2020 September 28 Elder Mayisela Departs

 

Elder Mayisela joined our South Africa Johannesburg Mission in Eswatini at the beginning of his mission in August 2018. 

When his visa arrived, he left to serve in the Maputo Mozambique Mission on 22 November 2018. 

When COVID-19 restrictions were put in place in March 2020, Elder Mayisela returned home to Eswatini. 

As soon as we had new missionaries called to serve in Eswatini, Elder Mayisela joined them. 

He graciously served an extra month as a wonderful leader and mentor to our other eight new missionaries serving in Eswatini. 

He will continue as a member to help people come unto Christ.

Sister Pitcher, Elder Mayisela, President Pitcher

Elder Phiri, Elder Dlamini, Elder Mayisela, and Elder Mabuza after participating in a good-bye lunch for Elder Mayisela in Mbabane.

2020 September 27 Sabbath Gathering

 

Our special speakers for our 7 pm Sabbath Gathering was Elder and Sister Parrish. They shared with us screens of the new Facebook/Instagram ad campaign. It started today. There are four campaign themes that are directly connected to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries will have a wonderful time teaching respondents the missionary lessons without first dealing with physical and social issues. Our missionaries are excited about this new campaign and look forward to teaching many people the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2020 Sept 19-20 Transfer

 

On Saturday, Elder Baldiviezo, Elder Rodrigues and Elder Torres came to the mission home. They all had a COVID negative test on Friday and had at some time, their departing interview with President Leavitt and took an English language test. They are pictured making a memory page for Sister Leavitt on Saturday night. We had our departing dinner and meeting. We all pray that they will make it to their homes as they have all served extra time waiting for a repatriation flight out of South Africa.

On Sunday morning, Elder Krakra and Elder Madlala came. After all had eaten breakfast and the H1 was loaded and photos were taken, they left for the meeting place in Boksburg to have their documents checked and board a bus to OR Tambo airport.

They all made it to Nairobi, Kenya. They stayed in a Bread & Breakfast under President Mdletshe's care

Elder Rodrigues

Elder Torres

Elder Baldiviezo

 

2020 Sept 13 Sabbath Gathering

 

7 pm, Zoom: At our Sabbath Gathering our special speakers were President and Sister Mkhabela, Johannesburg Temple President and Matron. We have 20 missionaries who haven't received their temple ordinances. Now under Phase 2, they will have the opportunity to do so in the coming weeks.

President and Sister Mkhabela gave wonderful instructions and information about the Lord's temple. The Lord expects us to be prepared and worthy to make covenants in His house. What happens in the temple is not secret, it is sacred. Attending is worthless and destructive to those not ready and willing to live accordingly. We are judged by what we know to be true. 

The temple is a place of revelation from the Holy Ghost to those living God's commandments and keeping covenants made with Him. It is a house of learning how to access the atoning power of our Savior in our lives. It is a house of serving and loving those who have passed on before us. It is a house of making eternal connections through the priesthood sealing power of our Heavenly Father. It is a house where we can be endowed with power from on high to accomplish as missionaries His purposes. We look forward to attending.

2020 Sept 8-9 Zone Conferences

Tuesday, 8 Sept 2020 Zone Conference

North and South Zones

North Zone

Front row: Sister Jantjie, Sister Wood, Sister Banditi, Sister Mohube, Sister Madlingozi, Elder Arumugam

Back row: Elder Jooste, Elder Khumalo, Elder Tyantsi, Elder Mthembu, Elder Fierro, Elder Mnyakana, Elder Dollman

South Zone

Front row: Elder Manjate, Elder Nocanda, Elder Kireta, Sister Sithole, Sister Mc Aravey

Back row: Elder Jente, Elder Sibanda, Elder Ramokoena, Elder Clark, Elder Dos Santos, Elder Klintworth

Wednesday, 9 Sept 2020 Zone Conference

East, Central and West Zones

East Zone

Elder Chifarimba, Elder Ngema, Elder Dakuiyau, Elder Austin

The rest of the East Zone is in Eswatini with Elder & Sister Pitcher. We hope to get a photo later. Elder Mayisela, Elder Dlamini, Elder Mabuza, Elder Phiri, Elder Zulu, Elder Ngozo, Sister Dvuba, Sister Gwebu, Sister Dladla.

Central Zone

Front row: Elder Baldiviezo, Sister Nzimande, Sister Kipela, Elder Daniels

Back row: Elder Nganda, Elder Rodrigues, Elder Torres, Elder Paongo, Elder Mosia

West Zone

Front row: Elder Malgas, Elder Krakra, Elder Madlala, Elder Hlatshwayo

Back row: Elder Presence, Sister Mokeona, Sister Vetten, Elder Madaza

Elder Jente, Elder Mafundityala, and Elder Joka, trainers for Elder Ramokoena, Elder Chagadama and Elder Nyembue currently in MTC remote training.

West Zone

Two middle: Elder Mathenjwa and Elder Ndlelo--our assistants, who were gone on an errand during the photo shoot at the start of lunch.

Elder Rodrigues and Elder Nganda from the Central Zone joined in.

2020 September 6 Sabbath Gathering

Sunday, 7 pm, our special speakers were President Leavitt's brother, Mark and his wife, Jana Leavitt. We enjoyed their words of wisdom. President Leavitt joined us from his car in a hospital parking lot in another city, serving one of our District members, as highlighted in the yellow rectangle below.