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

Fwd: You will lose Le Petrise

I was a little worried that we wouldn't hear from Jarod this week!! His email came in quite late!!! He is well and is super happy!!! We love him so much!

So this week was really great. again. I love mission.

Hahah the highlight of this week is Reagen Mandamba. from drc (french is one of the main languages)

Reagen is our recent convert, who comes with us everyday. His English is getting better and better everyday.. While we still try to teach him xhosa, and help him to learn how to bear testimony is English.

Well he brought to church with him 5 people! hahha our only source for having investigators at church ;)

He brought Siya, and her 6 year old sister, Mbali.

He brought Greater, and Melisa, and Sarah. All girls that stay at his flat. They are sooo sweet. Sarah is from DRC, and Greater and Melisa are from Zimbabwe. They all are so fun, and loved church. Our gospel principles class went extra long, cuz we were just having so much fun having them, on their first sunday for some, teaching class!! 

They are all progressing super well, and we hope to have them enter the waters on the 5th of November. The last Sunday for my dying comp. So lets pray extra hard they make it and feel ready ;)

We met some other super sweet people, one of which is George. He is working, and stays with his gf. we will have some fixing to do ;) hahah, but he is so powerful. We taught him the restoration, and he was so open and exciting and he accepted to baptism as well. All of these people are so powerful, and God is being super bold with us. saying here are my children that are ready, care for them. It truly is an amazing experience to see how much influence the gospel has on people's lives. Knowing that the gospel is here for us can calm anything, and bring that overwhelming spirit into our lives.

The funniest part of the week, was when we are driving yesterday after church. Reagen asks Elder Slade what he is most excited for about home. To which my companion responded to kiss a girl. (dont worry, we are still obedient) But It launched a huge, amazing, hilarious argument with Reagen about kissing girls. how he thinks 'If you kiss girl, you will lose your Priesthood!'

It was soo hilarious.  I was legit laughing so hard I was crying. remember, he is still about a 3rd grade level, max as far as the gospel goes. We speak as 5-7 year olds here with him. So we are just dying that this was happening. eish, I tried to record some of it. Hopefully it will be funny for you guys..

Love all of you so much!! Remember that God Loves you even more. Smile. It's good for you!

Elder Ivins

Fwd: Miracles and Conference

This week was full of amazing miracles! I will try to fit them in... well Yeah they were so sweet.

Siya. The first happened on Tuesday. We knocked on this door. no answer. We went down the hall, and then saw someone walk back into the flat across from this house. Knock, not interested, but heard someone making noise this time in the original house. So we knocked again, and this girl, Siya answered! We taught her the restoration, and she prayed, we waited, and she felt this overwhelming sense of peace and happiness, she couldn't describe. We put her on date for baptism on the 5 of November! 

The other miracle with her, is that we went back friday... SHE HAD READ ALL THE WAY TO 1 NEPHI 22. She explained to us more, that the other day, she had prayed to God what to do with her life.. she was confused, and needed to know the way. Then 2 hours later, we knocked on her door... If we hadn't listened to that prompting, we would've missed her completely.

Nangamso. The second happened on Tuesday. We met this girl named Nangamso. We were looking for her sister, but she wasn't home. We had other people to see, but the Spirit just said, teach her, go. So we said can we come in for a little. She gladly let us in. We taught her the restorations, and invited her to pray. We said we would sit and let her listen to the spirit for just a couple seconds after the prayer. 17 minutes later she opened her eyes. She prayed for about a minute, very short and simple, and direct about the resto. and then she sat for 16 min. We weren't sure, but the spirit was SO strong in that room. I felt like Ammon, just sitting for an hour with King Lamoni. We asked her how she felt, and she said it was amazing, peace, and joy. She accepted baptism as well, and will pray about a day.

Johann. He is the husband to a member, Juliet. He has come to church with her every week for about a year and a half, and doesn't want to be rushed. (Afrikaners). Hahaha jk, but on thursday, juliet said that she was going out of town, so we would miss them at church, and he buts up. No you wont. I will be there! To all our shock, he was serious. He was dissapointed to not hear from president Monson, as were we all, but loved conference. I watched him type loads of notes. The best miracle was after conference, as we were locking up with just him and us, when he asked us, so how does the whole baptism procedure work. We realized this was his first time at church without his wife, and there was no pressure. We were sooo excited by this question. We went through it all, showed him the font, and talked to him. We didn't push him too much, but it went perfectly! We are gonna see him tuesday, and pray that he accepts a specific date! (He also caught a Cape Cobra, the most dangerous snake in Africa, in between conferences. It was a baby, and really fun to play with. It was just a small bite on my leg... hope im okay...)

As you see, these are just some of the bigger miracles we had this week. There were lots, but I am thankful beyond explanation for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. That all these things are possible. I know that conference is the time for us to listen to His chosen servants. I loved all the talks, and loved Elder Rasband quoting Alma 8:19, "wilt thou give an humble servant of God something to eat." my favorite scripture to share ;) HAHA

I love the Lord, and mission. Its amazing to be here and see His hand orchestrating this work. I know He lives. Pray for these people, and Pray for rain. #capetowndrought

and always, PRAY FOR SNOW

Love you too much!

Elder Ivins