The Transfer is Almost Over?

 

Well, Caleb seems to be getting settled in his new area, although the work is very slow. '

 

They had a commitment for a baptism the first week of June, but it has fallen through.

 

Still Caleb stays busy visiting with members and he is teaching a couple of people.

 

He got to help someone move on Monday so didn't get to talk to him on Sunday night which

 

is his Monday morning. He was actually moving the other elders in his district to new 

 

boarding. (4 of them have been living together, but moved to two separate places).

 

He called on our Monday afternoon (his Monday evening), but didn't get to talk for very long

 

because he had family home evening with a family in the ward. 

 

I'm grateful for the opportunities he has to serve, no matter who it is. 

 

Here's the latest email and some pics he's sent over the past couple of weeks:

Hello Everyone! I hope you are all doing so well! There are a few things to catch up on that have happened.

First, I got to meet Elder Garret W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles he came for a stake devotional which they let the missionaries attend. It was super awesome, there was a large focus of the Temple especially attending the temple as often as possible. It was really powerful.

Second, Elder Tucay left Elder Tucay has was given mid transfer, transfer news that he would be going to a different zone 2 hours away, so last monday he packed his things and was shipped off to Port Dunford. He seemed quite excited cause he finally had a companion that wasn't american which just leaves me and elder Simba here.

Next, Exchanges, this transfer is the transfer with the most exchanges I've had. They want the District Leader to do an exchange with every elder in his district within the first 3 weeks of the transfer. And since I'm district leader I have the pleasure of being part of every single one of those exchanges. It kinda whack though, I think the most exchanges I've had in previous transfers was like 2, but now I've had 6 and the transfer isn't even finished all of the other elders in the district are older than me on mission so its nice to go out and teach with them because I feel like it gives me a big opportunity to learn from them. Its pretty sweet.

As I've been studying from the Book of Mormon, I've noticed the term and the idea to "prepare" a lot, often when the people are doing well in the Booknof Mormon the prophets never cease to prepare the people for hardship and challenges. And the same applies to us, although we might not be prospering on the individual level, the Church of Jesus Christ is flourishing, and our prophets continually remind us that we need to be preparing for days ahead. And that we do this through reading our scriptures, prayer, daily repentance, ministering, partaking the sacrament. All these things help us prepare for the spiritual challenges that we will face as individuals and as the Church of Jesus Christ.

I don't have much else to say, love you all!

Elder Roskelley 

 

 

                                            Elder Tucay (who got transferred), Elder Simba and Caleb

 

Caleb got a haircut! You can see just a little bit of what came off on his shoulder!

His hair grows so fast. Between his clippers breaking, moving to a new area, etc.

he was about a month overdue for one!!!

 

                                  Caleb got to shake Elder Gong's hand (no pictures of that, but he has the 

memory). He's kind of hidden in this group photo but maybe you can play "Where's Caleb?"

Hard to miss with the new haircut!!! 
 

First Week In...THE BLUFF!!!

 So, when Caleb called us almost 2 weeks ago,

he informed us that he would be moving but wasn't sure where yet. 

He found that out on Saturday, April 25th.

The next day, one of the AP's came to visit Caleb's area

and asked Caleb to serve as a District Leader.

Caleb was aware of six districts that were getting new district leaders.

One of those was his first area in Eswatini, so he was pretty sure he wouldn't be 

going there, although he would have loved to have gone back!

He really misses that area! The mission does not send Caucasian elders to one of the areas,

so he knew it wouldn't be there. The one area he was hoping it wouldn't be was called The Bluff.

When he told this to us over the phone, I just simply said "you're going to The Bluff because it's where 

you don't want to go." He found out the next day that he would be serving in The Bluff!!!

The Bluff is an area about 15 minutes from Durban. Although it's a fairly safe area,

the closer you get to the big cities, the more crime there is.

The reason he was concerned about going there was not for safety concerns...

it's because it's a wealthier area and the more affluent people are,

the less likely they are to want to hear the message of the gospel.

But, he enjoyed his first week getting to know some of the members.

Here is his letter from this past Monday along with some photos

from his last week in Ladysmith with a couple of others: 

Hello Everyone!! I hope you are doing well! As for me I'm doing great!

So this past week was the start of a new transfer, after 4 ½ months in Ladysmith I left to go to the Bluff! Which is pretty much right in Durban, if you look at a map go to Durban and go a little south you'll see a place called "Bluff" thats where I'm at 

To add onto the excitement of leaving Ladysmith, I am in a trio! Again... with a Philippino and a Malagasy. Elder Tucay (2-kie) and Elder Ndrianatsimba (Simba for short) but our apartment has 2 bathrooms which makes it not too bad

Not too many thoughts yet but surely lots will come soon

One thing that stuck out to me this week happened while we were visiting a member. This member stays in very a humble circumstance. But while we were there she demanded that we sit and eat some food and while we ate Elder Tucay asked why she loved the missionaries and treated them so kindly. She explained that our parents gave us away for 2 years to a foreign land with a foreign people, she said that all members had a responsibility to show Christ like, parental love to all missionaries who they came into contact with. Many of you have had children serve missions, currently have children in the field, and someday will have children leave to serve the Lord, so I hope that this brings some comfort and peace into your hearts about the time your children spend serving the Lord.

I love you all! And I love to hear from you! I promise I read your emails, even if I don't respond.

Love,

Elder Roskelley

 

 

 

 So many children from Ladysmith love the missionaries! 

View from his new boarding!

Durban Temple. He didn't get to go inside but was grateful to walk around the grounds.

He ended up running into some members he knew from his area in Eswatini. Tender Mercy! 

I don't know why Elders like to take pictures of their food. Lol!

I'm sure Caleb was excited to eat this bbq chicken pizza!