The Work Goes Forward Boldly

Yep, I'm walking all over now. It's not too bad. We are getting used to it. I do like
cooking...but only for the results, haha. I don't really enjoy the whole preparing and cooking and stuff. I'm always afraid I'm gonna mess it up and all the food will go to waste. I have become pretty creative with the limited things I buy. It's nice to eat a good meal. Oh and guess what? I found refried beans!!! I was so excited. So excited that I didn't care that they were 6 months expired! haha. I think it should be fine. Also last week I cooked navajos again, this time for our branch president. That was cool. They loved them.

Yeah, I don't think that anyone knows who DF Malan is unless they really know history. But for the majority of people in township there wouldn't be too big of a deal walking around with a Malan tag. I've asked people before and they don't know who he is. It's like the only history they know is post-aparteid. It makes sense.

Baipidi is 23. She really is a great lady.

It's people like her that I can't wait to see in 10 years how much they've progressed in the gospel. Relief Society president? haha. They have all the same programs here, they just aren't always up to speed because of the lack of leaders. It's tough for a branch president to get a branch into a ward and get all the auxiliaries going when you don't have leaders to fill callings. Most people in the branch have callings but most of the people that come to church on Sunday have been in the church less than a year or two. So everyone is just new.

Thanks for telling me when Easter is. I never know but now it will be easy to remember since this year its on my birthday. It's always like the second Sunday or something? I did get my birthday package and I thank you very very much. I was too anxious to wait to open it. At first I was going to wait but then I realized that my book may be in there...and now I'm devouring The Great Apostasy! It's amazing. It makes everything so much more clear about the apostasy that occurred for close to 1700 years. It is crazy how clear the scriptures and history bear record of this. I love how in a "Marvelous Work and a Wonder" where he quotes some guy who says that it's between the Catholics and the Mormons. And that debate comes down to the great apostasy. Anyways, so that's pretty sweet.

This week was pretty normal. We've been walking all week which I said was not too bad. Tiring for sure...hot for sure. But we've at least been lucky to not get any rain. We had Zone Conference on Tuesday and I talked to president about the car situation and he said that there are a lot of areas that really need a car and our Zone Leaders basically decided we didn't need one in Sharpeville. I also learned that somebody was lying when they told me that it was going to Tsakane (my last area), it went to some elders who had been walking for 2 weeks already because their car got flooded. These guys are covering two areas! No, we really have no room to complain. It's still pretty safe and things are working out. The other missionaries that live in our flat complex just take us and pick us up every day. It's pretty simple.

We got to go to the temple again this week. That was sweet. I hadn't been since I was back in Tsakane and I was missing it! The one of the city is Jo-berg. You can see its pretty big and that is just one part.

My companion and I

Our group

That was probably the highlight of my week even though that day was extremely long. Waking up at 4am to make the 7am session and also going back to our area by 2pm to go to work! Long day.

The best part of the week was probably Sunday. Baipidi was confirmed...but Prince and his friend he said he was bringing didn't show. I was pretty bummed about that until at 9:45am I looked out the door and saw him coming around the corner ever so slowly. You see we offered to have someone pick him up again but he said he needed to get used to walking since there won't always be someone there to help him. He is a very independent man. So it was so funny to see these two old guys walking up to church. Right in the middle of the testimony meeting he comes up to us and says "I made it!". Man, it was great. Then after church he walked back home. Pretty soon you'll see a picture of this prince guy. He's getting baptized on April 11th.

Anyway, Sunday went on and we ended up putting 6 people on baptismal date! It was sweet! So now we're up to 9! The hardest part is getting them from saying yes to baptism to having them confirmed...especially making sure they get to church! But the work goes forward boldly, nobly, and independent until the great purposes of God are accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done....Sorry I've been working on my mission quotes...got that one stuck in my head.

I love you all and miss you but one day I'll be there sharing my mission with you in person. Until then there are souls I need to save in South Africa!

love, elder robinson