Botswana

Hello world!! 

Well this is crazy. I'm in Botswana and it's something else. So no missionaries have been here in Molepolole for about 10 months and they weren't even here very long. This area has been vacant for some time. 

So we got in on Wednesday night and rushed to get a little food before stores closed. Then I had to clean a bit. Dust and spiders were everywhere!! Well I cleaned around my bed and went to sleep. On Thursday we cleaned... and cleaned... and cleaned. I still didn't finish but I finished later. We then met with a brother that used to go with the missionaries when they were last here. He showed us some of the members and a bit of the area.

Molepolole is different from what I've seen. It's big though. It's a village that just goes on and on, but you can't see the end because of the trees. Oh, and Botswana is flat!! It's crazy! I can literally see forever. 

Well anyways the weekend was okay. We were able to meet the Bishop (that's right, I'm finally in a ward) and other leaders. We worked with the Elders quorum President to visit some less actives. Apparently a lot of people have gone less active since the missionaries left. It's quite sad but we're here now. It's a bit stressful actually. I'm not sure where to start honestly and I know I have my work cut out for me. But here goes!

That's about it so far. More to come.

- Elder Burgess

Elder Motaleng and I

Here's the car I'm driving and drove up from Pretoria. It's a Hyundai i20...in the village...

Our "chapel". It's a rented out building.

Bittersweet.

Hello Everyone!! 

Sorry this is going to be short. Transfers are this week so I'll just give details. So this past week was full of good news and some sad. So yeah...

I'm doing great!! I'm healthy and well. So exciting news!! Cecyllia, Lorraine and Eugene were all baptized!!! Cecyllia I've talked about, Eugene I've mentioned and Lorraine was someone I taught some months back. Not sure if you'll remember but I was ecstatic to see their baptisms!! And just before I left. 

So yes my time in Namibia has ended. I'm sad to go. I was there for 6 transfers, about a third of my mission. It was great and I'll miss those people greatly. But the news is: I'm going to

BOTSWANA!! Crazy, right?!! I'm going to a place called Molepolole. My companion will be Elder Motaleng. It's super crazy!!

But yes, I wish you all the best. I'll tell you about Botswana next week. I'll be heading there on Wednesday.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY:

***Elder Burgess is getting behind on emails. Please keep future emails to shorter notes. I would like to read and respond but too many are coming in. Please be patient. Thank you.

Well I love you all!

- Elder Burgess

My week in review.

Hello Everyone!! I hope you're doing well. This past week has been a good one. Time is just flying though, truly it is. But yeah, the week.

Tuesday was alright. We sadly had only one appointment. Tuesdays and I still don't get along. It was with Nanal which was a decent lesson. Tuesday was definitely the let down of the week. The highlight was probably on Thursday. We had exchanges and I went with Elder Voyles, our district leader, to his area; which is really just the other half of the branch... Yeah still in Wanaheda, but it was really great. We did weekly planning and headed out. We chose Thursday so I could fill him in on the area for when Elder Ndlovu and I leave. 

Anyways, we had some good lessons and some great laughs and then headed to a dinner appointment. A sister in our branch wanted to take all four of us out, so we picked up our companions and headed out. Sister Reginald took us to a restaurant and bought us ribs and wings!! It was so good and so kind of her!! Truly, we are blessed as missionaries...and spoiled at times. 

Friday brought some interesting events. After District meeting we had a sister from the states feed us all. She's from the south and made pulled pork, coleslaw and baked beans... it was phenomenal! After that wonderful meal, we went and helped a member pack up because they're moving home to Angola. It's sad to see them go but life is change and progression. That evening we went to see a "new investigator". On Monday, we had been stopped by a lady (Katrina) who said she used to attend our church like 18 years ago or so. She wanted us to come and teach her. How it sounded was not how it was though. We believed that she was an investigator but when we get to her house and start talking and then our member present, Katrina's friend, is talking so openly about the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants and we began to become confused. So I asked if she is a member and sure enough she is. She was baptized at a young age and then moved away. The teaching will be as if she's an investigator though, we kinda have to remind her of everything! But all is well, I'm so happy she stopped us.

On Saturday we went on a hike with a family and then had a braai afterwards. It was actually pretty fun and the food was delicious. Sunday then wrapped it up with a nice fast and testimony meeting and a beautiful Sabbath. The week was truly a good one.

I really do know that our Father in Heaven loves us. I know that his Son suffered and died for us and that because of him, God's plan is complete and possible. While on the exchange with Elder Voyles, we saw a young girl and taught simply the Plan of Salvation. The Plan truly is simple: God loved us enough to send us to earth to learn and grow and become more like him. He knew we'd make mistakes so he sent his Son to be an advocate for us so that we can be forgiven and live with God again. 

God loves us more than we know. He wants us to repent and change not because He doesn't like who we are, but because He wants us to be the best we can be.

I love this gospel and I hope and pray that all of you will deepen your understanding or start your understanding of it. There's no greater source of happiness. 

Love ya'll!

- Elder Burgess

Just cooling off after the hike.

Elder Gohnert guarding the food.

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.