04/28/2014

left to right: Elder Robins from Burley, Idaho...Elder Lucking from Utah district leader...My companion Elder Saunders Utah  AND Elder Hepworth is 2nd from the left!

04/14/2014

Everything is good here in South Africa! This week was pretty good. We had a strength building activity and I learned more about myself. The biggest part of the week was on Saturday. So I have been away for just over a month. We did a stake activity with the youth were each missionary took a young man and showed him how missionary life is for the day. I was nervous but I stepped up and took charge. I talked to a lot of people and taught some powerful lessons with this young man. This activity was to help the youth but I think it helped me more. I was lacking confidence in my abilities as a missionary. This activity built my confidence. I'm so happy to be a missionary. I'm happy to be out here serving the Lord. The church is true. My testimony and relationship with the Lord is growing a lot. I promise as you hold strong to the iron rod you will be so much happier in your life. The Lord wants to poor out blessings upon us. When we do what he has asked of us he will help us. I'm grateful for this gospel in my life. Sorry this week is kind of short but it has a big message to me. Have courage. Stand alone or stand out. It will be okay when the Lord is on your side.

Love, Elder Hepworth

-All the way from South Africa

04/07/2014

Everything is good here. There isn't really much to email about because I'm still getting accustomed to the culture and missionary life. We kind of had a rough week this last one. We had a ton of cancellations. It is okay though. I'm having a lot of fun and I have made great friends. Especially with the missionaries around me. I went on exchanges for the first time this last Friday with Elder Robins. He is from Burley, Idaho which was really cool. He is way cool and we had a good time. We went and taught this young boy they had run into. They had gave him a Book of Mormon the last visit and he was reading it when we walked in. I was like wow and I could tell through the visit that he was very interested and powerful. We also visited this man who has just been baptized the prior week. We gave him is new member box of goodies and he was so excited. We told him what everything was and he was so happy. He liked having the bible, doctrine and covenants, and pearl of great price. He was so powerful and I could tell he was prepared by the hand of the lord. He pulled out the general conference liahona they had given them and pretty much taught us haha. I can't wait to find people that are prepared for me. We watched general conference and it was awesome. I hope everyone got to see it. We watched all of them in the chapel. We watched Saturday morning and Sunday morning live at 6 at night haha. Then the rest was downloaded. We watched so much conference on Sunday haha. I haven't seen Sunday afternoon yet but we will next week. I really liked all talks but I really liked the prophets talk on courage. We are living in a tough world and we need to have the courage to stand up for what is right. Whether we have to stand alone or stand out it doesn't matter. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In a world full of changing values we need to stay strong and hold on tight to the rod. I had a reconfirmation that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet. I know this church is true and my testimony has really grown. I had a testimony before I left but it is so much bigger now. I can't tell you how grateful I am for the life Heavenly Father gave me. I didn't realize how blessed I was until I came out here. Dad was right when he bore his testimony. Count your many blessings name them one by one. I love the gospel and I'm excited to share it. Be strong everyone and remember how much your Heavenly Father loves you! love you all!

Elder Derick Hepworth

-all the way from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission