Not For The World

This week has been pretty sweet. We've been teaching the recent convert Nozizwe's family for a while now. I think I told you about them last week. There is no father but the mother has seemed very interested and so close to a testimony. Then last week she said she was ready. Anyways, so we interviewed her and her 9yr old son, Vusi, on Saturday. That was awesome. They passed and will be baptized on the 24th this week along with the daughter of a less-active who has started coming to church again. The daughter is 15 and is excited to be baptized. She even studied everything so she could pass the interview. It was awesome.

So we've also been teaching Nozizwe's neighbor, Nthabile. She is very smart and very confused about all these different churches. She has also been very close to a testimony for a while but hasn't come to church. Then this week on Tuesday we confronted her about why she won't come to church and she said she has a lot of problems and feels like God has abandoned her. We talked about the trials and the Atonement and all that but she didn't seem to feel content. Then I luckily remembered I had a talk in my back-pack by Elder Withlin, "Come What May and Love It". It's one of my favorite talks and I knew it would help her. So I gave it to her to read and on Friday we came back to check. Her entire countenance was different and by the end of the lesson we asked her if she would come to church on Sunday. She said she would and so I said great we hope to see you on Sunday then... she said "no, it's a promise I'll be there". Then she came to church! That was powerful. I think we'll be able to get her on date this week.

So we've had a powerful week to say the least. In the past 3 weeks we've had 41 new investigators! At the moment we're pretty busy and just trying to weed through some of them, hopefully to find some serious ones.

I'm still loving the mission and making the best of it for sure. I love teaching people the gospel and I love seeing when they finally find the truth for themselves! It's amazing the difference that comes over people. I love it. I would not trade anything for the experiences I'm having now.

Thanks for the love and support! Keep it coming! :)

Love, elder robinson

Hatched

Man, I wish I was able to be home for the wedding. I know you don't want me to say this but I hope Nathan doesn't get married till I get home. I want to witness the sealing for at least one of my siblings! (before I do myself). Anyways, it sounded like you all had a lot of fun. Especially in that house! But what can you do. My time will come right?

I have got a new companion, his name is Elder Kitimbo from Uganda. He's 25 years old and has only been a member 2 years and only a missionary for 3 months! But even still he's a way better missionary than me and is teaching me a lot. He's way cool and great to get along with. Things are going well.

Elder Kitimbo and I at zone conference on Friday in front of the chapel in Bedfordview.

It's actually the stake center for the stake Shapeville is in- the Bedfordview stake.

Myself and Elder Pugsley who will be going home in June to Park Valley, Utah.

Anyways, one of the great missionaries I've ever known...and my former zone leader in my last area.

A picture of the sweet African chess set I bought at Bruma.
I haggled it for only R150...that's like $15 bucks!! I know I felt good about it.

Then a picture of the nest on our balcony!

The eggs hatched! Now I'm going to train the birds from their infancy to be my personal carrier pigeons and take my mail home for me. So be on the look out..haha

Thanks for telling me about the guy who had read my letter. That is amazing. I didn't even realize Bishop Mullen was putting up my letters. I mean I think I sent him and his wife a few letters in response to theirs. Anyways, that's so cool that something I said struck him. Makes one feel good.

So this week was pretty normal. It's getting pretty cold now. Our area has taken a little bit of a down turn. We had 6 people on baptismal date for May but it seems none will be ready. One is even moving to the other side of SA! Elder Kitimbo and I are trying hard to get things back up to speed. We have a lot of promising people but only time will tell. Last week we found 12 new investigators and this week we had 15! So hopefully we can get them along. Missionary work is hard but I love it. I'm tired but I still love to teach people and when someone finally gets it. That's my pay-day. Thanks so much for the updates and love. I can't wait to talk again on Sunday! I can't believe I get to call again. I feel like it was just yesterday I was calling home at Christmas! Love you!

Love, elder robinson