Heritage Day!

The last post of September, I can't even believe it.  Time is flying!  This week was great and I got lots of pictures, just for you guys.  First, on Wednesday we celebrated Heritage day at the Chapel.  It was a lot of fun to see all the different traditional clothing and food.  Most of what you see comes from the Zulu tribe.  

The kids and I on Heritage day!

Zulu Traditional Clothing

Mopani Worms!  Yummy! Yummy!

One Saturday we attended a funeral for our Sister Shale.  She passed away two weeks ago and her funeral was held at our Chapel.  South African funerals are very interesting and different from what I have seen in America.  There is a lot of singing and different ceremonies preformed.  Also everyone comes to the funeral to show their respect.  We had over five hundred people in the Chapel and the parking lot and streets were packed.  It went very well and I know Sister Shale would be pleased with everything.  My favorite part is when all the cars get in a line, turn on their hazards and drive to the cemetery without stopping at the lights or stop signs.  I guess you can say it's for a good reason.  After the burial, we went back to Sebokeng and had lunch.  The people in charge fed all five hundred of us.  They spend a lot of money and time for the funeral to make sure everything goes well, and it did.

Church Parking lot

Meal after the Funeral

Teaching Marco with Elder Kalani

We visit a member that lives near this Tuck shop and we have gotten to know the owner very well.  He is a great guy and he even fed us this nice Kenyan dish last week.  He and Elder Kalani both speak Swahili, so they have a good time.

Tuck shop Meal.

Karobo's Birthday!

Well I love you all and will talk to you next week!

Elder Segil

Hey Hey Hey

Hello, Hello.  It has been another great week here in Sebokeng.  Not too much happened so I guess I'll just tell you what I did throughout the week.  Monday after e-mailing we went shopping and played sports down at the complex.  We live in a nice place that has a soccer field and swimming pool next to a river.  We have lots of fun there. 

 

On Tuesday, we had exchanges with the Assistants to the President.  Everything went well and we had a good time.  The last time I had exchanges with them was in October, so it has been a while.  They are super busy throughout the whole mission, so not too often we get to go with them.  On Wednesday, the most exciting thing that happened, besides seeing a whole bunch of people, was Lesedi a member's daughter accidentally peed on me.  Darn her!!!  I felt something warm and then all of the sudden I was wet.  I love her so much and I know she loves me as well.  In church or at her home, she always comes to me and when her mom Tumi takes her away she starts crying.  I love when I leave the house because she starts waddling over to me and crying for me to come back.  The funny thing is, is she was born on almost the exact day I got to South Africa.  Good stuff aye?  

 

Thursday was a normal day and so was Friday.  One Saturday we had a real treat.  We went to Bedfordview, my first area, to listen to the new first counselor of the Africa Southeast area, Elder Ellis.  He is a very nice guy and glad to have him here.  My favorite part of going to Bedfordview was seeing all of the members that I use to work with.  One named Mrs. Mahara was so surprised to see me that she screamed her lungs out inside the church for all to hear.  I enjoyed it very much. It was also sweet to be there with my first companion, Elder Dutson.  It almost felt like we never left.   I miss that area and it will always be close to my heart.  Sunday was awesome as always.  We had some great speakers and the spirit was strong.

 

A lot of work is getting done in Sebokeng with the four of us missionaries. 

 

Have a great week everybody!

 

Elder Segil

The Best Year!

Wow, one year ago today, I was set apart as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I cannot express my thoughts and feelings on the matter anymore that to say I know, without a doubt, that it has been the best year of my life.  I have spent everyday laboring and serving the people of South Africa and can truly say I have seen people's lives changed for the better when they learn to put their trust in God. 

South Africa is an interesting place.  It is not like most places around the world.  I guess you could say it's in its own little world.  As I have traveled around this country, I have seen vast wealth and in more abundance, vast poverty.  I have had the wonderful opportunity to work in three completely different settings.  Those being a very wealthy area, a village, and a township.  As I have labored in these vineyards, I have been rejected and despise by the rich and I have been cared for and blessed by those who have nothing.  Many times my heart has been broken because these people, who are so very poor have given me all they have and have done it with such love.  They know they will be blessed and they know who to put their trust in.  

I love my mission and I love South Africa and this next year is going to be even better than the last!  I will make sure of it.  This last week, I had the opportunity of returning to my first area of Bedfordview for a Zone conference.  It was so great to be there in that familiar area, especially with my first companion Elder Dutson.  We are in the same Zone and it was so sweet to be back in this part of the mission with him.  It is the area I was born in and will truly love and miss forever.  The conference went well and I am so excited to be working with President and Sister Dunn in this part of the world. 

 

President and Sister Dunn and I!

I leave you now with the knowledge I have obtained through the different trials and experiences in my life.  I have come to know someone greater than myself.  Someone who knows me more than I know myself and loves me unconditionally.  Some call Him God, some call Him Perfect, Loving, Compassionate and Forgiving.  I call Him Father and you know what?  He's not only my Father, but He's your Father as well.  He knows you and loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Take the time to get to know Him.   He speaks to you and He is just waiting for you to respond.  It is my Testimony that God lives and along side Him is His son, Jesus Christ.  Through these two all powerful, divine beings, all is possible.  All we have to do is have FAITH and believe that there is something more than just us.  You can and will one day know Him.  This I know and say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Elder Segil

Transfers and MORE!

Alright sweet, so it has been another great week here in Sebokeng.  We had Transfers on Tuesday, which is always a lot of fun.  I love seeing old companions and Elders from my MTC group.  Elder Raymond has left us at Sebokeng.

Chiefs or Pirates?

 

Elder Rakotomalala is done.  His two years are up!

 

 

 On Friday, we helped one of our investigators named Mpumi make some biscuits for her memorial the next day.  It was a lot of fun and we made a good team.

Mpumi and I with a big bowl of batter!

 

Biscuit Galore!

 

While we were making biscuits, Mpumi's mother was making an African drink called Umqombthi.  We didn't know what is was, so we tried a sip and man was it disgusting.  We went to a Tuck shop and got a coke and some cookies to wash down the bad taste.  I won't be drinking umqombothi anytime soon.  I guess we learn from our mistakes.

Yummy! :)

 

Mpumi's Mother and I.

Nxike a member's daughter.

 Well another great week has gone by and another to come.

Cheers, Elder Segil

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