Unfortunate luck.

I apologize for the late blog post. I'm moving this week so things have been busy. Here's Cameron's letter. Thank you to everyone who continually supports him. - Kimberli



Hi all!

So this past week wasn't very eventful. We've had several people skip appointments and some things come up. 

So we put the car in for service last Monday which meant we were walking for a few days. I ended up pulling a muscle and that slowed us down. Also, the sun has slowed us down. It's been really hot here, everyone says it never gets this hot here. Let's see what else.... oh yeah, I have Tonsillitis! Shortly after pulling the muscle behind my right knee I started to not feel that well. After district meeting the Gublers, senior couple in Polokwane, took me to a doctor. He said I win the prize for the worst Tonsillitis he's ever seen! But don't worry, I've been taking medicine and I'm doing very well! The Lord's work will not be slowed!

This week hasn't been the most productive but it's still seen us through. We had some great appointments and people are accepting the gospel. We've begun to make a little progress with Lucas, the pastor, which I hope continues. 

We also have a new investigator, her name is Taffy. It's a shortened name of course. She's new in town and found our church because she doesn't speak the local languages. It's the only English speaking church. She's 24, very out going and I hope she continues to pursue the truth. She's curious about the origin of the church, because she's never heard of it, which is wonderful because that's where we begin teaching! The only problem with her is she works a lot! But I'm hopeful.

Nothing too exciting, as I said, but please rely on the Lord and His Atonement. Normally when I get sick like this I'm out for a few days but I've never been more active! And I know it's because of the Lord's Atonement!

I love you all and please don't take any offense when I say I've found a new home. I love it here and I love my mission.

-Elder Burgess

Here's a funny sign that hangs at the shopping mall near us!

The field is white to harvest.

We briefly heard from Cameron last week, however, he didn't have time to write a public email. But! He has spoken now. Enjoy :)



Hello Everyone,

I apologize for not writing last week. We had a Zone Activity and I didn't have time to write a group message. I'll do my best to fill in for my missed time.

So my first Zone Activity went well. We went to the Echo Caves. They were pretty cool. To get through them was fun. We had to crawl through a few parts. There was some fun parts and some not so fun...like the drive. The drive was beautiful but my area is the farthest away so I was pretty tired by the end. Luckily I wasn't driving the whole way. Oh, but I saw my first baboon! There's so many of them! They just sit on the side of the road in areas but if you try to stop and take a picture they bolt away. I have many pictures of their behinds, haha!

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone expressed love and gratitude to those that mean more to you. In reality we should always show love and gratitude, but tis the season right? I'll be honest, I forgot it was Valentine's Day until an investigator said it was Sunday. He was trying to make an excuse to not come to church.

Speaking of investigators let me tell you more about the area of Mokopane. We have several investigators, somewhere around 13 or so. Majority are recent additions so they're all at the beginning, but very inquisitive! The ones that are progressing are Kevin, Kgoleng, Peggy and Crystal. Crystal is on date to be baptized on the 28th. She has an amazing testimony and family! Her husband, Ngoako Pabale (I won't even try to tell you how to pronounce that, you have to hear it), has been a member for 10 years! He's waited a long time for his wife to accept the gospel. She hated the church but she now is so strong and committed like her husband.  He just went to the temple and received his endowment and on the 28th he'll be able to baptize his wife and 8 year old daughter. I'm so excited!

Peggy, Kevin and Kgoleng: Peggy is an unbaptized member. She's been investigating for a long time. She just wants to be baptized with her husband, Lucas. Lucas is great. He knows the church is true. He has read the Book of Mormon and believes in it. The only catch: he's the pastor of another church. But we're hopeful for him and his wife's sake.

Kevin and Kgoleng are Peggy's nephews and they are golden!  They love what we have to say and keep  wanting more! I have high hopes.

Lastly, I gave my first talk yesterday. It was on Humility and its role in members. From looking at this I found something insightful. Please read Moses 4: 1-4 in the Pearl of Great Price. It shows how the war we now fight started with pride. ultimately our war is pride vs humility. Satan's pride is why he was cast out and Jesus's Humility is why he is our Savior. 

Let us not be found "captive" by pride. I love you all!

- Elder Burgess

Me in one of the crawl through passages in the Echo Caves

A spider I found on my wall... it was about the size of my palm and extremely fast! Thank goodness I don't have arachnophobia. 

Under water...

Here's Cameron's update for the week :) It's a new month! Happy February. Enjoy!



Family & Friends -

I had an amazing opportunity to attend Mission Tour with Elder Cook. He's the Area Seventy over all of Southern Africa. We had an amazing discussion with him!! But when we got to the church, it was flooded. The building's water was shut off and someone left on a faucet, so when the water came back on, *boom!* flood. We cleaned up what we could and had someone come and vacuum all the water up. It was actually quite fun. 

The Tour was held 2 hours from me (I've been driving a lot!) in a town called Tzaneen. When you think of Africa and the places where it's really green mountains and beautiful fog everywhere... that's Tzaneen. It's amazing!! Oh and instead of cattle crossing signs they have hippo crossing signs! I didn't get to see any though.... 

I also had the chance to have my first exchange. I was with Elder Lybe, the Zone Leader. He's a cool guy and we had a great time!! He's from California so we had a little more in common than other elders, haha! 

I've been having a wonderful time! The people at times are difficult, but you just keep pushing on! I also kinda forgot to say something last week... I had my first baptism Sunday!! It was so cool! Her name is Celia and although her English isn't the best, she loves God and his Church so much!

I've been striving to be an obedient missionary and it blesses you so much more!! I love Africa, I love the people, I love the food, I love God and I love his church.

I apologize if I don't write many of you, I'm rushing off to a district activity. We're going to go tour one of the soccer stadiums they used in the world cup. 

Love you all! 

Stay close to God and thank him for all you have, because it was His to give you!

- Elder Burgess

Elder & Sister Cook

Elder Saiah, Celia, her grandma and myself