Magic Number Four

A lot of awesome things happening here in Potch/Ikageng.  Four things that are worth mentioning:

4 Months In:

It doesn't feel like I jumped on a plane to South Africa four months ago!!  It's weird seeing how much you can change in such a short amount of time!  Hopefully Africa hasn't changed me too much!

4 Weeks Left:

Four weeks left in Potchefstroom!  I can't believe that I have to leave the people in this area.  There's so much potential here!  We've recently began reteaching all of the college students who have returned from the holidays, and many are progressing nicely.  There's a lot of new investigators that we've also met in the hospital as I've played my violin for the terminally ill patients.  On top of that, the branch is growing!  We've consistently hit over sixty people in attendance over the past month, and they're all diving into missionary work!

It's definitely going to be hard for me to leave behind the people here.  Many life-long friends made and many being brought to their Savior.

4 New Investigators:

This week we've had four new investigators!!  All of them have stemmed from an investigator of ours: Njabulo.  He's a powerful human being!  He's allowing Christ to really take control of his life!  He's leaving behind his life as a full-out gangster and sengoma-believer to Christian.  He's so humble and he's on date for March 20th!

4 People on Date:

Yep!  Like just stated, we have Njabulo on date for March 20th.  There's also Verlicity (Feb. 28th), Vusi (Mar. 28th), and Torraffe (Mar. 7th).

Torraffe has quite an amazing story:

She's the daughter of a short, ugly english man and a tall, beautiful African supermodel.  They fell in love, and eventually had their first child.  They named her Torraffe; it's a mixture of tortoise and giraffe because short-and-ugly and tall-and-beautiful.  She's had a rough life after her parents divorced, and now has 5 children.  She's was looking for the true church, but she wasn't having very much success.  But one day, while she was working at Vodacom (mobile provider) when the missionaries (Elder Asay+I) walked in.  In her own words, she described them as angels walking into the room, filling the room with light.  She immediately asked them what church they belonged to, and scheduled an appointment with them.

And now here we are today, with Torraffe progressing towards the waters of baptism and Elder Benson being a very joyful missionary.

Here's a cool little acronym I learned about how to have JOY:

Jesus

Others

You

As we put others before ourselves, but most importantly put Christ first in our life, we will find greater healing, greater satisfaction, and greater JOY in our lives.  He descended below us all; all we have to do is allow Him to lift us higher.

-Elder Benson

PS Pray for me!! Next week, cow intestine and chicken feet are on the menu!!

I am now officially "Tshepo"

It's been a hard couple of weeks.   I've been robbed.  I've gone to the ER (don't worry, I only had my fingernail ripped out).  I'm going in for blood tests to see if I've contracted some creepy-sounding African parasite. . . 

Now the good news!  We went from 30 people in sacrament meeting to 60.  We're receiving more referrals than ever.  We went from 0 people on date from baptism two weeks ago to 4 on date.  Many, many reactivated less active members of the branch.  I was given an African name (Tshepo-trust).  I've developed a closer bond with my Savior than ever before in my life.  And I love it all!  The whole picture, bad and good, is highly addictive and is just plain fun!!

The mission is the greatest.  It is the worst.  I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.  But I definitely wouldn't want my best friend to miss out on the experience.

Please just keep me in your prayers.  I'm going to need it.  I love you all so much!!

-Elder Benson

Ultimate Challenge: Contacting While Being Mugged

Another event checked off of the bucket list!  This is even better than the dogs.  Here's the story:

Elder Jorgensen, my trainee, had a prompting to visit an investigator, so we went to the apartment complex where he lived.  We found him on his way to work, and we scheduled an appointment with him.  With nothing to do, we started contacting people on the street.  It started to get a little dark, so we were en-route back to our car when a man approached us.  He described that he was in a dire situation and needed to contact his mother.

Side-note: Even if the situation seems harmless, always follow the mission rules.

Seeing no harm in the situation, we allowed Guy #1 one phone call on the phone (that's against mission policy).  He called his "mother", and we asked for our phone back.  But Guy 1 ignored us and proceeded to walk down the street to where his "mother" was waiting.  We attempted to regain control over our phone, to which he continued to protest and walked into an alley right next to us.  Not two steps into the alley, I stepped in front of him and told him to stop.  He puts the phone in his pocket and tells us to calm down.  Guy #2 walks into the alley from the direction we had just come from.  They begin to converse in their own language, and we noticed that Guy 2 was playing with something in his waist belt: a knife.

Just our luck: we were getting mugged.

Guy 1 asked for some money.  Luckily, I remembered a week prior to carry some cash in my handbook in case of robberies.  I gave the guy the 100 Rand I had in my handbook and told him it was more than plenty.  Guy 1 and Guy 2 looked pretty disappointed and asked for more.  We emptied our pockets, our handbooks, everything, with no luck.  Obviously a little irritated, Guy 1 said ,"How about we go to the ATM?"

They began to lead us to the ATM just 50 meters down the road.  Me, being a missionary and trying not to make a scene, gave Guy 2 a pass-along card.  He asked what it was and I explained that it was a pass-along card.  He looked curious and then asked what we did as missionaries.  I told him that we testify of Jesus Christ and we help people draw closer to him.  I quickly took out another 150 Rand and gave it to the guys.  Guy 1 proceeded to leave, but Guy 2 said that he'd give the number a call.

I feel that regardless if we had given the guys our phone, we would've been robbed one way or another.  But this made the whole situation a whole lot worse because we disobeyed one of the mission rules, even though it seemed like it was for a righteous cause.

To my future missionaries out there: don't break any mission rules.  There are here for your protection.  I feel so blessed to be protected while out in the mission field, but I feel bad for justifying a simple rule.

On the bright side, I only lost 250 rand, which is around 20 american dollars.  But that's a whole week of my allotment so I'll be living off of instant dinners for a while!!  My son is pretty shaken up by the whole thing, but I'm doing good so no need to worry about me.  We've received calls from President, The Zone Leaders, and many other Church Representatives to help us out.  I'm really glad it happened actually!  It taught me a lesson, allowed me to check off being mugged on my bucket list, and gave us a chance to do some contacting.

Don't have any time left to write about everything else.  I love you all!  Stay safe, stay strong, stay true.

-Elder Benson

How to Do Holidays in Africa

First: get together with your zone and have a giant waterfight.

Two: get together with your branch and have a barbecue. 

Three: Don't get sick with the flu.

There hasn't been much this week to write about.  I got sick with the flu so I've been chilling inside the flat studying the scriptures and watching church movies.

There's two kinds of churches in Africa.  One, like in Potch,

held in school houses surrounded by barbed wire....

.... Two, held in beautiful chapels,

again surrounded by fencing and barbed wire.

No matter where you go, the Spirit of the Lord can always be with you.  You can stand in holy places wherever you go.  I've made it a resolution to always have a prayer in my heart and to stand in holy places at all times.  I hope that we can all stick to our resolutions, and that not too many people paid for a gym membership they won't use.

-Elder Benson

It's true.

Christmas!

Busy busy week!!  I thought I was going to get away from the craze of the holidays when I came here!

On Tuesday we had New Missionary Orientation for Elder Jorgensen.  It felt a little bit weird going back after only one transfer, but Sister Dunn made sweet rolls so I'm not complaining! 

Our district got hit pretty hard as one of our Elders went home this week.  He was in my group, and a good friend of mine.  I hope that he will figure things out and come back in six months like he says he will.

Zone Meeting on Wednesday!  It took us a good two hours to set our goals for this next year of 2016, but we feel confident that we can accomplish them.  Although I've never really like the concept of new years resolutions, it does give you time to contemplate on what you've accomplished, what you didn't accomplish, and what you wish to improve in the new year.    There's always room for improvement, no matter how awesome you think you are.

Later Wednesday, we had a Christmas party with our flat complex!! There's a lady who plays the organ beautifully, and we did a few duets with my violin throughout the night.  I was surprised to see some of the Afrikaaners crying.  It's probably the only time I ever will.

On Thursday we drove with the Charchenko's to an adjacent town called Parys (pronounced pa-RICE, not Parys) to visit a terminally ill Sister named Bobbi.  Out of all of the amazing things she spoke to us, this is probably  the coolest she said:

The first to apologize is the bravest.

The first to forgive is the strongest.

The first to forget is the happiest.

Sis. Bobbi was one of the first missionaries to serve in Soweto, the world's largest and most dangerous townships.  She's truly a pioneer in the Latter-Day church  in Africa.

Friday: CHRISTMAS!! We drove to Johannesburg to celebrate Christmas with the mission.  We had a big talent show!! I played my violin, the Poly's did the Haka, an African balanced 25 copies of the Book of Mormon on his head, and Pres Dunn did a dance (just to name a few).  We then drove home and Skyped with the family.  I love my family so much!! I can't believe how much they've grown, and it's only been two months!!

I wish I was home with all of you to celebrate the holidays, but rest assured: I am in the place where I need to be and where I want to be!  I may not have been born in Africa, but Africa was born in me.  I love you all, and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy (and safe) New Year!!

-Elder Benson

'Tis the Season

There's no better way to celebrate Christmas than in 104 degree C weather.  I can guarantee it.

Hearing about home is a little bit weird right now! Another Holy War (eish, what a wreck), BYU Basketball, STAR WARS, SNOW, it's all too good.

We went to see the lions this week!! I held Simba and almost got eaten by Mufasa!  Literally, he jumped up at the fence when Elder Bergman's umbrella opened up!

Liezl Robbins was baptized this week!! She's what you would consider a golden investigator.  She came prepared to every lesson, came to church, and was baptized in less than a month of her first lesson!  She is going to be a powerful member of the church.

This is a weird time for Potchefstroom!  The town has slowed down, the streets are empty, and the college is shut down for the holidays.  Ikageng though: you stay weary 24/7.  People are happy, drunk, and high and you don't want to mess with an old madala with a temper (rocks have been thrown, but it's all good).

Christmas is here!! It's given me a lot of time to think about why we are truly celebrating the 25th of December.  More than His birth, we remember the dedicated life He lived for each of us, and the work that was accomplished for our salvation.  May we all grow closer as we look up to Him who was born and who died for us: Jesus Christ.  May God be with you and have a merry Christmas!!

-Elder Benson

The 90 Degree Curve Ball

During the middle of District Meeting on Friday morning, I received a call from President Dunn.  I went out into the hallway and, after talking for a few minutes, he said:

"Well, Elder Benson, this is extremely unorthodox, especially at 6 weeks, but we'd like to call you to be a trainer this next transfer!"

So yeah, I'm going to be training this transfer!! It's like entering the mission field for the first time; you feel overjoyed, confused, happy, prepared, unprepared, everything!!  Keep me in your prayers please!

It's bitter sweet as well, since my trainer Elder Asay is leaving to be a Zone Leader.  We were already making plans for Christmas and New Years!! This was like a wicked 90 degree curve ball!

This is a weird time in Potchefstroom.  If you haven't read from earlier, Potch is a college town like Provo.  Like any college town, everyone goes home for the holidays, leaving it a ghost town.  That cuts the list of our progressing investigators in half!!  But like any trial, we climb over it and keep going.

This week we also had the privilege of having Elder Hamilton of the 70 address the mission.  He said so many amazing things, but the thing he said that really touched me was this: "Many say that this work depends on us.  But He has repeatedly told us 'I can do mine own work.'  He just lets us participate."  It made me really appreciate how amazing this work truly is, and that we are all part of it.  If you don't wear a name badge on your chest, you wear one in your heart.  Don't be afraid to be a missionary to everyone around, in word and deed! You'll be amazed at the blessings that will come with your diligent service to God.

The Christmas season is the perfect time to start!  In the spirit of Christmas, serve your fellow men!! We commemorate the birth of the One who loved us enough to pay the price for our imperfections and to die for us, the most selfless act in all of eternity.  The least we could do is join in on the spirit of Christmas and fill the world with charity and cheer.

I love you all!! Enjoy the holidays, the sweets, and the cheer.

-Elder Benson

Welcoming the new senior couple from Arizona (the Charchenkos) to

Potchefstroom.  (Sister Dunn, Brother and Sister Charchenko, President Dunn,

Elder Asay and Elder Benson)

"The Charchenko's are fortunate to have these two great missionaries waiting to

greet them and now serve together.  Elder Asay is training Elder Benson and they

are a powerful companionship." (dunnsinjoburg.blogspot.com)

"A new convert, Carlissa, was ready for us to come to her dorm where she is

studying engineering.  She is such an inspiring young woman. She was

recently baptized and has now become a powerful missionary herself. 

She plans to take a gap year with her education and serve a mission herself."

(dunnsinjoburg.blogspot.com)

I love my family!

(Note from Mom: There's a store here (Woolsworths) that delivers from online

orders.  I can place an order and have it in Elder Benson's hands the next day. 

Happy mom!)

Clock Tower 

Dutch Church