Hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
As for us, we were informed that we should not celebrate Thanksgiving, as it's not a recognized holiday here, and that normal proselyting would continue like a normal day. We all figured that's what would happen anyway, so it wasn't that big a deal.
Unfortunately the week started out a bit bad on my side. I got sick, food poisoning is what i'd imagine it was. I must have eaten something and it ended up making me feel horrible. So both Tuesday and Wednesday we didnt even go out into the area. Just hung around and tried to get some rest and get over it. Tried to drink lots of water, etc etc. It was a bit boring, but we ended up going on some nice walks (because being stuck in the boarding all day blows big time, and we found a nice lake/reserve place and we chilled up there for a while. It was way pretty. O and we had some problems with our electricity. It went out, so we went to go get some more (we have to buy our electricity when it gets low, well mission pays for it, ya know...) So we went to Pick N Pay to get some more (local grocery) and they said we were unable to buy it becuase it was blocked and a whole bunch of other stupid reasons. So we called the office, called the landlord, trying to figure out what to do. Needless to say we were completely out of electricity and they couldnt solve it that day. So we ended up spending the night with some other elders at their place. Same thing happened on Wednesday, still couldn't get any. So we had to sleep over again. But we did finally get it on thursday, which was great to have. Thursday i was feeling a bit better so we went back into the area. It was a slow week for us...but we stayed busy.
On Saturday we went to the chapel for our class that we teach, but found that the YM/YW were having an activity. It was a dance activity. So we hung around and helped out, ate a bit of food, that sort of stuff. It was pretty fun. They were learning how to dance...idunno what kind of dance...and then half of it just reminded me of high school becuase they'd form a bit circle and then random people would jump in for 30 seconds at a time...ya know...and then hop back out. Of course only most of the girls were brave enough to go in. A lot of the guys were even too scared to ask any of the girls to dance. It's funny...doesnt matter where you go in the world, guys are always more uncomfortable and shy when it comes to dancing and what what. So i have now made it a goal of mine that when i get home, i want to take a dance class. haha...but anyway, it was fun and ended up being a great activity for how small the branch is.
Sunday church was really good. Elder Mkhize and I spoke in sacrament meeting. I was the concluding speaker. It went really well...other than the chapel was hot and we only had fans in there...but it went really good. Our theme for sunday was Jacob 3:1,2 and Alma 57:27. It talked mostly about being Firm and Pure in Heart. So i talked a lot of about the stripling warriors, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and of course the Savior. I kept my time of 15 minutes and overall i think it went really well. I tried to focus my talk on how to have a Firm Testimony and how to live to it til the end of our lives like many of these men in the scriptures...But other than that church was good.We had a few appointments and just ended our day. A window of teaching has again presented itself to a PM family, Mama Matiso's family. I think i told you we're teaching her daughter Vuyokazi, as well as her other daughter. Only 2 out of the 5 are members if you remember me saying. But now the husband, although he struggles with english, has expressed how he might want us to visit him as well. We've been praying for fatherled families as this is our main focus. So hopefully this will be a father that we can bring into the church that will be strong support to the rest of his family.
Other than that...not much. Just keeping on going. Thanks for everything everyone! hope you enjoy the holidays!
Elder Devenney
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Nov 9th, 2009
Well because of last week i'll try to make up for it by saying a bit of what you would have heard last week, as well as this week...
Starting last week i wrote about one of our investigators named Vuyokazi. A 23 year old Part member family member. Her mother and sister are both members, and now she's getting interested as well. Even the father of the family came to church for the first time yesterday...So There's mama Matiso, (mother) and amanda (other sister) who are both recent converts probably within the past 4 months or so. But are active and excited. So anyway...with Vuyokazi...we've been visiting her for just a couple of weeks now and she's come to church maybe 4 times or so, maybe more. She's a fashion designer, has her own shop here in Queenstown. It's a new business for her tho, so she just started. We talked with her a little bit about faith a few weeks ago and challenged her to act on her faith and do something to increase her faith in the Saviour. We gave her til the next time we saw her, which would just be a couple of days, then we'd follow up and see how it went. Anyway, to make a long story short, she expressed how truly she saw how her prayers were making a difference. She had been praying sincerely that people would come to her store so that she would be able to have enough money for rent, etc, and her prayers were answered. Her business is going well...even with how new it is. I think there's also some issue with her and her father...but i'm excited to find out her thoughts about him now that he visited the church yesterday...Also something else that she told us was that some lady came into her store and told her how nice she was and how great her work was and the lady ended up asking Vuyokazi what church she goes to, surprisingly enough she ended up saying the LDS church. (previously she had been going to a happy clappy church, ya know drums and all...but i know she hadnt learned anything there) and when the lady heard her say that she said "why!? how could such a good girl like you go to THAT church" "why dont you come to my house and i'll tell you all about those mormons and what they believe in". Good thing Vuyokazi ended up sticking up for herself and told her no thanks, even when she's only come a couple of times and at that point we had probably only sat down with her 3 times with short visits. She could have easily found some anti stuff through this lady, but we were glad that she stood up for herself and what she's been feeling and was able to deny that lady. I was happy to hear that. But she's doing well nonetheless. We'll see what happens with that family in the future. We're slowly getting them all to church one by one...
Last week for our book of mormon class we taught about how to introduce the book to people in a sit down situation. Had some practice role plays, evaluated, repracticed, it was pretty intereting. The Ym and Yw have been doing a lot of missionary work for us, going out and talking to people about the gospel, and even tried to teach for themselves...which is something they shouldnt do without us, and luckily we corrected them...but they're really finding joy in missionary work. And they've given us a lot of referrals which was great to see. So this time for our BOM class, this past saturday...we focused on Pass Along Cards. How to talk to a random stranger on the street and invite them to take the card, etc etc. We kinda did the same thing, practiced, role played, then took it to real life and had an activity to give away pass along cards to those walking by the chapel. Everybody was so scared at first, but once they started they realized it wasn't that bad and would want to give away more. We had huge success with it. Including referrals from the contacts they made, with some we've already visited yesterday. The branch is becoming more and more focused on missionary work through classes, as well as the Family Mission Plan of which i've spoken about in past weeks...
As for this week...things are going just fine. We've been having a lot of success in bringing people to church. I think my first couple of weeks we were only getting maybe 2 or 3 investigators at church, now we have usually 8 or 9. So we're feeling good about our efforts on that side.
Silindokuhle, our RC, was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday which is good to see. He's a solid young man.
O on saturday night we had a nice dinner with the Ndlelo's, 1st counselor in BP, and YW pres...i'm sure i've mentioned them before. I had promised to make them a chocolate cake, so that was half the reason of going over there. Which we did by the way and it was fantastic as always. Then they made us some pop and pork and stuff...pretty nice meal.
O yes, we had workshops and interviews this past week which i almost forgot about. On the 18th of this month we're having Elder Hinkley, (Pres. HInkley's son) come to our mission and tour it. Well almost this whole transfer, but on the 18th is our Zone Conference in which we'll see him. The focus for this transfer is Chapter 3 of PMG, all the basic things that we teach. So for ZC when he comes, one companionship will have to teach him The Plan of Salvation in 15 minutes...i'm hoping that we wont get picked for that one. haha. It would be a bit intimidating yeah...So that's what the workshop was on. And that's what we're going to focus on in District meetings and so on...just to prepare for that. How to better teach these lessons...Should be interesting.
Other than that there's really not much else going on. Things are good. Ilinge is fine. No big news there i suppose. Just teaching and having a good time! Hope that was a good update for ya...
Thanks,Elder Devenney
Starting last week i wrote about one of our investigators named Vuyokazi. A 23 year old Part member family member. Her mother and sister are both members, and now she's getting interested as well. Even the father of the family came to church for the first time yesterday...So There's mama Matiso, (mother) and amanda (other sister) who are both recent converts probably within the past 4 months or so. But are active and excited. So anyway...with Vuyokazi...we've been visiting her for just a couple of weeks now and she's come to church maybe 4 times or so, maybe more. She's a fashion designer, has her own shop here in Queenstown. It's a new business for her tho, so she just started. We talked with her a little bit about faith a few weeks ago and challenged her to act on her faith and do something to increase her faith in the Saviour. We gave her til the next time we saw her, which would just be a couple of days, then we'd follow up and see how it went. Anyway, to make a long story short, she expressed how truly she saw how her prayers were making a difference. She had been praying sincerely that people would come to her store so that she would be able to have enough money for rent, etc, and her prayers were answered. Her business is going well...even with how new it is. I think there's also some issue with her and her father...but i'm excited to find out her thoughts about him now that he visited the church yesterday...Also something else that she told us was that some lady came into her store and told her how nice she was and how great her work was and the lady ended up asking Vuyokazi what church she goes to, surprisingly enough she ended up saying the LDS church. (previously she had been going to a happy clappy church, ya know drums and all...but i know she hadnt learned anything there) and when the lady heard her say that she said "why!? how could such a good girl like you go to THAT church" "why dont you come to my house and i'll tell you all about those mormons and what they believe in". Good thing Vuyokazi ended up sticking up for herself and told her no thanks, even when she's only come a couple of times and at that point we had probably only sat down with her 3 times with short visits. She could have easily found some anti stuff through this lady, but we were glad that she stood up for herself and what she's been feeling and was able to deny that lady. I was happy to hear that. But she's doing well nonetheless. We'll see what happens with that family in the future. We're slowly getting them all to church one by one...
Last week for our book of mormon class we taught about how to introduce the book to people in a sit down situation. Had some practice role plays, evaluated, repracticed, it was pretty intereting. The Ym and Yw have been doing a lot of missionary work for us, going out and talking to people about the gospel, and even tried to teach for themselves...which is something they shouldnt do without us, and luckily we corrected them...but they're really finding joy in missionary work. And they've given us a lot of referrals which was great to see. So this time for our BOM class, this past saturday...we focused on Pass Along Cards. How to talk to a random stranger on the street and invite them to take the card, etc etc. We kinda did the same thing, practiced, role played, then took it to real life and had an activity to give away pass along cards to those walking by the chapel. Everybody was so scared at first, but once they started they realized it wasn't that bad and would want to give away more. We had huge success with it. Including referrals from the contacts they made, with some we've already visited yesterday. The branch is becoming more and more focused on missionary work through classes, as well as the Family Mission Plan of which i've spoken about in past weeks...
As for this week...things are going just fine. We've been having a lot of success in bringing people to church. I think my first couple of weeks we were only getting maybe 2 or 3 investigators at church, now we have usually 8 or 9. So we're feeling good about our efforts on that side.
Silindokuhle, our RC, was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday which is good to see. He's a solid young man.
O on saturday night we had a nice dinner with the Ndlelo's, 1st counselor in BP, and YW pres...i'm sure i've mentioned them before. I had promised to make them a chocolate cake, so that was half the reason of going over there. Which we did by the way and it was fantastic as always. Then they made us some pop and pork and stuff...pretty nice meal.
O yes, we had workshops and interviews this past week which i almost forgot about. On the 18th of this month we're having Elder Hinkley, (Pres. HInkley's son) come to our mission and tour it. Well almost this whole transfer, but on the 18th is our Zone Conference in which we'll see him. The focus for this transfer is Chapter 3 of PMG, all the basic things that we teach. So for ZC when he comes, one companionship will have to teach him The Plan of Salvation in 15 minutes...i'm hoping that we wont get picked for that one. haha. It would be a bit intimidating yeah...So that's what the workshop was on. And that's what we're going to focus on in District meetings and so on...just to prepare for that. How to better teach these lessons...Should be interesting.
Other than that there's really not much else going on. Things are good. Ilinge is fine. No big news there i suppose. Just teaching and having a good time! Hope that was a good update for ya...
Thanks,Elder Devenney
Monday, November 2, 2009
Oct 26, 2009
Good morning everybody! It has been another week here in South Africa where the weather has been up and down. Rainstorms, overcast, sunny and hot, it's been it all. I hope you're all enjoying the weather back at home...whether that's hot or cold i do not know...
Yesterday Silindokuhle entered the waters of baptism! It was really great. He's such a good kid. Monde, one of the other Priesthood holders who fellowships with us on a regular basis did the baptism. It was great actually, neither my companion or i got chosen to do any part of the program. Didnt even have to give a talk. haha. I think it's the best like that. If the members can do the baptism and confirmation and what what, then as soon as we Elders leave it's not a big deal for the investigators getting baptized. Yesterday was a rainy day tho...so i felt bad for those getting into the water...it couldnt have been too warm. As we all huddled around the outside baptismal font, with some watching from the inside, Monde had to dunk him 3 times because Silindokuhle kept floating to the top. haha. It was a pretty funny scene. But it worked out in the end on the 3rd try. :) He'll be confirmed a member of the church this coming sunday by Bro Patha, our 19 year old young mens president who comes to see Silindokuhle quite often with us.
As for other parts of the week...It's been off and on with good things happening and what not. Some days almost everything would fall through...and it would be hard to find productive things to do in the mean time. We did however do some good service this week at the Branch Presidents house, President Mjiba helping him "transplant" grass to another location...it was funny. He's a hilarious man. Then we also helped another member at the local clinic in the garden diggin around some corn, or mealie as they call it. It was good to get out and get dirty a bit.
We've had some really great Lesson 1 lessons this week with investigators. One in particular using an object lesson and at the end she said that if we're telling her the truth and as she finds out about it, she'll have to join the church because she hasn't felt like she's coming as close to Christ as she should have been, but if she does what we've challenged her to do, she'll be making the right step toward Him, she said. It's a mother and a son who is a referral from Monde actually. Just taught the mother, but we feel pretty good about it. We also did see the Nunu Family again, watched the Restoration DVD. There was one case where we tried to watch that dvd with a Recent Convert this past week...unfortunately for some reason half the sound wasn't working...but it was quite pathetic when i could quote the whole movie. I wish i knew how many times i've watched that DVD in the past year...i remember i went on an exchange with this elder in Namibia, and we watched it 5 times that day...sorry just a side note...
So lets see what else...We got that frisbee...and played that and rugby last monday...idunno if i told you or not. But that was freakin fun! I miss playing regular sports...and it's sad that i get winded within the first 5 minutes of playing. I'm still so out of shape...
I'm thinking of something exciting that i could tell ya that's happened this past week but i'm struggling...so i might just leave it at that. Just know that life is going fine...nothing too much has changed. Transfer news will come tomorrow. I'll let ya know if anything major happens...Nkosi!
Mdala Devenney
Yesterday Silindokuhle entered the waters of baptism! It was really great. He's such a good kid. Monde, one of the other Priesthood holders who fellowships with us on a regular basis did the baptism. It was great actually, neither my companion or i got chosen to do any part of the program. Didnt even have to give a talk. haha. I think it's the best like that. If the members can do the baptism and confirmation and what what, then as soon as we Elders leave it's not a big deal for the investigators getting baptized. Yesterday was a rainy day tho...so i felt bad for those getting into the water...it couldnt have been too warm. As we all huddled around the outside baptismal font, with some watching from the inside, Monde had to dunk him 3 times because Silindokuhle kept floating to the top. haha. It was a pretty funny scene. But it worked out in the end on the 3rd try. :) He'll be confirmed a member of the church this coming sunday by Bro Patha, our 19 year old young mens president who comes to see Silindokuhle quite often with us.
As for other parts of the week...It's been off and on with good things happening and what not. Some days almost everything would fall through...and it would be hard to find productive things to do in the mean time. We did however do some good service this week at the Branch Presidents house, President Mjiba helping him "transplant" grass to another location...it was funny. He's a hilarious man. Then we also helped another member at the local clinic in the garden diggin around some corn, or mealie as they call it. It was good to get out and get dirty a bit.
We've had some really great Lesson 1 lessons this week with investigators. One in particular using an object lesson and at the end she said that if we're telling her the truth and as she finds out about it, she'll have to join the church because she hasn't felt like she's coming as close to Christ as she should have been, but if she does what we've challenged her to do, she'll be making the right step toward Him, she said. It's a mother and a son who is a referral from Monde actually. Just taught the mother, but we feel pretty good about it. We also did see the Nunu Family again, watched the Restoration DVD. There was one case where we tried to watch that dvd with a Recent Convert this past week...unfortunately for some reason half the sound wasn't working...but it was quite pathetic when i could quote the whole movie. I wish i knew how many times i've watched that DVD in the past year...i remember i went on an exchange with this elder in Namibia, and we watched it 5 times that day...sorry just a side note...
So lets see what else...We got that frisbee...and played that and rugby last monday...idunno if i told you or not. But that was freakin fun! I miss playing regular sports...and it's sad that i get winded within the first 5 minutes of playing. I'm still so out of shape...
I'm thinking of something exciting that i could tell ya that's happened this past week but i'm struggling...so i might just leave it at that. Just know that life is going fine...nothing too much has changed. Transfer news will come tomorrow. I'll let ya know if anything major happens...Nkosi!
Mdala Devenney
Monday, October 19, 2009
Oct 19, 2009
Good morning!
It's a very nice looking monday here, as throughout the week we've been on and off rain and now it's a cool sunny day...I hope everybody's week went great and are all doing well!
On my side things are about the same as usual. I cant say too many great things happened over the past week...but i'll tell you anyway.
Monday we were on a search for a frisbee and we went everywhere looking for one. Apparently frisbees dont exist in this place...so unfortunately we were unable to find one that day. But we were able to obtain one during the course of the week so that's what we'll be doing today.
We were having a bit of trouble with our car, the ABS kept acting up, and we took it in, they couldnt fix it right then, and they're going to have to order a new part. But in the mean time we're still able to drive the car...which is a blessing. Having to have the other elders drive us to and from our area, and having to walk all around ilinge is not a fun thing to do.
We had some great lessons this past week. We organized for a couple of Recent Convert lessons to be taught by not us, but by their home teachers and other members. Specifically we had one to a RC young woman who had her two home teachers teach, as well as 2 friends in the YW all teach about the Plan of Salvation. It was like a massive army in that house. It went great. We were there just for support. It gave the members more opportunities to teach, and of course the RC gets someone else to hear from other than just us. So we felt like it went really well. We also did it with another Recent Convert Afika who was baptized only about a month ago. It went great.
Silindokhule is doing great. He'll be getting baptized this coming Sunday. He's stoked for it.
We went on exchanges on friday, i went with Elder Lyman...came to ilinge and we worked my area. He's from...Highland or something like that. Anyway, it went fine. Nothing to really report on there...
We've continued to introduce the Family Mission plan to 3 more families this week. All of which were quite excited about it and really feel that it'll help in the goals that the branch has set. We took it to the branch president Mjiba and his wife/family, as well as to the Elders Quorum Pres Mabobole and also to his first counselor Bro Erik and his family. We got great responses with it. So it's slowly making its way through the branch to each family. That's our main goal as you know..to get it to every family that we possibly can. As long as their willing to use the plan.
On saturday we had the Book of Mormon class that we taught and it went really well. We're looking at the comparison between the Bible and the Book of Mormon and what each one says about another. Had group discussions, presentations, went really well i thought.
We're teaching a family, well it's a part member family, the Nunu's. I might have said something about them already but this week we were able to really start teaching them. We taught the first lesson and about the book of mormon on another visit. The husband is the only member,but is LA anyway. The mother has known missionaries, but never allowed them to teach her or the family. We're now teaching her and 3 of their kids. She says she doesnt know what changed her mind this time of why she's allowing us to teach her, but she says she likes us for some reason. She always jokes that because she only has one son that she wants the two of us to be her other sons and just stay at her house. It's pretty funny. We taught some great lessons and we're again going there on wednesday. She and the kids are part of the Assemblies of God church, but likes us and likes what her husband has turned into since he's joined the church. It might take a while, but i see some good things happening with the family...if they dont disappoint us...
There's not too much else going on lately...church was great yesterday. The whole sacrament room was basically full. Most people i've seen...that's stll only about 75 people or so tho...which is apparently not as many as they used to have in the past...but things are going great. We also kinda put in a word at our correlation meeting that the missionaries are not getting fed much here in Ilinge...hopefully some things will start to change. At least on sunday...So i think because we kidna guilted Pres. Ndlelo into announcing that for us...and how we complained...him and his wife fed us yesterday. They're awesome. They tried to surprise us with it but we kinda already figured he'd feed us. Then we just talked last night forever about their missions and a bunch of other stuff. They were both missionaries to the Kampala Uganda mission a little over 3 years ago. That's how they met eachother...but yeah their super awesome.
That about does it for now...Thanks!
Mdala Devenney
It's a very nice looking monday here, as throughout the week we've been on and off rain and now it's a cool sunny day...I hope everybody's week went great and are all doing well!
On my side things are about the same as usual. I cant say too many great things happened over the past week...but i'll tell you anyway.
Monday we were on a search for a frisbee and we went everywhere looking for one. Apparently frisbees dont exist in this place...so unfortunately we were unable to find one that day. But we were able to obtain one during the course of the week so that's what we'll be doing today.
We were having a bit of trouble with our car, the ABS kept acting up, and we took it in, they couldnt fix it right then, and they're going to have to order a new part. But in the mean time we're still able to drive the car...which is a blessing. Having to have the other elders drive us to and from our area, and having to walk all around ilinge is not a fun thing to do.
We had some great lessons this past week. We organized for a couple of Recent Convert lessons to be taught by not us, but by their home teachers and other members. Specifically we had one to a RC young woman who had her two home teachers teach, as well as 2 friends in the YW all teach about the Plan of Salvation. It was like a massive army in that house. It went great. We were there just for support. It gave the members more opportunities to teach, and of course the RC gets someone else to hear from other than just us. So we felt like it went really well. We also did it with another Recent Convert Afika who was baptized only about a month ago. It went great.
Silindokhule is doing great. He'll be getting baptized this coming Sunday. He's stoked for it.
We went on exchanges on friday, i went with Elder Lyman...came to ilinge and we worked my area. He's from...Highland or something like that. Anyway, it went fine. Nothing to really report on there...
We've continued to introduce the Family Mission plan to 3 more families this week. All of which were quite excited about it and really feel that it'll help in the goals that the branch has set. We took it to the branch president Mjiba and his wife/family, as well as to the Elders Quorum Pres Mabobole and also to his first counselor Bro Erik and his family. We got great responses with it. So it's slowly making its way through the branch to each family. That's our main goal as you know..to get it to every family that we possibly can. As long as their willing to use the plan.
On saturday we had the Book of Mormon class that we taught and it went really well. We're looking at the comparison between the Bible and the Book of Mormon and what each one says about another. Had group discussions, presentations, went really well i thought.
We're teaching a family, well it's a part member family, the Nunu's. I might have said something about them already but this week we were able to really start teaching them. We taught the first lesson and about the book of mormon on another visit. The husband is the only member,but is LA anyway. The mother has known missionaries, but never allowed them to teach her or the family. We're now teaching her and 3 of their kids. She says she doesnt know what changed her mind this time of why she's allowing us to teach her, but she says she likes us for some reason. She always jokes that because she only has one son that she wants the two of us to be her other sons and just stay at her house. It's pretty funny. We taught some great lessons and we're again going there on wednesday. She and the kids are part of the Assemblies of God church, but likes us and likes what her husband has turned into since he's joined the church. It might take a while, but i see some good things happening with the family...if they dont disappoint us...
There's not too much else going on lately...church was great yesterday. The whole sacrament room was basically full. Most people i've seen...that's stll only about 75 people or so tho...which is apparently not as many as they used to have in the past...but things are going great. We also kinda put in a word at our correlation meeting that the missionaries are not getting fed much here in Ilinge...hopefully some things will start to change. At least on sunday...So i think because we kidna guilted Pres. Ndlelo into announcing that for us...and how we complained...him and his wife fed us yesterday. They're awesome. They tried to surprise us with it but we kinda already figured he'd feed us. Then we just talked last night forever about their missions and a bunch of other stuff. They were both missionaries to the Kampala Uganda mission a little over 3 years ago. That's how they met eachother...but yeah their super awesome.
That about does it for now...Thanks!
Mdala Devenney
Monday, October 12, 2009
Oct 12, 2009
Well we were kicked out of our last internet shop, as they wouldnt allow us more time, and i thought that i wouldnt get to send a big email out but fortunately we just decided to come to another shop...
The week was a pretty decent one...It has been rainy and good thunder and lightning storms quite often. Which is nice for a change. I actually enjoy it when it rains, then i get to bust out that ol rain jacket...
There hasnt been anything too spectacular that has happened this past week...but monday we played some soccer in the rain and got way muddy and it was awesome...although we almost had to run home from the field becuase we were too nasty to get into any cars...but we worked things out...We had zone workshops on Tuesday about how to make our planning better...basically. It was good...i guess. Sometimes i wish they could just keep things the same as they are already going well...but i guess new ideas and new things to try out dont hurt us...so we've been trying to implement some of the things that we learned at workshops into our weekly and daily planning sessions. It's been going alright so far...no real dramatic improvements.
I'm really enjoying my time here in Ilinge now that i've been here for a few weeks...it always takes time to learn where people stay and get comfortable with all the members and investigators and so on...but things are going really good lately. We've been working with some of the Auxilaries, like the Elders Quorem Pres in helping him in his home teaching. He took us to two families that we didnt even know, and one was a Part member family in whom we are now going to start teaching. It's really been a blessing. Even through the Family Mission Plan that we're still working on, it'll help us establish the kingdom, and then the baptisms will be coming. Silindokhule is still on for the 25th of October and is super stoked about it. That kid comes to everything and loves the church.
On saturday we had our first Book of Mormon class that we taught. It went alright. Nothing too exciting. We were unable to access the tv to watch something, but things worked out anyway. For the first class we had like 10 or 11 people come, which was fine as we hardly even announced it. Then after the class we had some fun and played some games. It was good to see everybody laughing and enjoying themselves.
Church was a rainy one, and i think that's what made less people come on sunday. Although we still had a pretty good turn out...I tried to pay attention but sometimes it's hard when i just dont understand...but my xhosa is improving i suppose, and i can pick out certain things to sorta know what they're talking about...
Yeah basically there's not too much to tell...I only have a couple more minutes so i'll just end it there. Hope everybody is doing great!
Elder Devenney
The week was a pretty decent one...It has been rainy and good thunder and lightning storms quite often. Which is nice for a change. I actually enjoy it when it rains, then i get to bust out that ol rain jacket...
There hasnt been anything too spectacular that has happened this past week...but monday we played some soccer in the rain and got way muddy and it was awesome...although we almost had to run home from the field becuase we were too nasty to get into any cars...but we worked things out...We had zone workshops on Tuesday about how to make our planning better...basically. It was good...i guess. Sometimes i wish they could just keep things the same as they are already going well...but i guess new ideas and new things to try out dont hurt us...so we've been trying to implement some of the things that we learned at workshops into our weekly and daily planning sessions. It's been going alright so far...no real dramatic improvements.
I'm really enjoying my time here in Ilinge now that i've been here for a few weeks...it always takes time to learn where people stay and get comfortable with all the members and investigators and so on...but things are going really good lately. We've been working with some of the Auxilaries, like the Elders Quorem Pres in helping him in his home teaching. He took us to two families that we didnt even know, and one was a Part member family in whom we are now going to start teaching. It's really been a blessing. Even through the Family Mission Plan that we're still working on, it'll help us establish the kingdom, and then the baptisms will be coming. Silindokhule is still on for the 25th of October and is super stoked about it. That kid comes to everything and loves the church.
On saturday we had our first Book of Mormon class that we taught. It went alright. Nothing too exciting. We were unable to access the tv to watch something, but things worked out anyway. For the first class we had like 10 or 11 people come, which was fine as we hardly even announced it. Then after the class we had some fun and played some games. It was good to see everybody laughing and enjoying themselves.
Church was a rainy one, and i think that's what made less people come on sunday. Although we still had a pretty good turn out...I tried to pay attention but sometimes it's hard when i just dont understand...but my xhosa is improving i suppose, and i can pick out certain things to sorta know what they're talking about...
Yeah basically there's not too much to tell...I only have a couple more minutes so i'll just end it there. Hope everybody is doing great!
Elder Devenney
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
sept 21, 2009
Molo Umjani!
For an update for the week...things are going pretty good. Ilinge is an interesting place. I was fortunate to finally see what a church service is like in Ilinge. Church started at 10 am...They meet in a couple of trailors but they're done up really nice. They have big grounds with a nice garden in the front, and the inside looks quite nice. The service was really good. As soon as the clock hit 10am then more people started coming in. We probably had maybe 60 or so people at church. I was quite surprised when only 10 were there at the beginning. But it was really good. I'm trying to learn the names which i find more difficult than anywhere else i've served, but it's alright. We have some really good leaders including the 1st Coun. in the Branch Presidency...he's a stud. Return Missionary, hilarious, and knows his stuff. His name is Pres. Ndlelo. All the rest are pretty cool too...idunno what to say.
Anyway...the week was pretty decent. Unfortunately our car is in the shop and still will be til the end of the week...so we've just walking around a lot in the area. It's a pretty good size area and so we spend a bunch of time walking. Especially if appointments fall through...then it gets really tough and tiring. But it's all good.
So Friday we had District Meeting and i decided to do it on Vision and Goal setting. We did an Area SWOT. It was actually pretty nice having to prepare for it. It all went really well.
Idunno if i told you...but when i was up in Namibia we ate some Giraffe and it was WAY good....just thought i'd let you know. O and also while i was in Nam i was drawing money out with my MSF card and i forgot about it for a minute or two and the ATM ended up eating my card. It was retarded. So i was without a MSF card for about 2 weeks...somehow i survived tho. They had to order me a new one and i just got it the other day. So finally today i was able to buy enough food for the week...i was a bit worried.
As for people we're teaching...we have one guy with a baptismal date sometime in october. I've only met with him once. We're teaching this 14 year old kid named Silindokhule who is awesome. Yo he's smart! He's been to church a lot and already wants to be a missionary. His sister is a member. He's like a 20 year old in a little boy's body. He's hoping to be baptized in the next month or so. We dont have a date for him yet tho.
Ilinge is good tho...as i think i might have said before...it's very rural. No street lights. Dirt roads. Cows walking around everywhere...it's a small township i guess. But it's fun none the less. People seem to be nice...i usually just let Elder Mkhize do all the talking since he can communicate...english is a big problem there. Probably more than half of church on sunday was in Xhosa...so i just read the Book of Mormon...tried to catch a few words and understand...but i couldnt that easily.
O i forgot to tell ya...Transfers were this week so the zone changed a bit...we lost i think 3 elders and 3 new ones came in. Elder Holt...my trainer from Canada...if you remember...is now a Zone Leader in Queenstown. It was a bit of a surprise but it's kinda cool. I'll have to go on an exchange with him sometime this transfer...so that'll be interesting since it's been about 9 months since i've seen him. He's doing well tho. He's almost done, he goes home in December.
Well that's about it. Elder Mkhize is a stud...we're doing really good. Hope you're all great!
Elder Devenney
For an update for the week...things are going pretty good. Ilinge is an interesting place. I was fortunate to finally see what a church service is like in Ilinge. Church started at 10 am...They meet in a couple of trailors but they're done up really nice. They have big grounds with a nice garden in the front, and the inside looks quite nice. The service was really good. As soon as the clock hit 10am then more people started coming in. We probably had maybe 60 or so people at church. I was quite surprised when only 10 were there at the beginning. But it was really good. I'm trying to learn the names which i find more difficult than anywhere else i've served, but it's alright. We have some really good leaders including the 1st Coun. in the Branch Presidency...he's a stud. Return Missionary, hilarious, and knows his stuff. His name is Pres. Ndlelo. All the rest are pretty cool too...idunno what to say.
Anyway...the week was pretty decent. Unfortunately our car is in the shop and still will be til the end of the week...so we've just walking around a lot in the area. It's a pretty good size area and so we spend a bunch of time walking. Especially if appointments fall through...then it gets really tough and tiring. But it's all good.
So Friday we had District Meeting and i decided to do it on Vision and Goal setting. We did an Area SWOT. It was actually pretty nice having to prepare for it. It all went really well.
Idunno if i told you...but when i was up in Namibia we ate some Giraffe and it was WAY good....just thought i'd let you know. O and also while i was in Nam i was drawing money out with my MSF card and i forgot about it for a minute or two and the ATM ended up eating my card. It was retarded. So i was without a MSF card for about 2 weeks...somehow i survived tho. They had to order me a new one and i just got it the other day. So finally today i was able to buy enough food for the week...i was a bit worried.
As for people we're teaching...we have one guy with a baptismal date sometime in october. I've only met with him once. We're teaching this 14 year old kid named Silindokhule who is awesome. Yo he's smart! He's been to church a lot and already wants to be a missionary. His sister is a member. He's like a 20 year old in a little boy's body. He's hoping to be baptized in the next month or so. We dont have a date for him yet tho.
Ilinge is good tho...as i think i might have said before...it's very rural. No street lights. Dirt roads. Cows walking around everywhere...it's a small township i guess. But it's fun none the less. People seem to be nice...i usually just let Elder Mkhize do all the talking since he can communicate...english is a big problem there. Probably more than half of church on sunday was in Xhosa...so i just read the Book of Mormon...tried to catch a few words and understand...but i couldnt that easily.
O i forgot to tell ya...Transfers were this week so the zone changed a bit...we lost i think 3 elders and 3 new ones came in. Elder Holt...my trainer from Canada...if you remember...is now a Zone Leader in Queenstown. It was a bit of a surprise but it's kinda cool. I'll have to go on an exchange with him sometime this transfer...so that'll be interesting since it's been about 9 months since i've seen him. He's doing well tho. He's almost done, he goes home in December.
Well that's about it. Elder Mkhize is a stud...we're doing really good. Hope you're all great!
Elder Devenney
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sept 13, 2009
So this week has been a bit interesting. As i was up in Namibia, after Elder Schamel and myself had finished doing weekly planning on thursday we got a call from President Probst. He told me that my visa was expiring for Nam on the 11th of September...friday. He said that it would be illegal for us to stay there without a renewed visa and that i could possibly go to jail.. So he told me that i would be receiving some transfer news a week early. It kinda came as a surprise although i did know my visa was expiring and i figured i'd be transfered anyway...but it was a bit sudden for me as it came very fast. I was told that i would be leaving the following morning within 24 hours and that i'd be heading down to the Eastern Cape of South Africa to a place called Ilinge. He also asked me if i'd like a bit more responsibility...i said yeah sure...so i'm a District leader now. That was good news i guess...
I said my goodbyes to those that i could in my area and in my last area...packed...had a late night finishing up stuff...then hopped on a plane heading for Cape Town. Elder Frager, Elder Hoffman, and myself were the only 3 that were leaving Namibia. It was a bit difficult as all our hard work was about to pay off in Nam...There were multiple baptisms coming up in the branch. Three this weekend, and 4 more about 3 weeks from now. So it was a bummer to go but either way things will be going great up there. We definitely left that branch better than it was 6 months ago.
So i got on the plane and like i said headed for Cape Town. I ended up going with the ZL's in Cape North and working in Langa for a day or so. Sleeping over at their boarding. The following morning the plan was that i'd go fly down to East London with President and Sister Probst, as they were going for stake conference. So that's what i did. I had a nice little chat on the plane with President and Sister Probst which was good. The flight was about 2 hours down. Then we got our rental car and drove outside of East London for about 45 minutes to the Mdantsane ward to have a bit of a conference. (this is saturday) So we got there in time for the Priesthood Leadership training meeting...and stayed later for the Adult Session. Elder Rendlun of the Area Seventy was there addressing and it was way good. After that it was about 7pm and i ended up grabbing all my stuff and loading it into the Queenstown ZL's car and driving back to Queenstown. That's about another 2 hour drive east. Got in about 9pm or so and stayed over at their boarding. Sunday we had Stake Conference but since Queenstown is so far away from EL the leaders did it twice. The one out in Queenstown was at about 2pm. So i eventually got with my companions...Elder Mkhize who will be my actual companion. He's from Durban. And Elder White who is about to leave, he's been in Ilinge for 6 months. I'm replacing him. But as for the next couple of days we'll be together in a 3some til transfer news comes. So that's my current state.
So if you're a bit confused...Queenstown is about as far east as we go in this mission...well south and east. The only thing farther is Mthatha. Ilinge, where i will be working, is about a 25 min drive outside of the main city...it's way rural. There are no street lights. And you drive for about 10 min on a dirt road to get out there. It's nuts. But it looks pretty cool. I was only in the area for a little bit yesterday so i cant really give a full account of what it's like. It's big time Xhosa speaking tho...So it looks like i'll drop all the Afrikaans i've learned and focus on trying to communicate in Xhosa. It might take a little bit. Apparently they struggle to find people that speak really good english in this area...but it'll be fine. We'll work it out. I've got some good ideas for this place...so it should be good.
Queenstown isn't too big of a city...maybe like Ogden or something. Definitely nothing like Cape Town. But we live in a pretty nice neighborhood. Probably the most quiet place i've lived so far. It's really nice. Well the boarding is a bit small...it's like one room with everything in it...and then a bathroom. But it should be fine. I'm a bit excited to start a new area...the only thing i'll struggle with is that language barrier. But my companion can speak Zulu so it's pretty close...he can communicate pretty well.
As of anything else....not too much is going on. Just going to try to enjoy this new opportunity and responsibilities...should be fine. It was a bummer to leave Nam, especially Elder Schamel...we were only together for about 4 and a half weeks. It was a way short transfer for the two of us.
Hope that gives you a bit of an update on where i am and what's going on here! Find me on a map!
Thanks,
Elder Devenney
I said my goodbyes to those that i could in my area and in my last area...packed...had a late night finishing up stuff...then hopped on a plane heading for Cape Town. Elder Frager, Elder Hoffman, and myself were the only 3 that were leaving Namibia. It was a bit difficult as all our hard work was about to pay off in Nam...There were multiple baptisms coming up in the branch. Three this weekend, and 4 more about 3 weeks from now. So it was a bummer to go but either way things will be going great up there. We definitely left that branch better than it was 6 months ago.
So i got on the plane and like i said headed for Cape Town. I ended up going with the ZL's in Cape North and working in Langa for a day or so. Sleeping over at their boarding. The following morning the plan was that i'd go fly down to East London with President and Sister Probst, as they were going for stake conference. So that's what i did. I had a nice little chat on the plane with President and Sister Probst which was good. The flight was about 2 hours down. Then we got our rental car and drove outside of East London for about 45 minutes to the Mdantsane ward to have a bit of a conference. (this is saturday) So we got there in time for the Priesthood Leadership training meeting...and stayed later for the Adult Session. Elder Rendlun of the Area Seventy was there addressing and it was way good. After that it was about 7pm and i ended up grabbing all my stuff and loading it into the Queenstown ZL's car and driving back to Queenstown. That's about another 2 hour drive east. Got in about 9pm or so and stayed over at their boarding. Sunday we had Stake Conference but since Queenstown is so far away from EL the leaders did it twice. The one out in Queenstown was at about 2pm. So i eventually got with my companions...Elder Mkhize who will be my actual companion. He's from Durban. And Elder White who is about to leave, he's been in Ilinge for 6 months. I'm replacing him. But as for the next couple of days we'll be together in a 3some til transfer news comes. So that's my current state.
So if you're a bit confused...Queenstown is about as far east as we go in this mission...well south and east. The only thing farther is Mthatha. Ilinge, where i will be working, is about a 25 min drive outside of the main city...it's way rural. There are no street lights. And you drive for about 10 min on a dirt road to get out there. It's nuts. But it looks pretty cool. I was only in the area for a little bit yesterday so i cant really give a full account of what it's like. It's big time Xhosa speaking tho...So it looks like i'll drop all the Afrikaans i've learned and focus on trying to communicate in Xhosa. It might take a little bit. Apparently they struggle to find people that speak really good english in this area...but it'll be fine. We'll work it out. I've got some good ideas for this place...so it should be good.
Queenstown isn't too big of a city...maybe like Ogden or something. Definitely nothing like Cape Town. But we live in a pretty nice neighborhood. Probably the most quiet place i've lived so far. It's really nice. Well the boarding is a bit small...it's like one room with everything in it...and then a bathroom. But it should be fine. I'm a bit excited to start a new area...the only thing i'll struggle with is that language barrier. But my companion can speak Zulu so it's pretty close...he can communicate pretty well.
As of anything else....not too much is going on. Just going to try to enjoy this new opportunity and responsibilities...should be fine. It was a bummer to leave Nam, especially Elder Schamel...we were only together for about 4 and a half weeks. It was a way short transfer for the two of us.
Hope that gives you a bit of an update on where i am and what's going on here! Find me on a map!
Thanks,
Elder Devenney
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