A Week in the Life of Elder Langston

Since Jordan sent this picture today, I decided to post it. Always fun to have a recent pic. This was taken last Sunday before the baptism. I don't think he was ready to have this picture taken.

Well, this week was a good one. I've got some good stories from this week as well.

On Tuesday we went to Nosisa's place to talk about baptisms for the dead because we are trying to get all of our recent converts ready to go to the temple soon. But we were over there watching a talk and, like always, I fell asleep. When the talk was over, Elder Teerlink talked about what we learned and all that good stuff and even turned on a hymn to listen to. I only know this because I was told later for I was asleep this whole time. The song got over and Nosisa was asked to choose someone to pray. I was chosen and Teerlink woke me up to tell me to pray. I had no idea what was going on, all I remember is Nosisa asking if I was asleep and really quickly I replied, "no." I was still confused so Teerlink prayed. After the prayer, Nosisa asked, "are you awake, Langston?" "I am now," I replied and she let out a little laughter. She said she's going to tell everyone that I sleep and I started to kinda do some role play of how she'll do that saying she'll go bear her testimony and I was saying what she would say and there would be laughter and everyone would look back at the missionaries and see us asleep on the back row and all that jazz. We were kinda chuckling and having a good time about me being a funny guy, then, very seriously, I asked her, "so, who's going to pray?" Wowzers, she let out a hoot of laughter, unable to control herself! We left her place on a good note. I learned from George Costanza. (note from Connie) Ever since Jordan was a small boy, if he fell asleep before it was time to go to bed, he would do very strange things as we woke him up. We would all get a chuckle over his antics. Just so you remember, Nosisa is blind. She must not have known that he was asleep-that's probably why she asked him to pray.
Wednesday, we went to the chapel to help out again with videorizing, as Ma Majija says it. The youth were doing a movie for some weekend convention thingy that weekend. They like to procrastinate and wait till a few days before to do it. It turned out real dumb and I dont even know if they used the video or not but we got fed so it was all worth it. There was also a combined Elders and RS activity and Nosisa came and when she heard my voice, she started laughing and everyone was wondering why. I told her to not tell anyone, and so she didn't.

Thursday was a long day because we forgot that we were on bikes so we made appointments where we had to ride so very far. Probably about 3 miles to each appointment. We're dumb. Friday, we had District Meeting and I did it all about obedience because Pres Poulsen sent out a memo for everyone telling us that we need to be obedient to the rules so that was the lesson and it was nice. Everyone walked out of the meeting with their heads down in shame so it was quite effective.
Sunday was a good day because Moya got confirmed and recieved the Holy Ghost, or as I tell people, the Ghost of Holies. I'm an idiot. She's cool and lovin the gospel even more as the days go by. After church we went to visit Susan who did not come to church because her back was acting up and making it so she can't do much, you know what thats like Mom. We talked about Jesus Christ and watched a talked called "The Master Healer" by Russell M. Nelson. It was a good one and afterwards as we were testifying of Christ and His Atonement, I felt the Spirit so strongly. It was so awesome and made me think about the Atonement even more. Do you ever do that? Just sit and imagine what it might have been like to be there and see Christ suffer all the things He did because of love? It's amazing! You should try it sometime when you're in the zone. Susan testified afterwards to us how much she loves the gospel and she's even trying to tell her friends. She said her friends always ask for proof but we told her to just testify and that'll be the proof, when they feel the Spirit telling them that what you are saying is true. She was so happy! I love this gospel so much! I love the sacrifices that all the saints have gone through to teach the gospel and keep it alive and going strong. Most of all I love our Savior and Brother, Jesus Christ who made it possible for all of us to return and live with our loving Father in Heaven.

I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well and that Jacob has hair like Mom. It really is cool! I'm going to print that pic so I can look at it even more! I sure do love you all! Take care and CTR!

Love,
Elder Langston

Wedding

Saturday we had a wedding to attend all day. I was assigned to be the camera man, so I figured I need a pass to go wherever I wanna go, so I made a VIP pass to wear as I was the camera fella. Halfway through the wedding, I noticed some competition shootin some film. He almost looked legit. He had a tripod a hat that matched his shirt and even a mustache, but he was missing a pass. I figured I can't grow a mustache on mission so I let him finish recording. We just helped out with a lot of the preparations and stuff while the couple was athte temple getting sealed.


This is a Ramatla boy that I put my glasses on.

Oh Happy Day

"Oh happy day!" Those are the first words Moya said after she was baptized. It was an amazing experience for me because I got to teach her from the beginning and I also got to baptize her. She was so nervous but she did it. This was a great weekend for me because I got to spend more time with her during the wedding. After church, we were picking out a dress for Moya and she kept saying how ugly the things were. She asked if there was a sewing machine so she can make the gown fit more like a dress. She's pretty funny. Before we went into the font, she knew it was cold, so when we entered the font, she had a little chuckle under her breath till she felt the water, then her breath was gone. She turned to the door and said she'll do it later and everyone laughed but she finally went in and I baptized her. Luckily she only had to go under once becuase she was done after that one time.
When she bore her testimony, it was just so cool to hear how powerful she is and how great of a member she will be. She even mentioned my name! Thats always cool, to get mentioned in someones testimony! Wooo!

Early this week I decided to get up in the mornings to do some jogging to start working out my knee so its not always sore. I purchased some cheap nikes that wont jack up my legs from a big tongan wearing them previously like my other shoes. It feels so nice to go running in the mornings! I got Teerlink to wake up on time to come with me too. I am starting to notice a difference in my health, even though I still have a gut.

We did some tracting this week around some of our other investigators house and we found a little family of girls. We taught them but I dont know if anything will come out of it because the mom is a sangoma, or a witch doctor. We'll keep trying though.

I've also noticed a big difference in my spirituality as I do whats right. I dont want to sound like a BYU return missionary but I really do feel better when I obey the rules. We were teaching a lady named Susan, who's going to be on date soon, and her husband about scripture study. I usually have a set scripture I use and pretty much talk about the same thing with everyone, but when I let the spirit take over, I personalized it a little more to them and their family by saying that if they read together they will grow together. The Spirit was strong there and the husband actually paid attention. That was his first time sitting in with us and during the closing prayere, he actually closed his eyes and folded his arms, when on the opening prayer he just sat in the couch, still upset that we turned off the tv. It was cool! What was even cooler was relating stories of how doing things together in our family has really helped us grow stronger in the family and Satan has little power over us when we do whats right together.

On Friday we had District Meeting, and yes, we have it every week unless there is another meeting in that week. We talked about Christlike attributes and I had each of the misisonaries give a little "talk" about an attribute that I assigned. It was a nice meeting because we all learned a lot. It was a bit of a self inflicted chastisment for all of us but we need that.

Lately we've been teaching some families and whenever I share personal experience with them and tell them how much I love my family, it almost brings me to tears because I realize just how much you all do for me and how much you mean to me! Don't ever change!
Take care and CTR!

E mail from Jordan, Monday, September 15

Hello Family

Well, I'll start off telling you about my week.
Moya is doing good. She failed her first interview because of question 4 but President will come interview her sometime this week. She'll pass and be able to be baptized soon. We also talked to her boyfriend, Colin, and he said that he knows the church is true now. He was pretty much bearing his testimony to us one night so I just put him on date for 12 OCT so we'll see if he makes it.
Thanks, Dad, for the Bear Tracks. I made up a story and some scriptures to go with that and made it into a lesson for less actives about temptation. I even printed pictures of some tracks and big bears to freak the people out. The first time I did it, the family said, "I hope I dont ever see any bears!" I dont think they understood the whole lesson.
District meeting went well. I did it on the Restoration and hit some key points that we need to focus on and then we did a little exercise that was pretty fun. I found random things in our flat to put in a sack and had the Elders pull something out and turn it into a Restoration lesson. It was great giggles, I'll tell you what!
A lady we've been teaching for a bit named Susan is really starting to get answers. We are going to put her on date next time we see her. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she loved it! I enjoy seeing people understand and love what I teach them.
We did service at the Thulos' house again and we made them a sweet garden. We were there for like 4 hours just tilling up a little bit of their yard with a short handled pitch fork. We planted some veggies for them so they can have something to do together as a family and enjoy reaping the harvest. I also gave two interviews after the service. It went well and there will be two new members baptized on the 21 from the other guys area.
We were driving on the main road in Katlehong when the car in front of us pulled up next to another car and started yelling. The both cars stopped real abruptly and the car in front of us had two guys wearing jeans and beanies jump out real quick while cocking a round in the chamber of their hand guns. They had them pointing at the other car while yelling in zulu. I dont know what was going on but we were this close to seeing a guy get his brains blown out, but luckily nothing happend. We found out later what was going on. A well known gangster was shot by his friend earlier and the funeral was Saturday so many gangsters were there and the cops were out doing whatever. I guess the guys in the jeans and guns were cops, horrible cops.
On Sunday, we had 6 investigators at church and we got news that there is enough of the higher priesthood to split the ward to make it a stake so that might happen soon.
Thanks for all you do family, and for loving me enough to let me know whats going on. I am still striving to do what is right. I love you all so much! Take care and CTR!
Love,
Elder Langston
whenever my day is getting dark, I remember something that President Hinckley once said: "Look for the sunlight through the clouds."

This is the Vesse Family. He's the ward mission leader. This is celebrating Jordan's 1 year. (Hump Day)


Jordan made this chocolate cake to share with the Vesse Family.


Camp out on the balcony. Elder Langston and Elder Teerlink.


Dearest Family and Friends,

Greetings to you all from the windy country of South Africa. This whole week has been nothing but dust storms in the township and I thank my lucky stars I'm not on bicycles.
Ok, on with the missionary work now. The week went well. Zone conference was nice, but hectic . It was a nice topic President Poulsen talked about though. It was about goals. I need to set more goals in my life so I got something to work towards, so now me and Teerlink are setting more goals and it feels great!

Moya is still dominating! We really have been blessed with her! Something I hate about bringing cute investigators to church is that old guys that can't get married because they are too weird always flirt with the investigators. It drives me nuts!!! At the baptism yesterday(the other missionaries are baptizing like crazy) we sat behind her before the wierdo came and I told her that I'm going to keep an eye on her. She just laughed and asked why. Just as she asked, the guy came in to sit by her, and I said, "that's why!" Man, I'm so funny! :)

We are seeing some new people as well. In fact, one of them is a referral from a less-active girl, Kenilwe Thulo, and the referral is pretty cool! She's come to church twice already! We saw the girl on Friday in the middle of the day and we just watched the Restoration DVD. About 5 minutes into the movie, guess what I did. I fell asleep! as did my companion! We were both out cold. The movie got over and Teerlink said he just heard silence while he was asleep so he woke up real quick and looked at me, hoping I was teaching, but I wasn't. I was still dreaming. The rest of the time there was kinda awkward because I think she saw us and I think I was snoring. oh well, she's here for the gospel, not us! It's the Spirit that'll testify the truth to her, not us! I'm just trying to justify my narcoleptic disorder.

These pictures that I'm dishing out to you are some newer ones. The one with the family is the Vesse family. He is our new ward mission leader. I made some chocolate cake for my "hump day" and took it there to their house. We had a campout on our balcony last Sunday night and were going to do it last night, but it was freezing! Thats me and Teerlink on the beds.
Well, I'll try to answer the questions I remember from the letter. No, my cough is gone. Yes, me and Teerlink are getting along. I'll get the package tonight!! Thanks again! Yes, we do have some more people on baptism date, with more on their way!

Also, before I forget, does anyone have any good ideas that they've seen from their misisons, for a District Meeting? This weekly meeting stuff isn't too good for me. I can't come up with new things to talk about. Last one we talked about testimonies and that we need to bear them often. Thats all I can think of. If you do have more ideas, please hit me up!

How is Camille doing? and everyone else? I hope I got another CD with people saying "hey" in the package! If not, thats cool too. I'm gonna go now.
I love you all so much and pray for you every night! I hope everyone is doing well and being happy! Take care and CTR!

Love,
Elder Jordy Boy Langston