Week 39: Basketball in Africa leads to investigators

Another great week in Phokeng! Elder Bindrup and I are seeing a lot of success and miracles here in Phokeng.

Last week we met a Sis. named Margaret and her husband Edward. They are super interested in the gospel. Margaret has been to church twice now. Edward hasn't been able to yet because of work. But we're able to put them on date for baptism this week for July 15th. We are excited to see them progress.

The Lord has been blessing us with many people to teach. We had 12 new investigators this week. Many of which are solid investigators. I was able to use one of my talents in finding one of these new investigators. So a little bit of background. Here in Phokeng people love to play basketball, FINALLY!  There is actually some kind of NBA program this side. So Elder Bindrup have been able to play quite a bit of basketball lately. So earlier this week we went to Tshepo's (a member who comes with us basically everyday) school to pick him up to come teaching with us. When we arrived he and many other people were playing basketball. So Elder Bindrup and I challenged them to a game of 3 on 3. Elder Bindrup, Tshepo, and I versus these other 3. They accepted but the stipulations were if we won they had to come to church and if they won we had to come watch their basketball game this Saturday. Let's just say we won and one of them came to church. His name is Thabiso. As we taught him the restoration and he understood really well. And had a few really great questions. We also invited him to baptism and he accepted. We'll be putting him on date this week. We will also be going to his basketball game on Saturday anyways lol. The first real game of basketball I have watched in quite some time. Also I discovered from this experience that I am out of shape and very rusty. 

To conclude I'll share with you one other miracle Elder Bindrup and I experienced. When we first arrived here in Phokeng we went through the area book contacting many former investigators, many of which were from 2-4 years ago. Last week we had an appointment scheduled with one of them named Precious. The day before our appointment we received an sms stating to not come tomorrow and that she would call us when she wanted us to. Usually that means they are not interested. So Elder Bindrup and I didn't think anything of it. On Sunday we received a phone call from Precious stating she wanted us to come visit her. We had no one to visit at that time so we asked if we could come right then. She said we could. It turned out we were literally around the corner from her house. As we met with her she mentioned how she had a problem with Joseph Smith and how he saw God and Jesus Christ. She told us how after a couple weeks she told the missionaries to stop coming. This was two years ago. She then proceeded to tell us how she had been thinking about it a lot and felt like it could be true and that she was ready to be baptized. We taught her about how God answers prayers through the Holy Ghost and how we can recognize these answers. After sharing that with her she shared with us many experiences she had had with the spirit and how she just didn't realize that was her answer but now she recognizes that that was her answer. It was a powerful experience and the spirit was very strong. We invited her to baptism. After we concluded she said something very powerful. She said how after she is baptized she wants to go to the temple. She had heard many members of the church mention the temple and she has already set it as her goal after baptism. We also discovered that she had come and visited the church once again on Mother's Day, the Sunday before Elder Bindrup and I arrived. 

I have a testimony that this work is truly led and guided by the Lord. I have felt the spirit so strong this week in my service. Especially as I have testified of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that as we live worthy of the spirit, the lord pours it upon us in great abundance. God is our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ is our Savior and He lives, and the Holy Ghost is the comforter. And this is the work of Angels.

Love, Elder Rash

Devon's dad sent him an e-mail full of questions.  These are his responses:

1. Tell us all about Elder Bindrup?

             Elder Bindrup is athletic. He swam in high school. He even made it to nationals. So he should hopefully  get me back in shape. He is part South Korean. He loves spicy things just like me. We have quite a bit in common.

2. Tell us more about Phokeng?

            Well Phokeng is a wealthy village. Almost everyone that lives in Phokeng works at one of the many platinum mines that surround the area. You find very big houses but also tin shacks in phokeng. There   are fruit trees everywhere. Almost every house has mango, orange, clementine, and avocado trees. And sometimes people have more than that in their yard. So we literally always have oranges. Or are always eating them during the day. There are a lot of dirt and rocky roads. There are some paved roads but they are usually dirt. It is very hilly as well.

3. How has the work gone so far?

 The work is going really well so far. We have seen the lord blessing us with people to teach and people who are prepared. We are working really hard and strengthening the relationship and trust with the branch.

4. How long has it been since missionaries were there?

 They had been sharing missionaries with Rustenburg for about 5 months 

5. Why did they close it down?

 They closed it down due to the low number of missionaries that we had in our mission. So what Pres. Leavitt had to do was put one set of missionaries out here who covered Phokeng as well as Rustenburg (a town about 25 minutes away). It was hard for the missionaries to cover both areas do to the distance between the two. The missionaries kind of neglected Phokeng and spent little time there.

6. Do you have new investigators lined up now?

 We have many new investigators lined up. We had about 12 this week and have many more scheduled for this coming week.

7. I was looking at Phokeng on google earth and it looked like there were like 4 or 5 other villages all around Phokeng. Does your area cover that entire area?

Yup! Our area covers all the way up to the National park. However since these other villages are pretty far from the chapel we don't really go there unless we have a referral that is out there. This week we will be going to a village that is out by Sun City (the tourist town next to the national park) to teach a Potential Investigator. So that will be fun. To be able to see more of our area. It's about a 30 min drive to there.

8. I saw where the church is next to the stadium on Google earth. Why do you guys not live in Phokeng?

 We don't live in Phokeng because there aren't really any safe/secure flats in Phokeng. The area presidency is really working on getting all missionaries either living in their areas or as close as possible. So it's a work in progress. There may come a time that missionaries are living in Phokeng. But they are really wanting to make sure that wherever we stay it is safe and secure.

9. How is it being a district leader now? Have you been on splits with the other companions?

 I definitely feel like a district leader now. The load a have is a lot more. Im having to train and correct missionaries more now. Since before my stewardship was just overthe Zone Leaders lol. We are going on exchanges tomorrow actually. i was waiting till Elder bindrup and I got on our feet in our area before I scheduled an exchange with the other missionaries. But im excited. I definitely enjoy being a district leader in this district more.

10. Tell us about what you have done for the first couple of weeks in the new area?

            We have had members show us around to other members homes, less-actives homes, and previous investigators. We have gone through the area book contacting former investigators, and we have done a lot of finding (contacting and tracting)

He is loving all the low mountains...reminds him of home

Their personal guide/GPS, Tshepo

Night lights in Rustenburg

The crazy things you see in Africa

Week 38: Working hard to fill our planner in Phokeng

Hello friends and family!

Man I have so much to tell you. Many things happened this week. To start off, I got a phone call from the missionaries serving in Protea Glen, my first area. They informed me that a young women named Sihle who Elder Thompson and I started teaching was going to be baptized on Sunday! You may remember from one of my old emails but Elder Thompson and I found a former investigator teaching record for a lady named Rose. We ended up going and visiting her family. One of the family members was a daughter named Sihle. We taught them about 2 times before I went back home. When I returned back to the mission I heard that they had continued to teach her and she had come to church but that was it. She did not feel like baptism was right at the time. But yesterday, a year and a half since we first met her and at least 6 years since she first met missionaries, she was baptized. It was such an amazing thing to hear. 

Also this week I met my new companion! His name is Elder Bindrup. He is from Layton, Utah. We both have so much in common. Especially since we are both from America. That was a relief. He is an awesome missionary! He is 19 years old. I am currently the oldest in age and mission age in our district which is quite crazy.  We are both working really hard here in Phokeng. Speaking of Phokeng, It is BEAUTIFUL here! Mountains everywhere. We drive through the mountains to get to our area and then our area is with some mountains. There are houses and shacks on the sides of mountains that we drive up. It is pretty amazing. It reminds me a lot of home. The members here are pretty amazing. They have been praying for many months now for their own missionaries here in Phokeng. Every member we talked to was ecstatic to hear they have their own missionaries. The work has been slow here in Phokeng for some time now but there is tons of potential and Elder Bindrup and I are super excited to go out and find it.

One of the greatest parts about serving in a village is that there are orange and mango trees everywhere! Everyone has them in their yards. So as we are walking down the road we can just grab an orange for a quick snack. Unfortunately, it isn't mango season. Not until December.

We have an awesome member named Tshepo who comes out with us almost every day and has been showing us around. No one really uses address's here so that has been a challenge for us when it comes to finding people so the members have been a huge help. I was stressing pretty bad the first 2 days here in Phokeng. Just the responsibility of training and opening an area was getting to me. But after the success Elder Bindrup and I have had the past few days that stress has gone away a lot. I've always been use to having a full planner filled with lessons to teach but this whole week our planners have been blank. However, we have a lot of lessons scheduled for the coming week. It is going to be lit. Elder Bindrup and I have a motto for these next couple months. "Balls to the wall!" We are going to go all out and really move the work along here in Phokeng.

I love you all. I am doing fantastic. Talk to you next week

Love, Elder Rash 

Last goodbyes in Kwa-Thema

Look at this baby....loves Devon name tag!

....still wants it!

FINALLY looks at the camera! hahaha

Goodbye's with his Zone

I think they are going to miss him!

Transfer Day.  Elder Powell (heading home) and Elder Rash

Elder Rash and his new companion Elder Bindrup

Elder Rash and Elder Reynolds

Heading to his new area and the drive reminded him of the drive to Payson back home

New roomie, Elder Nelley

Make shift go cart...these kids are GENIUS  

Elder Bindrup enjoying the go cart

Elder Rash is lovin the puppy

Three men and two puppies

Meeting Elder Bindrup from Layton, Utah

Ready to start their training and get to work in Phokeng

Week 37: Saying Good-bye to Kwa-Thema

Hello Friends and Family and Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and soon to be mothers out there!

This week was good and full of changes. I found out that I will be having another son! I will be transferred to a village called Phokeng in the Northwest province. I will be opening the area and training. I am super excited for this new adventure and opportunity. I have learned a lot while serving here in Kwa-Thema and I have learned a lot while training Elder Nielsen. I'm excited to go and apply these things with my 2nd born.

On Sunday, Mother's Day, I was asked by our bishop to speak in church on Mother's and to bear my final testimony. It was an emotional day. Kwa-Thema has become my home away from home. As I expressed that I would be leaving I saw many facial expressions change. I have come to love the people here in Kwa-Thema, especially the members. I have countless mothers and fathers here in Kwa-Thema. Many of them have referred to me as their son. Although it is sad to leave all of these wonderful members, I know that the friendships we have created will last forever. I have accomplished all that I was called to do in Kwa-Thema.

Also on Sunday we witnessed the baptism of Nkosana. The spirit was very strong at his baptism. His friend Bongane was able to baptize him which was an awesome experience. He has played a huge role in Nkosana's conversion.

I am so grateful for this gospel and for a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of each and every one of us. I'm grateful for my mother who has always been there for me. Just like the 2,000 stripling warriors said "We do not doubt our mothers knew it" Alma 46:48. In my life I may have doubted my mother but it definitely came back to bite me in the butt. Looking back I shouldn't have doubted my mother. Now I will take the counsel of the 2,000 stripling warriors. It is true. The Book of Mormon is true. The Church is true.

Love, Elder Rash

note from mom:  Our Mother's Day Skype was wonderful!  We had 1 hour to talk, laugh and cry with our boy!  He shared his testimony and his love for the people he has served thus far on his mission.  He will be leaving Kwa-Thema this Tuesday and is looking forward to this new adventure!

Signs mean nothing apparently

Cutest baby

Members from the ward that Elder Rash will miss horribly

Elder Rash and Sihle

Baptism of Nkosana

Sisters of the ward that love him like a son

His posse

Devon saying goodbye to Sthembiso who will be baptized after Devon is gone

Bishop's family and where Devon skyped our family

Best Mother's Day present....whole family together!

Week 36: Enjoying every minute in Kwa-Thema

Hello Friends and Family,

This week has been good! We were able to have more success in finding quality new investigators.

Elder Nielsen and I also went on splits with some members so we could cover all of the appointments we had. Many appointments fell through but that just gave us an opportunity to do more finding. It was a really good time and opportunity for Elder Nielsen and I to build relationships with some of the members.

Nkosana passed his baptismal interview so he will be baptized this coming Sunday. Sthembiso was scheduled to be baptized this Sunday as well but he has had some medical problems that he has been sorting out so his baptism will be pushed a couple weeks. This is my first real experiences of having to leave an area right as those that you have taught and have come to love are going to be baptized.

Some other progressing investigators are 3 young men. One's name is Sihle. He is 16 and a friend of Phumi a recent convert when I first got here. He is progressing really well and is at church every week and goes to seminary every week. He will be baptized May 27th. Also there is Sibusiso M. (13) who is the grandson of Bro. Fannie who was recently baptized as well. He is powerful as well. He is at church almost every week. He really enjoys the gospel and meeting with us. He will be baptized on May 27th as well. Then there is a young man named Minenhle who is 14 years old. Man he is powerful as well. We met him when he came to church because he was invited by a friend and we realized he wasn't a member. We have been teaching him and his mom. His mom is super friendly but just not as interested. She supports Minenhle 100%. There is a policy that if you are under 16 years old and you don't have any parents who are members to support you then you have to come to church for 6 months before you can be baptized. Luckily he has been coming to church since January. So he is on date to be baptized on June 3rd. He is very powerful as well. He always has great questions and keeps all of the commitments we extend. An example of one question he had, "Does God have a wife?" Elder Nielsen and I just looked at each other like, "did a 14 year old boy just ask that deep of a question?" It has been great though. These 3 are probably the most progressing and will for sure be baptized on their scheduled date.

Also this week Elder Cox and I had the opportunity to go on exchanges. It was tons of fun. I was able to learn a lot of great things from him. We also enjoyed being able to catch up on the 9 months we missed serving together.

It is a bitter sweet moment as my time here in Kwa-Thema comes to a close. Transfers are next Tuesday.  I will miss the people and the ward members, but I know that I have met and blessed the lives of those here in Kwa-Thema.

This gospel is true. As we make it part of our lives and not just a routine that is when we will find true happiness. I love you all and will talk to you on Sunday! :)

Love, Elder Rash

Look at those smiling faces!