Through Small and Simple

Early last week, we wanted to get the Young Men in KaNyamazane to get fired up about missionary work.  With a little thought, and a LOT of planning, we put together a Young Men's Missionary Week!  It involved all of the young men taking turns with the missionaries through splits.  Each companionship was either in the truck or on bikes, and various activities from teaching lessons to door-to-door contacting was the strategy.  The result?  An amazing spiritual feast that benefited everyone therein.

An important moment which made it so successful was when we allowed the young men to make this week their own and allowed them to lead the area in the work.  They put their whole heart and soul into the work and it's they who deserve a lot of the credit.  Elder Latu's progress really shined through as he led the efforts in planning his day, finding new investigators and inviting people to be baptized.

Here's the statistics: combined we taught nearly 90 investigator lessons, introduced the gospel to nearly 100 people, and put 4 people on date for baptism.  It's pretty disappointing that we maintained our average Investigators at sacrament (6), mainly due to circumstances that were out of our control.

The highlight for me of this week was hearing the young men bear their testimony during fast and testimony meeting.  They shared miracle moments, spiritual experiences, and pure testimony of the work of salvation.  You've got to tip your hat to these stalwart young men who are preparing to give their time and talents to the Lord.

Putting aside the awesome numbers for the week, the split was an effective catalyst for introducing many to the gospel, improving relationships with the members, allowing Elder Latu to lead the area, and for the Lord Jesus Christ to enter into the heart of everyone involved.

I may share that I have a firm testimony of this work; that it is led by the Almighty through the small and simple; that the field is white, already to harvest; and that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.  I know he loves us all, and wants us to have peace in this life, and in the life to come.  I do bear witness of it!

I love you all!  Thank you for your continual support to me, which I am eternally grateful for.  Until next week!

-Elder Benson

Filter Follow-up

Oh Mother!!  We installed the filters last week, so we're doing chap-chap.  I'm eating healthy, exercising daily, and feeling much better.

Sister Dunn reached out to me and asked if she could do anything, so be in mind that I'm in good hands.  Don't worry about me!  I'm in the Lord's hands.

-Elder Benson

Empty filters...eish!

From my side, I'm doing great!  This week, as we planned to replace the filters in the water filter (which I had never replaced...), we opened the container to find that they were empty; we had been drinking straight tap water.  No wonder my immune system has been so down the past two months! Haha be assured, I'm doing all in my power to drink FILTERED water and healthier food.  The area's doing great, many investigators to be put on date in the near future.

P-Day Fun: Kruger National Park

Transportation in Africa:

P-Day in Kruger National Park

The Rock

The Best View in KaNyamazane:

On the Lord's Errand:

"The Rock" - Where we teach a few lessons weekly:

The African Flu and the Magic Brew

Sanibonani from SA!!  This week in the village of KaNYamazane: sickness strikes again!  What plague will it be?!  Will Elder Benson survive?!  Read on and find out!

After a massively successful week, we were pumped.  We were looking forward to another seven productive days ahead, totally ready to hit the streets and take names to our Savior.  Nothing could keep us from reaching our full potential... until Elder Benson contacted the African Flu.  What tragedy!  What a curveball!  Food poisoning had just been overcome two weeks pervious, yet that wasn't enough to keep him donw.  So Africa decided to give ELder Bensona little tast of home.  Sore throat, chills, runny nose, headache, all-over-body pains, the ultimate package.  The Elders searched the land from North to South and East to West, seeking the cure.  But alas, no medicine seemed to do the trick, no remedy found to cure the plague.  In desperation, Elder Benson turned to the traditional healers in the land (aka the Relief Society).  Through their magic and mystery, they brewed an ancient remedy to combat the effects of this disease.  It was presented to our dear Elder and, after a moment's hesitation, swallowed this strange tonic.  Immediately his throat burned, his insides melt, his whole soul aflame!!  Our hero fled the scene, returning to his abode, and collapsed onto his bed.  After a night's rest, however, he came back into the realm of normality, completely healed.

Summary:  The Relief Society is inspired.

All is well up here in KaNyamazane now!  I'm feeling much better.  Thanks for all of the wishes of health towards me.

Welcome, Elder Lato to KaNya!  I'm so lucky to be training him.

I ate that.

Phindile's been baptized!!  She's a rockstar investigator.

The Rising Generation:

McDonalds and Bowling

Going with a senior couple visiting from Swaziland and bowling and McD's and fun!  They're the Martins (Monicah and ...husband...) from Brazil but from Orem UT!!