Our week was really good. We had exchanges with George and Knysna, which went so well! It's about a 4 hour drive to Knysna...a very much tourist place but small town feel. Very pretty. We drove wednesday evening and got there about 8 pm or so. Did some training with the missionaries down there, which went well. Then worked the area for thursday. There are just two missionaries down there, so we did splits and things went really well. I worked with this new elder, elder Leach who i was very impressed with him. He's a great teacher and really good missionary overall. From there, we left that night to drive another hour to George, where we met up with the missionaries and did a similar thing. There are 4 elders that are in George. A very pretty place close to the ocean, and surrounded by beautiful mountains. I could definitely live there. It's bigger than Knysna, but still not a very big city. We worked with elders there, then again slept over friday night, and woke up saturday and got ready to head back to PE. But...let me tell you in brief what happened...
Well i had called Mike Smith and told him that i'd love to meet as I'd be in George, and the best day would be saturday. We arranged to meet before we left back for PE from George. They drove up from Still Bay and we met for lunch. I had never met them before, nor knew what they looked like. We planned to meet about 11am to have lunch at the new George mall. We were walking when a man said “Cory!” with his hand stuck out right in front of me. That was him! That was my first contact with Mike and Margie. Both retired teachers. Mike had taught English, and Margie had taught art. So Margie and I had a lot to talk about with my past work in the art gallery and passion for the arts. She even gave me one of her oil paintings which was very nice of her. We were able to talk about the family. He pulled out some pictures and had one of mom when she was probably only about 16 years old. We had a wonderful discussion getting to know one another and better being able to explain whey Elder Wall and I were in South Africa. Mike and I are second cousins, as my grandfather and his mother were brother and sister. But it was great to visit with them. They didn’t know it was my birthday until Elder Wall spoke to the waitress and they brought me ice cream with the whole work crew singing to me. So I’m sure if they would have known they might have wanted to do something different. We just spent that lunch time talking to one another and sharing stories and updating them about my family. It was a wonderful blessing to see that actually happen as we’ve been talking about it happening, and wondering if it would. I didn’t know what to give them before we left, but I had written my testimony in a Book of Mormon and gave it to them just before they left. We said our goodbyes, and hoped that within 6 weeks or so I’d be able to see them again. Who knows the little difference it could make. I know it really made my day, and really felt like there was a bit more of a purpose to my coming to South Africa. So yeah, that was in summary, what happened. They were so nice! Some of the nicest people i met for sure. And it wasnt awkward at all or anything. We just talked for the couple hours over lunch, then we went our ways and we drove back to PE which was about 5 hour drive along the Garden Route. The Garden Route is probably the most beautiful part of the whole continent of Africa and is pretty famous. Just way green and right along the ocean. Trees are massive. Huge gullies and bridges that are awesome. We stopped to watch a person jump off the worlds tallest bungie jump at tsitsikamma...it's off a bridge and it's insane. It was way cool. Lots of tourists there. But yeah...you gotta go look up property on the Garden Route...like in Wilderness or somewhere, it's AMAZING!!! But yeah, we got back pretty late...and we were so tired. But we went to Bishop Parkers house and they prepared a cake for me and so we just chilled there for a little while until we were way tired and wanted to go to bed. That was basically my bday...nothing way way exciting, but it was a good day. Got a few phone calls from elders and of course Pres and Sis Probst. Even Gine and Tiffany from Cleary gave me a call and wished me happy bday. So that was nice of them. That's about it for me i'd say. Church was good and we just finished off the week...had a late night last night updating records and doing stats and what not for the zone...but we're excited for the pday today. Should be alright. Hoping to play tennis! Yay! Alright i gotta go and keep this one short. That's my update. Mike can prob tell you more if you email him...i'm low on time. Thanks! love you!
Elder Devenney
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
June 13, 2010
My fingers are freezing so idunno how well i'll type, or even how much. Idunno why but it's super cold outside today. The sun is out, a slight breeze, but it's cold. And i dont have proper clothing with me today...but no worries i'll try my best... The world cup started! For all who dont really care about soccer and didnt realize, it's here! 2010 is here! You feeling it! So yeah, it's a bit crazy, but i dont think it's what it was made out to be. I actually think the country expected so many more people to come and now they're kinda worried. Hotels had been built for this time, and apparently they're just not being booked as expected. Even not all the tickets at games are being sold. It's a shame. Friday, opening night, was a bit hectic tho. Tons of noise and people in the streets. It was pretty cool. But we still found people to teach even during the games, some of which they don't really care about the games...so it's a bonus for us since we cant watch it anyway. Greece and Korea played here in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and honestly, it didnt seem to hectic. Traffic was a bit worse, but that's about it. We still found things to keep ourselves busy even during that time. The week started out with some training meetings for the new District Leaders and Trainers. That was all monday evening. Then we had 7 missionaries sleep over at our flat, (as they were in for Zone conference for tues and had no where else to stay) They're all part of our zone. It wasnt exactly planned but we did it anyway, and luckily we had a bunch of spare mattresses. We got up early on tuesday and headed to the chapel for a pre meeting with pres and sister probst. Then most of the day tuesday we had our Zone Conference. The focus was on the BOM and using it to confirm the message of the Restoration. That specifically was what our 60 min workshop was on. During that time, we did some role plays, discussed, evaluated our teaching, etc, and committed them to practice more using the BOM in studies and role play with eachother. The whole zone conference was great. Talked about great things...Pres and Sis probst are just awesome! That was from about 9 am to 4:30 pm. It always takes that long for everyting to be discussed...but yeah. Things were good. We had some final lessons with J.P. and Deng before they left for home. We'll miss them but they'll be back when school opens up probably the second week in july. On wednesday we had a good day. We took this guy Luthando who comes out with us always to fellowship, well we took him to Spur to thank him. A nice place to eat. He's going to Queenstown for the holiday and will be back when school starts again.But yeah basically up until friday we just kept seeing more of the investigators that would be leaving, making sure they'll be alright during the next month, and committed them to give out BOM's and stuff to family and friends when they go back home. It was good.
Then on friday we had a great district meeting. We focused on the BOM and using it on our door approaches. And how we could improve our skills in that. It was such a good district meeting. Elder Curtis (our DL or the one conducting it) prepared perfectly and we implemented it and used the things we learned in the meeting that very day. And it worked! Elder Wall and i had set about 2 hours of solid finding time, and all we did was knock on doors and use the BOM as our approach, and we found success! Even a white father led family who we're now teaching and even saw again last night. Plus tons of other good potential people! So we were pretty stoked on that. About two weeks ago we were doing some street contacting down in Summerstrand out by the ocean, (very nice place) and talked to a bunch of people, but one was this family from Zim. I might have mentioned them already...the Muyo family. Anyway, we've seen them a few times during the past weeks and what not, and they committed to come to church. Well they cam yesterday! It was awesome. I always felt that street contacting was pretty worthless and never produces anything good, but within 2 weeks from our first contact, and meeting them, they've come to church. It was great to see them and we think they enjoyed it for the most part. Church was really good...except the people are kinda lame at going out of their way to talk to new people, or our investigators that we bring...besides some of the fellowshippers that we've taken to them...so that's a struggle. But yeah, that was pretty cool. We still had other investigators at church too, but it was just cool that the Muyo's came so quickly and kept their promise. So many people promise...but so few actually keep it. Anyway, overall we're doing fine. We got some exchanges this week, and next week will be going down to George and Knysna. So that will be about 3 full days outside of our area...our area will suffer for stats, but it's things we gotta do. But we're just happy zone conference is out of the way til next transfer...Elder Wall and i are getting along great. We have a "Do a good thing jar" where each time we do a good thing we put something in the jar and when it's full, we buy clothes. haha. We like to reward ourselves quite easily. It's funny. But yeah, we're definitely working hard and trying to lead the zone the best we can. We're worried that during the world cup the elders just wont be focused on the work at all and will rather be disobedient and just watch the games with members or whoever...and if they do that they'll truly lose blessings that the Lord has for them. It's just how it works. So yeah, we're trying to be the best we can and work hard. Good things are happening for sure. Despite losing half our teaching pool with school closing, we're being led to families now which is something that we've been praying would happen. Things are just much better than where they have been in this area for the past 3 months. Even Elder Wall says that and he's been here for a while. We're making a difference. That's it tho! Thanks for everything! Elder Devenney
Then on friday we had a great district meeting. We focused on the BOM and using it on our door approaches. And how we could improve our skills in that. It was such a good district meeting. Elder Curtis (our DL or the one conducting it) prepared perfectly and we implemented it and used the things we learned in the meeting that very day. And it worked! Elder Wall and i had set about 2 hours of solid finding time, and all we did was knock on doors and use the BOM as our approach, and we found success! Even a white father led family who we're now teaching and even saw again last night. Plus tons of other good potential people! So we were pretty stoked on that. About two weeks ago we were doing some street contacting down in Summerstrand out by the ocean, (very nice place) and talked to a bunch of people, but one was this family from Zim. I might have mentioned them already...the Muyo family. Anyway, we've seen them a few times during the past weeks and what not, and they committed to come to church. Well they cam yesterday! It was awesome. I always felt that street contacting was pretty worthless and never produces anything good, but within 2 weeks from our first contact, and meeting them, they've come to church. It was great to see them and we think they enjoyed it for the most part. Church was really good...except the people are kinda lame at going out of their way to talk to new people, or our investigators that we bring...besides some of the fellowshippers that we've taken to them...so that's a struggle. But yeah, that was pretty cool. We still had other investigators at church too, but it was just cool that the Muyo's came so quickly and kept their promise. So many people promise...but so few actually keep it. Anyway, overall we're doing fine. We got some exchanges this week, and next week will be going down to George and Knysna. So that will be about 3 full days outside of our area...our area will suffer for stats, but it's things we gotta do. But we're just happy zone conference is out of the way til next transfer...Elder Wall and i are getting along great. We have a "Do a good thing jar" where each time we do a good thing we put something in the jar and when it's full, we buy clothes. haha. We like to reward ourselves quite easily. It's funny. But yeah, we're definitely working hard and trying to lead the zone the best we can. We're worried that during the world cup the elders just wont be focused on the work at all and will rather be disobedient and just watch the games with members or whoever...and if they do that they'll truly lose blessings that the Lord has for them. It's just how it works. So yeah, we're trying to be the best we can and work hard. Good things are happening for sure. Despite losing half our teaching pool with school closing, we're being led to families now which is something that we've been praying would happen. Things are just much better than where they have been in this area for the past 3 months. Even Elder Wall says that and he's been here for a while. We're making a difference. That's it tho! Thanks for everything! Elder Devenney
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Jun 1 , 2010
So...let me update you and tell you why i'm emailing you on thursday instead of the usual monday... Last week was good. As you know it was transfer week...An expected phone call came from president on tuesday night just before i fell asleep asking me if i'd like a bit more responsibility yadda yadda and be Zone Leader here in PE. "Sure thing" i said. No worries...so wednesday was full of a couple of tears...(from some investigators like Gine and Tiff and the fam and others) but for the most part my goodbyes to those in Cleary weren't that bad. I told them that i'd see them again since being a ZL i still will go on exchanges with the DL in Cleary...so it's not too far away. But yeah, that was wednesday. Now thursday, being the actual transfer day...was a bit more hectic. I got all my stuff together and that morning, early, got with Elder Wall my new comp. Elder Wall is a good buddy of mine. We were in the mtc together and flew over together...so we're already bff's anyway...which is always good news to get. So yeah, we hoooked up, i got my stuff in the car and quickly dropped it off at my new boarding...then we needed to make sure that flights of incoming elders and outgoing elders from our zone was ok...so that basically took all day organizing and making sure everything is going to work out and go smooth...that all the elders get to where they need to go. We had a bit of proselyting time...maybe like 2 hours in between, then we had to wait at the bus stop for like 2 hours til these correct buses came in from throughout the country. Yeah that kinda sucked...but everything was fine and there really weren't any problems...That was wednesday... Thursday i got to check out more of the area a bit, talked to Wall about the work that needs to be done...(which is a lot). My new area is actually PE main. Like the main city, called Central, then Summerstrand which is a very nice area out by the ocean..also have some township lowerclass that we can work which is very close to the chapel. So in this area we have a little bit of everything...we can work rich white area, colored, or black areas...we got it all. Which has its advantages for sure. We also have NMMU (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Univ) in our area so we teach a lot of the students as well. There are advantages and disadvantages to that also.... So as for our teaching pool...it's consisted of a lot of students like i said...some part member and less active families...but honestly this area needs a lot of help. Idunno what's been going on before i got here...but it needs some help...Walmer (which is where the chapel is and really what my area is called for the most part) is a semi difficult area but of course, that's if i say it's difficult. Any area can be anything you make of it depending upon your attitude right? But yeah, it's large, but has great potential i hope. Friday we had some more teaching appointments, also saturday. Friday it rained most of the day which was really nice to have a change in the weather...it was cold last week but has since warmed up. We gave some District Leader training to the DL in Cleary (my old area) and had to drive out there after our meeting on friday morning. It was all good and yeah...i just hope Cleary will be able to continue to be successful as it was when i was there...i just hope they keep working hard. So what we found out was that there was going to be a zone leader council on monday...and we needed to be ready for it. Which we really didnt have much time for. Sunday we had church...it's a ward...the ward has been here forever it seems like and another ward shares the building (it's the stake center) so it's nice and what not. I've met the bishop and some other members...the bishop is cool. He's like 35 and totally talks like a surfer. You can say dude and things and that's just the way he talks...it's awesome. So yeah...His name is bishop Parker. cool guy. Anyway, so we left PE for Cape Town monday morning early and arrived just before lunch (obviously plane ride) and had a great lunch. For the next two days...til tuesday we had this Zone Leader Council. All the Zone leaders flew in and at the mission home we all counciled on a lot of different things. There were 16 ZLs, we also had the office elders, and the AP's and of course Pres and Sister Probst. We had short reports on strengths and weaknesses in our zones and what could be improved and things we wanted to discuss. President addressed us for a long time on the responsibility and things of a ZL and the weight that is on our shoulders...but anway, we talked. Our discussion was ranging from Accountability, Goals. The World Cup, Member and ward work, Teaching skills, etc etc. So all of that was shortly after lunch through til dinner. About 4 hours straight. We had dinner, then went right back into things. We counseled on what might help each area, the needs and concerns of elders, and what solutions there might be to those different subjects. Did that til about the end of the night. We also talked about some of the "unwritten rules" of things to do when conducting a meeting...a lot of really good stuff basically. That went til about the end of the night...The next morning we had a combined study with everyone which was great...basically we all just asked some deep doctrine questions to pres Probst and got some sweet info out of him...then talked more about a few things we couldnt cover on monday, finalized the next 4 months of Zone Conferences...ate lunch, then basically packed up and got out of there..hopped on a plane and came back to PE. Well as soon as we flew in, about 5 pm yesterday, we immediately started our companion exchange with the AP's. Elder Tanner was with me, and luckily he had served here in PE previous so he was helping me around where to go since i had only worked it for about 2 full days. It was a way good exchange. Elder Tanner is in my transfer but we've never really been around eachother because he was here at the Jo-burg mtc while ya know...i was in provo...and since we never served around eachother we just knew eachother in passing. But now we got a full day with eachother it was nice to get to know him better. We wouldnt mind being eachother's comps...he's from like logan or something... anyway, we taught some guy from Sudan who should be getting baptized asap...but will be coming back from school break in about a month..so we'll wait til then. Also taught and found some others...but anyway...Things are decent here. That's the problem with a lot of our teaching pool is since all the schools will close during the world cup, everyone will be going back home for over a month and then coming back...so that's going to be a struggle for us because so many progressing investigators are students that are leaving...and we'll have to change our focus a little bit. The exchange ended today at 5 pm and are now just finding time enough to email you and tell you this...we still need to do our shopping for the week...unfortunately that thing in Cape Town took up our pday so we wont get much play this week...but hopefully on monday we'll find something fun to do. So uh...i hope that gives you a better understanding of where i am...things are good. I'm enjoying myself. Sad to leave Cleary but excited for some other great things that will be in the next few months. Since i'm a ZL in PE i'll have the opportunity to travel to George and Knysna which is part of our zone and about 5 hours away. That area is supposed to be some of the most beautiful parts of all of Africa, and it's part of our zone...pretty stoked for that. And i'm glad that i'm here because this was going to make meeting the smiths (fam here) so much easier because near that part of the zone is closer to where they live. Even on our plane ride to CT the pilot announced that at one point we were passing over Still Bay and i was shocked but excited because i never really knew where it was...so yeah...hopefully this'll give us a better chance to meet before i leave. That's all i got...Love, Elder Devenney
Monday, May 24, 2010
May 24th, 2010
Well this week has been really good....with the baptism and everything it went great! i'll get to that just now...The week started off really good... Tuesday we had a great day. We saw almost everyone that we wanted to see. The best part was that at the end of the day we had seen Mark (the skater) and his family. We had originally just planned to watched and explain more about the Restoration but instead we spoke about Prayer and the BOM. The lesson went great. This time we had mark, his gma, his sister mandy (25 yr) and his younger brother (15). So it was nice. At the end of the lesson everything made perfect sense and they better understood prayer right...but then just before we were leaving...mark wanted to know more about the after life. He expressed more about his mother passing away last year...and wanting to know more. This was becoming an emotional subject for the whole family. Mark told us about how he used to have this other kid that he used to skate with who's mother had committed suicide. Mark could never understand why this kid always looked depressed and pale and everything...until mark himself lost his mother. So this opened a perfect discussion about the rest of the plan of salvation. We emphasized the importance of the BOM and how it has so many truths that are in there that help us better understand the after life. We left Alma 40 for him to read and we'd explain it more in depth when we come back again. Even Mandy the sister, it was her first time seeing the BOM and she just sat with it on her lap stroking it and looking very curious through it. But it was funny, we read the first verse of Alma 40 with him...and it states something along the lines of "And now my son, i perceive that ye are still questioned concerning the resurrection of the dead."...something like...we read him that verse and left him to read the chapter which would help him better understand the after life. We bore testimony that he would see his mother again...and we can be with our loved ones again...everyone was very emotional. ...But we went back there just yesterday and started the POS with the family...unfortunately mark was out and so we just stopped after our earth life...we'll finish it when mark gets there tomorrow. But they really liked what we had spoken about and it made perfect sense. Wonderful family... Yesterday was the baptism of Gine and Tiffany Marias. Great people! They had asked me to perform the baptism which was an honor and even the whole baptism service was so spiritual. My companion gave an excellent talk on Baptism...many members were there for support...it was a great day for a baptism...just really hot outside. But the water was freezing...haha. But yeah...it was a great service and they'll be a great addition to the branch. They're the best! I think they're worried that i might leave...but i told them to start praying for understanding if i do leave this transfer...but they have a strong testimony already. We're still teaching great families...and we dunno exactly who will be next to be baptized. But we're hoping that this next transfer we should get at least a family...and even a part membe family also..another mother and daughter. So yeah we feel very good about the work and are always trying to improve ourselves. It'll be interesting to see what'lll happen for this week...maybe i'll stay...maybe i'll go. But i'll keep ya posted on what happens if anything...Thanks to everyone! Each day is something different and if i leave...i've very much enjoyed my time here in Cleary. Thanks for everyone for the prayers! The mission needs them! O and i cracked my skateboard unfortunately this past week which ruined my day...haha. It's still in one piece..but could break completely if i'm not careful...i do have an old extra one...so i'll throw that one on...i dont wanna buy another...but it's sad. But i'll be alright... Elder Devenney
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 16, 2010
There has been a lot that has happened this past week...some great things...and some not so great. But i'll save the bad news for the end...as hopefully it'll set a proper tone for everyone as they read the good things happening first...
The week really has been great when it's come to the work here in Cleary. We've honestly seen so many miracles this week of how the Lord truly is preparing more and more people for this gospel. I'll start by the beginning of the week tho...Monday evening it was Gine's bday so we were invited to hang out with the family and eat and play a game and what not. She made some great samoosas (triangle shaped breaded baked things with meat inside) also some home made pizzas (mini) and some egg roll stuff sorta, with pies and cakes etc. Way good. Then we just played some game...than we had to leave there and go to another bday thingy...of which we got fed more food. This was at the Deklerk family...a part member family...good food...sorta over done...and we couldnt really finish it but did the best we could...that finished our night.
Let me give you an update on some of the investigators that we're teaching. I feel the Lord is preparing a lot of Mothers and daughters to come into Cleary...haha. As there was a baptism last week of a mother and daughter...Gine and Tiffany will be baptized next sunday...and also another Mother and daughter...part member family are progressing and i could see how they will also be baptized probably next transfer. As for Gine and them...That whole household is doing great. There is another girl Roxanne who is wanting to be taught also now...although she's been sitting in on the lessons for probably the past month...i think it's finally struck her that this is right. So there were 4 of them that came to church from that family just yesterday. Gine and Tiffany are great tho...we went through some of the baptismal questions and talked also of missionary work one night with a great video clip. Gine had then told us that just the day before she had sent a BOM to Cape Town to her brother...we were stoked cuz without us even speaking about it she's already doing missionary work before she's a member. But yeah...next sunday will be their baptism and we're almost out of things to teach them cuz we've done so much with them. We'll see them again tonight for a FHE. They almost want us to come everyday if we can...haha. It's funny. And Gine told me last night that she and tiffany would like me to do the baptism next sunday...which i told her i'd be honored to do. So that was sure nice of them.
Remember Mark the skater and i told you how we're teaching his fam? yeah we had a great Restoration lesson with an object lesson. It was great....then later that week i saw him and this other guy skating and i couldnt help but stop and skate a bit with them. This time when i played a game of s.k.a.t.e with mark i beat him. haha. Idunno if he was too happy about it..but then we played another anyway. He's definitely the best skater i've seen in SA. But yeah we'll continue to teach them and the family. They invited me to skate their rail on sunday...but instead i invited them to church...
Basically what i can say instead of naming names...is just show how great our teaching has been this past week. When we teach the Restoration we use an object of cups which helps people understand better the Apostasy and all the churches in time forming, and the need for the truth to be restored. Everytime we teach it like that, the spirit tells everyone, hey this makes sense. That simple lesson, as we've taught it tons this week...has been a great eye opener for so many people (as it always has in the past) but for some reason this week it's just been so great to teach that lesson. It's the truth! i know it!
Church yesterday was great as we had some good people show up. Remember the Lebrons? Well they had said they'd come to church so i sms'd Lenica Pyne to make sure they're ready on sunday, as she lives across the street. Well unfortunately the whole fam didnt come but it was just the mother and her little cute daughter (3 years old) And she ended up staying all three hours. It was a good thing it was a decent sacrament meeting and everything else also. So we hope to get the whole family next sunday, it'd be great. But yeah...as for Cleary and the work and all that we're doing...it's on a high for sure. I kinda dont wanna leave and i'm afraid that in a week and a half when the transfer news comes in that i'll be leaving...but i guess i'll just wait and see..ya never know.
Now i guess i can tell you a bit of the bad news that happened this week...
Wednesday night we got a call informing us that President and Sister Probst wanted to meet with the whole zone at 1:30 pm the following day. The two of them were supposed to be in Jo-burg at a Misson Presidents Seminar all week. So we were all pretty confused about why he was back in the mission. We all were thinking about what it could be and just figured maybe it was something about the World Cup coming up and some things he needed to tell us. Non the less, we went to Walmer Chapel here in PE and waited for them to arrive. It was us missionaries and also the senior couples. Of which all of us had no idea what to expect. Pres. and Sister Probst were personally going around the mission to inform each zone of the news, and had met with the Kwanobuhle Zone that morning. We all filed into the Relief Society room and he unvailed the news. He told us there had been a death in the mission. His name was Elder Zulu. He was serving out in Mtata about a 4 hour drive from PE. Maybe more. And that it had happened on monday. They (the 4 elders serving in mtata) had decided to go to the ocean to take some pics...(which is quite a drive and might have been outside their boundaries) Well as they got to the spots they were messing around on the rocks and taking pics and everything...the winds and the waves were quite harsh that day. And so, unfortunately at one moment while taking pics a large wave with a gust of wind knocked Elder Zulu into the water... if the others also fell in he didnt tell us. Pres Probst then told us that as the waves were large they ended up carrying him farther and farther out to sea. He might have hit his head as he fell in also...There were lifeguards on duty which quickly responded...They did get his body back to short and started CPR on Elder Zulu, as the other 3 elders had to watch. After some time, they could not revive him. He had taken too much water in. This was now 3 days after the incident as president was telling us the story. No one in the room had a dry eye. To think that we had lost a fellow brother in the mission was horrifying to us all. President and Sister Probst continued to tell us, and to encourage us not to ask why did this happen, as so many would...but to always remember that there is a purpose to God's ways. And that we dont always understand them. He reminded us of the revelation given the Joseph Smith that of those missionaries who lose their life in this great work, will continue it on in the Spirit World. They talked for quite a while...We then spoke for a while of those who did know Elder Zulu and could retell what they remembered about him and good times they had with him. I had only met him a couple of times, but he had served here in Cleary about 6 months ago. We then all wrote notes to his family telling them what a wonderful missionary he was. The sad part is, that he is just about the only member in his family, and we must remember that his family probably doesn't fully understand the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement like we do. Pres Probst encouraged us to always remember his family in our prayers, as well as the other Elders in Mtata for what they must be feeling. Who knows, maybe this might open a door for the family to accept the gospel...God's ways are higher and knows more than we do...Further more, the service was held back in Zim as his body was transfered back up there. They had a Area General Authority speak at the funeral with hopes of reading some of the missionaries notes they had written to the family for encouragement. I'm sure it was a wonderful service...
Elder Turner (one of my comps in EL) was Elder Zulu's companion at the time. And he had called me monday morning before the incident...it's amazing how something like that can happen...even to a missionary in the field. Please keep the Zulu family in your prayers...as we have all week and will continue. They need to have feelings of understanding and not anything against the church...we hope everything will be alright. Also keep Pres and Sister Probst in your prayers as well...as it's a horrible feeling for them at this time. . Thank you so much,
Elder Devenney
The week really has been great when it's come to the work here in Cleary. We've honestly seen so many miracles this week of how the Lord truly is preparing more and more people for this gospel. I'll start by the beginning of the week tho...Monday evening it was Gine's bday so we were invited to hang out with the family and eat and play a game and what not. She made some great samoosas (triangle shaped breaded baked things with meat inside) also some home made pizzas (mini) and some egg roll stuff sorta, with pies and cakes etc. Way good. Then we just played some game...than we had to leave there and go to another bday thingy...of which we got fed more food. This was at the Deklerk family...a part member family...good food...sorta over done...and we couldnt really finish it but did the best we could...that finished our night.
Let me give you an update on some of the investigators that we're teaching. I feel the Lord is preparing a lot of Mothers and daughters to come into Cleary...haha. As there was a baptism last week of a mother and daughter...Gine and Tiffany will be baptized next sunday...and also another Mother and daughter...part member family are progressing and i could see how they will also be baptized probably next transfer. As for Gine and them...That whole household is doing great. There is another girl Roxanne who is wanting to be taught also now...although she's been sitting in on the lessons for probably the past month...i think it's finally struck her that this is right. So there were 4 of them that came to church from that family just yesterday. Gine and Tiffany are great tho...we went through some of the baptismal questions and talked also of missionary work one night with a great video clip. Gine had then told us that just the day before she had sent a BOM to Cape Town to her brother...we were stoked cuz without us even speaking about it she's already doing missionary work before she's a member. But yeah...next sunday will be their baptism and we're almost out of things to teach them cuz we've done so much with them. We'll see them again tonight for a FHE. They almost want us to come everyday if we can...haha. It's funny. And Gine told me last night that she and tiffany would like me to do the baptism next sunday...which i told her i'd be honored to do. So that was sure nice of them.
Remember Mark the skater and i told you how we're teaching his fam? yeah we had a great Restoration lesson with an object lesson. It was great....then later that week i saw him and this other guy skating and i couldnt help but stop and skate a bit with them. This time when i played a game of s.k.a.t.e with mark i beat him. haha. Idunno if he was too happy about it..but then we played another anyway. He's definitely the best skater i've seen in SA. But yeah we'll continue to teach them and the family. They invited me to skate their rail on sunday...but instead i invited them to church...
Basically what i can say instead of naming names...is just show how great our teaching has been this past week. When we teach the Restoration we use an object of cups which helps people understand better the Apostasy and all the churches in time forming, and the need for the truth to be restored. Everytime we teach it like that, the spirit tells everyone, hey this makes sense. That simple lesson, as we've taught it tons this week...has been a great eye opener for so many people (as it always has in the past) but for some reason this week it's just been so great to teach that lesson. It's the truth! i know it!
Church yesterday was great as we had some good people show up. Remember the Lebrons? Well they had said they'd come to church so i sms'd Lenica Pyne to make sure they're ready on sunday, as she lives across the street. Well unfortunately the whole fam didnt come but it was just the mother and her little cute daughter (3 years old) And she ended up staying all three hours. It was a good thing it was a decent sacrament meeting and everything else also. So we hope to get the whole family next sunday, it'd be great. But yeah...as for Cleary and the work and all that we're doing...it's on a high for sure. I kinda dont wanna leave and i'm afraid that in a week and a half when the transfer news comes in that i'll be leaving...but i guess i'll just wait and see..ya never know.
Now i guess i can tell you a bit of the bad news that happened this week...
Wednesday night we got a call informing us that President and Sister Probst wanted to meet with the whole zone at 1:30 pm the following day. The two of them were supposed to be in Jo-burg at a Misson Presidents Seminar all week. So we were all pretty confused about why he was back in the mission. We all were thinking about what it could be and just figured maybe it was something about the World Cup coming up and some things he needed to tell us. Non the less, we went to Walmer Chapel here in PE and waited for them to arrive. It was us missionaries and also the senior couples. Of which all of us had no idea what to expect. Pres. and Sister Probst were personally going around the mission to inform each zone of the news, and had met with the Kwanobuhle Zone that morning. We all filed into the Relief Society room and he unvailed the news. He told us there had been a death in the mission. His name was Elder Zulu. He was serving out in Mtata about a 4 hour drive from PE. Maybe more. And that it had happened on monday. They (the 4 elders serving in mtata) had decided to go to the ocean to take some pics...(which is quite a drive and might have been outside their boundaries) Well as they got to the spots they were messing around on the rocks and taking pics and everything...the winds and the waves were quite harsh that day. And so, unfortunately at one moment while taking pics a large wave with a gust of wind knocked Elder Zulu into the water... if the others also fell in he didnt tell us. Pres Probst then told us that as the waves were large they ended up carrying him farther and farther out to sea. He might have hit his head as he fell in also...There were lifeguards on duty which quickly responded...They did get his body back to short and started CPR on Elder Zulu, as the other 3 elders had to watch. After some time, they could not revive him. He had taken too much water in. This was now 3 days after the incident as president was telling us the story. No one in the room had a dry eye. To think that we had lost a fellow brother in the mission was horrifying to us all. President and Sister Probst continued to tell us, and to encourage us not to ask why did this happen, as so many would...but to always remember that there is a purpose to God's ways. And that we dont always understand them. He reminded us of the revelation given the Joseph Smith that of those missionaries who lose their life in this great work, will continue it on in the Spirit World. They talked for quite a while...We then spoke for a while of those who did know Elder Zulu and could retell what they remembered about him and good times they had with him. I had only met him a couple of times, but he had served here in Cleary about 6 months ago. We then all wrote notes to his family telling them what a wonderful missionary he was. The sad part is, that he is just about the only member in his family, and we must remember that his family probably doesn't fully understand the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement like we do. Pres Probst encouraged us to always remember his family in our prayers, as well as the other Elders in Mtata for what they must be feeling. Who knows, maybe this might open a door for the family to accept the gospel...God's ways are higher and knows more than we do...Further more, the service was held back in Zim as his body was transfered back up there. They had a Area General Authority speak at the funeral with hopes of reading some of the missionaries notes they had written to the family for encouragement. I'm sure it was a wonderful service...
Elder Turner (one of my comps in EL) was Elder Zulu's companion at the time. And he had called me monday morning before the incident...it's amazing how something like that can happen...even to a missionary in the field. Please keep the Zulu family in your prayers...as we have all week and will continue. They need to have feelings of understanding and not anything against the church...we hope everything will be alright. Also keep Pres and Sister Probst in your prayers as well...as it's a horrible feeling for them at this time. . Thank you so much,
Elder Devenney
Monday, May 10, 2010
Mothers day
Well Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mothers! It was a great week for us. We worked hard to find some new people to teach. Our efforts were not wasted. Throughout the mission we've seen hundreds of new investigators each week. It's been a big effort throughout the mission and focus to find new people...and we're doing it, but now lets just make sure we hold on to those investigators so they progress. Early this week i went on an exchange with Elder Msilasye in his area. He's in the walking area in Cleary, so i spent the day walking around and teaching his investigators. It was nice. We only ran into a couple of crazys...just some crazy lady telling us her dreams from years back and wanting us to interpret what they mean...and although we didnt have an answer, she told us that when we come back we better be ready to tell her the real meaning of that dream...how the heck are we supposed to know! haha. Other than that, we just walked around lots, saw some people and taught and what not, and then...yeah basically ended. As for our progressing investigators and people that are doing well. First off, Gine and Tiffany and the whole family are doing just fine. We taught one of the best Plan of Salvation lessons i think i've ever been in...all because we combined teaching about temples during our life on earth, and at the very end of the lesson we watched a short 8 min clip from a dvd i have about the revelation given to Joseph Smith about the Celestial Kingdom. It was a great ender and i think all that were there...which were about 7 or so people, learned a lot. It was very spiritual. So yeah, i had never taught it bringing in so many other points into the lesson before, but it really paid off in the end. The very next day we went back and taught them more about the temples and watched another dvd explaining about the purpose of them etc. So that was way awesome. I've ordered some temple pics and as soon as they come in i'll give it to the family. Their focus shouldn't just be on the baptism, but truly on the temple. So i think they've realized that now. As for...lets see...the Lebron family...doing great. They didnt come to church this sunday, but they better this next week. haha. They're good tho and we still feel really excited for them. The Tyler family...doing well. We saw them twice this past week and just read from the BOM and watched a conference talk from Pres. Monson the other time. They come to church, but just dont grasp some of the other commitments like reading and praying as a family. So we're just taking our time with them. But both him and his wife Rochelle came to church and brought their 10 year old boy also. So that was nice to see. It was Rochelle's 2nd time coming, so she must like it a bit more now if she's having a desire to come back. And Bro Tyler is funny as ever...quiet at church, but hilarious when we get to his house. On Friday we had interviews with Pres. Probst. All went well. And basically he just told me that he's definitely seeing the district and the area as a high. He says as far as he can think back he's never seen it better than it is right now, and can see our hard work paying off. So Cleary is on a rise! Who knows what'll happen to it soon. Just hopefully we'll be able to keep it up for however long i'm here. And after i leave of course...But other than that i just told him that with transfers (which is in about 2 or so weeks) that i'll be fine with whatever happens. If i stay that's ok, if i go that's ok. So yeah...til then... That night we got to see Mark. (that skater and his family) for the first time. It's about a family of 5. It took a little while for everyone to get home so it was just Mark and the two of us for a bit. That gave me and him a bit of time to do some catch up on the skate scene around the world. He updated me on the pros and whats what ya know...so that was what i needed...haha. I'm sure we'll skate sometime soon if i find the time. But as soon as the family got back, we taught about the first half of the P.O.S. and it went fine. But yeah, hopefully things will work out and we'll keep teaching them. Saturday toward the end i had to do a baptismal interview for this lady and her daughter who were getting baptized on sunday (yesterday). It ended up being over 2 hours by the time i was done, Carmen, the mother, liked to talk a bit. haha. But nontheless it went fine. Candice is 9, and had been coming to church for over a year and was being a great example to her mother. So what ended up happening is just because this little girl had been coming to church, the mother soon followed. Now, months later, they're baptized. All from the simple example of the little girl who had been waiting to be baptized but couldnt because she was so young and needed more support. So yesterday they were both baptized. It's just the two of them in their family. She's not married and doesnt have any other kids. But yeah, she's from the other elders area...not mine and elder malobola. But it was a great baptism service yesterday and everything went fine. So yeah...now in 2 weeks we'll have another mother and daughter getting baptized but this time it will be from our area. Should be pretty nice. Other than that, not too much is going on. Yesterday was great, and again i hope all the mothers had a great day! Thanks for everything!
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