06/25/2012

Okay this is the mass email.  Its going to be short.  I have had a hectic morning and way hectic week!

Monday they call and say I'm staying in Gtown. 

Tuesday they call again and say pack your bags you have a flight to Cape Town.  So I have about 12 hours notice and 8 of those hours were sleeping.  Yeah, I couldn't say good bye to hardly any one.  Its so hard to leave, that was my favorite area and I was way depressed, but I'm doing better now.  I'm in Bellville and its an awesome area.  It is HUGE and its only white people.  I have never really taught whites.  We had four investigators at church on Sunday and that was awesome.

My companion is from Uganda and he is awesome!  We are having a lot of fun!  My GPS is back in use and it helps sooooo much because we are always lost.  And, no Dad, I did not move because I am a trouble maker just to clear that up.  Well I had a lot to do this week on my emails so I emailed NO one.  I'm so sorry.  Next week will be better.  I love you all so much and my next email will be detailed I swear! Oh, and happy B day Michele!!!!!!

 

Love you all!

Colton

WHAT A WEEK! 06/18/12

Hello All,
Its been a fun week. I  went to East London for leadership training.  It was awesome!  Then we had exchanges with the zone leaders.  I went with Elder Naylor who was recently dear Johned. Poor guy!  It was a fun exchange.  Then on Saturday we had a movie night with the branch and they were supposed to bring friends.  We watched the movie Courageous and it was awesome.  It reminded me of my dad and how awesome he is!  HAPPY FATHERS DAY dad and grandpa and everyone else!  We celebrated with Eelder Nye haha.  So a lot of funny things have happened this week.  We went to Sunday school with the 12 year olds and Sister Avewe was teaching about patriarchal blessings.  Yeah.....so Luntu asks. "so, I like Lil Wayne......will my blessing say that I like Lil Wayne"! hahahaha, I laughed so hard it was so funny!!!  We also had some awesome first lessons one was with a man named Honey....yes that's right.  He explained some challenges in his life and we just taught about the gospel its so awesome how if we live the gospel our challenges and temptations and addictions can be easier.  The gospel really blesses and comforts.  Okay I just really am not in the big email mood and I don't have a lot to say.  I'm really sorry I know this is so lame hahah.  I got pictures from Calee and I show them off to every one haha.  I love you, thank you for all that you do!  Sorry this sucks, next week will be better!  I promise so don't complain.  Its not like I get that many letters any ways hahah, just kidding.    Love ya!  Have a good week everyone.

Love,
Colton

Warthog Anyone?

Its been an awesome week!  Zone conference was great.  I love the strong spirit I feel there.  Its about a two hour drive and its nice to get out of town but I'm sick of traveling now haha.  It was an awesome training by the Woods and their assistants.  It was cool.  Of course we saw baboons and other monkeys. But its normal now haha
We also went to Sister Thomas' farm.  She is a member with a farm about an hour away.  Her husband is not a member.  He is an awesome guy.  They fed us breakfast and lunch and we did service.  We built some fences.  It reminded me of Escalante and made me miss Oma and Grandpa.  It was fun.  For lunch we had wart hog meat.  It was not my first time, it's not my favorite, but it's not too bad.  He shoots them himself.  We saw a bunch of wart hogs on the way home.  We were looking for the hippos in the river but I think it was too cold.  This week we have been trying to help the people we have found to progress.  Some are on their way, some have fallen through.  At the end of this week all the students from the university will leave, which is a portion of our teaching pool, but we will find more.  The Grahamstown Festival is coming up and we are planning some finding activities there.  Like a booth or choir or something.  Its basically an arts festival and its huge in South Africa.  We have also been brainstorming some community service activities with the ward mission leader and we should have some good things come from that very soon.  Maybe like at a senior center or library.
We taught Nandi yesterday and it was an awesome lesson.  We followed up with her reading.  We left 1 Nephi 8, which talked about holding on to the iron rod and staying on the path towards eternal life (enduring this life).  It also shows in the vision how there is a large beautiful building with people partying.  Nandi called it a "crib" hahah.  They were having a life full of worldly things but then the building collapsed crushing all who were in it.  We then watched the Book of Mormon cartoon of that chapter with her.  Her understanding of the chapter was a lot more clear.  She said "I would rather die in beautiful building then go to a tree......okay, no I don't want to die" so then we said "EXACTLY you GOT IT!  You don't want to die, you want eternal life and if you endure this life then you can have an even more beautiful mansion with all that makes you happy.  She felt the spirit and understood obedience.  We then asked if her desire to be obedient was stronger.  She said, "yes".  It was awesome.  Her friend who is a strong member shared that in this life we make so many close friends and we love them and she said that she can see the bigger picture.  She expressed love and said she wanted Nandi to have eternal happiness not temporal happiness.  It was a spiritual and even emotional lesson for them.  Aviewe (Nandi's friend) understands the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She understands our purpose in this life.  Our purpose is to prepare to meet God.  The world has changed but God doesn't.  We are not supposed to turn to the things of the world for happiness.  True happiness is found by living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Its been very cold in G town!  Freezing and rainy.  Today its cold but clear.  We are going to see some elephants today for 350R (50$)ish.   Ii could ride one, but I will wait for my parents to come.  Anyways I got NO letters this week.  The post is so unpredictable.  I sent a bunch off today.  I got some tapes a while ago and I don't trust the post here to take a tape so I have just sent letters.  Sorry, hopefully I will send a tape soon.  Anyways, love you all  and I hope you have good week!


Love,

Colton

Not Just Because . . . . . . . 06/05/12

Hello Everyone,

Its been a really sweet week.  We have been working really hard following up on all the new investigators and teaching them about the restoration.  The spirit is always strong when we testify of the restoration.  I think that is probably one of the highlights of my week.
So despite the constant run from dogs, I am loving Grahamstown.  But really I like the dogs.  Part of our area is town ship and we ride up there usually once a day.  Every time we turn a certain corner these dogs always chase us and bite at our ankles.  Well, I have made a game out of it to race them and hit them if I have to.  So if they don't come I call them to come and then peddle my little chicken legs off.  Its so funny I love it.  I don't think my companion is too big of a fan but I love it.  I am definitely going to buy a bike when I get home.  Its way good exercise and a lot of fun.  I mean I worked like 3 min away from home, I should have walked or ridden a bike hahaha, I was so lazy.  So the other day after a particularly busy dog race we got to Evelyn's house.  She is a recent convert, she was baptized by Elder Leach...so you can imagine all the clean up I have to do...hahahah JUST KIDDING MATT!  She is powerful.  So we went in and sat down.  I started to make small talk by saying the dogs are crazy today?  She said  "Its the weekend Elder" and so I sarcastically said " OHH right the dogs...there drunk" and she laughed and said "no they know that its the weekend and everyone is getting drunk so there more defensive on the weekends" hahahahahaha shes great!
We also celebrated Sister Nye's birthday.  I attempted to make "better then ANYTHING" cake and it was different but good.  We called them and said Elder Alexander fell off of his bike and hurt his leg.  So they came to the chapel.  She walked in and said something like.  Well what happened, and we all jumped out, "SURPRISE" haha it was lame but fun.
This week we taught an investigator about obedience.  As I prepared for the lesson I took the time to think of why we have commandments.  Its obvious really.  God is our father he loves us.  Why do our parents give us rules, well to exercise unrighteous dominion of course hahahahahahaha just kidding mom and dad.  Its because they love us.  They see the bigger picture and God does not only see the bigger picture he sees the WHOLE picture.  Despite what we may feel at times he does love us.  We cannot remember our life with him before this life but if we could I know we would remember his love.  He has shown it to us here in this life some just mistake it for scientific excuses or say its just because.  Its not just because!!  GOD LOVES US so much!  Way more then we will ever know.  So he has given us commandments so we can safely return to him.  Like our earthly parents he can see the consequences of our actions and know we must have faith and choose to follow him.  President Monson said "we should stand in holy places and be not moved by the winds of change".  The world is changing but the commands of god don't and neither should we.  We are promised to have his spirit always if we are obedient and to receive eternal life!  I am soooooo thankful for that promise.
Well I'll stop now but I just thought it was a really cool lesson and it opened my eyes a lot.  Its been an awesome week and with Katee going home I am more and more thankful that I am here and I enjoy it more every day.
I love you all and Oma and Mer thanks for the letters!  Happy B day Steph and Hope and Amy!
I love you all!

Love,

Colton

BANANA!!!!!!!!! 05/28/12

Hello Everyone,
Yesterday we went to the army base that is in our area but its pretty far so the other elders took us in the car and to save kilometers on the car, they just joined us.  The other elders are Elder Mikaela from Kenya and Elder Mahavira from Zimbabwe.  They are awesome!  So we go to the army base to visit Revendo, a young kid who is a member.  His dad who is also a member is in the army and away till September.  So we visit him with the young men's president (who is younger then me haha) and work with him on his duty to god award.  When we were introducing ourselves I introduced Elder Mahavira and said he is a new elder and doesn't speak English yet.  I was obviously just kidding but he believed and so we played it off.  Elder Mahavira prayed in shona and they loved it!  So when we were teaching if anyone asked him anything all he would say was BA-NAN-A!!!!! hahahaha, maybe its not that funny to you but these young kids were laughing so hard and so was I.  Then at the end he just started speaking perfect English and it made the youngest kid cry he was so scared of him!  Haha it was funny!
But this week has probably been the best week I have ever had my whole mission!  I have never had to work so incredibly hard for success.  In the township it has always just seem to come, but here in town it doesn't just come you have to find all the work and its not easy.  Most of my mission I just thought God didn't think I could find my own work and that really bothered me!  Last weekend we knew we really needed to find way more people to teach!  So we prayed a LOT and worked really hard on Tuesday we spent for ever at the hospital trying to get our names on a clergy list so we could go and speak to people who have a death or serious illness in the family.  That was not an easy task.  Then we went to other shelters and support groups where the gospel would bring a lot of light into these lives.  Then we followed up on some formers.  It was very slow at first but I have never seen blessings come so quick!  This week we found NINE NEW PEOPLE to teach!!!  NINE they are all pretty cool too.
We were riding up the huge hill when we saw this mom carrying a huge bag on her head and one in her arms so we carried them home for her and met her family.  She was so grateful and she had us teach her whole family!  It was an awesome lesson!  We also had three people visit church and so that was cool.
This week we focused on one of the sisters we are teaching at the university she struggles to live the word of wisdom and so we have been helping her with that.  The other day we taught a lesson on the atonement.  We taught that he died for US!  We showed a dvd on the atonement and she said she just didn't realize what sin was doing and how we have the great gift of being able to repent and be made clean because of the atonement.  It was an awesome spiritual lesson!
We also took some time to kill roaches!  I think I killed a thousand!!!!!   I took video and pictures.  We went through three cans of bug spray!  They had nests up in the back of our fridge.  I think the ones that survived got cancer or something because they are still just dropping dead in random places. hahaha
I have thought a lot about Katee and hope she is doing good.  I can't imagine how hard it must be.  I struggled leaving home but now I feel like this is home and the thought of leaving freaks me out a little.  So I bet its not easy!  Anyways, thanks for everything I love you all, have great week!

Colton

Why Don't You Believe? 05/21/12

Well its been an awesome week!  On Tuesday we got to take a sweet road trip to PE and watch the Young Ambassadors concert from BYU!   It was awesome to do something normal hahaha.  Then we slept in PE, I stayed with Elder Cowley and that was a lot of fun.  Then in the morning the windshield of our car was off! hahaha not completely off but loose and so we drove all around PE trying to get it fixed and the guy said that if we would have gone to fast the pressure would have shattered or lifted it off.  So good thing we prayed before we left and noticed it was loose. A real nice guy fixed it for us.
Then we came home and had a normal week.  A lot of our appointments cancelled and that was no fun but we worked a lot with members and I even went tracting, which I have not done since I was in Mobray haha I think?  I hate rejection so I will do anything before it gets to that as long as its productive.  We went and we were rejected hahaha but it was really sad when a guy nicely answered the door and said I'm not interested simply because I'm atheist!   That killed me!  I just don't know how anyone can think there is no god.  Are you that alone?  Why don't you believe in Jesus Christ?  Do you know that means you have no Savior???  Man, it depressed me for the whole day but I realized he will have another chance and hopefully all will be well!
Anyways our flat is really nice but has a really bad roach problem.  They are everywhere hahah.  We kill at least 20 right when we walk in the door at night.  The weather has been awesome!  Its so cold!  I love the cold.  I doubt any of you would think its cold but we do!  Especially when you go down the huge hills fast on the bikes yo I freeze!
This week we have put our focus on asking inspired questions, I think I talked about that a while a go.  It has been really nice to teach by the spirit its awesome to ask what to say and they you just talk!  The spirit is awesome!
We taught a cool lesson to Sister Evelyn.  She received the holy ghost on Sunday and before she did we wanted to teach a lesson on it.  The lesson was awesome and it really made me so grateful that we have that gift to guide and comfort us.
I cant believe Katee is almost home, that flew by!  Meeting the Leach's was awesome!  I also got letters!!! Thanks, Brooke, Liz, Ali, Maurie, and I think that's all.  I really appreciate it.  Also a  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO....Cameron, Clara, Terry, Amanda, and Sandee!
Thanks for everything.

 

Love,

Colton

It's Like Riding a Bike........my foot. 05/14/12

Well what a week!  I'm here in Grahams town and its pretty sweet!  Its just a really old town with lots of history.  There is a town ship near by but the other elders work there.  I work in the town area and its a lot of fun!  One of the funnest parts is we are riding bikes!!! hahaha I have not ridden a bike in probably five years and my butt hurts so bad!!!!  And my thighs but I guess its a good way to beef up!!  It is sorely needed!!!  But riding the bikes have been a lot of fun!  Its nice and cold here too!
I'm excited for this week because the BYU Young Ambassadors are touring South Africa and President Wood is letting us go!!!!  It will be pretty cool!  So we get to drive to PE for that!  It will be good to see other missionaries as well!
Its really just been a crazy week with not a lot of info!  The branch is really small.  We meet in a house and Elder Nye (Senior couple) is the branch President.  A huge part of my area is a large university so that's pretty cool! we teach a few students.  We have awesome fellow shippers as well.  They come with us everyday all day!  So that is awesome!  OH I will get to see the Leaches tomorrow!!!!!!  I'm really excited about that!  It was fun to skype Katee yesterday she looks really good and sounds way different!  maybe its because I haven't herd her voice in forever!
This weeks district meeting was on receiving Revelation through the Book of Mormon!  It was really good to study and the cool part is that we got to practice what we learned.  That same day we went to our last appointment and our investigator didn't read the Book of Mormon so we read 2 Nephi 33 with her where Nephi bears his testimony that the record is true. I t really touched her and she came to church with her family!  It was great.  Jeffery R Holland said that no bad man could write such a book and no good man would write it unless it was true!  I have thought about that a lot and I know that it is true!  If that's true then Joseph smith WAS a prophet and the church is TRUE!  Its the best evidence!
Well its been a great week!  I am so happy I got to talk to the fam!   I hope your all doing well sorry this is so short!  Have a great week.

Love,
Colton