Week 7

Happy monday! That's great to hear that you had a great week. Well, this week was transfer week and nobody from the springs zone got transferred, but we added one person to the zone. A couple weeks ago Elder Burlaka, from Ukraine, finished mission and went home so there was a trio companionship. The new elder is named Elder Davis, from Utah. he is a huge Samoan and he's pretty relaxed. So yeah for our zone it was a chill transfer but for everyone else it was hectic. There was a lot of people swapped around. 

    As for our bikes this week, We had no problems with them!! Elder Bete got a new bike and it seems like good luck because we didn't even have a flat tire this week. Truly a miracle! As for the week, it was a super good week. I am so happy to be here. It's hard to explain, but up to this point I haven't felt quite like myself. Maybe it was that I was adjusting to life here, or not quite comfortable with the ward and members yet, but I feel like myself now! I just feel great and happy. We were able to go to the temple on Saturday with the ward and the branch. We had to take a taxi there which was super sketch. In the taxi we sat next to two young women. One was named Lonwabo and it was her first time going to the temple. she was really excited and was asking about baptisms for the dead! she also talked a lot about Joseph Smith. She said that she has visited a lot of churches. Her uncle is a pastor and they have a family church. She visited church with her friend about 5 months back and had a great feeling. she described that she had a feeling that as she continued to go to this church great things will come forth. Anyways, we got to the temple and we go to enter and Bishop pulls her to the side and explains she cannot enter yet. Come to find out... she hasn't even been baptized yet! what a surprise to us! So she stayed outside and got to explore the temple grounds and ride in the golf cart. She says she had a great experience. 

    We went to teach her yesterday and it went great. She basically knew everything about the restoration and a lot about Jesus Christ. Come to find out we actually had an appointment scheduled with her mom for next week! haha what are the odds of that? But the temple was so special, I love the temple so much. I just felt so happy when we were there. The Joburg temple is pretty small, but it is the only temple in South Africa so it is very busy. 

On Sunday our mission president came to our ward for sacrament meeting and to do some baptismal interviews. It was great to see him, he is always happy and is always teaching us new things. One lesson I learned this week was to make sure that people understand what we teach. Many speak English here but do not understand big words, like restoration. this leads to a lot of confusion if we do not clarify some of these words. I want to end by talking a little bit about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. being a member born into the Church is such a great opportunity, but can sometimes make us take things for granted. There are SO MANY people that just have a hole in their heart and don't know where to go to fill it. For example, The branch President visited over 20 churches trying to find one that filled this whole, but none felt right to him. So one day he visited our church, and said he knew this was the one. It brought him so much happiness and joy. His questions were answered and he wanted his family to have this joy. now, 5 years after joining he is a Branch President. Think about this. If you didn't know about the gospel how would you feel? some might say, I'm fine without it if I have money.. But, there is some things that money can't cover. I testify of the power this gospel has in changing lives. I could go on forever about people I have met that have had their lives changed from knowing the gospel. I know how much joy it brings my heart. I love it so much and am so grateful for it and Jesus Christ, for making God's plan possible.  Hope everyone will look for Gods' hand in their lives and learn to appreciate his love more, As i am still striving to do!

Love, Elder High