Well this week has been one of the best weeks of my mission! The spirit really spoke to me in very profound ways. I guess sometimes I need to be slapped on the head to realize that the Lord is in control of this work.
I started the week off on exchanges so I went to this township called Daveyton with Elder Swindlehurst and and Elder West. Elder West is from Australia and reminds me so much of Elder Reed. Of course no one can replace Elder Reed but it made me think of all the great times I had with him. We taught a lot of lessons and were able to get to know each other better as well. Funny story, at the end of the night we were walking to our car and we saw this black lady braaiing chicken feet sooooo I asked them if they have ever had chicken feet before. They looked at me like I was crazy but then I convinced them to try it out. So we bought 5 for 5 rand (50 cents) and we enjoyed ourselves some nice chicken feet! They both actually seemed to like them so that was a plus! Mom and Dad I am sure you can't wait for that! haha
Later on in the week I was able to go to Hospital View!!! If any of you don't know why that is so exciting it is where I spent 4 1/2 months of my mission and where I was comps with Elder Lucking and Elder Smith-Holley. Well before, I was kinda nervous wondering if anyone would remember me or if I did a good enough job there. I guess I just doubt that I did my best there... The first thing we did was go and pick up Mpho. As I saw him he came running to me and just hugged me and couldn't stop smiling. Then I saw that he had the hat on that I gave him. It was so worn and torn I asked "How much do you wear that?" He said "I wear it everyday.. It reminds me of you." Mpho is finishing his Police Clearance and then his mission papers go in! I might be able to pull some strings and be there for when he opens it! I guess there is nothing better than that. Oh and a plus, it was Mpho's birthday which was not planned but it just worked out that way!
After that we got to an appointment that was scheduled with a recent convert named Ndivhu. A little background about her, I tracted into her when I was with Elder Smith-Holley. She later on got baptized after I left. So we got to her house and when she saw me you would have thought she saw a ghost! She just screamed "Is it you?? It is You!! AHHHH you look so different!" Haha I just sat there as she stared at me for a while! But it was so cool to see her and today I received an email from her that said "It was amazing seeing you today, i hope, you are doing well, i hope to see you soon, i want you to know that your mission was not in vain, i am who i am today thanks to the day u knocked at my door be blessed an endure to the end." So ya I guess there is nothing better to hear than that!
Then I was able to see another sister, M.J. that I found through bringing her mom back to church. The same is with her, she was baptized after I left the area! She said that now her sister is also baptized and her mom is active because we didn't give up on her mom. Again I guess there is nothing better than that.
Finally we went to this families house named the Phokus who I really loved while I was there. They all were so excited to see me and Sister Phoku who is like my African Gogo just kept sayin "We are so proud of you." Again I guess there is nothing better!
Well that night as I was pondering, I realized that the work that I have been doing has had far greater of an outcome than I thought was possible! I heard a still small voice that said " I have accepted your offering. You are doing a great job."
I have realized that I am not done I still have time to find and teach and baptize and that is my intention. Is to find those like Mpho, Ndivhu, and M.J. I was so blessed that I was able to see what I saw. I guess that is what Nephi means when he says "But behold, I Nephi, will show unto you the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto deliverance."
Elder Olson
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