Life on the other side of the fence

President and Sister Omer

Turner with Elder Wilkinson

On the way to the mission home

We got into the field on Tuesday. We walked over to the church next to the MTC, and went over rules, interviewed with President Omer, basically, I bore my testimony of the Atonement and then he asked if I could drive, and if I knew how to drive stick! Haha! Luckily I don't have to drive yet, because the roads here are confusing!

Anyway, we waited for a while, oh and! One of the AP's knows who I am. It was weird. When they came to pick us up, he shook my hand and was like, "hey Turner", and walked away. I was so confused! Apparently he was in choir with me my sophomore year. He was friends with Tyler Ditty and Landon Peterson. Anyway, I still don't remember him and feel so bad! But...oh well what can you do!

Okay, anyway, my companion is great. His name is Elder Wilkinson. Geoffrey Wilkinson. He is the same age as Matthew, and actually reminds me a ton of Matthew, sometimes even the sound of his voice! It's weird, but comforting! Anyway, he is from Alpine and graduated from Lone Peak. I definitely think that was a blessing from the Lord. The fact that I have a trainer that I can relate to, and communicate well with, seeing as I have a hard time understanding the accents of the African's sometimes. Anyway, he tells me how much I remind him of how he was when he first came out into the field. Which is comforting, because I feel like I know nothing, but I also feel like he knows everything! Haha! He is great though! He is super patient and very kind. You can see by how the people here treat him. They honestly love him so much, everyone does! So, it's nice to be with someone that has the ins here! Oh and he is also our District Leader.

The food! Umm...yeah. We have gotten fed every day, sometimes twice a day, besides Sunday. The hard thing is that they always give us a ton of food! It's always like meat, and then rice. Tons and tons of rice. And I like rice, but I can't eat a ton of it. And it doesn't help that some of the flavors don't agree with my stomach. But that's okay, I'll get used to it. And I felt like I used to be able to eat a ton, but ever since I couldn't eat in the MTC, I am not able to eat as much! I feel so bad, and I don't want to offend any one here because they are all so kind! They do have McDonalds, which surprisingly enough, has made me kind of sick both times we have gone there. They also have KFC. I guess there is a Burger King, two of them, but they are far. Anyway, food will get better, but for now, it is a little rough.

We stay in a flat. Here, when you ask where someone lives you say, "where do you stay?" and an apartment is called a flat. Anyway, they would be really nice, but I think it is a typical missionary apartment. First, there is no front door handle! Haha! It broke before I got here. Also, the whole apartment is infested with cockroaches! It sounds nasty, and it kind of is, but I think the Lord has blessed me not to worry too much about it! They are mostly small, like I thought they were ants when I first got there, but nope, cockroaches. I swear every night they get bigger though! Haha! Anyway, every night we come home and kill as many as we can! I guess the flat has been sprayed twice, but it hasn't really helped! Haha! We are gonna buy some bug killer today. I hope it works. The other part is out bathroom! Haha! I guess Elder Wilkinson's previous companion broke the toilet seat. Anyway, it isn't attached! So nice surprise when it will almost fall off while you are going to the bathroom! Ha, but it is manageable. The last thing is that the ceiling of the bathroom is covered in black mold! It's gross, but it is going to get cleaned well soon. Ha! I am sure that I made it sound super bad,  but it really isn't, it has character!

Our area is huge. It is called Vereeniging. Pronounced Fur-en-uh-h (insert nasty throat sound here) ang. It is a nicer area. It is considered a town. and then there are townships that are the super poor areas. We are in a town though. We also have a car, so we usually drive to where our last appointment stays and then leave the car there and walk during the day. The people, as in the members, are super nice here. It is crazy to see some of the places and things they are living with, but their faith is great! I have met some amazing people, and have felt so much love for each one! There is a mother and son, named Rahlda, and Dimitri. Rahlda got baptized like three weeks ago, and Dimitri has his interview on Saturday. Anyway, we go there a lot. They are amazing! I love them, she's like my mom. There is also a family, I don't remember their surname, but it is our ward mission leader's family. They always want to feed us and give us "cold drink" which is soda. They have a son, named Matthew, he is ten. Great kid. And Lily, the two and a half year old. She is a beautiful child. One of those kids! Haha. She is "colored, which means not black, not white. Anyway, she is adorable! Those are definitely my two favorite families! So far! There are so many more amazing people here!

Africa is great. So much greener than you would have ever thought! It is hot, and pretty humid, but still bearable. I have loved it here so far, it is different, but great!