2/23/15 Hellooo Rabie Ridge

Hey Fam,

 This week has been crazzzzy. Finished up saying goodbyes to my family in Alberton (it was rough to leave that place) and we drove up to the mission office Tuesday morning for Transfer meeting. The only way I can come close to describing transfers is just like in Hunger Games where the name pops up on the screen.

Good-bye Elder Weg

Rabie Ridge Flat

Anyway...........................I will be moving to a township called Rabie Ridge!!!  Pretty dang exciting, the place is just bursting it’s seams with investigators so I am ready to get to work. I'll give you a little background about the area. It is a township, looks similar to the small houses in a tight space in Mexico. There are about 150 active members and about 300 less-active people (crazy huh?) We and another pair of elders share the car every other day so we walk and drive. My companion is Elder Ainslie from the UK so my dream of having an English accent is about to be fulfilled. He has been out for 3 months, so he just got done being trained so it will be awesome.

Tuesday- we came back to the area and dropped the luggage off and went to see a recent convert family, the Chefu's. Sweet family. 

Wednesday- This was my first time walking for an entire day, so I almost died. Remember it is the middle of summer here and I know St George is warm but this is HOT and I forgot water as well :) great day I’ll never do that again:)

Thursday- Weekly Planning. The people that are ready for the gospel here is insane. I don't think I have ever seen so many investigators in an area book before. For that I am grateful. Walked everywhere, I see so many celeb look a likes here. TodayI saw a Chris Webber and a Gary Coleman (I gave him a pass along card)

Friday- District Meeting and work,  lots of work. I don’t think I have never sweated as much as I have this last week in entire my life. . . .  Walking in the hot sun everywhere, but I brought water so it was good.

Sunday- My first time in a township church annnnnndddddd church was the same. Minus the fact that the people here sing just like in the deep south. It is amazing. I want to record it and send it to you all to show you. They don't have anyone to play the piano so ward I volunteered for next week. I'm kicking myself for not practicing more in the 6 years that a took piano :( I should have listened to Sis Powell!  The ward is stellar, everyone executes there calling with diligence, something that I haven’t seen before. Life is great and I can't wait to continue the work here.

Peace out A-town.

Love Elder Broadhead

2/16/15 Eli and Goodbyes

Hey Fam,

My time is Alberton is winding low. Friday night I got the news that I will be leaving A-town and Elder Weg will be staying. I don't know where to yet, but Tuesday at transfer meeting we will find out. So it has been a week of goodbyes. . . it’s been hard so I'll just fast forward to Sunday because that was the most exciting day. Our Ward Missionary was also having his mission farewell so the chapel was packed. In addition to that we were having two baptisms.

                           So Elder Weg and I went and cleaned the font on Saturday.

                                   

Turns out that Elder Weg is very scared of spiders (that tells you how long since the last baptism). So we got up on Sunday and got everything ready for the baptism and shot off to church. Sure enough, Mormon standard time kicked in and it was empty until 5 to the hour and people poured in. Eli got a ride with a less-active sister that we helped reactivate. So church starts and no sign of Washington. We continues on in investigator class (we moved to the relief society room permanently because of so many investigators). Washington continues to be a no-show. So during the priesthood hour we left to check on him at his home and................................he wasn't there. So we proceeded onto the baptism. Eli was sooooo excited to be baptized and it was great that Jonothan(the ward missionary who is leaving on his mission in Durban South) was able to get some practice in before he hits it full-time in Durban. The service continues and I am still hoping for Washington to walk in dressed in all white clothes with a halo on buttttttttttttttt he didn't.

So Eli was baptized and the spirit was so strong. We then watched a Mormon message and got to hear a powerful testimony from Eli. While I was sitting listening to her I felt so grateful to have this opportunity to participate in this great missionary work. She bore testimony on her love for the gospel, and her savior. A very powerful testimony. After the baptism, I took goodbye pictures and proceeded on saying goodbye to all the members in the ward.

Later that night we went and checked on Washington. He came out and was extremely sorry and told us his story. Turns out saturday night his mother called him and told him that he shouldn't be baptized because he already had been. so at least we know that he defiantly passes the honor thy father and thy mother law. His concerns were answered when we talked about the Restoration and he is back on date for the 8th of march. More goodbyes and the week is done!

The opportunity I have had to serve in A-town is absolutely great. I can't thank President Dunn for sending me here. There are some amazing people wherever you go. I love you all and have a great week!

elder bhead

2/8/15 Blessings from obedience.

    

"Ola Ola,  Family. .                        February 8, 2015

Sorry about last week just ran out of time and didn't have time to write a weekly email so I'll give you a quick update of last week. First of all, last Monday we went to a lesson with an investigator family and BAM. They are watching the super bowl, I'm pretty sure it was the toughest decision to ask them to turn off the TV right after Russel Wilson ran for 30 yards. :( After that it was a busy week of teaching, testifying and preparing people for baptism. We will be having 2 on the Feb15th! So a lot of great things to look forward this upcoming week. Along with the success that we are having there have been some pretty "unique" challenges this past week.

 1-The stereotype of native people being afraid of water still runs true here in Africa. It is especially difficult when baptism is one of the central focuses of missionary work. Needless to say one of our investigators is afraid of the water and thus afraid of baptism. Such a shame.

2-African tradition has it when a man reaches "of age" he "heads to the mountain" so one of our investigators has left our area and gone to the mountain to become a man.Hopefully he'll be back soon.
3-Elder Weg and I were faced with an interesting question this week from a less-active lady. Is it appropriate to bring a Yorkie to church. I accidently made the joke of going to church with a little brother who is basically reminding me of a cute cuddly dog with long shaggy hair. Needless to say she has yet to come to church :(
So I'll get to what happened this week. Feb 5^th  Tuesday-We met with Phetani and this guy was with him. Turns out he was taught by missionaries 10 years ago and was about to be baptized, but moved before and fell through the missionary cracks.Well, he is back and strong and even has a family now. Talk about a miracle.

Wednesday-continued to prepare our boi, Junior Washington Hallawa to be baptized on the 15th. hahah funniest guy ever, I'll bring him back home when the 2 years is up. We taught about missionary work and he wanted a Book of Mormon to give to his friend. Yeaaaaboo!!
Thursday-Weekly Planning and nice appointments :)
Friday-Miracle alert. Elder Weg contacted into a guy about a month ago and I haven't written to yall about him. His name is William and he lived in England for some time. He said that he is really busy and turns out the dude is on an eternal grind. He wakes up at 4 every morning except Sundays and walks to work 2 hours away. Works a 12 hour shift and walks 2 hours back. So when we gave him the Book of Mormon, we didn't expect anything to happen. We come back and he read halfway through Nephi and said, "this is what I've been searching for". Still some work to do, but miracles are happening here in Alberton.
Sat-Busy day of service and teaching!
Sunday-Stake Conf and we met with a guy that came to church last week. He is from DRC and has a family of 2. Awesome family, they are searching for a church and they feel like it's the right one.
The A-town Turnaround is full swing. Anyways that is a quick update of the past 2 weeks. I hope you all are well and I know that the Lord blesses those who are joyfully obedient to his commandments.
Love Elder Bhead.