Serving in Mpumalanga!

Sawbona!!
Ok...I have so much to tell. Here we go. The mtc was amzing and I said goodbye to all my mtc friends. I love President and Sister Reber. I got off the plane and President Zackrison and the assistance and Sister Zackrison were there to pick us up. I got told that I was going to serve in the great area of Mpumalanga. We went to the mission home and chilled for a bit and had interviews. After, my companion came! Igama laki u Elder Kinyaka. He is from Kenya! He is awesome. He has taught me so much already in the first week. We also have two roommates who are from America. Elder Luddington is a crack up and likes hunting like me :) Elder Zsembery is from New York Palmyra area and he is funny too! They're all awesome. So, I'm learning isiZulu and I speak it as much as I can! I learned how to sing the Circle of Life in Zulu as well. The beginning is in Zulu and I know what it's saying! hah My goal is to be fluent and I practice all the time!! I'm getting some traditional Zulu pants as well. We have been trying to catch a monkey as well. They have been succeful in the past but the monkeys have adapted to the trickery so we have to be more elaborate. We had one monkey we called Indiana Banana because we rigged the window to close (they come in the house) when he grabbed a banana but he escaped as the window closed! But, more importantly, the work of spreading the gospel is going forward. I confirmed a boy named Sandile in church sunday and my companion and I challenged another boy (21 y o) to be baptised and he accepted. So many more would be baptised but the word of wisdom and law of chastity is hard for this area. I am working in a township. Not as sophisticated as a city......It has a very humble people though. And they love white people that speak Zulu. The children always call out Umlungu!!! when they see me cause I'm the only white guy around and so I play with them a ton! One saw me and cried though haha probably thinking...HE IS DIFFERENT!! haha We got bunked by a ton of people but the Lord just kept leading us to new people all over! I love having the spirit! We just met two guys in the street and one was baptized but the other wasn't and he is ready to be and we haven't even challenged him! These saints walk an hour or so to get to church though! And they carry heaps of stuff on their heads!! We drive. We have such a huge area we couldn't walk all the time. I drive all of the time cause I have a license. I got used to driving here really quick! All the Elders including Elder Kinyaka in the boarding was saying I don't act like a greeny. I don't really get nervous. Haha so little kids love white people hair because it's so soft so they pet me like a dog! They also burn fields here just a huge random fire will be next to you ahah even right by houses. it's normal. and they have little fires on the side of the road. We joined a couple youth on the side of the road one night when there was a fire. The food here is different. But pretty good! It's tropical here!!! Like Okinawa but a different kind of tropical. green though everywhere!! And it's the dry season. They have crazy animals just walking around too. And people pee on the side of the road too anywhere...even in the middle of the road hah. So girls here really like white boys and missionaries (cause here we are vied as respected and important people.) So girls that are flirting we call snakes and stay away haha Everyone here is amazing though! Night can get a little sketch but it's all good! I have the Lord on my side. I love this Gospel. No way it is not true. If I was teaching this to people it would never lead them to Baptism. It's the spirit that converts the people to the gospel. Well I think that's it. I jumped around a lot but I wanted you to get the African experience haha Goodbye everyone! I love you!
Ngiya umthanda ubaba no mama wami.
Thanda,
Elder Petrie  

Final Photo from the SAMTC!

We received a phone call from the Johannesburg Airport last night! Elder Petrie was headed to Durban to serve! He sounded very humble, grown up, and said he was ready! We also detected a slight South African accent! :) Go Elder Petrie!!

Your missionary has been in the MTC Choir.  Sunday the choir performed at the three wards who meet right across from the MTC.  Elder Lipengah was the conductor.  The soloists were:  Elder Petrie, Elder Johnson, Elder Sidumo, and Elder Bandi.  They sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy".  This group knows how to sing parts and the hymn was beautiful.  I have received so many compliments.

Love,
Sister Janet Reber
South Africa MTC

Yesterday we witnessed a miracle. Thanks to the support from so many, a wonderful 10 Year Celebration for the South Africa MTC was held. What started off with a great idea from President Reber, snowballed into an event the likes of which hasn't been seen in Africa....or perhaps the whole world. Mark Mocke was able to expand the event to include the life of a missionary after a mission and throughout the rest of their life. The Church, our teachings and life-style were showcased in such an incredible way. Visitors had a look at real people living a real Christian life. Members were strengthened by being reminded how blessed they are to belong to the restored Church of Jesus Christ....and being a part of something so right and so good!
From the first meeting with their tour guide (an Elder from the Johannesburg Mission), the welcome to the MTC by President Reber and me, the displays of every facet of the Church, to the last bite of the frosted cupcake, each of the 529 visitors were edified.

Your missionary was on display of what a missionary does at the MTC....they were in class, studying with their companion, teaching or being taught.  They helped with the set up and take down of the displays.  They were a vital part of the event.

President Reber and I feel blessed to have been a part of this historic event.
Love,Sister Janet Reber
South Africa MTC

Group picture of SAMTC Elders and President and Sister Reber

Hello from SAMTC!

Hie Muhri,

Thank you for all your emails!! They are greatly appreciated. Letters take two weeks, if you’re lucky, according to President Reber. But write me and they will send them on to my mission!! I could use some haha Sister Rebbr is sooo sweet! She has been passing on notes to me of your replies to her. Well, there is sooo much to tell you! Everything is going fine and I'm doing well. I could easily sum up this email and say that the work I'm doing here is proof that the Lord is everywhere and in everything! Including Africa! I know that this is the Lords work and He has shown me through extremely humbling experiences. My room has four Elders. Me, Elder Lipengah (my companion), Elder Brimhall(from the airport), and a really funny elder from South Africa that I've really gotten along with Elder Sidumo. I miss all of you! I got to play touch rugby with some of the elders from the Johannesburg mission cause their home is right next to the MTC. It was fun!! They have pictures on the wall of all the elders that have gone through here at the MTC and I saw Justin and also my friend Steven (from rugby) it was awesome! No celestial dots. All the missionaries here come for a week and a half and leave together to their missions. (We leave Tuesday to the field.) My companion and I have two investigators (they are roles played by our teachers but it IS real and we teach it REAL) One is Quintine and he is a nice successful young man that is excepting the gospel little by little. The other, Kojo, was doing great! That is, until I knocked on his door wrong in an improper way and he yelled at me and gave us five minutes to teach. I offended him because African culture and tradition that I knew nothing about. I felt so bad and it really humbled me and helped me to strive to get the culture. The food is way different but great. I'm getting way better with the different click sounds. People’s names can include them often so I am learning them.

This gospel is not supposed to be droned out into lessons. It is teaching the people and loving them and getting to know them and praying for them and worrying about their commitments. I love this gospel soooo much. We heard from an area seventy. His name was Elder Mkhabela I think. We gave a Book of Mormon to the nurse here in the MTC with our testimonies and she was so grateful! She had been working here for 10 years and never received one!!! I sang a solo in choir.

We have a really big event going to happen on Saturday! It's the MTC's 10 anniversary in Africa. A lot of officials will be here (government ones) and it might even be in the Ensign! So look for it!! Well I better go. I love you all and please write letters!! :) I love you!

Love,

Elder Petrie

P.S. The temple in SA is small but very beautiful!!

P.S. Hie means Hi and Muhri means family in Shono.

This is a song that Elder Sidumo (roomate) and I made. It goes to the tune of "A Girl Worth Fighting For" from Mulan. You can share this with everyone haha it's a bit of a crack up!

"For a long time we've been feeling of the spirit.
And the MTC has helped us to-o feel it.
but our tired eyes, and aching thighs aren't easy to ignore!
Hey! Think of instead, a sister worth serving for.
(what?) Thats what i said, a sister worth serving for.

I want her humble like enoch; courages like Nephi.
I want her loyal like unto ruth, a vision in the sky.
I woudn't try to testify of what she looks like.
but i really hope she looks good in white.

Got a girl back home who writes me like no other.
Yeah the only girl who'd write him is his mother.
You can guess what we have missed the most since we've been called to serve!
(what do we want?) a sister worth serving for !
(wish that i had) a sister worth serving for !
(whistling) a sister worth serving...for !"

Hope you enjoyed it :)

After Family Home Evening at the SAMTC, the Elders were treated to ice cream!

Elder Petrie gives a talk, leads MTC choir and sings!

We have discovered what a great voice your son has.  He led the MTC choir last night and did a nice job.  But President Reber said...."he can't lead, we need him to sing".  As you know, he can sing any part. 

Today he spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  He talked about how he took the advice from his Stake President and read the Book of Mormon twice.  He showed us how he has marked everything about Christ in blue.  What an amazing young man Elder Petrie is!  We are blessed to be with him.

Love,
Sister Janet Reber
South Africa MTC

New Companion and Johannesburg Temple Pictures

Pictures from South Africa!

Elder Petrie Arrives in S. Africa!

 So as I said. Sister Ellen is the lady I gave the book of Mormon to on the plane and I hope she really will read it and ask God if it’s true. It's a big leap of faith if she does cause last time I saw her she didn't believe in a God. How are you all back home? My flight to South Africa ended with a bunch of missionaries 5 or 6, waiting outside the tunnel that just got off and were on the same flight as me!! They are all from America and I played rugby against one of them in high school. He is pretty cool. Three are from Utah, 1 from Idaho (his dad is a potato farmer haha) and 1 from Mississippi and ME! ha We walked out together and there were a bunch of Elders that just came from Zimbabwe and a couple from South Africa, one from England too, plus two more that I don't know and one that came late from Kenya. They are all such strong elders. We make up the South Africa MTC. The brother in charge to pick us up is the BYU scrumhalf’s dad. Probably doesn't mean anything to you but I know his son a little!! Sorry mom, I don't want to come home already...It's amazing here. Everyone is a brother, elder or sister and it's awesome! I have a companion from Zimbabwe and his name is Elder Lipengah. He is awesome. Like really awesome. He is about 19 I think and is so humble. I love this place! I got interviewed by the president and he is such a humble man too. I got four extra shots. So I'm ready for Africa haha I feel so connected to these people! They're amazing. I got my tags by the way. Love you!

Elder Petrie was set apart as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints July 8, 2013 by President Laney. Good Luck Elder Petrie! You will be Great! :)

Surprise!

Cody, Sharee, and Ammon made a last second trip down to see Clay before he leaves!

Clay's Open House June 30, 2013

Visiting Cody, Sharee, and Ammon in Los Alamos, NM!