Fwd: KHUMBULA

Khumbula, khumbula...

Remember, Remember...

It has been a great week being able to REMEMBER what a great life grandma lived.

Last night, after a great week of working hard, and testifying of living as a family forever, we met the oldest man in Grahamstown at 102 years old. 

It was so fun too see this amazing man. His name, Jim Madolo. 

He has a perfect recollection of his amazing life, his family, and still walks to town a couple times a week. His secret? Never be sad! It is so amazing to see that joy can and is found in families all around the world, and that we truly can live as families forever. Jim Madolo brought back fun memories of my amazing family. 

He helped me REMEMBER Grandpa Babbel, when we would take his cane while at the cabin, or Redfish. He helped me REMEMBER Grandma Babbel, who would always give us gummy bears. He helped me REMEMBER Grandma Mutti. Who always had the prettiest smile on her face.

I have loved being able to remember the amazing people and experiences in my life. I remember going to the temple with grandma and family, always being with friends, leaving home for SA. I also remember our first dropped appointment, and baptism! I will always love and remember these great people here.

As we remember our loved ones, and most importantly our Saviour Jesus Christ, we will be filled with love. I have seen it, and felt it. I know it is true. This gospel brings peace that nothing else could, and it is all founded upon the Book of Mormon.

Having the gift to remember is the greatest thing, and as we do so, we can remember our past, to make our future better. 

We also have some great investigators, who we can tell are already repenting by the way they are feeding us on our first visit! Sadza, Umngushu, Dombolo, ah it is all so amazing! We are excited to see Grahamstown grow, and become what God wants it to be!

Love always, Elder Ivins 

An emotional roller coaster

Every thing in the last part of this week was a blur.

In 4 days, I was able to experience the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. 

Just how at lagoon, going on wicked you go up and down and around, thats how this week was. I will explain.

From Thursday, I was able to have an amazing interview with President Lebethoa, and it was followed by and even better dinner at the VENA's house! They balled out as usual, and created the biggest feast I have had on mission. It was to say goodbye to Deneo, who leaves on her mission in 10 days! What a great night, and it was followed by a wonderful, and inspired zone conference friday morning from President.

UP

Friday night came, and in being late to an appointmetn, partly due to a 2 hour drive back from PE, I carelessly thought about the stop sign in town, and got schained by a 1000 rands traffic fine, with a COURT appearance in August. (i guess i still havent learnt my lesson from the pipes being stolen, and the car racing with michael....)

DOWN

Saturday was great in an effort to finally have our baptisms be organized for sunday. we confirmed with everyone, and got the whole program set!

UP

Sunday morning came, and in an attempt to make toast (cinnamon and sugar of course), and iron a shirt, and be on time to walk with investigators coming to church I received a phone call from President Lebethoa. As he explained to me that he had spoken to dad just the night before, and that grandma had received a new calling to the other side of the veil, I hit the lowest of the lows. It was so sad to hear this. 

DOWN

As I went in and read in the scriptures, I eventually found myself in D&C 138:39

" 39 And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God."

Grandma truly was a faithful daughter of God, who through her whole life worshiped the true and living God. I am so grateful to have always seen Grandma smiling. As i think, I really don't think I ever saw her sad or mad (except when Taysom went down, or at a BYU interception, but really that is it). 

She always had the most love, the greatest smile, and the best cookies. It still feels surreal, because the last time I saw her was at the airport, and I wonder why I couldn't say goodbye. But there is NO other place than here that grandma would have me be. She has been here every step, and will continue to be here.

I think back to how great it is knowing that my grandma could ski the cirque, still could water ski, loved biking, and hiking, and picking huckleberries. My grandma went to every BYU football game without fail, and I have no doubt she is singing the cougar fight song with brother Lavell today. 

She is in great arms with Grandma and Grandpa Babbel, and all our wonderful ancestors who are there to love and lift us. 

Grandma was a true angel. I love her with all my heart. Thank you for the love and prayers for me and our family.

President Lebethoa said something really powerful as we spoke, "We know the plan, and we have to live the plan."

Mutti knew the plan, she lived it, and is now one step further than all of us in this glorious plan of Happiness that God has for us. 

It is true. The gospel is true. I know it! I love it!

Elder Ivins

(ps I did end the week on some ups. We had 3 amazing baptisms yesterday! And this morning, I went to court, testified of the True and living Messiah, and he lowered the fine to 350 rand! All of which was followed by a package from home, and 3 lbs of chocolate covered almonds! God loves all his children 😉)

UP 

What a prophet!

Elder Holland said it right, "What a Prophet!"

By their fruits ye shall know them. I love this church and I love knowing that we have a living prophet directing us in the Savior's way!

It was a wonderful week, full of lots of traveling, lots of laughter, and many great lessons.

A great highlight was to see Phome, a wonderful investigator that we used to teach. She moved to Joburg, but came back this side for graduation! It was so fun to see her, and to get the better news that her baptism is this coming Sunday! We had a nice talk with her and her mom, and they, along with her younger sister will be being baptized next week!

All great things are happening, and although Annie is having back surgery, I know that it will all be great! She loves Dr Pepper, and cafe rio, so if anyone wants to spoil her, go for it.

AND it is Sunnie's birthday this week! It is crazy that she is 11! and Adam is 20 on the 12th!

This week we really have been using the Book of Mormon a lot in helping people see the truth. We have read it with everyone we come in contact with, and it helped bring a whole family, with 10 people packed into a tiny car to church on Sunday. Without the convincing truths from the Book of Mormon, they prolley wouldn't have come. 

Thank you all for the love and support! I love you!

Elder Ivins

Fwd: Jarod Jason Ivins shared “Conf ball out, Hogsback reunion” with you

Hello! What a wonderful week it was. I hope all of you enjoyed, and loved conference! 

I have only been able to watch sat morning, and priesthood, so up to this point the greatest parts have been the Solemn Assembly, and Priesthood brethren all Rising Up. 

As elder Mofokeng and I were the only ones watching at the chapel, in the middle of S.A, with 2 rack's of ribs, and 16 wings (in honor of R&R), we were overwhelmed with the Spirit of God, and filled with love, as we watched and Sustained the prophet of God speak to us. The fruits of the prophet are already flooding the earth, and im excited for more and more to come!

I love this church, and I love the fact that everyday I get to tell everyone that it is true!!

Sometimes we get to the edge of what we can see, and not knowing what is ahead, we become afraid, and fearful. But in those times we need to act in faith. 

Elder Paskett and I today were attempting to bushwag through to the top of an amazing waterfall, and came to a complete stop. With no trail in sight, and having free climbed, vine held, and hand holding up this cliff side mountain, we were stuck. So, with the dice in my pocket, we quoted the scriptures and "cast lots" to see if we should go up, or down. 1-3 was up, 4-6 was down. 

A 2 came up, and just 20 steps further, found a path that led to the top of the waterfall. Turning back and going down would have been very hard, and dangerous, but sometimes Heavenly Father has us press on, not knowing that the path back home to him is just around the next bush, tree, or turn. 

As we continued, we ended up coming to the greatest view, seeing amazing waters rush off the cliff, and huge mountains range around us. Truly "all things denote there is a God."

Love, Elder Ivins

(Jarod's Mama has attached all of his photos this week because he is just so cute!!!)

Jarod Jason Ivins shared an album with you  Conf ball out, Hogsback reunion 29 View album You received this mail because Jarod Jason Ivins shared these photos with you. If you no longer wish to receive email notifications of shared photos, unsubscribe here. Get the Google Photos app Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy Mountain View, CA 94043 USA

Fwd: green water, green son

HEY~

What a great week it was in Grahamstown! Unfortunately, our baptisms didn't go down, the water was still green, and dirty... So.. hopefully in the next couple days it will be cleaned! until then.... we will see.

This week, the Petersons, a wonderful couple serving in Port Alfred, about 40 min from us, are going home, so Elder Mofokeng and I will be covering that area! Our load of people just doubled, and we will see how we can handle it, to make sure that all of them get into the waters of Mormon. There are great people there as well, and we are blessed to be in the position to work with both of them!

We met one of the greatest families this week, full of 6 kids! 6! A Father, Mother, and 6 more. The DEMBESE family. They understand kancinci english, but we are excited to help them progress to baptism, which would be SO amazing. Some even came to church yesterday, and kept saying how great it was! 

We are excited to keep the work of God moving forward, and thank you so much for the love and prayers!

Love you all, and Pray for Snow!

Elder Ivins

Fwd: Green green Green

Hello!

What a wonderful week in SA. It was quite weird actually, to have gone from being companions with the oldest missionary in the whole mission, to the the youngest. But it has been a great ride.

Elder Mofokeng is amazing! He is a little different than me in lots of ways. He is the first member in his family, differing from my 8 or 9 or however many generations. He is the first missionary! Definitely different than our family. He has a younger brother, and mother and father. His dad is the only one not a member, YET.

He has graduated with a degree, and worked for a year. He is 23, and very powerful! BUT, despite the differences, we have loads in common. We love the gospel, we love to teach it, and we love to eat! So what could be wrong? haha

We are speaking to lots of new people, and it is very fun to try to keep up with Elder Mofokeng. We have 3 wonderful sisters preparing for baptism next week, so lets pray that all goes well for that, and we are really excited to see Ntombikhona, Thandazwa, and Salamina get in the water. They are a little afraid, cuz its nice and green, but other than that, they have wonderful testimonies.

The church is true, and I love to tell everyone about it! Thank you for the love and support, and I challenge you all to reach out and share the gospel in any way this week. It may be a text message, and tweet, or giving someone a book of mormon. As you do it, Heavenly Father will bless you!

Love always, Elder Ivins

Jarod bought his new "son" a baby backpack, filled it with green baby items and have to him upon his arrival from the MTC. His new greenie didn't totally get it, but it seems like something I would do! He's my kid for sure!

Pictures!!