Today is Elder Shipp's actual birthday. He is a bit down today, so if you would like to send him an email or letter he would love it!!! His email is clinton.shipp@myldsmail.net. The address is on the side bar.
He was transferred to Eiskawine by Richards Bay and is serving as District Leader in a threesome. The transfer took him thirteen hours by bus...he did not like it :)! The people speak Zulu in this new area and he his able to see the ocean. His companions are native South Africans. Their names are Elder Nkambule and Elder Karabonanya.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
District Leader
Ive been great. But still i eat way to much. hahah im just chowing like 5/6 meals a day. and yea. idk im not getting fatter tho just eating. haha sorry thats why the card usage has been up. i just get starving in the area and need food. thats after i eat the food i packed.
The weather is HOTT!! and its getting hotter.
I am being transferred to esikelwini(or something like that). ill be in a 3some......... weird. I will travel to the new area via Greyhound...for a long time!
Last week we did exchanges with the zone leaders and me and elder webster( hes my zone leader now, not companion haha) were walking allll day. we ran in to this drunk guy and his Rasta friend. soooo the drunk guy kinda pulled me aside and was trying to take my phone and talk to me and stuff. wierd. and the rasta guy was just telling elder webster that were satan followers that were bringing satan to the blacks. that it needs to stay with the whites hahahahaha. then the drunk guy grabbed my phone so i snatched it back and told him in the most serious voice i could that he needs to watch himself. So the drunk guy kinda left and the rasta guy was just blabbering on so i walked over to webster and asked him "rasta baba, so you respect ppl?" he said "too much" so i responded " kk We are respecting you and your opinon right now. will you respect us and our job?" so he said "sorry sorry. go then." and yea. so that was the fun experience of the week. nothing exciting. sorry.
Elder Shipp
P.s.- Elder Shipp sent Uncle Ryan an email today asking for advise on running a Distrct because he is now a District Leader....so we can only assume he is now a district leader!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Membership in the Church
Soooooo i was thinking this week alot about membership in the church and what it means. When your baptised we promise our heavenly father that we will allways keep his commandments and that we will always stand as a witness of him and his son. So that would entail that we need to be dedicated to the lord and his teachings. So lets take a look at dedication. it means to give your best effort till the end right? And how many members do we see leaving the church today???
But the question comes up.... Why? What makes people go back on there promises with god? As a missionary i work with these "less actives" and its my job to help reactivate them. so i hear plenty of lame excuses sutch as:
1. Work
2. Offended
3. Doesnt feel right
4. Cant wake up on time
5. To busy
But accually ive come to realize that these members have hidden problems. And its up to us members to help them make it thru these hidden trials. Since ive been on mission i have not met a member that is inactive that does not have a sin weighing them down. Due to peer pressure and fear of confession they hide these sins and with hold the blessing that are rightfully theres. BUT there not just to blame for this. We as mebers cause these saints to struggle due to our gossiping and judgmental attitudes. We need to take care of our brothers and sisters and help them. Never judge someone that does wrong. no reason to alienate them. We all sin. Regardless of how major the sin is, it will still withhold us from reaching exaltation. so We as members should start to look at how we can help others. How can missionaries bring in souls when the souls that have already been attained arent staying in the church? Its close to impossible.
So the challege for the week is "Making corrections through love, and helping others to return to christ". I promise if we work at this that our blessings will pour in without number.
I love you all.
But the question comes up.... Why? What makes people go back on there promises with god? As a missionary i work with these "less actives" and its my job to help reactivate them. so i hear plenty of lame excuses sutch as:
1. Work
2. Offended
3. Doesnt feel right
4. Cant wake up on time
5. To busy
But accually ive come to realize that these members have hidden problems. And its up to us members to help them make it thru these hidden trials. Since ive been on mission i have not met a member that is inactive that does not have a sin weighing them down. Due to peer pressure and fear of confession they hide these sins and with hold the blessing that are rightfully theres. BUT there not just to blame for this. We as mebers cause these saints to struggle due to our gossiping and judgmental attitudes. We need to take care of our brothers and sisters and help them. Never judge someone that does wrong. no reason to alienate them. We all sin. Regardless of how major the sin is, it will still withhold us from reaching exaltation. so We as members should start to look at how we can help others. How can missionaries bring in souls when the souls that have already been attained arent staying in the church? Its close to impossible.
So the challege for the week is "Making corrections through love, and helping others to return to christ". I promise if we work at this that our blessings will pour in without number.
I love you all.
Elder Shipp
P.s.- It is almost my birthday and I would love some Reese's peanut butter cups!!!
P.s.- It is almost my birthday and I would love some Reese's peanut butter cups!!!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
South Africa Geography Lesson
The South Africa Durban mission covers three countries:
1. South Africa
2. Lesotho
3. Swaziland
In South Africa we cover three provinces (similar to countries back home):
1. Zulu Land
2. Kazulu Natal
3. Free State
Let me explain those places...
1. Lesotho (le-sew-two) the people are the Basutis. They speak sutu and Engligh there. It's the only country in the world that is inside another country. It's ruled by a king. Very mountainous and very old in winter.
2. Swaziland- It's a small country on the north east of South Africa. Ruled by a corrupt king. Known for their Reed Dances. The people there are the Seswaties. They speak seswati and Engligh.
3. Free State- The people here are Xhosas, Sutus, Afrikans and Swana's. Languages that are spoke are all of the above races plus English. Climate is cold and hot..extremes. Just depends on the climate. Located in basically the middle of South Africa.
4. Kwazulu Natal (ka-zulu-natel). The people are Zulu and Afrikans. They speak Zulu, Afrikans and English. Its climate is nice. Warm, tropical, but not very humid, just right. Located east of Freestate.
5. Zulu Land- The people are Zulu, Afrikans and English. They speak those three languages. Climate is hot and humid. Summer year around. Located on the east coast.
Now let me explain what the area's are like. There are two types of areas in this mission:
1. town
2. townships
Towns are taken by Zone leaders generally. Are basically small cities. You generally find Afrikans and wealthy people. 99% of the missionaries stay in towns not townships. Every town as one or more township.
Townships are equivelent to our "ghetto's". Townships were made during the apartate times (like our segregated times). Government (whites), kicked the blacks out of their homes in town and stuck them in the townships. They look like planned hoovervilles...lots of government housing, shacks with an occational nice home (usually belonging to a pastor). They have few paved roads. They are filled will everyone except Afrikans. They are normally the biggest branches.
Now let me tell you about the races.
1. Zulu- very traditional. Strong belief in ancestors. Strong people, but generally lacking in the smarts. Black.
2. BaSutus- more westernized. Tend to be prideful. Affected alot by the apartate times. Very intelligent people. Black.
3. Xhosas- the brothes of the Zulus. Very similar to the Zulus just a little less traditional and more westernized. Black
4. Swana- the swana are the more traditional brother to the Basutus. Black
5. Afrikans- conformed of Dutch people. Generally have money. Very pridefull. Most refuse to speak English with a whiteperson. White
So we deal with four groups of Languages:
1. English- everyone can speak it, just depends on if they want to.
2. Zulu, Xhosas & Seswati- all can understand eachother just with a slight pronunciation differences.
3. Afrikans- reformed Dutch. Language of the apartite. Considered the racist language.
4. Sutu, Swana, and Pedi- All understand eachother just with a slight pronunciation differences.
Here is some of RSA's history:
They had a government of white people until Nelson Mandella. The times of the white government are referred to as the "Apartite" times. During the apartite times blacks had few rights. They also enforced the learning of Afrikans as the primary language. Blacks were kicked out of towns by military forces to townships. People still have bad feelings about whites.
They have had a black government since 1991. A race called coloreds (found everywhere) was formed cause of Afrikans military raping the black women as they kicked them out of towns.
RSA uses the metric system.
Driving is backwards form America.
The currency is called the Rand (zar). The rand ranges from 6.5 to 7.8 to the American dollar.
South Africa is the most developed country in Africa.
Hope this helps everyone understand a bit more about the Durban South African Mission!
Love to you all!!!
Elder Shipp
1. South Africa
2. Lesotho
3. Swaziland
In South Africa we cover three provinces (similar to countries back home):
1. Zulu Land
2. Kazulu Natal
3. Free State
Let me explain those places...
1. Lesotho (le-sew-two) the people are the Basutis. They speak sutu and Engligh there. It's the only country in the world that is inside another country. It's ruled by a king. Very mountainous and very old in winter.
2. Swaziland- It's a small country on the north east of South Africa. Ruled by a corrupt king. Known for their Reed Dances. The people there are the Seswaties. They speak seswati and Engligh.
3. Free State- The people here are Xhosas, Sutus, Afrikans and Swana's. Languages that are spoke are all of the above races plus English. Climate is cold and hot..extremes. Just depends on the climate. Located in basically the middle of South Africa.
4. Kwazulu Natal (ka-zulu-natel). The people are Zulu and Afrikans. They speak Zulu, Afrikans and English. Its climate is nice. Warm, tropical, but not very humid, just right. Located east of Freestate.
5. Zulu Land- The people are Zulu, Afrikans and English. They speak those three languages. Climate is hot and humid. Summer year around. Located on the east coast.
Now let me explain what the area's are like. There are two types of areas in this mission:
1. town
2. townships
Towns are taken by Zone leaders generally. Are basically small cities. You generally find Afrikans and wealthy people. 99% of the missionaries stay in towns not townships. Every town as one or more township.
Townships are equivelent to our "ghetto's". Townships were made during the apartate times (like our segregated times). Government (whites), kicked the blacks out of their homes in town and stuck them in the townships. They look like planned hoovervilles...lots of government housing, shacks with an occational nice home (usually belonging to a pastor). They have few paved roads. They are filled will everyone except Afrikans. They are normally the biggest branches.
Now let me tell you about the races.
1. Zulu- very traditional. Strong belief in ancestors. Strong people, but generally lacking in the smarts. Black.
2. BaSutus- more westernized. Tend to be prideful. Affected alot by the apartate times. Very intelligent people. Black.
3. Xhosas- the brothes of the Zulus. Very similar to the Zulus just a little less traditional and more westernized. Black
4. Swana- the swana are the more traditional brother to the Basutus. Black
5. Afrikans- conformed of Dutch people. Generally have money. Very pridefull. Most refuse to speak English with a whiteperson. White
So we deal with four groups of Languages:
1. English- everyone can speak it, just depends on if they want to.
2. Zulu, Xhosas & Seswati- all can understand eachother just with a slight pronunciation differences.
3. Afrikans- reformed Dutch. Language of the apartite. Considered the racist language.
4. Sutu, Swana, and Pedi- All understand eachother just with a slight pronunciation differences.
Here is some of RSA's history:
They had a government of white people until Nelson Mandella. The times of the white government are referred to as the "Apartite" times. During the apartite times blacks had few rights. They also enforced the learning of Afrikans as the primary language. Blacks were kicked out of towns by military forces to townships. People still have bad feelings about whites.
They have had a black government since 1991. A race called coloreds (found everywhere) was formed cause of Afrikans military raping the black women as they kicked them out of towns.
RSA uses the metric system.
Driving is backwards form America.
The currency is called the Rand (zar). The rand ranges from 6.5 to 7.8 to the American dollar.
South Africa is the most developed country in Africa.
Hope this helps everyone understand a bit more about the Durban South African Mission!
Love to you all!!!
Elder Shipp
Pictures!!!
Elder Magoffin, Elder Jenks, Elder Shipp, Elder Tennant, Elder Curgara and Elder Howard after the Game drive in Bloemfontein:
Chef Shipp and his burgers he made from scratch...Delicious!!
Elder Shipp and his pet lion cub:
Some girls from Australia and London that wanted a picture with a local. They thought Elder Shipp was South African!
Elder Shipp and Elder Jenks:
A drink he mixed...very delicious...Pineapple Fanta and Rasberry!
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