Wednesday, August 31, 2016

July/August Compendium

July 11th

Here’s a pict of a dang quesadilla I went and made myself. (from scratch) With cheese, pork mince, and hot sauce. Another picture takes you closer to the action, but more specifically the melted cheese. If you notice the attempt at a tortilla turned to pita bread on the outside, you’ll notice that I made that myself. I kind of liked it better than the traditional thin tortillas. Just saying. 



The other picture was our commute today to get our car serviced. If the picture doesn’t do it justice, I’m sorry. Its supposed to show the taxis (before I pulled out my camera [while driving] I could see like 30 of them) in the shoulder lane. This is what happens in South Africa because no-one cares. If there is traffic, its every car for itself.  we were completely stopped, and then emergency cars couldn’t get through because there was an added lane that wasn’t supposed to be there. And of course after they parted the waters cars followed after them just to get ahead.

Anyway, aside from my rantings and culinary masterpieces, we did actually do missionary work this week. We taught some very wonderful people. We met a man waaaaaaay in Inanda, the more shacky part of Durban north, who is a supervisor in a construction business, so he has a car. Teaching somebody without a car is like the hunger games, where the odds are NOT in our favour. Maybe thats inaccurate, but people are lazy. His name is Thembinkosi, and we should be following up on him this week. Pretty cool guy. Loved the idea of the Book of Mormon. Its nice at this point in Kwamashu because we actually have people to teach. Theres a few families we are working with, and on sunday some of the young adults took us to a family they found. They found them because, when they were walking by the house, the family was playing Motab stuff super loud. So the Lord works in mysterious ways. But seriously, the Lord has blessed us with like 1000 referrals, and a lot of work to do. Its fantastic, and I’m prepared to give it my all for the next 3 months. 

Tarzan from Chatsworth (that really old and deaf guy) died this week. Elder Halford told me. We were the ones that brought him back to church, and he was faithful until the end. He was pretty sick most of the time, so in a way, I feel some joy that he’s in a better place. The Lord really is in this work, and he really does care about his children. 

Love you guys!!
Elder Preator

July 18th

So, we had a great week. My companion Elder Hamilton and I went all in. We got up every morning (including this morning) to run. Its freaking cold in the mornings so I normally run in my sweatshirt and a hat. Later in the day it does normally heat back up though, so yeah, I’m still in Africa. 

We visited like ALL the less actives this week, and through that we got a few investigators. It was pretty rewarding. Overall a great week. 

We also had whats called Brunday which is Braai sunday. So we all got together and braaied at our place. We cleaned everything up, and found a wire rack and now we have a braai stand. 

August 1st

It is super cold here. 

Our boarding flooded last week... Its great to hear how things are going for you guys!! Sorry about last week. Mondays are always nice for a break from the spiritual. So, when people tell me to focus on Mondays it isn’t nice for me. My companion and I put in 44 hours this week, excluding all of our meetings, which means we went out at 10 and got back at 9:30 with no lunch breaks a few days this week. We have lots of potential investigators, plus a few that came to church. So the work is really progressing. Apparently, the word around the mission is that we are on fire, and Hamilton and Preator are the hardest workers. I don’t know how that rumour got started. Kind of makes me angry because I have a reputation to keep. Just kidding. 

I also made a big plate of Jello with orange slices in it.

Love you guys!! 
Elder Preator



August 8th
The work is going well. We had a TON of investigators at church and less actives. It was awesome. When I walked into the investigators class, my comp was like, your teaching, so then I taught, and not to toot my own horn, it was great. But, yeah. Running out of time. 

Its getting way too close to the end. I don’t want to leave, but I do. I’m conflicted. 

Love you all!!!!!!
Elder Preator

August 22nd
This transfer, things got all flipped, and it turns out that I will be with Elder Hicks for the rest of my mission. He was serving in Phoenix, but we went on emergency exchanges for a week, and president said that he feels I can continue to help him soooo. Yeah. He’s a great guy though. We ran a 10 k the other morning on a whim. Seemed really easy, so we upped the pace this morning for a 5 k, and I was super tired. I’ll keep going though. I’m going to beat the slump. 

We had a baptism this sunday. Elder Hamilton took the pictures so he is going to get them to me next week. We baptized nomfundo, an 8 year old, however, we were in charge because the family was pretty less active, so yeah. We reactivated them, and taught her, and got her baptized. Working with others as well. Going to do a lot of finding this week. Looking forward to the last transfer!!!

Love you guys!!
Elder Preator


August 29th
My companion is awesome. He likes to run. I like to run. So, we have been running and working hard. That basically sums up my lifestyle. I have reading D&C from start to finish, one section a day, and I planned it as a countdown, so I’m on section 101. I’m reading it with the institute manual so I am getting a lot out of it. Also, our mission president has been pushing for Book of Mormon reading, so I’ve been cramming that as well, I’m about to finish that though and start going through it backwards. But yeah, Reading, Running, and Hard work. 

We have had investigators show up to church every week. Different ones, everytime, but investigators none the less. One of them was a referral that we got from the other missionaries, and we are going to start teaching her this week. She seems super interested and loved church. 

I am with elder Hicks officially. In Kwamashu still. Emergency exchanges (not my fault) put us together, and now its permanent and Elder Hamilton has been sent to Newcastle to be with my trainee!! At least he still gets a part of me:)

Love you guys! Can’t wait for snow!!

Elder Hicks says hello back to you in response to your initial greeting.

Bye!! Love you.

Elder Preator