Week 9 - Fairview B - Donald Trump by Mac Miller (Edited)

Soooo. what’s good America?? It sounds like this week was popping with the elections and everything. With me not being super savvy in politics and being away for more than a year I am not going to say anything cause I don’t know anything but just like Brody emailed me Mac Miller called it.  Got to give a shout out to the youngblood right now... Ezra! Happy bday my man! You are sooo big it is crazy and your style is 100 haha I hope to grow and be like you.

This past week was great for the squad down here in Fairview. Only got hit by two storms so that was nice. The weather is still being super bipolar, starting off hotter than Snoop Dog while he is in the crib to raining like its Seattle out here. The rain has been coming down more and more cause of the drought that this part of Africa had last year.

But more on the week; the highlight came yesterday at the baptism for Make Thandie. Elder Feliciana and I got to the chapel at about 8 to fill up the font. We get there and everything was locked up so after a scavenger hunt for the keys we were able to open the font and we found that it had been filled a week ago and never drained. Let’s just say I saw some insects that I have never seen before living in that water. So, we called in a 22-19 from Monsters Inc. and did a quick draining and cleaning of the font and were able to get everything good to go. The baptisms went great! It was Thandie, Tandeka and her 2 sons and then the daughter of our Elders Quorum President that were all baptized. My favorite part of every baptism is how humbling and sweet it is to hear the testimonies of those who were just baptized. Thandie was really nervous to get up in front of everyone but she did a great job!

As for the rest of the week, I have been eating like a king yet again because of the Thanksgiving box! Thanks, Mom and for all that sent love with that package haha. But Elder Feliciana and I put in the work. On Saturday, we left our house at 7:30am to help Hlobisile with washing and so after getting made fun and a day full work and sun we came back looking like Mr. Crab. On Thursday, I had the chance to do a division with Elder Griffeth! It felt just like ol' times in Munhava running the streets as the Splash Brothers. The weeks are going by and I am loving every day here.

Just for a quick spiritual thought; It comes at the end 2nd Nephi 9 when it says, “Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.”  Short and sweet just how I like it. In our lives if we think and keep our spiritually well being on focus all will be great! I know this to be true!

Love, you guys sooo much! Hope everyone has a great week!

With love and blessings,

Elder Chipman

Baptism for Thandie

Baptism of Thandie, Tandeka, her 2 sons and
the Elders Qurom Pres. daughter.

Sharing the Gospel and Sharing Sour Patch Kids

"The Usual" at U&Me Butchery, 1KG of Chicken, Pork, and
Chakalaka (Sausage)

Cool Clouds

Week 8 - Fairview B - "All I Got Is You" by Ghostface Killa

Alright with today being the 7th of November, the first shout out needs to go to Barbara Jean Chipman! Happy birthday mom! I hope you have such a great day and I am so glad that the package I sent got there!

And secondly would just like to send my regards to Emily and all her family.

As for the week, it was a good one. The weather has been changing from playing a season opener at Hurricane to the Skyline vs. Kahuku game in 2000 haha. It will start out in the morning a little overcast and then the sky will open up and then comes out.  Every night at about 6 pm a lightning storm comes out of nowhere. This past week we got caught in 3 storms, with each one being stronger than the one before. So, it has been a battle against mother nature and a battle against Satanas out here. Elder Feliciana and I have been working hard with our investigators but a whole lot are not progressing. We will be having the baptism of Make Thandi this Sunday along with the baptism of one of my favorite ladies in the other area of Fairview so that will be a great day!

Last Monday we had a super fun Halloween activity at the house in Ezuwlini with the all of the Manzini and Mbabane zone. Also, the Martins hooked it up on a low-key deal with some BABY BLUE POWDER GATORADE! I have been sipping on that stuff like a king this whole week haha. With that, and two division with Elder Mataveis and then with Elder Copitzky I can say just like Ice Cube that this was a good week.

Just for a quick spiritual thought; This morning I was reading in 2nd Nephi and I came across something that made me think. In verse 27 it says that the people of Nephi lived in the manner of happiness and also in Alma 50 we can see that this was one of the happiest times of the people in the all of the Book of Mormon. When I read this, I thought... "How did they get that happiness?? Everyone in this world wants to be happy and these people found it and lived it.. what did they do?"  In all of chapter 5 we can see the things that the people of Nephi did to achieve this level of happiness.

-In verses 1-7 we can see that they faced afflictions without complaining or questioning the will of the Lord.

-In verse 10 they kept all the commandment of the Lord.

-In verse 11 and 15 they worked diligently.

-Verse 12 they treasured the scriptures

-Verse 13 when they began to prosper they avoided pride.

-Verse 16 they enjoyed the blessings of the temple.

-Verse 26 they lived worthily to receive the blessings of the priesthood.

If we want happiness in our lives, we need to do the things that the Lord has showed us over and over through the examples in the scriptures and the things we have learned in our lives. The best thing in my opinion of this pursuit for happiness is that we will fall sometimes. Because we fall we can get back up and be better than we were before. All of this is because of our Savior, Jesus Christ and the price that he paid so that we could have this happiness. It is only through Him and His help that we might be able to achieve the happiness that the people of Nephi enjoyed at this time!

Love, you guys so much! I hope you guys have a great week! I loved seeing all of the costumes from Halloween, everyone looked tooo good! And just because Barb is the best let’s get #HappyBirthdayBarb trending haha

Love you guys,

Elder Chipman

#HappyBirthday Barb! (Written in Siswati)
Nikhosingiphile says happy bday.

Trick or Treat Trigs!

The Soulja Boi of letters.

Manzini, my home 

Had to run down the mountain after this pic cause it started raining too hard. 

Week 7 -Fairview B - B.O.B. by Outkast

Happy Halloween ya fools and ghouls! This is the 1 year mark of my first house on the mission getting robbed so that’s chill haha. But yo, hands down Ezra and Wrenly already won for the best costumes of the year! I can’t wait to see all the rest of the costumes.  I hope everyone enjoys the donuts, root beer and all the candy your hearts can imagine!

So, this week flew by with the quick trip to Mozambique and back but I feel like more happened those two days than in the other 5. Monday night after we got done doing internet and eating we went and visited the Mahotas house and said what up to the missionaries there and after we were planning on going to visit some of my favs from Magoanine and Mahotas but right as we got to the road, out of nowhere, the biggest storm I have ever seen happened. We got lucky and found a taxi that could take us back to the Mission Office. On the ride, it started to hail... yep hail in Africa and it didn’t matter that all the power was out because a lightning strike every .4 seconds lit up the sky. After making to Costa De Sol we found the beach and the road straight destroyed! The wind had blown over trees on to the road and even on to some cars and chappas. After making it as far as we could in the traffic we had to get out and trek it by foot. After about 40 minutes we finally made it to the mission office. Once we arrived I checked my bag and realize that I did not have my camera in my bag and so after a quick hit of depression of losing all my photos and videos my dude Elder Sharpe remembered that he got the taxi’s contact number.  After calling him, he was able to find my camera in his car and in the morning, the homie brought it to the mission office... can I get a hallelujah?!  That plus a late-night KFC run with the APs (Elder Holt and Elder Payne) made the trip worth it haha.

Going to Mozambique made me remember how much I miss it but being away from Swazi made me realize how much I love it here. The rest of the was great with Elder Feliciana. We went head to head with the heat and the heat won. We have some really great investigators progressing especially Thandi. Thandi is a little bit older but she can understand everything we teach her and she loves coming to church to learn more about the Savior. Also, this next week we are getting ready for some big activities to continue to excite the members about mission work here in the Manzini area.  We will be trying out a lot new ideas of how we can best work with the members to continue finding, teaching, baptizing and retaining to form a stake here in Swazi.

We will be doing some reverse trick-or-treatin tonight, every house we knock we will give them candy just to spread the Halloween spirit! But everyone have a safe day and week! Watch Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, and the Halloween episode of Freaks and Geeks for a homie. Love and miss you all so much!

Love,

Elder Chipman

Had to find my inner Legolas to help this lady out. 

The famous Riverstone Mall where the Mulungos flock on Mondays to do groceries.

A few old Pics

 

Week 6 - Fairview B - Life in Reverse by Hurris &GiG

Alright everybody so the transfers are in and we have got some news... Elder Feliciana and I will be staying together for another transfer in Fairview! But the strange thing about it is that I am currently writing this email in Mozambique... actually in the exact internet cafe that I would use in my first 3 transfers of my mission while serving in Maputo. Elder Smith, Sharpe, Owens and I had to wake up early (4:30 AM) this morning to head to Mozambique and redo all of our citizenship for Mozambique and so Elder Owens and I will be staying the day in Maputo and driving back down with the missionaries that will be transferred to Swaziland... and something that is even doper is that Elder Griffeth will be coming to Manzini! It will be the first time I have seen that guy since Mother’s Day so I am too excited. It is super strange to be mobbing the old stopping grounds again actually knowing how to speak Portuguese haha.

But as for the last week of the transfer it was another great one. Elder Feliciana hit 6 months on the mission so we had a nice lunch (Galito's) to celebrate.  Other than that Elder Feliciana and I worked super hard this week and the sunburns on our faces/necks can prove it. So, it is just that time now when at 10:00 AM it is hotter than Ryan Gosling in the movie, "Crazy Stupid Love" hahah.  We were able to press through the heat and continue on finding great people and working with the ones we have already found. After not seeing Patience for a couple of days, we decided just to past by her house to see if we could her catch at home. After knocking we heard, "Ngubani?!" (which means who is it) and we simply responded the missionaries and right after we heard a big, "Houw?!?" (What Swazi say when they are surprised. Patience opened the with the Book of Mormon in hand and said, "Right as I read something and didn’t understand it, you guys showed up... houw?!"   After that little cool experience and explaining to her what the Urim and Thummim was we had a great lesson with her. Also, we were able to find Thandi, who is an old investigator of the missionaries a long time back, and after visiting her twice she has a baptismal date and came to church. So, if everything keeps going to plan we should be having a busy day on the 13th November.

A quick thought that I would like to share comes from Mosiah 5:12-13 in this scripture it talks about our relationship with our Master, Jesus Christ. It says that we need to "retain the name written always in your hearts" when I read this for some reason I thought of having Christ's name tattooed on our hearts and how we can do so.  What came to mind is how tattoos hurt but through constant and consistent actions it becomes permanent on our bodies. To always retain his name written on our hearts I think it is the same process. In the midst of trials in our lives, through constant and consistent actions (Prayer, reading the scriptures, serving others-verse 13) we will find a permanent testimony and relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, this is it... start of transfer #10! I am super excited to be staying in Swazi and in Fairview and especially to continue working with Elder Feliciana. It feels like everyone is doing great and I hope everyone has a great week!

Love and miss you all!

Elder Chipman

The beautiful land of Swazi.

Sister Masina and her son always saving me a piece of that corn!

6 month lunch for my boy!

Sunday we had Sibusisso Burgers
(Chicken, Egg, Bacon and Cheese Burgers)

Samora Machel mean muggin (more pics from Mozambique to come next week)

Week 5 - Fairview B - Autumn Leaves by Chris Brown

What is up everyone? It sounds like that fall has truly started and everyone is doing great! In my opinion fall is tied for the second best time of the year and Africa doesn’t really have a fall sooo enjoy it guys! But it sounds like everyone's week was killer. Bday s/o's to Brandon and Penny! Those Oreo cupcakes looked too good. Sounds like sports are sports too.

This week for team, Carlos Arroyo and Milt Palacio, was a good one! It started out with us kind of still being down about not finding too many people last week but changed right around when we were able to teach 2 lessons back-2-back (S/o to Drake) of some contacts that we had done. First we taught Fissile and it was awesome. She understood everything and accepted to be baptized. Right after, we taught Patience and Patience is one of the most prepared people I have ever met. The Lord has blessed her life so much to lead unto the point she is right now to be able to hear this message. We taught her the Restoration and she said that everything "just clicked in her mind and she felt like her eyes were being opened" to what she always wondered and wanted to know. After just dropping a baptismal invitation with Fissile it was only right that we did it with Patience as well. Elder Feliciana kicked my leg and started saying Portuguese, "Invite her, invite her now or I will kill you" hahah so we invited her to be baptized and she said that after hearing what she just heard she wanted could have been baptized right then and there. We returned the next day and taught her the Book of Mormon but even before we started teaching she asked us, "I believe that the Bible is the word of God but that it is missing something… I don’t know how or what... but do you think that God has more scriptures for us?" So after wiping our giant smiles off of our faces we taught her and she loved it. We are also teaching two sisters, Zanele and Wendi, who have been progressing really well. They felt super bad cause they read the Book of Mormon but didn’t understand it and so we had to explain to them that it didn’t matter if they understood or not but that they were keeping a commandment of the Lord and opening themselves to the Spirit to come to the know the truth.

As for other things this week... we celebrated Elder Sharpe's bday with ice cream cake, chocolate cake, and chocolate waffles. Elder Payne was transferred early which was kind of sad for our whole zone but it is all chill. And last but certainly not least the past two nights there have been the two biggest lighting storms I have ever seen. On Saturday night, we had just got done with a lesson when Zeus decided to have target practice on Manzini haha. Elder Feliciana and I had to book it up because it was soo sketch. It didn’t give us comfort that every person we ran by yelled at us, "You shouldn't wear white when there is lighting!" Chillbo Baggins. haha but I was able to get some amazing videos which I will try to send. But that is pretty much it for the squad this week! I hope everyone is still watching, listening and pondering about what we heard in conference. I love and miss you all! Have such a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman

"Were there" - Lloyd Christmas
Running home in lightning storms.

My dude Simon just got his mission call to serve in the Ghana Accra Mission

Why not take a selfie while waiting for a visit?

Waiting for the suprise for Elder Sharpe

Week 4 - Fairview B - Keep It Real by Kyle

Some of the few people that I have had the privilege of knowing since being in Swazi that have come to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, the Plan of Happiness, and the Gospel of  Jesus Christ.  They have all followed the example of Jesus Christ, being baptized, confirmed and received the Holy Gost.  They have all seen Jesus Christ and his church impact their lives differently but with the same outcome - JOY.  This is what it is all about! 

Hello fellow family and friends,

It sounds like everyone is doing so great! Big shout out to Laney for killing in her cross country meets! I am too impressed, keep it up Lane! Also big ol' birthday S/O to the Method man himself, Pchip! I have you especially quack-tastic (Billy Madison) birthday mah dude!

So for team Carmelo Anthony and Nenê it was another good week in the 268. Elder Feliciana and I have been working super hard to continue on finding some new families to teach and to continue on helping all of the recent converts progress in the Gospel. Lots of ups and downs like always but something that never changes is the joy that comes from service and missionary work. I am so very grateful for the Holy Ghost, who is sent by our loving Heavenly Father, to comfort us when we need it is most.  On Thursday night we had a dinner and a visit with the Similani family. I love the Similanis so much and they give me hope doing this special work. President and Sister Similani were baptized in 1997. A few months later President Similani was called to be the Elders Quorum president and then from there the Branch President. After a couple years we was called to be the District President and during his service, he played a giant role in the growth of the church here in Swaziland; by locating and heading the construction of the two beautiful chapels in Manzini and Ezulwini. Sister Similani is originally from Maputo and with the help of President Gonzalves (1st counselor of the Mission) and other members were the pioneers of the church in Maputo. It was so cool to hear their stories of sacrifice and service all of the church and the saints.

We also had the special opportunity as the Fairview and Ngwane Park branches to watch General Conference all together on Saturday and Sunday. All I have to say is that every speaker threw down with the spirit and all spat straight fire! Every talk was so simple but so powerful. I loved the themes of the Atonement, The Plan of Happiness, our personal progression/relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The biggest impression that I received while watching the conference was during the Sunday Morning Session, during the congregational hymn, when in the font of the chapel there was 3 little girls yelling as loud as they possibly could, "I am a child of God!". Watching them, mixed with the words and counsel of our loving prophet and apostles, I realized the power that comes from that phrase that we all learn growing up in Primary. We are all truly children of God. He loves us, and because He loves us He has given us His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. That through him we can learn, repent and feel of the joy that God wants us to feel. He has also given us our families, the scriptures, and leaders to guide, teach and support. No matter the situation, trial, or hardship we can feel of that love. I hope everyone is still remember and pondering on the things they learned from conference. But the most important thing is that we apply the things we learn. "It is the time when we think that we don’t have any growing left to do when we have the most growing to do"

I love all of you guys so much! Thank you for the love, support and prayers! I hope everyone has a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman

Ethan trying to teach me how to be a G. 

Celebrating Mimi's 4th birthday. 

Walks home from school.

The Hilltop Hoods

Week 3 - Fairview B - Soul Food by Logic (Clean Version) lol

Alright sports fans how is everyone doing?! It sounds like everything back home is going great. Big S/O to Mom, Colin, Dev and Brody for running the marathon this weekened!! Officially means I am the only Chipman that hasn't run a marathon but it’s all good cause just thinking about running now I get tired so we will see how that goes haha. But I hope everyone had a great Conference Weekend! We will be watching all the sessions this upcoming weekend and I am too pumped.

But this week was another really great one for team Steve Nash and Leandro Barbosa. Yesterday, we had the baptism for Hlobisile! (Pics coming don’t worry) Elder Feliciana started teaching her with Elder Watteyne the last week of last transfer. She was super to excited to be baptized and to be an example for her younger sisters so we will see if we can start sitting with the rest of her family.

Also this week I had the chance to a division and walk with Elder Copitsky. After we got done with visits and contacting in the afternoon we stopped to get some coke and cookies and take a little break. A big cloud cover was moving towards us and Elder Coptisky goes, "I think we might be getting some rain." Me being me said, "Nahhh!! We guci man!" Then once we left to our next visit I straight felt like Harry and Dudley in the 5th Harry Potter when the dementors swoop in. Nothing but rain, huge burst of lighting, and loud thunder. It was one of the coolest things that I have been in but after 5 minutes of walking, being wet and cold I spazzed out haha. We ended up taking cover in a grocery store and a gas station and while we there, got some supplies for a FHE that we had with the Gumedzes. We showed them how to cook donuts and they LOVED them! Babe (Siswati for father - pronounced Bah-bee) Gumedze made us make extra batter so he could cook some up for breakfast the next morning. So after lots of oily fried Jerry's Jonuts and lots of yes chants we made the voyage home in the rain.

Then to cap it all off we visited the Mngumezulu family last night who live in the Swazi version of Pepperwood. Elder Feliciana found them last transfer but this was first time that I met them. Got there, with dinner and everything prepared for us. After helping them wash the dishes we sat and had a lesson and reviewed the importance of the Book of Mormon. Everything went great so let’s hope they progress. But just to give a hint how this fam is, Babe is basically Denzel Washington, Make (Mother - pronounced Mah-gee) is mom from America and all of the kids are studying outside of the country. One in Cyprus, one in Tanzania and one in China. They are such a nice family!

Also, yesterday for lunch after church we had ROAST NIGHT!! Roast, mash potatoes, gravy, carrots but not rolls but it was still too good!

But because of the long update I will just hit you guys up with a quick thought. In Mormon 8 verse 38, Mormon drops a bomb when he simply asks, "Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?" I pondered a ton about this scripture this week. We know that when we were baptized, but also before this life, we chose, promised, and covenanted with our Heavenly Father that we would take upon ourselves the name of Christ. But, along the road sometimes we forget or we change. Whether it’s because we feel we need to "fit in" or maybe its cause of changes happening around us. This is such an important time for us all to remember the name we have taken upon us and to try and become like Him and to let His light shine through us to help ones that we are around daily. Jesus Christ is the light of the world, He is our Savior and He is our endless happiness!

I love you guys and hope everyone has a great week!

Love,

Elder Chipman

Love me some Matsapha

Showing the Gumedzes how to make donuts

Jerry's Jonuts were a success

Beware of Snakes

Hlobisile's Baptism

ROAST NIGHT!!!

Almost like Home!!!