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.

Elder Shipp

P.s.- It is almost my birthday and I would love some Reese's peanut butter cups!!!

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

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!

Pictures

Today I hijacked some pictures from Elder Shipp's friend Ariel.  There are no explanations with any of them, but I thought I would share them anyway!  We all know that Elder Shipp is not an "explanation" kind of guy anyway!  So here goes...

Playing with fire....boys will be boys....even on their mission~!

This is a South African stamp...it is huge!!

He is becoming a chef and made some cheesecake...

Fasting to feed the Elders

This week I had a spiritual experience I want to share.  On Sunday this member was feeding us(every sunday after church.) and it was good(the ususal). and I asked her if she was gonna eat with us(sometimes they sit and just watch us... not fun) but she said no shes fasting. so puzzled i asked why, and if there was anything i could do to help her. She said no that she was fasting for us, and i thought awww cute. Little old lady. hope it helps the work. then i asked a few more questions and found out that she didnt have money to feed us so she has been praying and she finaly got enough money to feed us and its just enough for us so she was fasting for sunday and would eat tomarrow...... wow that food was alot harder to eat. very humbling.

Love,
Elder Shipp

He can cook!

Here is the most recent update we have had from Scooter.  As you can tell he has not gotten any better and sharing details!  Thought everyone might enjoy some news even if it is very limited!

Q:  How are you doing?

A:  Pretty fair. how bout your self? hahah

Q:  Shouldn't transfers be coming up pretty soon?

A:  yea in 2 weeks.

Q:  Do you know if you will be transfered?
A:  no idea. could go either way.

Q:  Have you had any special occasions this week?
A:  Yea. this family let us in and they asked the perfect questions. well see how it pans out.

Q:  Are they still feeding you some of the time?
A:  yea. im really good at cooking from scratch now so its fine. i whip up some tortias and make some     beans with some taco beef or make steamed bread and stew. just stuff so im fine.

Q:  Thought of any scriptures for me yet?
A:  What type of scriptures you want? im studying the life and ministry of jesus. so Matt mark luke and john.

Q:  When you are at Church, do you have to teach still or is this Ward big enough that you just get to be a missionary?
A:   little of both. prides an issue with ppl.

Q:  Are you still in a car or do you have to walk sometimes?
A:  half and half. 

Q:  Staying in shape?
A:  yes maam

New Mission Home Address

Q:  Well, how was your week? 

A:  It was cold. it just keeps getting colder. but its good. we had to do a couple days of walking so the other elders could use the car.

Q:  Did you get to teach many discussions?

A:  Nope. loads of bunks tho haha

Q:  Did you have any spiritual experiences this week? 

A:  Hmmmmm. not really. Sunday i guess. we were teaching a girl manana and her bother joined us and he definitly felt the spirit.

Q:  How were transfers?

A:  They are fine. 

Q:  Did you stay the same or did one of you go somewhere else?

A:  Im staying here. im getting a new comp(idk his name). and hes younger on mission than me, so im a senior companion..... eish.

Q:  Still as cold?

A:  Like a freezer haha

Q:  How are the people treating you?

A:  ALOT better as far as members. investigators are still bums but im dropping most of them and getting some fresh ppl.

Q:  Anyone as nice as MaZuane?

A:  NO WAYS. LOVE HER.

Q:  What are your plans for this next week?

A:  Introduce my new comp to the area and then tract/find.  Other than teaching?  Not much. probably have to go shopping for my comp. doubt he has clothes for the weather.

Q:  Do you have any fun plans for your P-day?

A:  Basketball. maybe some football or rugby.

Q:  What kind of food are you eating now?

A:  Same.... 

Q:  Still mainly chicken, rice and fruit?

A:   i think thats just all the africans eat.

Q:  Is this area any safer?

A:  HAHAHA ill be safe regardless haha. so its all good.

The Mission Home has a new address so please send any mail (which Scooter LOVES) to:

PO Box 1741

Wandsbeck

Durban

South Africa

3631