Hello, Hello, Hello! This is Nat King Cole.

Just kidding, it's Elder Burgess!! 

So not a whole lot but this week has been interesting and long!! Driving down to Pretoria was a hoot (not), and it's been kind of slow. 

So my new companion. His name is Elder Malemo. He's 19, just 28 days older than me, and he's from Bloemfontein, South Africa. He's a really cool guy! He's really fun and a good hard worker! I definitely feel we're going to help this place grow!! Our goal is to get a Group started in our area. I think it's possible at the moment but it might be him that does it. Who knows if I'll be here another transfer. 

Not a whole lot happened this week. We were able to find a lot of less actives! It's quite sad though, many have joined other churches. And the saddest thing I've heard, and I've decided it's one of the saddest things to be said is: "I was a member". People don't understand, it doesn't work like that!

There's still much to do here!! Hopefully in the near future less actives will stop dodging us and we can get them back to church. Elder Malemo and I are trying to focus on them so that a group can happen. It's possible because we had three less actives at church Sunday! 

So my spiritual moment this week was with a new investigator, Lillian Mtolo (good luck pronouncing that). We have been teaching her The Plan of Salvation and she's been very responsive! She's asking questions and I feel that she is very ready for the gospel. I'm so excited to continue teaching her!!

Well "Tha- tha- tha- that's all Folks!"

- Elder Burgess

Elder Malemo and I

Transfer news!

So this past week has just flown!!

Things in the field have been rough. We've had nearly everyone cancel on us or they weren't there. It was sad, but I'm not discouraged. I'm still loving Lenyenye but there's a lot of work to be done! Where's "Eye of the Tiger" when you need it!?!

It has been interesting though. There's been a lot of health problems throughout the mission and in my district two elders got ringworm. One of them, Elder Nielson, was able to have it go away without much worry. But Elder Baldwin wasn't so lucky... his ringworm became infected and covered the whole of his right shoulder. The worst part was when a member clapped his shoulder, which caused it to bleed. The poor guy is doing better. He's gone to the hospital and he'll be better soon, no worries!

So we received transfer news and I was quite surprised. I thought for sure that Elder Bagoole would be leaving, but nope. He's been in Lenyenye my whole mission!! So what's happening is Elder Matjie, my companion, is leaving and then they're opening an area up here in the district so even more elders are coming up! That means that there will be 10 elders in my district! So my new companion is Elder Malemo. He's been on his mission three months longer than myself. He came with Elder Saiah, my first companion. Oh! and Elder Saiah is coming to my district so that will be interesting!

Also, I'm losing my nice flat... Okay, technically I'm not but now four elders will be living there, it's going to be interesting.

When I find out more about Elder Malemo I'll let you know! I'm driving down to Pretoria again to pick him up. It's like a 4 1/2 hour drive one way! 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

- Elder Burgess

We were doing service and nearby there were these little girls pushing wheelbarrows with water in them, so I thought I'd help out. Sister Hall thought she would take a picture.

This is Blessing. He is a member's nephew and the smallest 3 year old I've met!

Elder Matjie and I, after coming back from the area one night, heard frogs, and I mean LOUD frogs. So we went hunting and found this little guy.

Surprise baptisms!

Hello!

So, long time eh? So not much extra from last time but Sunday was spectacular!! I'll get there.

So Saturday we had a Trainer/Trainee Meeting and then had the Assistants to the President come with us to our area. I had Elder May with me. Elder May is the oldest missionary (in mission time that is) here and goes home next transfer. He's from Salt Lake City, Utah. He's a wonderful missionary! I was nervous going with an AP because my mind sees it as he's going to criticize everything I do but it actually went very well. He also was approached and got us a new potential investigator so it was a win of a day! 

Saturday was also Elder Matjie's Birthday!!

Anyway, now onto Sunday!!! So It's been eventful really. I'm not sure if I remember mentioning an investigator Elder Bagoole and I started teaching, Sister Mapula. Well she was just baptized!! Along with Sister Phina!!! Phina is Brother Nico's wife, if you remember! I didn't think I would get to see Phina baptized but it happened!! I love that family so much and now they can work to being sealed to each other and their children. Their oldest can be baptized in about a year! 

So Elder Bagoole baptized Sister Phina and I baptized Sister Mapula. Sister Mapula was kinda scared but extremely jittery and excited! She's a very shy and quiet person but she loves the Church and she has many friends who are members. I can't express how happy I am!!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend like myself! 

Cheerio,
- Elder Burgess

Everyone ready for the baptisms!

Sister Mapula pretending she's gangsta instead of shy.

Elder Bagoole and I's excitement, summed up.

Well hello there, Lekgowa!

Hello Everyone! 

So I just wanted to apologize for these past two weeks. So I had said that we were going to Kruger on the 1st but plans changed. Our Zone Leaders had a meeting on the following Tuesday and had to go down to Pretoria on Monday. But, when I went to email the internet was down, so that was a bummer. And then they said we'd be going on the 8th of August, this last Monday. Thankfully, I am now able to write to you all. 

Life has been good here in South Africa. It's a bit of a struggle though. Our area is interesting. We have some wonderful people to teach and they're interested in the restoration but it's quite hard to get them to come to church. They either work, have their own church, or they say it's far. We've still been able to have some good lessons though.

We had a cool experience with the children. Children are always running around the streets and when they see me they get all excited and start yelling, "Lekgowa" which means white person. Well they end up swarming us so I start handing them pass along cards with the risen Christ on them. They were so happy!! We walked back to our truck and as we were driving away they were waving us off with the pictures! I wish I could've gotten a picture to show you. 

We went to Kruger Monday and it was so fun!! I didn't get quite as many photos because I was driving but I still got some good ones. If you ever get the chance to go to Kruger National Park, I highly recommend it. It is so choice! Oh and take me with. I know where the good places are! 😉

Thank you to you all and know you're in my prayers! 

- Elder Burgess

I was finally able to get a picture of a crocodile! 

A very rare sighting indeed. We chanced upon a wild Elder Flanagan.

I don't blame this elephant. It was pretty hot outside!

P.S. from Cameron's sister: "I caught our Elder online early this morning and asked him why Elder Flanagan was wearing a jacket. He said it was earlier morning and was just starting to warm up."