Week 52: Teach people, not lessons

This week was a pretty busy week. On Tuesday Elder Siale and I did a lot of finding/tracting. We were able to find a lot of new people to teach. We had a really powerful experience with a man named Mfundo. Towards the end of our tracting, Elder Siale and I decided to knock one more house. After knocking, a 25ish young man came to the door. My first impression of him was, he seems standoffish and that he doesnt want us here. After talking to him for a few minutes he invited us in. As we started the lesson Elder Siale and I started talking to him about God and his beliefs and feelings about God. He kept silent for a few seconds, looked at the ground, and tears began to fill his eyes. Mfundo proceeded to tell us how he prays constantly but he feels his prayers aren't answered and that God isn't there. The spirit filled the room as Elder Siale and I were able to bear our testimonies to him. We somehow got to the Plan of Salvation/Atonement and were able to share just a little with him about it. At the end of our discussion you could tell there was something completely different about Mfundo. There was a light or happiness that was now present in him. After the lesson Mfundo shared something with us that confirmed that Heavenly Father was present in this entire encounter. He mentioned how he usually chases away people like us who come around sharing stuff. He told us how he felt something tell him to let us in. I know that Heavenly Fathers hand was present in helping us find Mfundo. There is a special spirit that is present in lessons when you teach people and not lessons. 

On Wednesday we had interviews with President Leavitt. The interviews for our zone were conducted at our flat. It unfortunately took up almost our entire day but we managed. I love interviews, as most missionaries do. President Leavitt is one of the most loving and inspired men I know. I was able to receive a lot of great guidance and counsel from him.
On Friday we conducted an exchange. I was in our area with Elder Nalesoni who is from Australia/Tonga. He is a great missionary, very hard working. We had a great time tracting all day in Northmead (town). We knocked a lot of gates and were actually able to talk to a lot of people. We were able to have many good conversations with people that ended with them saying they have their own church but thank you. However, in the end we were able to get 3 potential investigators and we had a great time.
On Saturday we conducted another exchange. I was in our area once again but with Elder Sande from Uganda. We had a great time.
Sunday was stake conference. Afterwards we went to the Stake Presidents home for lunch with him and his entire family. Let's just say their family reminds me a lot of mine. I can see my family being like theirs in 5 years or so. President Holmes proceeded to tell us if we learned anything from Stake Conference he hopes that it was that you should marry well lol. That was partially the message from his talk.
Later that evening Elder Siale and I did some more tracting in Northmead. This was my first experience knocking gates in the dark at night. I always had the attitude of nothing will come from tracting at night, all you will do is make people unhappy. Let's just say my attitude is changing. During this time of tracting I had a feeling I've never had before. We knocked one gate and an older gentleman came out. As we proceeded to share with him he stopped us and told us we were wasting our time. He then began to mock me and my American accent. Not too long ago I would have reacted with some sarcastic comment or walked away with a "screw you" kind of attitude. This time however it was easy for me to not be phased by it. When we got back in the car and drove home I just couldn't stop thinking about it. The entire drive I had a feeling of disappointment for him. When we pulled into the drive way I just sat there and continued to think about it. Thoughts of I want to be mad about it and talk trash about him came but the feelings that continued to come instead was just sadness because of what he just missed out on. This is something I have never felt before in my life. 
I know this gospel is true. I know that this life is a time for us to change. A time to put off the natural man. I know that the gospel is the tool for us to do that. I know that Charity is the pure love of Christ and that as we constantly strive to have it bestowed upon us, Heavenly Father will do so. I know that it is a gradual progression. I have seen how Heavenly Father will give us little tastes of what Charity feels like in our quest to have it bestowed upon us. This gospel is what brings pure joy. I'm grateful I have the privilege of declaring it unto the people of South Africa. However, we all have the privilege and obligation to share it with those around us. They need it. We have it. I think you can figure out the rest as to how they will get it.
Love Elder Rash 
Note from mom:  No pictures from Devon this week.  I told him it better not happen again! hehehe