10/10/16 - GOLDEN (and Don't eat the poop!!)

Happy Monday everyone!! Jarod has had another amazing week in Motherwell. He loves, loves, loves his mission!!! It is so fun to chat with him in the wee hours of Monday morning! This week he also caught Annie awake, Grandma and Grandpa in Croatia were up (they are visiting their mission and are in the same time zone,) and Haidyn up (she's pretending she's not a college student and is in Barcelona!!) During our chat he mentioned that he "saw the burned girl. Doing SOO good. All of her burns are almost closed except the chest and stomach. She can walk on her own and move. I love the power of the Priesthood and seeing the blessings of it. Thank you for the prayers and continue sending them. Her name is Moningyasha Caserole. At least I think. Her mom said it but didnt spell it."
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>
GOLDEN

HEY~MOLO,
So this week went by sooo fast, but it was a great week! I love being here. One of the coolest things that happened was meeting and teaching two people that are progressing very well! The first is a members niece who is 12 and named Lisakhanya. She is so kind and awesome. But, she is GOLDEN. She loves to learn and remembers EVERYTHING. She has been to church and has a bunch of friends, and then loves to read the BOM. We met with her yesterday and we asked her why she wants to be baptized. Her response is because she can't wait to be made clean again and to be just like Jesus. And then so she can be officially a member of the church! Whenever we ask her about what she read, she says, Nephi and them do this, and then Lehi did this. She's so cool. I can't wait for the 29th when her date is and I hope she will continue to prepare!

The next is a man who drives a local taxi and when giving a member a ride somewhere, she was telling him how great she is because of the gospel and how much she loves it. And then she talked about faith. This was an answer to exactly what he is looking for so she gave him our number. He called us that day! We didn't have much time but took him a Book of Mormon and told him to read the introduction before coming the next day. He did and saw the reference to Moroni. So he read that. But, he wanted more background, and so he read ALL of Moroni. aghh he is so dope. Then we taught the restoration and he loved and understood everything. Saying everything was perfect for him. I couldn't even finish the baptism invitation and he was saying yes. He wants to get baptized the same day, Oct 29. Which is also his BIRTHDAY!! So lets hope and pray he will. He loves the feeling while reading the BOM and says its true. SO GOLDEN. He then came to EVERY session of General Conference this weekend.

That same feeling can and will be felt by all of us if we are truly reading it and praying with "Real Intent". I want all of you to know that I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and does "Contain the fullness of the gospel." 

But Gen. Conf. this weekend was also so great! Every talk gave important insight to how we can be better people. Now that we have all heard them, we need to act on them. So DO IT! I would love to hear from everyone on what their favorite talk was, and why! 

So. also this week. Xolani left to Zimbabwe and so we were all sad and missed him. But he will be a great missionary. He has been fellowshipping for two years. But in the mix of all the sadness, Mzo, his best friend has been hurting the most. So as a joke, I told him I'd give him 1000 rand (75$) to eat a pile of cow poop. (a couple hours fresh) He was serious about it. So I told him no and not to. But he was so set on making money, so he said if i eat just a handful it would be 150 rand (11$) and I agreed jokingly! AND HE DID IT! IT WAS SO AMAZING AND DISGUSTING!!!!!! But whatever, I'm out 11 bucks but it was the funniest thing. I feel so bad tho.. not really. 

We also got into a bible bash with a guy that is from a different church. It was going nowhere, but it was sooo funny. The false doctrine that was explained and what he said just made us laugh. I'm so glad that we have the ONLY true church. 

It is also so funny whenever you just ask investigators or members or less actives how their day was, or what they are doing, and they just feel so guilty and very sadly say, I didn't read. or I didn't pray. It is the complete different answer but it shows how humble the people are and that they really are sincere. One lady was confessing all of her sins and I was like nooo stop not to us haha but one thing was, she can't get rid of the guilt of paying her neighbor to go and kill her puppies for 10 rand a dog. People can't afford to keep them and they just get sick and die regardless, but these were hard on her and she needed to get rid of them. it was so sad but we were dying laughing. It is great to know that no matter what we have done, the Atonement is ALWAYS there and we can ALWAYS be forgiven.

Another highlight was finding a store with dr pepper!!1 FIRST PLACE SO I BOUGHT 10! SO GOOD. I am convinced it tastes better because i haven't had it in so long and that it is soo much better than the dirty water we have...

That is pretty much it. I am so thankful for all of the constant support and love and i can feel your prayers from everyone! I want you all to share the gospel everywhere you go, because you don't know who is being prepared for it. 

Love, Elder Ivins

Also, don't eat poop... 

1. Last night with X
2.Mashiqa family, recent converts who are always so kind and have us over a lot to visit.
3. Group of little girls who are daughter and neieces of a Investigotor named shelly we are teaching!
4.Mzo with poop
5. Found a shop that sells dr pepper. This was all they had.....

1. Beautiful SA sunset

2. Ivory homes in SA 

3. Annies cove