Fwd: Hot Hot Hot

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>

10Kmilesaway@blogspot.com

Hello! This week was awesome! It went by really fast and had a lot of laughs and great smiles.
As it is starting to get really cold and snowing home, here it is getting hotter and hotter. yesterday at church was the hottest and we had 100 people there\\! Most it has been in months! so that was awesome! 

Earlier in the week i went on exchanges with Elder Bozer! my companion from the MTC! It was really fun to be with him and see how much we have both learned and grown in the couple months in the field compared to what we thought we knew in the MTC. 

We had a lot of stuff to do before the baptisms on Saturday. we had a great tender mercy from the Lord in finding baptismal clothing. The other elders had a baptism earlier in the week, and the font didn't work, and they couldn't find any clothing. We went again on Thursday to look, and we thought we were in trouble because they couldn't find any the day before. But then we opened a closet and found 2! and they were the exact sizes we needed! It was really cool!

Then on saturday we had to move the baptism to 830 because of conflicting events throughout the day. So at around 5 we got up to get everything ready, and when we got to the church in kwama kxaki to fill the font, and it was half filled, with old smelly, green water, full of bugs. HUGE cockroaches, spiders, and ants. we didnt know what to do, and called some people and the font wasn't even draining. so we did our best to hang from the glass and scoop out as much as we could, then fill it up the rest. The baptism was really great! Elder Watson baptized and then confirmed Nozi sunday, and then I was able to baptize Lisa and Elder McCarroll confirmed her! The spirit was really strong and they both have great testimonies! It is so great to see the whole process of them coming to the church. Lisa from her aunt, and being able to see her start from lesson 1 and not be baptized, and also Nozi, who was very stubborn but finally realized it was true. But after the baptism, the font wouldnt drain, and President Zitshu, the Branch president asked if we would stay till it was empty, so no one would fall in and drown, or anything. We couldn't figure out the drain, so we decide we would take 2 gallon buckets and scoop out the 250 gallon font. It was SO HOT, and we got so sweaty and wet and man, it took about 45 min. 

This week, also was ruined by me and elder McCarroll having fleas, either from Cleary boarding, and also from Motherwell.. so it has been not fun at all having all of them biting us and everywhere. i think we are getting rid of them, but still awful. 

We are working more with the members to introduce the Light The World initiative. which is really well! They are all soo kind and loving. I love them here and growing closer to them is so much fun. some families we saw this week were the Mgwanqa family, and the Flekies and Willies. we will be seeing more this week! Hopefully they make food as well ;) hahaha. 

I love learning more about the Restoration and about the Book of Mormon. Teaching about it and prayer builds my testimony that it is true everyday. I love the gospel and i can see the blessings it brings to peoples families here everyday! 

I hope all is well and everyone is great! Thanks for all the pics and emails and love and support. Keep being amazing. 

Love, 
Elder Ivins 

Fwd: THANKSgiving

From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>
Subject: THANKSgiving (Said in the Blindside accent)

SUP people

This week flew by. It was really good! We have been working really hard and been seeing a lot of people. I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Greening and Elder Takavingei, and both times we got fed. Maybe they are the goodluck charm. they are awesome Zone leaders. This week we ate mphukoqo, 7 colors and a lot of chicken. which is really nice.

Nozi and Lisa both got interviewed and will be getting baptized next saturday! I am so excited for them and it has been really awesome to see them accept the gospel and to gain a testimony! Anawe we havent seen in a while, but hopefully after exams we can be able to help her progress. Her sister, unfortunately is falling behind, we went to see her on her birthday, and her friends came and told us to come back later, and Mzo was able to find out she didn't want to see us cuz she was drunk. ugh. Kind of a set back, but we will hopefully be able to help her see that those things do not bring true happiness, and that the gospel does.

We have a couple people that are doing well, like a young boy named Ayabulele who loves the BOM, but unfortunately this week is leaving for the bush, so we wont see him for 3 weeks. but hopefuly he will keep reading there!

Another guy is Andisiwe, he works at the gas station by our house. he works so much, but is a great guy. and really interested. I hope he can learn more and can see that even though he will make sacrifices, God will bless him. That is where faith is so important, trusting and hoping that Heavenly Father really is there and will help us. 

This week is Thanksgiving, and it is a lot different not to be going to grandmas. People dont really do anything for Thanksgiving, so we might be doing a big dinner next Sunday for it, which would be really nice. It is crazy how fast everything is going. That 3 months are down. but, a lot of work is left to be done. 

This transfer has only 2 weeks left, and Elder McCarroll thinks he will be leaving, which is really sad, but i hope we will have a lot of fun these last two weeks. 

This week was also full of a lot of unfortunate sights, of seeing multuple dogs get hit and smashed, many people saying come in and then having onl;y their robes on, and those being wide open. Agh sketchy. hahaha, last week we played rugby and soccer, and had a couple kids from the university play with us, and now are interested and meeting witht the elders! And this week we are going to be playing paintball. Should be fun!

I hope everyone is doing well and I love to hear from everyone. It makes my days and weeks so much better to get pictures and to talk to all of you! Thank you for the prayers and love. I am so thankful for my family and friends and everyone. Thanksgiving is a great time to tell people you love them. I love to serve in this beautiful and amazing place. 

Elder Jarod Ivins

Elder Greening and I with mphukoqo.
Elder Takavingie and I
3rd meal from yesterday from the Mashiqa family!

Fwd: TRUMP

If you have missed any of Jarod's emails, they are also on his blog 10kmilesaway.blogspot.com
My new favorite pic of him is also attached! Have a great week. We love our missionary!!
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>

HELLO!

This week just about everyone that we met with, asked us if we are happy about trump, or if we knew, it was so funny, and usually people just dont care but love to talk to us about it, and act like they know so much about politics, it is pretty funny. pretty sure all of the riots aren't as bad as here, it is sketchy.

It has been kind of rainy this week and windy, summer is coming and it is getting hotter! I love PE and Motherwell!

This week was nice, the Oliphant sisters are doing well. They open up more and more each week, but because of exams and not being able to see them as often, we may push their baptism back. but it is okay. We just want them to be converted to the gospel, and to the BoM, not us. It is awesome to see people gain a greater testimony daily. 

Lisa is doing well and will most likely be baptized next week! Nozi is also well, but we haven't seen her as much as we would have liked to, when people miss, it is hard becasue it puts a stop on their progression.

We have also been working more with members, and usually when we go there, they love to feed us. one family, the Flekie's,have been really instrumental in the conversion of many people, are so awesome and feed us too quite often. They have a huge family and most of them are members, they are trying to get everyone to be a member so they can be sealed in the next year. They take a bus every year from Motherwell to Joburg, 15 hour drive and it is about 50 people that go from the branch each year. The temple is so cool, and i love seeing how much the people sacrifice here to go.

This week wasn't much different than the others, but very busy! I was able to go with Elder Hugo on tuesday for excahnges! and he is a great teacher and I learned a lot from him. Church was really great this week and we taught about the difference of the Holy Ghost, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The gift of it is one of the greatest gifts from God, and we are able to have the constant companionship of the spirit. We need to take advantage and always repent when we sin, and look for the promptings of the Spirit. 

I love teaching about Joseph Smith and the first vision. It is the greatest lesson and I know it is true! 

Cleary slept over again last night and we had a nice breakfast this morning! we also are getting ready to carol and sing for this coming month. the work slows down a lot because people leave for holiday and summer break, but there are a lot of fun things we are planning for! Some malls are decorating for Christmas, and it makes me miss the snow and Christmas at home, but I am so excited for it here! 6 weeks! So you all better be ready to see this good looking elder, hahahhaha jk, but I love you all and hope everything is well! 

Elder Ivins

Church attire. It went over quite well!
Breakfast with friends after a missionary sleepover.
Nice digs
Killing Motherwell
11:11 on 11/11 (of course)

Fwd: Novemba is here

Goat heads??? Really??? Read on...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>

HEYA! This week was very good, but a little longer at times. Appointments are dropping more, but it is okay, we just get to meet more people! 

Lisa is doing well, but didn't come to church so that is unfortunate. She remembers things so well. Like stuff we taught over a month ago, she can remember! It is awesome!

Nozi is also well, but also didn't come to church. The excuse of no money for taxi is always what people say, but it is hard because if you have a desire, and aren't lazy, you will get to church haha. We called out a lot of recent converts and less actives on it this week. 

Yamkela, man, the Watsons called him to teach him on the phone. He read over the word of wisdom pamphlet, felt it was right, and stopped coffee completely. he has been reading the bom for a couple weeks, and is almost done with Mosiah. Man, he is so powerful. I hope he can get a job soon close to a church so he can be baptized!
The Oliphant sisters are also doing well! Anawe (20) and Aphelele (17) are reading more and both came to church! They are also hoping to be baptized at the end of the month, but I just hope they will be ready, it is good to know that everything is done on the Lord's time tho. and He knows when it will be right. But we hope to have it be then! 
The other day, we were in a lesson with an investigator sister Zintathu, and we about 15 min in, and a drunk guy came barging in, yelling for his soul mate. She was so embarrassed and just went into a different room. The guy sat down and then just made it really awkward. The sister was in there for like 10 minutes and didn't come back. The guy was yelling, you know Joseph! where is the Pillar? and it was funny but confusing. then he made us pray for him haha. SO we just left, and then she came out and asked us to come back, and he was getting dragged out by his brother yelling at us again. 

We also went to a recent convert's house, who just moved from a place called Zwide to Motherwell. They are really powerful family. the Vena family.They make us food often, and this week, made us one of the biggest meals ever. They cooked chicken in two ways, and then had pasta with meat, and rice that was amazing, and then these butternut squashes, with chicken and spinach in it. SO DANK. the next day they made us lunch with some sheep liver and it wasn't bad! ha ha They are so nice, and the old elders that taught them took a nice family pic, so we tried to top it by adding the rest of the family.Ours is definitely better. 
We were teaching there family about temples, and it was really cool to show them the picture of the Birchards getting sealed in Switzerland. They are going to be going to the temple trip in January, but just for baptisms. The sacrifices to go to the temple here are so crazy, but the blessings people receive are amazing. I love the temple!

We were able to teach a lot this week about the Holy Ghost, and how he testifies of truth. Sometimes we dont know if we feel the Hole Ghost, but anything that is good, comes from God. We sometimes over look the mark of what the feelings or answers will be. But they are there. I love to have the Spirit with us as we teach. It is sometimes hard to know if I am teaching with it, or if i can listen to it during lessons, but when any thought comes to mind, and it is good, do it! and see and pray to ask if it is right. If we get another good answer, Trust it, and trust our faith! I love learning more about the Book of Mormon. Reading it with investigators and seeing them understand is so great! IT IS TRUE! 

This week during our studies, I heard a bang and chirping, our windows and doors were open, and I said to Elder McCarroll i think a bird is in our house? And sure enough, we got a little birdy flyin around hahaha so we caught it and named it McIvin, man he was so cool, but he made a huge mess. But then we thew him and he flew home. What a cool bird.

Also those goat heads, is a meal people call smiley. They just cut the heads off and put them in these pots. We didn't buy any, but maybe this week we will. It is a little sketchy tho, cuz all the mama's and tata's just cook the meat and cow intestines and whatever you could imagine on the street, but no way it's cleaned. hmm, guess we will see when we try some.. hahaha

I love you all and hope everyone is well! Thank you for all of the love and support. I can feel the love and prayers. Keep going strong and never give up. 

1.smiley
2. McIvin
3.chef Ivins
4.DANKEST MEAL
5. Vena family
 

Fwd: MOVIN FERWERD in Motherwell

It was like Christmas morning with this email. Jarod sent tons of pictures. I've attached a bunch. Our Elder is definitely still himself. He's finally getting fed by a few members and he's happy to no longer be starving!
Hope you enjoy the wild pig story!
Love, one happy Mama!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>

Man, this week flew by!

On Wednesday Elder McCarroll was able to go to Cape Town and visit with his transfer, because they were going home this week. So I was able to work with the Watsons Wednesday and Thursday! They are so kind and funny to know. they went to high school together and have been married 50 years, so hearing their jokes are just so funny. It was fun to be able to contact and meet a lot of people on my own, because without McCarroll I had to put on my big Elder pants. haha

But this week was really good teaching wise too, we are meeting with two sisters, Anawe and Aphelele who are Xolani's second cousins. They have been taught for about a year, and drop a lot. so he asked us to go see them. and now they are really opening up! they are explaining what they need help with, and their concerns. such as, what happens if i get baptized and then i sin again. or how can i know if my prayers are answered. It is really awesome when people open up and we can teach to their needs. They are progressing to baptism for the 26 of Nov. I hope they can do it. Last night, we were teaching them about prayer, and we decided to do this thing where we would sit 30 sec in silence and try to listen to the spirit and what it would tell us. Then we would ask a question and they would think about it again for another minute in silence. Elder McCarroll said he would ask the question. So during the first minute I had a prayer in my heart so strong for him, and also for me to know what question to ask just in case he didn't have one. As it got closer to the end, i had a question come of, What do you need to do to draw closer to Christ? I felt the holy Ghost confirm that question. And as Elder McCarroll asked the question, he said the EXACT same thing. It was really powerful and it helped them out a lot. It was another confirmation to me as well. 

Heavenly Father constantly blesses us with fellowshippers and opportunities to serve. His hand is doing all the work.

Lisa's mom is now being taught and is really great. She had the same question as Joseph Smith. And after the restoration, she knows our church is true. It is hard tho because she works on Sundays. She will have to take a large leap of faith.

Also, the past month and week I always try to teach little kids just a simple fun handshake, and they are remembering it! It is legit the cutest thing and brings the biggest smile to my face when this little boy named Spar, yells, ELDER IVIES. And we just play. He is so cute. 

On Tuesday, we found some wild pigs, and I thought I should go try to take a pic with them. As soon as I got the selfie, the mama pig got soooo mad, maybe cuz I tried to pick up the baby. yeah, Got chased as I sprinted across a field. Crazy. I've never ran so much in my life. I was actually terrified... 

Yesterday Xolani's mom made us some really good food! It was just rice and meat stuff, but it was a lot, and good. She is so kind and is always trying to help us. Her grandson, Soso is so cute and loves to play like gun shooting with us.

I gave a talk on Sunday on obedience. It went well and it cool to have everyone really close because we are in the school, so you have a close eye to eye contact speaking. One of the scriptures that really stood out to me while studying is Romans 5:19. What ONE are we going to be? I hope we will always be obedient and loving to everyone, and in doing so we can bring many souls to Christ!

I love you all and hope everything is well. Thanks for all of the love and support. 

Love, Elder Ivins

Fwd: Slaying AFRICA

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Oct 17, 2016 at 4:41 AM
Subject: Slaying AFRICA

Hello my people. 
I have had a great week! Last week on p day, we went to a game park called Kragga Kama. Cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos, monkeys, all kinds of boks, zebras, crocodiles, and driving through a sweet forest. Man. Those animals are so cool. They come SO close to the car, and the rhinos would demolish us. EASY! MASSIVE. 

Lisa is progressing so good, and it is so fun to teach her and have her accept anything and everything. Her testimony is so strong. At church she made a lot of friends her age. So always be someone's friend at church. It is the most important thing for them. They need to be converted to the Gospel, not missionaries. But this girl, man she's dope. 

Yesterday at church we received some sad news. Yamkela came up to us, and asked if he can be baptized this week! So we didn't have to wait! We asked why, and it is because he is moving to Queenstown. BUMMER. Ugh I was way sad, but more so because he will be living an hour away from a church and also missionaries. So I don't know if he will be able to stay strong. But his testimony is so strong and he has received so many answers that he has in the BOM. I know the Book of Mormon can and will always answer our questions. Hopefully he will be able to find a job this week and be able to stay. 

Earlier this week, We went on splits cuz we had 2 appointments. Elder Mccarroll dropped me off at the less Actives house and left to the other appt. I was with Mzo, and after they left, the lady we were trying to see, wasn't home. and Mccarroll had the phone. And Mzos phone is broken. SO we are like well lets at least go knock some doors. 6:30 at night, NU 5. We were walking around, and I felt that I was to go to this house we were passing. As we were getting closer it just got stronger and stronger. We met this lady Nosiphiwo, she goes to a different church, but was having a hard time with her life rn. So we asked if we can share a quick message. We talked how much the gospel blesses families and I love being able to testify of that. Because I am blessed with the best. After I said the prayer, I look up and she was just crying. We sat there in silence for a minute and just let the Spirit testify of what we had shared. It was soooo cool! 

On Tuesday, we went to the St. Johns church, and the old senior couple had gone there every week and teach them English and games. So we went this time. THEY ARE SO COOL! They did this awesome ritual and tradition dance and stuff before and they get so into it with drums and clapping. The kids are so fun to play with. They are so happy about everything. Just a funny face will make them laugh. And seeing them smile makes me so happy!

After, we were walking back to where they would pick us up, and now its about 7, which is really late here. People go to bed about 8 and idk its just really different than home. But every homeless/drunk and sketchy guy walked up to us asking for money and getting really close to us. It was pretty scary.. And Mzo was saying how it could've been really bad, but I am blessed that we were protected.

Another sketchy thing, was last night, we were driving to an appointment, and, SA driving, well it is Terrifying. People don't care and run red lights and don't stop and go way fast and also people cross whenever. And we saw a guy that was hit buy a car. He was dead. AH It was so awful. It was elder Mccarrols 4th dead person and unfortunately my first. SO always be careful driving. It is safe to say that those people were all drinking and had drugs, another thing that we should never do. IT WILL HELP US AND PROTECT US. 

Then, leaving Lisa's house, there was this HUGE FIGHT. People were getting out of cars, and there were about 10 people just wailing on each other. It was pretty funny to watch, until the guys that were getting wrecked, just got up and started running in our direction down the street. We had to take off and almost hit half of them. HAHA this guy just got wrecked. Feel kinda bad tho. haha

Some other things that are funny are when girls see that you are a white guy, and yell AY Mulungo vuva voom. Which is a bad saying,.... hahahahahaha
Also when people let you in that you had appointments with, and then they admit to you that they are drunk. and so we tried to leave and come back, but he made us stay cuz we had an appointment. It is so funny cuz they can't really pay attention. 

But I have loved this first transfer so far and I love Elder McCarroll. He is so fun and kind. He has such a powerful testimony and is always serving me, and others. That is one thing that stands out to me is how he is always serving first. We all can be better about that. 

I love you all and hope you all have a great week. The Lord Loves you and will always help. I am so thankful for your love and support and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. It is weird to get accustomed to a couple things, but South Africa is beautiful and perfect in every way, and I know this is where i need to be!

Much Love, Elder Ivins

Mastadon Rhino.
Teaching the class to all the kids.
Brother yamkela. The houses they stay in are just a room. So humbling. 
Lisakhanya before her farewell dance (to show they are moving onto highschool)

10/10/16 - GOLDEN (and Don't eat the poop!!)

Happy Monday everyone!! Jarod has had another amazing week in Motherwell. He loves, loves, loves his mission!!! It is so fun to chat with him in the wee hours of Monday morning! This week he also caught Annie awake, Grandma and Grandpa in Croatia were up (they are visiting their mission and are in the same time zone,) and Haidyn up (she's pretending she's not a college student and is in Barcelona!!) During our chat he mentioned that he "saw the burned girl. Doing SOO good. All of her burns are almost closed except the chest and stomach. She can walk on her own and move. I love the power of the Priesthood and seeing the blessings of it. Thank you for the prayers and continue sending them. Her name is Moningyasha Caserole. At least I think. Her mom said it but didnt spell it."
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jarod Jason Ivins <jarod.ivins@myldsmail.net>
GOLDEN

HEY~MOLO,
So this week went by sooo fast, but it was a great week! I love being here. One of the coolest things that happened was meeting and teaching two people that are progressing very well! The first is a members niece who is 12 and named Lisakhanya. She is so kind and awesome. But, she is GOLDEN. She loves to learn and remembers EVERYTHING. She has been to church and has a bunch of friends, and then loves to read the BOM. We met with her yesterday and we asked her why she wants to be baptized. Her response is because she can't wait to be made clean again and to be just like Jesus. And then so she can be officially a member of the church! Whenever we ask her about what she read, she says, Nephi and them do this, and then Lehi did this. She's so cool. I can't wait for the 29th when her date is and I hope she will continue to prepare!

The next is a man who drives a local taxi and when giving a member a ride somewhere, she was telling him how great she is because of the gospel and how much she loves it. And then she talked about faith. This was an answer to exactly what he is looking for so she gave him our number. He called us that day! We didn't have much time but took him a Book of Mormon and told him to read the introduction before coming the next day. He did and saw the reference to Moroni. So he read that. But, he wanted more background, and so he read ALL of Moroni. aghh he is so dope. Then we taught the restoration and he loved and understood everything. Saying everything was perfect for him. I couldn't even finish the baptism invitation and he was saying yes. He wants to get baptized the same day, Oct 29. Which is also his BIRTHDAY!! So lets hope and pray he will. He loves the feeling while reading the BOM and says its true. SO GOLDEN. He then came to EVERY session of General Conference this weekend.

That same feeling can and will be felt by all of us if we are truly reading it and praying with "Real Intent". I want all of you to know that I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and does "Contain the fullness of the gospel." 

But Gen. Conf. this weekend was also so great! Every talk gave important insight to how we can be better people. Now that we have all heard them, we need to act on them. So DO IT! I would love to hear from everyone on what their favorite talk was, and why! 

So. also this week. Xolani left to Zimbabwe and so we were all sad and missed him. But he will be a great missionary. He has been fellowshipping for two years. But in the mix of all the sadness, Mzo, his best friend has been hurting the most. So as a joke, I told him I'd give him 1000 rand (75$) to eat a pile of cow poop. (a couple hours fresh) He was serious about it. So I told him no and not to. But he was so set on making money, so he said if i eat just a handful it would be 150 rand (11$) and I agreed jokingly! AND HE DID IT! IT WAS SO AMAZING AND DISGUSTING!!!!!! But whatever, I'm out 11 bucks but it was the funniest thing. I feel so bad tho.. not really. 

We also got into a bible bash with a guy that is from a different church. It was going nowhere, but it was sooo funny. The false doctrine that was explained and what he said just made us laugh. I'm so glad that we have the ONLY true church. 

It is also so funny whenever you just ask investigators or members or less actives how their day was, or what they are doing, and they just feel so guilty and very sadly say, I didn't read. or I didn't pray. It is the complete different answer but it shows how humble the people are and that they really are sincere. One lady was confessing all of her sins and I was like nooo stop not to us haha but one thing was, she can't get rid of the guilt of paying her neighbor to go and kill her puppies for 10 rand a dog. People can't afford to keep them and they just get sick and die regardless, but these were hard on her and she needed to get rid of them. it was so sad but we were dying laughing. It is great to know that no matter what we have done, the Atonement is ALWAYS there and we can ALWAYS be forgiven.

Another highlight was finding a store with dr pepper!!1 FIRST PLACE SO I BOUGHT 10! SO GOOD. I am convinced it tastes better because i haven't had it in so long and that it is soo much better than the dirty water we have...

That is pretty much it. I am so thankful for all of the constant support and love and i can feel your prayers from everyone! I want you all to share the gospel everywhere you go, because you don't know who is being prepared for it. 

Love, Elder Ivins

Also, don't eat poop... 

1. Last night with X
2.Mashiqa family, recent converts who are always so kind and have us over a lot to visit.
3. Group of little girls who are daughter and neieces of a Investigotor named shelly we are teaching!
4.Mzo with poop
5. Found a shop that sells dr pepper. This was all they had.....

1. Beautiful SA sunset

2. Ivory homes in SA 

3. Annies cove