Stellenbosch Week 9, Baboons, Penguins And Whales

This week was definitely better than last week, except we have had loadshedding every single morning and afternoon this week.  Which honestly sucks, especially at night because there is no electricity at all so everything is just pitch black.  It is like almost being back in the days with no electricity, it is just the best, lol … j/k … it sucks.  

Highlight of the week: 

We had Exchanges this week and I went to Hermans with Elder Cantrell.  He is a beast and I want to be companions with him someday.  He is so much fun to be around, and someone I think I’d be friends with back home.  Plus, we worked well together.  This was one of the best days on my mission so far.  On our way to Hermans, which is like a hour drive from the rest of our district, we saw some Baboons and a baby baboon too, which was so cool.  We also stopped by this beach where there were literally hundreds of Penguins, so that was so cool.  The Penguins were super chill so you could walk straight up to them and they didn't care or run away.  We taught some amazing people in the township in Hermans.  It was funny though because one lesson the mom just out of nowhere whipped it out and stated breast feeding her baby.  Which was shocking because I was in the middle of explaining the Atonement of Jesus Christ to them.  That was very shocking, kind of weird, but I guess that's just normal here. After the lessons all the kids would come up to us and walk with us asking all sorts of questions, which is awesome as they are all so cute.  It kind of makes me sad though because they have to grow up in such rough conditions and tiny houses with metal sheet roofs.  It makes me feel so grateful for where I was able to grow up and for a hardworking family.  It makes me feel really thankful and realize all the blessing Heavenly Father has given me.  In the morning before we exchanged back, it was the start of the Whale festival, so we got to see some Humpback whales before going back.  Also, super random, we saw 4 Lamborghini which was crazy. I think they were there for the whale festival. Hermans is so beautiful, I want to serve there so bad.  Also, I want to companion with Elder Cantrell so bad as he is a beast. 

We found a lot more quality people this week, so our teaching pool should be better.  It was lowkey and not great last 2 weeks because Elder Haas is kind of dying, so I have to get him going to do what we are supposed to be doing, which is annoying lol.  But, we found better people this week so we should be back to teaching almost all day again, which I’m excited for and should help. 

We were tracking the other night and it started just absolutely pouring which was kind of fun.  I kind of like the rain, but it's funny when it's raining more people let us in to their homes … so that's pretty cool.  One lady said when we were leaving her house: “This street is dangerous; you must be careful or they'll shoot you.”  That was great to hear and made me feel very safe, ha-ha-ha.  But honestly, there has only been a few times where I’ve felt like we aren’t safe here. Other than that, it's been pretty chill. 

Another funny thing is that some of the Black and the Colored people we see always call us Pastor.  We will be walking through the neighborhood or townships and they're like: “Hey pastor snap snap" which is funny because we have told them we are not Pastors, but they don’t care they call us Pastor's anyways. ha-ha.  The homeless people come up to us sometimes and ask us to pray for them, like right there in the middle of the store or on the street which is kind of cool and I’m happy to do it, but I’m just not use to it so it was weird at first.  I would say so far, the Black and Colored people are my favorite, most of them are just so humble and willing to listen.  South Africa is weird though because there are 3 races Black, Colored, and White.  Honestly, I still cannot tell the difference between the Colored and the Black people all that well.  

We met with this crazy guy; his name is Mark Harrison. His family owns Marriott hotels, so he is loaded.  But I think this guy has a screw loose.  He fell away from the church and was crazy and did cocaine and all sorts of stuff.  He has a Russian Fiancé that apparently proposed to him, I guess.  He told us he went on a mission, which shocked me, and he said he found a girlfriend on his mission, how he drank on his mission, and said he was doing things to try and get sent home.  He is literally crazy.   I have never talked to someone who's so naturally funny, insane, ADHD, and so smart and dumb, all at the same time.  It was honestly emotionally draining to just talk to him.  But, I am happy he wants to join the church again and get back to the straight and narrow path.  He also has a super cute dog, it's a Frenchie. 

We have been meeting with our main guy John.  He wants to be baptized so I think the next lesson we are going to set a hard date and see what he thinks.  John's a beast and his understanding is awesome.  Also, something really cool is that he is moving to New York City to go to Juilliard which is a music/drama school.  He is like goated.  He just released a song this week which was super good. But, it's also cool because he's moving to my boy Elder Harris' mission, so it would be cool if he got it teach him too.  

Spiritual thought: 

I finished Alma this week and I was reading about the stripling warriors.  It's honestly really inspiring to read about. I want to be like them. A verse I liked was Alma 57:27 

"Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually" 

I love this verse because all we really need to do is put our trust in our Heavenly Father because he knows what is best for us.  Sometimes I want to do what I want and what I think is the best, but I’ve found that if I just trust in God, he will deliver me to where I need to be if I’m willing to put the work and time in to get there.  The faith of the Stripling Warriors is incredible, and is something we can all look up to.  I want to have grown my Faith as strong as their faith. 

Shoutout to Elder Harris for starting his mission this week, he is going to the big apple.  All the mission boys are finally out.  Also, Happy Birthday to my guy Harry Taggart!!! His birthday was on the 23rd so if you didn't wish him Happy Bday - do it now.  Finally, the township family we teach gave me a Xhosa name. I guess that is a thing they do here when you're not Xhosa and they like accept you into their family.  But I forgot how to say it, hahaha, so I will have to ask them what is again so I can tell you guys. 

I love and miss all you guys and I miss lacrosse, snap!!

-Elder Quick