Monday’s are the shortest day of the week. Here is an update of what happened throughout the week!   I was privileged to be asked to give a talk this Sunday! So, if you would like to read it, it’s at the bottom! 

This week was good, it was a longer week comparatively to the past few weeks. But still good. It started off kind of rough. We had lessons planned for all of Tuesday and Wednesday, but the repair guys decided to wreck our plans! They came on Tuesday and we thought they would just be here for a few hours to fix a few issues such as our hot water heater electrical issue, a section of trim, a shower leak, and possibly a leak in the ceiling. But as they finished those things, they randomly pulled out a chisel and started working away at the cracks in the wall to fill them... Then they mixed some cement and filled them. They left after 8 hours of work only to come back the next day.. The next day they finished up everything, including sanding down the filled cracks and then painting the walls. They just kept going, which took another 8 hours this day as well. All if have to say is that it is hard to stay busy after being in the boarding for longer than 8 hours! I was losing my mind, so I made some double chocolate cookies and gave a few to one of the workers before he left. I also cleaned a lot of things in the kitchen. I couldn’t just stare at a screen for that long, so it was a good break. Glad it’s over, and now the boarding feels more like home and more personalized.

On more of a spiritual side of things, we were able to put a young man on date for baptism. He is an amazing young man and even wants to serve a mission! I am excited to see him continue to progress in the gospel and gain some friends in the church. (Which will be easy since we visited the youth and one of the priests said that he wants to baptize him since he is cool!) 

Brother "X" Another brother that is on date to be baptized! This is another amazing Young Single Adult. I have literally been able to watch him change into a saint! He has been able to give up a lot of things/ working towards giving up and is so close to being there. But he has changed for the better so much! I am excited to see him continue to progress in the gospel. Also, almost forgot this amazing detail. We were able to have a lesson with him, President Stringham, and Brother "X's" Mother. And she basically was telling us about how much he has changed and how there is so much more peace in the home now that he has started going to church and gave up certain things. She said that she would like to start meeting with us. So that was an amazing experience this week. It made me realize that we are changing people’s lives as we introduce the gospel to them and their families. Its definitely not us though, it’s Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost! They are true teachers.  

(The picture last week with President  Stringham in the home was with Brother "X")

P-Day feasts:  Last week we went to Crave Burger. It is a burger place here in Loraine or Walmer and I think it’s owned by the same owner of Five Guys.. Don't quote me on that though. Anyway, an American owner! When we were there last week they gave us three sets of missionaries a deal, 4 patties for 95 rand! We couldn’t pass that up! So, all of us got it! Then when we were leaving, they said the next time we come we will up it to 7 patties! Wow, that was a lot, but we said we were up for it. Today rolls around. We called them to make sure the deal was still on, and the owner answers the phone.. Don't worry, he didn’t say we couldn’t do the deal, in fact, he called us crazy and then proceeded to say he will throw another patty on that 7 patty burger and we can name it! Now what did us missionaries say to this 8 patty burger? BRING IT ON! SEE YOU IN A FEW HOURS!!! All I have to say is that was a lot to eat... Let's just say we calculated it after we ate and it was about 1.4 LBS of hamburger. But we finished it! The burger is called "Celestial BoM" good luck pronouncing that one! The people down here struggle with that word. -- I will put a picture at the bottom for you guys to see both of the burgers. You will be able to tell what burger was last weeks and what one is this weeks. 

Here is my Sunday talk, you can read it if you want. Now, I normally don't write out my talks, I like to use more of a bullet point method, so this covers the idea of what I wanted to talk about. But it’s not word for word. Enjoy, hopefully you can get something good out of it!

Throughout the Book of Mormon has taught to love one another.

Mosiah 4 

–Teaching parents what they need to teach their children. --

15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another

Mosiah 18

–As Alma baptized and ordained priests to go and preach the gospel–

21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

Why is it so important to be Unified as one?

Why would Christ want us to be Unified? 

To have our hearts knit together?

Let’s describe UNITY.

“Bringing together for a common purpose.”

“Being joined into a single entity.”

I love welding and this can be used in describing what unity can do. As we take weird shapes and pieces of metal and weld them together “Unite them together” They become one piece that eventually can be used for something. They are no longer useless pieces of metal sitting on the ground. But, they can be a beautiful chair, gate, door, trailer.. Anything that we can imagine. But we have to go forward with a plan. We have to go forward with faith that it will turn out the way we want. Going back to that beautiful chair we welded, without unity the chair would fall apart. 

The chair represents us. We are the broken pieces lying on the ground. Brothers and Sisters, I plead with you today, Let us unite ourselves with others. Loving them, Helping them, Serving them. Let’s create a community that helps each other out. Let’s let the community and the world see our light that we have to shine. 

In closing Brothers and Sisters, I want to share another scripture with you. 

Mosiah 4 

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

We have all seen the good works our loving Savior has done. Every one of us has seen His hand in our lives. I know this because we would be sitting in an empty room if that was the case. Let us Humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father, Call upon his name in prayer, and stand as a witness of God with steadfast faith in him.

This truly is a dark world; bad stuff happens all around us every day. Let us be a light. Let us shine our good works. Let us serve others beginning in our own home. Let us be united as one with unity in Christ.

The last speaker in our last stake conference asked us two questions

What am I doing now that I should STOP doing?

What am I not doing that I should START doing?

I ask all of us to consider these questions in our hearts. Let us live the culture of Christ. Let’s live in harmony with our neighbors. Brothers and Sisters, if we aren’t asking ourselves “In what ways can I help this ward, MY WARD, grow and become more unified.” I ask you to consider, if you have a calling or not. To find a way to help. Invite your neighbor to church, Your friends, co-worker. And if they don’t want to come that’s okay, You planted a seed in them and you never know when that seed might start growing.

Matthew 5

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Let us serve others as Christ once did on earth and still does today. 

 I so testify that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He loves us, his children. I know that it is only because of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice that we can return to live with him and our Heavenly Father. Families are eternal. I know that this gospel changes lives and has changed mine. This is the one and only true church.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

I love you all so much! Have a good week!

Much love,   Elder Lawrence