Well first off...this weekend has been another holiday weekend here in Namibia. I swear they have more holidays here than anywhere else i know. Friday was a holiday...and it was actually pretty sweet...It was "Ascension Day" and it was a Nation wide holiday. It's apparently the day that Christ ascended back into Heaven after he was resurrected. Cool eh? The other one was African Union Day...which was yesterday. So that's why i'm emailing now. All the shops and everything close on holidays here...you can hardly find anybody out doing anything...it's weird. No one on the street or anything...definitely different than holidays back at home.
So the week has been really good. Gilbert...that one guy i talked about..has become the surprise of the transfer for sure. We saw him two or three times last week, he came to the scripture study class on friday, and the missionary training class on Sunday. and he came to church. And we paired him up with Bro Katjotjo (YM pres) becuase they live near to eachother in our area so that the two of them could do home teaching. And guess what ,they did it the next day. We'll have 100% HT here pretty soon! haha. hopefully. But yeah and we're seeing him later today and he's going to come out to do missionary work with us...good stuff.
Lets see...the main people that we're still seeing is a mid twenties girl named Fausta...i migh thave mentioned. We keep talking about baptism and encouraging her to consider a date but she says she's still thinking about it. She's come to church for the past month i think. She's good. I think it's just family problems...just kinda scared to commit and to tel lthe family about it. So yeah...
The other is still Rovy...we have high hopes for him...he comes to church alot and it was his Bday on sunday. He's so chiill. But he's living with this older lady...and i dont think marriage is going to come as soon as we hope...but we still see him twice a week...just hope we dont run out of things to teach him...
Went on two exchanges this week...one wish Elder Carver from South Weber...so right down the road from me. He's pretty cool...we've already predicted that we're going to be companions next transfer...so we'll see. He's pretty new still...but it went good. Had a way fun time.
The other i went on was with Elder Ballard...he's only got one more transfer then he's goin home...He's chill too. Both these guys we could have hung out back at home just like any day...Elder Ballard is a way cool guy, he's the ZL out here...and we just enjoyed the time. that was on friday. O and he's from Washington.
Things are so much different ,for the better now, than it was when we first got here. We've really made a difference in the branch by bringing more excitement to it...We have Elders Quorem back up and looking a bit better...most sundays everybody would leave and there would be 10 people in EQ, 6 of which are missionaries. So we've started to change that to make it more how it should be...m ore exciting for people to come to, instead of just leaving.
Classes are still going strong and soo good. Average of about 25 people now at Friday night class, and about 18 at Sunday night class...It's going great. There's not too much else going on...just the usual. Played some good soccer yesterday with the Zone...6 on 6. We lost barely...well they were up 4-0 first half...then we came back...with 3 goals by me i must say....to end it 6-4...but we still lost...it was fun. Well hope all is well! thanks for everything!
Elder Devenney
*Funny story...My companion about two weeks ago was approached by a guy off the street selling a watch and a couple other things. My comp looks at the watch, likes it, asks how much the guy says 150. My comp thinks he's smart and says 100. The guy agrees. So he thinks he got a great deal on this watch right...a couple days later it stops working. He shakes it, it starts up again, but later on that day it stops working again. Basically he bought a broken watch. i just laughed. So this week we went to China Town and i find the same watch being sold, different color, (i got white) for 30 bucks. ha! take that Fragar! and mine still works to this day. haha. ( that's like 3 US dollars) but yeah it was just funny. Then i got a soccer ball...that's already lopsided...and we got 3 matching basketball jersies for our game we had against the Angolans...which i will now explain. Me, Fragar, and Louder, played bball on Saturday against some Angolans. There's about 25 or 30 Angolans that play at the chapel on saturday mornings. We decided to go and play. So we got our jersies...lookin fresh...and played. We were in for a hard game...They're rough out there. Some of those guys dont play with mercy. Anyway...we won our first game...lost our second, and lost our third. It's 3 on 3 and first to 5. then we just rotate out. Needless to say they foul a lot and make retarded calls. but it was still fun. I thought i was going to die...i hadnt played that hard of a bball game in a long time...but it's all good.
On another note...the week was good. Two great blessings came just yesterday..among the many we receive. But two stood out to me yesterday at church...one was Miriam. We hadnt seen her in about a month but she came to church. She had been gone for a while. She was the one that was so ready for everything, so accepting, but then her husband is a jerk and doesn't want us in the home. Anyway, she came to church by herself yesterday, loved it, then came back for our Missionary training class that night. I talked to her after and she basically said that she doesn't like being called an investigator, she knows everything, and she accepts and loves the church. She said that she's already made up her mind that she's going to join the church and be a member. She's searched for many years, going to church to church, but she loves and knows there's something different and true about this one. It was so good to hear! seriously i couldnt say anything. With little work on our part, she does her own research at work, coming to church, and has even made up her mind she wants to be a member. That's so awesome! Plus she'd be so good for this branch here...next Relief Society Pres for sure! So yeah that was a blessing...
The other came through Gilbert. Gilbert was that one guy that chased us down the street about a month ago asking for us to visit with him. We taught him once, then were never able to see him again becuase of his schedule at work etc. So basically we havent seen him for a month. We thought he dropped us. Anyway, we gave him a call yesterday, but no answer. To our surprise he came to church. I hardly recognized him cuz it had been so long. Well he stayed for the whole thing and i sat with him during Priesthood and after we started talking. Come to find out that he was actually baptized about 2 years ago and is already a member. It was some country where they have a small branch..not here in Namibia. Cant remember what it was...o well. So yeah and he also said he was given the Priesthood too! i was like no way! Another less active priesthood holder that's come back to church that lives in our area! that's so great! So Gilbert went from being a dropped investigator, to a Priesthood holding member, instantly. That cut out about 6 months of work on our part! haha! It was great to hear. that's another additive to our FHE's and HT assignments...etc. Plus he came to the class last night and said he'll be coming on fridays also and wants to come out with us to do missionary work! yay! haha.
Still teaching some great guys...future leaders of the church here i'm pretty sure. Others are slow to progress...like their drinking and partying...but it'll soon all be over for that. Alright well the week went great! No other big news to report on...hope you guys are all doing well!
Elder Devenney
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
April 26, 2009
Well in the past week so much has happened...it was amazing to see all the new and changing things going on here. O and what was nice about this morning is we got out and played some soccer as a Zone this morning...then had a nice braai...so we're emailing a bit later than usual. It was so nice to get up and do something in the morning, i hope we do it more often this way.
Well the week started out really good. All throughout the week we've been going on splits. I believe we tried for 3 times this week, but it only happened twice. On these nights i go with one Priesthood holder, while my comp goes with another. How it's been going is we'll drop those two off in an area..and we'll coordinate it so our appointments are all pretty close. Those two will walk the area for the evening while me and my fellowshipper go and drive to our appointments. We get twice as much man hours in during the day and we're able to see twice as many people. Overall in the week we made around 10-15 extra hours of missionary work just thanks to the splits.
This week was busy for me...Wednesday i went on exchanges with Elder Mutiyetsi (from Kenya) in his area. They're in a walking area. So after 7 months i had my first experience walking on mission! Can you believe it! No wonder i'm so out of shape...all the riding around in the car. But it was so funny cuz my first day walking...it just so happened to rain. This week we were blessed with off and on rain for 2 days. Which is quite rare cuz the rainy season was already over...and the winter here is just cooler...and cold at night...but no rain. So yeah we walked around and rain while the lightning was going and we were getting soaked...it was fun. Elder Mutiyetsi wasn't enjoying it tho..but i was! haha. So we had a good exchange...nothing too great happened...then on thursday we had a normal day. Saw lots of people...including Rovy that one "cool guy" i was talking about earlier. Plays in a band...yeah. He asks so many good questions it's hard to even prepare for that guy. But he's way chill. From Angola. But anyway...then we typed up the newsletter...you'll see it soon...then went on a split and found a great family. Two of the girls we found at this family came to church too...so it was great. Then I went on another exchange that night and all of Friday with Elder Christensen to their area...Worked a long day...pretty busy. So basically i was just moving around a lot this week. But it was good to go to some different areas and meet some new people...even if it was just for a day.
The classes we're starting...and have been starting are the one on Fridays where we teach it and it's on Christlike Attributes..i'm sure i told you. Our first week it was just 4 people there. This last week we had 18. We only expect it to continue to grow. We had lots of members and investigators. Everyone's job is to bring a friend...we see good things coming from the class. Saturdays we have institute..that we attend sometimes. We had Bro. Duncan Mcmillan from Cape Town up with us this weekend. He's in charge of all the CES stuff for Institute and Sem and stuff. So he taught an amazing lesson so we HAD to go visit. Then we took his son Joseph on a split with us that night...it turned out to be a terrible night cuz all 3 of our appointments dropped and we couldnt find a place to go all night...but it was still fun. We just followed up on some people. Joseph is just about to turn 19 and working on his papers. He's excited. So yeah after that we just dropped him off back at some hotel place...talked to Duncan about our ideas...and headed back. This week has been so crazy...we've hardly taken full lunch breaks and have never gotten home on time cuz we're running around all the time...droppin people off or appointments..something always happens. But good things are coming from it. Then Sunday was church and i swear it was Missionary day at church...Elder Fragar was asked to give a talk right before Sacrament...Then Gospel Principles we taught...but that's usual...every sunday we teach that...then it just so happened that they decided to combine Priesthood and RS at the end and asked the missionaries to talk about member missionary work. So basically we were busy at church to say the least. It was good tho. O yes another class we're about to start is a mission training class on Sundays. So we'll have classes fri, sat, and sun, all in attempts for people to get more excited and get investigators out. That one will start next sunday.
We go visit Bro Pavano, the Pavano family is solid members. They have 5 daughters i think...just a great family. Anyway, Bro Pavano is like 69 and doesn't come to church. But every sunday we go to his house to give him the Sacrament...it's been a blessing for us to do it too. It's really helped me realize the importance of it and what a blessing it is to give it to someone who has such a strong desire to have it. Then it's always nice to go to that home cuz every time we're there they feed us...yup it's nice:) Alright well things are good...nothing else to say. Hope you all are great! Talk to ya soon!
Elder Devenney
Well the week started out really good. All throughout the week we've been going on splits. I believe we tried for 3 times this week, but it only happened twice. On these nights i go with one Priesthood holder, while my comp goes with another. How it's been going is we'll drop those two off in an area..and we'll coordinate it so our appointments are all pretty close. Those two will walk the area for the evening while me and my fellowshipper go and drive to our appointments. We get twice as much man hours in during the day and we're able to see twice as many people. Overall in the week we made around 10-15 extra hours of missionary work just thanks to the splits.
This week was busy for me...Wednesday i went on exchanges with Elder Mutiyetsi (from Kenya) in his area. They're in a walking area. So after 7 months i had my first experience walking on mission! Can you believe it! No wonder i'm so out of shape...all the riding around in the car. But it was so funny cuz my first day walking...it just so happened to rain. This week we were blessed with off and on rain for 2 days. Which is quite rare cuz the rainy season was already over...and the winter here is just cooler...and cold at night...but no rain. So yeah we walked around and rain while the lightning was going and we were getting soaked...it was fun. Elder Mutiyetsi wasn't enjoying it tho..but i was! haha. So we had a good exchange...nothing too great happened...then on thursday we had a normal day. Saw lots of people...including Rovy that one "cool guy" i was talking about earlier. Plays in a band...yeah. He asks so many good questions it's hard to even prepare for that guy. But he's way chill. From Angola. But anyway...then we typed up the newsletter...you'll see it soon...then went on a split and found a great family. Two of the girls we found at this family came to church too...so it was great. Then I went on another exchange that night and all of Friday with Elder Christensen to their area...Worked a long day...pretty busy. So basically i was just moving around a lot this week. But it was good to go to some different areas and meet some new people...even if it was just for a day.
The classes we're starting...and have been starting are the one on Fridays where we teach it and it's on Christlike Attributes..i'm sure i told you. Our first week it was just 4 people there. This last week we had 18. We only expect it to continue to grow. We had lots of members and investigators. Everyone's job is to bring a friend...we see good things coming from the class. Saturdays we have institute..that we attend sometimes. We had Bro. Duncan Mcmillan from Cape Town up with us this weekend. He's in charge of all the CES stuff for Institute and Sem and stuff. So he taught an amazing lesson so we HAD to go visit. Then we took his son Joseph on a split with us that night...it turned out to be a terrible night cuz all 3 of our appointments dropped and we couldnt find a place to go all night...but it was still fun. We just followed up on some people. Joseph is just about to turn 19 and working on his papers. He's excited. So yeah after that we just dropped him off back at some hotel place...talked to Duncan about our ideas...and headed back. This week has been so crazy...we've hardly taken full lunch breaks and have never gotten home on time cuz we're running around all the time...droppin people off or appointments..something always happens. But good things are coming from it. Then Sunday was church and i swear it was Missionary day at church...Elder Fragar was asked to give a talk right before Sacrament...Then Gospel Principles we taught...but that's usual...every sunday we teach that...then it just so happened that they decided to combine Priesthood and RS at the end and asked the missionaries to talk about member missionary work. So basically we were busy at church to say the least. It was good tho. O yes another class we're about to start is a mission training class on Sundays. So we'll have classes fri, sat, and sun, all in attempts for people to get more excited and get investigators out. That one will start next sunday.
We go visit Bro Pavano, the Pavano family is solid members. They have 5 daughters i think...just a great family. Anyway, Bro Pavano is like 69 and doesn't come to church. But every sunday we go to his house to give him the Sacrament...it's been a blessing for us to do it too. It's really helped me realize the importance of it and what a blessing it is to give it to someone who has such a strong desire to have it. Then it's always nice to go to that home cuz every time we're there they feed us...yup it's nice:) Alright well things are good...nothing else to say. Hope you all are great! Talk to ya soon!
Elder Devenney
Monday, April 20, 2009
April 20, 2009
This week has been a hectic one...but good to stay busy. It started out good...just been teaching a lot. We've been teaching this guy named Elasmus and his cousin, her name is Fausta. For the past two sundays they've been coming to church. He was previously taught about a year ago, but we picked him back up and started to teach both of them now. They've gotten really interested and yesterday even they were both jotting down notes at church on the talks that were given. They're pretty solid and we're going to start seeing them about twice a week. I'll keep ya posted on their progress.
I cant remember if i told you last week but this guy named Gilbert found us. We were driving and i just so happened to see this guy as we drive past try to flag us down...i thought he was just waving. We ended up stopping just down the street anyway for our appointment and he came running down the hill. Turns out he had just got back to Nam, he had previously been in SA studying for school, but had met with missionaries about a year ago and really wanted us to come and visit him. He was so happy to see us. He still remembered so much too. We saw him and taught him and he basically already knows quite a bit. It was a perfect example of the blessing of being guided to someone that is prepared. He's a cool guy. About 24. His dad isn't too cool tho..so we had to teach him outside of his house...but it was still alright.
Elder Fragar and myself have been keeping quite busy with Public Affairs. He was in charge of it before he was on mission, for about 3 years, all across Aus. That was one reason he was sent up here to Nam, so he can build up the Public Affairs. We already have plans being made for the Mormon Helping Hands project in August and we're just trying to meet with those important people of the country here in Nam. Last week we had a meeting with a lady where we presented our ideas for the city. Even this morning we met with...well not just the two of us...but a lady named Womba who has a calling in the church who is the Director of Public Affairs here, we all met with about 15 advisors of the Regional Department of Health and Services...something like that...at a big round table and briefly spoke about the ideas for the Helping Hands project. They will be discussing it futher and letting us know. In the future we're hoping to also meet the Mayor and Prime Minister. Who knows if we'll be able to tho...but yeah that keeps us busy...more Elder Fragar...but i'm there for support.
Over the weekend we had Zone Conference and i think it was the best one i've been to. It's probably the one that i got the most out of...i had to give a spontaneous talk...but it went good. Then after we were addressed by both Pres and Sister Probst, ate some good lunch and then talked more about things going on and just really gave good direction for us. Pres also spoke about the Parable of the Sower...also comparing it to the vision of the Tree of Life...it was amazing. I wont go into detail but basically we're trying to work with our members and to introduce PMG to them...we want everybody to land on good ground and bring forth fruit...even as the parable says...that sounds kinda stupid but i promise the talk was good. We had Workshops the day before that and really got great ideas on how we can introduce PMG to the members. We're trying to get at least 3 families trained on how they can use it and how they can do missionary work on their own. This is the big focus right now all across the mission. Yeah and then yesterday at church Pres and Sister Probst again spoke in Sacrament...and then i had to teach Gospel Principles Class with them there...it was intense...but went way good and overall at church we had something like 15 investigators there with the district. So it was a good sunday.
Friday we had our Scripture study class for the first time...went good. Small turn out but it'll slowly build up. We're doing Christlike Attributes right now...nothing to report there.
O funny stuff...yesterday there was this guy in a Land Rover sitting outside of this house that we were teaching at...we ran out to get some stuff out of the car and we hear this "Hey guys" but it definitely wasnt Nam or SA accent. It was this guy from the U.S. from Atlanta. He said he had been here since 2007 and he married a Namibian. Anyway he was cool and he basically just called us cuz he said we looked like Americans and he had to find out. It was weird to hear him speak tho...i'm no longer used to that accent of the south. It was funny. But he was cool. His name was Ollie! ha! cool name eh? Alright well hope that's a good enough update for the week! It's been a good one...staying busy...Hope everyone is doing great! Love ya!
Elder Devenney
I cant remember if i told you last week but this guy named Gilbert found us. We were driving and i just so happened to see this guy as we drive past try to flag us down...i thought he was just waving. We ended up stopping just down the street anyway for our appointment and he came running down the hill. Turns out he had just got back to Nam, he had previously been in SA studying for school, but had met with missionaries about a year ago and really wanted us to come and visit him. He was so happy to see us. He still remembered so much too. We saw him and taught him and he basically already knows quite a bit. It was a perfect example of the blessing of being guided to someone that is prepared. He's a cool guy. About 24. His dad isn't too cool tho..so we had to teach him outside of his house...but it was still alright.
Elder Fragar and myself have been keeping quite busy with Public Affairs. He was in charge of it before he was on mission, for about 3 years, all across Aus. That was one reason he was sent up here to Nam, so he can build up the Public Affairs. We already have plans being made for the Mormon Helping Hands project in August and we're just trying to meet with those important people of the country here in Nam. Last week we had a meeting with a lady where we presented our ideas for the city. Even this morning we met with...well not just the two of us...but a lady named Womba who has a calling in the church who is the Director of Public Affairs here, we all met with about 15 advisors of the Regional Department of Health and Services...something like that...at a big round table and briefly spoke about the ideas for the Helping Hands project. They will be discussing it futher and letting us know. In the future we're hoping to also meet the Mayor and Prime Minister. Who knows if we'll be able to tho...but yeah that keeps us busy...more Elder Fragar...but i'm there for support.
Over the weekend we had Zone Conference and i think it was the best one i've been to. It's probably the one that i got the most out of...i had to give a spontaneous talk...but it went good. Then after we were addressed by both Pres and Sister Probst, ate some good lunch and then talked more about things going on and just really gave good direction for us. Pres also spoke about the Parable of the Sower...also comparing it to the vision of the Tree of Life...it was amazing. I wont go into detail but basically we're trying to work with our members and to introduce PMG to them...we want everybody to land on good ground and bring forth fruit...even as the parable says...that sounds kinda stupid but i promise the talk was good. We had Workshops the day before that and really got great ideas on how we can introduce PMG to the members. We're trying to get at least 3 families trained on how they can use it and how they can do missionary work on their own. This is the big focus right now all across the mission. Yeah and then yesterday at church Pres and Sister Probst again spoke in Sacrament...and then i had to teach Gospel Principles Class with them there...it was intense...but went way good and overall at church we had something like 15 investigators there with the district. So it was a good sunday.
Friday we had our Scripture study class for the first time...went good. Small turn out but it'll slowly build up. We're doing Christlike Attributes right now...nothing to report there.
O funny stuff...yesterday there was this guy in a Land Rover sitting outside of this house that we were teaching at...we ran out to get some stuff out of the car and we hear this "Hey guys" but it definitely wasnt Nam or SA accent. It was this guy from the U.S. from Atlanta. He said he had been here since 2007 and he married a Namibian. Anyway he was cool and he basically just called us cuz he said we looked like Americans and he had to find out. It was weird to hear him speak tho...i'm no longer used to that accent of the south. It was funny. But he was cool. His name was Ollie! ha! cool name eh? Alright well hope that's a good enough update for the week! It's been a good one...staying busy...Hope everyone is doing great! Love ya!
Elder Devenney
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Happy Easter!
Well because Namibia loves Easter so much, just about all the shops were closed over the weekend, including yesterday, so we had to email a day later. Hope no one stressed over it! Ha!
Looking back at this week it's been a great one. My companion and i have been blessed with our efforts in finding those willing to be taught. Since Elder Fragar and i were whitewashed into the area and we had no idea who investigators were, members were, etc etc...it's been a hard time trying to figure out the best way we can use our time to figure the area out and everything else as well. We decided to look at past potential investigators...those who missionaries had maybe taught once or twice in the past year or so and do some following up, see why they were only a few times, if they still wanted to be taught, what happened, etc etc. After lots of research and planning we had much success. We've had fellowshippers come out with us just about every day, showing us around and coming to appointments with us. We had our first real sunday yesterday at the church. It was nice...small...but nice. The members are great...and we, even with this first week, had 3 of our investigators come to church. We've been blessed by finding father led families...and some great priesthood holding potential men.
One in particular...although it's a sad story right now...but i'll fill you in...We met with this lady named Merjam (Miriam) Heita and her son Peter (17) and daughter Karen (11). We met with them 3 days in a row this week! They were loving it. Merjam works for the Prime Minister and is the Secretary. Any time she has free time she's on LDS.org checking out everything. she even printed off "Our Search For Happiness" and has been reading it. Well her husband doesnt like people in his house...and we had only briefly met with him once...just said hi and introduced ourselves...But other than that he's been out of the house whenever we come. Both the kids were very excited to learn and they both were reading the BOM and they could tell us everything about what we had taught them the time before. Well we came on Saturday..and we had a great object lesson for them about the Restoration and we planned on watching the dvd...well they told us that this was going to be the last time we could see them...her husband no longer wanted us to come, and he said that he didnt want this influence on his kids...He's very skeptical about other religions other than the Catholic, Lutheran, and some other...i cant remember. He thinks any other church isnt true...which i dont quite fully understand...So it was totally sad to hear. She told us that at the beginning on fo the lesson...but we went on with it anyway. I have to say it was the best lesson i think i've ever been in. It went so great! Merjam said that she would come to church no matter what, she had told her husband that she was going...but she wasnt allowed to take the kids. which is sad cuz karen has been before and she's loved it. Well Merjam did come to church, and we're trying to figure out a way we can meet with her outside of her house...maybe at work or something. She has a coworker that is also a member of the church..which is good. Seriously it was such a hearthache to hear...She and the kids are "elect" when it comes to the gospel. They would have been baptized within a month guarantee...nah idunno...but they sure had the potential. They would have us there everyday if it were possible...We're just going to have to wait it out til her husbands heart gets softened...It'll happen eventually tho...whether soon or years...But other than that the week went great.
We had a really good FHE at the Pavanoh family last night. Had a good lesson given by one of the daughters about the 5 scriptures to live by...then a good game...the usual FHE's ya know...and we went up as a Zone yesterday to this high point in the city where in 1992 the country of Namibia was dedicated for missionary work. We read the dedicatory prayer and read the talks that were given...it was nice.
The thing about Namibia is that it really has so much going for it. It's a great place to be doing missionary work. The people here seem like in general, that they're much better educated than in SA...or at least parts. They speak English very good. There are about 4 or 5 different languages spoken...including Afrikaans, Oshivano...idunno how to spell it...you guys can do the research if you want...plus a few others. Just tribal languages.
We're going to be starting a scripture study class on fridays, as well as helping out with the Institute and getting things happening more for the branch. It just seems like they need a bit of a kick start and then investigators will be coming in fast. It's a bit slow moving...but we know our way around for the most part...still don't know a lot of people. But we are being blessed in all of our efforts.
Elder Fragar and myself have set hi goals for the time that we'll be together...assuming we'll be together next transfer as well...and we're excited to see how they turn out. We have about 13 solid investigators that we're teaching for this past week..and our week this week is just about all the way full with teaching appointments. Tonight in fact when we were on exchanges...i was with Elder Gowen, we followed up on a family and we're going to be seeing them tonight, should be about 6 or 7 there...which will be amazing as we planned a good lesson about the Restoration. Well I just hope all is well and know that things are going good here in Nam! See ya!
Elder Devenney
Looking back at this week it's been a great one. My companion and i have been blessed with our efforts in finding those willing to be taught. Since Elder Fragar and i were whitewashed into the area and we had no idea who investigators were, members were, etc etc...it's been a hard time trying to figure out the best way we can use our time to figure the area out and everything else as well. We decided to look at past potential investigators...those who missionaries had maybe taught once or twice in the past year or so and do some following up, see why they were only a few times, if they still wanted to be taught, what happened, etc etc. After lots of research and planning we had much success. We've had fellowshippers come out with us just about every day, showing us around and coming to appointments with us. We had our first real sunday yesterday at the church. It was nice...small...but nice. The members are great...and we, even with this first week, had 3 of our investigators come to church. We've been blessed by finding father led families...and some great priesthood holding potential men.
One in particular...although it's a sad story right now...but i'll fill you in...We met with this lady named Merjam (Miriam) Heita and her son Peter (17) and daughter Karen (11). We met with them 3 days in a row this week! They were loving it. Merjam works for the Prime Minister and is the Secretary. Any time she has free time she's on LDS.org checking out everything. she even printed off "Our Search For Happiness" and has been reading it. Well her husband doesnt like people in his house...and we had only briefly met with him once...just said hi and introduced ourselves...But other than that he's been out of the house whenever we come. Both the kids were very excited to learn and they both were reading the BOM and they could tell us everything about what we had taught them the time before. Well we came on Saturday..and we had a great object lesson for them about the Restoration and we planned on watching the dvd...well they told us that this was going to be the last time we could see them...her husband no longer wanted us to come, and he said that he didnt want this influence on his kids...He's very skeptical about other religions other than the Catholic, Lutheran, and some other...i cant remember. He thinks any other church isnt true...which i dont quite fully understand...So it was totally sad to hear. She told us that at the beginning on fo the lesson...but we went on with it anyway. I have to say it was the best lesson i think i've ever been in. It went so great! Merjam said that she would come to church no matter what, she had told her husband that she was going...but she wasnt allowed to take the kids. which is sad cuz karen has been before and she's loved it. Well Merjam did come to church, and we're trying to figure out a way we can meet with her outside of her house...maybe at work or something. She has a coworker that is also a member of the church..which is good. Seriously it was such a hearthache to hear...She and the kids are "elect" when it comes to the gospel. They would have been baptized within a month guarantee...nah idunno...but they sure had the potential. They would have us there everyday if it were possible...We're just going to have to wait it out til her husbands heart gets softened...It'll happen eventually tho...whether soon or years...But other than that the week went great.
We had a really good FHE at the Pavanoh family last night. Had a good lesson given by one of the daughters about the 5 scriptures to live by...then a good game...the usual FHE's ya know...and we went up as a Zone yesterday to this high point in the city where in 1992 the country of Namibia was dedicated for missionary work. We read the dedicatory prayer and read the talks that were given...it was nice.
The thing about Namibia is that it really has so much going for it. It's a great place to be doing missionary work. The people here seem like in general, that they're much better educated than in SA...or at least parts. They speak English very good. There are about 4 or 5 different languages spoken...including Afrikaans, Oshivano...idunno how to spell it...you guys can do the research if you want...plus a few others. Just tribal languages.
We're going to be starting a scripture study class on fridays, as well as helping out with the Institute and getting things happening more for the branch. It just seems like they need a bit of a kick start and then investigators will be coming in fast. It's a bit slow moving...but we know our way around for the most part...still don't know a lot of people. But we are being blessed in all of our efforts.
Elder Fragar and myself have set hi goals for the time that we'll be together...assuming we'll be together next transfer as well...and we're excited to see how they turn out. We have about 13 solid investigators that we're teaching for this past week..and our week this week is just about all the way full with teaching appointments. Tonight in fact when we were on exchanges...i was with Elder Gowen, we followed up on a family and we're going to be seeing them tonight, should be about 6 or 7 there...which will be amazing as we planned a good lesson about the Restoration. Well I just hope all is well and know that things are going good here in Nam! See ya!
Elder Devenney
Monday, April 6, 2009
April 6, 2009
Well as you guessed i'm finally up here in Namibia. This week was a bit hectic with different things going on..but they worked out. On tuesday we left, got on the plane, flew two hours up to the airport in Nam, and saw the rest of the missionaries here. My companion that i was supposed to be with the entire last 6 weeks was Elder koume from the Ivory Coast. We got our stuff together and headed back to his flat. We were together for a total of...1.5 days...or so. then on Wednesday night transfer news came in. The REAL news for this new transfer. We both assumed since we hadn't been together this whole last transfer that we would both just stay together and in the area we were supposed to work. Well that's not at all how it happened. He was told that he would leave...and go cover two different areas with another companion walking. And i would leave and be Elder Fragar's new companion and that we would both move to a different flat. So right as i had unpacked everything, i had to repack and get ready to leave in the morning. So me and Elder Fragar got to know eachother for a couple days earlier this week, not knowing that this transfer we would actually be companions together. So yeah he's my new companion. We live in this pink house behind some guy's home, it's small but it does the job. We drive. And we cover an area that neither of us are familar with...so it's been a bit difficult this past week. We really havent done much work but have more just trying to figure out where everything is...and who the members are and so on. We serve up in Katutura...well in the Katutura Branch here...and work in an area called Khomasdal. It's quite a large area...and we're excited to start things moving.There are two branches here in Nam...well yeah the whole country i think. One in Windhoek and one in Katutura. We just work in North Windhoek so yeah...it's just separated. They're quite small...and our chapel in Katutura is in a school....the one in Windhoek is nice tho...it's an actual chapel. Small. but it works. That's where we watched Conference at yesterday and saturday...which was great by the way. Hope everybody enjoyed it. Especially Elder Hollands talk yesterday morning...Yo! Powerful!So the things that are going on here...We have no idea who our investigators are..or who previous misisonaries have taught. So it's basically like starting fresh. We're slowly getting introduced to the members of the branch...and so i'll let you know how this week goes for the work.Namibia is a great place. Windhoek is very civilized...small. I think there's only about 265,000 people in the whole city. Downtown Ogden looks like Downtown Windhoek. A few big buildings but nothing too huge. Something that stands out is how clean this place is...when you compare it to SA where there is trash everywhere and all in the streets...Nam is the opposite. You will hardly find any of that here. I can really tell that the people love the country. the people that we've met so far seem very nice as well.This transfer will be a bit different...for some reason it's just a 5 week transfer instead of 6...idunno why exactly...but yeah just as a heads up i suppose...Um...I dont really know what else i can tell ya...I just found out we had a speeding ticket somewhere in Bellville that i guess i'll be spliting with Elder Gouws and Lotulelei...that's a bummer...but it's alright. Last transfer was so much fun...it's almost weird just having one companion when i was so used to having two.Being up here in Nam you're almost a bit out of the loop. In the whole country there are just 12 missionaries...all of which are here. Apparently there is a small group of about 20 members that live about 4 hours north of here and get together on sundays...i thought that was pretty cool to hear. Well that's all the news i have for ya. Hope everyone had a good weekend and good week!Elder Devenney
Friday, April 3, 2009
March 31, 2009
Well it is the end of the transfer this week and we were privilaged to have President and Sister Probst (MP) to come and talk at the Bellville Chapel yesterday at church. Pres told me that the news came in and that i would be leaving to go to Nam on Tuesday...hopefully. That's fine tho cuz i spent the entire transfer in the 3some serving in Bellville. It was a great transfer and the 3 of us had a great time serving together. It'll be different in Nam but i'm excited for it. You kind of get exiled away from the rest of the mission when you get sent to Nam but it's all good. I hear great things about it and Pres is excited for us to get up there.
For the time being (As of last night) i'm just staying at the ZL's boarding in Cape Town with another guy waiting to go to Nam. His name is Elder Fragar from Sydney. He's 27 and is a self made millionaire no joke!This guy is amazing. He knows how to get things done. Just talking to him for a little bit about it i have a better knowledge of how i can make a lot of money...he did it in property and investments...anyway. He joined the church at 21 and never considered serving a mission but last minute he figured out a way to get away from his company and get it into the right hands and come and serve. It's amazing. None of his family are members...just him. But yeah he's very good at what he does. So i'll just be with him for a couple of days.
Back in Bellville earlier this week we were teaching an investigator named Brennan. He is old apostolic, married, very very smart, and enjoys learning about different religions. He's met with missionaries for about 3 months now...but is yet to come to church. He knows his Bible very well and it's different going in there when we meet with him. Most of the time if it's someone that knows there stuff very well it usually turns into a bash appointment where they dont want to be proved wrong and they wont accept what we have to say. Brennan is different tho. We just discuss different questions that he has and we try to answer them. So it's a little difficult to prepare when he jumps from subject to subject. Anyway...our previous appointment he had questions about the resurrection and so what he wanted us to do was to go back and study and come back to him. We had explained that when we are resurrected we will have our bodies...and he was lke no no there's no way we have that. He just couldnt comprehend that when our bodies get buried in the ground that when they get decomposed...we'll actually get that back. We tried to explain of course...but he wanted us to study it out. He said that there was no way that anybody could tell him/convince him that we'll get our bodies back. So we went back and studied the next day and came back to him. All we did was show him scriptures in the Bible and explained how Christ had his body...so we all will have that opportunity. Anyway...the lesson went great...at the end he thanked us and said that we were very prepared and that he had no futher questions concerning the matter. and that we answered them all for him. It was a great time for me to learn as well. Ever since then my studies have been a lot better. But yeah i wont see him again...but hopefully he'll figure it out and come to church. He has a BOM and he also read Our Search For Happiness. We had just given him Jesus The Christ to read...that's an intense book...that i'm still reading...and we wouldn't give it to normal investigators...but we knew he'd learn A LOT from it.
I said my goodbyes yesterday...i hardly saw anybody but it was alright cuz i had to come back and pack everything and get to the ZL's flat...
Um....things are good. No complaints. I'm still in one piece and by the time i send another i'll be in another country! crazy! Well hope all is well! My love,
Elder Devenney
For the time being (As of last night) i'm just staying at the ZL's boarding in Cape Town with another guy waiting to go to Nam. His name is Elder Fragar from Sydney. He's 27 and is a self made millionaire no joke!This guy is amazing. He knows how to get things done. Just talking to him for a little bit about it i have a better knowledge of how i can make a lot of money...he did it in property and investments...anyway. He joined the church at 21 and never considered serving a mission but last minute he figured out a way to get away from his company and get it into the right hands and come and serve. It's amazing. None of his family are members...just him. But yeah he's very good at what he does. So i'll just be with him for a couple of days.
Back in Bellville earlier this week we were teaching an investigator named Brennan. He is old apostolic, married, very very smart, and enjoys learning about different religions. He's met with missionaries for about 3 months now...but is yet to come to church. He knows his Bible very well and it's different going in there when we meet with him. Most of the time if it's someone that knows there stuff very well it usually turns into a bash appointment where they dont want to be proved wrong and they wont accept what we have to say. Brennan is different tho. We just discuss different questions that he has and we try to answer them. So it's a little difficult to prepare when he jumps from subject to subject. Anyway...our previous appointment he had questions about the resurrection and so what he wanted us to do was to go back and study and come back to him. We had explained that when we are resurrected we will have our bodies...and he was lke no no there's no way we have that. He just couldnt comprehend that when our bodies get buried in the ground that when they get decomposed...we'll actually get that back. We tried to explain of course...but he wanted us to study it out. He said that there was no way that anybody could tell him/convince him that we'll get our bodies back. So we went back and studied the next day and came back to him. All we did was show him scriptures in the Bible and explained how Christ had his body...so we all will have that opportunity. Anyway...the lesson went great...at the end he thanked us and said that we were very prepared and that he had no futher questions concerning the matter. and that we answered them all for him. It was a great time for me to learn as well. Ever since then my studies have been a lot better. But yeah i wont see him again...but hopefully he'll figure it out and come to church. He has a BOM and he also read Our Search For Happiness. We had just given him Jesus The Christ to read...that's an intense book...that i'm still reading...and we wouldn't give it to normal investigators...but we knew he'd learn A LOT from it.
I said my goodbyes yesterday...i hardly saw anybody but it was alright cuz i had to come back and pack everything and get to the ZL's flat...
Um....things are good. No complaints. I'm still in one piece and by the time i send another i'll be in another country! crazy! Well hope all is well! My love,
Elder Devenney
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