Fwd: Gun? Well mine has candy in it!

Hello All!! 

This week flew by! All of it was so fun, and my birthday was the best one yet! It started with a great morning and breakfast with the elders, and was a fun full day of celebrating. Birthdays are rare. you only get 2 a mission. So, dang! Hahaha I opened my presents, a fun a hard puzzle from lizzie, and a fun shirt, a new hack, tie, and even elder gibbons got me a bionacle!! SO fun!

We got KFC, Pizza, and the elders organized a surprise birthday party for me that night, with some of the most food in a dinner here. It was amazing!

We had some great lessons this week, and some hard ones as well. The norwood girls, Esethu, Bonisiwe, and Londi are struggling, now having a hard time accepting that ours is the only true church. We talked a lot about agency but dont feel God has answered them. They know our church is true, but think that theirs is also true. We worked with them and they are going to come to church next week, but unfortunately had school yesterday and couldnt come. 

A great move forward this week was with a brother named Lawrence. He is from Zimbabwe, and we gave him a bom tuesday. On friday, he had read the intro, testimonies, and chapters 1-5 on 1 Nephi. He also read moroni 1-8. It was amazing! I could tell that just by him reading the book of mormon, his testimony was changing. I loved it! He feels God has yet to answer him, but agrees with what we have taught. Both him and his wife Grace accepted baptism, if they come to know it is true. They feel that their old church had authority to baptise, but they do have real intent to find out. We fasted for them this weekend, as well as for some other investigators, and we really hope and pray they will progress till baptism in the next couple weeks!

This really amazing family we are teaching came to church, well the brother and Tata came. The lesson was hilarious with them. The tata loves the BOM, and says it is "SPICY" unlike the bible. And every word is from God. He is a pastor is his church, so we will work with him on that, and that may be the problem we see, but the family is so nice and amazing. We sing Hymns for them, then they sing a xhosa song for us! It is soo fun! Tata was doing a funeral saturday, and he said that he would use the BOM this time instead of the bible! We gave him mosiah to read, where it talks about how death has no sting, because of Jesus Christ. He used it and i love it so much, how this man is teaching all his congregation that this "book" is the best thing he has ever read!!

Well this week had a lot of hype for the Merrills in Mthatha! We bought sooo much food and got the boarding the cleanest it has ever been. I ran all around mthatha sat morning looking for dumb tortilla chips. no go. It was rough. Sunday morning we got up extra early, and started the pork and beef. Made the rice, and tortilla dough. A Cafe Rio treat! We got to church early, and made sure we looked the best we ever did. And then?

We waited. and waited. after each song we would check. nope. After each confirmation? no. As i played the music i would look out at every car that passed.... NONE

We got really sad. Pres Boateng was even gonna have them speak, but they no showed so elder paskett got called up to give a random talk. haha.

After Sacrament, I shot P. Merrill a text, saying Hey is everything okay? are you still gonna make it today? 

He responds. We are coming next week! We dont leave Cape Town until Tuesday! 

DAGGER. HEARTBREAKING. TEARWRECKING. 

Well, we went home, and divulged in food. AMAZING. but sad, we had nice dessert, a short nap, and then had a great sunday night teaching!

Well It was a great week. They are long, but fly by. Each day is so fun to teach and have with the amazing and perfect people of Africa. This gospel is perfect and so are you all!

Love, Elder Ivins

(so.. the reason i borught up a gun in the subject? well.... 

on friday we were at the garage cuz elder Kyles needed the toilet. While he was in, Ntsindiso and I were messing around in the shop, and there was a toy gun, with candy in it! I started to "shoot" everyone in the garage. Elder Kyles came out and we were about to blast, but It was really funny, and everyone was laughing and pretending to get shot. Then this one guy, huge. really tall and yoked opened up his broad shoulders, and walked towards me. I was like, whats dis doing...

the closer he walked the more i shot. It was really funny. Then he opens up his coat, and reached his hand to his left side of his pants, and pulls this gun. a REAL one. He says, "Now this is the real thing" While he stares me down. Inside i kinda freak out, but then was like, nah we dont wanna get shot! so I say to him, "Yeah, but mine has candy in it...." HAHAHHA It was so funny. This guy was like what??? Then we just put the gun down and walked away. hahahhah so be careful, you never know who has a gun (including me....)

🔫

Fwd: Mthatha conference is the best conference

Jarod had an email all written when suddenly the internet was gone. (Welcome to Africa!) He said it was gone for an hour. Dang it! He did get a few pictures sent before he lost connection. Tomorrow is his BIRTHDAY!!!! He got the package that our awesome neighbor took to Capetown so that is great news. He even said he's waiting until tomorrow to open the wrapped presents! We sent him a voice recorder - which wasn't wrapped, and he sent back about 10 recordings of he and his companions as they go about their day. It is so fun to hear his voice! I'm sure you don't want to hear them all, but if you do, let me know and I'll send them on! This is the email that he sent to his Mission President. He was able to forward it to us.

Enjoy our crazy boy.

Hello! 

This week was awesome! It went by fast, but looking back it felt forever. I love weeks like that cuz I feel I get more out of them.

Some highlights were definitely Branch Conference this weekend, an amazing exchange with Elder Paskett, and a really fun week altogether. We had a great turnout at church and 13 investigators came! (He said the other 2 missionaries in his apartment also had 13 investigators, for a total of 26 with 125 people at church yesterday!)

We walked with 4 of them: Esethu, Londi, and Bonisiwe from Norwood. And in town we met up with Ahlume and her sisters. It was really fun, but long and up hill. We  left at 8 am from their flat, and got to church 2 minutes to 9. perfect! It wouldnt be too bad alone, but they are a little slower but it all worked out! They were very tired, but all loved church and will be back next week!! 

President VanNirden (not sure if thats the spelling.. ahha) is so powerful! WE had a lot of fun with him and his family at the fireside and on sunday. Some things that stood out were that he said we are going away with sharing a Spiritual Thought. It is now a spiritual experience. Something relevant. Not years ago, not 4 months ago. Relevant. Days, maybe a week, or hours. We should be looking to have Spiritual Experiences very often, many times a day. We have the gift of the Holy Ghost! Take advantage of it! 

It was really cool for me to hear this. Before mission I didn't have that many spritual experiences, or I didnt recognize them or acknowledge them. Now on mission we rely on the Spirit. But everyday we need to find Spiritual Experiences!

A really cool experience we had was on Thursday. With the girls in Norwood, Esethu was progressing the best. We really wanted to try to have a lesson on her own, to really help her take a jump, but at the same time didnt want the others to lose ground. We were thinking about praying for just her at the house, but didnt.. But then Heavenly Father answered us right as we got there. She had a headache and was leaving to the shop to get some medicine. We showed up and the spirit told us to go with her. As we walked we had a great mini lesson. We talked about a lot and really helped her recognize what she is doing. She said that she wants to read the BOM for herself, not for us. It was a big eye opener, because so often we try to get people to read the BOM, but it should never be for us, but for the people! It was perfect at that time to find out what she needed. Without missing anyone else.

Well, this week was awesome. I love Mthatha, I love Africans, and I love the Lord. The people here are sooooo amazing, and each day my love grows more and more for them . They are so amazing and when people progress even just a little bit it makes me so happy. 

Fwd: Mothers Day is the best Day

HELLO FAMILY!! Pt 2

Well. Yesterday was so amazing! It was so great to see and talk with my amazing family! 

This week was really great, a lot of hype into Sunday, and thennnnn.... Elder Kyles was sooo sick. That was really a shame. SO i stayed home with him all day, and was just stressin about what people were at church or not. I was able to watch all of the mormon messages i have, read a bunch in the BOM and Our Search for Happiness, and while i was cleaning the kitchen I listened to the Audio Version of 3rd Nephi. It was really cool actually to be totally submerged in the Scriptures all day! It was also the first Sunday I have taken an afternoon nap.

We met a really powerful girl named Khayakazi. We call her KK or Khaya. When i yelled to her hey Khaya, It just reminded me of all the fun times with my cousin Kaya. Its one of the first names here that is of our family. I met an Annie once, and a Gabriel. But briefly. 

But, KK came up to us on the street, asking us if we worked at Standard Bank and wanted help ahahha. We told her no, but that we can still help her (wink wink, eternal salvation, you know mos). We got her info, and she actually seemed really interested, but we never made it to her house. I called her Sat night and invited her to church and she said she would come! I didn't think too much of it, as we invite a lot of people who we even meet with and have good lessons with to come, and they dont. But then Sun morning, she sent us a text saying that she was in a taxi and on her way, but lost the card i gave her with the address to the church! I was sooo HYPED! I guess she loved church and we are excited to see her this week!

Another miracle we had was with Sphamantla. If you remember we taught him, super powerful loved church, and then his brother shafted us down. So, we were really discouraged and on fast Sunday I fasted for him and have been praying that his brother would have his heart softened. But Heavenly Father answered us a bit differently. Sphamantla's mother has moved home, and stays with them again. And so this smart kid decided to ask his mom if he can go back to church. Because he has been reading the BOM i left for him, and loves it!

Anddddd BOOM. His mom says YES! and what do you know, because we have a loving Heavenly Father she too is interested why her boy loves church so much. Patience, Diligence, and Hard work bring miracles!

This week we have really been studying about Christ. Who he is, what he does, and how we can be like him. We studied BD (Bible Dictionary) Christ, and BD Christ, Names of. We picked which one was our favorite that we will call the Savior when he comes again. I love the name Brother. and Savior. The Living Christ is also soo powerful talking about our Redeemer. You all should study those and then let me know next week what name you will call Jesus Christ when he comes again. 

I love you, and know that He lives, and this is His work!

Love, Jarod

(may not be pics this week cuz we are on the laptops. Xolo)

Keep Practicing Xhosa!!!

Here is a link to our time with Jarod. If you skip to minute 29 you can hear him speaking in Xhosa. (It's pretty boring at the beginning, unless you're his mom, then it's amazing!!!)

https://youtu.be/wf34Ii75HM0

He DID write!! (Crazy, fun week!)

Hello! This past week was amazing! Full of fun, excitement, scares, and laughs.

It all started with Coffee Bay, and the Hole in the Wall. This has got to be one of the most beautiful paradises I have ever seen. We hung out, did some rock climbing, and football on the sand. We caught a baby goat, and popped a tire.

The rest of week was normal. Busy and fun! We had a lot to do before our baptisms Saturday and Sunday which went great! Lisekhona and Aviwe (13, 11) have been soooo excited for their baptism and are now finally members! (after coming to church for 2 years). 

Coraleen also was so hyped. She has 2 daughters that come to church with her too, but aren't too keen on being baptized, but she was a huge example to them this weekend, and it will really help them move forward to baptism hopefully in the next couple weeks.

Saturday was one of the funnest days of mission. After the baptisms, the Boatengs had their movie premier! It involved a red carpet, a bunch of great dances and singing, the movie, dinner, and so much fun in between. We met a lot of the people they invited, and hopefully will be getting all of them to church soon. We decided to look the best there, so we got our Zulu hats on (the things they get after coming home from the bush) and everyone was freaking out that we had them. It was soo funny! In the middle of all of this, we get a call from Sinqobile. A brother who was baptised that morning. He said that he was in trouble and these people were following him and chasing him and were trying to rob him. We hurry and ran to the car to drive to where he was (at the mthatha plaza, which is like a big mall). Apparently, the people came up to him outside with guns and knives telling him to give them all his money. So he said, fine lets go withdraw it at the plaza. As they were walking in, he ducked into a store to hide and called us! We ran in and found him, and the people bounced when they saw us. (4 guys in formal clothes with Zulu hats on in sunglasses) It was hilarious! I cant tell you how much it felt like James Bond. Running out of a big party thing, mobbing to a mall, and saving a brother, all while in a suit and tie. It was awesome. We got back to the building, and decided to check out the view from the top of the heli pad on the roof. It was awesome! The only thing that would have been better, would be a copter ready to take us away. But thats okay, Id rather stay in Mthatha anyways ;)

It has been an amazing time here. It is so wonderful to see the blessings the gospel brings into all of the peoples lives here in South Africa. Everyone we meet is different, but the Blessings of the gospel are the same. I love it!! Thank you so much for all the love and support. It is the best! I love you all and cant wait to see you guys next Sunday! 

LOVE, Elder Ivins

Jarod's (non)email this week!

Jarod didn't write a letter this week because he was hurrying to go fishing in Coffee Bay. He emailed back and forth with me for a few mins though. He's great, as usual, and we are so excited to see his face with our call on Sunday! He did say that he's not sure how it will work because they are so far away from the senior couples and most of the members don't have good enough internet resources to make a video call work. We're keeping our fingers crossed that it will all be fine.

The pics he sent are from P-day last week, same place they will be fishing today. He said it was one of the most beautiful places ever.

"This was us as we snuck. wait. got on the very top to the heli pad Saturday night!" What? I said, a little worried. But their Branch President made a movie so they got VIP passes to the premier. Not sure if he watched a movie, and if so, if he should be in trouble over it, but we'll hope for the best. He said he felt like 007. If you google Mthatha PRD building, you'll this crazy blue bldg. That's where they were. He was pretty excited about it. He emailed Annie and told her "Saturday was the best day ever I felt so much like James Bond. It was sweet. Oh, and we had 4 baptisms this week!"

His quote: "This. girl. is. to. die. for." I would agree with that!!! She's so adorable.

Hope you all have a great week!! We love our crazy James Bond Elder! He's as crazy as ever and loving Mthatha. 

JAZZZZZZ

JAZZ WON GAME 7

enough said. This week was great.

This whole week for our boarding had a lot of anticipation. Getting updates midweek of the jazz losing game 6, really shattered the Mthatha yomies. BUT, waking up, rushing to the email shop, and seeing the results, we jumped and shouted for joy! Got a lot of crazy looks, but, THE JAZZ WON!

This week was great though! We had great a lot of great miracles with some amazing people, and a lot of sad disappointments as well.

GOOD NEWS: Lisekhona and Aviwe and Coraline all were interviewed yesterday and will be baptised this Saturday and Sunday!!! We are doing 2 baptisms because of some work issues, but all will work out! It will be soo great!! They were all so worried for the interview, but did wonderfully, because they have such strong testimonies!

Last night, was a little rough. So we met this boy, Sphamantla (14) on friday, who is friends of 2 members Live and Liviwe (14,15). Taught him. So Amazing. He really wanted to know if God lived. He asked him to pray and to ask God that question. He did, and the Spirit was soo strong. He got his answer and we asked if we could come the next night to meet with his older brother and sister. We got there and the brother turns out to be a Less Active member of 10 years who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood! We found out in the lesson he has joined another church and now is Rastafarian. The lesson was very hard, because he was arguin with us, but said that his brother can choose for himself to be baptised and come to church! Sphamantla came to church yesterday and loved it! 

We went again Last night, and this time, the brother freaked out and went all over us about the black christ and how he wont save white people, and about smoking weed, and all this stuff. He also told us that he is not gonna let Spha be changed by us cuz he is too young. I was heartbroken, mad, and well pretty angry to be honest. I didn't know how to respond, other than testifying. but of what? he knows the book of mormon is true, and knows a lot of scripture, but the Spirit told me to tell him the God loves him, and He loves Sphamantla. 

As we were leaving I pulled a BOM out and left it on the couch and watched Spha pick it up and smile at me. It was pretty funny. but yeah, it stinks knowing that this guy is holding back a future missionary, father and priesthood holder. As we left We just looked at it with an eternal perspective. One day. He will be baptised. I know it.

On our way home we stopped at a powerful referral from the older elders, Vuyokazi. She had requested a BOM. We went there, and she as an amazing family, with 6 people in the home!! She was so sad to miss church but promised to come next week! It was awesome that the Lord provided for us so quickly. We lost 1, but gained 6! If we decided to be angry and just go home, we maybe wouldve blown it.

Those are some of the highs and lows this week. mostly in one day. ahha. But I am thankful to Heavenly Father for this gospel and the miracles it brings. Heavenly Father is in charge of this work and proves it everyday. I love you all and am soooo excited to see you guys in 2 weeks!! hope you all look good for me ;) ahha

LOVE, Elder Ivins

(He didn't give any explanations about his pictures this week, but they were all adorable!!)