Holidays on the Mission

Thanksgiving was our flat-mate's birthday so we went to Ocean Basket and had some seafood. It was good, but not thanksgiving. I'm just excited for Christmas! I can't wait to call home so I can tell you all how it really is here. Also, can we set something up with Camilla so I can talk to her? Are they coming this Christmas? If not maybe I can talk to her over the webcam or something.

Yes, we're still walking around. It's not fun. Believe me. Phil (Hall) is going home on December 17th. I'll be there at the transfer meeting to see his family. That will be cool.

You know, here in South Africa there are a lot of poor people but not neccesarily poverty. What I mean is that like up in Zim, Sudan and central Africa it's much much worse. That being said, Americans would still be very surprised at the conditions that people live in here. It's pretty sad sometimes. I do serve in a little branch called the Tsakane branch. We have a few active priesthood holders... like three reliable ones. It's very frustrating. In fact on Sunday I led the music, passed the sacrament with Morris(a recent convert) while Wandile(a recent convert) blessed along with Rosewell (the branch clerk/everything else that people won't do). Our branch President is ok...he couldn't come to church yesterday because of work though(he's a teacher and was grading tests). So on top of all this on Sunday I also was chosen to confirm two of the 5 that were baptized last week. The fun part was that only 2 of the 5 showed up before sacrament. I was pretty mad. Luckily we were able to do it at the end of the meeting because one of them was leaving this week for a month or so...and so we had to get her confirmed. It was a stressful sacrament meeting. Besides that, our branch is pretty lame. We have a few strong awesome members, but besides that the rest are pretty lame. I mean last Sunday we had 92 at
church. This Sunday we had less than 50. Most of which didn't even show up till after the Sacrament. It gets pretty frustrating and it will only get worse around the holidays. The schools here are kind of like the year round schools back home. Except the end of the school year is now and it starts again in January. This world is messed up. People even see the light and gain a testimony here but they let it die so easy. You know how people were reading the BOM and coming to church in Africa before the church was even here? Well that takes on a new meaning for me now. I suspect that they really didn't know what was going on. Here church is just church. It doesn't mean anything more. No one is concerned with doctrine...even members of the church. I mean I can't say everyone. Once in a while you come across people who are concerned with important things...there is simply an overwhelming culture of
church in this country...it's a business.

Well enough about that. Even still I love missionary work and time is just flying by too fast. It's gonna be gone before I know it. I can't believe December is here already. We've been increasing our teaching pool and gaining smarter more competent interested people than before. So I'm excited. We'll see what happens.

I hope everything is going well back home!! I love you all.

Love, elder robinson