08/18/2014

In two weeks about I will have been out for 6 months and that seems pretty crazy to me. We had a good week. Well it didn't start off that way. My companion was sick on Tuesday and we had to stay in. I don't know if I'm cursed but either I or my companions always get sick. The cool thing is that the senior couples made us chicken noodle soup and brought it over once they heard that he was sick.

 

After he got better we got to work. It was a slow week because I wasn't pushing him too hard. On Saturday we had a helping hands activity where we build a playground for a school. It was a great experience but the lack of construction equipment was killing me. All I could think the whole time was my dad and I could have this done in like an hour. We had to do it the old fashioned way and use shovels. We definitely made an impact on that school and I'm sure they appreciated it.

 

On Saturday night it rained an on Sunday. Not many people came to church because of the rain. Like only a few have cars and some walk really far. It is funny how we can take the things we have for granted. Church was good though and I'm always tired after we have our lunch appointment because I'm used to the Sunday nap but we push through it. No rest for the righteous missionary either I guess.

 

On this coming Sunday we are having two baptisms which is exciting. Our zone leaders came up on Friday to do the interviews and the one that went with us is a funny guy from Austrailia. One is a 16 year old boy named Desmond who is awesome. The other is a 9 year old girl who her mother is a convert and is super strong. We will find out this week who is baptizing them and it would be cool if it was me. There are a lot of less actives in this area so we are working with the branch on that. There is a ton of work to be done and we are doing it up here in Limpopo, South Africa. I hope everyone has a good week. I keep you all in my prayers. We are sure lucky to have this blessing of the gospel in our lives. I'm so happy that I get to share it with others.

 

Elder Hepworth

08/11/2014

This week has been good. It has been a weird week though. Like everyday what we planned turned out different but they were good days. I'm still having tons of fun up here. I wish to stay here for all my mission haha. My companion who is district leader recommended me for training which is crazy so that might be coming next transfer.

This week we went on two exchanges. I went on exchanges on Thursday and Friday with two different elders. The fist exchange was because my companion had to do a baptismal interview. The second was a normal exchange. It was an interesting couple of days because I was in our area both times and I haven't been here for very long. I got lost a couple of times and didn't know what to do but I make it through. This area is big and crazy to learn but I will get it down soon. 

On Friday we had zone meeting. It was cool because up here we don't see many other missionaries. Two of the elders from my fist zone are in this one with me. Elder Robins from Burley, Idaho is in this zone and it was cool seeing him and talking to him. 

On Saturday we had some funny things happen. We saw a guy who was so drunk he fell down a hill. Then 30 seconds later we saw a black midget which is so funny looking that we sat there laughing with tears in our eyes for quite awhile. I've been teaching my companion how to drive and he was practicing starting up a hill and he peeled out and fish tailed up the hill on accident. Then on the way home we were super exhausted and he had his head out the window. I rolled it up without looking and then I see him looking at me with the funniest face. He tells me what happened and his head got pinched and he didn't say anything or react quick enough. 

I'm having so much fun out here. My companion and I get along great. We have good times and we are working hard. We should be having some baptisms in a couple of weeks. I love mission! 

Elder Hepworth

08/04/2014

This week was an eventful week. Each day I had something nice to write in my journal. I drive a lot because my companion can't drive a stick and I'm going to have to teach him. This is my second companion that I will have to teach but I'm a good teacher. We haven't had time to though. We are so busy. This area is booming like crazy and there is a ton of work to be done.

So on Tuesday we took some other Elders to a part of there area to far to walk. Then after dropping them off we thought we could get to our area a faster way. Then we ended up getting lost for two hours and having to back track. Then on Wednesday we were having a good day and everything was going good but then our 6 and 7 canceled and we found out there was a member in the hospital. So we went and visited her and it made her day. Then we gave her a Book of Mormon to comfort her. Thursday my companion and I got offered a wife because we are American. Friday was the funniest day. We were teaching the law of chastity and this family has two dogs with to much energy. So as I was explaining it my companion goes and none of that and we looked over and they were humping each other. The timing was just so funny.

This week I studied a talk in the Liahona about perfectionism. Sometimes I don't feel good enough and this talk really gave me strength. We don't have to be perfect we just have to strive to be the best we can be. Jesus Christ will make up the rest. Mission is great. It is deffinitely the hardest thing I have ever done. They didn't say it would be easy though they just said it would be worth it.

Elder Hepworth

07/28/2014

Well I'm in my second area! I have been transfered to Lenyenye really far in the northeast in the providence Limpopo. It took 5 hours to drive here from the office. There are mountains everywhere and giant trees. I'm so excited to be here. It is like my home. We seriously teach people on the mountain side. We have a bakkie which is a pickup truck. I will send a picture of it. We are in a branch and they are awesome. They give us tons of referrals and help a lot with the missionary work.

My new companion is Elder Cazier. He lives in Germany but is from the USA. His dad works for the air force. He is really cool and we get along great. I have been blessed with companions so far. I don't have a picture of us yet or of the area because we were so busy this week. This area is booming and I'm just excited. We had two baptisms on Sunday. This is where the missionary work is happening. 

There are a ton of senior couples up here. They help a lot with the work and they feed us! haha. Man this area is great. I'm really loving mission. My testimony of the gospel has grown so much. I'm almost 5 months and I don't know where the time has gone. 

I don't have pictures of my companion or area right now because we were so busy this week but I will get them this week. I'm not sure what else to say but if there are any questions just ask. 

Stay close to the Lord everyone. The church is true. I love you all.

Elder Hepworth

07/21/2014

Well that was week six of the transfer and the big news is that I'm being transferred. I don't know where to or with who but I'm excited. I'm finally leaving my first area. I'm becoming experienced on mission and I feel like I just got here ha. They say once you are over four. and a half months you aren't a greeny so my mission status is going up. 

On Wednesday we met a guy named Nathi who as we walked up said he was going to commit suicide. We had a powerful lesson. It was so powerful that we had to take a break after. I hope we helped him out. The next missionaries will continue to visit him. He needs the gospel.

This week we had a lot of fun because I live with a missionary who is going home on Tuesday. Except of Thursday my companion was sick and we sat in the flat all day. On Friday morning we got to go to the temple and we got there and the session was full. So we volunteered to sit out and wait for the next. Then the mission President came in and asked if we wanted to do sealings. We got to proxy for boys and witness. After that we also did a session. It was a long time in the temple but it was fun. 

After that we ate at Yankeys. It was a little like an American burger place. We planned on going to carnivore a place where you eat all kinds of meat but the APs wouldn't let us. We all had a king kong monster burger which is huge. I only ate half. Then we got Mcdonalds shakes after haha. it was a good day. 

Yesterday Wendy the lady who got baptized last week was confirmed and it was a cool experience. I'm having tons of fun in South Africa. I'm happy to be here and I can't believe how fast the time is going. 2 Nephi 1:23 Keep on the amour of righteousness.

Elder Hepworth

07/14/2014

I got my first baptism which is exciting but that is the highlight of the week. Time is going pretty fast out here as we work hard. Our area is really taking off which is exciting but transfers are next week and I think I might be moving to a new area. I will know on Saturday. 

So the baptism was stressful and exhausting. She had to be baptized seven times. It wasn't her fault or the young man who baptized her. The problem was that her gown kept floating and everything must be under the water. It finally worked after seven times though ha. 

We had a nice dinner at there house after. Well it is nice here ha. W had chicken and this bread with nice gravy. We also had salad and potato salad (which is different here) and beat root. The rest of the day we walked a lot and taught a few lessons. In one of the lessons there was a mouse running around. I'm not scared of mice but I was scared it would run up my pant leg so I couldn't focus ha. 

The week was good. It is awesome to see the change in peoples lives the gospel brings. Share the gospel. (D&C 88:81 I hope thats right ha) Warnabrother! 

Love you all!

07/07/2014

I hope everyone had a nice week and good 4th of July. Of course they don't celebrate that here but we did our best. In district meeting we sang the American songs and looked up scriptures where the Book of Mormon talks about America. 

I had a really good week. We worked so hard and it definitely paid off. We taught 24 lessons this week. We found 7 new investigators that seem really powerful. We did a lot of tracting which isn't my favorite but as we went forward in faith we were led to prepared people. I won't tell you about all the people we met but I will as we continue to teach them. 

As we were tracting one day I was really trying to tract with the spirit and I led us to a guy who we taught and wanted to come to institute and I was really excited. Then as we moved on we were walking and we both felt like we needed to turn back. Then a drunk lady called us over and we couldn't get rid of her. Finally we walked away and went to a house in which we got rejected. As we walked out she was standing there with a guy now. He said she tells me you stole her money and I almost laugh. I'm just like you got to be kidding me. He then sees Jesus Christ and I tell him we are missionaries. He just smiles and laughs a little and says sorry guys I will set her straight. It was pretty funny experience. Heavenly Father lets us have a little humor in our work. 

I'm pretty excited for this week because I'm going to have my first baptism. Her name is Wendy and we met her when I was about two months in and I have taught her everything and she is now getting baptized. She is really powerful. We taught her the word of wisdom yesterday and tithing or it was more like she taught us. I'm excited for here and so is she except she is a little nervous. 

Missionary work is awesome. I just reached four months this last week and I can't believe it. I am having a great time out here. I'm finally getting used to everything including teaching. Have a wonderful week everyone. 

Elder Hepworth