Monday, November 30, 2015

Floods, Rocks and Investigators, Oh My!

We had Zone Conference, and I took a picture with Elder Webb. I took a lot more pictures, but its hard to send them. They take like an hour a piece  

It rained the other day. Literally floods in the streets.(see pict) There were also riots and people took tons of rocks and put them all on the road. good thing we drive a truck. (see pict)

One other thing, we woke up to a flat tire, so for the first time in my life I changed a tire.(see pict) 

Everything in Botshabelo is great. We have several investigators heading towards a baptismal date, but the transfer is ending one week short. So I don’t think I will be able to see any of them be baptized. Thats my main deterrent right now. It kind of kills all of my motivation, but I am trying to power through it. That being said, I will probably go to a new area around the 14th of December.

I’m really tired. I let my whole district email before me because I’m freaking awesome! So I’m emailing at 8:30. 

Love Elder Preator

Changing a Flat Tire

Rocks on the road after a riot

Flooding in the streets

Elder Webb and Elder Preator

District picture

Monday, November 16, 2015

Trainers within Trainers - Who Knew?

I do look somewhat slimmer now, even though I haven't sent you any pictures. We play soccer nearly every week, and with hiking, and a changed diet, all the missionaries comment. 

I once again went a whole week without taking pictures, but some interesting things have happened. 

1. I am still training Elder Rakotomalala, but Elder Rakotomanana is now training a missionary from...Dum dum dummmmmm. Utah. Elder Smith. But he is pretty cool, and I like him. We have virtually the same music taste, and he doesn't seem like the same breed as those Arizona boys these days. The AZ Elders are turning into the "spiritual giants" so yeah. Its also nice to just have someone to talk/pun with, while our companions relieve their held back wall of information that gets too strained by English.

2. We have an investigator whose name is Thami which is short for Thamsanqa. Obviously you know how to pronounce the Q's by now. He own's a little shop with a pool table and sells cigarettes and candy. Ironically he loved the concept of revelation concerning the Word of Wisdom. We see him nearly every day, and after most lessons, we throw down a couple rounds of pool. My companion is really good, because he said they played pool every week for youth night. Thami should be baptized soon if everything goes according to plan.

3. Elder Smith drives. I have been given small breaks from the burden of driving. Its wonderful. 

I think thats it. I don't know why I made a numerical list for only 3 subjects.

Oh, I have also been doing a deep study of the old testament. We technically aren't supposed to because we are supposed to study for our investigators. Ah. Who cares. I've treasured up in mind the things which I should teach so they will be given to me whenever I petition for them. Pretty sure thats how the scripture goes. (sarcasm seeps dramatically from that)

Ok, love you guys. Hope you are doing well!

Elder Preator

Monday, November 9, 2015

Hike to Mount Tibanchu

A few weeks ago you mentioned that a picture is worth a thousand words? I will take you up on that.

This saturday, we went and hiked Tibanchu Mt with the branch. It is the closest to home I've felt in a long time. On the way up, it seemed just like those from home. Pretty sweet. It took us two hours to get to the top, and someone carried the metal grate so we could start a fire on the top and cook meat. In Africa its called a Braai (Afrikaans). But, we all brought meat, and the first counselor brought dough and made biscuits to eat with it. #AfricaPrettyGreat

I have been taking the cook book and really using it. I made a pizza, tator tot casserole, brownies, and banana bread. Tonight I am making pizza again. Some of the recipes need some work though, like the brownies didn't call for any sort of rising aid, so they were flat because I don't know things. It was only after asking Sister Roberts (from the senior couple )what went wrong that I found out. #icancookcanyou?

I also bought a South Africa Rugby jersey. We didn't take any pictures due to the devastating loss against New Zealand.

Love 
Elder Preator







Friday, November 6, 2015

Q&A with our Favorite Missionary

Dumela (Sotho for Hello; good morning)

Q - How is your mission going now that you’ve reached your year mark?

A - My mission is great. I am doing great. I hope my lack of emails can show how I feel. I am too lazy to include everything that happened, because its simply too much. :)My mission is great. I am doing great. I hope my lack of emails can show how I feel. I am too lazy to include everything that happened, because its simply too much. :) We hardly get fed these days, and we play soccer on Saturday mornings with the branch. These guys are good at soccer. Watch out Colorado, I’m coming home to go professional. 

Free state is freaking hot. Especially when we are walking all the time. 

Things this week were OK. We ended up watching the Rugby World cup on Saturday as our district activity. If anybody cares, South Africa is in the semi finals against New Zealand this Saturday. Its kind of a big deal. 

Missionary work wasn’t too involved this week, because we lost a day to Zone Training, and we also had a training meeting. We are going to try harder this coming week to follow up on all of the contacts that we have made.

Q - Have you reached any goals you’ve set for yourself so far?  What are you goals for the coming year?

A -  I have lots of goals, but I don’t really remember them. I know I probably should write them down soon. It doesn’t feel like a year. Hope everything is going well. Just know I am doing great! 

Q - Will you tell us more about your companion?

A - My companion’s name is Elder Rakotomalala.  (Don’t worry, everyone has trouble pronouncing it.) He’s my ‘son’ and is great! His English is getting better and better every day.. He is sweet! 

Yes, he’s seen the moving Madagascar. Everyone in our area comments when see him. Something like: “I like to move it move it.” No one speaks his language except for the other Elders from Madagascar. There are three in our zone and two in our district. He seems to be liking things now. His English is turning out very well. He can keep up now and usually express himself.

Q - How is your apartment there in Free State?

A - The apartment is nice, and I think I can say the only flaw my companion has is he doesn’t like to clean, so I am the only reason we haven’t totally been taking over by ants...

Q - Did you get to watch General Conference?

A - We watched the Sunday session of conference, and I liked Elder Bednar’s talk, and that one about digging a hole, and not intending to get muddy.

Q - Can you send us more pictures?

A - So fun fact, there is this Elder here, Elder Chapman. He is my Zone Leader, and probably my favorite missionary ever. His parents are also less than pleased at his picture taking abilities, but instead of complaining about it every week, they cut him a deal. They told him for every picture he sends, they add some money into an account that he will use when he gets home. Now I’m not going to say that you need to do that, but you have your agency. (My picture taking has been dismal lately. Sorry.)

Q - How was Halloween in South Africa?

A - I got the package, just in time for Halloween. I actually forgot about Halloween, until Monday when Chapman reminded me. Thanks for the cook book. It came just as I have been thinking about branching out from peanut butter and jelly, and chicken sandwiches. I want to let me cohorts experience tater-tot casserole. I think today I am going to make pizza for us. Homemade. But the tricky thing was, they don’t sell all the ingredients I need. When I asked for garlic salt the manager told me, sorry we don’t sell that here, you’ll have to go to Bloemfontein. Kill me. 

Q - Elections are this week.  Just think, next year, you’ll be here to vote for our new President.  What do you think?

A - With the election, I don’t know how educated I will be on the candidates next year. From what I’ve heard it sounds like Donald Trump is going for president? Maybe not anymore, but I’m not very well informed which is OK. Every once in a while I catch them talking about it on the news, but the news 9 times out of 10 is on the IsiXhosa channel or SeSotho channel. I have worn a Donald Trump tie, and it looked very nice. Maybe that will swing him in my favor.

Q - Will you be transferred soon or staying in Free State?

A - Because I am training, that means I will most likely be staying here another transfer. Most of the times, the trainee stays with their trainer for two, and we are only at one right now. I am excited though, for the next 6 weeks. I think training is starting to take a toll on me. Its exhausting doing most of the talking. My companion does very well in what he prepares, but when it comes to complex questions I generally have to take over. He is getting there though. He doesn’t realize it yet, but him now compared to before, is already a huge difference, and I am enjoying teaching English. It seems more difficult when you see all the basic rules and exceptions. 

The Lord is evident in our work. We keep praying to actually see the results of our labors, and recently we have been. We have had some investigators actually come to church, and new people becoming very receptive. I think we just need some big pushes this transfer, and we could have some baptisms on our hands! 

Anyway love you guys, sorry this letter is so long. 

Loving life. Hope you guys are doing well!

Love Elder Preator