09/29/2014

This week has been great. It went extremely fast. We had our two baptisms this week. They went really well. One of them was a mother of a missionary in  Cape Town and the other was a wife of a member. The husband got to baptize her which was cool. At church we had over 100 people show up and usually we only have about 80. We had a goal to get over 100 people there and we did it. A lot of them were less actives and 5 of them were investigators.

On Saturday we had an activity were the senior couples came and played a movie in the chapel and we invited everyone all week to come. We are doing this to try and bring back less actives and get members and investigators involved. We watched Legacy and I had never seen it before. I really liked it but I'm not sure if that is because it has been so long since I saw a movie ha. On Wednesday it was heritage day and everyone was supposed to dress up in beads and traditional stuff but we were the only ones who did. The people just took it as a day off and time to drink ha.

I'm really enjoying mission. This is the busiest I've been so far since I have been out and it is great. It is exhausting, stressful, and hot but I love it. Missionary work is great. The work must go forward.

Elder Hepworth

09/22/2014

Wow I can't believe it is already the 22 of September. This week went by fast. It feels like just yesterday I was sitting here sending my last email. So in South Africa they all have meanings to there names and they ask me what my name means all the time. Then a member this week looked it up and it said it a motto that is faithful unto death. I just thought that was pretty cool and thought I would share it. Stay faithful Hepworth's haha. They also said in a town near where I am there is a store called Hepworth. I guess it is a clothing store. It would be cool to check it out but it is pretty far away.

We had successful baptismal interviews this week and will be having two baptisms on Sunday. They are both very powerful. I first met them when I had just got here and they weren't going anywhere. I was wondering why we were wasting our time on them. Then over time and visits they became very powerful and good friends. It taught me a lesson of patience in people.

We have been traveling to this pace far in our area and giving out some church material because one of our members works there. There is no way for them to get to church or be baptized but we are setting roots there.

One thing that has kind of been on my mind a lot is families. Families are such a blessing. Up here they don't cherish families as much as we do back home. They pay for their wives pretty much in their culture and the families don't sit together in sacrament meeting together. It isn't to sham bock on these people but I've just realized how much the gospel does bless families. The gospel is such a blessing when the whole family lives it together. Simple things as family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening are so important. Families that pray together stay together.

Elder Hepworth

09/15/2014

This was the best week we have had since I have gotten here up here. Our stats were awesome. We have been asking for referrals and they have been coming in like crazy. They have been good new people too. Not just jokers. We are so busy and it is good. We had 11 investigators come to church which was like whoa! haha.

This week we went on two exchanges because of my companion's district leader responsibilities. The day that I was in the area we had a really good day. We took a young man who was just baptized two weeks ago. His name is Desmond and he loved it. He said it was the greatest day ever. So either we are awesome and he had tons of fun or there just isn't anything to do in Lenyenye haha. The other day I was in town with another missionary and lets just say I'd much rather be in village and township that town because it is a lot harder.

Saturday was a weird day. In the morning we attended a funeral. It wasn't just any other funeral though. The father of a missionary serving in Durban mission had passed away. It was sad but the missionary was really strong. he had been out for so long and I could see by his face that he was a good man and a good missionary. Then later on in the day we had an investigator break down and tell us that her  parents had both gotten HIV because her dad cheated on her mom and didn't tell her and she was just really worried about them dying because the youngest is 6. Then we come home and find out that an elder that is in our district got a call from President telling him that his grandmother passed away. The whole tragedy thing that day was freaking me out but I pray hard for everyone.

I have been thinking a lot about prayer. When we are on our knees we aren't praying to our beds but to our FATHER who is in Heaven. My companion gave a talk at church yesterday about prayer. He gave a quote by President Monson that said..."A man is tallest when he is on his knees." Remember to say your prayers and remember who you are praying too. The relationship that we can have with each member of the godhead is so important.

Have a good week everyone!

Elder Hepworth

09/01/2014

Wow it is already September. Time is going by fast. This week I will be out for 6 months officially and I can't believe it. I feel like I just left.

I'm not training or anything and my companion is staying the same. I'm excited about it though because I wanted to stay with him another transfer. We get along great. I have been blessed with awesome companions so far. It would have been cool to train but I will do what the Lord wants. 

We have one investigator named Patricia that we were teaching when I first got here and she was super shy and wouldn't talk and I was really discouraged about her. We kept going with her and now she is opening up. She bore her testimony about the savior Jesus Christ. She is honest and is progressing really well. She is getting baptized on September 28. We have had four baptism since I got here and it has been really awesome. 

This week we had our two baptisms from last week get confirmed and quite a few young men were given the Aronic priesthood or were put where they are supposed to be. We were able to join in when they received the Holy Ghost and the spirit was so strong. It is great seeing the change that this gospel will make in people and see them partake of the blessings. 

One thing that I have come to be grateful for is the members feeding the missionaries and helping in the missionary work. The gospel is great and I'm glad to be a missionary. 

Elder Hepworth

08/25/2014

This transfer is going by so fast. We are now in the last week of the transfer. I have enjoyed my time with this companion and I want him to stay for another but there is rumor that I might train. Whether he stays or I train I will be fine either way.

 

This last week was awesome. We had 29 lessons this week and I think that is the most I have had so far on mission. All of our appointments were going great and not falling through like other weeks. I don't have anything crazy or weird to say about this week. Everything just went really smooth which is nice every once in a while.

 

On Sunday we had two baptisms. They were of a 16 year old boy named Desmond and a 9 year old girl named Naomi. They are awesome and the baptism went great. The 9 year old is the daughter or a recent convert who is really strong and she started crying when she was baptized. Desmond is awesome and will probably be a stake president some day. Just another addition to the wonderful priesthood.

 

I spoke at the baptism about the holy ghost. As I sat down I realized it wasn't me speaking. That happens a lot and I am so thankful for the companionish of the holy ghost. The spirit is a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father to help us through this life. We just have to listen.

 

Elder Hepworth

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