week# 54

HALFTIME is over!

WOW...I am a missionary once again! That's insane! I'm so blessed to be here right now to serve! 

Westport, Washington! This little tiny beach town on the west coast of Washington. It's so beautiful! My comp is Elder Nelson from Syracuse Utah. He was serving in the Benin, Cotonou mission! (Africa)lol. We went out at the same time and came home at the same time. But he's super rad and we get along great. 

 Westports like the smallest little town and everyone is 60+ not joking. Haha so we definitely have our work cut out for us. Elder Nelson and I are so pumped to get things rolling here. 

I'm excited because there's going to be lots of opportunity to serve. Suprisingly in South Africa we didn't have LOTS of opportunities to serve. But the branch president told us we'd be serving a lot. 

We decided that we'd start called some of the people that have been taught befor COVID hit. We called this guy who got baptized right before everything shut down. His name is Vaughn and he's super cool! A bit out there but super cool. He lives right on the beach and surfs! He took us to a lady who he was helping to paint her house. Carmine, she's this older Hispanic lady who was drunk and smoking when we got there ahah. Walking through her house was on of the weirdest experiences I've had. Then she prayed for us and it was suppppper interesting! But I'm glad we can help her finish painting. Then he took us to the pier and said he'll give us a tour of Westport sometime this week so I'm stoked for that. 

A spiritual experience I had this week was when we first got to the mission office we had a little discussion type thing. They asked up to fill a whole piece of paper with "The Book of Mormon and What it's Done For Me". The Book of Mormon has done so much for me! I just thought about how much I've learned from it the amazing stories and examples that are in it! 

Love you all! 

-Elder Mumford

week# 37

Sanibonani gonke, 

Holy such a powerful week here in Mbabane! We are so busy here, theres lots of work to be done and Im trynna not let it overwhelm me!

Sister Shabalala was confirmed and recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost! She was thrilled! Im so happy for the Shabalala family. 

We were able to put another on date this week! His name is Sfiso, he's a members grandson and he's super cool. We taught him about the gospel of Jesus Christ and he accepted a date in that first lesson. He'll be baptised on April 5! 

We are teaching a lot of people who have serious potential to progress, Satan has been strong in haulting peoples progression here. Please pray we can continue to have success! 

I love the people who I am in the service of. Its been such a humbling and eye opening experience to be where I am today. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for sending me exactly where I need to be and exactly the right time for me! 

Sorry not much time to write today but I love you all, have a great week.

Elder Mumford

week# 36

Whats up fam!? 

This week was super nice! Lots of good teach opportunity and I feel like we found some super great potential people!

Weve been bringing Thando and Menzi to teach with us and its been really cool! They should be recieving the priesthood soon and theyll start passing the sacrament. Theyre stoked about that! 

This week we were able to teach a girl named Zethu. She was taught by missionaries in the passed and ine night unknowingly we knocked on her gate. She told us she felt like it was a sign. We helped her put together a plan and shes now doing great. Sent us a message the other day saying, "Hi elders, since you guys left Ive read 8 chapters of the book of mormon!" I was soo happy to get that message. Please pray for her to continue to progress.

I worked in Sidwashini with Elder Pereira on Wednesday which was super fun! We tought some really good people. 

Also good news... Sethu, Thando and Menzis friend cane to church. Which means he now can be baptized on March 15 if he keeps comming to church! So thats super exviting! 

The rest of the week was just full of trying to visit people and teach as much as we can. Its so crazy to think that my comp has 3 week left on mission! 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week, and Ill finish the New Testament in a few days! Im super excoted to start studying the Old Testament and D&C along with the Book of Mormon! 

Also I got to call my mom on Saturday for her Birthday! It was great. Happy Birthday mom, I love you. Thanks for getting me to where I am today! 

So yeah, great week here in Swaziland! 

Ngiyakuthanda Kakhulu, 

Elder Mumford

1. Exhanges with Elder Pereira ft. Phila & Posqual

2.^^^

3. Crazy moth we found!!

4. W/ ma new whip! 

5. Exchanging cars!

6. Wahoo missionary work with the recent converts:))))

Whats up fam!? 

This week was super nice! Lots of good teach opportunity and I feel like we found some super great potential people!

Weve been bringing Thando and Menzi to teach with us and its been really cool! They should be recieving the priesthood soon and theyll start passing the sacrament. Theyre stoked about that! 

This week we were able to teach a girl named Zethu. She was taught by missionaries in the passed and ine night unknowingly we knocked on her gate. She told us she felt like it was a sign. We helped her put together a plan and shes now doing great. Sent us a message the other day saying, "Hi elders, since you guys left Ive read 8 chapters of the book of mormon!" I was soo happy to get that message. Please pray for her to continue to progress.

I worked in Sidwashini with Elder Pereira on Wednesday which was super fun! We tought some really good people. 

Also good news... Sethu, Thando and Menzis friend cane to church. Which means he now can be baptized on March 15 if he keeps comming to church! So thats super exviting! 

The rest of the week was just full of trying to visit people and teach as much as we can. Its so crazy to think that my comp has 3 week left on mission! 

I finished the Book of Mormon this week, and Ill finish the New Testament in a few days! Im super excoted to start studying the Old Testament and D&C along with the Book of Mormon! 

Also I got to call my mom on Saturday for her Birthday! It was great. Happy Birthday mom, I love you. Thanks for getting me to where I am today! 

So yeah, great week here in Swaziland! 

Ngiyakuthanda Kakhulu, 

Elder Mumford

1. Crazy moth we found!!

2.Exchanging cars!

3. W/ ma new whip!

4. Wahoo missionary work with the recent converts:))))

5. . Exhanges with Elder Pereira ft. Phila & Posqual

6. Wahoo missionary work with the recent converts:))))

week# 35

Sho this week just flew by! I know thats every week and this is how every missionary starts their letter but....its true! 

Highlights from the week are Thando and Menzis confirmations and Sister Shabalala and Vuyiswas baptisms! Im so beyond stoked for all of these people who Ive come to love! I keep on telling them how this is just the start and their beginning a great journey that will bring so much peace and joy! 

Weve been bringing Thando and Menzi with us to work! They love it ahaha. They're super shy but I can see improvement each tine we go out! They're going to be great missionaries. 

Were still doing lots of finding here! We've learned that in Swaziland, the best way to increase the number of serious people to teach we have to increase our finding efforts. Since I've been in Swazi my comp and I have found and taught over 100 people! And only maybe 8 are progressing. Planting seeds baby! Lol 

So now were trying to focus on finding people who really want to change and who will come to church! So hopefully we can work on that! 

I'm almost finished with the BOM again! I have really gained a testimony of it! I know I say it a lot but I love it! Its my favorite book ever. 

Well im loving life here! The work is moving so quickly! Im so blessed to be a part of it. 

Thanks for the love and support! 

I love hearing from yall!

Love, Elder Mumford

week# 34

Sanibonani erybody! 

Holy this week just flewww by! And it was SO good! 

Firstly, we met with Sister Shabalala and her grandson Vuyiswa who are both on date. And they passed their interviews! They'll be baptised this comming Sunday! And were super excited for them! 

We have a few other people were teaching who are so close to following the path! Were trying our best to help them along! And we LOVE Mbabane! 

Also my birthday was on Wednesday! It was great! Lots of missionary work! What could be better!? 

We had zone conference and interviews with president. It's always a good time being with them and the rest of the zone! 

Alsooo district conference was yesterday! We had some interesting talks....ahaha about Labola(paying for wifes, its a culteral thing in southern africa to pay for your wife using cows and as you can imagine it cause some issues in the church), ministering, and other minor changes the church has made. It was good! 

That was my week! Thank you all for the birthday wishes I love you all! Feels good to be 19 fasho! 

Love,  Elder Mumford

1. Birthday Burgers

2. Birthday Breakfast

3. Companheiro 

4. I love rain

5. Companheiro 

week# 33

Sanibonani family and friends!!! Unjani?? Id love to hear how yall are doin!

Wow this week was soo crazy awesome! Too many tender mercies to count! 

Firstly my 5th transfer has officially ended! Anddd im staying here in Mbabane, which im totally stoked about! Elder Almeida and I are having lots of success so im excited to be able to continue to help Mababane grow! Looks like ill be killing my companion in 6 weeks! (Last transfer=death on mission) I love him too much its been great learning from all his experience as he concludes! 

Welll secondly, we had some baptisms this week! My boys Thandolwethu and Menzi were baptised and were sooo happy. After words they bore powerful testimonies. And the best part is.... we visited their home a few hours later and their mom said...." Im next!" We are so happy to be able to help this family live together forever. 

Life is great here, I love everything about where I am and what im doing!

My spiritual thought for the week comes from a BYU speech l studied, which coincidently my best friend happened to study as well. Although her words are more powerful than mine. I felt impressed to share what I learned this week as well . 

The talk entitled; Why Mountains. By Michael A. Dunn, invites us to remember everytime we look at Y Mountain to ponder, " Why Mountains." Im just going to leave you with my favorite part of the speech and let his words do the talking. I know its long but please read! Its REALLY good. 

 "So why mountains? Well, mountains—like those before us in this big-time adventure called life—tempt us, terrify us, test us, and try us. Mountains stretch us, break us down, and can sometimes even bring us to an exasperated halt. At the same time, they stir our souls, inspire us, and have this transformative ability to rekindle hope, steel our resolve, and hone our faith, step by courageous step. This mandates a never-before-thought-possible ability to push ourselves to unthinkable heights, for it is only in testing our limits that we find out how limitless we are. It is only then—when we push ourselves beyond our perceived capacity—that we discover within ourselves the courage, fortitude, and faith to continue the journey. As the Australian mountaineer Greg Child put it, “Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery of why we climb.” 

"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20 

Do you have the faith as the grain of a mustard seed? Do you fear the mountains in your life or do you rejoice because you can climb them?

Lets rejoice in the fact that WE CAN climb mountains!

All love, Elder Mumford