December 18, 2017

Sanbonani

     MERRY CHRISTMAS! It's crazy to think that it's already Christmas time and that this is my last Christmas on my mission! I'm excited to see everyone and to talk to you guys! I hope you guys have an awesome week!

     This week was a great one and a lot better than last week haha. We were really busy which really is the best! We have some new investigators Sam and Sister Shange. They live right next to each other in a 1 room place so we meet with them together. Sam is probably 60 and Sis Shange 45. Sam just got out of jail hahah but he's so eager to change his life! They're great people and are so patient with us even though we don't speak full Zulu. They don't speak very good English so I had to try my best to teach in Zulu, which was kinda cool.. but I'm not too familiar with the Zulu gospel words haha. We were able to meet with Sihle this week and help him develop a plan to stop smoking weed and drinking. It's crazy that some 20 year old boys can be helping an adult with these things but there's one thing I really have learned on my mission. It's not about our will power, it's about HIS power. We can't do it on our own! But as we rely on the Savior and His atonement we can do things that we never thought we could as He strengthens us, all we have to do is our part!

     Another cool thing that happened was as we went to teach Colleen the Law of Chastity, before we started the lesson she was like guys I just have a question. Me and Msizi are living together and aren't married, that's not right, right? hahah it was such a cool opportunity to talk with her about the LOC and look for solutions with her. She wants to marry her boyfriend, but he's such a joker. He just like smokes weed and drinks and chills with the boys all day long. It's sad but I guess it's her decision.. So she might marry him soon!

     We had our mission Christmas party and branch Christmas parties this week too so that was really fun! Xolani was sick, but he sent his two nieces who are like 11 and 8 by themselves!! Colleen bore her testimony about the BOM hahah it was like the best day ever! I also have grown so much in my testimony of the Book of Mormon as I've read it everyday this past few months. I know without a doubt it's true. I'm so thankful for it in my life and it's true that as we read it something changes in us and we come to know that God is real and he loves us. He's there to answer our questions and help us through our trials. I'm so thankful for the experiences I've had on my mission that have helped me to just trust in God.

     Also I challenge you guys to think about all that God has given us. All that Christ has done for YOU. And to think about maybe 1 or 2 things you could give him as a gift this year. I love you all and hope you have the best Christmas! “See” you in 7 days!!

     Love –

     Elder Thompson