Missionary Training Center Christmas

Salt Lake Airport

I step off the airplane for the first time in Salt Lake City. I feel extremely nervous. It’s my first time so far away from home. It’s actually real! I actually am an ordained minister of Christ, a missionary!

"I can hardly believe it!” I say to myself.

The airport is busy and bustling with activity. It’s December 8, 1998, and travelers from all over are leaving and arriving—getting to their families. I spoke with Russell before I left Georgia and I know where he told me to meet him. Russell is the guy who introduced me to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a missionary. I want to be like him, a missionary. Now I am! I walk along looking around and marveling at how homogeneous the people are in Utah.

“There is no way that Russell will miss me in this crowd. I stand out,” I think as I arrive at the specified rendezvous point. Minutes seem like hours as I wait.

“Rodric,” I hear over the crowd. “Rodric, is that you?” I look frantically through the throng. Warmth and relief overcame me as I see Russell Sheridan and his family hailing me. He baptized me only six years earlier and now I stood before him waiting to do the same to some other fortunate soul.

We hurry toward one another and embrace. He holds me tightly and I return the embrace as I puzzle at the former Elder Sheridan. He is shorter now. He has little hair. This is not the picture I was expecting. Nevertheless, it is my missionary! I remember the smile. I remember the voice. I remember him, and tears start to form, but not fall. I'm  spending the rest of the day with Russell and his family. I meet my missionary's parents. They treat me like royalty! It is all too much for my simple brain.

The MTC

Six of my Twelve District members in the MTC

The next day, Russell took me to the MTC, Missionary Training Center, after breakfast with his family. After the speech given by a leader there, we were instructed to exit different sides of the room.

I looked at my missionary and began to cry. I felt so small and insignificant as Russell left me in that large meeting room with tears in his eyes. He seemed so happy that I, his “Golden Contact,” decided to serve the Lord as a missionary.

I did not want him to leave. I really discovered how alone I felt when he left. He was the last bit of family I had before turning completely to the mercy of the MTC. With my mind riddled with rumors of what returned missionaries told me about the MTC experience, I prepared for the worst. I thought the people in the MTC would revile me because of my race—based on other rumors I heard about Utah members of the Church from Georgia Latter-day Saints.

The orange dork dot on my lapel informed every other missionary that I had just arrived. I was very conscious of my race as I looked around and saw no other person who looked like me. A rather tall missionary approached me. He must have seen my bewildered look. I assumed the harassment would begin when he reach out to me. He grabbed my bags and begin to help me get to my boarding (dorm housing).

I was extremely intimidated by my surroundings, but there was no reason for me to fear.  No hazing. As I walked the halls to receive the items for my stay at the MTC, I felt a spirit of goodwill, but still felt apprehensive. With an orange dork dot attached to my lapel, I received considerable positive attention. I was astonished by the help I received just carrying my belongings to my boarding.

Once there, I was introduced to the other orange-dork-dotted lapel wearers who were in my district in the MTC. My district consisted of 12 elders. I was the only non-White and Black person. Being from the South, I felt awkward at the situation and assumed smug attitudes would abound. Wrong! Not only did smug attitudes not exist, but the greatest filial love I could imagine prevailed!

As a district, we became acquainted. I felt particularly happy about my companion Elder Jenson. I thought of all, I had the best one. I was correct. He was the best one for me. Of al, he encouraged me the most and provided the extra support I needed to get over my fear of racism.

Leadership

I needed to overcome several other fears; so, I was placed in a situation that I feared the most, leadership. I was called as the district leader. Bells went off in my head as I reluctantly accepted the assignment. I felt that since I was the only non-White, and especially a  Black person, this assignment would cause some problems. I knew that one of the other elders had his heart set on being the district leader. 

I stammered a bit as the branch president awaited my answer. "Say yes," my branch president told me. I did. Elder Jensen assured me that all would be well, and he would support me. He actually became my hero. The elder that wanted to become the district leader cornered me following the call and told me that I only received that assignment because I lacked proper leadership skills. He sat with a disappointed look on his face. He said that he already had leadership skills so he did not need the calling.

I felt a bit hurt by his remarks, but instead of insulting him, as I would have in the past, the Spirit led me to say, "Maybe you’re right.” He was right. I felt more love for him. I expected, however, a larger negative sentiment to be mutual throughout the district. Incorrect. These brethren of mine loved me as before—even that elder who correctly knew I needed leadership training.

I Told Them To Close Their Eyes

Lights At Temple Square

Source: Salt Lake City Holiday Light Display

Christmas approached, and packages and letters crowded the MTC. Celebrations and firesides filled the schedules. In our district meeting, a special thing occurred as the Spirit moved me. I spoke and words similar to these came out:

“2000 years ago, 12 men sat with the Savior at the last supper and listened to his words. We are 12 elders as they, and we sit here together to also hear His words."

I told them to close their eyes and continued, “Imagine that those 12 are us and that we sit in Christ’s presence hearing His words, and receiving His counsel.”

I went on to say more that I cannot write. Suffice it to say, tears sprang from a few and the spirit edified us. I told them at the end of that meeting "That is what Christmas is really about." I could feel the love that these brethren had for God, for each other, and for me.

As Christmas approached and came, all the elders received gifts and postage from family. I did not. On Christmas day, I felt my spirit decline. I did not get to speak to my parents because as soon as I left for the MTC, they left on Christmas vacation to Miami. It was my first Christmas away from my family.

My companion and I went out and returned later that day from an errand. On my desk were gifts from my brethren. Each one of them gave me of the gifts their families had given them. I again felt the love of God in my heart, and the words “That is what Christmas is really about” returned to me.

We truly are the hands of Christ. Christmas means to give a gift out of love, as did Heavenly Father in giving his only begotten son. I may have asked my brethren to close their eyes to imagine being with Christ, but they helped me open mine to see He is here with us through our good works.

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Let the Holy Spirit Guide: Tracting Cape Town

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Elder Probst is the Malungu in the middle.

Cape Town is an exciting city. Anything you find in a large city in the USA and UK you can find in and around Cape Town. As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in that city of social gold, I was about finding souls.

Elder Beau Blanchard had just left the area on a new assignment. I was sad to see him go, but looked forward to the new opportunity in Elder Berkley Probst.

He came and instantly I found him to be stalwart in his pursuit of the gospel. With his drive and my experience in the area, we were looking for changes to come—and come they did! Our goal was to teach and allow the spirit to convert them to the gospel of Jesus Christ, but for months, no one accepted Baptism.

With few weeks left in my mission, and no baptisms to record since Elder Probst came, I thought I was a failure in that aspect, and I suppose I was. I think that I became preoccupied with baptizing instead of allowing the Lord to teach the people I contacted. If it wasn’t for Elder Probst…

I learned so much about loyalty and love from Elder Probst that I counted my final term with him as a part of my conversion. Elder Probst help direct my paths toward the gospel, living it and loving the people as they came—as they are. I felt content enough with his help and care.

Days before we separated, before the long plane ride home for me, we decided to tract a neighborhood, we hand not considered.

We had marginal success in teaching discussions, but still no prospects for membership. We tracted up and down several streets until we came to one street in particular that aroused our awareness. Elder Probst and I both felt drawn to a specific house on that street.

Elder Probst said, “Should we go talk to that man?” We noticed that man watched us as we went door-to-door. We began walking toward the house—towards the man who stood outside seemingly awaiting our arrival.

Me, Elder Johnson

View from our flat in Cape Town "three towers"

For Your Knowledge

Tract, Tract-ed, Tracting: besides meaning a large geographical area of specific land, it is a process where missionaries choose a large or small area geographically to visit the homes in that area to provide gospel teachings. Tracting is the act of knocking on doors or going door-to-door.

A tract is also a leaflet or flyer with a condensed message on it to inform people about gospel principles taught by missionaries. Missionaries usually leave tracts with people they contact while tracting or door-to-door visits..

As we approached the house, the man went inside his home quickly. We thought that was a way of saying “Go Away;” so, Elder Probst and I continued visiting the other houses, getting referrals and appointments. Eventually, we came to the house about which we initially felt impressed to visit.

We determined not to go in, but the spirit urged us forward. We ignore signs indicating a dog, which there were! A written sign warned that attack was imminent of we did enter. We took courage and entered the gate, knocked at the door and entered the home with the neat fence around it.

The family greeted us with much anticipation, the Viviers family. ! It felt like we had celebrity! The man and his wife and kids listened intently and the spirit filled their home. They drank our message! The spirit edified us and filled us because of the sharing our faith about God between us.

As we prepared to leave, the man asked, “Why did you not come to my house earlier as you started to? I saw you walking towards my house and I waited and you never came.”

We were honest. I told him, “The spirit of God led us here, but we continued on after you went inside the house. We visited your neighbors, but decided the final time to take the chance with the feeling and come to your house.”

“I saw you around the neighborhood,” he said. “I noticed that you seemed to be visiting each house and counted houses to see when you would get to my home. I wanted to know what the well dress gentlemen were doing in the neighborhood."

‘When you walked toward me, I was shocked that you changed your pattern of visiting each house. So, I rushed inside to prepare for your arrival. I was puzzled when you did not show and thought that I might have done something to cause you to go away.”

“I prayed to God that my family and I would find the truth. You are an answer to a heartfelt, which I had been praying earnestly!

He and his family thanked us profusely for sharing with them.

I went home after that experience. I don't know if that family accepted the gospel message we introduced to them or not, but I learned a good lesson: Listen to the spirit as He directs.

That time, Elder Probst and I were lucky enough for the person to still be available when we finally got around to heeding the prompting to see him, but often if we fail to listen to the promptings of the Spirit, we may lose the opportunity.

We should act, and trust the Lord will see us through. After all, we share in HIS work. We did not find many baptisms in my last area, but we did find treasures in people.

Cape Town Truly is a place to find souls. I believe that Elder Probst and I helped plant the seeds of the gospel in the lives of the members of that family. We felt impressed to go there. We left impressed with the way the spirit directed us.

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Transportation Issues. P-Day Eve. Missionary Stories:

Elders, Danisa, Myndu and Johnson. This picture was take at the mission  home before Elder Danisa and Elder Johnson went to Umtata.  Elder Myndu did not serve in Umtata. We were so happy. It was Sunday night. We just had a wonderful Dinner appointment at the Mbelasis home in Umtata.  We lived in the community of Northcrest in Umtata amid a well-off group of Xhosa speaking citizens.  It is a friendly neighborhood and the people generally respected and accepted us. We couldn't wait to get home to plan our P-Day--We celebrated P-Day eve as if it really existed. We planned out our whole day (including the proselytizing) and rested our heads with dreams of our perfect p-day.  David Thompsom I arose feeling a bit grouchy and irritable. For some reason, we all slept a little longer than usual. I went about aimlessly before my morning prayer, which I slept through mostly. I felt so unusually tired.  I looked at my companion, Elder Thompson, and winched at him for not waking up to wake me up on time. I then proceeded to the restroom. I passed the other Elders' room, Elders Streadbeck and Danisa surprised to see them still in bed.  Scott Streadbeck It was about 8:30 am. As I went past their room, and the spare room something seemed out of place. I went to the living room window after leaving the restroom and gazed out at such a beautiful day. Still something felt out of place. The day was too perfect outside. The sun, the birds, and the breeze--all too...well, great.  I looked off to the left, still gazing out of the window and noticed that I did not see the end of the mission car. I thought for a moment that the car was parked far in the driveway, so I went in the room where my companion still slept, Elder Thompson. I looked out the window and still saw no car. I started to worry. I then went in the spare room and looked. There was no way I could miss the car from that room, but I did. Oddly, enough it never occurred to me the car could have been missing.  I decided then to wake every one with "The car is gone."  The Elders jumped out of bed. "What did you say," asked Elder Streadbeck.  "The car is not in the drive way. Did you leave it outside because the gate is open," I returned.  "No, I wouldn't do that."  "The car is there," argued Elder Danisa. "It is not gone."  "Go look for yourself," I answered.  "What Happen," says Elder Thompson stumbling as he walked toward us--all of us straining to awaken fully.  "The car is gone," I said.  "You are not serious," questioned Elder Thompson.  "Yes, look for yourself."  "Elder Johnson if this is a joke you're playing it's not funny," Elder Thompson accuses.  "I don't even have a Cert to drive or know how to drive a stick," I returned angrily.  Finally, Elder Danisa and Elder Streadbeck went outside to see. To their dread, of course, it was not there.  We all sat around thinking what could have happened to it when Elder Danisa wisely stated, "It is stolen."  He then went into an angry spill about the totsis (gangsters) coming to our house to see how to get our things instead of seeking the gospel (we had several different groups of people to visit us during the course of the month).  To make a long story short, we called the Police and the Mission Office and received instructions. The Policeman, who came two hours late and uniformed, told us that the thieves might have put something called monkey's tail in our open window as we slept so as not to awake us. This would explain how they clipped the chain on the gate and opened the squeaky gate without Elder Thompson or me hearing it.  It also explained why we all felt so extremely tired in when we awoke. We never retrieved the car and our P-day was ruined. Elder Danisa said the car was probably in Durban being sold by the time the policeman came. I wondered why we were a target for theft.  I don't think it has anything to do with us being the only house in the neighborhood that didn't have a cage or garage for our car. That was just the beginning. Related Articles Missionary Stories: Umtata South Africa--The One Suddenly, in stumbled a beggar requesting funds for food! We had been in town long enough to know that such things could happen, but it took me half kilter regardless. Missionary Stories: We Felt Impressed Cape Town. It is an exiting city. Just about anything you find in a large city you can find in and around Cape Town. As a missionary serving in that area, I was about finding souls. Missionary Stories: Christmas Christmas was soon approaching, and packages and letters crowded the MTC. Celebrations and firesides filled the schedules. In our district meeting a special thing occurred as I felt moved upon by the spirit Choose the Right!: Missionary Stories: Street Contacting in Umtata's Square It was one of the hottest days that I could remember. Though it was February, it was the middle of Summer in South Africa! Elders Thompson, Streadbeck, Danisa and I had left service for the field around noon. Missionary Stories: We Felt Impressed Cape Town. It is an exiting city. Just about anything you find in a large city you can find in and around Cape Town. As a missionary serving in that area, I was about finding souls.