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

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