Fwd: 6 weeks = 6 months

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Elder Ivins isn't getting a Christmas package. He'd love a Christmas email from you!!! jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net

Hello!!

What an amazing week. Lots of suspense, scare, and amazing experiences.

I received transfer news this week, and I will be staying for another transfer! I'm very excited. I was super bummed, thinking I was going to be leaving right before Christmas, but the Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to stay! super hyped!!

This week was really good though. We paintballed, still have bruises....

But we had lots of service opportunities which were really good. I love the Christmas time of year, everyone is on holiday, so we are able to meet a lot more people than otherwise. It is so fun to see the sacrifices people make to see family. I love my family, and am so grateful we live close, and see each other.. not just see each other, but ski together, bike, boat, work, love and laugh. I have been thinking about how amazing of a blessing it is to have an eternal family. 

It is devastating when someone says they don't want our message, because they are missing out on more than they know. IT is ALL TRUE!!

As I am thinking about this upcoming week. It will be my last Christmas as a missionary in South Africa. A year ago, I read a similar email from Alec. And now that kid is home, and killing it. This has been the fastest year of my life, and the best by FAR! I love the gospel so much, and sharing it this year has brought me the most happiness of all. 

As we all commemorate the birth of our Savior, I hope we will all emulate his life as we Light the World for the last week, and for our lives! I love our Savior Jesus Christ and his all encompassing Atonement.

People from all religions, and all backgrounds, still come together this one day a year, and recognize Christ's birth! How amazing is that!!

Keep sending hard. Pray for Snow, and pray for Rain. (and progressing investigators). 

We have lots of great people we are teaching, and can always use more. Love you all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Elder Ivins

Fwd: LIGHT THE WORLD

Hello wonderful people!

This week was amazing! Took the opportunity to celebrate my beautiful companions birthday, have a bomb exchange with elder Stevens, see amazing people, preach the truth, EAT a lot, and most importantly having a share of our part in LIGHTING THE WORLD.

Elder Dove turned 22. My little boy is growing up in this big and scary world. We had a huge braii, and the next day went to get our favorite burgers: rocomamas

The next day on exchanges, while it was 41 C, elder Stevens and I had the awful idea of hot curry, and again burgers for dinner. Its the fattest time of the year. I mean fastest ;)

The gospel is moving too. Lots of people have the idea that in December the work slows down. But, we met a couple people this week, Sisanda, and Mama. (i don't know her actual name) We shared with them the blessings of the book of mormon and what it is, and committed both to church. BOTH CAME!!! It was amazing to see them come. I love giving talks at church... It is a great way to pressure... hmmm invite people to come to church! They both loved it, had great questions, and we are very excited for them to learn more, and to advance in the gospel. Funny enough.. Mama is Yonda's mom! lose one, find another!

It was very fun to Light the World this week with our ward. We made this Christmas packages for these people who live in an old age home. It was really fun! then on Sat we gave them all out, and sung Christmas Carols, and had an amazing day. The unity with our ward, and us is getting much stronger, and we are receiving more referrals. 

That was the main focus of my talk. Member missionary work! it is the way to go! Please pray and look for ways that YOU can share the gospel with friends, family, and everyone who needs uplifting this season. I love being able to talk to everyone about our Saviour Jesus Christ. He truly is the Light of the World. As we share the Light of Christ that is in us, others will be drawn to Him. I love being a missionary. I love the gospel. ITS ALL TRUE.

stay blessed, and be the best

All my love, ELDER IVINS

Fwd: Recovery for DA's, and coughs

Dear friends of Jarod,

His letter this week is great, as usual!! I want to preface it with my testimony that God knows each of His children and what we need. I had a feeling this week that I needed to pray for Reagan, Jarod's recent convert and amazing fellowshipper, whom he loves so very much. I didn't think anything of it, but did pray for Reagan especially, by name this week. When I found out from Jarod that he had had a scary experience with him, I was so glad that the very day I was prompted to pray for him, this all happened. God is real. He hears you and he loves you!! Have a great week!!! Be good and Do good!!

Love, Mama Ivins

Hello!!

What an amazing Thanksgiving week it was here in SA.

It is quite sad that no one here celebrates it. They don't really have a reason to, but still... it's a much different vibe..

Thanksgiving was definitely weird... we ended up having some really nice Papa and chicken, that luckily an investigator gave us. We were soo close to starving on Thanksgiving, and I think that itself is a sin..

The real dinner came on Sunday. We combined with Sis Teneale, the van Eeden family, and had what I consider the best dinner I've had on mission! With real turkey, and stuffing, and pies, and mash potatoes, and then I almost made rolls..... still need grandma to help me I guess...

but none the less.. WE ATE SOO MUCH yesterday.. I woke up full....

But it was really amazing, to be able to share thankful scriptures, and testimonies of the things we are grateful for. I am beyond grateful to my Heavenly Father for the Book of Mormon, for my amazing family, and friends, and to be on a mission. I have seen the greatest of blessings here, and I know the priesthood of God is real. 

Monday night we were able to see that in action. We just finished a lesson, and were on our way to another, when Reagan started laughing at a joke, and then started coughing.....

Then he didn't stop coughing, and then we were saying, C'mon Reagan lets go, and then it was worse. We thought he was throwing up, so we went over, and remember it's dark, so I see all this liquid on the ground... then I get closer, and it's blood. and then the coughing of blood is not stopping. And then it is getting worse and worse. 

Elder Dove and I look at each other, a little in shock, and decide okay Reagan we need to take you to the hospital. We first decide to give him a blessing. As he is kneeling down, and coughing blood, we commanded him to stop. It was one of the most spiritual experiences, and I was really afraid to say it. But never doubting that a blessing comes from Heavenly Father, he stopped as soon as we told him too. We blessed him to receive a full recovery, and by the next day all was well. 

It is amazing. The church is true. I cannot and will not deny it! The power and authority of God is legit back on earth can you believe it!

I love mission, and I am soooo thankful to be serving God in Africa.

Love you!!!

Elder Ivins

Warning, the last picture is a little graphic of Reagan and the blood

Fwd: Thanksgiving!

Hello!!

Well this week was another great one. Preparing for Thanksgiving, which like many other countries, is not celebrated here. So we will be teaching, or begging members who know about Thanksgiving to come in clutch. Either way, I'm very excited for this coming week.

BUT, this past week was really great! Highlights were a great stake conference, a powerful Thursday, and just recurring witnesses that its all true.

We realized the only way that we will get anywhere, will be through the members is this part of the vineyard, so we went to work. We finally met with our bishop, gained a lot of trust, went to find some less actives, and in the way, met non member friends and family! Not to mention we got over 10 referrals this week. It was amazing. 

Some people we are really excited for this week will be the Nkosi family, and Jorga, and the Tsietani family. 

The Nkosis were very very excited to meet with us and learn more about the BOM, and unfortunately on Thursday, Satan did his part of this thing, and their cousin passed away. But this is part of God's plan. They were humbled and found solace in the BOM this week. We know they have been so prepared by Heavenly Father, and really need them in the gospel.

Then Jorga. A referral and girlfriend of a member, who, while we met with them, he bore his testimony to her and she wants to have the same happiness that he and his family has. THE GOSPEL BLESSES FAMILIES.

Tsietanie family is a big Congolese family. Involved in their church, but told their pastor, they will be absent next Sunday because they are visiting the true church. Miracles will follow. 

Guys, the Church is true. 

Love you!

Elder Ivins

DOVE

Elder Dejuan Dove, ex professional soccer player for Arsenal, future international coach, lover of good food, beautiful british accent, and my new companion.

This first week was nearly perfect.

Yonda is a girl we met about two weeks ago, and Heavenly Father has some great plans for her, and he is executing them in interesting ways. When we taught her 2 weeks ago, the lesson went great, and we were really excited, but then she dropped about 2 appointments. We had one set for the day elder dove arrived. We show up around 1, and she was a little awkward, immodestly dressed, and not excited to see us. She asked if we got her sms, which we didn't, and as she said it my phone vibrated. I looked and we just got it. She was dropping us. She said the usual blah i am busy i will call you etc.... But the Spirit constrained elder Dove and I not to give up. We said lets talk about it, opened with a prayer, and the Lord took over. She didn't feel like she should continue on the path, so we told her to do what Joseph Smith did. So she prayed. (I was a little nervous, but then the Spirit came and i felt the peace that she would get an answer.) And she did!! We then spoke about the Book of Mormon (which is true, by the way), and she said i just wanna learn more! We gave her the BOM to read, and she was asking us to come back the next day! 

What a miracle. Earlier that day, she didn't wanna meet with us any more, but after the Spirit touched her heart, she needed to see us the next day. 

We went back, she read the first couple chapters, and we taught her the plan of salvation with scriptures from the BOM. AMAZING. her lessons are quite long, but she can handle it. Its not us, but God speaking. Really amazing. We had her pray to know if she should be baptised on Dec 17. We really need her faith and that of us and others. And we know that she can do it! I love the Book of Mormon so much!!

We have some great elders in this Zone, and I am so excited to see what miracles will come. The lord has a great work for Elder Dove and I, and we will accomplish it. God Lives and loves us, and I live and love you too. 

Elder dove has had 2 car hijackings in 3 weeks with 2 different gangs and 2 different guns. Not as bad as my knife to back, or gun pulled, but it wont stop us. Keep the faith!!

LOVE YOU!

Elder Dove!

In the picture of the little girl in the dress, notice the kids in the background running toward them! They love having their picture taken with the missionaries!

Reconnecting with former companions/boarding mates is the best!

SLADE IS DONE

Hello!

How are you guys? Cape Town is really great! This week was really cool, seeing how it was Elder Slade's last week, we really made the best of it!

One of the highlights was meeting this girl named Imogene. 

We had to get some things at the mall in our area, and something that I love to do, is always carry a Book of Mormon. As we were getting the things we needed, she was working there, and asked if we needed help. She helped us and so forth, and then asked us what we are doing, and what our badges say. (I love this question so much.)

We told her the shpeel, and then she asked us if we could help her. We asked her with what, and she asked if we will live after we die. "GOLDEN QUESTION"

My heart was so happy, and we used the BOM to help answer questions simply, on the spot. We taught the principle of resurrection, and the spirit world. We will see her more this week. I loved seeing how the little opportunity arose, just from talking about what we do. By having a BOM, we were ready to answer, and by studying our scriptures we knew where the answer was. I love it! Guys, the Book of Mormon is true. I know it. I love it. IT is amazing to see how everything can be answered and corrected with it. 

We faced more adversity this week with people arguing, finding anti-Mormon literature. We told this kid Jonathon, that we would read every page of the BOM with him, until we find something that contradicts the Bible. We got through 3 chapters, and he still hasn't stopped us. IT'S BECAUSE IT IS TRUE! I love it so much. I am grateful to be in Africa, meeting God's children he has prepared. The priesthood is real. Everything has a purpose in God's grand plan. Trust in Him. Keep his commandments, and it will work out. 

We had an amazing zone conference this week with Elder Koch, of the seventy in our area presidency. He counseled me to work with the members, start with the leaders, and to find the best channel to get the members involved. I'm super excited to hit the ground with it, and get the ward to where it needs to be. 

I'm excited for my new companion, elder Dove. We are gonna kill it in Brackenfell. He is from England, an ex professional soccer player, and yeah. Its going down. Will give the deets next week. I love you all!

Elder Ivins

The sunsets...

The little kids who blow kisses...

Best place to be on mission!!

Fwd: Bombs, Balling, and Baptisms

I forgot to send this little gem on Monday. Enjoy our crazy missionary and his antics!

Hello!! well... the subject of this email can all be found in our friday this week. I will explain... but overall, this week was pretty intense, interesting, and miraculous.

Since last checked in last monday... we have hiked table mountain twice. Last week was completely garbage. Cloudy, cold, and lame... still fun i guess.

But today, we got up at 530, and were hiking by 630. It was perfect. Not too hot yet, and in the shade. At the top we could see as clear as ever, as we saw the atlantic stretching into what seems like forever. 

on Friday... we had a zone meeting set for 10 am at mowbray chapel. Abou 10 minutes before it started, a bomb went off at the university campus next to the chapel. A loud BOOM, followed by many screams, led all the elders to saying, umm lets blast out of here. Called President, and we both decided prolley shouldn't stay there.... ;) We rerouted our elders to the next closest chapel, and had a great meeting. 

The meeting was amazing. I gave a training on "Balling". This has been a very funny subject in our zone and mission. "That is balling", "are you balling on the zone" etc. I was challenged to give a training on it. It started as a joke, but as i studied more and more, the Lord inlightened me into discovering that BALLING is LOVING. We went through scriptures, talks, and overall it was the best meeting I Think i have been too. It was so fun. 

The last. Baptisms. It was an amazing miracle to witness the baptism of Brother Mvu this week. He has been investigating the church for about 6 months. He hasn't missed a sunday. He takes business trips to East London, still doesn't miss. He is very intellectual, but finally surrendered to the Spirit. It was an amazing experience, attended by few, but mostly attended by love. Seeing Mvu change and accept the gospel has been amazing. Next up, his family. (haven't met them yet... wife and 2 kids.) Pray we can

I know this gospel is true! I love it. It really is balling. Satan can try. We have had many disruptions from him... (6 car hijackings in the mission in 8 weeks) But the work of the Lord will not and cannot cease. I love mission and serving the people in Cape Town. It will be my last full week with elder Slade. Excited to ball

Love Always. Elder Ivins

Mvu!!

Hello!!!

What a great week. A little slower, but idg, still ballin...

This week went from bible bashin a guy who thinks he converted us, to our powerful investigator but sometimes procrastinating guy Mvu asking us to be baptised on friday...

so.. just an average week on mission!!

Progressing well this week are still Siya, and Greater. We spent about an hour and a half with siya, talking about how mission works, and how she can start getting ready for mission... which led to a bet with her and RC reagen on who can go on mission first. We just visit her like she is a long time member. Its sooo fun! 

Greater is also doing great! We solidified her baptismal date for the 5th of Nov. Elder slades last sunday, and also got her to commit to the word of wisdom! So that should be sweet! It was really funny talking about the word of wisdom with her. She new she had to live it, but didn't want to, and then we pulled out Mazoe... a zimbabwean drink that you can't get here.... so we said she could have it... if she lives it..

pretty good deal i think right? hahahha 

Mvu... has been coming to church for 6 months, surrendered, in his words, and is set for this friday!! random? but said his family will come. We haven't met them.. in 6 months. so we need to pray that he brings them to his baptism hard core. 

Everything else went pretty great... found some cool families, and saw miracles as we tested God's promises. I know that he loves us and that he lives. I love him so much.

Have the best week... sorry its lame email..

Elder Ivins

Ps.. madagascar got evacuated for the plague... so missionaries are coming to our mission... if i get it.. sorry