to talk to, sleep with forever and ever.

Sister Zenger.
I want you to know that I'm prepared to stand up for you (both of you) and expecialy for the church.  I feel like maybe this are the chalenges the bible is talking about.   Please can you also pray for me to have power to answer all they questions. I beilive that I can prove to them that the church is true.  I'm willing to even tart reading the bible by heart.  Because that what they want.  Sister Zenger I beilive I can do it.  Yes I can.

Sisters stay strong because these are the last days.  I can feel that these are the last days.  So keep your Book of Mormon because it is a true book.

Sisters I would like to end my letters and tell you that the things I have said in this letter is true and I mean every single word I wrote.

Sisters I love you

Till then

Peace be with you till we meet again!!!