All is well in Qwa Qwa . . .

Dear Family,

     All is well in Qwa Qwa. Last Sunday none of the Branch Presidency were able to come to church, nor was the Elders Quorum President there.  In fact, we had only twentyish members show up to church!  Sad, very sad.  We lead the congregation, and called on people for spot talks.  So the work is tough.  People don’t like to commit to things.

     I had a revelation this week as I gave intense study to the atonement of our Savior.  If only we knew, if only we knew of the greatness of the atonement, what it really does for us, just how important it is, we would be changed forever.  The atonement gives meaning to everything, and there really would be nothing without it.  It is central to everything in life.  Anyways, I don’t have much time to go in depth on my studies, but I am thoroughly convinced that if everyone in the world understood the atonement in some degree, we would be seeing every baptismal font in the world occupied 24/7!  Ahhhh, I can’t even stress how miraculous the atonement is!

     Ok, so a few days ago elder Ncube and I found ourselves in a pretty tight situation.  While walking home in the dark, in the rain, we were approached by two men holding fairly heavy rocks.  Their intentions were not good.  My companion was ready to fight, but I was oblivious to what was going on as I tried to talk with them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. :p  We escaped unscathed luckily, but it was quite the scenario.  Imagine: black man taller than you, slightly drunk and very aggravated because you're white, two inches from your face, yelling profanely at you.  It’s raining, dark, no one around except the two guys, you, your companion, and . . . Oh wait! . . . the SPIRIT!  So, when I finally realized what these guys had in mind, the Spirit said, “walk”.  So I did, across the street just as a load of traffic came by stopping them from following.  We just kept walking as their threats faded away.  Man I love the Spirit!!

     I love you all soooo much . . . more than you know :)

- Elder Gold

A Note From Mom:

            I had some difficulty in the preparation to post this latest letter.  Each post has to have a title, and if I do not physically type it in a chaotic looking cryptic source code automatically becomes the heading.  Well, my choices for the title kept changing.  Obviously, it had to represent an overall feel or message that the letter conveys.  However, as brief as this letter may appear, much is held within its words.  So, “All is well in Qwa Qwa” seemed to be a rather unusual opening line for a journey that has taken this young missionary to the heights of leadership, the depths of humility and understanding, and to the outer darkness where evil has taken hold with intent to do harm . . . all in a single letter.  I, like many of you, are on the edge of my seat as I read the adventures of this elder on the other side of the world.  And like a good novel, I re-read the lines over and over again only to discover greater things that touch my mind with awareness and my soul with understanding.  Yes, my son came close to physical harm, and I believe that heaven watched over him and guarded his path to safety.  But, it is the words written in the paragraph before that's the cause of my deepest contemplation.  To save ones self, or even another, from harm is great.  To be saved from death is almost unimaginable.  But what Landon understands through his humility, intense study and prayers has brought him to an even deeper knowledge and appreciation of the saving actions done on his, and our behalf, from eternal death and consequences.  Such of which to understand completely is almost uncomprehendable.  Oh, to know that death is not the last and final prison for our souls, and that the grave will never have hold of our spirits because of the Grace and actions of One willing to be that sacrifice is truly a gift.  So, with this knowledge I wish to live my life willing to follow His teachings and to help others to know what I know.  This past Sunday was Easter.  To many the true message of Easter has been shrouded in traditions of the world leaving out what really took place some 2000 years ago.  Take a moment and watch the video presentation of a brief look into the life of our Savior, titled 'He is Risen' at www.churchofjesuschrist.org, so that you too may know.