May 25, 2015

Elder Truscott climbing Devils Peak

Elders eating at Starlight Diner

Well this week went a bit faster than last week did for me, so I guess that is a good thing!
This morning we went and hiked Devil's Peak early...that is why I'm emailing later today! It was a really fun hike, and it’s the one that I hadn't done. Kupka hadn't done it either, and since he only has like 2 more P Days, we decided to do it today! We hiked up and it was in the morning, so it was kind of cold, but then we got towards the top and went into the clouds and it got SUUUPER windy and cold. It was actually really fun. We have some cool videos and pics from the top with the clouds all around us (we couldnt see Cape Town...haha) and it just being windy as can be. It was a good time but our legs are all dead....then we went and got some EFB cause we deserved it ;) ha ha.
Last Monday we went and had a braai at Bro. Hein's place that night, It was lots of fun.
This week was a lot like last week in terms of lessons taught...we did teach a few, but lots of them dropped and stuff.....so we ended up teaching a bit, like time went faster than last week, but not as much or as many as we wanted. One good thing is that we have been getting a few new investigators, and the ones that we have are really starting to progress. Which is cool. I think I was just getting tired of having people to teach but nobody progress, so we've been more bold about baptism with the people, and it seems to be doing really well. People are committing to be baptized once they know that what we're sharing is true, so that always helps stay positive even when the total lessons wasn’t as high as we wanted.
Friday we had a really good district meeting about observing, listening, discerning, and THEN teaching. It was good, makes me be more patient and not just rush into a lesson or a principle, but it really helped us later that day with a lesson we had, so that was cool.
Saturday was awesome too....we went and had breakfast at Shauwn and Carey's house. It was super nice. We cooked, I won’t lie though I kind of slacked on the cooking part, so I will say the other Elders cooked. Ha ha ha. But it was a great morning with them. Then after that it was just an overcast day of missionary work! The weather is slowly starting to transition into winter here, I love it.
We've been teaching girls named Sam and Ntombethembu, they are relatives to a recent convert. They are super awesome and they are loving the gospel. Reading the Book of Mormon and doing super great! We've also been teaching a mother and son named Julia and Yolisa....all 4 of them came to church this week! It was super cool!
Then 2 of Andrew's (Elder Gertzen’s) friends came through as well for the first time, and I don’t know about his friends, but the 4 we've been teaching really enjoyed church! It was great!
Like I said, this week was a decent one...I can’t complain. Less people taught, but the most visitors in sacrament meeting since I've been here, so I'm pumped about that! I guess that is what really counts as well! We are going to keep seeing these new people we've met and try to get them to progress! haha. Just another week!
Love and Miss you,
Elder Truscott

May 18, 2015

Hahaha, I guess the other thing is that on Friday after district meeting we went to the mall for lunch, and Elder Pahulu has a cool leather jacket, so we all bought one. 

We went to Monkey Town this morning, 

This week was a long one here. It honest feels like ages since skyping. Ha ha. The common theme was dropped appointments..... We made up for a terrible week though with a sweet lesson Sunday and this morning's p-day.

We went to Monkey Town this morning, which is a cool place here in Cape Town that just has lots of monkeys (shocker). You can go into the cages and they will jump on you and stuff, and it was a really fun time! So that is why I’m emailing a little bit later than usual. But it was a good time. We went with Kupka and Fonua, and then Elder Wright and Elder McCarroll came with us as well. It was nice!

Tuesday last week we had MLC, which is just a big skype call that lasts a long time and we talked about stuff in the mission. After that we just went out to work, even though I was super tired.  And pretty much after that it started. Dropping like it’s hot.

People weren’t holding appointments at all this week, and we were trying hard to stay motivated and work hard...we did lots of finding in new areas, passed out lots of pamphlets, rescheduled, and made return appts with new people. We are working, it was just a tough week for us.
I really don’t have tons to say about my week....besides MLC we were working all week in Bellville. No exchanges this week.

Hahaha, I guess the other thing is that on Friday after district meeting we went to the mall for lunch, and Elder Pahulu has a cool leather jacket, so we all bought one. Ha ha ha, so now our boarding all has leather jackets, kinda funny.

Sunday church was good. We have been working with a dude named Norman. He is a really nice guy who has struggled to come to church, but he came through this week and we were super happy to see him! Besides him nobody we were really working with came. One of the things mentioned at MLC was that we should try to build relationships with members, so a few days this week Elder Prisbrey and I didn’t have anything in terms of stats, but we taught members all day....so I guess it wasn’t a total fail, it was good. Just didn’t look as good when you're reporting, but it’s not about that.
After church we had.....dropped appts. But we did have one hold and it was a great appt. Then dinner at the Krugers, which is always nice :) We are seriously hoping that this week more appts. hold and we have more success in terms of teaching non members and less actives.....I guess we needed a bad week since we've been on the steady uphill from the time I got here...haha, it was time for a bad one, but next week should be better! We start it good tonight with a braai at Bro. Hein's house! That should be tons of fun!

I love you so much and miss you like crazy!

Love,

Elder Truscott

May 11, 2015

 Monday after emailing we went to Mzoli's, the braai place in Gugs

I was able to take all the things that you sent to the Sibotoboto's! I love that family

Sibotoboto's

Exchanges with Elder Kupka 

Mother's Day Skype Home

A pic of Elder Truscott at the Kruger's (sent to me by Sis. Kruger on Mother's day)

I guess nothing compares in my week to being able to skype with you...but I'll tell you about the rest of my week as well.
So last Monday after emailing we went to Mzoli's, the braai place in Gugs, and we all got some nice meat and had a nice time there! After that I was able to go out and visit a few of the people I know! I got to see Sibu and his grandma, which was really cool! Sibu's grandma remembered me and was like Truscott why are you so scarce!? We miss you!" and it was really nice to see Sibu again. Then I got to see Zuko and Sasa if you remember them! They are doing alright, Sasa is still sitting with the missionaries, but Zuko hasn’t seen any in a while, but they are still awesome! And the Plaatjies werent home, Bantu and Akhona were at work, so we had to head out, but it was awesome to see a few folks from Gugs! Then that night we had a great FHE with the Adam's family!
Tuesday was a decent day. We had 7 set appts, and 4 of them held, but we taught 5 lessons that day. It was good. We were at Bro. Hein's house that night for dinner. He is in the bishopric and has an EXTREMELY nice house. It was very nice to be with him and his family, and they are super nice people! Then after that dinner we had a 2 hour power discussion with a guy who is going to study in Kentucky to be a pastor.....we talked about pretty much everything we believe, from Jospeh Smith and prophets, to the temples, and everything in between. Flip. I felt like Elder Prisbrey and I answered very well and used the scriptures to explain and expound everything we really wanted to say! We gave him a Book of Mormon and hopefully as he reads he'll feel how true all of it is.
Wednesday was a slow day, we taught a few lessons, but I was super exhausted and started to get a little sick that day. Then that night we had to set up for zone conference the next night...luckily for us the senior couples in the cape town area were there as well and they did lots of it which we were very grateful for!
Then Thursday was zone conference! Elder Evans, from the missionary department, was there and spoke to us. It was nice, except I was sick and had a runny nose and stuffed up sinuses the whole time...but he taught about good stuff and since he was a General Authority it was mainly him  speaking.....
Friday we had a REALLY slow day, but it ended great cause I was able to take all the things that you sent to the Sibotoboto's! I love that family. It was a great night there. And after that we started exchanges cause I  was with Elder Kupka on Saturday in Bellville.
We had a really nice day Saturday. We taught a good amount of lessons and had one cool experience! Before lunch we had some time and we went to an area I had never been to. I didn’t know what a realistic goal was for this area, cause it was a nicer area. We asked for one lesson in an hour. We walked and tracted for the whole hour. Nothing. On our way back to the car there was a white man working in his driveway, so we started talking to him. He opened up the gate, talked with us, and spent a solid 45 minutes teaching him points from the restoration and talking! He does import/export stuff so he travels lots, but we got his details, and regardless of what happens, Heavenly Father blessed us AFTER the hour, for our hour of hard work to meet our goal. I count it as a success.
Sunday was of course Mother’s Day. I am so grateful for you mom. I love you so much. Skyping was pretty much the highlight of that day of course, and like I said I’m super grateful the Ellis' let us use their home and stuff....and then after that we went to the Krugers. It’s cool that she sent you that pic :) She is a very nice lady and that family is great!
Well I’ve been excited to chat and talk with you mom.  I also know that you are proud of me mom. I really do. I know I've changed a lot into a better man in general, and I know that you know that as well. Thank you for helping me through it all. I love you and I miss you more than you can even imagine.
Love,
Elder Truscott

May 4, 2015

Tuesday was Elder Pahulu's 6 month on mission mark! We picked them up from their last appt. and went out to Burger King to eat!  Elder Truscott, Elder Pahulu, Elder Prisbrey and Elder Mendenhall

So my week here was flipping long. I don’t know why, transfer week maybe, but it seemed like it took forever. haha.

Monday last week we did that FHE at the chapel. We did a little skit on using the Preach my Gospel in FHE's, and it went pretty well I guess. People laughed and hopefully they start using it. Then we had some games and food, and it was a nice evening.

Tuesday was Elder Pahulu's 6 month on mission mark! We picked them up from their last appt. and went out to Burger King to eat! It was a nice time and then we went home and he burned his tie...it’s nice to be around people who have big click days like that :) My next big one will be with you and we will burn my suit! Ha ha.

Wednesday this week was transfer day, so everyone who was leaving their area flew out. Elder Prisbrey and I were at the mission home making sure everyone was on time and that the few changes from our zone went well. It was a nice time to just be able to see everyone honestly. Ha ha, it was cool. But we stayed the same, so we spent a bit of time there in the morning and afternoon and then came back to Bellville!

We had a normal week of missionary work after transfer day. We worked and tried to get some good lessons in. I will tell you about a super weird lesson we had this week! haha, so we were having a lesson with a member who always invites her friends.
Well we were in the room with 5 Christians (including us), a muslim, and 2 guys who used to be satanists. We had a weird discussion and it really went nowhere.....but made for an interesting time. Made me happy to believe in Christ after that one.

The people here are doing alright. The Pienaar family decided not to go on with our lessons....so that sucked. Billy is doing good. We had a lesson with him and his brother Joseph yesterday. They haven’t gotten to read the BOM yet, but they are interested still. I think Billy is easier to teach than his brother...but Billy got robbed this week so he wants to go back to Zimbabwe...we will see how that goes. Patricia has a baptismal date now, we were shooting for May 10, but we are going to push it back cause we haven’t been able to see her, and her husband sold their car so they haven’t been at church. Throws a wrench in baptism for sure ;) But it will still happen!

And this week we got a new baptism date too! So we have been seeing that girl named Sam, who we met at the recent converts house. Well we were teaching her the plan of salvation this week, and as we started, I just got the feeling to follow up on her prayers of the Book of Mormon, so I asked her. She was super happy to tell us that she prayed, and felt like these things were true, and wants to learn more, and we committed her to be baptized on the 31st of May and she said yes! So as long as she can come to church she'll be golden! It was good :)

We are still trying to find some really good father led families. Trying hard.....but we have some we need to follow up on , and the numbers game continues, the more we find, the better changes one will progress. Flip it’s a process though.

Hopefully this week goes fast and it’s a good one! I'm excited to skype home and see you though!

Love,
Elder Truscott