We serve a God of miracles!

                                        Cool sunset, cool selfie idea, cool comp, cool car. 😎

Hello All! This week was incredible!! It was my last full week in the mission field. I can't believe it! 

Some highlights:

We had zone conference and it was incredible!! The whole theme was "The Divine Companionship". We talked a lot about the gift of the Holy Ghost and His role in the work. We talked about how important it is that we're united as companions and with the Holy Spirit! It was amazing. I learned A LOT. And it proved fruitful for the rest of the week!

We visited a member family and asked for referrals and we were referred to their neighbors who ARE FROM CUBA!! Cool! The Diaz-Rios family. We love them so much. They came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it too! Brother Diaz-Rios has no religious background, but he said that he enjoyed the environment, teachings, and company!

We actually had 13 investigators at church! We had A LOT of new faces at church on Sunday, and church was PERFECT. All of our investigators loved it! I couldn't be happier!

We also found 13 new investigators throughout the week too! 

We have an investigator who is flying through the lessons, but we've been concerned recently that he's being convinced and not converted. We hadn't seen any sense of penitence in him and we sought revelation on what we could do. On Sunday he came to church!! After church he called us and asked us to come over. It was a little inconvenient, but we felt that it was important. When we got there he told us about a lot of the feelings he had at church and said that he's ready to start the repentance process and be all in with the gospel!! He also asked us for a priesthood blessing and it was a really sacred experience. I'm absolutely elated at his progress and I know that this is a result of the Spirit working in His heart! The divine companionship - 1, Satan - 0.

We've also started a 100 day Book of Mormon reading challenge in the mission!! How neat!

I could go on and on with other miracles and tender mercies we've seen but I think this must suffice. I testify that miracles have not ceased, that the Lord lives, and that if we will seek to be worthy of the gift of the Holy Ghost and follow the promptings we receive, the Lord will do His work before our eyes.

Love you all!

--

Elder Weiler

SUPER MISSIONARIES

This week was incredible!! THE LORD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS. Elder Moyo and I have been praying to be guided to those who are prepared to be baptized RIGHT NOW! And boy we have! I'm not sure if Newcastle is ready for all these baptisms!! hahah

I had my final interview with President Thompson and it was wonderful. I felt so much joy as I reflected on my mission and the lessons I've learned. This is the greatest thing I've ever done in my life! I'm grateful for you all and your support!!

--

Elder Weiler

My Home is My Newcastle (Newcastle Strikes Back!)

Hello everybody! Sorry it's been so long since I wrote an email!!

Since I last wrote I've been transferred from Berea! I'm serving again in my first area, Newcastle!! In the mission, we refer to a missionary's first area as his "birth area" and his last as his "dying area". I was born and I'm dying in Newcastle!!  My new companion is Elder Mathamsanqa Moyo from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and he's a superstar! He's been on mission for 6 months and he's an incredible missionary! I love that he cares so much about the work and that he really desires to be obedient! We get along great! 

It was hard to leave Berea, but it's been wonderful serving in Newcastle again!! I learned so much in Berea. Elder Jones and I were released from our assignment and he is training a new missionary! I'm so grateful for the experiences I had in Berea! I know that the Lord built me up and molded me by His Spirit into the man that He wants me to be! 

When I told the bishopric that I was leaving, Bishop Reabow said "WHAT! I can't sustain that. I need to talk to your mission president!" hahaha I have loved working with him so much, I can proudly say that I did the finest member missionary work of my whole mission in Berea. We saw so much growth in the members and in the ward as a whole, I pray that they might stay changed and stay missionary work focused! 

Going from Berea to Newcastle was quite the jump. I went from 200 sacrament attendance to 65 hahaha. It's good to be back in a branch. I feel like I've come home, the members have received us so well! I'm surprised that everybody remembered my name! Throughout my mission I always wished that I had been better at working with members when I served here, and now I get the chance to come back and do it! We've spent lots of time tracting and teaching members and less actives this week, all in search of the Lord's elect (Doctrine and Covenants 29:7)! We've seen miracles as we have!! 

a few examples:

We planned to go tracting in an area called Fairleigh the other day, but as we were driving there, we didn't feel right about it. So we pulled over and prayed for guidance, we felt impressed to go tract another area and we found several potential investigators, including two father led families!! 

This weekend we taught a counselor in the branch presidency and his family and we asked for referrals, he gave us the information for his less active brothers and sisters. Yesterday we had an hour an felt that we should go visit one of them. We only had time to visit one, so choosing the right person was imperative. Elder Moyo prompted revelation when he asked "Who do you feel we should go to?". When he did I sought for the Spirit and felt strongly that we ought to call one of his sisters. So we did! And they let us come over. During our visit we were blessed with three things:

1. We met her sister and brother in law who are expecting their second son. Her sister is a genius when it comes to the Bible. We shared with her the Book of Mormon and invited her to learn more of the restored gospel! 

2. We found that she and her husband have not been to the temple and that they desire to go!

3. She told us that her kids have been begging to go back to church and to be baptized!! She said that they've been praying to go back. We made a return appointment to teach them and prepare them for baptism! 

(4. They invited us over for lunch so they can make us authentic indian food)

Throughout the visit I felt so strongly that this family was prepared to come back to Church at this time! I know that we were directed by the Lord as an answer to prayers! I'm SO excited to see them progress! 

I'm writing this long email and I hope it makes up for the lack of others. 

The Lord is anxious to see His work go forward, and when we counsel with him and put ourselves in place to do something, the windows of Heaven open and we receive His direction. 

Last week we spent a day with all the new missionaries coming into the mission (14 of them!) and I did my best to teach them that "this is the Lord's work and we do it His way." I know that this is true and I know that miracles have not ceased! The Restoration of the gospel is rolling forth and ours is the responsibility to make it known unto all the inhabitants of the Earth! How great is our calling!

I love you all and I pray that the Spirit may guide you to those who are in need of your testimony.

--

Elder Weiler

    Before transfers, we woke up early and watched the sunrise at the beach with a senior couple!

           Elder Jones and I also climbed the Drakensberg Mountains with President Thompson!

Blessed Beyond Belief!

                                        Exchange with Elder Mnisi from South Africa!

Wow, time is FLYING over here. I can't believe how fast this transfer with Elder Jones is going.  It's been an INCREDIBLE transfer and I'm learning so much about myself and about the Lord and His work. I've said it a million times, and I'm going to say it again, but I never cease to be amazed at the growth and the knowledge that I've accumulated throughout my mission. There's so much more to life than what we see right now, physically. There's so much that can't be know until we look heavenward and seek inspiration.

I wish I could summarize all the blessings and miracles that we've seen but I can only write but an hundredth part of them! These past few weeks have been spectacular!! 

George Q Cannon once said "above all it is most important that a man know himself". I've been fascinated by that quote since the day I read it. On mission I have sought to come to really know myself. Recently I've been privileged to learn about myself. I've been able to establish patterns of what makes me feel good and what makes me feel chaos, what makes me upset, how I can feel better, etc. It's been really uplifting and a blessing to our companionship! 

OH BOY THE WORK HERE IS MILK AND HONEY. Elder Jones and I have been struggling the past week or two because it seems like our investigators keep dropping off the face of the Earth. We struggled a lot with discouragement and disappointment. The other night, we sat down and laid out our plans, we plead for guidance, and searched for things we can do to improve. Mosiah 2:24 says "he (the Lord) doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you" I KNOW THAT'S TRUE because the next day we found so many new investigators and so many powerful people who are prepared for the gospel! This whole weekend has been the same! We ended up finding 12 new investigators in a few days! We had two families and three other individuals come to church yesterday! I wish I had time to write about every person we're teaching because they're all so incredible! 

Yesterday we walked somewhere between 3-4 miles to church with some investigators who can't afford public transport and we had a great time! We sang hymns and greeted EVERYONE along the way! It was awesome! 

All in all, I'm doing so great. The Lord is so good. I'm so grateful to be on mission and to have these sacred experiences, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else! 

Church is true!!

--

Elder Weiler

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

South Africa Durban Mission

                                                               Downtown Durban

                   The district, eating schwarmas (Durban is the Celestial kingdom for Indian food!!)

The mission is getting a new range of bakkies (trucks) called Ford Rangers are they're soooo nice.

 This is Mayville, a township outside of Durban that we do a lot of work it. We call it "Mayville of Dreams"

                 Elder Jones and I found sushi and it was the best day ever. It's been two years...

"Sorry guys, my deaf friends" + Learning at the feet of an Apostle of the Lord

                                                          Office Action pic!!!!

The past two weeks have been INCREDIBLE! I wasn't able to write last week because we didn't take a p-day (the office is super jealous) (I use the word "super" too much. It's super annoying.)

Last week our mission learned at the feet of Ronald A. Rasband. It was an incredible experience! He initially came for a Priesthood Leadership Training, but we booked two hours to see him. He spoke about his recent general conference talk "Let the Holy Spirit Guide". We also had the chance to ask him some questions about missionary work! As he spoke I felt a clear confirmation that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ; while the same message taught that I am a witness and an agent of Jesus Christ while I'm set apart as a full time missionary! 

I never cease to be amazed at the growth that I've seen in myself throughout my mission. My "greenie fire" has become conviction. My faith in Jesus Christ has become deep and abiding. Today we were teaching our waiter about the Book of Mormon. In the middle of our conversation a man came to our table and began to share anti-mormon doctrine with him, he told us that he lived in Southern Utah for years and felt that he had been oppressed by a cult. It was pretty sad to witness. After he was finished, our waiter said "well, everybody has their own opinion, and I'm looking to form my own". He accepted our invitation to read the Book of Mormon and pray. 

I share this experience because it caused some reflection to occur within myself. I thought about everything he had said, but none of it mattered to me. The light and truth of this gospel has been woven into the fibres of my very being. No man or ungodly influence can deny the divine witness I've received of this restored gospel. It was a special moment for me, to realise the growth of my testimony. It reminds me of 3 Nephi 9:20, that mentions how the Lamanites were baptised by the Holy Ghost and they knew it not.

One last thing that stood out to me from our meeting with Elder Rasband was the question "is your word your bond?".

This week was great, aside from the fact that Elder DePriest and I were sick, again. But the Lord consecrated all of our efforts regardless. We attended two zone conferences this week, both were really inspiring! 

Perhaps the highlight of the week was on Saturday, we did a media stand in Durban Central. As we were talking to people (and we were talking to EVERYONE), a missionary pointed to a group of people who were signing. He was like "go teach them in sign language" and I figured it was worth a try! So I went over and started to introduce myself (in American sign language) and they actually understood me! And even though they were signing in South African Sign Language, I was understanding them!! We ended up having a loooong conversation, through which I introduced myself, chit chatted for a bit, and then I taught them about our purpose and the Restoration! It was great at the end, all the other missionaries were just staring at me... haha all of my new deaf friend committed to come to church! So on Sunday morning we went back to where we met them ( we had arranged to meet them there so that we could take them to church with us ), but nobody showed up... We got bunked. Shame. BUT THIS WILL NOT BE THE END!! 

                                                             Sawubona (Hello) Durban 😍

I realised that this is getting long, but I haven't written the hundreth part of all that I'm experiencing here!! Life is so great! The gospel is so true. If you pray properly, sincerely, and with real intent, you will ALWAYS get answers. My most cherished moments recently have been in lessons with investigators as they pray and ask God if what we've taught them is true. The Spirit has testified every single time, and all of us walk away edified.

I love the Lord and I love His work!!

--

Elder Weiler

P.S. Also, there's an incredible mexican food resturante in Durban North called "four15", they have a burrito challenge that I've been dying to do. They make a "double wide" burrito ( a burrito the size of two normal burritos ) and if you eat it in ten minutes you win a free t-shirt and a R100 voucher for your next visit! Three of us did it, I was the only one who finished. I'm not sure if I'm proud, or ashamed... hahaha 

Tina, the Psycho Therapist

THE BEST WAFFLE I'VE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE

Hello All! Elder DePriest and I are working to cut down our email time and focus more on the work and other p-day errands, so time is permanently short!!

This week was really great! I learned a lot about myself! (especially today..) I learned a lot about pride. Elder Carl B. Cook of the Seventy once taught that when we feel frustrated or offended we should ask ourselves "is it pride?". This week I experimented with that, and I had a rude awakening that I'm not right nearly as often as I'd like to think I am hahaha. It's been a good lesson for me to learn, and I pray that I can grow to be more and more humble with time.

Yesterday Sacrament was powerful! The first talk was about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, it was humble and simple, and the Holy Spirit testified. The second talk was about Mothers in the perspective of the Plan of Salvation and from the scriptures and it was also powerful! I was thinking to myself that this is how sacrament meeting is supposed to be!! Simple and focused on the Atonement of Christ! 

After church we went to follow up on a family we'd met earlier last week, but they turned us down. Elder DePriest and I prayed for direction then and there, and we felt that we need to tract the rest of the street. It was pouring rain, the wind was whipping our coats, and we were COLD. But we really felt that that was what the Lord wanted us to do. We'd tracted the area before with no success, but as we went from door to door in the rain, we found several people who were open to learn more and invited us back!! It was a powerful display of the Lord's hand in HIS work. He's in charge, and when we submit ourselves to do things His way, He opens the windows of Heaven and consecrates our efforts to the salvation of others!! 

Afterward, we went to chat with the fam bam :)) How great! It was so nice to see everybody doing well! 

There's a member in our ward who had us over for lunch a few weeks ago, and as we ate she told us about her profession, she's a psycho therapist. As she told us about what she did we were all pretty interested and she invited us to come visit her office and she would teach us more, so we went this morning! We went and got our blood types (I'm an O+, Who woulda thunk?) and then we went to her office. It was really cool! She taught us a lot about anatomy and different functions of the body and what she does to help people! After that, she taught us about our blood types and all the do's and dont's for our types. It was super interesting! 

Everything is going great here in Berea! The Lord is certainly blessing us, and we've got a lot of exciting plans for this upcoming week!! And Elder Rasband is coming!! Wahoo!!

Have a great week!

--

Elder Weiler

Milquetoast

                                                                    Hello Durban 

Sanibonani!

This week was so fast, I don't even know what to say. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we were super busy with transfers, Thursday and Friday we had MLC, and Saturday and Sunday we had Stake Conference, but the Lord has managed to bless us anyway!! 

One of the really profound experiences of the week was actually during weekly planning. After an exciting planning meeting (Elder DePriest and I have big plans for this area) we had our companionship inventory. I've never really liked inventory, but I suppose it's because I never really knew how to conduct it. With that, I've always struggled opening up and sharing my feelings with people. But in MLC we had a lesson about companionship inventory and Elder DePriest and I made a goal to do it every week, and as often as necessary. We actually had two this week! But after our weekly planning we had a really nice inventory and we discussed things that we were doing well as individuals and things we needed to work on as individuals. It was hard for me to open up and share some of my frustrations, but Elder DePriest was really open and loving. After we had a good conversation about some of our potential improvements, I felt so much love! It felt so good to be genuine and to really knock some weaknesses on the head! 

I never cease to be amazed at how the Lord is building me in the mission field. Every area, every companion, every assignment has build me to one degree or another. Elder DePriest and I had a conversation this week about how the Lord is preparing us to run His Church and our families, I know that's true. The experiences that one has in the mission field can't be counterfeited or gained anywhere else! I'm so pleased to be here! I'm so happy to be serving as a missionary! I love the Lord and His work! I know that it's true!! Although we've been so busy, the Lord has led us to so many people who are prepared for His gospel, and we've had several spiritual experiences with strangers this week. For example, we found a Subway in Durban Norht (HALLELUJAH) and as we were there we were able to teach all of the workers about the Book of Mormon! Another night we were able to teach three employees at KFC about the Book of Mormon as well! Even though I'm on mission and this is my life, I know that all of you can have the same experiences if you will pray for them and then open your mouth (yes, even in Utah)!! 

I challenge all of you to share the gospel with AT LEAST 1 person this week, less active or nonmember! Remember that we're not doing missionary work to get people to join the church, we do missionary work so that people can receive the Atonement of Jesus Christ! We do missionary work so that people can feel the joys of repentance and find peace as questions are answered and they feel the love of our Heavenly Father. What we offer is more important and urgent than anything else!!! I testify that the Lord will consecrate our efforts to share His gospel, no matter the immediate outcome.

Have a great week! Remember, the Lord lives, He loves you, and He has a work for you to do!!

--

Elder Weiler

             Found Chinese food :)) First time on mission #BlessinsOnBlessinsOnBlessins

                                      Found this shirt at Pick N Pay ( my fav store in SA)

Sawubona Berea!

Hellos! This is going to be a quick one because we've got a load of work to do! (I say this every week now, I'm not sure why I still say it.. haha)

I've received more information on my assignment! I'll be working with an Elder DePriest from Manassa, Colorado! We served in the Lesotho zone together and we're well acquainted! I'm SO excited to work with him! We've already had great experiences together!

We're working in the mission office and proselyting in downtown Durban, a town called Berea! The Berea ward is actually one of the oldest in the mission! Wowee! CRAZY THING: There's white people in this ward. It's my first time to attend church with white people, it totally freaks me out. I felt so uncomfortable. But it seems to be a really powerful and organised branch! I'm really, really looking forward to serving here.

Sorry for the lame email! I'm share more of my cool experiences and send pictures next week!

Love you all!  

--

Elder Weiler

Long time, no write

I've been reminded a couple times that my blog is collecting dust.. SORRY GUYS. Life is great!!

I cannot believe how fast this transfer is going by!! This transfer has been a season of incredible growth! Day to day I've seen the Lord molding me and guiding us as a companionship!! In terms of our companionship and the work in KwaMashu, we've seen miracles!! 

We had 11 investigators at church yesterday and that was a huge accomplishment - my first week here we had 0 at church...  The Lord has blessed us beyond belief! Another miracle is that we've been guided to so many potential priesthood holders and father led families! Our branch is struggling in Priesthood, but still has the potential to become a ward and set a foundation for another stake in Durban. But the Lord has heard our prayers and has led us to several committed men and fathers who are progressing!! So we're really excited for that! Elder Isoba and I were talking about it the other day, and I think we're going to have a lot of baptisms in the coming transfer!! 

Speaking of transfers.. The transfer hasn't ended yet, but I found out on Saturday that I'm leaving KwaMashu.. I figured I would finish my mission here, but I'm already being transferred! I'll send more details next week (primarily because I'm not totally sure of what's happening yet).

Whenever I write these emails I always feel like they don't do justice for what I feel and experience everyday. The Spirit of God is an incredible gift and receiving revelation and comfort through His influence is an in explainable experience! It is my deepest desire that all of you will be able to feel that and enjoy it as I have. God lives -- I cannot deny that, to do so would display absolute ignorance and total selfishness. I see His hand guide His work and guide me, His son, every single day. Although us missionaries have a unique opportunity to witness this, I know that all can participate as we collectively seek His will and seek, with all diligence, to do His will. 

The restoration is so real and so true. It's effects continue to bless the lives of MILLIONS, including my own. 

My heart is filled with gratitude and love for the Lord and for all of you. 

My best wishes for all of you, no matter where,

--

Elder Weiler

                                       
                                          There is nothing better than Zone Conference . . . .

                                            . . . . complete with Krispy Kreme donuts!

Kwamashu (the name of the township where he is now serving)

                                             Thrusting in the sickle with all my might

Sanibonani! (Greetings!)

I don't have much time today, but I wanted to send some pictures!! All is well in Durban! The Lord continues to bless us day to day. I love Him. I know He lives. I know that He is perfectly aware of all of our circumstances and He is anxious to support us! I bear my witness that Jesus Christ has the power to succor and strengthen us in times of trial! The Atonement is very real, through it we may become saints, the people that God wants us to be and the people we need to be if we are to live with God again.

The Church is true, the book is blue, I'm a child of God and so are you, and Jesus is a Mormon too.

--

Elder Weiler

                                           Our baptism at the end of last transfer!

 . There are monkeys all over where we live, found this guy watching me take out the garbage the other day..

KE MOSOTHO

The baptisms this weekend went great!!! The members are becoming very missionary minded and oriented on retention! It's incredible. The growth I've seen here is a miracle. I don't know if I could be happier with what the Lord has done through us in these past months here. 

I received news that I'm being transferred from Outer Darkness right into the Celestial Kingdom! I'm going back to Durban! I'll be serving in a township called Kwamashu! It's not far from Umlazi, where I served this time last year! I'm SUPER excited! (I was thrilled to received pictures and updates from a member of the branch yesterday, telling me the news that he was being transferred.  It completely made my day to hear her kind words about our missionary and the wonderful baptisms yesterday! Precious and her husband are stalwart members and are so good to the missionaries!  They also just had a beautiful baby girl!)

  

Although I'm going to miss Maseru and Lesotho like CRAZY, I feel hopeful for the upcoming transfer! I'll be working with an elder from Uganda, Elder Isoba! He actually started his mission in Lesotho, so we know each other pretty well!

In short, all is well this side! The Lord is blessing us bountifully! 

RIP to Elder Weiler and Elder Jantjies -- best trainer/trainee companionship in SADM.(South Africa Durban Mission)

The Lord lives! This is His gospel! The Book of Mormon is the word of God!  

Sala Kahle! (back to isiZulu)

--

Elder Weiler

PS I have tons of great pictures, but circumstances are preventing me from sharing them. Expect tons of good ones soon!

Best P-Day Ever!

Dumelang!!

This week was great, we had the best p-day ever today. I don't have a lot of time, these email shops are killing me. I'll do my best to make due though!

As a district we decided that we wanted to go hiking today, so we glanced over Maseru and picked a mountain (it's just like that. Maseru is build in the mountains, you just point at one you like. Almost like choosing a puppy. hahha) So we picked a mountain that was long and flat at the top because we wanted to play soccer when we'd finished hiking. We got to the base of the mountain and realized that we were in for a REALLY tough hike, but we were determined to do it! The hike was awesome. 

When we were getting to the peak that we'd picked out, we saw a community of shepherds about 1/2 km's away. They were yelling at us, but we couldn't understand what they were saying. (Note: Lesotho shepherds live in the mountains. Like, all the time. Just them, their dogs, and their flocks. Pretty crazy life.) While we were watching them, we saw two of them start running over to us. We were pretty confused, but decided to stick around until we figured out what was going on. ( We made battle plans in case they wanted to attack us. We were going to throw rocks at them).

When we finally saw the shepherds again they said (in Sesotho) "Come, we want a photo!" We all started laughing and decided to follow them! (good idea?). One of the guys that came to get us is named Thabo, good guy. He told us he was born in there and had always stayed there!

So we finally get back to their camp and meet the rest of the crew. We started to take some pictures and quickly turned into a photoshoot! One guy just picked up his dog and ran into our group photo, another picked up a shovel, another grabbed a rock and it just got to be so hilarious! We're all laughing and having a good time with these random guys we met in the mountains when we remember that we brought a soccer ball! When we pulled it out of the bag they all went nuts!! They were pumped!! So we found a reasonable plot and played a game! Missionaries vs. Shepherds! It was a blast!! Definitely the BEST p-day of my whole mission. It was legendary. I feel like all the detail may have killed the story.... I should have said this:

"Today we went hiking up into the mountains and ran into a community of mountain men, we challenged them to a game of soccer and smoked them. It was a good day."

Take it how you will, it was awesome.

This week we also had zone conference in Bloemfontein! The theme was "Teaching In the Saviour's Way". We talked a lot about repentance. It feels so good to repent. The more I teach others the Gospel Plan, the more incredible it becomes to me. This week I realized the reality of the Fall and the need for the Atonement. If we didn't have a Saviour, it would be OVER. All of it. No salvation, no happiness, no eternal life, nothing! It renewed my love for the Saviour. I need Him. We all need Him! I love our Heavenly Father, who has designed a perfect plan for all of us!

Repentance is infinitely more a blessing than it is a burden. Even though we'd like to think otherwise, we've all got a lot of work to do. Repentance provides that opportunity for us to begin again when we fall short! As I pondered the growth that I've seen in myself, I was filled with gratitude, knowing that I am much better now than I was then; and with a hope that in a year's time, I'll be much better off than I am now!

I challenge all of you never to plateau in your spiritual progression. Never stop improving! I often find myself frustrated with the thought that I'm never good enough, that I can stop now, that I've done enough; but I glory in the Father's plan, which allows us to receive greater joy as we seek to become more like the Saviour. Never stop taking things to the next level! Although it requires much effort, the Lord will give you more than you feel that you are giving away!

Well I don't have anymore time! I love you all! Thank you for the prayers and the support! I know that this is the Lord's work and it is divine!! I know that we're all enlisted in His work! I challenge all of you to reach out to ONE person and share the gospel with somebody. Let the Holy Spirit guide! Pray and ask for the opportunity to share and keep your eyes peeled!! You'll save a soul!

Elder Weiler

The Waters of Mormon + I Think I'm Going Vegetarian...

Bomme le bontate,

This week was nothing short of miraculous. I know the Lord lives. I wish I had the time to explain in great detail, but "time is not on my side" (Brother Kwame from Ghana).

We had an incredible week!! But I hate pizza now. Domino's had a 50% off all pizzas for the whole week, and our district definitely abused that... I don't think I can ever eat pizza again.. hahha! 

This week we were VERY busy making preparations for our baptisms yesterday. To tell a long story short, it was the best baptismal service I have ever attended in my life!! Everybody was baptised despite unforeseen challenges!! (Nice try, Satan.) All in all, Maseru branch had 10 baptisms!! 6 of which were from our area!! It was probably the best day of my entire mission. 

The Lord has blessed us beyond my imagination. I cannot describe nor tell all of the ways in which He has blessed us, but they are all manifested at the baptismal service yesterday. The Lord has poured out His Spirit in abundance these past months!! Upon us, our investigators, the branch, and this whole nation! The change that has occurred in this branch since I came here is almost unbelievable! 

When I got here the member support was iffy.. But yesterday the chapel was PACKED at the service. It looked like sacrament meeting!!! After the program ended, members and investigators hung around and chatted longer than we stayed! It was all a miracle in our eyes.

The water was freezing cold, most people came out of the water and ran into the bathroom hahha Even though it was funny, the Spirit was absolutely with us. The BEST PART of the whole program, however, was the testimonies of all those who were baptised. We had the privilege to listen to all 10 bear powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon, of the power of the Holy Ghost, and of the restored church of Jesus Christ. These people we baptised are converted! That was the most heartwarming and fulfilling sense of it all. Not the number of baptisms or the attendance, but the idea that we had a small role to play in these people's coming to Christ and conversion to  His gospel is the most rewarding sense of this all. 

I testify again that the Lord lives. He speaks to a prophet on the Earth today! He communicates with US through His Holy Spirit. He continues to work miracles among us, I have seen them and I cannot deny that they come from Him! I know that this is the Lord's kingdom on the Earth today! I know that this is His work and we are all enlisted!! 

I can't express what I feel with words. But I'm happy. I love this place so much and I love this work with all my heart. 

--

Elder Weiler

Darn, it feels good to be a Mormon.

                                                               (London's mini-me)

Dumelang bo-mme le bo-ntate!

This week we got transfer news! 

What are the odds that Elder Jantjies and I stay together?

Probably one in a million...

SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE!

It's a dream come true. Elder Jantjies and I are staying together for 4.5 months and I'll be in Lesotho for 6 months!!! I'm so pumped!! These past three months have been a ball, and I've grown more than I can explain. The work has hastened like I've never seen on my mission, and we get to do it for 6 more weeks!! 

I'm ecstatic to stay as well because we're planning on having 11/12 baptisms in Maseru branch on the 19th. I'M SO PUMPED. The Lord has blessed us ABUNDANTLY. It's unreal. I cannot express my love and appreciation for the miracles we've seen thus far. I know that He'll continue to bless us as we give everything we have to His work! 

I LOVE this restored gospel. It's brought me the greatest joy I've experienced in my life!! I know that this is the Lord's way. Eish, I can't even express my love and gratitude through this keyboard. I love the Lord. I know He lives. I cannot deny that. I know He still speaks to us today through the Holy Spirit. I know He hears our prayers!! 

In line with the subject of this email, I was pondering 4 Nephi 1:14-17 (shoutout to Elder Adams from Germany. Also, we lived together in Umlazi, now he's moving next door to Elder Jantjies and I! Wahooo!) I adore the line "surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God". I want that! I pondered what it was that brought such unity and joy amongst the children of Christ. It says it was the love of God that was in their hearts! Likewise, all came forth, repented of their sins and were baptised! I realise that this gospel is what will bring peace to the individual who feels hopeless, a family that is falling apart, and a world that grows ever more confused and conflicted with each passing day. This gospel is the only hope we have for real, lasting peace and happiness in this life!! 

Agh, words can't express what I feel. I know this gospel is true. I know that Christ lives, and His Atonement is real! 

Well the Book of Mormon is true. I hope you all know that. If you don't I challenge you to find out! If you will read the Book of Mormon, meditate on the message it contains, and ask God, with faith in Christ, if the book is true - He will manifest the truth of it to you through the power of the Holy Ghost! 

I love this work. It is divine in all aspects (even weekly planning). It is exalting. It is humbling. 

I love you all. I love the Saviour. I know He loves you. 

--

Elder Weiler

I'm not good at keeping time...

(It totally made my day to receive a random text/love message this week from a member who is visiting her parents, who are serving in the same area as London.  Nothing like opening a text to see a sweet message, along with our son's handsome, smiling face--and that Elder Jantjies--isn't he the cutest!)

Well this week will be another quick one!!! Everybody's just writing really good emails and it's hard to stop reading!! 

Elder Jantjies and I had a great week this week! Statistically speaking, it was the best week we've had yet! Obviously it's not about numbers, but it's cool to ponder what the numbers represent - sons and daughters of God, our brothers and sisters, coming unto Christ, embracing His Atonement, learning of His restored gospel and church, and learning to seek personal revelation to guide their lives. We've got bigger and better plans for this coming week too! I love this work so much. I'm so grateful to be a missionary. 

I'm also grateful for the opportunities we have to grow! I say this all the time, but I mean it every time! I have grown SO much on mission. I realise, often, that I'm a chump and that I need to repent and get my act together. hahaha. I'm so thankful for our patient, charitable Father in Heaven and I couldn't be more grateful for my Saviour! I think I'm just starting to understand grace. I feel it pushing me along the path to exaltation! I feel it lift me when I feel discouraged. It brings peace to my mind when I consider my weaknesses. Boy, mission is humbling. 

FUN FACT! Today is Elder Jantjies' birthday!! Even though it'll be a week late, you can give him a birthday email! I think it'd blow his mind, send pictures too, he loves white people hahaha.

His email is piwo.jantjies@myldsmail.net !  (I'm going to do this for sure!  I hope you will too!)

A not-so-fun fact: On Saturday Elder Jantjies and I found ourselves with a few minutes before an appointment, so we decided to follow the Spirit and do some finding. After praying and coming upon a place that we felt the Lord wanted us to be, we approached the first door. About two minutes into our dialogue we heard a terrible crash and turned around only to see our bakkie (truck) roll forward and a car pass. We ran back to the road and saw that somebody hit our parked car! Fortunately they stopped and we got everything sorted out. Turns out this Sister didn't have a license... But everybody is safe, and that's all that really matters! 

                                        (Their bakkie.  Thank goodness, not much damage)

                                                    (Her car did not fare so well)

         (Reenactment for your viewing pleasure.  It's never a dull moment with London around!)

Well I think that's all the time I have for this week! I'm so grateful for the gift of life! I'm so grateful for the Plan of Happiness! I know this is Christ's gospel, this is the way back to our Heavenly Father, it's the only way and it's available to all! 

I love you all!

--

Elder Weiler

(We had an amazing experience this week, with a visit from Brother Jorgenson and his family.  He just returned from Lesotho, where he is over the translation of The Book of Mormon in the Sesotho language.  He brought wonderful pictures and kind words about London and the great work that is happening in Lesotho.  Elder Weiler is SO excited about this and shared this with us) . . . .

Also, exciting news, the Maseru chapel was open all week for the translation of the Book of Mormon into Sesotho!! It will take awhile, but it's exciting that they've started! It will be a HUGE blessing to the Saints and the missionaries serving in Lesotho.

I'm so glad you got to meet Brother Jorgenson! That's so fun!! Members have shared with us a lot of powerful experiences translating and reading the Book of Mormon is Sesotho. I think it's really going to change the church here (in the best way possible)!! 

Life is Good, Way Up Here

Hey! What's Up! Hello!

This week was FANTASTIC!!!!

Two highlights:

We had zone conference in Bloemfontein and it was incredible! It was exactly what I needed, a spiritual revival! Mission isn't easy. But God is over all! This is His work and this is His Church!

I also got to see Elder Benissan and that's always a joyous celebration :))

Ntate Seotsanyana was baptised on Sunday! Elder Jantjies performed the ordinance, it was his first baptism :)) The service was great! I always say I don't have time, but today I LITERALLY HAVE NO TIME!

Enjoy some pictures! (The last two weeks he has sent the pictures in Google Drive and it says I need permission to view them.  I have pressed the "get permission" icon both weeks, but have not received an e-mail with permission yet.  If you have any suggestions for me, please let me know.)

The Lord lives!

The First Epistle of Elder Weiler to the Americans (and a couple others)

1. And the first week of 2017 ended in peace.

hahaha no time today, lots of good emails (thanks guys :) ) but we had a great week! I had a bowel blockage earlier this week, which wasn't much fun, but it's better now! (shout out to all the fibre).  (He probably should have saved that for his Mom letter :)  Sorry folks--TMI)  We saw a lot of tender mercies this week! I love the Lord! I know He lives and I know that this is His work!! 

Fun fact about Lesotho: There are no addresses. So, this is a real example of directions to a person's house we received while tracting -- "Go to Qoaling, find the place where they sell animal food, everybody knows it. When you get to the shop you'll see a big house, there's too many kids playing there. Ask them for Tsepo and they'll bring you to my house" .......... -_- thanks mme. hahha it's like that EVERY TIME. But somehow we always manage to find them!! (We have the Liahona). (Todd contacted the mission office asking for an address, so that we could send London's ballot for the election in October.  They totally laughed and said, "There are NO addresses in Lesotho")

Cool experience, yesterday we had an investigator bear his testimony during sacrament meeting. When I saw him get up I was surprised, a little unsure of what he might say, but he bore a sincere, powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon, a living prophet, and the restored church! It was really rewarding as a missionary to see somebody you've been working with feel confident to testify to a congregation of the truthfulness of the Restoration! I feel like a proud Dad :) He's being baptised this Sunday too! We're really excited for him; he's had missionaries teaching him on/off for FIVE YEARS. IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING!

God is good.

(He sent 6 pictures but I couldn't open them!  Such a bummer!)

Ramblings from Old Man Weiler (AKA Ntate Lekhooa)

That's right, Old man Weiler (20 years young is no joke)

Well I don't know where this week went.. in fact, I don't know where this year went! Eish.. Old age...

This week really flew by though! But it was great! I love the Spirit! Elder Jantjies and I really strive to keep revelation central to everything we do; and we're never left disappointed! It hasn't been until now that I realise how appropriate is it named the GIFT of the Holy Ghost. We're surrounded by wickedness, deteriorating morals, and social, political, economic, and spiritual catastrophe. To whom/where shall a person go to find peace in a world that seems to be continually spiraling downward? 

The gift of the Holy Ghost is a guide, He's a Comforter, and a teacher. The gift of the Holy Ghost is a covenant that as long as we're worthy we don't have to brace the trials of life alone! As part of our mortal probation we have to make choices everyday. These choices can be daunting or difficult. On mission, we act as representatives of the Saviour and His church, and as gatekeepers of His Atonement; as such, our responsibility is to help others take the steps that lead to repentance through the Atonement and, ultimately, to conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is often overwhelming (at least to me) and can be really frustrating. BUT I find great comfort knowing that I don't have to do this alone! The Lord has given me, and all of us, the promise of His Spirit to guide us through this life! 

Elder Jantjies and I had a lot of powerful experiences this week receiving revelation. One of the most profound to me happened yesterday. I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting about 5 minutes before church started; as I took my seat at the pulpit I prayed and asked the Lord for His guidance on what He would have me speak about, through the beginning of the meeting, the administration of the sacrament, and during my talk I was guided as to the message the Lord wanted me to share! It was a really cool experience for me. I feel confident that I shared what the Lord would have shared if He were in my place! 

I've talked to a lot of people today about the Spirit and His role in our lives! I know that the Lord is prepared to guide us as we enquire of His opinion! I know that the Spirit will speak peace to our minds as we open our hearts to our Father in Heaven during times of trouble, and I know that through the power of the Holy Ghost all of us might come to have a conviction of the reality and the truthfulness of the restored gospel! 

(Sorry this is getting long but I'm almost done)

Recently I've thought a lot about the early Saints of this dispensation. What would drive people to abandon home, possessions, and comfort to go to a so-called "Zion"? What would motivate a person to lay down his life rather than to deny a so-called prophet? What would carry a person through the persecutions faced by the early Saints? I've concluded that they did what they did and they were able to do it because they really KNEW. They had a conviction of the reality of their covenants to God, of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. and they had been cleansed by the Atonement and knew that they were on the strait and narrow path.

As Saints in the latter latter-days, do we have the same conviction? Are you willing to lay down your life for this gospel? Are you willing to leave behind everything to follow the Saviour? If not, the prescription for conviction is above. The key lies in

- a testimony, through the Spirit of God, of the Book of Mormon as the word of God

- being cleansed by the Atonement of Christ, and living according to the higher law of the gospel

- acting, in all diligence, to magnify the callings the Lord has extended to us (mothers/fathers, missionaries, teachers, leaders, etc.)

I encourage all of you to ponder your personal commitment to following Jesus Christ and seek guidance through the spirit of revelation on how you can improve.

--

Elder Weiler

Pics: During my studies I saw a pillar of light, exactly through my window, about the brightness of the sun ( it was the sun), which gradually fried my corneas...