12/2/24

      Many days in South Africa! Wow, When I look back it doesn't feel as if I have been here for 18 months! Time is going by extremely fast. It has also been quite a while since I have written so I figured it is probably time again! 

      The last few weeks have been amazing. We have been able to have a lot of our friends join us for church and feel the wonderful spirit that resides there. As well, last week we had the Baptism of Prince and Thalia! What a wonderful way to get ready to start a new year! We look forward to their next steps in progressing on their Covenant paths!

     I’m on my third transfer in Milnerton now, and it has been great!  We had MLC a few weeks ago and wow. A lot of my transfer is in leadership now. We have 5 zone leaders, and 2 Social medial leaders. All of which attended MLC. So that was an amazing little reunion. In MLC we discussed how we can become a missionary force! It was cool to see how many people have insights on some of the issues we have in the mission. It's also really cool to see how God trusts a bunch of 18-20 year old boys/men to push his work forward. 

     Another thing to look forward to is Zone Conference, which will reflect the things we discussed at MLC. It will also be our Christmas party! So, I am looking forward to that!  A lot of things happened in the last few weeks so it's rather hard to remember all of them. I need to make better use of a journal!

One thing I can say in closing is that it is weird to not have any snow on the ground for Christmas. It’s a lot less magical to me.

I know there isn't much in this email. But I hope it helps catch you up a little bit! Here is a little spiritual thought that happened this week! 

     I testify that the Priesthood is real and that men on earth today hold that authority. We had the privilege of offering a Priesthood blessing of comfort to a sister who has been going through a lot. Between work and travelling she is only home on the weekends and just needs time to rest. When we had a lesson with her you could tell that she was having a hard time being present in the lesson. There was just a lot going on in her life and the pressures of life were very strong. However, the reason I can testify of the power of the Priesthood is because after we gave the blessing, her demeanor completely changed! You could tell that there was more of a happy light of Christ in her. I know that Joseph Smith was a real prophet and truly did restore Jesus Christ’s Church and his Priesthood. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

With Love, 

Elder Lawrence

12/30/24

    Wow, People always told me when you hit 18 Months on mission it flies... They weren’t lying. Time is going by so fast! I feel like it hasn't been that long since I've written one of these, however it's been a minute. 

      So, the news everyone has been waiting for! Transfers! I have been serving in Milnerton. However, I have been transferred! I am no longer a SML (Social Media Leader). But I am now a ZL (Zone Leader) over the George Zone. My new assigned area is Thembalethu which is primarily a Xhosa speaking area. The towns name "Thembalethu" which means "Our Hope."

     George is a wonderful and beautiful place. I am really enjoying getting to know all the wonderful members here in George. We currently are a branch and the fastest growing area! We hope to be a ward here soon.  We already have a meeting house that the church has built, we just need Priesthood holders and leaders to be here, and we are good to go! 

     It was a little sad leaving Milnerton since it has such an amazing ward family. I will truly miss the people I met and were able to serve.  Right before I left our ward did our Light the World project, in which we were able to help a disabled home prepare a garden for the residents to be able to work in. We did so many things it was crazy, but it was amazing to be able to see it when it was done. To name a few things that we did we: 

- Cleared the Ground

- Cleared a net structure

- Moved a bunch of sticks/debris

- Moved compost

- Fixed some fishponds

- Cut Rubber mats

- Moved the rubber mats (The hardest task, Assigned to the missionaries of course💪🏽) 

That was a lot of work, but we had a ton of people show up since it was our stake Light the World project, as well. So, we were able to have 2 zones worth of missionaries show up. Since the project was assigned to our ward. We were naturally assigned to lead all the missionaries. So that was a lot of fun, too.

I knew it would eventually be time for me to leave Milnerton, so that was kind of my last thing to go out with a bang! It also was a little sad since I had to leave right before Christmas. But the members here in George saved me. They definitely took care of us on Christmas. On Christmas we went over to a member’s place and we had an amazing braai. Yho! That was nice. We were also allowed to stay at a member’s home for two hours so it was really nice to be able to get to know them by spending time with them. 

     To make the Christmas season ever better, the George branch has two sets of missionaries. Us (Thembalethu) and (George Pacs) who stay down the road from us. We are in a car share with them, but because of that we get to spend a lot of time with them! 

     We have a virtual MLC (Misson Leadership Council) tomorrow, which is where we discuss items regarding the mission and new things we would like to change or do differently. We also have Zone Conference next week and exchanges almost every week until the end of the transfer. So, there are many things to keep busy with this side. Ohh yeah and not to forget an area which is ready to be worked!

In closing, here is a spiritual thought that has been on my mind for the last week or so. The coolest part of where this spiritual thought came from was my personal Study! So, if you are reading this, Please! Make sure you are doing your personal studies!!! 

17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

2 Nephi 31:17

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?id=p17&lang=eng#p17

I love how the gospel is so simple to understand. This scripture teaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It teaches it so simply! Telling us that we need to follow the example that Jesus Christ has set for us. I know that he lives and that when we follow him through the things that he has shown us. We will have more joy and peace in our life. This is the way. And it is only through him that we can return to the Father. I know They live. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

With Love, 

Elder Lawrence