How much just a little can do + Taking an Afrikaaners advice

Okay everybody first I want to say sorry about last week hahahah rioting is so inconvenient hahahaha but we got home safely.

These past two weeks have been great! Last week Elder Vaughn and Elder Adams had the flu so Elder Diehl and I had to take on all of Umlazi by ourselves! So the work was hindered a lot last week, however, the Lord always magnifies all that we give to Him with total sincerity -- so we saw the fruits of all the labour that we did do! Hence last week's email subject.

Today we're emailing in Toti because it's a public holiday and our email place is closed... But a member came and gave us fire for emailing too much hahah he said that we're wasting our P-Day because we just email... Afrikaaners are very straightforward and blunt. He's a returned missionary and his advice was as follows: "Don't waste your whole day emailing. Just tell your mom that everything is good, tell her what happened, and then tell her you love her. You don't need waste so much time with details"hahaha so I'm following his advice today so that we can braai! 

Everything is good here in Umlazi! 

This week after DDM we all went to McDonalds and bought shareboxes -- I'm not sure if they do this in the States but a share box is R145 (which is like $15) and it has 2 Big Macs, 2 cheeseburgers, 4 drinks, 4 fries, and 10 McNuggets -- so we, as 19 year old boys would, decided we wanted to try and individually eat share boxes by ourselves. It was a terrible, terrible idea. Long story short -- I was the only one who finished. And it was NOT WORTH IT. I was so sick. I hate McDonalds so much. hahahaha

This week we also got really bored after planning one night and nobody was tired so we decided to make music videos to EFY music. They're the dumbest videos ever, but we had so much fun making them hahahha I'll try to find a way to send them!! 

This week was a great week for missionary work! We met a lot of new people, but the highlight was meeting Ntobile -- a member told us that her family used to investigate, so we stopped by to try to rekindle the flame. Her family wasn't interested, but she was willing to listen to us; so we began teaching her and wow it's the best. Teaching the gospel is incredible no matter what -- but when the investigator understands and wants it it's like.... the best feeling ever! We're scheduled to see her 4 times this week!! We were teaching her last night and she was saying that she felt so happy whenever we visited her and whenever she read and we asked her what she thought that meant and she said "It's the spirit of God! Obvious!" hahha so not only does she understand and want the gospel, but she recognises the spirit!!! She's our Golden Investigator right now (not to detract from the other incredible investigators we have right now). So we agreed together to work towards her being baptised in 2 weeks! So I hope to have more to report next week!

My time so far in Umlazi is flying by!! I've loved it so much so far! It's also been a really fun zone to serve in. Elder Benissan (my baba (trainer)) and Elder Rakotomalala (my MTC companion) are serving in Amanzimtoti so I get to see them every week! Elder Thorsen (my MTC roommate) is also serving right near us as well! So I'm surrounded by people that I love too! 

Well. I hope that this email does disappoint Vickus, the Afrikaaner member, hahaha but I think that's a good summary of the week! The work of the Lord is surely moving forward here, and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a tool in His hands to accomplish His will! I was reminded this week that the Spirit is the ultimate teacher, not me! To be effective teachers, all we have to do is teach, speak, and act in a way that our investigators/students/family can feel the Spirit; once the spirit is present, discussion will arise, questions will be answered, and lessons will be learned! 

I testify that Jesus Christ lives! He died for us on the cross and after three dies, He rose from his tomb and conquered death. I know that because Jesus Christ lived again, we will also live again. Through Jesus Christ we can find new life #Hallelujah 

Love you all! Thank you for the support! Happy Easter! 

--

Elder Weiler

How Much Just A Little Can Do

Okay I was just about to write this but the Zone Leaders literally just called and told us that there's riots and we have to get home right now so... #WelcomeToUmlazi

Church is true

Love you guys all <3

--

Elder Weiler

"Now this is the story all about how my life got flip turned upside down"

Sanibonani! 

Well my first week in Umlazi is finished -- and I haven't been shot or robbed yet!! haha!

Umlazi and Newcastle could not be any more opposite! Newcastle was a very quite, safe, and calm town and Umlazi is hectic, sketchy, and noisy township! To make matters better -- Elder Vaughn and I are both two white guys that have no idea what we're doing hahah! But I think we're doing pretty good so far! 

 (Elder Vaughn is next to me, Elder Adams is in the back, and then there's this super weird guy too but idk)

(I was in another threesome for a day -- Elder Human (from South Africa) is in the back and Elder Vaughn)

Our district is ridiculous. It's four Americans; and we all live in the same boarding. So four umlungu's all living together IN Umlazi. Great. hahahah I love everybody in our Distict:

Our district leader is Elder Adams - He was born in Oregon but he's lived the last half of his life in Germany! We met once a the Christmas Party and I have really wanted to serve around him ever since! We've gotten to be really really close friends in the past week! 

Elder Diehl ("Deal") - Born in Idaho, just finished his training period, and he's like the nicest guy in the whole world! We get along super well and we always make short videos kind of like.. .mission snapchat stories hahaha 

and Elder Vaughn - Born in Oregon, also just finished training, super super great guy! He's hilarious too. I have loved being his companion so far! There is a really deep trust that already flows between the two of us that I really appreciate, daily we engage in conversation that is meaningful, uplifting, and rewarding! I really love our companionship studies! 

We've also determined that we're making District T-shirts that say "amaElders e Umlazi Umswanko biwazi" which means "Elder in Umlazi have swag and you know it" hahaha it's actually based on a song that says that "people from Umlazi and Kwamashu have swag and you know it" but we're adapting it to us hahaha so pictures to be sent soon! 

I can't send the video, but in Umlazi we have to run around our house because it isn't safe to run outside hahaha! So I have a video of us doing that and it's hilarious! I'll try to find a way to send it!

We also have some neighbors that have live 5 young kids that run into our gate whenever we open it and come play with us, we taught them the hokie pokie on Saturday hahah I also have a video that I'll try to send!

Well -- all is well here in Umlazi! I really really love it here! The ward is incredible (it's sweet to be back in a ward) and the work is sosososo promising! My favourite thing about Umlazi so far is that you can tract anywhere and people will ALWAYS listen! It's really easy to get contacts! 

I look forward to the rest of my time here and I have hope that it's going to be some of the best times on my mission!!  

Sale Kahle! Love you all!!

--

Elder Weiler

(The tri-panionship from Newcastle: Elders Weiler, Sixaba, and Agyeman)

The Tale of Two Cities

Okay wow first and foremost I forgot my cord to connect my camera to the computer so... no pictures today :((( But I am ECSTATIC to report that I'm not in a sketchy email shop anymore!

Sorry that I didn't get to upload a letter last week, I ran out of time!!

But this letter will comprise both this week and last week! We had transfers today (Hence the subject line), so this week has been pretty hectic!

So I just wanna say that prayers are heard and answered:

Ever since my first transfer I have had an affinity for an area called Umlazi -- it's a township right on the coast that is infamous for poverty and crime, and I have had a strong desire to serve there for the past few months -- well on Saturday I received a call from President Zackrison and he asked me to Follow Up train a missionary named Elder Vaughn in Umlazi W2!!! The Church is true. 

So I got on a bus last night at 2:45 AM and got to Durban at 6 AM, after a thorough inspection of the bus station, I realised that there was nobody there to pick me up! So, deciding to practice developing Christlike attributes, I waited. After practising patience for an hour I gave up and called the APs hahha! Turns out, they made a mistake on the logistics and didn't assign anybody to pick me up! But I will have you know that I have safely arrived in Umlazi!

Last week we received VERY exciting news from the Church Headquarters; in 2011 October General Conference, President Monson announced a temple to be built in Durban, South Africa! However, 4 years later there has been no groundbreaking, BUT the Church came out with an official announcement that the Church is breaking ground for the Durban Temple on 9 April in an area called Umhlanga Rocks (which is a suuuuuper rich area) and get this.. Because I am serving in the Durban Stake now, I get to go!! I'm super super pumped! The temple is projected to finish in 2019, so I've already started planning my trip coming back to South Africa for the dedication! hahaha!

I had some really cool experiences with scipture study and the Sacrament these past few weeks! I wrote in my journal some of the thoughts that I had concerning scipture study and I'll be sure to attach a picture of that next week; but to sum it up now -- I firmly believe that one of the greatest reasons we are COMMANDED to study the scriptures each day is because the scriptures often encourage self reflection, and as experience teaches us -- self reflection leads to realisation of weaknesses and shortcomings! Ultimately, the scriptures reveal a clear path of growth that the Lord would have us walk before we meet Him again!

I have also seen the value of placing the Sacrament at the centre of our week; the sacrament is surely the most important thing we do every week, and surely we should not only think about the Sacrament on Sundays!! Throughout the week we ought to pray for assigned speakers, ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and memorise the sacred prayers that bless and sanctify the Sacrament. Our entire week should prepare us to renew our covenants with the Lord! So, I would encourage each of you to ponder and review your preparation for the Sacrament; I would estimate that most of us can do more to focus on the sacred nature of this Ordinance throughout the week -- so go and change whatever is necessary, and I promise the Lord will bless you for it!!

I think that's all for these past two weeks! Sorry for the drought of pictures recently hahaha but I am determined to send a lot next week!

I love you all and I am so grateful for the support that each of you bless me with!!

Peace N' Blessings,

--

Elder Weiler