Botshabelo in the Freestate (Outer darkness?)

I have been transferred into what has been termed as “outer darkness.” Our mission covers 2 provinces (KZN and Freestate) and the Country Lesotho. KZN is the coast and all the missionaries are close together. There are 6 different zones on the coast, and here in the Freestate, there is only the Bloemfontein Zone. It covers the area of all Freestate which is about the same size as the other 6 zones combined.

Anyway, the place I am now serving, Botshabelo, is a township where they speak Sotho. The work here is very good. People are receptive to the gospel and appreciate and love us. It is nice being loved. As I am new, there is not much to say about the work this week. I did, however, learn stick shift. I am a master now!

Love Elder Preator

Uncle Gopaul

 

Uncle Tarzan (mostly deaf)

Uncle Bunny from Chatsworth

The Govindasamys from Chatsworth. (I know, I’m getting thick.)

My current companion and the first counselor doing service while I take pictures.

Senior Companion in Botshabelo "Place of Refuge"

I am getting transferred to Freestate. The city is called Bloemfontein and I will be serving in a township called Bhotshabelo. I am going to be Senior Companion to Elder Masinga and I take a 12 hour bus ride tomorrow. Super excited to finally have a change in scenery. And aroma.  

You guys guessed it. Really short this week. :) I know for me its hard to read long emails if theres no pictures so I will keep it short.

I will miss the people here in Chatsworth, but I am ready to leave.

More from me next week. I promise.

Love you guys.

Elder Preator

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Botshabelo, meaning “a place of refuge”, is a large black settlement set up by the then apartheid government 45 km east of Bloemfontein, Free State province, South Africa. As many people moved away from the farms in the Free State, they looked for places to stay in the region of Thaba Nchu, another homeland under the old Bophutatswana government.

The policy governing Bophutatswana at the time clearly stated that Bophutatswana belongs to those who are of Tswana tribe. As a result, all other tribes, mainly Southern Sotho and Xhosa, were put at a squatter camp named “Kromdraai”. Kromdraai was initiated by a man who was only referred to as “Khoza”. He was selling a stand for only 50 cents around the year of 1976.

Later on the government of Bophutatswana started to strongly condemn the development of that area and worked hard through their police force during the day and night, striving to dispatch everybody living in the region and who is not a Tswana. As the pressure mounted for the people of Kromdraai, Khoza fled and he was no longer to be seen anywhere.

In 1979, the then Prime Minister of QwaQwa, Kenneth Mopeli together with the apartheid government found a place for all the people of Kromdraai at a farm called Onverwacht. All the people who were not Tswana started to move to Onverwacht for free, and later on when they started to settle in the area paid ZAR80 for a stand. Late in 1980 to early 1981 the name Onverwacht started to disappear and people started to call their place by the name of Botshabelo, this name given by Julius Nkoko.

Botshabelo is one of the towns that have produced soccer players for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) especially for Celtics such as Madidilane, Ditheko Mototo, the late Abram Raselemane, Ntho Moshe, Motseothata November, Ace Gulwa,Lefu Nyapuli,Teboho Salemane and others. Population is mainly composed of people speaking S. Sotho and Xhosa.

Racial makeup (2011)[1]
• Black African	99.2%
• Coloured	0.3%
• Indian/Asian	0.2%
• White	0.1%
• Other	0.2%
First languages (2011)[1]
• Sotho	84.5%
• Xhosa	7.6%
• English	2.0%
• Afrikaans	1.6%
• Other	4.3%

Time in Chatty-Kathy coming to a close.

2 Nephi 31 is a sweet chapter in general. One of our mission Vision Statements is 2 Nephi 31:13. It's the chapter we give to investigators to read and it includes the basics like you said. Have faith, repent, get baptized, recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. Either they don't understand English very well when we give this to them, or they get the picture and our purpose. (If they understand, they either drop us or continue lessons so its a nice statement.)

My companion, Elder Willombe is from Zambia. He thinks and envisions himself as a black American. He is really funny and gets most of my jokes so thats nice. He's been on his mission for 15 months and I am his first junior companion. I have been really pushing him to work hard and it's taking him a little bit to take ownership and be "senior companion". 

I will most likely be leaving him however this coming week. That will mark 6 months in Chatsworth or Chatty-Kathy as we have called it (because Indians will talk your ear off).

I have a scripture for you guys, (I will use this space to do that because there is nothing happening in Chatsworth) 2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

I used it to describe a member here...jokingly...but it kind of explains that we can accumulate knowledge, but it may not be wisdom until you apply it. If we don't apply it we are caught in a cycle of "ever learning" and never arriving to the knowledge of how to use it.

Hope all is well. I attempted to replace the 700 rands I spent into my account, but I couldn't, so I bought a new, nice watch for 400 rands. (on discount Mom.) It even shows me the date.

Also saw this little guy outside our car.

Love You guys!

Elder Preator

Chatsworth with WIllombe

This past week we had interviews with president and it was great! My interview really uplifted me and made me feel like I mean something to the mission. I know that president is an inspired man, partly because he asked me if I have been telling my family enough to let them know how I'm doing. ;) It's like he knew exactly that I was below par and told me I should fix it so here we go!

This past week was ok, Elder Willombe and I are doing work in Chatsworth. We found an investigator, I might have already mentioned him, but his name is Terrance. He stays with a member, but is not a member obviously. We gave him a restoration pamphlet and he said he would read it, and he did. I have never seen anyone digest and understand the restoration like he did. After talking about the restoration and the pamphlet we gave him the next one for the plan of salvation and he read and understood that one too. Overall he is showing signs of progression except he hasn't come to church yet which is a bummer. Anyway, working with him is really the only redeeming factor of Chatsworth so hopefully he goes somewhere. 

This week I kind had a realization as to how my mission should be, how its been, and such. I had such a desire to just press forward and keep going. It was pretty sweet and this fire has been good for the work and for me. My testimony doubled this week and I know the gospel is true. 

So this week we went to a YSA activity....it was partly a farewell for this Sister Nomfundo. She is going to the Ghana MTC and the serving in Uganda. She is pretty excited, and it's nice seeing someone prepare for a mission and service to the Lord. I think she's the one in the middle of the picture. Please excuse the manner of which the picture was taken. You know. Girls.

Anyway, hope all is well back at home! I love you guys and feel your prayers everyday. 

Elder Preator