June 24.2013

Family,

Monday has come again. I'm really happy that this week has passed relatively quickly. I'm living for the p days.

This week was a good one though. We had a baptism this week for a girl that my companion began teaching before I arrived here in Lenyenye. It went through really smoothly which was nice. The branch handled it much nicer than I have seen in previous areas. The branch mission leader actually handled most of it which was awesome.

We've been doing a lot of trying to find new people this week and we're making plans to do a lot more this next week also. We've also had a couple of opportunities to so do some service which was nice. Slowly but surely, each week we get the area sorted out a little bit more. 

I'm about to start my Doctrine & Covenants countdown. I think I start on Friday, reading a section a day for 138 days until I'm home. Crazy right?

We'll there's not much else to say. This upcoming week looks pretty uneventful as well.

I love and miss you all though. Happy Birthday this week Sheri!

Elder Balmforth

June 18. 2013

Family,

Good morning. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to email yesterday. There was some random South African holiday that fell on Sunday, so all the shops, including our email shop, was closed on Monday. But I'm still alive. Don't worry.

This week was a good one, but not much happened as usual. We had interviews with President Omer on Friday. It was good. I love that man. I've said it before, but I hope to be like him someday. I just feel so good about myself whenever I get the chance to speak to him. It always surprises me when I hear that he got mad or raised his voice to another missionary, because I've never felt anything but love from that man. I'm pretty sure that if he was any better of a person he'd be translated.

We also had a zone meeting where they just reminded us of all the things that we're supposed to be doing.

Nothing else really happened. We did some more finding than normal. The area was kind of trashed when I got here. Story of my life. So we're trying to find some fresh blood and cut loose some dificult people. It's pretty taxing, but we're plugging along.

I have been reading a lot of conference talks now that I have the new Liahona, to make up for the lack of spiritual learning I've been trying to aquire from the epistles of Paul. One that I liked a lot was the one by Elder Scott. My favorite thing he said was near the end where he tells us not to worry if we can't simultaneously do all the things that the prophets have counceled us to do. Just to keep going. I liked that a lot.

I love you all and miss you a ton. I haven't forgotten anyone. I hope you have an awesome week.

Elder Balmforth