Hey Yah Family,
I’m sure you can probably imagine how I’m doing... GREAT! This week has been very busy; some
trivial things, some important things.
I took Elder Stengile to the bus on Monday night. It was sad for me. I love him a lot and really enjoyed our
time together. We did great
things, and we both grew a lot. I
was thinking about it last night, about our time we had together. The first transfer we spent together
was mediocre. He was a little
quieter than I wanted and I was a little more free spirited than he was
comfortable with. From my side, I
found it hard to accept him as he was for something good. We struggled to teach in unity and at a
unified pace. Eventually the first
transfer came to an end. We both
thought and silently hoped he would go.
The chances of him leaving were very high since he is just one transfer
younger than I. When we found he
was staying another transfer, there was a little disappointment. He surprised me the next week when
during companionship study he brought up a list of things he didn't like, and
expected a list in return. We
talked, and listened, and compromised and set out to be more unified. For the next week we were both very
open with our success in trying to improve ourselves, as well as being open
with the times we failed. Things
began to get better, and then a huge blessing came straight from heaven... I
broke my thumb! Yep, it was a
blessing with a purpose. After
returning home from the surgery, I was left with little ability to perform
simple tasks. Since I had only one
operating hand, Elder Stengile had to help me get dressed, iron my clothes, fold
them, cut and prepare and cook my food, drive, and even write. His capacity to open up and love grew,
and my humility and meekness expanded.
I also began to recognize his attributes as strengths, not
weaknesses. Thus, we became so,
so, so close. Every day was a
great day, and no matter what happened, we leaned on one another. The day after he left, the pins were
removed from my hand, and thus was the purpose of my hand fulfilled, and
Heavenly Father's will done.
I’m with another Great Elder, Elder Kinyaka from Kenya. I've known him for some time now. We are going to work really great
together. The Wednesday I got my
pins taken out, we drove to Bethlehem, and then on Thursday morning we headed
to Ladysmith for our Leadership training meeting with the mission
president. After the meeting, we
were tasked to take two elders to their new areas. One was going to Phuthaditjhaba, the other to our zone. Yep! I went back to my first area! We spent about three hours visiting a few families. You remember Ntate Koma? He was the one who Elder Dutson and I
miraculously found, who wanted a "Mormon Bible.” He was baptized long after I left the area. But Thursday, I got to see him. It was a joyous reunion. I could tell his happiness as the
tears came from his eyes and he hugged me. Why do missions have to end? We
also saw Mme Monatisa, who was also baptized after I left. It was fantastic!
We are still busy preparing for Mama M's and her families baptism that will be taking place this Saturday. Things are going amazing for them. The Ward has welcomed them in a way I have never seen on my
mission. They will not fall out
the back door. There is no back
door.
Let me also tell you a very touching story from church on Sunday. The sacrament was being passed and I
was pondering on how it is that the sacrament changes us and sanctifies us. I looked up to see three people passing
the sacrament. There were two
teachers (14-16 Year-old young men), and one older man named Israel (changed
name for anonymity). Israel was
wearing an off white shirt with an old tie. He had on Green slacks. His mustache covered his entire upper lip. He had aged and worn skin and his one
cataract eye wandered around. Let
me tell you what I know about him.
Two months ago I was introduced to him as he was a less active member of
the ward. He is in his 50's, white
Afrikaans, lives alone, and has been out of the church for years. He works a low paying job. Home teachers in the ward were assigned
to him, and one Brother Katali (pronounced Ka-ta-di) really took him under his
wing. He would pick him up every
Sunday to bring him to church. I
remember at our ward Christmas party back in November (when he just started
coming back) he was loud and smelled like alcohol. A brother in the stake came to me and whispered, "Can
you believe this guy? Why is he here?" A little shocked at his comment, I said to him, "Well,
he is here, and I wouldn't have him be anywhere else.” I grabbed Israel by the arm, and with
the brother from the stake still next to me told Israel how happy we were to
have him there.
He continued to come to church.
He moved from wearing T-shirts and jeans to slacks and off white
shirts. He began participating
more and more in quorum classes and even took the calling to be a home teacher
with Brother Katali.
I watched him pass the sacrament on Sunday. I watched him walk in his own quick way as he took the
sacrament to the bishop. I watched
him stand in the aisle as he waited reverently for the bread and water trays to come to
him. I watched joy emanate from
him as a big smile spanned his face that only comes when one is in the service of
Heavenly Father. I have been very
touched by his journey back into the church, and especially by the care, love and patience from Brother Katali.
I think we can all strive to be like him and identify and love some
individual that has strayed, showing them their potential and the way back.
I pray these last four weeks crawl by, that I may savor every moment of it.
This is the Lord's work.
Elder Gold
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