Fwd: Good Morning!!

Super short letter from Jarod this week. He went to the internet cafe this morning and there was no internet so they went to Port St. John's for a fun day. )Google it. It is amazing. He specifically talked about the blow hole and the airstrip. I googled both and wow, so pretty.) Afterward, they went back to the internet cafe and there was internet, but he only had a few minutes. He left his camera in the car so didn't send any pictures. He hit his 10 month mark last week and is getting a new Mission President next week. He is so happy, which makes me so happy!! Elder Ivins was born to be a missionary and he is soaking up every minute!! Enjoy your week and share love and joy with those you meet - in honor of Jarod!!!

xo-Robyn

Hello! What a great week it was! Very busy, hard working and fun fun fun.

We had appointments after appointments, and bang bang bang it all led up to one of the best Sundays on mission! 

We are out of time now, but here is a little on the week.

One of the highlights this week was the ysa activity on Saturday. We had a bunch of investigators come, which made it soo much better.They loved it! We played games all day and lunch, more games, scavenger hunts, a sweet braii, and a nice dinner. It really boosted the investigators to make these amazing friendships. A lot of the ysa are schooling in other areas of S.A. so when they are all here it is just so fun! It is kinda like entering winter break here. Which is awesome, a lot of people are home all day, so we can see a lot of people, and meet tons of new people! But the same goes the other way and a lot of people go back to their villages to be with family. so we will see how the teaching goes. I'm excited to be working with the branch and meeting new families! 

One cool experience is being guided by the spirit to a mall for lunch this week, where we bumped into a family who has lived in Mthatha for about 10 months, and not known where the church is! It was a miracle. They were willing to drive 3 hours to get to the nearest church. We have met with them twice this week, and they have an amazing niece that isn't a member who stays with them , Anna. We have been teaching her, and she is sooo ready. We love it!

We are excited for a great week this week! I love you all and sorry for the short email....

Next week will be better. 

Love, Elder Ivins!

Fwd: SHELEMBE

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

Wow. Just like that, my coloured comp was gone, and my black son was born.

EL was a bitter sweet moment. Saying goodbye and the end to the district, enjoying last moments, eating good food, reuniting with the first born in the bush (hawkins), seeing good friends, getting puked on, eating lots of good food unavailable in mthatha, mini golfin, aston martins, more food.

Yeah it was awesome. A really fun experience was meeting my new son, Elder Shelembe. It was a nice meeting, where Elder Gibbons and myself switched tags, so for a good 10 min, He had no clue and thought they were comps. It was hilarious, and just fun. He is such a good guy. He is from Johannesburg, and was born a member. He really connects with the people, and makes teaching the gospel so fun. A cool experience was to be with him and elder Hawkins in EL for the night. We went on exchanges and got to be in a tri comp with them. It brought a lot of happiness to me to be teaching with both, so much power from them. I'm so blessed! 

But the first week has been great. He is really adapting to mission, and hastn had any problems. We are getting to work hard, and had an amazing first sunday. KK is doing great and brought her friend to church, and shaun is more and more powerful everyday. I love it!!!

With the members, we planned a couple of pranks for Elder Shelembe, but unfortunately, they fell through. Planned to fake as investigators, pull some weapons, argue. Apparently Pres Boateng did it a while ago, and it made an elder cry all night and FREAK out! hahha im really sad it didnt work, but its all good. They did little things to me while I came, but its just a fun time!

Yesterday we met Lisekhona and Aviwe's (recent converts)  cousin, Siziphiwe, and had an amazing lesson with her. She said at the end after a prayer, that she has always felt so alone and lost, and didn't know why. We opened to scripture where the Savior Jesus Christ was performing the Atonement and said, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" We told her she is not the first to feel alone. It was so powerful as she began to be silent and weep. This is one of the most powerful lessons for me, because a lot of the times, we use good scriptures for the spirit in lessons, but this one was more solemn and personal, about being alone, and that because Jesus Christ suffered for us, we are never alone. It hit me very hard as well as her. And I felt the spirit testify to me it is true. We committed her to be baptised, and to receive the Holy Ghost. Leaving her NEVER alone.

I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, in allowing us to be able to be perfect again, and to have the redeeming power through Him. I testify that HE LIVES. He stands today on the right hand of God. He is the Living Christ. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life, and eternal happiness in the world to come. I am personally grateful to God, for the gift of his son.  

I love you all so much! Work hard, be good, and share the gospel.

Elder Ivins

Fwd: Bitter-sweet Last week (with "The District")

Hello! Well this was the final week of what President Merrill calls, "The District".

We have been the first all Utahn district in his 3 year tenure, and we have loved every second of it. We even got 3 more weeks together, and now it is all done. 

This week was spent hitting up people, saying goodbye to people, and enjoying teaching the amazing people that we have. 

The highlight of this week was definitely Sunday. After a very hectic week with all of the elders tough situation, no car, getting robbed, and having a long time in search to get "in" with the South African gangs, we were ready for a great Sabbath. 

And that is what we got. Almost all of the people that committed to coming to church came. Of course we had those few flakes, and we were really sad, but judging the people that came, you can never be mad or disappointed in that! Gospel principles class was PACKED. It was amazing! After a great church block, we gathered for a branch pic. It was really hard. but, we got a good majority of the 100 people in attendance to stay! Then those stayed for the baptism of Anelisa and Honey!

Anelisa is the niece of Zikhona, and powerful member of a couple years. She is 13 and loves life. She has come to church often with her aunt (sister basically) who she stays with. We were blessed to meet her as she was so prepared and ready. I had the amazing opportunity to baptise her, in the coldest water ever. It is getting colder and colder here, which means the water in this pool in the back room is just freezing. WORTH IT. Felt like redfish in april.

We had good lessons with the Dyantyi family. They are a big family, who love church, come every sunday, and then will leave at 1030 to go to there church. we were really bold this week with them, and committed them to b e baptised on july 9th. and really hoping and praying that they will have enough faith to leave their church if they know it is true. It may take time to get them all, but Pumza right now seems to be the leader of the family. She knows it is true, and I think really wants to make that step. She will do it. Just as Alec said, have faith, test the promises, expect a miracle. 

It was a very hard working, great week. And Im so thankful for the time that Elder Kyles and I have had to work together and meet so many amazing people. The Lord guides us, and there are people everywhere ready for the gospel. I love it! GO share the gospel with everyone. THEY ARE READY!

Tell God that you want to find 2 people today, and that you will bring 2 new people to church. And then keep his commandments, work hard, and do what is right. The Lord will Provide. 

Love, Elder Ivins

Fwd: The ACTUAL Merrils in Mthatha!

Hello! well. this week. Amazing!! full of fun, laughter, and good times. 

It all started with an amazing trip to a waterfall about an hour away. It was like a two tear waterfall, the first fall of about 50 feet and the second about 200 feet. We played tag, threw the football, found a dead rotting dog, oh, and I saved elder Paskett twice from falling to death. It was Sweet!! ahha

We climbed onto a cliff, about 300 feet above the bottom lake and pond thing, it was so cool. we sat and leaned over the edge. Elder Kyles was a little scared, and didnt join us, but it was a blessing, he got some sweet pics! The cool part was getting back out. The cliff was at the end of this slope thing, with a little drop to get onto it. So after messing around on it, (only about 3 ft by 5 ft area) it was quite jammed, and to get back up required a fun free climbing move, only 300 feet above the bottom. You had to reach you right hand up (actually a nice hold) but had nothing for the left, and then stretch your right leg out and around, to step up to a little crimp for left hand, and small ledge for left foot. It wasn't too challenging, but the thought of dang, that would stink to fall, was definitely in our minds. 

We met and taught some great people before leaving to queenstown and one of which was this girl named nosipho. She had a great prayer and really felt the spirit tell her it was true. We are now gonna work for her to be baptised at the end of June! It will be so fun, and she is gonna help lead all of her friends to be baptised as well.

WHEN IN QUEENSTOWN pt 4! Zander's birthday was really fun. We got to go to queenstown for zone conference, which of course led to a lot of kfc, ice cream, and fun with the elders in our zone!

It was our last interview with President. We talked about my favorite trainings I have received, many great ways to follow the Spirit and how to be a great leader. He also told me that in the whole mission 50% of the mission is being transferred, and that there is only one elder coming into the whole mission, and I am going to be called to train him! So I will get a new elder, from South Africa! At the end of the interview, I received a blessing from him. He said many wonderful things, and is truly inspired by God in everything. He blessed me with more faith, and how that has been influential on my success and how that will always be the reason for success with the Lord.

Zone Conference was great, and president Merrill gave some great training on never giving up, and how to always work hard, enjoy suffering, and being obedient. It was just really perfect. 

We got home Friday morning and had a great weekend of teaching. KK and her sister are doing really well, and both came to church on sunday! The two little girls also came and are loving it all, and getting really close to baptism! 

SUNDAY, MERRILLS IN MTHATHA. What a great day. It was so fun. We made a lot of the food sunday morning, and sat night, because they would have to leave quickly after church. It was really fun to have them listen the testimony meeting in mthatha, they helped a lot in gospel principles, and taught relief society and priesthood. The whole branch was sooo excited to have them there, especially us.

Lunch was fantastic. We ate loads of pork tacos, watched sister merrill Pound a lot of homemade tortillas, and had one of the best talks with them all together. It was definitely one of the best dinners ever. It was just very chill and fun, not worrying about anything. Talked a lot about life, and mission, and yeah. haha We got some really funny selfies with them, and it was a bitter-sweet departure. knowing I wont see them again for a while. They have truly been amazing in helping me learn and grow on mission, and to be the person I want to be. I am so thankful to be called on mission at this time with them.

The Lord is in charge of this work. He is the ultimate director. I love Mthatha. I love mission. I love the gospel. And I love all of you! 

Love, Elder Ivins

Fwd: Gun? Well mine has candy in it!

Hello All!! 

This week flew by! All of it was so fun, and my birthday was the best one yet! It started with a great morning and breakfast with the elders, and was a fun full day of celebrating. Birthdays are rare. you only get 2 a mission. So, dang! Hahaha I opened my presents, a fun a hard puzzle from lizzie, and a fun shirt, a new hack, tie, and even elder gibbons got me a bionacle!! SO fun!

We got KFC, Pizza, and the elders organized a surprise birthday party for me that night, with some of the most food in a dinner here. It was amazing!

We had some great lessons this week, and some hard ones as well. The norwood girls, Esethu, Bonisiwe, and Londi are struggling, now having a hard time accepting that ours is the only true church. We talked a lot about agency but dont feel God has answered them. They know our church is true, but think that theirs is also true. We worked with them and they are going to come to church next week, but unfortunately had school yesterday and couldnt come. 

A great move forward this week was with a brother named Lawrence. He is from Zimbabwe, and we gave him a bom tuesday. On friday, he had read the intro, testimonies, and chapters 1-5 on 1 Nephi. He also read moroni 1-8. It was amazing! I could tell that just by him reading the book of mormon, his testimony was changing. I loved it! He feels God has yet to answer him, but agrees with what we have taught. Both him and his wife Grace accepted baptism, if they come to know it is true. They feel that their old church had authority to baptise, but they do have real intent to find out. We fasted for them this weekend, as well as for some other investigators, and we really hope and pray they will progress till baptism in the next couple weeks!

This really amazing family we are teaching came to church, well the brother and Tata came. The lesson was hilarious with them. The tata loves the BOM, and says it is "SPICY" unlike the bible. And every word is from God. He is a pastor is his church, so we will work with him on that, and that may be the problem we see, but the family is so nice and amazing. We sing Hymns for them, then they sing a xhosa song for us! It is soo fun! Tata was doing a funeral saturday, and he said that he would use the BOM this time instead of the bible! We gave him mosiah to read, where it talks about how death has no sting, because of Jesus Christ. He used it and i love it so much, how this man is teaching all his congregation that this "book" is the best thing he has ever read!!

Well this week had a lot of hype for the Merrills in Mthatha! We bought sooo much food and got the boarding the cleanest it has ever been. I ran all around mthatha sat morning looking for dumb tortilla chips. no go. It was rough. Sunday morning we got up extra early, and started the pork and beef. Made the rice, and tortilla dough. A Cafe Rio treat! We got to church early, and made sure we looked the best we ever did. And then?

We waited. and waited. after each song we would check. nope. After each confirmation? no. As i played the music i would look out at every car that passed.... NONE

We got really sad. Pres Boateng was even gonna have them speak, but they no showed so elder paskett got called up to give a random talk. haha.

After Sacrament, I shot P. Merrill a text, saying Hey is everything okay? are you still gonna make it today? 

He responds. We are coming next week! We dont leave Cape Town until Tuesday! 

DAGGER. HEARTBREAKING. TEARWRECKING. 

Well, we went home, and divulged in food. AMAZING. but sad, we had nice dessert, a short nap, and then had a great sunday night teaching!

Well It was a great week. They are long, but fly by. Each day is so fun to teach and have with the amazing and perfect people of Africa. This gospel is perfect and so are you all!

Love, Elder Ivins

(so.. the reason i borught up a gun in the subject? well.... 

on friday we were at the garage cuz elder Kyles needed the toilet. While he was in, Ntsindiso and I were messing around in the shop, and there was a toy gun, with candy in it! I started to "shoot" everyone in the garage. Elder Kyles came out and we were about to blast, but It was really funny, and everyone was laughing and pretending to get shot. Then this one guy, huge. really tall and yoked opened up his broad shoulders, and walked towards me. I was like, whats dis doing...

the closer he walked the more i shot. It was really funny. Then he opens up his coat, and reached his hand to his left side of his pants, and pulls this gun. a REAL one. He says, "Now this is the real thing" While he stares me down. Inside i kinda freak out, but then was like, nah we dont wanna get shot! so I say to him, "Yeah, but mine has candy in it...." HAHAHHA It was so funny. This guy was like what??? Then we just put the gun down and walked away. hahahhah so be careful, you never know who has a gun (including me....)

🔫

Fwd: Mthatha conference is the best conference

Jarod had an email all written when suddenly the internet was gone. (Welcome to Africa!) He said it was gone for an hour. Dang it! He did get a few pictures sent before he lost connection. Tomorrow is his BIRTHDAY!!!! He got the package that our awesome neighbor took to Capetown so that is great news. He even said he's waiting until tomorrow to open the wrapped presents! We sent him a voice recorder - which wasn't wrapped, and he sent back about 10 recordings of he and his companions as they go about their day. It is so fun to hear his voice! I'm sure you don't want to hear them all, but if you do, let me know and I'll send them on! This is the email that he sent to his Mission President. He was able to forward it to us.

Enjoy our crazy boy.

Hello! 

This week was awesome! It went by fast, but looking back it felt forever. I love weeks like that cuz I feel I get more out of them.

Some highlights were definitely Branch Conference this weekend, an amazing exchange with Elder Paskett, and a really fun week altogether. We had a great turnout at church and 13 investigators came! (He said the other 2 missionaries in his apartment also had 13 investigators, for a total of 26 with 125 people at church yesterday!)

We walked with 4 of them: Esethu, Londi, and Bonisiwe from Norwood. And in town we met up with Ahlume and her sisters. It was really fun, but long and up hill. We  left at 8 am from their flat, and got to church 2 minutes to 9. perfect! It wouldnt be too bad alone, but they are a little slower but it all worked out! They were very tired, but all loved church and will be back next week!! 

President VanNirden (not sure if thats the spelling.. ahha) is so powerful! WE had a lot of fun with him and his family at the fireside and on sunday. Some things that stood out were that he said we are going away with sharing a Spiritual Thought. It is now a spiritual experience. Something relevant. Not years ago, not 4 months ago. Relevant. Days, maybe a week, or hours. We should be looking to have Spiritual Experiences very often, many times a day. We have the gift of the Holy Ghost! Take advantage of it! 

It was really cool for me to hear this. Before mission I didn't have that many spritual experiences, or I didnt recognize them or acknowledge them. Now on mission we rely on the Spirit. But everyday we need to find Spiritual Experiences!

A really cool experience we had was on Thursday. With the girls in Norwood, Esethu was progressing the best. We really wanted to try to have a lesson on her own, to really help her take a jump, but at the same time didnt want the others to lose ground. We were thinking about praying for just her at the house, but didnt.. But then Heavenly Father answered us right as we got there. She had a headache and was leaving to the shop to get some medicine. We showed up and the spirit told us to go with her. As we walked we had a great mini lesson. We talked about a lot and really helped her recognize what she is doing. She said that she wants to read the BOM for herself, not for us. It was a big eye opener, because so often we try to get people to read the BOM, but it should never be for us, but for the people! It was perfect at that time to find out what she needed. Without missing anyone else.

Well, this week was awesome. I love Mthatha, I love Africans, and I love the Lord. The people here are sooooo amazing, and each day my love grows more and more for them . They are so amazing and when people progress even just a little bit it makes me so happy. 

Fwd: Mothers Day is the best Day

HELLO FAMILY!! Pt 2

Well. Yesterday was so amazing! It was so great to see and talk with my amazing family! 

This week was really great, a lot of hype into Sunday, and thennnnn.... Elder Kyles was sooo sick. That was really a shame. SO i stayed home with him all day, and was just stressin about what people were at church or not. I was able to watch all of the mormon messages i have, read a bunch in the BOM and Our Search for Happiness, and while i was cleaning the kitchen I listened to the Audio Version of 3rd Nephi. It was really cool actually to be totally submerged in the Scriptures all day! It was also the first Sunday I have taken an afternoon nap.

We met a really powerful girl named Khayakazi. We call her KK or Khaya. When i yelled to her hey Khaya, It just reminded me of all the fun times with my cousin Kaya. Its one of the first names here that is of our family. I met an Annie once, and a Gabriel. But briefly. 

But, KK came up to us on the street, asking us if we worked at Standard Bank and wanted help ahahha. We told her no, but that we can still help her (wink wink, eternal salvation, you know mos). We got her info, and she actually seemed really interested, but we never made it to her house. I called her Sat night and invited her to church and she said she would come! I didn't think too much of it, as we invite a lot of people who we even meet with and have good lessons with to come, and they dont. But then Sun morning, she sent us a text saying that she was in a taxi and on her way, but lost the card i gave her with the address to the church! I was sooo HYPED! I guess she loved church and we are excited to see her this week!

Another miracle we had was with Sphamantla. If you remember we taught him, super powerful loved church, and then his brother shafted us down. So, we were really discouraged and on fast Sunday I fasted for him and have been praying that his brother would have his heart softened. But Heavenly Father answered us a bit differently. Sphamantla's mother has moved home, and stays with them again. And so this smart kid decided to ask his mom if he can go back to church. Because he has been reading the BOM i left for him, and loves it!

Anddddd BOOM. His mom says YES! and what do you know, because we have a loving Heavenly Father she too is interested why her boy loves church so much. Patience, Diligence, and Hard work bring miracles!

This week we have really been studying about Christ. Who he is, what he does, and how we can be like him. We studied BD (Bible Dictionary) Christ, and BD Christ, Names of. We picked which one was our favorite that we will call the Savior when he comes again. I love the name Brother. and Savior. The Living Christ is also soo powerful talking about our Redeemer. You all should study those and then let me know next week what name you will call Jesus Christ when he comes again. 

I love you, and know that He lives, and this is His work!

Love, Jarod

(may not be pics this week cuz we are on the laptops. Xolo)

Keep Practicing Xhosa!!!

Here is a link to our time with Jarod. If you skip to minute 29 you can hear him speaking in Xhosa. (It's pretty boring at the beginning, unless you're his mom, then it's amazing!!!)

https://youtu.be/wf34Ii75HM0