7/13/15 Patiences

July 13, 2015
Hey Family, This week was a great one for different reasons, mainly for the one that is listed above. This week I definitely learned a lesson about patience and it comes from an experience we had on Friday. We had our Zone Meeting in Kempton Park and got back to our area around 3 P.M. We hit our first appointment and jumped over to spend the rest of the day, seeing less-active people in a area called Mayibuye. Needless to say, it was peak traffic and there is only 1 entrance into the township. So it took us about 2 hours to move about 10 meters. There were some random people who were directing the traffic and it was all around craziness. I was going to take a picture of it, but our member told us that it wouldn't be a smart idea when there is no get-away. Anyways I was ready to just plow over people in our Chevy Aveo and Elder Sibanda just said, Life is Great isn't it? I was kinda taken back when he said that because we were already late and there was no way we would be able to see those people. But instantly my outlook changed and we spend the rest of the 1 and a half hours comparing the traffic to gospel, life , and worldly things. Elder Sibanda won it all when he compared the directors of the traffic to priesthood holders. anyways I learned a great lesson on how the Lord puts us through the refiners fire and shaves off our imperfections. I love this story from general conference. 

Elder David B. Haight told a story about the sculptor Michelangelo to illustrate the importance of seeing everything in proper perspective: “As the sculptor was chiseling a block of marble, a boy came every day and watched shyly. When the figure of David emerged and appeared from that stone, complete for all the world to admire, the boy asked Michelangelo, ‘How did you know he was in there?’”

Have a great week!

Elder broadhead

7/7/15 Spits sunflower seeds and the 4th of July

                                                                            July 7, 2015

                                                                                      Hey Fam,

Another week as flown by and I didn't even realize that it was July 4th. So we celebrated it Friday at District Meeting. Elder Smith from Utah, got a package that had some Spits in it so after our meeting we enjoyed Sunflower seeds and singing the Star Spangled Banner. Pretty low-key celebration, but just enough to remember the Holiday. Elder Sibanda had another busy week, since the other Elders in the area have closed down, our days are packed and it is great to get to know all the members in the ward. Leafet and his kids were confirmed, and our bishopric changed. I'll get right to and  share 4 different experiences this week.

1-After Leafet and his children were confirmed, we dropped by and saw them and shared a lesson about Family Home Evening and family responsibilities. I can't tell you how amazing their family is and how much love Leafet has for his children. He is working like a mad-man and doesn't lose focus on his responsibilities as a father. Unlike much of the world these days. His wife is coming along, much like Shawn Marions free-throw. But she will get there.

2- We have been visiting a lot of less-active members who end up moving in with their girlfriends/boyfriends.   I've just gained a greater appreciation of the counsel given in The Family- A proclamation to the World. Marriage between a man and a women is ordained of God. Plain and simple. 

3- While we were driving in the area on Wednesday, there was this old grandmother that was  swaying in the middle of the road and about to fall over. So we stopped and she slapped our car and ran off. Turns out she was drunk, and as we drove by a little bit later she had a beer bottle in her hands and was throwing rocks at teenage boys. #dontdodrugs

4-During Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday, someone shared there testimony about how people who don't believe in God are like Rats under a table eating bread. I don't really know what he wad trying to say, but Sibanda and I were cracking up.

I love y'all and enjoy your hot summer!

Elder broadhead

6/30/15 Great End to a Great Week!

June 30^th 2015

Hey Fam,

So some pretty big news came in yesterday while we were in sacrament meeting. Our mission will be splitting and there will be about 45 missionaries that will be reassigned to the Botswana/Namibia mission. I'll be sticking it out here in Johannesburg, but I'll be missing some friends that will be in a different mission now. Amidst all the craziness of our mission splitting were some amazing moments. So I'll hit you with the biggest miracle of all. I'd compare it to Rajon Rondo, because it is many miracles comprised in 1 big one. 

So yesterday, Elder Sibanda and I had the privilege of baptizing  Leafet Magutshwa and his 2 children. I met them in February with Elder Ainslie and our recent convert Jethro.  Jethro is a man that I wish to become like, probably one of the most humble loving people in the world. Anyways we started visiting his brother (Leafet) who stays up the street from him) From the beginning we could tell that Leafet was prepared for the gospel. He had been to church while staying in Zimbabwae and loved the people and the teachings there. So when he moved this side, he got a job as a truck driver as was gone for 3 weeks at a time. So it was difficult to see him and we had an amazing lesson with him about the sabbath day. It lead him to quit the job he was working, and he was blessed to find a job that works monday to friday. Needless to say that is honestly when he started to gain his testimony and his children followed. So the days leading up to the baptism were pretty easy, they knew that they had found the right church, the only problem was there mom was hesitant of joining. So she told us she needs more time to find out if it was really true. So the day of the baptism came and it went without flaws. All except that the water wasn't working, so we filled up the baptismal font with a firehose :) hahahah the baptism service went on. I baptized Leafet and his son, and Jethro baptized Langalihle. After they ward welcomed them and we talked to the wife after. She said she felt like she needed to be baptized after witnessing her family! Pretty amazing, then later that night we were at Jethro's home and another miracle happened. Jethro's son, Bayethe, who is back in Zimbabwe  right now is being baptized next week! Many miracles in one!

Needless to say we are being abundantly blessed here in teaching entire families here. I can't say how much I love the people and how much that I am learning from them and also my comp. Shout out to Elder Sibanda!

Elder Bhead

moroni 10:32

6/15/15 Happy Father's Day

                                                                 June 15, 2015

Hey Fam,

So I'll start the email with a quick shout out to Dad. HAPPY EARLY FATHERS DAY. hope you enjoy your new set of tools that you can put next to the ones that you got last year :) This week has been another amazing one and many great things are happening in our area. I'm a little tight on time so instead of doing the big 5. I'll go from the big 13 to just  the Big 3 (that’s all I have time for).

 

#1 We have a family that will be baptized on the 28 of June. It’s a  father,  daughter and a crazy son(just kidding). The mother is some-what interested, but does not feel ready yet to be baptized. We taught them about the Word of Wisdom, turns out they are already living it because they "felt like coffee was bad for us because it causes the teeth to rot." ( I am thankful for African Common sense :)

#2 There is a lady that I told you about a couple weeks ago named  who really has the desire to change her life and be baptized. She is facing a big decisions and is scared to see her life change. So we read from Doctrine and Covenants, how she needs to study it out in her mind first and then ask God if it is the right decision. We left her with a prayer and are anxious to see what will happen next week. 

 

#3 We had an amazing experience that I'll be sending home a more detailed account in a letter. But on Saturday morning, we were at the church for a correlation meeting and a lady had a stroke outside of the chapel. We asked it she would like a blessing and then gave her a blessing. We weren’t sure what the outcome would be but turned out that she is going to be fine :) She isn't a member, but is just struggling with a lot of things in her life and she was searching and just needed some love. So later Elder Sibanda and I  brought her and her kids some bread for dinner and left them with the Elders quorum presidency to take care of. It was a powerful experience and it will be interesting to see where this goes.

 

Something funny this week was we were fed this traditional dinner of Pap and spinach and peanut butter. It was like a really weird peanut butter sandwich hahah. Also, one of our Recent Converts came back from a visit to Zimbabwe and brought what they call "African chewing gum." It looks like a brown fuzzy pokeball. She gave us a container full and Elder Sibanda and I will be having some pretty defined jaw lines after the end of this week. I hope all is well and that you are all enjoying you summer vacation.

Stay Blessed

Elder Broadhead

D:C 9:2-3

 

6/8/15 FREEZING in Africa

Well fam,                                                    June 8^th, 2015

When I got my call that I was coming to South Africa I had no idea that I would be coming to a place that would be freezing cold. Thank you again mom, for buying that thick coat for me. I have worn it almost 24/7 this week :) So the reason why it is so cold is because the people here don't insulate their homes, it is just made out of straight brick. So every night before bed, Elder Sibanda and I bundle up in almost all of the clothes we have and jump into bed. Needless to say we will probably be buying a heater and blankets this week :) The cold has not stopped the work though, we have seen some pretty amazing things happen this week and I'll just hit 5 of the big ones!

 

#1 I got to go back to Alberton and do the baptism of a young man.  As I was sitting on the stand I was just thinking about the importance of acting on impressions of the spirit. Six months ago, my companion and I had an impression to knock on their gate and here we are 6 months later with another family brought back to the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So follow promptings :)

 

#2 Elder Sibanda and I started singing hymns on our way to our appointments and a lady heard us and asked us if we were professional singers :) 

 

#3 We continue to work with an amazing less-active sister, she is just going through some tough things in her life and is starting to lose focus, so we had a nice lesson on enduring and it visibly lifted her spirits :) we get to see her again tonight.

 

#4 Elder Sibanda and I have been trying to do little things to help move the work along, so we baked a cake for a less-active lady and Elder Sibanda carried it around all day and we celebrated and she said that the time is right for her to come back to church! The power of cake, I made the joke of trying KFC instead of cake but it actually isn't a joke.KFC is sounding pretty good!

 

#5  I wouldn't say this was amazing, but it was pretty funny. We’ve been teaching a lady and preparing her for baptism for a little over 8 months. She is so close just has things holding her back. Anyways her boyfriend came in drunk which isn’t unusual but  then  she wanted us to give him a blessing. We gave him a simple blessing and after we got done he started yelling "I SEE A LIGHT". hahahahaha I wish I could have got a video of it. Now if he would just see the light when he is sober!

 

The work continues to get better and better even when the weather is getting worse and worse!   I love you all and hope the week is x-cellant

Elder Bhead

Matthew 7:46

 

As a side note, Landen in his emails has spoke about the humility and Christ like characteristics of Elder Sibanda.  Landen asked our family to begin email Elder Sibanda because his family does not have access to a computer. We had no idea what a blessing it would be to our family and thought it would be nice to share Elder Sibanda’s interaction with Paul. By the way he wrote each of us back with an equally sweet email but Paul’s email really helps you understand the humility and great faith he has. He is small in stature but is a spiritual giant.

Paul	Jun 7 (2 days ago)
to sibanda

Hi Elder Sibanda,

I'm Elder Broadhead's father Paul, I wanted to say Thank you for teaching Elder Broadhead about your culture and sharing your example. He has told us how Christ like you are and is learning so much from you. 

I teach a mission preparation class and would love to tell them about how you came to learn about the church and your decision to come on a mission.  I know the Lord will bless you and your family as you serve him. As parents we feel the blessings from Elder Broadhead's service to us and our family. You are doing the best thing for you and your family, you may not recognize all the blessings now, the Lord will provide in his own time. 

Thank you for serving a mission and sharing your testimony, the Holy Ghost will testify of the truth you teach and the Lord will use you as his special witness of the restoration.

I hope you have a great week!

Sibanda	Jun 8 (1 day ago)
to me

wow, thank you, please feel free to call me son and even me as l call you father, l am very happy for who l am and l know that even though l will not manage to talk with my family members, God will still pour many blessings to them.the reason that made me to searve the Lord is that,no one have searved a mission in my family and l do believe that for the small and simple things that l do for them even though they may not manage to see,God will multiply it. thank you for me as part of your family.now l know that its not because of the biology or biological formation of human kind but its because of whom hath created us.l will always love and pray for you.  elder  sibanda

6/1/15 Filling Week :)

June 1^st 2015

Another week has flown by and some new and amazing experiences have happened, from eating so much that Elder Sibanda and I couldn't sleep,  to trying to help people come back to church either way,  it has definitely been a "filling" week lol.

Tuesday- somehow the members found out that it was my birthday so they sent me an invitation, inviting me to my own birthday party on Saturday. So my birthday was postponed. But it was a day spent like the many others. . . . Testifying of the Restoration and helping people see how much is awaiting them in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. We got to see a "Gogo" who we are working with, we taught her about the Book of Mormon and challenged her to read it every day. She ended up reading all the way through 1st Nephi in the 1st week so the elderly have some power.

Wednesday-New Mission Orientation with Elder Sibanda, we went down to the mission home and just learned more about the everyday life of missionaries. It was an uplifting experience and I can't express enough how grateful I am to have President and Sister Dunn they are amazing leaders. I am so blessed :)

Thursday- workkkk!!!!

Friday- Zone Meeting and trying to learn how to teach people the gospel in Zulu. It will take a little bit longer than expected. Judging from the fact that I told someone to "smell the Book of Mormon and ask god if it is true" it will require a little more studying on my part.  hahahahhaahahahah I think maybe I stick to English and leave the Zulu to Elder Sibanda. 

Saturday- We had an amazing lesson with a less-active guy named Tebogo. He joined the church about 15 years ago when he was 18. He prepared to go on a mission and then he lost his parents in an accident and just put the mission on a backburner. He know is married and has 2 kids and wondered if he could be forgiven. One of the greatest lessons I have ever been in, he wants his wife and children to be taught now :) Tender Mercies are all around us.

Sunday- Just an example of the possibilities of missionary work here. We had 3 Investigator families at church. Pretty amazing and Elder Sibanda and I are #tooblessedtobestressed here in Rabie Ridge. Life is great, Elder Sibanda is great, missionary work is great. Nothing could be sweeter.

Love Elder Bhead

Alma 26:12

 

5/25/15 Happy 19th Bday

May 25^th, 2015

 Sawubona everyone,

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes! It will be a little bit different than last year, but I am looking forward to serving people on the BDay. Update on Elder Sibanda, his humility and kindness is greater than any person on the earth, so much that he offered to do up the zipper on my pants, while I was wearing them this morning. But, this week has been another amazing one here in Rabie Ridge and there are many many great things that are happening! I'll do the Big 5 miracles that have happened this week.

#1 Elder Sibanda has definitely brought an amazing tool to the work, he can speak the peoples language and due to that a lot of people that we thought wouldn't progress are starting to keep commitments. The lessons are a little dull for me, but I'll be fluent in Zulu and Sesutu by the end of this transfer :)

#2 We continue to stop in and check in on less-active people. Like I said a couple of emails ago there are about 460 on the records and only about 200 are active. So we stopped in on the a Family this week and shared a message about the restoration. They haven't been to church in about 4 years and GUESS WHAT. WE WALKED WITH THEM TO CHURCH YESTERDAY!!!! Talk about a big miracle.

 #3 I wouldn't consider this a miracle but it pretty miraculous. Elder Sibanda wanted to eat dinner so he started to boil rice and he left it boiling while we went down to talk to the other elders in our complex. We came back and our flat was smoked out as when I would try and take the Yoder on the Freeway. Anyways We sprayed the pan with the Fire Extinguisher and let the flat air out........Elder Sibanda still ate the rice :) Not sure what the chemical count was but it couldn’t have been good.

#4 Our recent convert Jethro, hit us up with another cousin of his that is a Father led family. HIs name is Smiling and the guy looks as ripped as Elder Wagner. So he and his wife are reading the Book of Mormon and have been to church the last 2 weeks!

#5 We are having a ward temple trip in a month and we have began to prepare some of the recent converts and returning less-actives to become prepared for the experience and it has been working really well. so it will be great to see what will happen in the upcoming month. 

 I'll make sure to write down some of the funny things that Elder Sibanda says this week :) It’s always an adventure.

Love you all and enjoy your summer :)

elder bhead

Mosiah 2:41