Teaching and Finding!

March 9, 2015

Greetings from Zululand,

We wanted to share our feelings of gratitude for being able to serve a mission.  It has been such a blessing to us.   In the past 4-5 months we have been able to teach 5 families.   We both love the preparation required, and the actual teaching.   The more we teach, the more we realize the blessings of living the gospel.   We are reminded of the reasons for commandments and the happiness they bring.  

All of these families "were on fire" when they first heard about the gospel.   As time has progressed, those who do not read the scriptures or prayed are beginning to lose their enthusiasm.  These people are "golden" and have so much to contribute.   Each head of household has a job and is able to provide for their family. They have an education or trade skills (called artisans here).   We rarely find families like this. However, this great blessing of having employment, has become a challenge for them.  They allow work demands or work worries to keep them from attending church or appointments to be taught.  We know Satan is doing all he can to divert them from obtaining a strong testimony.   We started with a group of 4.   It grew to 15 and now we have 20.  We felt all of them would be baptized, but each family has become sidetracked with worldly distractions.   It is so heartbreaking.   We want them to have blessings right now and for eternity.   However, our Heavenly Father allows each of us to choose our path.  

We have been "finding" people everywhere by talking to people at the doctor, at the mall, repair men and people who ask about our badge. Two weeks ago,  I had some pictures laminated for our lesson on the Plan of Salvation.   The owner of the store asked me what I was going to do with the pictures.      I asked her if she could give me 10 minutes.   She agreed.   I taught the Plan of Salvation to her and another employee right there in the store!    Another customer was using a computer but looked up and saw my badge and asked about it.   I invited him to church---he didn't come but it felt so good to "open my mouth" and "invite" someone!     Larry was getting gas in the car and missed out on some of this.   But he arrived to help out at the end.  Sunny Hicken said:  Real super heroes wear black badges!!!   Isn't that great?!

Tonight, our teaching appointment was postponed for a week and that is always disappointing.   But we were able to visit a Relief Society President in one of the branches and encourage her.   Only one other sister attends, so of course, it is discouraging.   But we brainstormed ideas, came up with a plan and shared testimonies of Relief Society.   It turned in to an uplifting evening. 

For 6 weeks we have been teaching a Temple Preparation class on Tuesday nights in Enselini.   There are only 3 in the class but we love it.  The branch president and his wife are in the class.  They are preparing to get their endowments and be sealed.   Their son is returning from his mission and he will go directly to the temple to be sealed to them!    It is exciting.

Two weeks ago we began teaching Temple Prep in the Ngwelesane Branch.  We are so happy to be able to teach these classes.   We have less than 4 months left on our mission and feel such an urgency to try to assist in any way we can.   We are praying to be able to put our efforts in the area of most importance.   Sometimes, it is hard to discern what would be of the most value.  

We love our Savior and feel so blessed to serve him full time.   Each day, our testimony grows and we are filled with awe at the blessings Heavenly Father wants to bestow upon us.   Your friendship and example have strengthen our testimonies.   We think of our family and our ward often and the way you have blessed our lives.