A Moment to Remember

Flashback to June 2015

Sweaty palms, twisted stomach, frazzled mind; electricity had descended upon my every being.  I buttoned my graphite jacket, fastened my shoe laces, I styled my hair to perfection.  I needed to look good for when my life of youth was to meet the destiny of my future.  I descended the curved staircase leading to a hall filled to the brim with the figures of friends, family, and familiar faces.  Smiles and laughs were plastered on every face present, all sharing a similar energy for the impending event.  The air cracked with excitement simultaneous to the arrival of the envelope that hid away my future.

The crowd scrambled to find a seat on the couches, chairs, or carpeted floor.  On cue, I made my way to the front of the room.  My hands started to shake from the pressure that was quickly entering into my body as my pulse sped faster and faster.  I quickly opened the envelope and took out the papers, leaving the text to face the floor as I inhaled what felt like my last breath.  As I exhaled, a set of papers fell from my grasp.  All quickly peered at the text on the page: 'American Visa and Passport Information'.  Screams ensued from the front and back of the room as the secret spread person to person.  Time was frozen, cameras were recording, this was the moment we had all been waiting for.

After nearly swallowing my tongue, I read aloud my call:

"Dear Elder Zachary Benson:

You are called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  You are assigned to labor....."

I saw it.  I saw it!  The destination of my home for the next two years of my life!  I stopped mid-sentance as I soaked it the feeling of the moment.  Screams pleading me to continue brought me back to reality.  I repeated aloud:

"You are assigned to labour in the SOUTH AFRICA JOHANNESBURG MISSION."

Later reports from next-door neighbors would confirm the air for hundreds of feet  was filled with shouts of joy.  The sound would have been deafening if not for the fact that I was seemingly out of my own body.  When I came to myself again, I was in the embrace of friends as we all smiled and rejoiced together.  Before the majority of the ensemble stood, my father yelled,"What language?! What language?"  We all quickly gathered ourselves together to await my destined tongue.

"You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language."

Surprise seethed through the room at a pace nearly as quick as the discovery of my call to serve on the African continent.  No one was more surprised than myself, as I had expressed the highest level of interest to learn a foreign language whilst filling out my mission papers.  Nonetheless, all our joy was fulfilled as the cameras stopped and the people stood.  Again surrounded with friends, family, and familiar faces, I began to savor the sweet feeling of home.

Now flash forward to the present.  I have found another home here in the land of Mzansi aka South Africa.  I have preached the gospel in English, all the while learning over eight languages.  I have completed two thirds of my missionary service in this blessed land.  There have been heart-aches, joys, hardships, and rejoicings.  Throughout it all, there has never been a more fulfilling time in my life than by representing my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  "He is my master and has chosen me to represent him; to stand in his place; to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He were personally ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. (Bruce R. McConkie)"

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Highlights of the week:

When I read 'The Book of Mormon' in Zulu during my talk in sacrament meeting, I apparently did better than most native speakers, besides the fact that I sounded like a Spaniard when I spoke.

I get to pass the Soweto Towers every day while going to the area:):)

I realized that (excuse my mission lingo) I am in a district with myself, my son, my step-son, and my grandson.  #Bensonfam #takeoverSoweto

Please appreciate these "Gems in the Charcoal"

Photos for the week

Taking over Soweto

I'm going to my roots!!!! SOWETO!!!!!!!! AKA World's Largest township AKA SOuth WEst TOwnship.  I'm moving to one of the best parts called Protea Glen.  Get this: Elder Jorgensen is my new DL, and his companion is Elder Andrews, Elder Latu's son aka my grandson!  The Benson's are taking over Soweto, one generation at a time.

SA Children Loving Elder Benson

Mom: "I received this photo from Janyne Hugo today.  You are totally in your element there!  I love the face of the boy looking up at you.  It’s the look of pure joy.  Brooke saw this and said, 'He is going to be an awesome dad…and uncle.'  No doubt!"

Elder Benson: "The photo that they shared was capturing me telling the story of how Bishop Hugo (Springs) was attacked by a squirrel and almost became blind, then how I was a porcupine being chased by that boy in a tootoo riding a bear.  To put it into context, I was a backyard hillbilly grandpa [story-teller].  Classic Zachy."

Eish!

Eish.....

'Eish' is the golden word.  Master it, and you can speak any language in South Africa.  The word can be used for almost any expression: surprise, pain, confusion, you name it.  Monthly allotment comes in? "Eish! I'm not broke!" An investigator didn't keep a commitment? "Eish...."  It's a word without price, a word required if you are to be a resident of SA.

The past two transfers in Springs and Selcourt wards have had a lot of good 'eish's.  The area is doing great, my companion is awesome, and we get fed 'kakhulu' (meaning 'too much' in Zulu).  On the flip side, with the bad 'eish's, I acquired some parasites, hit the mark of weighing 80 kgs (which is going down... slowly), and my 'son' and brother Elder Latu passing away.  There's really opposition in all things, especially in missionary work.

In the past week, the 'eish' balance tipped just a bit too much to the bad side.  It's almost like the aftershock since my 'son' died.  It's strange, because I've experienced the joy in knowing that I can see Elder Latu again through the Plan of Salvation, yet depression has hit pretty hard.  It leaves one wondering," Why am I not over it yet?  Why am I so weak?  What am I not doing right?"

This past Sunday was the worst 'eish' thus far in my 15 months on mission.  Church was an amazing way to start off the day with the partaking of the sacrament to renew my covenants and seeing our investigators continue to progress towards baptism.  We continued to have a successful day, yet the evening brought a pretty low dip. Funny enough that today marked the one month anniversary of Elder Latu's passing.  I again found myself asking the same questions:" Why am I not over it yet?  Why am I so weak?  What am I not doing right?"

After consulting with my Mission President and the Africa South-East Area's Therapist in the early afternooon on Monday, we were really unsure of what direction we should travel.  I myself was unsure of what was going to happen with my state of being going downhill. Monday night came, and along with it came our weekly visit to the Laats' Family in Selcourt ward.  Due to the hectic day we had, we forgot to plan what we were going to teach them.  Eish....

While I was thinking about what we could teach, an idea popped into my head.  I got out my guitar from the back of our car and asked everyone to turn to hymn #30, "Come, Come Ye Saints".  We began by reading through the verses and analyzing what the song was truly saying.  Two reoccurring themes continued through every verse: "We don't have to be afraid; God with strengthen us."  "It's not about coming to Zion; it's about coming to God."  It was really a miracle for me, because it answered a blessing I had received earlier by my Mission President, which said ," I bless you that you may be saturated in the feeling of God's love for you, that He knows of your challenges right now.  I bless you that, like a ocean wave receding on the shore, you may feel peace."  Even as we sang, the Spirit overflowed into my soul, filling me with peace and assurance that all things will come around.

Eish,  I really can't express to you the testimony I have of the reality of miracles.  Miracles exist!  They happen everyday, everywhere around us.  They can come unexpectedly, and often go unseen.  But they are there, and we have the ability to see them if we are looking for them.  I've come to realize that true miracles don't always come in the form of what we see, but in what we feel; they are not always manifested in the unexplainable, but in the indescribable.

I love you guys!  May you be able to find those 'eish' moments in your day when you may behold another miracle that God will place in your path.

-Elder Benson

P.S.  I've hit the 15 month mark!!  Only two more transfers 'til I can 'take off my sister skirt'.  If you don't get it, forget about it.

Memorial Service for Elder Latu

More complete post originally shared at Dunnsinjoburg.blogspot.com:

This was truly a celebration of Elder Latu's life.  Everyone commented that he would want us to be happy and share his love for life and for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Memorial Service Link: youtu.be/5irquSHLZsI

Group of missionaries join at the mission home prior to leaving on 5 hour drive to KaNymazane:

Sweet reunion with Prince Masehgo, a member of the KaNymazane branch.

All members and visitors present for the memorial service on January 1, 2017:

How we do tracting on exchanges.