07-27-2015- ELDER HEPWORTH IN KHUTSONG and MATCHING SUSPENDERS FOR PRESIDENT INTERVIEWS

If you aren't having fun on mission then you don't understand what a mission is. A mission is supposed to be enjoyable. Life and mission life isn't always fun though. It is what we make it. As mission rolls by I'm figuring out more and more what life is all about. It makes me excited for when I get home and use all the things I've learned. Last Monday after emails we went to a nice restaurant called "The Diner". It has an American feel to it. I had the Kg. of Ribs and it was so amazing. I was eating meat for almost an hour. What more can a man wish for?

This is when we ate a kg of ribs. Look at my arm. ;) jk haha

On Tuesday we had interviews with Mission President. The day before we all bought matching blue suspenders and wore blue ties to the interviews. His wife loved it as soon as she saw it and we took some legit pictures with them. It was a coincidence that they matched us as well.

The interviews went well and while the interviews were going on Sister Dunn had a workshop on table manners. I missed it because of my interview. I probably needed it because I've been in township using hands or a spoon for my whole mission ha. The rest of the week a lot of people were ditching us or cancelling. That is probably my least favorite thing because then you have to find something else to do and go to your backups. We are working hard though and everything is wonderful in the great township of Khutsong. On Friday Elder Taylor in our district had a cheat day from his diet and we ate so much sugary things at district meeting. It made me feel sick all day and I decided I don't want to participate next time ha. Saturday we found a lot of success because nobody canceled on us and the day rolled by quickly. On Sunday there was a guy from the Stake who talked about relationships. It was great because he helped me realize how important the relationships of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, our self, our families, and others really are. If I'm ever unhappy it is because one of these things is off and we need to try everyday to make them strong. After church we had an amazing lunch with many delicious things including potato salad and coleslaw. Which I miss from home. After that our day went downhill because there was loadshedding on one side of our area and the other didn't have water. So which ever side we went to they were stressed about something. All in all it was a good week and I can't complain as each day my time here shortens. Continue to enjoy life and it's many blessings and I will be back in a week.

Elder Hepworth

07/20/2015 - ELDERS HEPWORTH AND BERGMAN ARE REUNITED

The district. I'm back with Elder Bergman on the left.

I don't understand why the weeks are going by so fast. Every time I blink I'm back in the e-mail shop. We have an excellent week. Tuesday started off kind of crazy. We have been teaching this SDA family and we taught the son. I could sense something was off. Then he just let out his feelings. Basically he rejected our truth we brought to him. We bore our testimonies then he gave back the Book of Mormon and that was the end. He wouldn't pray about it and wanted us to prove it to him so there was nothing we could do. All you have to do is read the book of Mormon and pray about it and you can know. Then the very next lesson we taught a recent convert who started crying. She wouldn't tell us the whole story but she is haunted by her past and the trials she faced. It is hard to see people go through hard things but that is where the atonement comes in. I know that Jesus Christ can heal us and Heavenly Father has a plan. Without trials, temptation, and all manner of afflictions we wouldn't learn and grow. We are teaching an investigator named Bongani. He is so sweet and loving the gospel. When he saw the baptisms he came up to us and said I'm next you need to visit me more. We taught him the word of wisdom and he drank coffee and tea but he said he will stop right then. I can't wait for his baptism in August. Saturday was Mandela day. On Mandela day everyone should do 67 minutes of service. We helped bring water to someone and helped an investigator clean her house. She was very thankful because her son and herself are having health problems. Yesterday was painful for me because I love food. Our lunch after church wasn't planned so we ended up fasting until 6 before someone could feed us and it is to far to go back to the house. I made it and it put a whole new meaning on enduring to the end. On our P-day we are spending it fixing the car because other missionaries here didn't take care of it. It is so important to be responsible. What I have been noticing lately is that the gap between what is popular and what is righteous is widening. Being popular isn't worth it anymore even though every teenager wants to be popular. Seek ye first the kingdom of God! I hope everyone is enjoying life. It is a beautiful time to  be alive. Live it up!

Elder Hepworth

07/13/2015- 5 BAPTISMS AND ELDER HEPWORTH AND ELDER WORTON - FRIENDS FROM HOME

ELDERS HEPWORTH AND WORTON - FRIENDS FROM HOME!

 

 

Sawbona,

From the emails I got from my family it was a pretty exciting week. I don't know if it was for you but it was for me as well. This week on Tuesday we went on exchanges with the zone leaders. Elder Clegg was with us and he interviewed our 5 people to be baptized. It was cool because my mom knows his mom. All of the interviews went great. This week included some hard days but what would like be if it didn't have hard days. I think it would be pretty boring. This week because of the baptisms on Sunday I believe God is helping us replenish our teaching pool. We have been meeting a lot of new people who want the gospel this past week. Even members are bringing their friends to church. That is the best way to do missionary work. Every missionary knows that is true. The work is really moving forward in South Africa even though this mission has shrunk. On Friday we traveled to Roodeport where our mission office is to have zone meeting. It is over an hour away so I guess I'm kind of in the middle of nowhere again. Not as much as Limpopo but that isn't our mission anymore. Zone meeting was great. I really don't know many of the missionaries in this mission. I used to know them but they are all going home so that must be a sign of getting old. After zone meeting the assistants went on exchanges with us and yup Elder Worton went with us. I graduated high school with him for those of you who don't know. It was crazy when I got my call after him. We haven't served close though so it was cool to be with him. We talked about home a little more than usual and it got me a little trunky but I'm okay now. On Saturday we looked all day for baptismal clothes for the baptism. There was eleven people in white. 6 were baptized but one was a 8 year old girl.

 

I was blessed to get to baptize one of them and the water was so cold ha. Everything went good though.

 

After the baptism we got fed twice and it was delicious. I love the food here now so I'm becoming African. To finish up I want to mention something that was said at zone meeting. I don't know who said it but they said compared to God we are nothing but to God we are everything. Just take a minute to ponder that. I know that is true and I thought it was profound. Remember always that you have a loving Heavenly Father. I love you all. Have a lekkar week.  

Elder Hepworth

07/06/2015- SISTER FOKOTO SERVED WITH ELDER HEPWORTH'S FRIEND FROM HOME

Sister Fokoto served in Zambia with Elder Barrett who is Derick's friend he grew up with!

 

 

Happy late fourth of July! I totally forgot about it. I don't even remember the holidays anymore ha. We had a really good week though. Elder Adjin and I are working hard. So much that I sleep like a rock at night. This week we taught many people and prepared 5 people to be baptized on Sunday. One of them even asked me to baptize them which i didn't see coming. They have to pass their interviews first on Tuesday but they will because they are powerful. Tomorrow the zone leaders are coming to interview them because my companion is the district leader and can't interview our own investigators. On Friday the assistants are coming on exchanges with us as well. So I will get to spend the day with my buddy from high school,  I think, or one of my last companions who just became the new assistant. This week we worked our way into a home of some hardcore Seventh Day Adventists. The mother is so set in her church but as we met with her and her children a few times I could see the spirit working on her and them. That is why Moroni included verse 5 in chapter 10: " And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." We will see what happens as we prayerfully continue. The spirit is a marvelous tool that God has given to us. We call it the gift of the Holy Ghost because it is literally a gift. I have enjoyed the Holy Ghost being with me on my mission. Mostly the comfort from trying times.The Holy Ghost is part of the Godhead making him a God. If you realized that you always had a God with you what would you change? I know I would act, say, and think different things. This week I spent time talking to returned missionaries. I really enjoy the stories and hearing about their missions.

Mission changes people. Mission is such a blessing for those that serve, their families, and those they serve. I know this Church and work is true. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father and a savior who is Jesus Christ. I have found so much knowledge, joy, and growth from living the gospel and have felt the pain from not. I've seen how much of a blessing it is and I wish we would all use the gifts and blessings our Heavenly Father has given us more earnestly. If you feel something missing maybe you should look here. I know it is for all of God's children. Never forget wise men still seek him. I hope everyone has a great week and I will do the same.

Elder Hepworth

Elder Adjin and Elder Hepworth

06/29/2015- ELDER HEPWORTH TRANSFERRED TO KHUTSONG

My last email for the month of June. Well I have been transferred to another township called Khutsong. It is a great place and the missionary work is booming. There should be some baptisms very soon. There are a ton of return missionaries here and men and women preparing to go on mission. It was a little intimidating when I bore my testimony of Sunday to introduce myself ha. I met a sister who got back from the Zambia mission a month ago. I felt like asking her if she knew Elder Barrett. She did and served with him and I thought is was a crazy coincidence. The food that they give us here is great. It is so good and we get fed a lot. I will have to keep up with my exercising so I don't get fat. This area is very big and it is gong to take me awhile to learn everyone and everything. We have a full time car which is nice but I'm driving all the time because my companion doesn't drive. I'm with Elder Adjin who is from Ghana. He is a little younger than me on mission and he is the district leader. We made a cool discovery this week. We have the same first name- Derick. I thought it was pretty crazy ha. We actually stay in a house all to ourselves. It is the first time I haven't lived on the second story in a flat (apartment) complex. It is a nice place too. I don't have any pictures from here yet. I'm still sending ones from my last area. I do miss my last area and companion though. Change is always a weird thing. What I have noticed is no matter how hard it is to make a change it is possible with God. No matter how nervous or scared you may be. We also found out yesterday that our mission boundaries are changing. Some 3 zones and 45 missionaries are now changed into the Botswana/Namibia mission. Included in those areas is one of my last areas in Limpopo. So I have no hope of going back there. We will miss those Elders and our mission shrunk greatly but all is well. I am so grateful to stay in this mission. A few days ago President could have sent me to one of those zones. This mission has felt right from the beginning. I hope everyone is enjoying there summer. Have a good week.

Elder Hepworth


PICTURES FROM PREVIOUS AREA- TSAKANE AREA- Everyone is going to miss Elder Hepworth

 

 

 

06/22/2015 - ELDER HEPWORTH'S 6 MONTH TIME IN TSAKANE HAS COME TO AN END

TSAKANE AREA MEMBERS

 

Well my time is up in Tsakane. It has been a great stay. I can't believe I have been here for 6 months. The time has flown like crazy. I have had so many experiences here and this is definitely my favorite place. This week being my last was good. We found 3 new investigators and there will be a baptism on Sunday. The people are so great here. The Lord is preparing them and Tsakane has great things is store. I knew it was my last week so I prepared people. We had our 3 recent convert young men come with us each day and they loved it. I had many people tearing up or crying. I took so many pictures with people yesterday that I don't even know what pictures to send. I won't forget this place. On mission I've had to act like it doesn't hurt and let God make me stronger. So much of life depends on that and then everything will turn out okay.This week we had the scariest lesson. I won't disclose her name. When we first met her she was awesome. She mentioned that he had a chronic illness which turned out to be bipolar. Then as time went on her grandma passed away. We kept stopping by after losing contact but never found her. When we finally found her she had just got back from the hospital. She had been sedated for 2 weeks for depression. We could see that she was suffering from serious depression but she was okay. Then this past week when we went the only way I can describe it is she was a zombie. Her eyes were so hollow and looked like nobody was there. He mom told us what had been happening. She said weird things and did weird things that I won't mention. I could see it was a huge trial for her and her mother. What I'm getting at though is that I'm so grateful for all that I have. I'm grateful for who I am and all the blessing I have in my life. So much of the time we look at ourselves and say we go through way worse than everyone else but I say look up and see everyone is going through something.  When I realized that is less than two weeks I will have been out here for 16 months I thought a lot about the future. So much of the future is written and you can't help to fear if you will make all the right decisions. There are such big decisions to make when I get home like school and marriage.  We must make the best of the future or before we know it we are old and looking back at so much potential lost. It is times like these where you put everything into God's hands. I hope everyone has a good week. You are in my prayers. 

 

Elder Hepworth

 



06/15/2015- Elders Hepworth and Hollingsworth with Thuli

 

This is a selfie with Thuli. She is a very outgoing YSA that is a good friend of ours. 

Now it is halfway through June. I hope everyone is having a good summer and that it isn't moving as fast for you as it is for me. Well it isn't summer here it is still very cold. Not as cold as back home but I'm South African now. We had another good week. Just another usual week. I might say that a lot but when you get older out here the usual is all it is ha. This week we met with an investigator named Micheal. He has been investigating for a year. He is powerful but he needed to get married first. This last week he finished his marriage and he will be baptized on the 28 of June. When we were there I was prompted to have a testimony meeting and it was powerful. His testimony proved to us that he is ready. I'm not sure if I will be seeing him baptized because it might be the week after I leave. I have been here for 6 months now and I believe it is my time. It is pretty sad to think about leaving this place and people. I will miss them greatly. This coming Sunday might be pretty emotional for everyone if my prediction is right. When I mention I think I will be leaving soon our branch mission leaders says people are going to cry when you leave. Our young men recent converts want to spend a lot of time with us because I said I think I'm leaving ha. It's cool with me. Yesterday I told one of our investigators and she started crying. All of this and the memories and good things we have done here makes me feel like I have done what my Heavenly Father sent me here to do. I'm very grateful for this area and my companion Elder Holloway. It has been mentioned many times how we act like brothers. He is my best friend and will definitely be a life long friend. Yesterday those young men who were recently baptized got the priesthood and we stayed to see it. They were really excited about it and we will get them administering the sacrament this Sunday. Yesterday we didn't have any lunch appointments and our flat is about 15 km from the area. We were nonetheless freaking out about it and complaining. When we decided to go home and were about to leave when we got a call from Branch President saying someone offered for us to come over. We kind of crashed a birthday party but we got fed and had fun. We also sang happy birthday in Zulu. One thing that is hard for me to understand is the Lord's timing. I'm constantly trying to be humble and patient. The Lord really will bless us with what we need we just have to have faith and hope. He does love you and I. Don't ever forget to look heavenward. Have a great week everyone. Enjoy the heat. My feet are cold.

Elder Hepworth

Elders Hepworth and Hollingsworth