Monday, October 10, 2016

9/19/16 - Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Hey!!
So I am in a township called Motherwell. It is really cool. Everyone here is xhosa, so they all have crazy names, and I can't ever remember them. But my Trainer is Elder McCarroll. He is from Colorado and so awesome. He is a great teacher and a good example. I love how he is so supportive and compliments me it really helps me during lessons and studying. when he was on mission, he was helping someone with their oven, and got electricuted really bad, and had 2 surgeries here, and then ended up going home for 3 more on his hand. so he lost part of his last 3 fingers. He got back to mission a couple months ago. He is always serving me and its so kind. His birthday is Oct 1, so I gotta make something good. A senior couple lives right by us so every night they make us dinner. We had salmon last night, amazing, nd tacos and burritos and soup and chicken the nights before. But they are getting transferred next week, so we will have to cook now, co maybe mom you could send me like your top 15 cheapest and easiest recipes. 

 Teaching real people is so cool. Being in there small homes and telling them somthing that will change there lives is incredible. I love it. But it has been a big culture shock. They have so little. but everyone is so happy. The kids play soccer in the street with flat balls, or rocks, and the whole city is covered in trash. It is really sad, but humbling. Their livestock of cows and goats just roam freely and eat anything. But we live about 5 minutes away in bluewater bay, in a condo place or whatever called aloe views. 

Everyone is so impressed with how well I can click, so I am hoping that I will be able to learn more xhosa while I am here. It is so crazy to here them speak. We have 2 fellowshippers that come with us everyday, Xolani and Mzo. They are kinda teaching me, but they have been fellowshipping for 2 years and every day they go with missionaries. They are basicaly returned missionaries. X is leavingin two weeks to serve in zimbabwe and the mzo is putting his papers in in a month! 

We met a man the other day names Ali, he is really cool and was a referral. Elder mccarrol got a call from President right as we walked in, and was gone for like 20 minutes. This is my second day here. And i taught him almost the whole restoration. i hope he keeps progressing. It was siuch a cool experience just having him engaged the whole time. 

At church yesterday, was really cool! They have a branch here, and the church has bought land already to build a chapel, so right now they meet in a school. I had to give a talk and was told the minute I walked in haha. But there was 81 people there!! We had a lot of investigators and less actives there too! But the other people who spoke, it would be half english, and half xhosa. So I understood some things hahah. 
The little kids here are to die for. They never stop smiling and I could just play with them all day. one kid, names spar, is my favorite haha we have a handshake and played all after church. 

Because I am the new elder, every person and family and lesson we have taught, I have said the prayers. we ask who would you like to say it, and everyone immedietly points at me. Its pretty funny. 

One of these p days we are gonna go to some game reserves! See a lot of elephants and giraffes maybe ride elephants and also see cheetas!! So stoked haha.

elder bozer is in my district and so we see them a lot. But yesterday they were in a car accident and so they slept at our house and do stuff with us. We are going to go play soccer at the beach today with the zone! again, they saw my picutre book so I wouldnt be surprised if elder mccarroll emailed annie hahahaha.

I love you guys and miss everyone so much. This place is amazing and I already love the people. 

Elder Ivins









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