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
Monday, April 20, 2009
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...
Monday, April 13, 2009
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
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
Monday, April 6, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
March 30, 2009...Continued
Well here are some answers...
Me and elder Redd have a car in our area. I only drive sometimes, its a manual its hard to get used to. So i just let him drive most of the time.
I work in a township which is pretty poor. Its not as poor as the squatter camps but we have some in our area. Its a solid black area. Its just me and the other elders that are white at church.
We need to go to a internet cafe to o email, we can only do it on p day.
Everything is going great. I almost have my first baptisms and they are awesome people. It is so interesting teaching people the gospel. You meet some pretty weird people. The africaners (white africans if you didn't know) they are just like people from the deep deep south. Its very funny to talk to them.
Well thanks dad for everything, I love you my letter will come soon. It would be nice if you sent me some letters they really help. And tell mike to send some.
Love you Ben
Me and elder Redd have a car in our area. I only drive sometimes, its a manual its hard to get used to. So i just let him drive most of the time.
I work in a township which is pretty poor. Its not as poor as the squatter camps but we have some in our area. Its a solid black area. Its just me and the other elders that are white at church.
We need to go to a internet cafe to o email, we can only do it on p day.
Everything is going great. I almost have my first baptisms and they are awesome people. It is so interesting teaching people the gospel. You meet some pretty weird people. The africaners (white africans if you didn't know) they are just like people from the deep deep south. Its very funny to talk to them.
Well thanks dad for everything, I love you my letter will come soon. It would be nice if you sent me some letters they really help. And tell mike to send some.
Love you Ben
March 30, 2009
Hey man hows it? People talk weird down here. To say hi you say "hows it?". If they are a gangster or a rasta you say "ehta". Pretty weird. There are three different types of people down here. Rastas gangsters and drunks. Im serious, during the weekend ans especially month end people just drink and party and listen to crappy techno.
Anyway Ill answer some of your questions...
Yes, I'm taking pictures, the issue is it takes a very long time to load them on the email. So i think ill just develop them and send them home or something. You could also send me a flash drive then ill put them all on there and send it back.
Alright the problem of swirling water. thanks fro telling me how it is back there none of us could remember. So in my next email Ill tell you.
My favorite local beverage is Mountain Dew. Yup its here and it helps. Its not as good as back home but its still the best. Anyway I'm running out of time so Ill talk to you later.
Love ya thanks for everything
Ben
Anyway Ill answer some of your questions...
Yes, I'm taking pictures, the issue is it takes a very long time to load them on the email. So i think ill just develop them and send them home or something. You could also send me a flash drive then ill put them all on there and send it back.
Alright the problem of swirling water. thanks fro telling me how it is back there none of us could remember. So in my next email Ill tell you.
My favorite local beverage is Mountain Dew. Yup its here and it helps. Its not as good as back home but its still the best. Anyway I'm running out of time so Ill talk to you later.
Love ya thanks for everything
Ben
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
March 24, 2009
Hey Mom, everything is good. My companions name is Elder Redd. Hes from Rexburg Idaho, he has been out for 20 months. The good thing is he is still working hard, he isnt trunky (thats what they call it here when your home sick). He is teaching me a lot. We drive in the area im in. Im in Kagiso, its a township in the city Soweto in the state Gauteng.
I get about 130 dollars a month for food. thats all the money we get though. We donr really have to pay for anything else. Thank you for the recipes anything else easy would be very appreciated. Im sure they have the same things here just called something different.
If you are going to send me anything like in a package make sure to label it no matter what it is, call it Missionary Supplies. It will save us money, and no one wil steal it. I would really like some candy, good american candy. The goog thing is there is Mountain Dew here so I will live.
Well we had a baptism yesterday. A mother and her son. It was eally great. I dont think i can count it though because i only helped teach one lesson, if that makes any sense.
Well I love you thanks for everything
Ben
I get about 130 dollars a month for food. thats all the money we get though. We donr really have to pay for anything else. Thank you for the recipes anything else easy would be very appreciated. Im sure they have the same things here just called something different.
If you are going to send me anything like in a package make sure to label it no matter what it is, call it Missionary Supplies. It will save us money, and no one wil steal it. I would really like some candy, good american candy. The goog thing is there is Mountain Dew here so I will live.
Well we had a baptism yesterday. A mother and her son. It was eally great. I dont think i can count it though because i only helped teach one lesson, if that makes any sense.
Well I love you thanks for everything
Ben
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