Fwd: Grahamstown

Hello!

It is a hot monday afternoon, and I am currently drinking an ice cold imported (from England) Dr Pepper, as I am looking at my now former Brittish Companion. It has been a wonderful 3 months with Elder Dove. My football, my manners (the queens manners I might add), and my ability to follow the spirit have all improved. I am very Thankful to have been able to serve with this kid. He is beautiful, and powerful, and I can't wait to see him go pro in coaching...

Really tho.. This guy is sweet. 

My new companion is Elder Chaparadza! I fun loving, amazing elder from Zimbabwe. Chaps loves mcdonalds, and baptising, so I am very excited and think we will get along just fine 😉

Im off to Grahamstown. A wonderful university town in the Eastern Cape! That is definitely one of the greatest parts! It is in the Port Elizabeth stake, so I am looking forward to the wonderful opportunity to see some of the amazing people I met over a year ago! (and the watsons of course 😂)

Ive set a goal to perfect xhosa, baptise people, and smile more... hopefully it will all go to plan! 

Leaving an area is always the hardest thing. And I have been very blessed to only have 3 areas now to say goodbye too. But I have loved serving in Brackenfell. The people are amazing, the members are powerful, and the miracles were plentiful. I think the greatest thing I learned is how the Lords hand is over all this work. He aligned so many circumstances that just fell into place so beautifully. to the world, it may be a small "coincidence" but i am very grateful to have Nephi's knowledge and testimony of "tender mercies", which are real and in all of our lives daily. 

The Church is True, and I have gained an amazing testimony of the Book of Mormon over the past 6 months in this area. 

I love you all, and keep being amazing! Smile, it is good for you!

Mdala Ivins

ps. this week, we went back to Brandan's house, the white kids who we met ice skating... AND THAT STUPID DOG BIT MY LEG AGAIN.

maybe it truly was time to leave this area.....

😂😭

Elder Ivins the musician!

This is so typical of Jarod!! Enjoy this fun little video!!

Fwd: BURNT

Hello!

What a wonderful, and crazy fast week it was! It flew by! Each week is getting faster and faster, and the next thing I know, I am leaving church, and its P-Day Eve! Can you believe it! 

It went even faster because we had interviews with president, zone conference, and exchanges! All of which were amazing! 

On Monday, as we played soccer for 3 hours... we forgot the sunscreen... in Africa,... oops. #burnt!

Elder Keetch and I on exchanges, played basketball with some kids for about 3 hours on Sat. in the dead of African summer, and it was amazing! They kids were actually really good, and LOVE the NBA. They were telling us all about the teams, the trades. It was hilarious. They are all investigators, and it's so funny. Over the past couple weeks of playing, they have slowly started to play better music as they play... so ..... that's pretty cool ;) hahaha but the worst part was not using some of Liam's sunscreen.... that ended really badly... still recovering...

The best part of the week though, was seeing our wonderful friends come to church. Viwe, a wonderful girl about 22, we met about 2 weeks ago. We thought she was interested, and then dropped our appt. (never had that before ;) haha) BUT, we saw her this week, and she is sooo powerful! We taught her at her neighbors house, who is less active, and it was good enough that the WHOLE less active family, and Viwe came! It was amazing! 

It was also amazing to see Ruth, and Jorja come, as well as Jacque. When they make the sacrifice to come to church, they truly are blessed. THE CHURCH IS TRUE

Even though we get sunburnt, we fall skiing, or we don't have snow or rain, we can still be happy by loving and serving others. It is so fun to share the gospel with everyone, no matter who they are, or where they live! Seeing the blessings of the restored gospel, and of the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings me the greatest joy ever! 

Continue to light the world and be the best you can be! I love mission and the amazing South Africans (and congolize, and zimbabweans, and malawians, and ghanains, and yes, sometimes the white people HAHAHAHHA jk)

LOVE ALWAYS and be the best!

Elder Ivins

Fwd: Attack of the Big Black Dog

Hello!

What another wonderful, and exciting week in South Africa. 

We went Ice skating, we taught English, the Restoration, ate wanna be Mexican food (curry in a wrap), played airsoft wars, and yes, got attacked by a huge dog. (pray for no rabies)

I think the highlight of the week, was Reagan in Elders quorum speaking about how excited he is to go to the temple, and how excited he is to be on mission. It truly is so fun and amazing to see this guy prepare to serve the Lord!

Our wonderful people, who are progressing very nicely are Zukhi, and Christian, and his niece, Odelia!

Zukhi is a neighbor and friend to brother Mokhoka (member referral) and has come to church 2 weeks in a row! She is very humble, and has lost a lot in the past year. She loves church! Bro Mokhoka's wife took her to her church 3 weeks ago, and now she has been at ours since... (the church is true)

Christian is always an amazing guy. Father of 4, with another on the way. His favorite line is "By the grace of the Lord", but the more you think about it, we truly are blessed by God everyday in all that we do. He read in the BOM, and took a whole page of notes!

His niece, Odelia, is so fun! She has been totally killing it in English, and in reading the Book of Mormon! We role play with her different situations, such as at the shops, or washing, it is really fun to see her get frustrated, then practice more and more, and the next day remember all these things! As Reagan always says, "Yeah, so, my man, we have the gift of tongues in our church!"

The dog... well, as we were leaving an Afrikaner "Mexican party" I got attacked by their dog.. now this dog is much bigger and smarter than normal township dogs, which will run away at the sight of a rock being picked up, or a leg coming to kick. It is really fun to see that, but this time, the dog won... So just how the Bulldogs may win tomorrow, this big black dog got the championship over me...

We got rain, you got kancinci snow. Pray for both! I love you all and the Book of Mormon is true! I had amazing revelation last night coming from 1 Nephi 15: 27, all rooting from my studies of 1 Nephi 8. I loved it so much. I know that this book is true, and that we are so blessed to be led by God today!

KEEP IT UP, BE GOOD, DO GOOD

Love always, Elder Ivins

(Qhapela Inja) 🐕

Here's what Jarod sent to Jason in regards to his revelation from reading in 1 Nephi as mentioned above. (He has challenged our family to read the Book of Mormon by the time he gets home at the end of August. We'd love you to join us in the challenge!!! We just started it over. Come read with us every night, or even better, read on your own!!)

So Lehi, in his vision, still saw the "filthiness". I really think this is the things back home, the things here. girls, drugs, alcohol, pornography in movies, or music, or when the township girls don't wear clothes. haha so both on mission and home. the "filthiness" is everywhere, and even Lehi saw it! He was in darkness for many hours (ch 8:8) BUT!!! in v 27 it changed my life; it says, "So much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness." So what are my other things? BOM, I am swallowed daily for an hour, obedience, mission rules, mission, and then the answer cam in the index for swallow, "missionaries are swallowed up in the joy of Christ" Alma 31:38. So the best way to be swallowed up in righteousness is MISSIONARY WORK!!

It blew my mind last night.. so this church has to be true, or Jo Smith wrote this book and is a genius 195 years ago hahaha

Love, Jarod

Fwd: 2018

Well, This past year has officially been the fastest of my life. 

I have been in 3 areas this year, had 5 companions, met sooo many amazing people, and been able to see that blessings of the Gospel touch thousands of lives. I have had scary experiences, and very exciting experiences, and my favorite have been the millions of spiritual experiences, whether big or small. There are so many each and every day. 

Sometimes we do something, have no idea why, and months later see the blessings of following the small promptings from Heavenly Father. 

I was speaking to Elder Shelembe last night (2nd born in the bush), and he was telling me about this powerful girl in Mthatha that lives next to a recent convert named Nosipho. It was amazing how we put together that whole story. We met both of them, from a drunk tata who we asked who he knew that we could teach. Now about 8 months later, both sisters are strong in the church... 

It was crazy to look back, and just by speaking to everyone, you can find God's elect.

We have a wonderful investigator named Odelia we are working with. Odelia has recently moved to SA and is from DRC, and doesn't know any English. This past week, we have really been working with her to help her learn English, and to understand the Book of Mormon. We have Reagan translate for us. It is amazing, because 4 months ago, Reagan couldn't speak English himself... (the power of the Book of Mormon). She is amazing and hopefully will be able to understand how amazing this gospel is!

We are having some great success with members as well.... so BRING PEOPLE TO CHURCH, it is the best way!

I was on exchanges this week with Elder Lupeni, and we were visiting with some wonderful strong members. It was so fun to meet them, (a family Elder McCarroll had served with 2 years ago) and see them identify who they were going to bring to church on Sunday! What made it even better was the fun show we got that night!

I had convinced this family it was my first week on mission and I was really scared, missing my mom, and family, and etc.

As we were talking, on a hot summers night so the doors were open to let the air in, a car drove past and then just hear a loud BANG BANG. We all look at each other, (we all knew what the sounds were 🔫) and I pretended to freak out. Then the Mama tried to calm me down by saying, ah don't worry its just fireworks, its for new years. HAHA me and the brother and dad just started busting up laughing pretending to shoot each other...

yeah, all is well...

the church is still true.

I love Africa. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I am so thankful to be teaching all day every day about Jesus Christ! I love him, I love all of you! I hope you have an amazing new year, and feed the missionaries ;)

Elder Ivins

Happy New Year!

Set my alarm for midnight to celebrate for over minute before going back to bed. Scared the crap out of Elder Dove!

Best people ever love in SA!

Fwd: 6 weeks = 6 months

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Elder Ivins isn't getting a Christmas package. He'd love a Christmas email from you!!! jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net

Hello!!

What an amazing week. Lots of suspense, scare, and amazing experiences.

I received transfer news this week, and I will be staying for another transfer! I'm very excited. I was super bummed, thinking I was going to be leaving right before Christmas, but the Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to stay! super hyped!!

This week was really good though. We paintballed, still have bruises....

But we had lots of service opportunities which were really good. I love the Christmas time of year, everyone is on holiday, so we are able to meet a lot more people than otherwise. It is so fun to see the sacrifices people make to see family. I love my family, and am so grateful we live close, and see each other.. not just see each other, but ski together, bike, boat, work, love and laugh. I have been thinking about how amazing of a blessing it is to have an eternal family. 

It is devastating when someone says they don't want our message, because they are missing out on more than they know. IT is ALL TRUE!!

As I am thinking about this upcoming week. It will be my last Christmas as a missionary in South Africa. A year ago, I read a similar email from Alec. And now that kid is home, and killing it. This has been the fastest year of my life, and the best by FAR! I love the gospel so much, and sharing it this year has brought me the most happiness of all. 

As we all commemorate the birth of our Savior, I hope we will all emulate his life as we Light the World for the last week, and for our lives! I love our Savior Jesus Christ and his all encompassing Atonement.

People from all religions, and all backgrounds, still come together this one day a year, and recognize Christ's birth! How amazing is that!!

Keep sending hard. Pray for Snow, and pray for Rain. (and progressing investigators). 

We have lots of great people we are teaching, and can always use more. Love you all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Elder Ivins

Fwd: LIGHT THE WORLD

Hello wonderful people!

This week was amazing! Took the opportunity to celebrate my beautiful companions birthday, have a bomb exchange with elder Stevens, see amazing people, preach the truth, EAT a lot, and most importantly having a share of our part in LIGHTING THE WORLD.

Elder Dove turned 22. My little boy is growing up in this big and scary world. We had a huge braii, and the next day went to get our favorite burgers: rocomamas

The next day on exchanges, while it was 41 C, elder Stevens and I had the awful idea of hot curry, and again burgers for dinner. Its the fattest time of the year. I mean fastest ;)

The gospel is moving too. Lots of people have the idea that in December the work slows down. But, we met a couple people this week, Sisanda, and Mama. (i don't know her actual name) We shared with them the blessings of the book of mormon and what it is, and committed both to church. BOTH CAME!!! It was amazing to see them come. I love giving talks at church... It is a great way to pressure... hmmm invite people to come to church! They both loved it, had great questions, and we are very excited for them to learn more, and to advance in the gospel. Funny enough.. Mama is Yonda's mom! lose one, find another!

It was very fun to Light the World this week with our ward. We made this Christmas packages for these people who live in an old age home. It was really fun! then on Sat we gave them all out, and sung Christmas Carols, and had an amazing day. The unity with our ward, and us is getting much stronger, and we are receiving more referrals. 

That was the main focus of my talk. Member missionary work! it is the way to go! Please pray and look for ways that YOU can share the gospel with friends, family, and everyone who needs uplifting this season. I love being able to talk to everyone about our Saviour Jesus Christ. He truly is the Light of the World. As we share the Light of Christ that is in us, others will be drawn to Him. I love being a missionary. I love the gospel. ITS ALL TRUE.

stay blessed, and be the best

All my love, ELDER IVINS