Mother's Day

Speaking in Xhosa, a clicking African language.

Sawabona from Rabie Ridge!

This week was an amazing one for sure!  Our plan last week was to have a district fast, starting on Thursday night which lead into doing what we've called the All-Out Blitz on Friday.  It's an all-out finding opportunity, where we set up a banner at the busiest corner in the other guys' area and do some major contacting.  Our primary purpose is to jump start Jorgensen and Samuel's area (since they're whitewashing), but also to become more consecrated missionaries.

This is the letter to President Dunn about the result (and about the district as well):

"The All-Out Blitz was a success!  We passed out over 20 BoM's, a little over 300 pass-along cards, and received over 20 referrals.  Above it all, it allowed the whole district to work hard and grow together.  Thanks for the banners; they were a big help in talking to people.  All of the elders who were involved had a blast, and we look forward to what lies ahead for Rabie Ridge 1 (the other guys' area).

I need to give a huge shout-out to Elders Samuel and Jorgensen!  They are both polar opposites, but they work great together.  Jorgensen loves to work hard and knows his schedule, and Samuel loves the people and knows how to enjoy the work.  Their work is clearly showing up in their stats, but more so in the ward.  The ward was skeptical of having three new elders, but they wouldn't trade these guys for anybody else.

Elder Musiiwa is a joy to work with.  He's either on the side of absolute silence or absolute crazy, which makes for a fun ride!  The people here in RR2 are warming up to his quiet nature in lessons, but they love the guy!

An experience I had in the All-Out Blitz really highlighted the whole experience for me.  As we started the Blitz, everyone went to work straight away.  I was struggling getting into it for the reasons of hunger+thirst but also for the reason of fear.  I've always had a bit of a hesitation to open my mouth to complete strangers, so this day was really going to test me.  As I started contacting, there was a lady that I saw was a sitting duck on the corner.  Immediately, I went up to her and started talking.  After a few laughs and a few words, we started up a conversation.  She at first was extremely closed off but over time opened up.  She eventually told me of her failing home life and struggling faith.  A few moments after she had finished, I found myself talking to her, bearing testimony of our Saviour Jesus Christ and His Gospel.  I saw her shoulders relax, her eyes soften, and her interest heighten as she began to ask more questions.

It is always a good feeling when you recognize the miracle of conversion take place, and knowing that you were a proper conduit for the Spirit to speak to people.  I'm grateful that the Spirit gave me the prompting to have the Blitz and for the huge success  it was.  From the Elders in Rabie Ridge to the woman I spoke to, I think we have all been a bit more converted and a bit more humbled.  The Spirit truly is the key in this work, and I'm grateful for the privilege it is to be a missionary in the SAJM."

Thank you all for the help in allowing the amazing work here to progress, from your letters to your support.  More to come next week!

iNKOSI INATHI!!

(The Lord is with us!!)

-Elder Benson

This is the Golden Investigator, Moagi!  He decided one day to walk into church and immediately wanted to be baptized!  Future general authority this one!

"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing.  Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame.  But the purposes of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent 'til it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; 'til the Great Jehovah shall say 'The Work is Done'."

How to Become Powerful

For starters, the whole district has been white-washed except me.  Yep, I'm the only one staying here in Rabie Ridge.  The new district is awesome! Elder Jorgensen, the missionary I trained (aka my 'son') has rejoined me here, an Elder Samuel, and my companion Elder Musiiwa.  We're all under a year, and half of the district is under 6 months.  We've nicknamed the District 'Greenie Fire'.  We're all dedicated to being better missionaries and transforming this ward into the gold mine its destined to be.

We had the privilege of having President Dunn attend our District Meeting last week at the temple. The topic I had prepared was about what it means to be a powerful missionary.  I came to find a few things about it:

In order to become powerful, one must become dedicated.  One makes that commitment as you send in your mission papers.  You dedicate and devote all of your time and energy into the work of salvation for the next two years.  This can take the appearance of hard work, a good attitude, and exact obedience.

After one has developed the attributes of a dedicated missionary, they may then be able to become powerful.  It's not the missionary that brings the power, but the Holy Spirit.  A missionary may become powerful through the Holy Spirit through listening to the quiet voice of the Spirit.  This may take place with opening one's mouth and it being filled, being directed to where to go, giving priesthood ordinances throught the proper priesthood authority, and developing the faith to unlock the powers of heaven.

Our plan is to have a district fast, starting on Thursday which leads into doing what we've called the All-Out Blitz on Friday where we set up a banner at the busiest corner in the other guys area and do some major contacting.  Our primary purpose is to jump start Jorgensen and Samuel's area (since they're both new), but also to become more consecrated missionaries.

We just played the funnest game during FHE called Blabber Mouth.  It's a perfect game for a large group and it's super easy and fun.  Here's how it goes:

Everyone gets a slip of paper.  When you get a slip, write down any question.  The question can be humorous, religious, economical, comical, or random!  The choice is yours.  When all are finished writing their questions, gather together all of the slips and distribute them at random, being careful not to give them back to their owners.

One all of the slips are distributed, you write the answer to the question on the slip.  The answer can be ture, false, funny, or random.  Once all have written their answers gather the slips together and redistribute them once more.

Once everyone has a slip, one person starts by stating the question on their slip.  (Now here's where the fun begins.)  But instead of that person saying the answer, the next person in line states the answer on their slip to answer the question.  Once the laughing/confusion subsides, the person who just answered then states their question.  And again, the next person in line states their answer on their slip.  The round continues until people are on the ground, laughing their hearts out, and the one who first started the game says their answer.

The answers rarely match up with the question, so it becomes super exciting/entertaining to hear what the answer will be.  It can bring about some really weird answers, like the ones we had last night:

"Why do you love me?" -Because we are the wickedest of sinners and deserve to be punished.

"Do your ears and nose grow?" -Nothing happens

"Why do we have Family Home Evening?" -Because we have McD's and obesity.

"What's the name of your school?" -Steak and Lasagna

Since we're missionaries, you can get asked a lot of doctrinal questions.  But in this game, it comes up with A LOT of false doctrine:

"What is the baptism of fire?"  -It is God punishing us.

"Why is Zozo being baptized tomorrow?" -To go to America and eat pizza.

"Why are most things in the world circles?" -Because we aren't spiritually centered.

"What would happen if Elder B got dreadlocks?" -The Second Coming of Christ

"What year was Jesus born in?" -1956

Hence, Jesus was born in 1956.

Baptism of Zozo.

Goodbye, Rabie Ridge.

Goodbye, Rabie Ridge Disrict

Email from Sister Londey

Hey its Sister Londey from RabiE Ridge.  I was extremely impressed with your son's cooking tonight, which recipe I heard was from Italy! More than me was my daughter Carabo!!

Rabie Ridge Curveball

The Rabie Ridge District has been hit by another 90 degree curveball: everyone except me has been transferred!  I don't know what to think of the whole district being white-washed except that the Lord must have big plans for this area.

It's hard to see a brother go off to another area, especially when it's only been 6 weeks together.  Elder Carr has helped me in so many ways, and I can only express my gratitude to the Lord for having him as my companion, brother, and friend this transfer.

We have two people on date for next week!  Here's a little about them both:

Zozo is one of my favorite Xhosa's that I know!  She's 19 years old and come from a large family of 9 that lives in a little shack no bigger than 20 ft. by 20 ft.  She barely speaks any english, but what she says is either super funny or incredibly spiritual.

David is a flippin' totsi, but the best kind of totsi.  He's 19 and lives with his friend in Ivory Park, a township we serve in.  He loves basketball, and he's (almost) as good as I am!  I'm kidding though, he's black so that automatically makes him better than me in basketball.  His desire to change his life is a huge example to me.  He's completely stopped drinking and smoking, and he's committed to living the Law of Chastity.

Both of these people are a huge example to me and everything that they do lifts me up and inspires me to be a more consecrated missionary.

-Elder Benson

Faith

Faith has been motivating me this week.  To be honest, we had an amazing week in the Centurion Stake.  It was the youth mission experience, where priests and laurels come out with the missionaries.  It was an amazing experience, motivated by faith.  The four in my group handed out over 115 pass along cards, 16 BoM's, and taught 1 lesson from tracting in 4 hours!

The highlight of it all was when we were tracting and a taxi full of drunk Africans came and greeted us Malungus (white people).  While the rest of the group were talking witht he drunks, I had the opportunity to talk to the taxi driver.  I showed him a copy of the BoM and his countenance instantly lit up.  He immediately took interest and I gave him our contact details and he promised to read it.  

The whole experience uplifted me and gave me greater faith in the power of the BoM and its ability to change lives.

Elder Zachary

Rabie Ridge II

The area is awesome!  Rabie Ridge is a townships just about a 40 minute drive away from Joburg.  We live in a town called Midrand.  The hardest part about the whole experience is the fact that there's only two weeks left in the transfer!  I've fallen in love with the people here, and I hope I stay for another transfer or two.

Eat up: moppani worms... I could only handle ten. And i still had cramps all night.  Greatest dish ever.

The District is as follows:

Elder Laminie - He's from Port Elizabeth, SA.  He's a coloured, so he's crazy.  His teaching skills are amazing, the laughs we have are uncapped, and the thirst is real for this guy.

Elder A'home'e - He's a pure bred Tongan. His laugh is absolutely, ridiculously addictive, the ladies can't get enough of him (which isn't a good thing), and his Spirit is powerful.

Elder Carr - [I said more about him with the pic last week]

Pretty awesome guys here.

To come next week, highlights of the area and other good stuff.

-Elder Benson

Sassy selfie with Zizo, yours truly, and Lisa: