When you're in the service of your God, there is no language barrier.

Dear peoples not in South Africa,

First, sorry you're not in South Africa, I am. Second, how is life?

For me, life is great! This past week disappeared and here I am again. So this past week was a bit down, a bit. We had so many appointments, (I mean a lot!!) but they almost all fell through. Majority of the people we saw were chance encounters and lucky timing. 

We had a great lesson yesterday with a family, the Mafetus. They are our regular Sunday appointment. They don't really know English though. Because of that, it's been interesting for me. I've been getting a lot better with letting the Spirit guide my words. That whole lesson I had no idea where they were coming from! The lesson begins and Elder Malemo, who knows the language, starts talking. Then he turns to me and just nods... I sat for a second and thought, "Well I'd better speak". I didn't even know what he had shared with them or where he stopped. I just opened my mouth and let it flow. As we were leaving I was thinking maybe I'd ruined the lesson but Elder Malemo was so pleased and happy, saying,"Wow, that was a really nice lesson!" I sighed inwardly and agreed.

We also celebrated Heritage Day! It was pretty fun seeing the traditional clothing and just spending some time with the members! 

My favorite moment this week though was sacrament meeting. So we're sitting there and they just blessed the bread when no later than a second, five small finches fly into the chapel through a mistakenly left open door. The whole time during the sacrament was filled with the sweet sound of bird chirps and flapping wings. It was really a beautiful sound and sight!! I wish you all could've seen it! Then for the remainder of the meeting they had fun flying around and dive bombing people, which became pretty entertaining!! Over all, I hope your week was as great as mine.

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord's kingdom restored to this earth. And most important of all, I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and redeemer and that shortly, He will come and claim his people and that day will be one of unsurpassed joy.

Love you all!

- Elder Cameron Cannell Burgess 

Some of the Relief Society sisters sporting their heritage.

Elder Burgess photobombing a selfie with a selfie.

Myself helping with the clean up.

soccer & staying strong

Hello Everyone!                                             9-20-16

Sorry about yesterday, we had a zone activity and there is too many elders for us all to have emailed. For our zone activity though, we played a variation of soccer called five-a-side. It's an enclosed area and a smaller field with only five players to each side (hence the name). There's no outs and you can't have it in the air above your head or else it's a foul. It was so fun!!! Sadly, I wasn't the brightest and didn't really take many photos... Sorry. But Maybe we'll go again. I'm very sore though!

Update for the week:

It's been an iffy week. I've lost my pocket tag in the area and I've had no luck in finding it. Also, we've had a lot of cancellations so we only had a few lessons. I've been keeping my head up but sometimes it's hard being a missionary. I understand now when people say it's not an easy thing. BUT, there's a lot more good than negative. I've been truly loving my mission. 

Our area finally got some rain thankfully but of course it was right after we washed our truck...the wash was null and void. People on our side are doing well. We've been finding some more less actives and hopefully we're helping them regain their testimonies then build them up stronger than they were. 

I thank you all for writing me and keeping me updated on everything you. I'll do my best to respond as often as possible.

Well that's all for now I guess, tata!

- Elder Burgess

"Chomi" means "friend".

An unexpected trap...

Hello Everyone! 

I hope all is well and that life is treating you well. I'm doing great but It's been hot!! I'm sure many of you probably remember me saying, "I'll go anywhere but I'd prefer some place not too hot", Well, It's too hot. It's been in the high 80's low 90's but it's only spring... There's a chance I won't be here for Limpopo's Summer... I hope.

Anyway this past week has been good despite the heat. We've found a few new investigators and a couple people who have been less active for a while. Yesterday we had some less actives at church who haven't been there for almost 3 years!! It was great! And they were laughing and really enjoying themselves!! The work is improving for sure. 

I can't really believe where the time has gone. I've already surpassed the year mark for when I got my call and I've been out for 8 months... 2 years is really short.

Not a whole lot but I do have a good story!! Elder Bagoole locked himself in the bathroom. So here skeleton keys are still used quite a bit and the problem with them is after a while they wear out. Well, when Elder Bagoole was attempting to exit the bathroom, the key broke. So here we are waiting for him so we can leave and we hear a knock and a soft voice. I couldn't help but laugh!! The best part was we couldn't just remove the lock because the lock is literally in the door! 

Then! Elder Griffey starts getting all excited and starts putting his heavy shoes on so he can kick the door down. We eventually called the office couple, the Hawkins, and asked for permission to kick it down. They didn't answer though. We waited and waited and Elder Griffey was about to go ahead and do it when Elder Bagoole escaped with a butter knife. It was all pretty funny!!

Well That's all for now!

- Elder Burgess

Elder Malemo attempting to free our captive, Elder Bagoole.

Elder Burgess is famous!! Just kidding, I forgot to send this from when we were in the newspaper for Mormon Helping Hands. 

"Rise up, dust yourself off, and move forward." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Heyo!!

So sorry not a lot of time today.

I'm alive, I'm happy, I'm eating, etc.

Life is going well here in Lenyenye. Elder Malemo and I have been working hard but still struggling. People here are ready but we haven't found the REALLY ready ones yet. We literally had an investigator welcome us with a big smile and give us chairs then she went to get her friend... A few minutes later her sister came by and said, "She left, you know?" We walked away laughing but still a little sad. We've been able to see many less actives though!! We're trying to get them back to church so we can start a group out this way. There actually used to be one! We're going to get it back!!

I'm sorry this is so short but it's because we went to a crocodile ranch. It was pretty cool and there are some BIG crocs!!

Love you all, have a nice week!!

- Elder Burgess

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.