What a week!

Hello!! 

So I will start by saying this week was, just awesome!! I love being able to say that we have rn 11 people that can be ready now for the 18th of Feb. Which is awesome! Our Investigators just make everything so fun, because of how great they are. We want them to be converted, not just baptized, and this process is so cool to see happen. Uvayo wasn't able to come to church yesterday, so at our appt that afternoon, she was just telling us how much she missed it, and how she knows she will go every Sunday, forever!! Seeing how great of an impact the Book of Mormon has on people, makes me smile every time! I'm so thankful to have it.

We made the ysa clean our car last week, which was awesome. hahahha they wanted to start doing service, so we said, start with us!! Great day!

This week really started to go by super fast from that point on. We taught a lot of people, and it was just wake up, eat, teach, sleep. It was awesome. Hectic at times, trying to work everything out. The schools are back in, so the mornings are a little slower. but starting at 3. Bang, they get really busy and fun! We have been going on a lot of splits, which is fun. I love working with Mzo, and Makhosi, and X. Thye love the gospel and make it so fun to serve everyday! 

On Sat. I had a great exchange with E. Greening, we were teaching this one guy, David, about commandments. When we finished, he was like, NO! That's not the end. It cant be. Lets go deeper, why do we need to end!

haha it was so cool. He was taught in Joberg, then moved here, and randomly found us and a library! It was so fun, what a great guy. 

Friday we had a great district meeting about being a successful missionary. And how to do that, we need to be exactly obedient, love everyone, talk to everyone, and desire these people salvation, not just to be here. It was great training on how we can always improve and be better, and I know that I can always be better and it will bring blessings, even if the rules seem lame. 

Church, was AMAZING. 17 investigators! It was unreal to see how great they loved church. All that came loved it. A lot of people really have to make sacrifices to come, and then to see how they love it makes it all worth it! We had great speakers on the Holy Ghost, and Faith, and Hope. We can always look to the future and what the Lord has in store for us. 

Some advice we had was to always look at people at what they can become, not at what they are. It helps, because the end goal for all of these people is the temple, but it starts somewhere. Which is where they are now!!

This morning, the shower door just completely shattered as I was getting out. It was pretty crazy, got some sweet blood shots, and then a long hour of sweeping up wet glass. But nothing can stop us ;) hahahhahha

Thank you for all the love and support, we need it! This week should be another great one and we are excited for these 11 on the 18th!! 

I am so glad to hear about Jessie and her being baptized, that is so cool. She is gonna be awesome and receive so many blessings! I'm so jealous of all the snow though. The pics and skiing is incredible. I'm sad I'm not there to ski with all of you, but It is much better here. I love the gospel and the people!!

Have an amazing week and ski hard! 

LOVE, Elder Ivins

The Righteous Need Not Fear

HEY Hi Hello!

This week was amazing! As a mission we are doing a book of mormon challenge in which we read about 5 pages daily, and read it in 100 days. starting jan 1. I am a little behind.. BUT, this week i was reading again in the end of 1 Nephi in 22:17

The line of "THE RIGHTEOUS NEED NOT FEAR" is just too sweet. I kept thinking about it, and how it doesnt matter what is happening around us, if we do our part, if we do our best to work hard, and serve God, and keep the commandments, we need not fear. 

We had a great week of teaching and we are teaching a lot of investigators! Had a lot of success and have a couple that are just so set! Uvayo, 18, the other day, just said, I love church!! I know it is true! It was so sweet to see her change over just 2-3 weeks. 

We have another family, Leonard and Monica. When they came to church two weeks ago, Leonard took the gordon b hinckley book, and when we went on thursday, He was on page 90! We asked him if he thinks he was a true prophet, to which he responded, Well yes of course, why would you even ask! We just all laughed and it was so funny! He couldnt really understand the BOM in english, but was still to chapter 3. We gave him a xhosa one, and came back 3 days later, to find out he is in chapter 9, and understands everything so well! He alwasy says, dont steal me from my church, and i tell him we are building him, and he then grabs his baby, and says, Daddy doesnt wanna be built, but the Elders are building daddy... HAHAHAHHA They are our favorite people and we are sooooo excited and hope they can continue to progress, so we can steal them ahhaa, but we will see them tonight! 

We had a great turnout at church with 103! which was great, I love seeing investigators come in and less actives. The branch is so great at welcoming and loving the people, so it is great! 

Not much else other than a great week. Keep praying for the 18th of Feb for 10 people!! hah thanks.

But I hope you all enjoy the snow and are safe! The Lord will always be there to help us and protect us. I love you all and thank you for the love and support!

Love, Elder Jarod Ivins