Pronunciation... Mamelodi: Mam-e-load-e

Now we don't technically live in Mamelodi. We live in an area called Ferry Glen. Then we drive into the area which takes about 20-30 minutes. We are in a 4 man flat. I love it much more than two man. The navajoes went great as usual. There are a lot of people I will miss in Sharpeville and a lot that will miss me for sure (at least that's what they wrote in the journal) Remember Okuhle? Well she asked me why I couldn't tell them 'No I don't want to leave Sharpeville!' haha. Oh and she is going to finally be baptized this coming Sunday. That will be awesome. I just wish I could be there for it! I'll try to get you a picture. I was going to send pics but this new internet cafe is lame.

So Mamelodi is not as cold (but still cold) and it also has some hills (but not too much). My new companion is Elder Bakker from Idaho Falls. He's a way cool guy and we get along great. He'll make me a better missionary for sure. I love mamelodi already. I had my first sacrament meeting as a missionary in a chapel on Sunday! Yahoo! haha and it was warm...almost too warm. We have an old branch that is on the verge of becoming a ward and being split. I hope I can be here for that. I'm so excited to get things going. We went to PEC on Sunday and I was blown away. They were just so organized and I can actually have an organization to work through to do some of my ideas. Also on Sunday this man Isaac showed up. We taught him my first night in Mamelodi. It was maybe the 2nd or 3rd time he'd been with the missionaries. He is a smart guy and very interested. So he showed up to church and then we went to see him and his family afterwards. It was awesome. It was his daughter's birthday(her 27th) and at the end I told her I had a present for her. It was the Book of Mormon. She actaully got really excited because she had seen her father's and wanted her own. Then at the end Isaac said he had one more question (the whole family was gathered for a prayer) but he said he'd save it for next time. I felt like we should have a kneeling prayer. So I asked if it would be ok. Then Isaac said that's what he was going to ask and was very happy to have a kneeling prayer. It was awesome. So on Saturday I had my first baptismal interview. It was...kinda hard to describe. I was nervous, happy, confused, and feeling the spirit all at the same time. It really was powerful. It was especially different because the investigator was from Taiwan! He was just a little different but an awesome guy. I'm actually excited to do another one now!

So yea, I've been so extremely busy now since last week...since I found out I was leaving. I'm hoping things will slow down because it's just going too fast right now. Time is flying. Friday is my year mark!

Well that's my email this week. I love mission life. I love you and I'm always grateful for your support everyday. :)

Much Love,
elder robinson

The News!

Well here's the news! I'm going to Pretoria! That's about 40 minutes north of Jo-berg. I'm serving in the Mamelodi township...and wait here's the best news... supposedly I have a chapel!!!!! wahoo! haha I finally get to tell people "yea come to church at the nice BUILDING" instead at the school but be careful cuz there are 3other church who meet at the school so don't get the wrong one. haha So my time in Sharpeville is coming to an end. It's been sad saying goodbye to people though. I mean I've been in Sharpeville for 6 months now! I've made some good friends. Anyways, so I'm leaving on Thursday.

I did find a place to buy refried beans, but they are expensive. I'm making navajoes again tonight. People love it. It's a little expensive but these people deserve it.

So yea, this week we had some sweet lessons. One was with this guy who just showed up to church last week. We gave him a pamphlet and by the time we came to see him after church at 2 he had already read the pamphlet and was asking smart questions. Anyways, we gave him a Book of Mormon this week and yesterday he came to church again. Then we saw him after church and he had been reading the Book of Mormon a lot and was loving it. He's turning out golden. I'm happy to be leaving the area in a good condition. Right now we have 7 people on date who seem to be pretty solid. Plus there are many more who can be on their way there. To put it simply, I'm sad to leave but it's time to go :)

My second companion, Elder Burnett (who's going home this week to Yackama, Washington), served there for his second area on his mission. Next week I'll hit a year officially. Man...the mission is going too fast! The last 3 months just flew by! And in six months it'll be Christmas again...crazy! Then I could be going to my dying area. I've been really trying to just take advantage of everyday I have on the mission because I know as soon as the end rolls around I won't want to leave.

Well, I'm still healthy. It's still cold here but Pretoria is hot so I'll be good. Plus I got another blanket.

Love you much. Talk to you next in Pretoria :)

Love, your elder robinson

The 4th South African Style

On the friday before the 4th of July we listened to the Star Spangled Banner and did put our hand over our hearts. It was tender. Then on Saturday night we had a little braai (BBQ) and cooked up a texas steak...that's 2kg of meat. I still have left overs from my quarter piece!

Our Texas steak (go Texas!!)


My companion and I at our 4th of July BBQ


Here are some pictures of Henslop and Yvonne's baptism last week:From left to right: Myself, Henslop, Yvonne, a ward member and my companion



So this week was a little bit warmer...not much. Okhule came back to church and during the week some sisters went to visit her. I think that helped her a lot. I've seen the fellowshipping in the branch go up a little these past few weeks. I don't think anything too amazing happened this week though. Henslop and Yvonne were confirmed of course, that was sweet. But besides that, this may be another short email. :)

I'm still healthy and happy. We are working hard to keep our teaching pool full. We keep having a lot of people that we've been teaching for a long time that just aren't quite there yet but are still progressing slowly. One is named Nthabileng. She is so smart and is the neighbor to the Goniwe family (that is Thandi, Nozizwe, Yvonne, and Vusi who I baptized in the last few months). Last night we taught them missionary work and she was there. She was so excited to help others know the truth. I don't know why she isn't baptized yet!!!! The Goniwe family was so excited as well to share the gospel. Next monday I'm gonna cook navajoes and have Family Home Evening and they are supposed to invite some friends. It will be sweet.

Well much love family. I appreciate everything you give me... love, support (physically \spiritually) thanks again!

love, elder robinson