Fwd: UTA - CT

Sorry this so late in arriving to your inboxes. We went to Idaho Falls to witness the totality of the eclipse and it did not disappoint!! Before you die, you need to see a full solar eclipse!!! Luckily, in just 25 short years, there will be one in Salt Lake City! Jarod has been transferred to Capetown. Enjoy his cute letter!!!

Well. This week was definitely one I won't forget! It has gone from being in the bush of Africa to the streets of Cape Town, and to say the least, they are completely different. Mthatha is a place where everyone speaks xhosa, loves to talk about Jesus, and is very welcoming to have us come in. And Cape Town, has white people, something I have never experienced, coloured people, Afrikaans, just a little experience, and everything in between. We are teaching people from DRC, ZIM, SA, and it really is eye opening and amazing! 

The people here are amazing as ever, and the love for the gospel is the same! But it is a different feel. I'm really excited to go and teach more people, and our zone has some amazing elders and we have awesome goals. When you hear cape town.. you're like eh I don't wanna be transferred there. But we are hoping to change that up! We are setting huge goals and are excited to change the face of western cape.

Already we are seeing miracles. We have amazing father led families, potential priesthood holders, and are excited to find and teach more. The faith is up, and will keep getting stronger! 

Some sweet stories are a guy named Raegen. He was taught for 9 years in DRC. and now moved here about 2 weeks ago, realized the church was here. and said okay.. Its time. He has moved all around DRC, and the church would always find him! And here, when he found it, he said it has to be true. 9 years of missionaries working with him, helping him, and God preparing him. No effort is wasted! I love it! 

Another is a brother named Leonard. He was taught and found about 9 months ago... by Elder McCarroll! He got in an accident and disappeared a while ago, and now is back! He had troubles getting baptized a while ago because he needed marriage documents. Last week his wife from Zim moved here, with the documents, and she wants to be baptized!! The Lord has prepared these people so well! We are so excited to continue working hard and finding more!

Im excited to work hard and see God's hand in this work. I'm so thankful for the love of all of you and the support. Heavenly Father has amazing plans for Cape Town. and we are gonna do it!

Love you all, 

Elder Ivins

Bye bye

Well... What and emotional week. On Saturday we got the call that I will be leaving Mthatha, and will be transferred to Capetown! I will be in the Bellville and Brackenfell wards. My new comp is Elder Slade... He recently served with elder Hawkins! So that's cool. I don't know much about him.. so Im excited to get to know him!

As I was reflecting on my time in Mthatha I have truly been able to see the Lords hand in this work. In protecting us, guiding us, and allowing us to find and see so many people change to follow God's path for them. I love it! I will always have a special place in my heart for this part of God's vineyard, and cannot wait until the day I come back. Hopefully while still on mission. Very blessed to have served in 2 areas for almost a year! As I bore my departing testimony, I truly felt Heavenly Fathers Love for these people. It's amazing. Im an imperfect misisonary, giving 2 years to love people. And He is a perfect God, just imagine the love he has for us. 

This week was amazing. Something really cool, was seeing Shaun compete at a science fair! It was so cool. His project was on Science mixed with drama! He did really well and will be competing again for a chance to go to joburg! We met some cool new people, who we really think are ready for the gospel. They are pretty interesting guys, Ivan and Assive, going off how Christ died for us, and only the circumcised will be saved... Then the friend calls him out, on how the circumcised of heart... It was just really funny. But they really wanted to learn more about the BOM. It was sweet!

Esethu and her mom are doing well! Nombulelo had to work so she couldnt come to church, but Esethu came again and loved it! She asked us to move her baptism forward. How amazing is that! It was so sweet! Im excited to hear about her baptism in a couple weeks. Busisiwe wasn't able to be baptised this week, but next week is now set! hahah it was been a process but she is ready! She just wants to be baptised, and was sad it didn't work out yesterday, but its all good.

These past couple days have been spent printing loads of pictures, eating good food, and today will cap it all off. Tomorrow we will be going to EL and Wednesday morning flying to CPT.

Yho it is all just flying by, and everyday this week felt like a blur. I din't want it to happen, but the Lord says otherwise. Thank you all for the Love and support. It is amazing what blessings I feel and see thanks to you! I can't wait to get to Capetown and start working. 

Elder Hawkins and I set a goal for sept 24, to have another 10 baptisms in each area. Him in EL, and me in CPT. We are getting the areas in Mthatha down for it, and hopefully the areas in our zones. We want a 10 by, or a 10 squared. idk. but it will be 10 areas with 10 baptisms.

It seems crazy, and a whole lot of work, but WHY LIMIT GOD? We can do it! He will do it! We will be praying everyday for this goal, fasting, specifically for families. FATHER LED.

GOD SPEED to ALL

Mdala Ivins

Elder Ivins

Fwd: Home sweet home

Hello everyone!!

What an amazing week it was!

It started with a fun tour of the Mandela museum here in town. it was really fun to learn a lot more about him. He started a militia revoltation,  led in prison, and overall was just a yomie.

Busisiwe didn't get baptised this week, she had some things come up, but will be baptised next week so thats all good. When she called us, telling us that she wanted to postpone, my heart dropped. I was very worried that something went wrong, but we spoke with her later and worked it all out, and she is set for next week, which may be my last sunday in Mthatha... (pray to stay).

I think the highlight of the week would be Fast Sunday yesterday. Kk and Anna both were confirmed and then gave amazing testimonies. They were quoting scripture, sharing stories, and everyone was laughing. Bongiswa also bore an amazing testimony speaking about how she wasnt able to come to church, but through many prayers in the night, and amazing faith was able to come. It really inspires me every week to feel the love that the people here have for God, and the trust they have in His promises. The Lord will always provide. 

Something really funny happened on exchanges in Queentsown this week.... It was a really fun day. Lots of walking, but lots of fun with Elder Shaw (eagle ID).. And we went to finish the day at this really amazing restaraunt. While we walked in there was a bike race on the tv. It looked really cool and i wondered where it was cuz i knew the tour de france had finished the week prior. Anyways as i was watching i said to elder shaw, "Man that looks so familiar, I feel like i have been there before!"

Next thing I see, is the banners for the TOUR OF UTAH!!! Stage 3, up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

I was freaking out! Heck yeah Elder Shaw I have been there before!! It was so funny that in the middle of South Africa in this random restaraunt I was seeing the rodes I had driven and ridden and mountains Ive skied and climbed so much. CRAZY!

It was really fun to see home sweet home. But Im blessed with the a home here. Grateful for an amazing family where anywhere we go is home. the cabin, lake powell, mcdonalds, the boat, anything. I have the best family!!

Love you all!

Elder Ivins