week 6: lots of fun, and not fun

We have our water back on luckily! That is quite the blessing. So our car; well it just sucks. We got it back Friday, it broke again Saturday. We had to walk for hours to get back. We took it in today, and they said they know what it is now. Stupid. Its only cost about 10k rand to get the flipping thing fixed!

 

Not sure what to write... uhm.

We have 4 people on date, 3 will almost 100% get baptized next month. I finally realized why I've been sad, we are working so flipping hard and we don't really seem to be making a difference. 90% of the people here are too uneducated to understand what we are saying, even the members were shocked this last Sunday to find on that Jesus was the one who created the earth. It's extremely frustrating. One day this week we literally had to walk 3 hours to get from one appointment to another. Our area is so big that you can drive two hours and still be in it. Our area goes almost to the border with Zimbabwe apparently, there is just no reason to go up there. No one would come to church. However we had one amazing experience this week that made everything worth it. James Teffo, one of our investigators, is golden. He is amazing at soccer and is going pro this month actually. He only has to do one more thing I think to be on the Kaiser Chiefs. Anyways in Elders quorum he raised his hand and said that he knew the church was true, that what we were teaching him is true, and he has already read of all of 1 Nephi in a week since we gave him the Book of Mormon. In all honesty I almost cried. It was so awesome. 

 

I had a spiritual thought, but I forgot the paper at home. Sorry, I know I suck. 

Through some wheeling and dealing I have acquired some hand carved statues. A wildebeest, lion, 3 monkeys, and a hmm... well woman thing that is quite scary to be honest. 

 

We have been walking and walking and walking and walking and walking and walking and walking. I'm very tired of it. And every time we walk it's either blistering heat or a flipping monsoon. Apparently walking in the rain makes your future wife more beautiful. I must be marrying, well... honestly I don't think anyone could be beautiful enough to make up for all this rain and lightning. We were walking the other day, and as we walked by a transformer exploded, that was terrible. So loud. 

 

The highlight of my week was last night, I was using the toilet when all of a sudden something was crawling along the ground. It was a baby albino lizard! I played with it for a while before letting it go outside. It was about half the size of my pinkie. It was great, I'll upload a picture. Well flip, my camera card is not working. Sometimes I wonder why nothing ever goes right, then I remember I'm in Africa. Anyways, it was a really cute lizard, and I miss it.

 

Yesterday while on our 15 kilo trek, a armed escort of soccer players drove by us. It was really cool, they had all sorts of guns and stuff. I really miss my guns. I guess they need to be protected because they are millionaires. The average wage here is 70 cents an hour apparently. They practice in Seshego and then play in Polokwane. The city is already preparing for the world cup in June. 

 

Two great songs:
In Christ by Owl City

Hello by Book Of Mormon Musical (don't listen to the others, they are terrible, well mostly.)

Music seems to be fairly relaxed here on my mission. I like it. A lot. It always makes me feel better when I'm considering hitting my head on the desk so that I don't have to walk anymore. :)

 

The best part is that we get fresh lemons, limes, and mangoes as much as we want. They grow year around and I really like that. 

Tuesday we had interviews with President Omer. He is awesome! I'm probably going to cry when he leaves in June, he is such a great man. He said that he can tell I'm going to be a "powerhouse" missionary. Woo! I guess haha. Apparently I'm doing pretty darn good in his eyes.

I've realized that probably the best thing I have learned so far is to never give up. Sure I'm bitter about it afterwards, but when we are in the area I manage to just keep going and going and going. I really don't mind it until I get home and my feet and back are killing me. 

 

It's hard, but for some strange reason I love it and can't really imagine ever going home. The scriptures are true when they talk about how great your joy when you are bringing souls unto Christ. 

 

Sorry for the negative email, a taxi almost ran me over on the way here so I'm still a bit upset about that.

 

Ive been told that no one will mug me because I am "huge." I've never seen a black person my size or bigger. They are a very small folk. Its funny, well, and scary - at night people walk around with bricks or tire irons so they can protect themselves if they get jumped. Okay, there is nothing and I mean nothing in this world more terrifying than an Albino prostitute. They are terrible, and should be kept in... well... I don't know but removed from this area at least. 

 

It's interesting, if I wanted to I could be a "prophet" and make tons of money. The people here just believe and believe all these "prophets" on TV. You should look up TV Joshua. He is a "prophet" if I've ever seen one ;)
 

Though I complained earlier life is great, and I love it here. Having lots of fun, and not fun. The work is progressing even if it is quite slow. My area is apparently known as the dead zone for mission work. The Polokwane branch president got really fired up the other day in Sacrament meeting apparently. He scolded the congregation and said "all the good members have moved to Seshego." It's funny, we are just a group, but have more Priesthood members and higher attendance than them. I think it's more because we are working so hard, no members have actually moved to Seshego, so I have no clue what he is talking about. :) 

 

Someone asked me in an email why I don't come home. I thought about it, and it's because I know that I'm serving God in the only true church upon the face of the earth. If this wasn't so, I would have been home long long ago. It's amazing to see the Spirit soften hearts, to see the gospel bless lives, and to be guided to the people who actually are prepared for the gospel. I was just looking through former investigators when I found James, the Spirit prompted me to call him and man was he prepared this time around. He is our top investigator, and will most likely be my first baptism. Elder Holland (I think) said something like: "They may doubt what you teach, but they can never doubt your testimony." This is true, a testimony can soften hearts and lead to an amazing investigator coming into the church. I hope none of you ever doubt my testimony, I know the church and what we teach is true, or I would not be here. 

 

Please ignore my negativity. I'm sick and almost got murdered by a taxi, so I'm not in a great mood to be honest.

 

I love you all very much and am so grateful for your influence in my life :) I pray for y'all daily, do what you can to stay alive.

 

Love,

Elder Kelly McClellan