Something VERY Different

      Thank goodness the weekend is over.  My companion and I are relieved as we look back, but not as we look ahead.  We still have two missionaries staying at our place until tomorrow, then on Wednesday we drive to Ladysmith (a five-hour drive) for a leadership training meeting, then we prepare something called a ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) for early next week.

      BUT, this last week was pretty amazing.  Soooo much has happened that I want to share with you guys.  I also want to write it in my journal but have had no time to write since I got here... I’m going to have to catch up a whole lot.

      So, as far as investigators go, the Lord has blessed us with some very nice people.  We are teaching a younger girl (17-years-old) whom I’ll call Laurie.  She lives with the Stake President and his family.  You would think it would be a slam-dunk but its not, and I’m kind of glad.  We have been pointing her in the direction of deepening her testimony and relationship with God.  She faces set backs with her very tough family background (hence she is living with the Stake President), but we have seen her pull through those challenges as she has been living the gospel.  She will be baptized before the year is up.

      I don’t know if last week I mentioned about this girl who is from Lesotho and is studying here in the Free State.  I’ll call her Teal.  She just showed up to church two weeks back with her boyfriend.  SHE ASKED US if we could come visit her, so we began doing so.  Its been really tender to learn about her background and to feel her despair and trouble, but has been even greater to see her act in faith and start praying, reading the scriptures, and doing what she knows is right.  We saw here again last night, after only one week of knowing her. She said, with emotion in her voice, that all she wants is to be like us (my companion, two members her age, and myself), referring to our happiness and joy.  Little can she tell is that the light of the gospel has already began working in her.

      We helped her to see it, and she did. Her desire is to get her life back on track, and she knows this is the way, and is fully willing to do all she can to get there.

      Another sweet miracle we experienced was actually not experienced by me, but by my companion.  On Saturday, in our area, we went on splits with other missionaries.  My companion and another elder went to see an Afrikaans man and his family named Pierre.  The missionaries prior to me had tracked into him, but never really went back.  My companion went back Saturday morning and found him working on his car.  They talked with him for a little bit until his sister came up to them and was ecstatic to see the missionaries.  She told them that she was actually the colleague of a church member, and this member had invited her to go to the Stake Conference we just had yesterday.  She wasn't going to go until she saw the missionaries.  Then she really felt she ought to.  She told them she would be there, and Sunday rolled around and she was there.  She had such a great experience listening to the speakers: the Stake President, Elder Hamilton (of the Seventy) and his wife, Bishop Gerald Causse (of the Presiding Bishopric), and his wife.  She exclaimed to us that she really, really wants to meet with us.  I know the Lord works in His own ways, and she was led to us to receive the Gospel.

      OK, so those are three new investigators the Lord blessed us with.  There are also a handful of others who we had equally spiritual interactions with this week.

      So, on Thursday morning we were asked by the Stake President to remove all the plastic

chairs from the building, take them outside, and wash and dry them by hand, and then take them back inside.  There were over two hundred chairs, and it took us over five hours to complete the task.  By the time we were done we were sun-blistered and worn, but it was enjoyable.

      Friday was the big day.  President asked us to fast prior to the conference, then to break the fast just before.  Now, there were some adjustments during the week so, rather than 20 missionaries coming from our zone alone, the Lesotho Zone was going to join us bringing the total number of missionaries attending to 38!  And with no Senior Couples, we were left to take care of everything.  We were given a budget to work with to provide lunch for the missionaries, so we purchased HEAPS and HEAPS of food and a WONDERFUL family, the Van Der Leek's, cooked a nice home made meal for ALL of us.

      We then sat down for the conference.  We had technical problems, but got them resolved just after Elder Bednar began his address.  There was something VERY different about the way he addressed us.  Prior to the conference, he asked us to read three talks he had given on the topic of faith, conversion, and learning by faith.  During the conference, rather than him standing and talking, he had missionaries in Durban explain what the spirit had taught them as they studied. He also asked questions regarding the topics and missionary work.  Elder Bednar also explained a lot (while asking us questions pertaining to it) about the spirit being the teacher, not us.  He then gave the missionaries the floor and they were able to ask inspired questions to this great Apostle of the Lord.  The spiritual out-pouring was incredible, and I had never seen anything like it.  The spirit was guiding, and teaching, no one else.  And that was one of the greatest things I learned, among other things regarding consecration, companionship, power and authority, humility, and leadership.  It was miraculous.

      So, after the conference we had eight missionaries stay at our boarding until Sunday.  It was

PACKED!!!  But Sunday came around, and we went to conference.  It was perhaps the greatest day of my mission.  Yes, the talks were good, yes the spirit was present, but that is not what made it.  What made it was seeing the people I love sooooo dearly from Thaba Nchu.  Leonard, Princess, Bishop Sabela, Me Sidikelo, The Mporo's, the Mokapotsa's, some of the young men, and others.  I could not have been happier, and it seemed that neither could many of them.

      And that was my week.  Glad it is over, but I look forward to what is to come. I'll tell you though; it has been a difficult transition for me.  Trying to balance the administrative side with the spiritual aspect of this work.  Any suggestions?  If it keeps up this was, I’m going to come home on a stretcher, but if it is, that’s OK :p

With love always,

Elder Gold

Stepping Forward and Upward

     OK, so I guess I do have a lot of answering and informing to do.  I’m serving as one of two zone leaders (my companion and I) in the Bloemfontein zone.  It is the biggest zone in the mission.  It consists of a massive 20 elders covering the span of nearly the whole Free State.  There are elders in Kimberly, Welkom, Kroonstad, Virginia, Rocklands, Bloemanda, two sets in Botshabelo, Thaba Nchu, and us in the greater Bloemfontein area.  The responsibilities of zone leaders aren’t too bad.  There is a lot of administrative work, such as keeping track of statistical information for the zone, organizing and executing events as well as transfers and councils.  For example: this Friday Elder Bednar will be in Durban addressing the entire mission.  Sadly however, Bloem is one of three out of the nine zones not attending the conference because of distance.  So, we are in charge of getting the facility, setting up an internet work connection to Durban, broadcasting the conference, getting all the Elders here, arranging their transport, figuring out where they will stay over the weekend and where the elders coming from far will be working for the weekend before they go back Sunday afternoon after a second (this time Stake) conference.  On the ministering side of it, we referee... (Kind of humorous) to put it one way but, for the whole of my mission I have watched district and zone leaders have to go and resolve conflicts, fights and misunderstandings within companionship's for a variety of reasons, while trying to raise the zone to a higher standard of excellence.  But, despite the responsibilities and the vast area, we travel to meet with the other Elders as well as have a proselyting area that we keep healthy and strong.  We work the entire city of Bloemfontein with the exception of a group of townships in the south-south-east section of the city.  It is MASSIVE.  I tell you one thing that is a little hard for me is the grandness of our area.  Margate was fantastic for this one reason, its size.  We had a good hold on everything, and a lot of people as well. But here it is less personal and busier; although I will say, out of the major cities like Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, it is very relaxed.
      The Lord is funny though.  He is realllllly going to stretch me here in this new area.  I came in at a time when there is NOTHING.  The previous Elder here was a fantastic, hard working, and inspired missionary.  But, for reasons beyond my understanding, the area is as if new.  SO, we are trying to rebuild, and locate, and find, and teach, and invite.  I do have a good companion, Elder Stengile from Amalinda, East London, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.  We are getting along very well and that is a strength we need.  He is also diligent, so we work at a good pace.  I’m glad I was with Elder Brimhall (I wont even go into how much I miss him) because my fire burned brighter and brighter with him.  I won’t "Die" as we put it here on mission.  I have four months left of the best work I can offer the Lord. 

      So, the Ward is pretty good.  It has about one hundred active members.  I was asked to give a talk yesterday, my first Sunday.  As I was musing over it Sunday morning, I came across a scripture in Helaman 6: 3-5 about the converted Lamanites going back and preaching to their less active Nephite brothers in an attempt to re-activate them:

 3- Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.
4- And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zarahemla, and did declare unto the people of the Nephites the manner of their conversion, and did exhort them to faith and repentance

5- Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb. 
      After reading this scripture I felt impressed to address the ward on reactivation of its less-active members.  It was perfect because the other speaker spoke on something similar, and our priesthood class was about a similar topic with regards to home teaching.  It is kind of cool how the Lord guides and directs. We are going to try really hard to go after the less-active members in Bloem.  As you know, that is where my heart is and has been for the greater part of my mission; ‘Finding the lost sheep.’  But it wont be the only focus. 
      So, one of the joys that the Lord has blessed me with this past week was to see six members from Thaba Nchu.  Bishop Mushe Sebusi, Eddy Flaws, Johnny Shupping, Zondo, "Baby", and Lesego.  Seeing these people again has been one of my greatest joys on my mission.  Bishop Sebusi is a REALLY, REALLY good ball room dancer.  He was giving a demonstration Friday night at our chapel.  I stood by the door of the hall until his eyes fell upon me.  Shock hit his face like a car crash.  He messed up his routine; he nearly dropped his partner and ran over.  He embraced me and we had a great talk.  With relationships like that I don’t feel any homesickness.  In fact, I really, really love this country and have imagined myself living here.  I think it could be done.
      So, I will tell you on a less spiritual note, that I’m almost the same weight as when I left.  Pretty fit I must say.  I work out every morning, and with Elder Brimhall and I running five to eight kilometers every morning I’m feeling pretty good.  I’m happy as a clown.
      AnyWHOOOO, my love is with you guys.  Don’t forget it.  Though I am lost in the work, I haven’t forgotten I have a family who I love and cherish.  Keep love abounding,

Elder Gold

Moving On?..."Your Work Here Is Finished."

Hey guys,
 

      I've got a lot to tell you so let me work backwards.  Saturday night I got an unexpected call.  I’m being transferred out of Margate...and this was completely by surprise.  I was supposed to stay another transfer even though I was done training, but my work here is actually finished.  As I put the phone down, my heart sunk for a moment, but these words came to my mind, “You have done what I wanted you to do.  I am pleased, and your work here is finished.”  They came with a deep sense of understanding that YES, I did all that the Lord wanted me to do.  I did it unto Him, and He now needs me elsewhere.  With that deep spiritual impression, I chose to have a happy heart, rejoicing in these past 4 ½ months, thinking to the mighty miracles and all things which the Lord did do for the people here through us.  I am happy, and am looking forward to moving on, while never forgetting this miraculous time.

      The next day (Sunday night) President Zackrison called and formally called me to be a Zone Leader in Bloemfontein.  Yep, I’m going back to Bloem.  He told me of his experience in placing me there.  He said as he prayed over the areas, the words distinctly came to him “Bloemfontein,

GOLD.”  The spirit confirmed it in his heart.  He explained the tough state of the area at the moment.  It’s primarily a Boer (White Afrikaans) area, and reception has been little.  There are many barriers, and he told me that me and my companion are to break through those barriers to reach the Afrikaans people... Interesting.  I have another impression, or rather a thread running through my heart that started back in Pinetown. Pinetown molded me and prepared me for Margate.  Margate was tough, and so were we.  I learned so much and we saw miracles, as we were obedient, hard working, united, and full of faith.  Now, looking back, I’m sure that I don’t know the full extent (I have not fully realized it yet), but the Lord was preparing me for what is to come.  It’s amazing, and I feel so appreciative for the trust He has put in me, but I think nothing of myself, because it was nothing of our own that these things happened.  Above everything though, I’m going to miss Elder Brimhall the most.

      Anyway, let me stop blabbing.  This last week of me being in Margate, we worked, and things happened.  I don’t know if I told you, but we were on our way to an appointment two weeks back when we passed a lady on the road with a kid, and the thought came to my mind, “Go talk with her.”  We did.  We walked with her and talked for some time (actually missing our appointment), but the Lord was leading us.  We eventually went to her home a few days later, and began meeting with her.  She is from Phuthaditjhaba, and I actually knew her mom when I was there.  She has a younger sister who recently was married in the temple.  Even with family taking strides in the gospel, she never joined the church at that time.  But over these last two weeks we have gone and taught her, had rough lessons (because she has a young and rowdy two-year-old), and left. But as we were absent from her, and as she read and prayed, the spirit worked mightily in her heart and she in becoming converted to the gospel.  She desires to be baptized and is working towards that goal in November.  Very Cool!
      So, this past Friday we tracted (Editor’s insert: Just a reminder that this is when they go out knocking on doors) into a white family.  They are a wonderful young family with a little boy.  The husband works as a tattoo artist and has lots of tattoos and gauges in his ears.  The wife is also obsessed with tattoos but she also loves reading!  She has a MASSIVE library of books.  When I first met them I thought he looked kind of hard-core, but I couldn't have been more wrong.  We sat down with them on Friday, and then again last night, and we had the most AMAZING lesson!  He is the chillest, most down to earth guy I have ever met and she actually read all of Mormon.org in the time frame between Friday and Sunday.  She expressed how much she liked the website, especially the story of Joseph Smith.  She claimed, "Either this is real, or there are 15 million schizophrenic people out there claiming that this is true!"  She had so many other one-liners in the lesson.  She is very spunky and sporadic always jumping up and swearing!  We had lots of good laughs and even with the swearing and the smoking, there was definitely a time where the spirit was there in abundance and she recognized it!  It was so very interesting!
      On Thursday we decided to stop by Cecelia's job to see her and take her some cookies.  Please note how she works at a funeral home and is always very cross.  She didn't like us swinging by one bit and she began screaming to us about how she didn't like us being so forceful!  So, I guess that humility from last week was wiped away as soon as it came!  Our intention for seeing her was a very positive one and we had no intention of offending her.  Alas, she is offended again and I do believe we are just teaching her husband Vaughn again!
      That’s all I’ve got.  I’m getting ready to take a bus tomorrow.  I love you guys.  Keep the faith.  Remember Alma 37:44-46.

Elder Gold

Acting Only As His Instrument

Hey Guys,

      So we are in Durban AGAIN to get our car serviced, but it's cool cause we are near Pinetown (my previous area) and will be able to visit some people from there.  We had a pretty amazing week.  I started off the week by working in a HUGE township called Umlazi.  I was there for two days with one of the zone leaders (the other Zone Leader worked in Margate with Elder Brimhall).  It was a little strange being in a township again.  I didn’t dislike it, in fact I really liked it.  It was great being around the Africans again, however I do like where I’m currently working.  We call it town, and most missionaries’ dread going to an area that is town, but I love it a lot.  It brings a total different field of work with different opportunities and challenges. 

      We have a pretty nice teaching pool right now.  Last week, on Saturday, we went in the evening to a place called Tiago's Flame (a small food joint) just to get a burger.  We were talking with the cashier, and she was pretty interested in us and what we are doing.  In our exchange we invited her to church, and lo and behold, she came the next day.  We thought she lived in a certain area of town, and when we were setting up an appointment to go and teach her at her home Wednesday night, she informed us that she had just moved to another area of town.  When we went to the new address she had provided we were pleasantly surprised to find out it was the same house of another family we are teaching, a family who have already accepted the gospel and have committed to baptism!  What a convenience.  It also turned out that that particular sister is related to a family in the branch.  It’s really cool to see who we are led to and recognize the Lord’s hand in the process.

      So, I have another exciting thing to tell you that happened this past week.  Remember Vaughn and Cecelia?  How could you forget them?  Well, Saturday night a handful of our appointments cancelled, which left us with not many options, so we decided to go check on Vaughn and Cecelia.  We found Vaughn doing a little bit of digging in his yard even though the sun had set.  We talked with him while he dug (he wouldn’t let us dig) until he finished after which we went inside.  Cecelia came out and was happy to see us.  We sat and talked pretty casually and Cecelia began to complain about work.  Elder Brimhall and I both felt to just sit and listen to her.  So as we listened to her talked about her co-workers she shared how she is being victimized being the only white working at her work place.  We shared a few scriptures about challenges and opposition, and that was about it.  There was no huge scene about the Book of Mormon; no fiery comments, just listening and listening (with a comment here or there) while we shared in a smoke with them (they smoke tons, about three cigarettes just while we were there).  Smoking is pretty gross to be around when you are not use to it, but we sat there with no complaints.  At the end of the conversations Elder Brimhall invited them to come to the Fast and Testimony meeting on Sunday, and they agreed.  We were happy to that.

      So, here rolls around Sunday morning, and as we sit in the chapel, Vaughn and Cecelia walk in.  I really didn’t think Cecelia would ever come to church again because of how badly offended she was by a member last month.  Besides, she also said she would never come again.  But, here they were, both with a smile on their face.  They sang the Hymns, took the sacrament, and listened to the testimonies.  The testimonies were all very nice, warm, and full of the spirit.  As the meeting came to a close, the unbelievable happened.  Vaughn stood up, and from the back of the room walked up to the podium.  There he was casually dressed in jeans and a tee, and with the thick stench of tobacco, he began to speak.

      He testified of the love of God in his life, and how much Heavenly Father has watched over him.  He admitted to being chief sinner of just about everyone in the room, and that brought a little chuckle.  He told of when he met us, and these were his words from there... "Normally whenever a Jehovah’s Witness, or a Seventh Day Adventist, or anyone else come to my gate, I chase them away.  I don’t even give them a chance.  But, when these two gentlemen (us) came to my gate, something told me to let them in.  I saw a sparkle in their eyes.  So I let them in, but told them I was busy doing something.  I said they could talk to me as I worked, and they did."  He then said, "I have the Book of Mormon.  I don’t know if it’s true.  I don’t feel its bad, I actually feel good about it.  I just want to know."  He ended his testimony very unorthodox, but the branch loved it.  I was brimming with joy. Right after the sacrament ended, Cecelia asked for a tithing envelope, and gave a donation (an offering or tithing, whatever you want to call it).  After sacrament, they went to the car to go home.  We went and talked with them for a little bit and they were both so, so happy.  They said they really felt the spirit today.  I'll mention that during the last Hymn, "I believe in Christ", Cecelia was crying.

      My trust and faith is in Christ.  He knows them, He loves them, and He knows what they need and when they need it.  I will continue to act only as His instrument.  I feel so good, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.  I don’t want it to end, but I know that in four months it will.  I will continue to give it all I can till the end.

Love you guys,

Elder Gold