September, already?

Alright sweet, howzit everybody?  Just looking at the title and thinking it is already September is mind blowing to me.  Time is flying like no other.  Sometimes I wish it would just slow down, so I can take a breath.  Well we all know the answer to that, ain't nobody got time for that! 

So I can't even remember what happened this week.  It went by so fast and I forgot my planner.  Well for one, transfers are tomorrow and nothing is changing for me.  I will stay in Sebokeng for one more transfer with Elder Kalani, which I am very happy about.  We get along great and the area is sweet.  We are teaching lots of people and preparing them for baptism.

Other than that, that's all I have.  I am short on time this week and have to go.  I hope you all have a great week and will talk to you next Monday.

Cheers, Elder Segil

Good Old Sebokeng!

Hey everybody.  It feels like just yesterday I was on here.  Where does the time go?  Anyway, it was another great week here in Sebokeng and everything is going well.   I had interviews with President Dunn on Wednesday, which went very well.  He and Sister Dunn are so awesome and I am so happy to be working with them in this part of the world.  They are carrying on with the hard work and dedication that President and Sister Omer started.  It is truly a great time to be in Africa.

In other news, I lost my driving privileges because I got a ticket going 77 km in a 60 km zone.  I got the ticket back in June and the offices just got it in the mail.  I will not be able to drive until October, so that will be alright.  I am really enjoying walking and have gotten into better shape.  Luckily, the weather is still cool, so I'm not dying from the heat.

We went bowling as a zone last Monday which was a lot of fun.  We bowled two games and I took second in both.  The first one I lost by two and the second by like seven.  Don't worry I'll get 'em next time.  You get a little rusty when you don't play for a year or two.  

The Vaal Zone!

So about two weeks ago, a guy stole a bottle of cooking oil from a tuck shop and the owner shot the guy dead.  The owner was from Somalia, as are most of the tuck shop owners.  The person killed was a South African.  The South Africans got angry and started killing and beating up any foreigners in the area.  We got a call from a member and we were told not to come to the area, so we listened and went to Vereeniging to work instead.  After a few days, it cooled down and we were able to go back to work in Sebokeng.   I wasn't too worried about my safety because they were going after people that live in Somalia or the areas surrounding it.  One area being Kenya, which is where Elder Kalani is from, so we had to make sure to stay away for a bit, especially since we are walking now.  This happened about two or three weeks ago, so all is well in Sebokeng.  The work is continuing to move forward. 

A tuck shop is a small, food-selling retailer. It is a term principally used in the UK, Ireland, Grenada, South Africa, New Zealand, & the Australian states

Well that about does it for this week.  I hope you all have a great week and will talk to you next time.

Cheers, Elder Segil



The Plan of Happiness!

Today I feel impressed to talk about one of the most beautiful things this life has to share.  It is called the Plan or Salvation (Happiness).  It answers three questions of the soul that most, if not all, people wonder at some point of their lives. 

Question one:  Where did we come from, before we were born?

The scriptures teach that man was once with God and each was chosen to come to earth to learn and grow in a family setting.  What are we learning you might ask?  We are learning to follow God without being in His presence.  If you think about it, it is really easy to do what someone says, when your right there with them, but not so easy when your far away.  This is the Plan of our Father in Heaven.  He knew that the only way for us to grow is to be tested and tried in everything that we do.  This leads to the second question.

Question two:  Why are we here?

We are here to do what God knows will make us the happiest and that is following His commandments.  Commandments or Laws make us free and protect us.  God teaches us so many commandments such as not to kill, honour thy mother and thy father, don't lie and to get married.  All of these commandments, if followed, will make us happier and more prepared for the life to come.

Question three:  Where are we going.

There is a place prepared for each one of us.  If we work hard and serve one another, we will receive more and greater happiness.  We will return back to God's presence and one of two things will happen.  We will either be happy to see Him because we have done all He has asked or we will be sad because we did not what He asked.  God loves each one of us so very much and wants to reward us, but we need to do what he asks, so He can reward us.

My Grandfather, John Bragg, today has passed to the next life.  My heart is filled with sadness, but with so much Joy because I know he is in a better place.  I know that the end of this life is a new beginning and what we do in this life will determine everything in the next.  I know these things because I have asked so many times.  I have studied, I have prayed, I have cried to know what is right.  I have found the answer.  All truth comes from God and only through Him can truth be found.  I love you Grandpa and I will see you soon.

Elder Segil

Earthquake!

I guess the earthquake we had on Tuesday didn't make national news because nobody asked me about it.  There was a 5.3 earthquake on Tuesday, which resulted from one of the mines up north, I believe.  Kind of hard to keep up on all this stuff.  Last I heard, only one person died.  I was in the Chapel when it happened and it was the coolest thing.  I heard it first and with my weird hearing, I thought it was just a car outside.  It got louder and then the building started to shake.  I was in the chapel, so I could feel and hear everything.  It was a cool experience and it was the first earthquake I have been a part of.

After the earthquake, there was a fight going on outside with the school kids.  It got pretty nasty and the teachers had to come.  The teachers whipped out their belts and the kids started running. It was quite funny to watch.  It is a really great community here.

We also saw a drunk guy fall into a stream of sewer water.  I'm sorry to say it, but it was pretty funny.  Well that was Tuesday.  I'd say it was a pretty good day.

Got my World Cup clothes on! 

I painted that wall.  Doesn't it look great!!!!

Got a group together and played some soccer.



Well it was another great and quick week.  Feels like just yesterday I was here e-mailing.  Well hope you all have a great week.

Cheers, Elder Segil

All is well in Sebokeng!

It has been another great week here in Sebokeng.  This transfer is off to a great start after having the baptism of Marcus and then yesterday he was confirmed a member of the Church.  We have seen lots of people this week and good things are happening and seeds are being planted.   

As you can see I have a new companion.  His name is Elder Kalani from Kenya.  We have been getting along really well and I enjoy serving with him.  He has been out for almost 15 months, so he is a great help to the area.  He has lots of ideas and is a hard worker.  This will indeed be a another great transfer.

Other then that All is well here in Sebokeng.  Have a great week everybody!

Cheers, Elder Segil

Transfer time and Baptism!

Hello once again everybody!  It has been another great week here in Sebokeng.  Transfers have come yet again and my companion, Elder Arthur will be leaving.  I'm sad, but know that it must be.  I will receive a new companion on Tuesday and the work in Sebokeng will continue.  There are four missionaries in Sebokeng, as you can see below, and all are from different Continents.  The rest of our zone is from different parts of the world as well.  When we play soccer, we call it the World Cup!

Elders Raymond(Australia), Segil(America), Arthur(Ghana), and Kankkunen(Finland)

Elder Arthur and I.

We also had the Baptism of Pheello Marcus Leboko, which went really well. He is my first investigator who has read the Book of Mormon before he was baptized.  He was prepared by the Lord and I am so grateful to have been an instrument in my Father in Heaven's hands.  He will be confirmed next week and become the newest member of the Sebokeng Branch.  Good things are happening!

Elder Arthur, Marcus and I

Well that is pretty much the sum of the week.  I look forward to the future and can't wait to see what's in store.

Have a great week everyone.

Elder Segil

Sharp! Sharp!

Happy Monday everybody.  It has been another successful week here in Sebokeng. We went to the Temple, Celebrated Elder Arthur's birthday and went to Burger King.  I'd say it was a pretty awesome week!

I don't know if I have ever talked about the word Sharp.  It is used throughout South Africa and the sign that goes along with it, is thumbs up.  They have handshakes here and one of them you hold your thumb out and the other puts their thumb to yours and snaps the thumbs together.  Kinda hard to explain, but you can sort of see it in the pictures.  I love it so much because every kid you see, no matter how little, knows what sharp means.  They always gather around me and with their cute voices saying sharp, sharp.  It is one of the best parts of the day.  They also pronounce the word sharp as you would say shop.  It means cool, thank you and bye.  A word that you can almost use everywhere.  So yeah cool stuff!

Sharp!

Going to the Temple was once again, a great experience!  We had to wake up at half past four to make the seven a.m. session.  It was so nice.  Another awesome thing is, it was Elder Arthur's Birthday, I can think of no greater present then that.

Overlooking Joburg at the Temple Grounds

Elder Arthur Turned 23!

After we went to the Temple, we stopped by the Burger King in Joburg.  Oh man it was soooo good!  It has been ten months without a whopper!  I missed it so much.  It is still not as good as the Baconator, but it will do.  Unfortunately there are no Wendy's restaurants here, so I will have to go two years without it.  DARN!

Glorious, free refills!

We are finding lots of sweet people and having great lessons.  We will be having a baptism on Sunday.  His name is Marcus and we have been teaching him for a while.  He has completed the Book of Mormon and knows it is true.  It's funny, all we ask people to do is to read the Book of Mormon.  It is the hardest thing in the world for most to do, but along with prayer, it's the only way to know if it's true .  We just have to put in the work and God will do the rest.  This happened to me and I have seen it happen to countless others that I have met over my mission thus far.  The Book of Mormon is true.  If you have not read it, read it.  If you have read it, read it again!  

Have a great week!  

Elder Segil