Letter from Michael 6-29-2015 –
Alberton- Changes in Mission
My new area is a town
called Alberton in the Bedfordview zone. As I said before I am finishing
training Elder Rouse from England which is good so far. It is a biking area so
I am having many flash backs of my first area, Polokwane, where I was trained.
Yes, I am back to good old flat tires everyday. But we came up with a plan so
that the work is not hindered by the bikes. In a week we will begin to trade
off the car every week with the Germiston Elders.
I am enjoying the people
in Alberton who we have taught so far. There is a nice ward here. When I first
went to church here it looked like a branch but gradually people came in later.
There are many people to teach and members to visit in this big area. I will
get to meet all of them hopefully when we get the car. Unfortunatly, Elder
Novotny and Elder Oldroyd are no longer in my mission. Limpopo and the Pretoria
zone are now in the Botswana mission. We just lost tons of missionaries and now
we have a small mission. It is sad that there are so many elders that we won't
be seeing anymore.
So far this week being
district leader hasn't been so bad. The district meeting went well. We
discussed about setting and achieving goals. Here we do not live in a flat complex.
We live at a members house which is interesting. We live in the top floor of
the building.
For exchanges I will have to be picked up by other Elders.
Alberton has lots of hills. Itis a bit similar to Witbank. It is town but not a
super wealthy town.
QUOTE: "To receive a stab is to be wounded; but to forgive and forget, is the cure." - Rev. William Scott Downey
"Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't." - Thomas S. Monson (The "W" formula)
Part of his letter to his mom:
Yeah, I will email Elder
Oldroyd. I am glad it wasn't me. It would be cool to serve in Botswana but for
like Elder Oldroyd he will not serve there but he is no longer part of
our mission.
On Monday I could not say good bye to anyone else. I had to
travel to Roodeport for District Leader meeting and training meeting. The
Germiston, Bedfordview, and Evenville Elders are in my district. The edenville
Elders are my zone leaders. Yeah, being district leader is good.
We got an email and text about it. Just two of us live
there. it is many steps to get up there. We sleep in the study/living room, 1
bathroom, and a kitchen. I brought the weights here but I have been to
exhausted to use them. Yes, it has been quite cold here. Tuesday was hot though.
We have our own kitchen. We live with an English family. We
enter our part of the building in a way that we usually don't see them. It is
an interesting design. Yeah, i saw the video. I sound funny.
Part of his letter to his dad:
Immaculate and Vusi are the investigators who came to
church this Sunday. Vusi is from Mozambique and Immaculate is the wife of a
recent convert named Nicki.
Letter from his mission president about the changes:
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Dear Parents and Priesthood Leaders of missionaries in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission:
I wanted you to be among the first to know about a historic milestone in the missionary work in here in Africa which was announced this morning, and will take effect this coming week.
In a recent meeting of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, approval was given to realign the boundary between the Botswana/Namibia and South Africa Johannesburg Missions, and to transfer the Pretoria South Africa Stake and the Tzaneen South Africa District from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission to the Botswana/Namibia Mission. This change will be effective 1 July, 2015, and will affect 45 missionaries currently serving in the Pretoria, Sunnyside and Tzaneen Zones of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.
This change in mission boundaries coincides with the splitting of the Pretoria Stake and the formation of the new, Mabopane Stake. Both the new stake and the adjustments to the mission boundaries were proposed and sustained by the members and missionaries in a special stake conference held this morning in Pretoria. The net effect of this move is that it transfers a stake and district from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. It will also immediately bolster the compliment of missionaries in the Botswana/Namibia Mission which has struggled to get missionaries into those countries due to visa issues for the past 18 months. As a geography reminder, these two countries are adjacent to South Africa, and are located on its northern border. The affected zones from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission are the northernmost areas of our mission, and a logical addition to the Botswana/Namibia Mission.
The missionaries officially reassigned to the Botswana/Namibia Mission are:
Elder Theodore Dandrick Barendse
Elder James Rex Bryner
Elder Kenneth Dylan Christie
Elder Duwayne Fernando DeSouza
Elder Peter Mpaulo Diogo
Elder Enoc Teancum Garnica
Elder Seth Alexander Going
Elder Afina Hunt
Elder Ray Hunt
Elder Teemu Samuel Kankkunen
Elder Ken Kobbina Kenyah
Elder Brian Kusi-Poku
Elder Daniel Liera
Elder Jarom Alexander Lybe
Elder Albert James May
Elder James Almon McAllister
Elder Kelly McClellan
Elder Jorden Paul McQueen
Elder Elisha Mugenyi
Elder Sicelo Falakhe Ndlovu
Elder Václav Novotný
Elder James D. McKay Oldroyd
Elder Felix Paul
Elder Aaron Leslie Reynolds
Elder Turner McKay Richards
Elder Jacob Blake Saunders
Elder Duke Malcolm Smith-Holley
Elder Joshua Alexander Stilgoe
Elder Simon Ssendege
Elder Jared Michael Cornelis Stomps
Elder Mose Johnny Togiatomai
Elder Andre Edward Daniel Thompson
Elder Teamakaia Louis Adolph Bonard Tumarae
Elder Andries Petrus Van Heerden
Elder Kayl Michael Williams
Elder Mitchell Allen Williams
Elder Gerald Woniala
Elder Max Butler
Sister Janis Cardon Butler
Elder Steven Roy Campbell
Sister Loretta Evans Campbell
Elder Larry LaVarr Hansen
Sister Melanie Hansen
Elder Bryan Mark Winward
Sister Valerie Jean Winward
While Sister Dunn and I are obviously saddened to part with these great missionaries whom we have come to know and love as sons (…along with four of the best senior couples to be found anywhere), it is inspiring—and in fact more accurately, dizzying—to see the hand of the Lord move the work forward on this African continent. In addition to strengthening the ability to handle the burgeoning work of building the kingdom in the north, this is a pioneering opportunity to stretch and grow which will bless the lives of all involved. But please know that even as your son moves on to this exciting opportunity, that he will always be a part of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.
I’m also pleased to tell you how much your son will love his new Mission President and Companion—and how much they already love your sons. We know President and Sister Wilson and they are outstanding people and seasoned servants of God. They have already served two years of their three-year call in the Botswana Gaborone Mission, and so are experienced leaders of a mission. Their home is in West Jordan, Utah and they are the parents of five children. President Wilson, who was born in Columbus, Ohio is steeped in church experience having served as a counselor in a stake presidency and is a former bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, and Young Men president. Professionally he worked as an engineer with Ceramatec, Inc. Sister Wilson, who is from Payson, Utah, has also served in many callings including as a former ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president. Again, your sons will love serving with this terrific couple.
As your communicate with your son on his P-Day tomorrow, my prayer is that you, too, will feel the spirit of this inspired move, and share that with your missionary. While you or your son may be naturally feeling some uncertainty about this, I testify to you that God is indeed in charge. And that this is but one more evidence of the hastening of the work. As the Book of Mormon asserts, “But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men…” (1 Nephi 9:6). Elder Neal Maxwell also reminds us that all things do work together for our good. “Trust in the Lord as He leads you along,” said Elder Maxwell. “He has things for you to do that you won't know about now but that will unfold later. If you stay close to Him, You will have some great adventures. The Lord will unfold your future bit by bit.”
One thing is for sure, it will be an adventure! And we feel so blessed to be a part of this historic and inspired move forward. If you have any questions or if I can help in anyway, please let me know. In the meantime, please know that the Dunns and the Wilson love your sons and will be doing our very best to make this adjustment successful.
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for Israel!
With love and blessings,
Michael A. Dunn, President
South Africa Johannesburg Mission
Dear Parents and Priesthood Leaders of missionaries in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission:
I wanted you to be among the first to know about a historic milestone in the missionary work in here in Africa which was announced this morning, and will take effect this coming week.
In a recent meeting of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, approval was given to realign the boundary between the Botswana/Namibia and South Africa Johannesburg Missions, and to transfer the Pretoria South Africa Stake and the Tzaneen South Africa District from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission to the Botswana/Namibia Mission. This change will be effective 1 July, 2015, and will affect 45 missionaries currently serving in the Pretoria, Sunnyside and Tzaneen Zones of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.
This change in mission boundaries coincides with the splitting of the Pretoria Stake and the formation of the new, Mabopane Stake. Both the new stake and the adjustments to the mission boundaries were proposed and sustained by the members and missionaries in a special stake conference held this morning in Pretoria. The net effect of this move is that it transfers a stake and district from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. It will also immediately bolster the compliment of missionaries in the Botswana/Namibia Mission which has struggled to get missionaries into those countries due to visa issues for the past 18 months. As a geography reminder, these two countries are adjacent to South Africa, and are located on its northern border. The affected zones from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission are the northernmost areas of our mission, and a logical addition to the Botswana/Namibia Mission.
The missionaries officially reassigned to the Botswana/Namibia Mission are:
Elder Theodore Dandrick Barendse
Elder James Rex Bryner
Elder Kenneth Dylan Christie
Elder Duwayne Fernando DeSouza
Elder Peter Mpaulo Diogo
Elder Enoc Teancum Garnica
Elder Seth Alexander Going
Elder Afina Hunt
Elder Ray Hunt
Elder Teemu Samuel Kankkunen
Elder Ken Kobbina Kenyah
Elder Brian Kusi-Poku
Elder Daniel Liera
Elder Jarom Alexander Lybe
Elder Albert James May
Elder James Almon McAllister
Elder Kelly McClellan
Elder Jorden Paul McQueen
Elder Elisha Mugenyi
Elder Sicelo Falakhe Ndlovu
Elder Václav Novotný
Elder James D. McKay Oldroyd
Elder Felix Paul
Elder Aaron Leslie Reynolds
Elder Turner McKay Richards
Elder Jacob Blake Saunders
Elder Duke Malcolm Smith-Holley
Elder Joshua Alexander Stilgoe
Elder Simon Ssendege
Elder Jared Michael Cornelis Stomps
Elder Mose Johnny Togiatomai
Elder Andre Edward Daniel Thompson
Elder Teamakaia Louis Adolph Bonard Tumarae
Elder Andries Petrus Van Heerden
Elder Kayl Michael Williams
Elder Mitchell Allen Williams
Elder Gerald Woniala
Elder Max Butler
Sister Janis Cardon Butler
Elder Steven Roy Campbell
Sister Loretta Evans Campbell
Elder Larry LaVarr Hansen
Sister Melanie Hansen
Elder Bryan Mark Winward
Sister Valerie Jean Winward
While Sister Dunn and I are obviously saddened to part with these great missionaries whom we have come to know and love as sons (…along with four of the best senior couples to be found anywhere), it is inspiring—and in fact more accurately, dizzying—to see the hand of the Lord move the work forward on this African continent. In addition to strengthening the ability to handle the burgeoning work of building the kingdom in the north, this is a pioneering opportunity to stretch and grow which will bless the lives of all involved. But please know that even as your son moves on to this exciting opportunity, that he will always be a part of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission.
I’m also pleased to tell you how much your son will love his new Mission President and Companion—and how much they already love your sons. We know President and Sister Wilson and they are outstanding people and seasoned servants of God. They have already served two years of their three-year call in the Botswana Gaborone Mission, and so are experienced leaders of a mission. Their home is in West Jordan, Utah and they are the parents of five children. President Wilson, who was born in Columbus, Ohio is steeped in church experience having served as a counselor in a stake presidency and is a former bishop, high councilor, elders quorum president, and Young Men president. Professionally he worked as an engineer with Ceramatec, Inc. Sister Wilson, who is from Payson, Utah, has also served in many callings including as a former ward Relief Society president, ward Primary president. Again, your sons will love serving with this terrific couple.
As your communicate with your son on his P-Day tomorrow, my prayer is that you, too, will feel the spirit of this inspired move, and share that with your missionary. While you or your son may be naturally feeling some uncertainty about this, I testify to you that God is indeed in charge. And that this is but one more evidence of the hastening of the work. As the Book of Mormon asserts, “But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men…” (1 Nephi 9:6). Elder Neal Maxwell also reminds us that all things do work together for our good. “Trust in the Lord as He leads you along,” said Elder Maxwell. “He has things for you to do that you won't know about now but that will unfold later. If you stay close to Him, You will have some great adventures. The Lord will unfold your future bit by bit.”
One thing is for sure, it will be an adventure! And we feel so blessed to be a part of this historic and inspired move forward. If you have any questions or if I can help in anyway, please let me know. In the meantime, please know that the Dunns and the Wilson love your sons and will be doing our very best to make this adjustment successful.
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for Israel!
With love and blessings,
Michael A. Dunn, President
South Africa Johannesburg Mission
 |
| Old Mission on the top, new on the bottom |
The area Michael was transferred from last week is now in the Botswana
Mission.
You can read
more about it on the mission president’s blog: http://dunnsinjoburg.blogspot.com/
Michael’s
Father’s Day video that was taped by the Area Public Affairs missionaries, Elder and Sister Berg on the subject of
"influential father figures." has been posted on: https://www.facebook.com/SouthAfricaMormonNewsroom?ref=bookmarks
"influential father figures." has been posted on: https://www.facebook.com/SouthAfricaMormonNewsroom?ref=bookmarks
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