Namibia is truly wonderful!

Hello people!! 


I hope all is well. This week will be a little short, sorry. We have a District activity so yeah... 

This past week was good. We have a few new investigators and they're quite promising. They're prepared for the gospel, that's for sure! I've been doing great and Namibia is doing well. Namibia is truly wonderful! I'm sad because I will be leaving this coming transfer but it's part of life... 

I'll tell you this, God loves his servants. Having been here for so long I've seen some slow times and sad but I've also seen some wonderful times. This week has been a blessing for the work that's taken place and for the people I've met. I hope you all recognize the Lord's hand in your lives. He truly does love us and truly is our Father.

Have a great week and don't worry, more will come next week!

- Elder Burgess

Happy Mother's Day 🌷

Hiya peoples!!

Sorry about last week. Since it had been Mother's Day most of the elders didn't really email for long. But I'm here now.

I have great news.... I have a car!! That's right, everything has been sorted and the car keys are in my hands. I have to admit, driving was weird where I hadn't driven in such a while... I can imagine it must be awkward for those that walk their whole mission and then go home and drive... Anyways, it's a huge blessing for sure. It's a shame that I'll be leaving Namibia this next transfer. I don't know where I'm going but they've said 5 are leaving Namibia and my group (consisting of a remaining 5) that came to Namibia, have been here the longest.

The past couple weeks were alright. Ups and downs. We had a wonderful investigator but she's moving far away. We had to bid her farewell but not without sending her with a full supply of church material of course. 

We had a great moment with a member's father on Wednesday. He invited us over because he was visiting his daughters: Sisters Sarti and Toini. He speaks no English but Toini helped translate. He wanted to meet with us because he sees what the church has done for his daughters and family. He was really appreciative and very kind. We were able to share a little with him and he expressed more thanks. It was something else and very nice.

Our meeting with Nanal this week went very well! She loved church and we were able to answer some more questions she had. She's being very open and it's great!

On Sunday, we became famous. Everyone started taking photos and they kept asking us to take photos with them. It was a fun experience.

Well I'm doing wonderfully. I'm enjoying the blessings of the Lord and life is treating me well. 

I hope you all have a great week!

- Elder Burgess

The three drivers in front of their new rides.



I was really happy to see the cars!

Tonight's menu: Mopani worms

Hello dear friends and family,

I hope your week was grand. My was pretty plain... in other words, this won't be that long.

The week has been alright. Not the greatest with appointments, just a lot of rescheduling but it happens. We did however have Nanal accept a baptismal date for the 1st of July!! Do you remember Nanal? We've been working with her for a while, she's our Branch President's daughter. Well I was super excited!! It was a good weekend though. The members, of various branches, wanted to feed all the missionaries, so I had dinner Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a few people sending us with food for the road... life is pretty nice.

A nice adventure is I finally ate Mopani worms!!! People have been telling me my whole mission that they'd cook some for me but they've never come through. But yesterday, Sister Povanhu made some!! They were chewy at first but not a great after taste. I ate them though!! 

But yeah, as I said, not a very eventful week... For your information, still no cars, but I know we're close. Walking isn't that bad. I have no room to complain. People walk the whole two years so I'm good.

Have a great week! love ya'll!

- Elder Burgess

If you look closely at the black portion on the plate, you'll see Mopani worms.

Transfer news!

Hello Everyone! 

This past week was fantastic!! I apologize for not writing yesterday, but there's a good reason, which you'll read if you continue.

So essentially the week was alright. We were able to find a couple new investigators as we visited our investigator, Vevangapi. Her sister and her cousin were pretty interested and they've agreed to see us again. Their names are, Ukapita and Ndjivatera. Ukapita sadly isn't the greatest with English, but she's the most interested in our message.

So the this whole week was leading up to the weekend. On Friday, David was interviewed and he passed!!

Saturday rolled around and David was baptized! It was so great to see that guy in the waters of baptism! He was so excited too!! Then a little after the baptism (okay like five minutes), I had an interview with President Chadambuka. So on Saturday the excitement was David's baptism and transfer news. Saturday evening we went to the Povanhu's, some of the greatest members in the Wanaheda Branch, and enjoyed a lovely meal. We then went home and waited for transfer news. 

So here goes...*drum roll*..... I'm..... staying. Right before the news came I felt that I was staying in Wanaheda with Elder Ndlovu and I was right. Elder Ndlovu is finishing his mission and I'm most likely leaving Namibia at the end of this transfer, so it made sense. All is swell. I love the people here and leaving is going to be hard...

Sunday then came and we had the privilege of having Elder S. Mark Palmer of the Seventy join us for church. The whole day was peaceful and wonderful. But it did not compare to Monday. Monday we had our Mission Tour with Elder Palmer. We got there a quarter to 8 and studied some before it started. It was truly fantastic! The whole experience was absolutely amazing!!! Elder Palmer and President Chadambuka truly are called of God and they, and their wives, can invite the Holy Spirit in a magnificent way. Mission Tour was indescribable. 

Well I've had a great week and this next one, that we've already started, is the beginning to a new transfer. I'm excited and I hope the week goes well for you as well!

Ciao!!

- Elder Burgess

Elder S. Mark Palmer of the Seventy and his wife.

   

David's Baptism day.

A piece of Africa loves you.

Hello!

So This past week was pretty good. Probably the greatest thing has been the weather. Winter is on its way and it's been cooler; the nights especially. I've been able to wear my jacket and slippers... it's pretty great. Some other things, We have 4 new investigators. Our area is starting to pick up again and it's great!!

So on Wednesday we went to see a member and she invited her neighbours to join us. They're very nice but they don't speak English very well. Luckily our member can translate. Anyways their names are, Uekeriuondjera and Vijamaije... Good luck pronouncing those! Then Friday morning we went and saw a referral from a member. Her name is Dora. Dora is a bit older of a lady but a real sweet heart. She knows her Bible very well!! She understands some basic truths that so many people look over. Teaching her will be great I feel! And our last new investigator is a 9 year old named Natalia. Natalia is the daughter to a fairly new investigator as well, named Riina. Little Natalia just loves primary and can't wait to come to church again. Over all our finding this week was good.

As for the adventures, not a lot has happened. We had a braai (bar-b-que) with the missionaries on Saturday but it didn't end well for me. I hadn't really eaten throughout the day and then I drank a ton of juice, so I got a little sick. But by today I'm doing better. Word to the wise, eat all meals at appropriate times.

I hope you all have a great week and know a piece of Africa loves you. This week I'll have more to tell you, we'll be getting transfer news, having a baptism and having Mission Tour.

- Elder Burgess

P.S. Oh, we're probably not getting cars soon. They're here but there's some final requirements that haven't been completed.

Happy Easter to you all.

Dear friends and family: 

I hope you have had a wonderful week and you're doing well. My week was great!! 

Lets start from the beginning. So the beginning of the week wasn't the greatest but it changed with Wednesday! Wednesday it was raining so hard!! I was drenched and I had an umbrella!! Anyways we walked around and sadly only had a couple lessons but the day ended well. It was Elder Reber's birthday so we went to dinner at a nice restaurant where I had a 500 gram burger!! I conquered the burger and the fries... I'm quite proud. The week continues to our eventful Friday. 

Friday we had District Meeting and I went on exchanges with Elder Reber. We went to lunch at a place called "Wimpy". It's just a nice little burger place. After lunch we went to his area because his companion, Elder Gohnert, doesn't know the area too well. It was nice because it was my old area for a short time. We had some appointments and as we were leaving our last appointment, we ran into an old investigator that Elder Reber had been looking for. They had lost contact and hadn't seen her for like 2 months!! It was a great moment.

Saturday then brought a lot to us. Elder Reber and Gohnert had a baptism and we were helping with it all. We typed up the baptism program and checked on the font, luckily too. We opened the door to the font and found water. Doesn't sound bad, right? But we didn't put it there. So the pump was broken and when it rained Wednesday the rain water came up the drain, bringing a lot of dirt. So Elder Burgess got to get down into the water and start bucketing it out. It was actually quite fun! Then the baptism came. It went great and everything turned out. 

Now the exciting part, I was a dance instructor again!! The branches found out I love ballroom dance (I wonder who told them 🙄) and insisted that I teach. It was really fun but a little difficult. As a missionary I can only show to a point how the dance is done, nonetheless, it was fun. I taught them Salsa and Waltz. I can't wait to dance when I get home!!

So I must include a great moment at the baptism. As we were going from the font there was a man in a track suit. It seemed no one had talked to him. I meant to address him but he acted first. He started asking about the church and the baptism he just witnessed. He's from Botswana and just arrived in Windhoek. He had a free day and decided to look around the city, until he ended up there at our chapel. His questions were amazing! He even said, "This church seems too good to be true, what's the catch?" As we talked, something told me, this is too good to be true. I decided he was possibly a member but I went with it just in case. After the closing remarks of the baptism and the prayer, I turned to ask what branch or ward he was from in Botswana, but again, he beat me. He said, "Congratulations elder, I'm President Caiphas, Second Counselor to President Chadambuka." I wasn't surprised he was a member but it surprised me that he was my Mission President's Second Counselor!! 

Then Sunday was a beautiful Easter. Happy Easter to you all. I hope you remember the Lord and his Atonement, death and Resurrection. I know our Savior lives. I know He loves us. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

- Elder Burgess

President Caiphas and I

Doing a little service at the other elder's place.

While on exchanges, I found that Namibia was playing our music and the spoken word. It was really cool.

Deliciously short.

Hello! I'll apologize in advance, this won't be too long. 

This past week was good, just a little slow. It was mostly the same old each day. Sadly no cars yet... but they say this week they should be here! I'm excited!

So I guess I can tell about some of our investigators. Eugene is a newer investigator. He's the nephew to an RM and the grandson to the branch president. Many is his extended family are members and slowly the family is coming along. Cecyllia is doing well. She's still preparing for her baptism at the end of the month and she's not really having many challenges. We just have a couple more lessons and then she's golden and good to go. David is still doing well. His learning is a bit slower but he is only ten. Sometimes it's difficult because his friends join and kids sometimes are just not in the mood to sit and listen, but life goes on.

My highlight was when the Desousa's invited us to join them in watching the Sunday Afternoon session of General Conference. It was wonderful to watch the full General Conference. It's the first time I've been able to see all the sessions on my mission. A particular talk was given by Elder Costa of the Seventy. Please! I repeat, Please! Spread this talk with everyone! It's titled "To the friends and investigators of the Church" It is for all who are not members, but members should also watch it so they can see how to help their friends. It's a fantastic talk! After Conference we had a lovely meal prepared by Brother Desousa; an Angolan dish that translates to bean stew. It's really a man stew! It was delicious!

Well this coming week should bring better stories. I hope you have a wonderful time and enjoy your week!

- Elder Burgess

I've got my journal and I'm ready for Conference.

Man stew. I'd eaten most of the sauce and vegetables by the time I took the photo.