20th January 2014

  Molwni!!  That is Xhosa language for all you malungu's (white people) back home! Haha, molweni is a greeting to more than one person! I am becoming Xhosa! But not really:) My first transfer is officially done with and it was amazing! N.U. 17 in Mdantsane is the best area I could have gotten as a new missionary! Everything is well here in Zion. 

  So this last week was good! Our investigators are progressing and we have 2 baptismal dates for the 16 of Feb. Two girls, Anelisa-15 years old, and Linda-16 years old. They have both been coming to church for over a year and attend seminary! They are awesome and are strong in the church. Hopefully we can get the 4 other investigators back into progress so that they can have baptismal dates again! The Holidays really killed their progress but now school is in and the holidays are done with so we will invite them again to enter the waters of baptism.
  I am learning to budget my money well and to only shop for things that are needed! I eat day by day and eat a lot of oatmeal! For breakfast of course. I love to put banana's in my oatmeal! It is heavenly:)
  I need to tell you all about my makulu (grandma) on mission! Her name is Sis. Ncokazi! Oh she loves us missionaries and we love her! She always is willing to feed us and she never fails to destroy us with food! She is truly an angel from heaven. She is an incredible lady. My district, Elders Prisbrey, Cowley, Black, and Olyabo, are going to get a picture of us with her, frame it, and give it to her before we all leave! She seriously is a sweet lady and I love her!
  Transfers are this Wednesday. Me, Elder Cowley and Elder Olyabo are staying for sure. Hopefully Elder Black stays as well. Elder Black is from Alabama and is a die hard Alabama fan! He is so redneck and so southern its hilarious. His accent is awesome!

  I miss you all dearly! Nkosi kakulu (thank you very much) for all you do!
  Endia Kutanda! ( I love you!)

 

 

 

 

Email dated: 31 December 2013

 

Favorite Scripture this week:

Doctrine and Covenants Section 121, Verses 7 and 8:

  7. My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

  8. And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

 

"...This last week, we did not teach a lot. Many appointments were dropped because it is the Christmas Holidays. But one lesson we did teach twice was Lesson 3. The Gospel Of Jesus Christ. So that is Chapter 3 of PMG Lesson 3. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the missionary purpose, which is:

    "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through FAITH in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM, RECEIVING THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST, and ENDURING THE END." That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end.

A scripture that I like is D&C 121:7-8. I can send you a new favorite every week if you like!

Advice for future missionaries. Learn to lean on your Heavenly Father. Like missionaries leaving home cannot lean on their parents anymore. They are forced almost to build a stronger and better relationship with their Heavenly Father. Another piece of advice is to learn Chapter 3 of PMG. Those are the lessons that missionaries teach people. Knowing those lessons and knowing scriptures to back up what you are saying is very important.

All the new missionaries and their trainers had a training in Cape Town this past Monday. So me, my father, Elder Thayne, and his father, took a road trip to Port Elizabeth to catch a flight to Cape Town. We drove on Sunday and flew Monday.  On Monday morning, about 40 missionaries hiked "Lion's Head" an amazing hike and it provides a beautiful view of Cape Town and the beaches, which really makes me want to go surfing, but I will resist!

We had a training from President Wood Monday night, and me and my father slept at another missionaries flat. Then this morning, we flew to Port Elizabeth, and we are here still. We are with the ZL of P.E. and we do not know where our fathers are. Whatever though. Today is New Years Eve and we will probably get back to East London late tonight. And tomorrow, we are not allowed in the area so we are confined to our flat. So I am in the process of having a 4 day vacation on mission and it is awesome.

By the way! Christmas was amazing for me and I hope it was pleasant for all of you. It was nice to see and talk to everyone!

Love,
Elder Prisbrey"