Letter from Michael 11-2-2015 -  First Week in Tsakane

This week was hectic. I was put in companionship with Elder Musandirire and Elder De La Cruz. Elder Musandirire was actually serving in the Zimbabwe mission but had to come to South Africa for a transfer for medical reasons. On Wednesday we had to take him to the mission office and the to the OR Tambo airport to go back to Zimbabwe. He was supposed to be here longer but his mission president decided to have him come back earlier. 

Anyway, it is just Elder De La Cruz with me now. He is from Spain and is 13 months on mission. We are both having fun trying to learn the area. We didn't have an area book, a branch directory, or a map so we were kind of left in the dark. Fortunately we have the branch mission leader on our side of the branch so he helped us to know where people live. He is a great branch mission leader. Sunday was the only day he did not come to teach with us. 

The branch is big and they feed us often. Tons of people filled the chapel on Sunday. It looks big enough to be a ward but there are not enough priesthood holder. Most of the branch is just women. We started with to investigators from part member families. There is Karabo who is 13 and Sweetness who is in her 40's. We started teaching new people but we will see how serious they are as time goes. Karabo came to church with her mother on Sunday. 

- Elder Johnson

"They that love, show their love."

- William Shakespeare 

Part of his letter to his mom:

On P-day we went to the mission office because Elder Hughes had to go to the district leader and training meeting. I played rugby the whole day. I met the Larsons in the mission office. Sister Larsen took a picture with me.

We don't live in the township but we live in Brackpan. Brackpan is actually near Alberton. We drive through Alberton to get to the mission home. At the complex we live in there is the (ZL) Springs Elders, Tsakane 1 Elders, and (DL) Kwa-tema Elders. We are all in separate complexes. The township is mostly Zulu's. It seems nice with friendly laid back people. There are many young people it seems in Tsakane.

Party of his letter to his dad:

Today we are going bowling with a bunch of missionaries. Elder Commings from my MTC group and Elder Rouse will be there.

Elder Commings is from Burmingham, England. He goes home same time as me. 

Lower Right- Michael during transfers Oct. 2015

Upper Right- Michael with car loaded down- Transfers 10-2015

Lower Left- Michael sitting at transfers- 2015

Lower Right- Michael sitting at Transfers 10-2015

Lower Left- Michael sitting in Transfers 10-2015

Tripanionship- Michael with Elder Musandirire and Elder De La Cruz