Merry Christmas and Hello Namibia!

December 19, 2016

Me and Charles

Practicing the guitar in my new shirt

Dear Family, 

So, I am giving your email to the family who I will be going to. They will reach out and plan when I will Skype. I had a cold 2 weeks ago but last week I had a fever and abdominal pain. It is all over now. I got some meds and I'm fine! I Had an okay week this week, I couldn't go to the area a few times but it's all good now. As for this week I am going to go around and start saying goodbye to some members this week because I am sure I am leaving. Which means a lot of dinner appointments which means a bigger kapunda(belly) hahaha.

Love you lots! Have a great week!!

Love, 

Your Son

December 26, 2016

Hello!

Don't really have much to say today, I am glad I was able to speak with you!  I will leave for Namibia on Wednesday morning. I can only bring one suitcase so I will live a Spartan lifestyle. 

Love,

Your Son

"Miamilodi"

 

Don't Mess with Texas

My foes

December 12, 2016

Jackson did not write a letter today.  He said he was  not feeling well and would write next week.  He did send pictures though.  Below is his letter from last week.  

December 5, 2017

Dear Family, 

I don't have any pics this week so I am sorry... I left my batteries at some other elders flat and don't have any extras and keep forgetting to buy some:/ I promise next week! I have a cold right now and I don't know why.  Last week we were walking one day (we now share a car with a new area in my district) and at night when we were waiting for the others to pick us up the skies opened! It was POURING! We got pretty cold even though it was 41c (105 degrees Fahrenheit) that day. Progress is now slow, everything closes for December and everyone has it off. All they do in "Miamilodi" is party, party and party. No one has "time" and it is frustrating. But it's all good, akunamatata.  To answer your question, the maggots came from our trash, there were hundreds! We have a pretty bad roach problem too but I am taking it personal and am busting out some borax.   As for the other questions,  we shop at a store called Pick n Pay or Checkers. It is fairly normal. The food is slightly different, the beef tastes a little different as well as the sausage called buri vors. Its good though, I LOVE this stuff called chutney! It is like a sweet salsa or something. I have this jalapeno chutney right now that I put on everything!  I love you so much! I hope you have a wonderful week!! 
Love,

Your Son

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 28, 2018

At an African Wedding

Thanksgiving dinner in Africa

Selfie at the internet cafe

Dear Family,

My area of Mamelodi just got cut in half.  The whole of Mamelodi is about 2 million people so it's kinda big... I now stay in Montana Park in an apartment that had maggots all over the floor last night but we purged it today so it's all good now. No HUGE storms like before but still small ones.  My pants still fit somewhat. I ripped my pants in the "rear" seam when I bent down the other day. Luckily I was at home.  I will try to save them but I might need some new pants.... MAYBE. The wedding will be fun I'm  sure.  (His sister Maddie just told him she was engaged.) Not as fun as an African wedding though. I went to one a few weeks ago and it was sweeeet. I got fed a LOT. People here feed MASSIVE portions so that's why I am getting a gut. I am glad to hear you had fun with Grandpa, I miss the snow. Here you actually put water as coolant in cars because it never drops below freezing. We just had a good Thanksgiving today actually. We didn't celebrate it on the actual day. Anyway, this week was slow. December here in Mamelodi I hear is crazy. People always party, leave town and what not. So it will be slow. I am good though. I might stock up on some stuff I need.  I will shop smart and not spend much though. 

All in All, thanks and love you tons!!!

Your Fav Missionary

Welcome November!

Just a hut that looks cool

Call-ins on a Sunday night featuring Granola and Yogurt

Saw this guy cruising down the street

Mamelodi skies    

November 7, 2016

Hi,

I responded to a lot of emails this week and don't have much time. I love you all so much!! SOOOOO MUCH!!! I have transfers this week so PRAY to Heavenly Father I get a good companion. My greenie is done training so we will be separated. Thanks for the hydro flask btw. It keeps ice cubes all day so when its hot in the area it cools me down. I also left my camera at the flat today so no pics.... sorry.   GUYS I LOVE YOU I see a lot of family issues here and it makes me thankful for you guys. I LOVE YOU!!!!! 

Love,

The one, the only... weighing in at fatter than he left!!! Elder Voyles 

November 14, 2016

Dear Family,

I did get a new companion this transfer!  He is funny and we get along. This week had been SUPER slow because I had to drive all the elders to their new companions and was basically driving a lot! All in all I drove about 650 kilometers (400 miles) this week. 

Love,

Your Son

November 21, 2016

Dear Family, 

This transfer will be fun because I am in a four man flat and we have a lot of laughs!!! It is awesome. At the end of this transfer I will have been in Mamelodi for 7&1/2 months!! It is a long time... I love it though, I KNOW the area. The families love me and we get fed probably 5 to 6 times a week. It mainly consists of seven colors. I am getting a kapunda (tubby belly) but it is kinda fun to have. I am super happy. 

Love you sooooo much!!

Love,

Your chubby son

Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2016

Volunteering at a boxing gym in Mamelodi

A CRAZY STORM HIT PRETORIA!!! 

There was lightning every half second and it was non stop flashes all over!! It was INSANE!! 

This is a pic took at night of a bolt of lightning!

My "flat".  That's me getting into the car.

Hello!

My week flew by! It was super busy!! We worked hard here this week.  We had a lot of lessons and now we are shifting our focus to less actives and it is working. We have about 360 of them in the ward so we need to start to change that. We had something like 30+ lessons this week which is a lot for here. It is very common to have like 3 appointments cancel a day but still I am happy.

It is heating up here! It is 38 degrees Celcius (100 degrees Farenheit) and I am in tin huts half the time. A/C does not exist here. But I am told the more you walk in the sun the prettier your future wife gets. Dad must have walked in the sun his whole mission.

No news on Namibia and when I might go. I think I might go this coming transfer but who knows.

Love you all so much,

Elder Voyles

Short and Sweet

October 18, 2016

Viva Las Vegas

From left to right: Elder Homer, Charels, Letsabo, Khutsong, Unknown person

Mormon helping hands!

The service we did at the other Elders chapel (school house).

Playing with a lion

Dear Family,

We had three baptisms this week and it was wonderful! I am so happy and having a blast!!  This week as flown by!!!! I feel like it is Wednesday of last week! (Editor's Note:  I asked what the hardest thing and best thing was about the mission). Truthfully, the hardest thing about the mission so far is the disobedience, it makes things pretty difficult. I think the best thing is the people, they are so amazing. I love the people of Africa so much! I love my district, they all have a strong desire for obedience and hard work which makes my job a lot easier. I love you, have an amazing week!

Love,

Your son

It's All Good

October 10, 2016

Our car being mobbed by children

Making Cinnamon Rolls 

 Package Received

PUPPY!

Dear Family,

I received my package!!!! Thanks so much for everything!!  I am not sunburnt, it is just hot and I am flush a lot of the time.  In answer to your questions about being district leader, I have a good district, THE WHOLE DISTRICT IS GREEN!!!!  None of us have left our first area so we are all considered green, including half of them who are still in there 12 week training. They are all good obedient guys so that's good. I have fasted this week and it actually was awesome, I have had some crazy cool experiences!! I will tell you more about it next week.

Love,

Elder Voyles

October 3, 2016

Me and my Comp found import candy!!! (And Mountain Dew chapstick, haha)!

We just took an "African" photo (no smiles)

Our investigator Charles has kittens!!

Kitten giving momma a bath!!! SO CUTE!

Hello!

So in answer to your question, we were able to stream conference at our chapel! It was absolutely amazing!  I got called as district leader over the Mamelodi district. I probably won't go up to Namibia for another transfer or so. They don't have a spot for other Elders up there yet.  I am doing good. I am so happy! I was able to bear my testimony when I was on exchanges with the other elders and it was amazing.  I love my mission and I am really excited for everything! I gotta go now though so I'll talk more next week! LOVE YOU!!