Basotho Boys!!!!

                                                           Elder Shinga and me!

Dumelanga!!

These past two weeks have been great! Last week I was really sick and had to go to the doctor in Bloemfontein (that's why I didn't email|) but all is well in Zion now!! We're back in business!

I don't have lots of time today but I'll do my best to summarise the good, the bad, and the ugly hahaha (just kidding it's all good stuff)

The highlight of this week was on Tuesday night, last weekend we got a call from somebody (Elder Shinga was on the phone) and all I heard is that they wanted us to come speak to some people about the Book of Mormon, so we were like okay yeah that's sweet we can do that and on Tuesday night we went to Maseru mall where a private room was booked for this event -- now in our minds we thought that maybe it was just a small function and they wanted us to come take up some time -- but upon arriving we discover that this is an event where religious leaders from all over Lesotho and South Africa have been invited to discuss the history and the trustworthiness of their holy scripture.... We're surrounded by people in religious garb and suits and we rolled up in our short sleeved white shirts and sweaters (it was a little chilly) not only that but we found out that only one of us could speak and that they were expecting a copy of a seven minute speech on that they could give for press.... whoops. We were a little unprepared. hahahah so I ended up sitting on this council and shot from the hip! AND IT TURNED OUT GREAT! hahahaha it was one of the most fascinating and uplifting functions I've ever been to! It was hosted by the WHPL, which is an organization that is working to helping different religions have greater understanding and support for one another -- in hopes that we can quell religious warfare and conflict all over the world! 

When it came time for me to talk about Christian holy scripture, I was grateful that I was sitting on the council with a pastor from Durban, he spoke about the Bible, which gave me 7 minutes to teach and testify about the Book of Mormon! I had a really sweet experience teaching by the Spirit and at the end of my 7 minutes I feel certain that every person in the room, regardless of denomination, felt the Lord's spirit! There was a distinct reverence that followed that always comes when the Spirit is present. It was a really special experience, it was so humbling to be a mouthpiece of the Lord! All in all, it was a really well executed event and I'm so glad we got to go! Also, the food was so delicious and I definitely pigged out hahaha

This weekend we had Zone Conference and Elder S. Mark Palmer from the Seventy came!! It was phenomenal!!! We talked a lot about the relation between joy and obeidence, goal setting, and our doctrinal purpose as missionaries! It reminded me how simple missionary work is -- WE ARE TO PROCLAIM THE JOYS OF REPENTANCE! Further, we're here to help people access the Atonement of Jesus Christ! The whole point of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to help us find healing and power through the Atonement of Jesus Christ! We also did a Q&A with Elder Palmer and President Thompson and that was awesome!

Overall, I want to emphasize that we're all missionaries! Every one of us that has received the restored gospel has a responsibility to share it! We've on the path to receive the greatest gift God has to offer, eternal life! While we walk along the path that leads to eternal life, we can't be satisfied while our brothers and sisters are perishing and both sides of us! PEOPLE NEED THE GOSPEL! It's the only way back to the Father; and the great plan of happiness was designed so ALL could return to our Father presence in our Heavenly home! 

Well, I don't have much else to say ( that's a first.. ever ) other than to say that I know the work is true! I know that the restored gospel is Christ's gospel! I can't live without it! The Book of Mormon brings light into our lives and the testimonies that lie within those pages are life changing! I'm so grateful to be a missionary! This is the best life a person could live!! I know that we can all partake of the joys of missionary work as we open our mouths and invite others to come unto Christ! 

Sala Hantle! (Stay Well!)

--

Elder Weiler

Week 1 in the MOUNTAIN KINGDOM

Mmoja mmoja fam bam!!

I'm back to sketchy email shops (Lesotho is full of them hahaha) and I can't say I missed them!! hahaha but it's good to be here; thanks for having me

I'm sitting here trying to figure out where this week went.. It was crazy! We got to Lesotho on Wednesday, had to go back to South Africa for a council meeting, and watched General Conference this weekend!! So far I'm loving Lesotho!! It's SUPER different from ZA! (I've mentioned that to every person I've emailed today, sorry hahah) As soon as we crossed the border we had entered a different world! Lesotho is a lot more rural than South Africa! As we've done some traveling throughout Lesotho I've enjoyed watching men and children ride around on donkeys and tending their flocks hahaha however, Elder Shinga and I work in town, so I don't think I'll be riding any donkeys for myself (shame..) hahaha

Just a heads-up, I forgot my camera cord, so I'll be sure to send pictures next week!

Serving with Elder Shinga has been awesome! He's taught me a lot about service -- I don't think a day has gone by that he hasn't served me! It really gets the brotherly love flowing <3 :,) Serve the people around you if you want to feel more joy!! People need YOU and your gifts!!

One thing that I love about coming to new areas is the chance to set new goals for myself -- this transfer I want to be a lot more bold! I'm gravity of our calling as missionaries is really starting to distill on me and I'm realizing that if people don't repent then they won't live with God again -- they won't feel the joy that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they won't feel the joy that comes from receiving revelation, and they won't experience the blessings that we receive so generously as members of the Church -- that's where we come in!

 I was reading something called the Donaldson Papers this week and I read that missionaries are gatekeepers of the Atonement, as I pondered that I realized it was true! As a missionary I carry the responsibility to help others understand and access the powers of our Saviour's Atonement!! So, to fulfill my missionary purpose --

I know that the Atonement is real! I know that we access the powers of the Atonement through the gospel of Jesus Christ, namely:

Faith in Jesus Christ

Sincere Repentance
Baptism of Water for the Remission of Sins

Baptism of the Spirit for Purification and to Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost

and Remaining Faithful Throughout our Lives!

As we follow the plan that our Father has established for us we experience the power of the Atonement as we realize a remission of our sins, we overcome our weaknesses (the natural man), and as we literally come unto Christ by following His example!

I know that there is no other way back to the Father than through the plan listed above -- I know that even though we are in a fallen state now, all of us can become like God through the exalting powers of the Atonement!

Joseph Smith taught something along the lines that we can only learn about the Atonement by experiencing it -- not simply by reading about it. I challenge you to ask our Father to have intimate experiences with the Atonement DAILY! I promise that as you feel the cleansing, enabling, and reconciling powers of the Atonement from day to day that you will come to KNOW Christ; that He will be as real to you as any other person!

I know that my Redeemer lives, I know that because of Him we'll all live again to!

I know you can learn more about Christ from the Book of Mormon; it's true! It's a witness of His divinity and we can all get nearer to God by studying it from day to day.

With love,
--

Elder Weiler

Forget Rand, I Need Maloti!!! + The Book of Mormon Makes All The Difference

                                Making the best out of our dusty area hahah... free advertising!! 

For those of you who didn't get the joke in the subject, the answer lies herein.

Dumelanga!! (PS This turned out longer than I intended it to be but I firmly believe that it is of great significance to you)

Week 6 is come and gone! I CANNOT believe that this transfer with Elder Masinga is already over! It's definitely been one of best of my whole mission! I feel like we've had a lot of success in the past 6 weeks!! I learned a lot this transfer how important companionship harmony is! When you and a companion (this can also be considered in terms of marriage) are unified and equally yoked in your desire to preach repentance and baptize converts, it's beautiful hahah! The Lord has blessed us bountifully!!! 

My time is Blomanda and Bloemfontein has officially come to an end :(( I LOVE it here!! Of all the places I've lived I think I could live in Bloemfontein forever hahaha HOWEVER, I'm being transferred to what President Thompson referred to as "the promised land" -- Lesotho!!! Lesotho is a landlocked country within South Africa and the field is white already harvest! President Thompson wants to have a Lesotho stake before he leaves, so missionaries in Lesotho are working double time!! 

Ever since I got my mission call I've felt drawn to Lesotho! I'm so excited to serve there! I'll be one of six missionaries serving in the nation's capitol, Maseru! Also, the currency in South Africa is the Rand and the currency in Lesotho is called Maloti! So yeah... it's symbolic of my transition.. ha.. ha.

This weekend we got to watch General Conference; we even watched a few sessions live, which was awesome!! The more and more that I teach the Restoration, the deeper the absolute need for prophets today sinks into my heart! We HAVE to be guided today! There is no other way; to say that we no longer need prophets is to say that we don't have changing standards, confusion, and a need for personal revelation.. It doesn't make sense that God WOULDN'T call prophets in our day! I'm so grateful for a loving and understanding Father that communicates to us in these last days!

The second part of the topic reflects something I've noticed a lot on my mission -- this week more than ever. We were visiting a family from the ward this week who is on and off active and less active; we've visited them a few times over the past months and I've always been interested in the way that Ma talks about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. Let me explain: I've noticed a stark contrast between those that read and understand the Book of Mormon and those who do not by the way that they speak of Christ. Those who read and have a testimony of the Book of Mormon seem to speak of Christ more reverently, personally, and intimately whereas those who do not seem to speak of Him as a celebrity or an urban legend ( no offense intended ). Those who read the Book of Mormon seem to have a greater sense of their accountability for their actions whereas those who do not seem to do as they please and leave it to God to have grace on them; while these contrasts are not spiritually fatal -- they make a great difference in the way that we see ourselves in relation to Deity ( I hope this makes sense ). 

Ma always talks about God in the manner of those who do not read the Book of Mormon -- while she is a woman of great faith, the connection, or the understanding, isn't really there. So we probed a bit into her reading of the Book of Mormon, only to discover that not only has she never finished it, but she has hardly read any of it!! She is familiar with names, but she isn't familiar with stories, doctrines, or teachings. Elder Masinga and I then testified of the absolute import of the Book of Mormon and it's witness of Jesus Christ and His role as our Saviour, the Son of God. 

We also warned her of the danger that comes when we as Saints treat lightly the Book of Mormon (Doctrine and Covenants 84:51-58). 

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we have been blessed beyond comprehension by the coming forth of the Book of Mormon -- the central doctrines and teaching of the gospel come from the Book of Mormon! (Atonement, Plan of Salvation, Priesthood Authority, Manner of Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, Repentance etc.)

I know that the warning administered to the Prophet Joseph Smith applies to us today! If we do not remember the Book of Mormon we will be scourged!! We will falter in the face of adversity and we will never have valiant testimonies of the Messiah. It is that clear. We have a treasure in this church and God expects us to treat it as treasure!

If you're not reading something from the Book of Mormon each day then I challenge you to start today -- it is crucial for your salvation! (2 Nephi 32:3-4) If you're studying another book of scripture, follow the footnotes! TASTE FROM THE BOOK OF MORMON EACH DAY! 

I love you all! I love the Book of Mormon! I know that it has the power to change your life! I know that the witness of Christ that lies within those  531 pages contains the most powerful testimony that exists -- that Jesus Christ came to Earth, performed the Atonement, and that He has given us access to that Atonement (ordinances)!!!

--

Elder Weiler

                  FOUND DP IN SOUTH AFRICA :,)) It's crazy expensive because it's imported. 
                                                          It was a little taste of home!

Remember my 7-legged friend? Well he disappeared shortly after I included him in my email... I thought he died... But he showed up yesterday morning in our bathroom! He scared me to death too hahha