May 25th, 2009

Yesterday was the baptism. It was so cool. It was the best day that I have had on my mission so far. After wards they all bore there testimonies. I cried when the father bore his. I haven't felt the spirit that strong in a long time. After that the closing hymn was "I believe in Christ". I cried during that whole song too. It was a pretty amazing day.

There is a scripture that kind of puts how I feel. Maybe you know it... D and C 18: 13-16. I hope that all my baptisms in the future are that good.

May 18, 2009

Hey Dad, How is everything? Everything for me is going great.
I'm not sure how many missionaries are on bikes but I sure don't want to be one of them. We went on exchanges a week ago. I was pretty excited to be on a bike to see what it was like. Oh man I hated it. It was the most that i complained on my mission so far. It rained i got one of my shirts dirty, I was trying to ride with my shoulder bag, lol it was miserable. Heavenly Father will humble me a lot if he gives me a biking area. And now that i have said that he probably will.
We are baptizing a family next week. The Letsipa family. They are all awesome. I was pretty disappointed when Elder Redd said that they all wanted him to baptize them and none for me, But I'm happy now I don't mind. The important thing is they made it :)
One of our investigators went in for surgery to get a catorac removed. In a very shady township hospital. We were going to give him a blessing but he was gone before he got there. The doctor FORGOT to put the lens in when he finished. So now Brother Morare can't read the Book of Mormon. And they set his appointment for the end of July, to put the lens in. So things are going alright.
That's pretty cool to hear about John Huntsman. I'm pretty sure that Pres Poulsen knows him. Because he went to Taiwan on his mission as well.
Well I'm glad that Hannah's birthday went well. I'm sending her present and yours at the same time. So you guys will probably get them some time in June.
Anyway i love you Dad. keep up the god work. You guys will be fine. Because I know your doing the right thing. :)
Sincerely your second born in the wilderness... Benjamin

May 11, 2009

Hey Dad, how are you doing? It was so good to talk to you yesterday. It was really weird though lol. But anyway I'm glad to have gotten the opportunity.
Yeah pres. Zuma. Everyone down here likes the guy. But there are some sketchy things with this guy... but your right I hope that he does some good.
Yeah eggs are doing me some good. Our pans are retarted though. The non-stick stuff rubbed off like after the first week... but i scramble and boil eggs so they are working for me. Fruit too. I eat a lot of bananas. And 100% juice as well. Its really good over here. We have a George Foreman grill as well. So me and another Elder have gotten into grilled cheese and ham and stuff. Slowly but surely I'm figuring out food.
I'm glad that mothers day went well. I can't tell you how happy I am to here that the family is doing so well.
I love you guys so much. Keep doing what your doing. You guys are going to be fine. We just have to have hope and faith.
Benjamin

Monday, April 20, 2009

Hey Mom,

How are you? I'm fine as usual. First thing, Emailing is one of the highlights of my week so will you remind everyone to email me (only if they want to I guess) I love you and Dads emails but it would be nice to hear from Mike Pattie and Hannah.
There are some pretty cool things here I can buy. For example I bought a scripture case with zebra and crocodile skin on it. There is also elephant, impala, rhino and pretty much anything else. They are about 30-35 dollars. So if anyone wants them I can buy them and send them home.
Thanks for the poem. It really does help. I got a package from Lilli last Friday. The candy is already gone though. She sent me a little flash drive so I'm going to put all of the pictures that I have on it, then send it home but I have to do it next week because i forgot my camera.
Anyway I love you mom. Give my love to the family.
Ben


Hey Dad,

I'm great. I would say that I'm a 8.5. (this is in response to the question 'On a scale of 1-10 how do you feel about the mission?')Everything is fine. I'm getting used to the life style. Transfers are Tuesday and Me and Elder Redd are both staying here. I will probably be his last companion.
The elections are on Wednesday and its going to be crazy. We are still working but we are told to be very careful. These people who are voting for Jacob Zuma are very crazy, and they are drunk most of the time as well.
My first official baptisms are next Sunday.. A 20 year old kid named Mbuso and his mom. I'm so excited. Elder Redd is going to baptize them both but I'm giving a talk. They just know Elder Redd better than me, I think that's why. The weather here is fine, its really hot. Its supposed to be turning winter here but its still really hot.
Anyway try not think about how long Ive been gone Ill be home before you know it. I Love you and thanks for everything.
Ben

Some Pictures

Ben in the MTC

Ben's Companion in the MTC


Lion and Rhino Park


Lion and Rhino Park


Thank goodness South Africa has this...

April 13, 2009

Im okay everything is going great. I think that I'm getting used to everything here, the people the food the culture. I really like it here.
The other Elders in our flat had a baptism yesterday. First of all our font really sucks. Barely any water comes out of it. It would take like 5 hours to fill. So i spent an hour filing it with a bucket. It was still pretty low though. But in the end everything went okay. Its so weird to be in charge of something like that. Because their baptism is something that they are going to remember for the rest of their lives. I don't want to mess that up. A few weeks ago we spent a Saturday morning scrubbing the font. I don't know if it looks any better though.
We have to go to a cyber cafe to email. Thankfully we have a washer and we don't have to pay to clean our clothes. You still need to tell me how things are at home. How is dinner? do you save any money now that I'm gone? Is there a lot of food left over?
I could use some more recipes as well. Fried rice and spaghetti is getting old lol. Any way I'm going to attempt to send dome pictures, they will be from the MTC and the Lion and Rhino park. So we will see what happens. I love you all thanks for everything.
Benjamin

April 6, 2007

Mom,
I sent a letter about a week ago, but it takes forever to get there. Conference was awesome. We cant see the Sunday afternoon session though. But i saw you a lot. All of my flatmates know what you look like.
I guess Ill answer all of dads questions now...
Well we have to get up at 630am every day. And then we study for 2 hours personal then comp. Eat breakfast then shower and out the door by 1100am. Then we are back at the flat by 900pm. We only have a washing machine, so we have to hang dry our clothes. I only have 130$ to spend each month so money is kinda tight.
Teaching lessons is very interesting. Nothing is memorized. Its really just you teach them according to what their needs are. We can pretty much teach anything at anytime. On p day, we get up at 630 clean the flat and the car. Out the door by 1000am to email and shop. By 1200pm we are back at the flat eat lunch then go play volleyball till 500pm. Then we go teach till 900pm.
Tracting and street contacting is fun. When we tract, at every house we walk through their gate and knock at the back door, that's just how it is. Not one person uses their front door on the township. Almost everyone invites us in and they act interested (that stinks) so we waste time teaching someone who doesn't really care. Afterward they give us Rhoybos tea. Its okay we can drink it. Then we set up a return appointment then they are not there when we go back. We never see them again. Its okay though we have enough investigators at the moment to keep us busy all day.
At church me and the other elders are the only white people there. It is an all black township. Me and Elder Redd have 8 baptisms coming up and I'm really excited because they are all good people. It turns out that there are 3 types of people here. Bob Marley's, Gangsters, and Drunks. Especially during the weekend, everyone is drinking. And they play house music. Now let me explain house music...
It is basically techno that people play from there houses at the maximum volume level. So at any given time you can here 5 different songs. Some of it is good, and some is bad. At month end its really bad. Everyone gets paid month end so everyone just has parties. They spend all there money on beer and drink the whole night.
I don't know if you guys know anything about the elections coming up but they are going to be pretty interesting. The person everyone thinks is going to win is Jacob Zuma. Who has no history of education and is currently under trial for money laundering.
Anyway there is an Elder from Holland in our flat. Hes really cool, another one is from California, and Elder Redd is from Idaho. We have lots of fun. All of us are doing pretty well too.
So you guys can send me packages and stuff, just make sure what ever it is that you mark it missionary supplies. American candy would be nice. Hey Dad if you still have that Innovators CD I cant find it anywhere here. And send me some of those classical CDs as well.
Well today was the zone P day we went to a lion and rhino park. Got some really good pictures. I also got to play with lion cubs that was fun. Ill upload some soon... probably next week. Tell Brent that the water does flow the other way here we tested it like 5 times. But anyway thanks for everything and the prayers.
So i guess the plan is ill email just mom, and when i can ill write everyone else. If you have some more recipes or something that would be nice. Thanks for everything. I love you all.
Benjamin J Earl