Week 74: New Responsibilities keep them on their toes

Hello Friends and Family,

This week has been great! Elder Spencer and I are having a great time. It's always nice getting a companion that you already know and don't need to adjust too. We had a fun week of finding new flats, running to Kwa-Thema to take care of some flat stuff, and tracting. 

On Friday we were thrown a curve ball by President Leavitt. We received a phone call early in the morning telling us he needed us to find a flat for missionaries in Potchefstroom within a week. The typical process of finding and obtaining a flat is usually 3-4 weeks. So we ran over to the office and began searching and making phone calls. By 11 am, before district council and our weekly staff meeting, we had 3 flat viewings set up for that day. This new role really keeps you on your toes.

We spent the most of our proselyting time tracting due to the lack of appointments and all of our potential appointments falling through. I have gained a deep love for tracting. The Lord definitely tests your patience through tracting, especially in this area. It always brings a deep feeling of sadness when others reject our message without even knowing it. They have no idea what they are missing out on. 

The work of Salvation is what God finds joy in (Moses 1:39). Shouldn't we also? How can we each participate in this wonderful work of Salvation? I invite each of you to evaluate the efforts you have been making to participate in this wonderful and essential work. If you are lacking in your efforts please hop on and join in the work of the Lord. If you are doing well, do better. We can all improve. Our Savior lives. He died for each of us and his gospel has been restored to the earth.

Love, Elder Rash

Saying goodbye to Elder Truman

Tracting in his new area

More gates....

Enjoying their time tracting

Finding a piece of home

Well deserved treat after tracting

More walls while tracting....

Can't even get CLOSE to this house while tracting...

Does this look familiar?

LOVE THIS!!!!

The walls are CRAZY around the houses!

What a view....but more gates....

Their kitchen BEFORE mom made a comment about the mess.....

Their kitchen AFTER mom made a comment about the mess....

P-day down time at the office

This big field is behind the mission office

Practicing before they hit the Golf Course for their next P-day

Mission Office transportation

 

Week 73: FLORIDA.....South Africa....Here he comes!

Hello Friends and Family,

Yes as many of you know I have many close ties with Florida.  My father served his mission there.  And my cousin is currently serving there.  I myself will be heading to Florida to potentially finish my mission there.  That is, Florida in South Africa of course! 

Yes I am being transferred.  My long but quick 7 months in Rynfield and Northmead has come to an end.  I am being transferred to Florida (an area near Johannesburg).  My new companion will be the one and only Elder Spencer, the white African (his dad is from Colorado and his mom is from Zimbabwe)! You may recognize him. We were in the same district back in the Kwa-Thema days. We are going to have a blast!!! 

These last 7 months have definitely prepared me for what is ahead.  I'm grateful for all of the experiences, privileges, and responsibilities the Lord has entrusted me with.  My new area is nothing but town.  I will be tested, but I am grateful for the opportunity to grow.  "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37

The church is true. I testify that we are led by a living prophet in these last days.

Love, Elder Rash

note from mom:  Of course, Devon had to send me in a panic when I read the title of his e-mail!  He was so serious about heading to FLORIDA!  He finally caved and said that there is a Florida in South Africa.  It is where the Mission Office is....which is where he will be spending a lot of his time.  With this transfer, he has been released as a Zone Leader, and called to serve as an office missionary.  He will be working closely with the AP's (Assistant to the President) and the Senior Couple Missionaries.  He is excited for this new assignment and is looking forward to the challenges it will provide.  He will still have an area to serve in, but probably won't have as much time to walk the area and find new friends interested in hearing about the Gospel.  They will rely heavily on the members to help find those who are ready to hear the message.  He left yesterday for the office and already had a busy evening.  Tomorrow morning, will be taking missionaries to and fro bright and early!  He knows he has a lot to learn, but he is willing to work hard and give it his all!  Chris and I are so proud of Devon and the trust, not only the mission president has in him, but also, the Lord.

If you haven't e-mailed him in a while, I'm sure he would LOVE to hear from you!

On splits with Elder Keya saying goodbye to friends

Sipho doesn't want Devon to leave



 

Campbell Family

Duplessis Family

Glenis and Gibson

Elder Spencer (on the end at the left) is Elder Rash's new companion

Jeanette and Family

Lethunya Family

McJoe

Devon's friend Sipho (I think he likes Devon...oh my heart!)

Nqobile and his family

Phango Family

Shaeasby Family

Solomon Family

Vuyo

 

Week 72: Chiskops and exchanges

Hello Friends and Family,

This week has been great. The highlight was definitely the baptism of Jeanett! I've seen so much change happen in her and in her life. After her baptism I asked her how she was feeling and she just said "Amazing!".   I've come to realize how amazing and joyful repentant change is. 

On Wednesday I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Julander (Panguetch, Utah) in his area. We had a great time and were able to learn a lot from each other. Elder Julander is an amazing missionary! We also got to go around rocking our chiskops (buzz cuts).

Thursday was Elder Truman's birthday.   In the morning I was able to smoke some ribs for his birthday while we did our planning. They didn't turn out as great as they have in the past but not too shabby given the conditions and time that I had AND seeing how we don't have much time as a missionary. We also went out for a steak dinner for his birthday. Thanks momma Truman! 

Friday night we decided to stop by our Ward Mission Leaders house to see if he was back from Zimbabwe yet. When we pulled up, his sister was outside talking to some guys in a truck. As I approached her I realized she was crying and that something wasn't right. These two men in the truck start speaking to me and told me we needed to stay away from her because she was a thief and very dangerous. They eventually drove off and my companion and I stayed there to talk to and calm her. She explained all that had happened and the accusations these men had made. Long story short we made an appointment to come visit her the next day. We discovered that she wasn't a thief and that it was either a miscommunication or a set up. The next day when we visited her she surprised us by asking "How long would it take for me to be baptized?"  I learned a few things from this experience; 1) never take someone else's word about someone else.  Find out for yourself.  2) being there for others in times of need and being willing to listen to them opens many doors to share the gospel.

Saturday, I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Dupaix (West Valley, Utah) in his area. We had a great time biking. The challenge was preventing my head from getting burnt. We had some powerful lessons and taught well together. Elder Dupaix is going to do some amazing things on mission.

Sunday was amazing as usual.  In Northmead ward, the speakers talked about service.  I realized how important service is and how much better I need to get at serving others.  That day we were able to help out an older gentleman, Joel(about 50 years old), who was working on his car because it was overheating.  He is the boyfriend of a member and she really wants him to be baptized so she can marry him.  After helping and talking with him for about an hour we asked if we could come visit him.  He was more than willing to meet with us but he said he had a few questions that missionaries in the past haven't been able to answer.  His two main questions were about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.  His questions were sincere and we could tell he was just a bit confused on their actual role.  We will visit him this week.  We are super excited.

I love you all. Thank you for all the prayers and emails.

Love, Elder Rash

note from mom:  Devon has been in his area for over 6 months (the longest he has ever served in one area).  Transfers are next Tuesday, and he feels strongly that he will be leaving.  He has mixed feelings about it, but is ready for any challenge.  Also, the Christmas package that I PRAYED would make it to him before Christmas and was told that it didn't; ACTUALLY arrived to the mission home BEFORE Christmas, but he didn't receive it until Zone Conference two weeks after Christmas.  He still loved everything he got, especially his new Davis Pool Service hat.  Hoping his Papa will get some business from his advertising! hahaha

Elder Rash with an unnamed man

Handsome Elder Rash with same unnamed man

Before the buzz cuts

The remnants of the buzz cuts

Zone Buzz Cuts

Elder Julander and Elder Rash on exchanges

Preparing ribs for Elder Truman's Birthday

Cooking over coals is much different than using a smoker

Elder Rash monitoring the ribs progress with his new Davis Pool Service hat...that he LOVES

Finished product!

Exchanges with Elder Dupaix

Cutting the grass with scissors

Service is never easy

Cute little girl he played with while her mother had a lesson

Best part of his week....Baptism of Jeanett!

Week 71: 2018 is over...Don't look back and let's move forward

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy New Years!

As this new year begins many will set New Year resolutions. In the past I have set New Year resolutions myself. As my companion and I talked about them at the close of 2018 we realized many set 5 at the beginning of the year but by this time have already broken 4. Elder Truman and I began discussing the significance of a new year. The scripture Luke 17:32 came to mind. "Remember Lot's wife". For those who don't know the story of Lot's wife here is a brief explanation.  Lot and his family were commanded to flee Sodom and Gomorrah and to look not behind them.  As the Lord was destroying Sodom and Gomorrah Lot's wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.  It is not so much the fact that she looked back but that she looked back with longing.   As we begin a new year, how can we each learn from Lot's wife's experience?

With the start of 2019 we each have an opportunity to change and to not look back.  Elder Holland said  "The past is to be learned from but not lived in."  As we each learn from our mistakes of 2018 but not live in them we will each press forward.  Faith is for the future. We must have faith that Heavenly Father has better things in store for us in the future. If we are looking back at 2018 with longing, desiring the worldly appetites that we enjoyed then, then our progress will be halted just as Lot's wife. May we each evaluate the life we lived in 2018 and resolve to change in 2019. 

This week has been great! It started off with us bringing in the New Year and many people in our complex firing off fireworks. Many of which were default. Never trust South African fireworks.

On Wednesday we had MLC and had a wonderful experience being able to take part in setting new goals for the year of 2019. After confirming it with the Lord through prayer, we set the goal of 775 confirmations in the year of 2019.

On Friday we had Zone Conference. We had a great opportunity to train on teaching to people's needs and involving members in the work of salvation. Later that day everyone went outside for a demonstration which involved jumping over a rope which progressively got higher and higher. Because I had already done the demonstration in MLC I had not planned on participating in it. Another factor to me not wanting to participate in it was the fact that I had tight pants on. I verbally said 4 times "if I go I'm going to rip my pants". Elder Spencer and Erickson continued to pressure me into it until I cracked. I chose to try and jump over the rope at its highest height. The Lord humbled me and taught me a lesson. Let's just say I contributed to making it a memorable zone conference lol. My pants ripped from the middle of the zipper to halfway down the crotch. The rest of zone conference I wore my suit coat wrapped around my waist. It's a blessing we have no Sister missionaries in our mission. 

Thabiso is doing amazing. Yesterday he expressed to us about his struggles with forgiving others. We were able to bring a member with us that was able to relate to him very well and give him advice that both Elder Truman and I would have never been able to give. Members play a huge role in the work of salvation. We then had a lesson about the Word of Wisdom and committed him and his girlfriend (Kim) to live it. They both have some struggles with the Word of Wisdom but they both are making plans to begin living it. Thabiso has been sober for almost 2 months and he is the happiest he has ever been. We invited him to be baptized on February 24th. His reaction brought a smile to our faces. And I quote " That's possible!? I was actually wondering if I could be baptized." We explained that it could even be sooner than that if he is prepared before the 24th. His response "I'm going to do everything I can to be prepared before the 24th!" Thabiso, like I said before, is amazing. I've never seen someone change their lives around the way he has. He told us that he has tried many church's but none have been able to help him the way the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ have been able to.

The Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ are on the earth once more. My testimony of that has been solidified as I have seen it change the lives of others. 

Love,

Elder Rash

These little boys look forward to Elder Rash's visit (Sheashy family)

Thabiso's son's (Daniel and Dominic)

Elder Davey, Elder Bindrup, Elder Rash, and Elder Neeley

HAPPY NEW YEAR with Elder Stoddard

Elder Truman and Elder Rash heading to a lesson with a member