01/25/2016

Hello everyone,

6 weeks left! My mom just told me she got my flight intinerary. If that doesn't make it real I don't know what will. Last week was kind of hectic. They have introduced a lot of new policies in the mission. The main one being how transfers are done. It was pretty hectic because there was a lot of responsibility on us as zone leaders to make sure people got moved around. Everything went well and I'm grateful I was kept with my same companion or it would have been a lot more hectic. We are now incharge of training the new district leaders so we did that in Friday and it went well. This week we had some powerful lessons. We have some new investgators that are really cool. Sunday was awesome we had 12 investigators come to church and like 3 referrals. The missionary work here is booming and it's wonderful. We should be having a baptism on Sunday of a 14 year old boy. There are so many blessings around us and sometimes we just need to look around and notice them. Have a great week everyone. 

 

Elder Hepworth

01/18/2016 - ELDER HEPWORTH'S LAST TRANSFER- HE COMES HOME IN 7 WEEKS

Happy Monday everyone,

I don't know if it's only me but some things don't seem to be real until they happen. Like when I came here. Now I can't believe my mission is coming to an end. We just started my last transfer which will be 7 weeks. I have no more companions or areas. It's so weird. All mission we talk about going home and how great it will be but when it comes it gets a little strange. It's going to be a little weird readjusting but I did it once and I can do it again. I'm going to miss this place so much though. The people I have met and the places I have been. South Africa has made such an impact on me. I hope to come back one day. I'm enjoying the rest of what I have. This week we had some great success. The two kids that I baptized last week were confirmed and the church was packed. I'm glad I'm staying with my companion because I don't know a lot of them haha. The holidays are officially over and people are seeking God again. I love seeing God's hand in things. To meet someone and see that God has prepared them or how he moves his work forward while we are just his hands is so amazing. Look for God and you will find him I know it's true. I read a quote by Gordon B. Hinckley which said the course of our life is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day to day choices we make which chart the track on which we run. Live one day at a day. Have a great week everyone and stay warm I hear it's pretty cold back home. 

 

Elder Hepworth

01/11/2016 - TWO BAPTISMS

Hello everybody,

Sorry for not sending an email last week. The email shop that we email
at is terrible. Even today it is really bad but I'm making it work.
Things are becoming a lot better with the holidays ending. The kids
here started school today I believe and everybody is going back to
work. The week was good. This week we had a nasty heat wave come in.
It was like over 100 degrees during the day and 80 degrees at night.
Then rain came down so hard that the windshield wipers didn't move
fast enough. The weather has chilled out now though and it's enjoyable
again. The highlight of the week was Sunday. We had two baptisms and
they went really well. They were of a 9 year old girl named Rethabile
and a 13 year old girl named Tumi. I had the privilege of baptizing
them. We also had 10 investigators at church and had a less active we
teach come back. It was a day of success. Those days that you can
actually see that what you are doing is paying off. This week we also
experienced many policy changes in the mission that are difficult to
except but we have no choice. Sometimes we had to remember why we came
out here and endure through it. We were talking to a family this week
and as we introduced our selves they said if you can do this nothing
in life will stop you. Mission is life changing. It is hard but
rewarding just like everything in life. If you want to learn an
instrument you will struggle but when you master it you will never
regret it. God's plan and our plan can be very different sometimes. We
always want things simple and easy and his plan stretches and teaches
us. He doesn't do it because he wants us to suffer or beat us down but
he loves us very much. I know that is true. Don't ever give up. Have a
great week. You are all in my prayers.


Elder Hepworth

01/04/2016 - NO LETTER- TERRIBLE INTERNET