Stellenbosch Week 18, End Of Transfer 3!

Yo, what's up?  This week we got transfer news.  And, it was exciting and disappointing at the same time.  Disappointing because originally, I was supposed to train a new Elder from Kenya but he didn't get his visa in time so I’m getting a different Elder named Elder Howard.  However, I’m excited for a change because I was with my first comp for 4 1/2 months. 

Some highlights from this week was Thanksgiving, it was super fun.  We got together as a district and we all prepared food to share and had a good time.  Also, my Birthday was this past week so that was fun.  We went it out to dinner with a guy we've been teaching named Mark Harrison - he's hilarious.  We love spending time with him.  Holidays and Birthdays are weird on mission.  They just feel like normal days.   

A super cool teaching experience we had this week was with Caleb.  Who is dating a member in our ward.  He has been really trying to figure out for himself if the Church is true and if the Book of Mormon is true, which is awesome.  We had like a 3 hour lesson with him just answering all his questions.  We helped him realize why all of the works corelate to salvation (because that was something he had a hard time understanding).  We also told him how we as a Church focus on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  And, by the end of it he was telling us how he thinks he's ready for baptism but he just needs to read and pray a little more to prepare.  He also told us all the answers he's received about the gospel.  Like how he feels being with us, the Holmes family, and at church.  We helped him realize that that's the sprit and he explained how everything kind of is just clicking in his head.  It was one of the most powerful lessons I’ve been a part of. 

Something funny that happened this week was I got one of the worst haircuts ever!  So, I decided to just shave it all off, lol.  It is really nice for the summer though because it is getting really hot here. Also, another cool moment was on exchanges.  We were biking by the beach and we saw a beached whale.  Which was super sad, but it was cool to see too, lol. 

I've been reading “Jesus the Christ” (Talmage) a lot lately and I’ve almost finished the book in fact.  I have got like 2 chapters left.  But that book is amazing!  It's really strengthened my testimony in Jesus Christ just that much more.  I suggest you all should go read it. 

Something that I really liked while reading in Doctrine & Covenants was  

D&C 40:2 

"And he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution and the cares of the world caused him to reject the word." 

This verse is super powerful.  Because there are many people who at first receive the gospel into their hearts.  But because of the fears and judgments of the world they let Satan tempt them, they will reject the gospel because they fall subject to the judgment and opinions of the world.  They fear man more than they fear God.  What we do is to fear God more than we fear man.  We need to love the gospel with all our hearts and be willing to do whatever God asks of us.  We need to be willing to defend the Savior and His gospel even if it means standing alone in the crowd. 

Things I miss this week:

The boyos

Birthday/Thanksgiving at home.

My hair

Moose 

Anyways love and miss you all.  Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!

-Love Elder Quick