Triple Zone Conference/YSA Group In Stellies

   This week was good. We had our mission tour. Elder Dube of the Seventy came and talked to us so that was cool.  Elder Dube is awesome, he's a funny guy. Tuesday and Wednesday we had zoom zone conferences then on Thursday we had our in person one. It was a lot of sitting and listening but I learned a lot, so it was great. Some things I learned from Elder Dube is that when teaching we should be using the scriptures to teach the principles and doctrine not just a few verses to back up what we're saying. Another thing Elder Dube talked about is "Don't be a boiling frog". And he explained that by saying, when you put a frog in boiling water it'll jump out right away. But if you put it in room temperature water and then slowly start adding boiling water it'll swim until it is dead from being boiled. Which is a great analogy to remember because if you put yourself in a place with bad standards and morals right away then you'll leave. But if you slowly start letting your standards slip with the little things, then slowly but surely your standards and morals will completely change.  

   The mission tour took up a lot of our time this week. But we still did have some great lessons. We met again with our friend Randall, he's awesome. He loves the Book of Mormon. We taught him the plan of salvation this time. And it's just so cool to see someone learn about the Joy that comes with having that knowledge. He is the former gang member that works as a security guard.  He really wants to come to church but he works every Sunday, but hopefully he can have a day off soon.  We had another powerful lesson with our friend Noah. He's a college student here at the university. We also taught him the plan of salvation. He was like in shock, he couldn't believe it lol. His face was priceless. It was a powerful lesson. He asked so many questions, but they were good questions. Also, I saw a grasshopper the other day that was like 4in long. It was cool but gross.  

   Also, we got some exciting news this Sunday. I was talking with the stake president at church and he told me that they finally got approval from the area presidency for the ysa (young student association) group/student center to start up in Stellenbosch. They got a new building in town that they will start renovations on it soon. Which is honestly a miracle. Because they haven't had missionaries in Stellenbosch for longer than 6 months at a time ever before me. Missionaries have been trying to start a group in Stellenbosch for years. It's just really a tender mercy for me because even though I won't be here when it's up and running, it's amazing to see the Lord bless us for all our hard work here that last 7 1/2 months I've been in Stellies. Now I really know all the hard days, people, frustration, etc, were all truly worth it. That my time here wasn't for nothing. That the Lord needed me here at this time and for the length of time that I was here to help push the work in Stellenbosch over the hill. I know that even when things are hard, God has a plan and purpose for all of us in every situation. That the hand of the Lord is in the details of our lives.   

   We get transfer news next week so I'm praying I get transferred. I'm grateful for the time I've spent in Stellenbosch but I'm ready for something new. 

Love ya'll and happy valentine’s day! <3   

Elder Quick

Mason.quick@missionary.org