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
Thursday, April 30, 2009
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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