Monday, January 11, 2016

1.11.16 Tests and Trials

Good Morning Fam!   1/11/16


At the request of my beloved mother, I'll begin by answering questions about the area and last week!
What are some of the working professions for people there?
Basically  many of the working professions  that are in the states are here in Africa. You have your Doctors, Lawyers, Government Professions and everything else. But here is a list of some of the funny jobs that they have here in SA. The roadside repair people employ about 20 people to do a job to repair a pothole. So about 2 people work and the other 18 wave flags and surround the hole, you have banana sellers on the side of the road that will sell you everything from Banana's to the software from Microsoft 2001 :) 
How are they learning about the Church?
Most of the members have come into the gospel through.........................their friends. No surprise there! Like in most places, the members that help build the kingdom usually join through friends and familes! 
 How is the retention after they are baptized? 
In other places besides Nelspruit, I would say out of every 10 that join the church in a year, 7 remain active for the entire year. Here in Nelspruit it is 10/10, because with the help of a senior couple and a dedicated branch, these converts continue to grow after their baptism!
What’s it like to visit and learn from an area Seventy?
Last week visiting with Elder Hamilton was pretty amazing. He has a lot of information about what is happening over the entire South East area, some pretty exciting things are happening in Africa!! Stakes are growing and splitting in the course of 5 short years and his gospel knowledge is profound, time went so quickly with him. I would compare it to sitting down and visiting with Christian Ekins for an hour :)

Other than those questions are there any other ones that I can answer for you?

This week has been a week a Trials and Tests. It has seemed like everyone we have taught and contacted just isn't ready at this point in their life to make and keep commitments. This upcoming week will be better though. On Saturday, President and Sister Dunn are coming to do his Bears and Prayers presentation. Google it and you can read up about it. So it is something that we are both looking forward to!

Wednesday- Headed up and out to Mshadza to visit those people that I told you about last time. We meet at the Primary Presidents home and all of the recent converts come and bring their friends. So we are at her house with the Elder Scott, the senior missionary, for about 3-6 hours teaching person after person after person! It is amazing and I don't think that there is any place or experience quite like it. After we get done teaching, our mouths and throats are killing from talking so much.

Sunday- Well, Nelspruit struggled this week in the musical side of things............I was called on to play the piano :))))) You can tell Lisa Powell right now that I apologize for never ever practicing. So the hymns went alright, very choppy but got through them. Then I gave a talk about the Worth of a Soul, so pretty busy sunday. and then appts cancelled and we ended up just talking to people outside of their homes. Anyways little down the line, we ran into a girl, her dad is actually a member and she was baptized however she had a disagreement with her dad, but is still willing to have us over! "When amid the conflict you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done" Name “dem” one by one!

I love Africa and I love you all!

Elder Broadhead






No comments:

Post a Comment