Happy Halloween!

🎃 🍁 🎃 🍂 🎃

Hello Friends and family!! Sorry about yesterday, we had a zone activity and went to Tzaneen! 

It was way fun, just really hot!! We went and played soccer and you might recognize the place. I played there before, like a year ago though. It was nice to see Tzaneen again, a little weird but nice. 

So let me tell you about this week. It was a good one, but it went fast!! We did find a few new investigators. It was great with Margaret and Thabo (Some of the new investigators) because when we went back Margaret had read the pamphlet and started the Book of Mormon. Sadly we weren't able to share again that next time because she was busy working (she's a seamstress and a good one at that!). Margaret is a very faithful woman who loves God and Jesus Christ and Thabo is her 24 year old son. He's a student but helps his mom with her business. He's also very interested in what we have to share.

Other than that, we had an activity with the Polokwane YSA where we hiked a hill on campus of the University of Limpopo then played games after. It was fun but it was a big contrast from yesterday because it was so cold!! Man, Limpopo is bipolar! 

Great news!! Now attending Seshego branch are a few old friends from old areas! From Mokopane we have the investigator Johannes Chanza, who is actually not an investigator anymore, but a member!! He investigated the church for over 15 years!! Also attending with us is the Matholes from Lenyenye Branch. They actually moved away before I left Lenyenye. They were recent converts then but are now sealed!

It was a decent week. My health has been getting better, ever slowly but surely. Well I hope you have a great week!

- Elder Burgess

P.S.  Honestly, I kind of forgot about Halloween because it's not celebrated here...

Back in Tzaneen and loving the sights!

Bit messy from playing, just taking a breather. It was so hot!! and the turf wasn't helping!!

Brother Johannes Chanza, a former investigator turned convert from Mokopane!

Brother Mathole and his family from Lenyenye. I didn't get to say goodbye to them properly so it's wonderful to see them again.

Limpopo

I hope you're all doing well. This past week was a decent one. So I've been happy and just trying to get to know the people. It's weird being back in Limpopo. I recognize some places and some people.

But let me start from transfers. It was a little rough saying goodbye to the departing elders but the gospel helps us to know that there really aren't goodbyes.  But after saying farewell Elder Khupiso and I took to Limpopo. We arrived late but still I recognize the city of Polokwane. 

We went around the next few days trying to meet the people until Friday. Friday went well but by the end I wasn't feeling too well. Saturday then showed up and came with "great fun". I'll just tell you all this, don't get ulcers. For once I was out of commission. Even now I'm not doing the best but I'll get there.

So not too much this week. I'll let you know more when it happens!

Cheers all!

- Elder Burgess

Elder Khupiso and I 

Sister Mary Lamola

A Special Request

In Zone Conference we were asked "Why are you here?" 

It struck me that I wanted to know from others. So I have a request. I want to know: "Why did you serve a mission?" for those that did, "Why are you serving a mission currently?"

For others:
"Why are you in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?"

"What makes you stay?"

I'd like to get everyone's response that is willing. It doesn't have to be long but if it is that is okay. Write freely! 

I would like to compile everyone's testimony/ story and keep them and also share the responses on my blog. For those who are willing to send this, please put "I'm here because..." in the 'subject line' of your EMAIL and send it directly to ME. 

INCLUDE in the SUBJECT LINE of your email either:

If you are NOT okay with your response being featured on the BLOG and want it for my eyes only then type "(anonymous)". 

OR

If you ARE okay with me sharing it, include "(permission granted)". These responses will be forwarded to my sister so they can be featured on my missionary blog.

Thank you so much and I hope you think on it and help me with this project!

Sincerely,

- Elder Burgess

Never stop learning.

Hello dear peoples!!

I hope you're doing well; I'm grand, thanks for asking!

This past week was good, great actually.

So to start off, my health is improving. Those dang ulcers have got nothing on me (and modern medicine)! So to put it simply, the week was mostly made up of Zone Conference and transfer news. So the week was going through the motions and fighting being sick but then on Tuesday things got interesting. Our vehicle started overheating so it was towed 100 km away to Pretoria and we were walking.

Thursday we had Zone Conference and it was fantastic!! I feel I learned a bit and it amazes me how the gospel is a continuous learning plane; You just keep learning! We had a nice lesson by our Zone Leaders where we all shared why we're here, both on our missions and in the church. It was a very spiritual moment and I truly loved it! But of course the anticipation was on transfer news.

So for the big news.... I'm..... LEAVING!!! I'm going back to Limpopo! I'm going to be serving in Seshego with an old acquaintance from Namibia, Elder Khupiso. It'll be quite interesting! Well I guess that's all. I still think it's interesting that I'm going to Limpopo again. I'll be about 60 km's from my first area, Mokopane. Limpopo here we come!

Regards,

- Elder Burgess

We had a Priesthood activity and I helped with the pap (the white fluffy stuff that isn't mashed potatoes).

Our "Title of Liberty" with our reasons for why we're here.

Candid of Elder Tikologo (who's finishing his mission) singing in the primary choir. Everyone said they didn't realize he was up there at first because he's short!!

The gospel moves on through life's hiccups.

Hello dearest family and friends!!

I cannot believe that the week is over!! Just crazy!! Life has been fast this past week!

In short, we have a couple new investigators and they're both the head of the house. We're teaching a father and his kids. Jacob is his name and the other gentlemen has a good family but they haven't joined us yet. Maybe this week. 

Sorry this is short though. The reason is I had to go to the hospital. I've been having some stomach pains so I needed to check it out. Don't freak out loved ones but I have stomach ulcers. They're not bad and I'm on medicine. So no worries!! 

Oh! On a happy note! I have finished reading Jesus The Christ. Mom, I greatly understand why it's one of your favorite books! I've loved it and I greatly reccommend it to all!

Well love you all and have a great week! We have Zone Conference and Transfer news this week so we'll see what happens!!

Love,

- Elder Burgess

Finished!

My district. Sorry the photo isn't the best.

Elder Shorthill, myself, and Angel the Bishop's daughter.

"PLAAAANNT!!"

*props to whoever can name that movie*

Hiya family! How are you? Friends, how's it? I hope you're all well and that you didn't miss me too much.

So let me explain the subject. My companion, Elder Shorthill, is a fun, goofy guy. He likes quoting movies with me, so we keep quoting and asking, "Do you know that one?". Well he also loves plants. He loves to grow them and he keeps telling me about all his plants he'd grow. Well, the above quotation is from a beloved movie. If you can name it that's great! But nonetheless, Elder Shorthill reminds me of the main character. If you're still stumped then another hint is: "EEVAH". If you still don't know, ask your neighbor.

This past week was good. Lately we've been trying to help the ward update their records because it's greatly outdated, so much of this week was wandering trying to hunt down the members, active or not.

So I'll start from Monday! So after emailing we went and play Ping Pong at the Witbank chapel! I haven't played since the MTC (my companion likes to remind me that that was a long time ago 😑😐...) but it was so much fun!! Every Monday is ping pong and today we're doing a tournament! 

Tuesday we had great help from Brother David who was able to tell us about the members he knew. Some have moved, Some are no longer with the church, and some even have passed away. One sister passed away 13 years ago! That's before most of the active members were even members! So now you see why we're trying to help.

After that, the days blurred together. We had some nice days and met some nice people. One of our new investigators is named Natasha. Natasha is 17 but is in College. She graduated at 11! She's a brilliant girl who loves the gospel. When we first met her we were passing by because we didn't really have time to share. She was upset because she wanted us to begin teaching her. But she accepted that we come back the next day. After a nice lesson that next day, we went back the following day again. Hopefully things continue to improve.

And Lastly, I write about General Conference! I was able to see all but the Sunday Afternoon session, which we'll watch this coming Sunday. I loved Conference so much!! I filled several pages of my journal with notes and I still have another session! I hope you enjoyed Conference as much as I did. My favorite talk was.... okay I can't really decide yet... Honestly, I like to read them again before I decide. But, a great talk was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk. It was one that gave me peace and a few good laughs. "No one can spend that much!". Haha! Yes, I really enjoyed it.

Well I hope you have a great week!

- Elder Burgess

My beautiful form. I also hadn't played basketball since the MTC.

Action shot of my killer serve!

It seems Peter wanted us to know how to find his place.