Woah. This week has been nuts!
Truly this mission is a once in a life time opportunity. Things have happened this week that has sent me on a roller coaster ride!
Let me explain:
Mthatha is crazy and I'm loving it. It is nowhere near as established as most places I have been to, pot holes, crazy people, lot of townships. It's a good area though and we have been keeping really busy. Like saturday. From after studies until nine at night we were consumed with doing things...we only had 20 minutes for lunch and then we had to get back to the area to see a bunch a people. Never in my whole mission have I been this busy. I love it.
Another thing. You guys don't hear about this in the states but did you know that humans can get fleas? haha, yep that's true. It happens in dusty, unclean areas (like Mthatha) and guess what? Those little buggers sure like me! I have bites all over my body. I washed everything I own and have been constantly cleaning since my first bite. I don't think it is from the house we live in but I get them from the homes of people we visit. Luckily for my district, I'm the only one that has them right now. They are just like mosquito bites, not really that bad. I'm fighting them though!!! Trust me though...I'm clean and sanitary. I'm not turning into a slob here!
Another thing that happened this past week. We ran out of water. Yeah, surprised me too. Didn't think that was possible. It wasn't for too long, just a day. I think it was the first day my whole mission where I didn't shower. The water was back on by the next morning, but get this....our geyser broke (for you americans, a geyser is a water heater). So for the past few days, it's been the coldest showers ever! Oh boy, this place is great!
Another thing. The same day that the water went out, so did our electricity. That wasn't too bad though, it was back on by the time we got back to the house that night.
Another thing. It has been raining a lot here and the township we go to, Waterfall, is all dirt roads and a whole lot of puddles! BIG ONES! So our car was covered top to bottom with mud...you couldn't even tell it was white anymore! We woke up this morning and gave a good wash down (the car got a cold wash as well hehe).
It may sound like I'm complaining and all but I'm not. It was one of the craziest weeks in my mission and looking back at it, I just smile. We are having someone come fix our geyser this week and then all should well. I have never worked as hard as I am here in Mthatha and I'm learning that you shouldn't take small things for granted like hot water and electricity. And not having fleas. This place is the farthest thing you could imagine from being like home but I don't think I want to leave anytime soon. The people here want the gospel, we have some amazing investigators and the small Branch has some powerful members. With all the tribulations that I went through this week just proves to me that this Church and work is true. Why else would I go through all this? this gospel makes me happy, a kind of joy that you can't find anywhere else. And if I had to take cold showers and get bitten by fleas for the rest of my life just so I could be part of this church, I would. This is THE Church of Jesus Christ. It's His Church. Any of you that don't know this yet, please take the time in your life to find this out. You have so many blessing waiting for you and all it takes is a leap of faith (Alma 32...my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon)
I love what I'm doing. Don't want it any other way. I was thinking last night about how much time that I have left here on mission and it scared me. It's getting short! I don't think I'm ready to come home. Sadly they don't really allow extensions this mission or I would try it :) I love you all and hope that all is well back home. Thanks for being the people you are, especially those that helped clean up Centerville and my yard. You are prayers answered showing that my family is being watched over.
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!
PS-Last night I finished the week with making Elder Lewatle and I some Chicken stir fry for dinner and drinking two cans of Dr. Pepper (found a store out here that sells american products! Who knew clear out in Mthatha I would find Dr. Pepper!) It was a great end to the week.
OH and by the way, I'm going on a road trip this week! We have our Christmas activity as a zone tomorrow so we are driving to East London tonight (3 HRS), staying the night and then Driving back on Wednesday....I'm excited, been a while since I've gone on a road trip!!!!!
--theELDERNAYLOR
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