A constant search.

Hello Everyone.

So this past week was pretty normal for us. As we go about our days everything kind of blurs... We have been doing this assignment here in Namibia to find the greatest finding method here. We've been taking topics from Preach My Gospel chapter 9. One week we take one topic and try doing only that type of finding people. It's been an interesting way of doing it but sometimes we get a topic that isn't productive in our area so it's not the most fun. But it's an assignment from our mission president to help future missionaries so I'm helping I guess. 

But because of our finding assignment we didn't really find people this week. But we were able to have some good lessons. On Friday we met again with an investigator, Benjamin. We had a lesson in which the Spirit was truly there. We taught and testified about the Great Apostasy. We testified that it was foretold and that it had indeed happened. Sadly though, the conversation didn't end on high notes from the Spirit because Benjamin just wanted to debate and argue. 

We had a similar incident the following day, but a different outcome. We saw Cecyllia. I'm not sure if you remember her or if I even told you much about her. She's a great sister, she was referred to the missionaries by a member a while back but it's now that things have been improving and turning over. As we shared about the cycle of apostasy throughout the history of mankind, she nodded and agreed. Then we arrived at the Great Apostasy. I've really realized how important that portion is to teaching for understanding. We taught and testified about how the Great Apostasy came about and how it led to so many churches. She was understanding, adding her own confirmation of the truth of it, and the Spirit was so strong!

I love serving and teaching people about the Restoration and the many blessings that come to them because of it. One of the saddest moments is when someone rejects the message, but when someone accepts, the joy is so overwhelming!

Thank you all for your prayers and love!

- Elder Burgess

My obsession of sunsets continues! 

I forgot to tell you, our kitchen faucet broke so we replaced it. Here's Elder Reynolds at work. Elder Reynolds was caught in an awkward situation... he wasn't happy I was taking photos, haha! Oh, ignore the dishes... again, the faucet was broken.

I found a little friend and look what he's wearing!

Zone Painting

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a great week. This past week was great for me! To start off we had a normal week, appointments, appointments cancel, trying to find new people, etc. This past week was our final week of the transfer and eventful. On Thursday we had everyone cancel on us, right as we got to the door. That was interesting but I loved the weekend!! 

On Friday we had Zone Meeting and a Zone activity. For Zone Meeting we talked about how teaching repentance is the great challenge, because, if people truly understand repentance and the Atonement then everything else that the gospel and the church teach will just make sense and fall into place. Repentance is one of the greatest gifts given to us because of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

So after a great Zone Meeting we had our activity. Paintballing. That's right, paintballing. It was so fun!! We had teams of six because two elders didn't want to play. The guns weren't great nor was the field but it was a blast!! We had a great time as a zone! I'll attach pictures.

Sunday (yesterday) we had a very cool moment. I was prompted to read about faith and the priesthood in the morning and later, during fast and testimony meeting, I was prompted to testify on the same thing. Well, We had a sister bring a friend to church and she asked for a blessing. She's been suffering from a serious illness and she wants to be healed. I proceeded to tell her about how these things are wrought by faith. Faith in the priesthood and faith in the Lord. It was a very spiritual moment and I know that my own faith was strengthened because of it.

Well not much else to share so I'll bid adieu!

- Elder Burgess

Paintball!!

#1 Soldier!

Sunsets and cards.

January 30th 2016


Hello to you all. 

So not much has happened this past week. We did see the missionary broadcast for 2017 which announced that we'd have a change in our schedule. Although minor and insignificant to a normal civilian, to a missionary, life is better with it. 

It's just been a normal week though. Life for a missionary is a pretty basic thing. We go about our days with people in mind and looking to serve. We do however have to take some time to enjoy life, and a great way to enjoy life is a deck of cards. I don't mean playing card games, I mean a war. Throwing cards are very fun and one night Elder Reber and I started a war with throwing cards and it got pretty intense, picture to follow. 

Well like I said not much happened. This week was nice with a couple of new investigators. We'll see where things go with them...

Well I apologize, not much to say. I'm sure I'll have more to say next week, hopefully...

- Elder Burgess

A beautiful sunset

Elder Reber somehow got a card stuck in the door.

Salutations!

January 23rd 2016

I hope you've had a wonderful week, because I have! Being a missionary is great, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If they do, they're lying.

So the week started off normal. Monday - write family and friends, shop, clean, etc.; Tuesday - Appointments, contact referrals, tract, etc. Then Wednesday came. As we're walking and confirming appointments with those we're going to see, a message comes in: "Zone Conference this Saturday!". We were all surprised because it wasn't supposed to be for two more weeks! We were also sad because Saturday was our busiest day and everyone after that asked for Saturday and Sunday. But, we have many appointments this coming weekend! 😀

Zone Conference was great! I love having the chance to learn more and I've found a gospel truth, the Holy Ghost (funny story about the Holy Ghost to follow) is the greatest teacher. Meetings are no more a dread or a bore, because I know I'm going to learn something everyone else won't. I also don't know what, which is a fun mystery! I'll share with you one such thing. As a scripture was shared by my former companion, Elder Mosweswe, I found wonderful peace. He shared Mosiah 28:3 and the Spirit pushed me to St. John 6:67-69. How amazing is it that we have the Christ's words, even, "the words of eternal life" in the church? It's a wonderful thought I'll invite you to ponder.

After Zone Conference I had an interview and it was something else. Some personal things were shared so I won't go into detail, but my testimony of leaders grew. I know they're called of God. I know they receive revelation for those they're entrusted to be judges to. And I know this is "the Lord's Kingdom once again established on the earth preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah." I hope you all have discovered this or will.

So I promised a funny. So yesterday we met with an investigator, Benjamin. Benjamin is a great guy who wants to reconnect with God. The one catch, he hates the name, Holy Ghost. He knows all about the Holy Spirit and believes in him, but the moment we said, "Holy Ghost", he flipped! He went off how a ghost is something evil and scary and how, "the people who wrote the Bible should've only written one name, Holy Spirit." He went on for about 20 minutes before we could talk. At the end we gave him a pamphlet to prepare for our next lesson and he said, "Okay, but if I find 'Holy Ghost' I'm tossing it aside!" Hahaha!😂 He's a funny guy but he has great potential.

Well that concludes this weeks edition of Missionary Weekly, stay tuned for next weeks installment!

- Elder Burgess

This is Ivan Katjotjo, a member's son. If you look closely at the pile of shoes there is a kitten. It seemed as if he was going to hit the poor little cat but he didn't.

Here's Elder Reber feeling a little witch-y as he mopped.

Zone Conference again!

Hello world of people!

I hope your week was better than mine. Okay, I can't complain, I'm actually smiling... I'll attach a picture. But anyways, this past week was a missionaries nightmare. We had 4 days where everyone cancelled on us! It wasn't fun, so we made other fun. We had a lot of finding time, where most people rejected us before we even finished introducing ourselves. We kept going though, laughing as people rejected us left and right. We have had success with one of our Investigators, Cecyllia. Cecyllia is 25 and a Lutheran. She's real sweet and has some really good questions. It's nice because she's friends with a member so she's wondering why he's so happy. She has a great view about the church and the members. She says that, "Mormons are real Christians". because all the ones she knows are good, kind and loving people that just want to serve. It was quite the compliment.

Life here in Nam. is nice actually. There's been a lot of clouds so the sun hasn't been eating us so much. I've decided that one of the greatest ways to meet people and share the gospel is in a taxi. It is there that you have a captive audience! Haha, just kidding, but seriously we can introduce the gospel to them so quickly and We've found some genuine truth seekers.

This past week wasn't that eventful but it was a great time and I'm in the service of the Lord. It truly is the work of the happy. I encourage you all to take your part and spread the gospel.

- Elder Burgess

The life of a missionary.

Hello, World! 

I hope you're all well. I'm doing quite well! So this past week was a bit slow at first but it's turned around because people are back!! Life for a missionary is turning around here in Nam. Oh I don't think I mentioned this to everyone but we've been out of cars for a while now. We were originally told that we'd be getting cars again with the beginning of the year but now it's looking like they won't be coming for a while. It's fine really, walking is nice for certain missionary aspects but it's harder to teach many people. It also doesn't help that it's the hottest time of the year... Ah well, God is great and this is his work!!

We had Zone Meeting this past Friday and after, Elder Hamilton, one of our zone leaders, joined us for the rest of the day. Well, on our way to our first appointment we got messages from all of our appointments, cancelling on us... Oh what fun. But, we made it a great day still. I must admit that I'm not a fan of stuff like tracting, that is until I get doing it. I love talking to new people and right from the start you can tell who's interested. I love finding people and seeing their faces just light up! 

So life here in Namibia is good and I'm still doing well. I hope you're all happy and enjoying life!

Love ya'll!

- Elder Burgess

Welcome to Zone Meeting!

Look! I found green plants and water!

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone and welcome to 2017. Can you smell it? 

I hope you all enjoyed New Years Eve and that you didn't party too hard. 😉 My New Years wasn't all that fun. Our mission was told that during Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve and New Years that we should not tract or contact, just go to appointments and stay in the flat. Well For us we had no appointments, no one wanted to see us. So we were in the flat... Anyways we survived and we're back. Hopefully all goes well this coming week. 

For New Years I hope you made New Years resolutions. They're a great way to evaluate where you are and seek to be better. From being here on my mission I've learned that planning and setting goals is the only way to progression. That's exactly what New Years resolutions are.

So yeah, this past week has been alright. We had transfers and I'm officially with Elder Ndlovu. He's a wonderful Elder and I'm learning already. I know this transfer is going to be good. We also have Elder Desouza and Elder Reber with us in our flat which is fun. They're all great guys and fun to be around. 

Not much happened this week so I apologize this is short. Know I love you all and I hope your coming week is a good one. 

- Elder Burgess

Elder Ndlovu and I