July 7, 2009

We are starting to have a little success here in Tzaneen. We had to baptisms on Sunday. They were great. The best part is when they get up to bare their testimonies. One of them all she could say was how happy she was.
A couple of weeks ago we went to the great baubab tree. It's like the biggest tree in the world or something. I mean the trunk not the height. It was awesome but sad at the same time. It has apparently been there forever. But the owner decided to make a bar inside. He hollowed it out then sold beer from in there. The tree is barely alive. The spirit of the tree was so hurt. And it hurt Motembe as well, he was really sad. I did my best to bless it, But I didn't really know what to say. But I hope that it helped.
I think that I will come across a lot of things like that. Things that have been hurt by stupid humans. I took pictures and I'll be sure to send them home.

Benjamin

June 29, 2009

This new area is hard, but i think we are starting to have success. I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father is helping us out. Me and my companion are working very hard.
I also have some bad news. We went hiking the other day. It was a really long hike. And when I got back to the car I found that the memory card I was using was gone. So now 4 months of my mission are gone. The only pictures I have are the ones I sent in that email. So I'm pretty mad about that. Everyone from my last area, their pictures are gone.
But other than that things are going okay. Time is starting to pick up. We are already halfway through the transfer.

Benjamin

June 22, 2009

This area is so hard. It's really tough on me sometimes. Its hard to explain. We have hardly any investigators, and we spend 80% of our day tr acting and finding. It's tough... But we never slack. We stay busy all day. In my last area I wondered what was so hard about a mission, but that was because our area was so good. But this area, man it's hard. The missionary I replaced was going home and he wasted a lot of time, so when I got here we had no real people to teach. Just what you call eternal investigators, people who don't progress at all. So enough complaining, but I still like the area. Its beautiful out here.
I figured something out about the atonement the other day. Man it blew my mind. Just as soon as i think that I'm starting to figure something out, I learn something else. That's the incredible thing. Anyway, I love you dad, Keep up the good work.
Benjamin

June 15, 2009

I took some pictures from the hike, don't worry i'll send them home pretty soon. But the area up here is awesome. The flat we are in is so much bigger. There are 4 of us that stay there. We don't teach that many more lessons. It is a lot harder area. because people are behind there huge gates. We probably teach 13 or 14 lessons a week. We also teach in a couple of the villages around the area. Now those places are beautiful. I'll be sure to take a lot of pictures for you guys.
Lasagna flavor hamburger helper is pretty good. I just would like something American. And some cookie or muffin mixes would be pretty good.
Anyway I love you mom keep up the good work.
Benjamin

The hike we went on was pretty cool, but as well very dangerous, we saw some monkeys and a couple cool waterfalls. Then we took another path (we were basically making our own trail). Well we got to the top of the mountain, but we were hiking on like a cliff edge. It was pretty scary. I was really worried, but I never really thought that I should turn around.
I love my new area. Its a really hard place to work but the scenery and the people are really cool. We teach in a couple of the villages around, and we go and are in charge of the sacrament meeting in one of them.
Anyway I love you Dad, keep up the good work.
Faith and Honor Benjamin

June 8, 2009

Yeah I've been transfered. Before we drove up here we got to pick up our new car. A 2009 chevy aveo, automatic, built in cd player, its very nice. Then i had a 4 hour drive to Poloqwane. we stayed the night. Then we drove though some really cool mountains the next day for 2 hours then we got to our flat on Tzaneen. My new companion is Elder Kogo, he is from Kenya. He seems like a pretty cool guy. We seem to get a long very well. The work up here is not as good as it was in my last area. It's a town which is a lot harder to wrok in, the people are a lot more stuborn. I ordered a CTR ring with faith and courage written on it. I'm pretty excited to get it. I sure wish i had more time to write letters. So don't worry I haven't missed a day yet in my journal, and we can still email. If you would like you can send me some hamburger helper. One of the elders in my new flat has his mom send him all kinds of food like, stuffing, muffin mix all kinds of things like that. So i thought that you guys could help me out a little. So mac and cheese, and some hamburger helper would be awesome. Anyway I love you thanks for everything.

Faith and Honor. Benjamin

Hey Mom,

This place is awesome. Its like a jungle. The town where we work isnt that big I cant really tell you a population. But we also go out and teach in some of the villages. Now that is incredible. Yesterday we had a sacrement in someones house. It was me and Elder Kogo and 3 other people that was it. It is such a humbling feeling when you come from a ward of 250 people. The branch in Tzaneen is about 20 people. The branch pres is a good guy though. I'm very thankful to be out here, this is going to be a good area. Today we are going to hike to a huge waterfall. We are pretty much hiking through the jungle, I'm very excited. Dont worry I'll take lots of pictures. Well Mom i love you. I miss you all but its not too bad, if we stay busy the time flies. Anyway have a good day, Keep up the reading.
Love Benjamin