Just Pictures

kids playing in the township...

This is an old picture of Elder Pickup and Elder Edeouch... he's gone home now...

Elder Scott and his newest members... Elder Pickup, Philly, ES, Senzo, and Elder Kuyangeppi

Bowling when I rolled a 149! Record stands so far! (one on the end works at the lanes)

rolling my record score!

Christine looking Pregnant finally, Stephen and Esther
 

Doing dishes at Swans... after Canadian Thanksgiving which is October 12. I will do another Turkey day on November 19th which will produce another monster mess! Glad we have missionaries who love to do dishes!
 

Elder Kuyangepii taking a break
 

pumpkin pie... Oh, yes, Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner at the Swans. ES actually broke down and had a piece of pie!
 

Lindiwe's uncle passed away and the elders went to the funeral. It was on a Saturday at 6:00 a.m. Yep! It lasted 2 hours +. After they lower the casket into the ground by hand, the men all refill the dirt with shovels. ES said it was extremely moving and very significant to him. They had speakers and singers and dancers doing traditional funeral songs and dances.

Elder K moving dirt

teaching
 

teaching the gang of young adults (from right to left) Elder Warton (gone home now) Siphewei, Angel, (in front) Mulusi in the hat, with his sisters near him, Vincent in red, Jennifer in yellow, then Philly and Senzo in orange.

Sister Carol who keeps inviting her neighbors to be taught. She is investigating as well and loves church.

Another investigator (sorry, don't know him yet)



and finally, just another cute photo of Christine!

Why can't I post pictures? I have lots and will post them when this is fixed!

Chapter 42:

I have the most impressive news! Well, I think it is almost on the miracle level especially those who have gone bowling with me… We went bowling with the Jrs. for P-day! They have a 6 lane 10-pin bowling alley in an arcade in the Riverside Mall. The old folks with one player short lost the first round but on the second round WE WON! And I beat everyone! I bowled a 149 with 3 strikes! WOW!!!!

It was really fun! Especially since 2 elders had never bowled before and boy did they odd bowling styles! Elder V from Tonga actually threw the ball down the alley. Elder Warton had to teach him to put his fingers in the holes and roll the ball down the lane. Wow! It was so much fun I actually contemplated going there again today all by myself and practicing. I think I may have to dust off my own ball and shoes when I get home and take it up again.

But, on a spiritual note we have had a great 2 weeks… as that is how much time has flown by. (We are down to 4 months left which is incredible to me.)

ES baptized 2 more last Sunday. One 20ish woman named Philadelphia (yep, we call her Philly) bore the most incredible testimony regarding the Book of Mormon. He mother is a Sargoma… which is a traditional healer. Shortly after Philly started taking lessons and coming to church she suddenly stopped. ES felt prompted to go to her home to ask her why. She had been having the lessons at a member’s house. She told him that her mother had forbidden her. Now, one thing about these African’s here is they live the Honor Thy Father and Thy MOTHER rule… Especially the MOM part. So, ES asked if he could meet the mother. Mom said that American preachers were evil, red-eyed devils and that the Book of Mormon especially was evil and from the devil… um, yeah. We hear that a bit down here. But, undaunted, ES pursued meeting Mom. Once he charmed her and showed her that his eyes were hazel, she told Philly that she could meet with the elders and join the church if she wanted.

Well, Philly wanted to continue and then asked to be baptized.

On Sunday, Philly bore such an incredible testimony about praying with a sincere heart. I was in awe. The spirit of the Holy Ghost filled the room. She said that at first she didn’t want to read the Book of Mormon but the elders kept telling her that she would never know if it was true if she didn’t at least read it and then pray about it. So she began reading it. Then on a Sunday night she started asking if it was true. She didn’t get an answer so the next night she asked again, and continued all week long asking but not getting an answer. Then on that Friday evening as she was reading she felt an overwhelming peace and calmness enter her body and mind. She knew it was true. She said that from that point on every time the missionaries (including ES) told her some new doctrine that same feeling returned testifying that what she was learning was correct.

I have to say that she comes across as very shy and quiet. It’s like she’s ducking her head all the time. But, when she stood at the pulpit and bore her testimony for the first time in her life, a powerful woman who was filled with dignity and majesty stood and bore a sure witness of the truth that she has discovered thanks to her Heavenly Father’s love. It was wonderful to hear and to feel.

But, now a funny thing.

The Elders are teaching yet another friend of this group who have already introduced 5 people to the church from Hazyview which is another 1 hour + from us. This surge started with Sister Jennifer and family (they lived in the wooden house on stilts from way early in our mission.) She moved away for about 6 months but then returned when her ex-husband passed away. With her son Melusi preparing for a mission he has been introducing his friends to the gospel. Two of his friends, Siphewe and Sibosiso had already joined the church but then went inactive due to the family moving away and no support out there. But, they are making their way back to church and Siphewe has introduced his girlfriend, Angel, to the missionaries. (This is the same group that comprises Philly, Senzo, and Vincent, who will be baptized 10/25)

So, anyway, the Elders are teaching Angel and they ask her who she believes God to be. She told them He is our Father in Heaven. So far so good. Then they asked her who Jesus was and she said, “I have been taught that he is a giant leg.” (Yep, read it again.)

The Elders didn’t know what to do or how to react. They didn’t want to laugh ‘cause she was dead serious yet they needed some clarification.

ES said, “A leg?”

“Isn’t that right?”

So, they read scriptures that explained who Jesus really is. Then they taught her about the first vision. She felt relieved. In fact, they taught her yesterday and she no longer believes he is a giant leg.

The only way I can understand why someone would believe that is she must have heard a pastor say that Jesus is like a giant leg of God who helps God do his work… Ah? Well, you know how children can warp things around. Mom says one thing and child hears another…

But, when things get stale around here we say, “Well, at least we know Jesus isn’t a giant leg.”

Now, I don’t want you to think I’m making fun of her because she is a sweet girl who just wasn’t taught the truth. She is coming to church and learning all the things she was never taught before.

On the next visit, the Elders taught her about the Atonement. When asked about why Jesus died on the cross she responded, “I know why Jesus died on the cross… it’s because he stole the good Samaritans donkey.” True story.

So….

But on Sunday, her friend and a recent convert herself (see above), Philly, came up to ES and said “I’ve been working with Angel and teaching her about the Book of Mormon. We’ve been discussing the pamphlets and she understands it all. She really loves the church and is learning so much.” Angel was beaming at church. Her life is changing in huge ways. It’s such a joy to see lives absorbed in the love of God.

I find it so interesting that small gestures of kindness can create celebrities. I drove into the shopping center this afternoon. ES was on his way to teach with the Jrs. so I was alone. As I drove in one parking aisle a car parker-man waved at me and said, “Park here, today Momma!” The parking woman on the next aisle said “Momma, where is Daddy today?” I got to the store and I was greeted by the produce person. The cashiers are considerate and friendly. I drove to another store and the parking guy waved at me like an old friend. He wished me well, asked where ES was as he calls me Momma. He opened the car door for me then helped me back out of the stall. It is customary to tip the car parkers as you leave the lot. Normally, people drop a 2 Rand coin into their hands which equates to less than 20 cents American. We usually give the people who serve us a 5 Rand coin—about 40 cents. In order to work at the lots they have to pay their company 80 Rand a week. At 2 Rand a car it takes a lot of coins just to pay their bosses. Some people drive out without tipping and others tip copper coins which are less than a penny to us… So, when we park, we tip 5 Rand or more… We have become celebrities. A small gesture to us…not even the price of a soda or a stick of gum, but to the humble of the world, it is everything. The message it conveys is worth all the effort. Of course, we leave them with smiles, conversation and sometimes even a prayer as they call ES Pastor.

I love these people here!

Every day when I kneel to pray to my Heavenly Father I think about what and why I am here in South Africa. I think about what has happened during the previous 14 hours. I reflect on what I have done, good or bad, as I have interacted with those I came in contact with. Wearing a badge on my lapel reminds me of why I am here and who I represent. It keeps me focused on my tasks. But as I think about those who have crossed my path I wonder how I was perceived by them. Did I represent the Savior as I am supposed to? Did I keep my covenants? Was my day worth living—my time well-spent?

Our mission—this time—is self-directed. We come and go as we need to. We have the usual demands of callings in the Branch but we don’t have an office to go to or 4 institute classes to teach. We are in total control of our own time. Often, I wonder how well I‘ve spent my time.

But, as I close my day my thoughts turn to my family and hope and pray that the time I spend out here in 100% service to building the Kingdom of God on earth will be noticed, appreciated, and absorbed by my children and grandchildren. That they will be blessed and fortified in the gospel. That their testimonies will grow. That they will feel vicariously the blessings we are receiving from meeting and teaching the great sons and daughters of Heavenly Father who reside in South Africa.  

I know—really know—that our cause is just. Christ’s gospel is true and His Church has been restored on this earth and we—ES and I and all other members of it—represent the Savior Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for that knowledge and hope this finds all of my readers feeling the same. If you don’t, do something about it. Pray. Learn. Ask. And then pray some more.

I know this sounds rather preachy…but that’s what I’m out here for…

Still no monkeys but lots of heat… Days of nearly 100 with humidity and inadequate A/C (I’m not complaining cause some is better than none) but sadly, it’s not as hot as it will be.

A short P.S. here

We are not able to watch conference live… We just finished watching all the sessions today at church. I watched several of them beforehand but I don’t get the same satisfaction from the Spirit by watching it away from the Branch and members of the church. For two days I have listened to the voices of our prophets and apostles and other leaders and more importantly, the voice of the Holy Ghost testifying to me that what they were teaching was true doctrine! I really enjoyed this weekend. I really enjoyed associating with my brothers and sisters, many of them viewing conference for the first time, and I really enjoyed learning new things and feeling the gentle tugging of the Lord’s Spirit to try a little better, be a little better and Ponderize…

Very Grateful indeed for the conference.

Chapter 37... Time is moving along

Chapter 37

Happy to relate that both ES and I feel normal again. Yay!!!! Our 8 baptized people were all confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday last. It was a great meeting. ES confirmed all but two of them. He was really fatigued after the meeting as he also taught Gospel Principles class and the YM in Priesthood. We are really looking forward to these new members growing and excelling in the gospel.

Today, (Monday) was errand running and resting from the last week day. ES and the Jrs. have gone to teach Thulanie (Sister Lorraine’s husband.) He is committed for baptism on July 19. That will be another glorious day in Nelspruit Branch. He will stay in Nelspruit Branch as well uniting a family in the gospel and not disappear into Lydenburg when and if that Branch happens.

Big news hit our mission yesterday. Obviously, this change has been in the works for a long time because these things come from Salt Lake City. They split part of our mission off and put it in Botswana and Namibia Mission. We lost about 45 missionaries and 4 couples. It does not affect us at all other than make us the Northern most part of the mission. They could have taken the line straight across the top of the mission and it would have taken us. Whew. I’m glad it didn’t. So, now you really can’t get any higher in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission than our Branch and our mission district.

Another week has passed and the Elders are once again going to teach Thulanie tonight. He is still excited about his upcoming baptism. We have decided to split the 6 we have committed and do 3 on the 12^th and 3 on the 19^th. It will be another 2 glorious days! And 3 of the 6 will stay in Nelspruit even after, and if, Lydenburg splits off from us.

I’ve slowed down writing and posting on the blog because much is business as usual. We’ve been plugging along watching miracles surround us and move on by. We’re teaching yet another referral from Christine and so the work continues.

The 4^th of July came and went without much to do. We were in Lydenburg listening to our recent converts teach us lessons! Wow! It was really amazing how much they have learned. Soon they will all be called teachers and put us out of a job.

Last night we went to Kamatipoort to have dinner with the Krugers. So far they have fed us kudu, (yum) pork roast like I have never had before and last night we had ox tail over rice. They feed us nearly every month but other than steaks and chicken I can’t remember the other things we’ve eaten at their table. The kudu and ox tail will forever be remembered. The kudu was really, really great especially how they fixed it and ox tail was pretty good. ES really liked the ox tail but it may have been due to his fasting condition.

Well, we seem to be coming up on another month here in South Africa. This month marks the Swan’s yearly and our 11 months out. It still seems as if we go to bed Monday night and wake up on Sunday ready for church. Its school holiday time so several families were absent from church yesterday. I have a two week vacation from Seminary—which I really missed going to on Saturday—and so things seem to be quiet here.

We saw several monkey’s on our way to Kamatipoort and several more on Saturday as we drove to Lydenburg which we have taken to be great omens (not really but it sounds fun) and so far all days in between are great. We love our mission. We love those we associate with and we love those we work with. We miss the norm but know this is the right place to be at this time in our lives.

I have decided I need to have something to fill in between teaching and studying to teach so I have returned to drawing. The first time I put pencil to paper was disastrous. Wow, am I rusty. So, I have begun at the beginning. I’m drawing parts. Eyes, ears, noses, and eyebrows… I must learn to train my hand to draw what my brain sees then move on to making my brain see what is really there. Who knows, maybe I’ll come home drawing again.

Still no monkey’s in my kitchen but at least I have running water and electricity. That’s not always the case so I feel quite fortunate at this moment.

I’m having trouble loading photos again… so lame and computers and their tiny friends, i.e. phones, iPads, etc., bug me. Must be my age. So if photos ever make it you will be amazed! And, so will I!

Anyway, I experienced something I wanted to share. We all went to Lydenburg yesterday to teach a few recent converts and finish teaching Simon and Lyndiwe who are scheduled to be baptized on the 19^th of July due to work conflicts. While we were at Christine’s house, her little girl, Esther or Kwasie, if you prefer, was throwing temper tantrums… She has it down to a science. So, her mom, Christine, put a Primary CD into her laptop and began playing, “I Am a Child of God” to her. Christine was singing softly to Esther who immediately stopped crying and started listening to the music and looking at the screen. Curious as to what the screen showed that had captured Esther’s attention, I looked myself. It was nothing but some icons… no flashy photos or cartoons or kids or anything that moved… just these still icons from the CD. I realized Esther was listening to her mother’s soft voice telling her who she was.

Tears came to my eyes as I saw the future of this family. Calisto and Christine have been members for less than 6 months but before me was the power of Heavenly Father’s love manifest in the mom teaching the next generation the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a miracle to behold. I remember thinking when we were teaching Calisto that “he’s got it” when he said, he was joining the church not just for him but for his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. I got to see that in person. What a great blessing that was for me to witness this pioneer family as they move on toward Eternity one baby at a time.

Another thing I feel impressed to tell about is when we took Elise McCarthy with us to Lydenburg last week. She is the organist at our branch. I know, it is really odd when a branch has an organist but we do. She’s really quite capable and has only been playing about 4 years. A senior couple taught her to play. Elise had heard about Siyabonga Masinga’s desire to play the keyboard. Some time ago, Elder Kankunnen had given Siyabonga the keyboard he had ordered from Distribution thinking he was going to have time on mission to learn to use it and then realized that he didn’t. We gave him books and How-To’s but he wasn’t progressing much, so Elise volunteered to go with us to teach Sia to play. Wow. She spent a few hours with him showing him the ropes and giving him homework assignments like practice, practice, practice…. She wants to set up a regular teaching schedule with him and us. It is such a marvelous thing to see members helping each other and offering service to someone who could not be taught otherwise. Most of the members in our branch are convert pioneers—they are not as familiar with serving one another as we long timers are. This is a huge step in growing our branch.

So, it’s now Wednesday and ES and the elders from Nelspruit and KaNyamazane are busy doing a service project at an investigators home. It should be Institute tonight but I heard from Laheri that they are in Penaire and will not be home until Friday. So, I will cancel for tonight.

Life is good and I stay busy with large and small items. One is how to post these photos to the blog… Oh well, I’ll have to ask someone younger than myself. Like an Elder. J

Laheri's b'day dinner. We had chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream after our institute class

Our Kruger trip and lunch where I got food poisoning! Do not eat the salads in SA

a blurry photo of Steven and Christine at Lydenburg's Spur... ES of course as well

Kwazie Esther... growing up and getting dirty

Laheri all dressed for church

Simon in the glare and Lindy having a lesson in their home

Teaching Olgar a refresher or new member lesson. It was cold so she and I snuggled under her blanket



The "crew" at Nomdemdazo's house doing some repairs



I have no idea who this is... I'm sure ES doesn't go out taking photos of pretty women so it must be someone they are teaching but...

 

chapter 36 with a promise of more pictures to come

Chapter 36

 

It’s June and the locals were right. It is COLD! Well, not Utah winter cold but surely, California Cold. However, in Joburg last week it was 4⁰ Celsius which is cold in any reading. We are having 43⁰ nights and 63⁰ days which is perfect for me. I can wear my winter clothes! Yay! I was able to wear black tights, a winter dress with my black jacket and real shoes… like boots… today. But, it is kinda funny to watch my seminary girls come to class with snow-type clothing on. I tease them and they think I’m nuts not to be cold in 70⁰ weather. LOL!

It has been wonderful to actually be cold. We had to pull out this super fuzzy and cuddly warm blanket last night. ES even slept underneath it. Yay! Yay! Yippee! Yay!

I’m actually just trying to be an equal opportunity reporter here since I complained so much about the heat and the humidity I thought I’d mention the cold. Just saying.

Now, on to some really exciting news. We have 8 people committed for baptism on June 21^st. Yup! 8. We are so excited. They need prayers so Satan doesn’t interfere with this plan. Those who are committed are two of the Nkosi girls—Khetsiwe and Laheri—the Masinga family: Mom, Peace, Pearl, and Siyabongna, Olgar and Steven who is one of our recent from Lydenburg. He is a great guy who just stumbled into one of our lessons in Christine’s yard.

Some more good news. Christine and Calisto have moved to a new neighborhood. Now, they have a larger place but still only one room. But, really it is much nicer and twice the size of their last place. But when we visited them Saturday, it was so cold in the place that they both had winter ski hats on, warm jackets and still shivered from the temperatures. Lydenburg is much colder than Nelspruit. I was glad I had worn real shoes, tights and a jacket. Next week, if it’s still cold, I’ll take my winter coat.

Also, Calisto blessed the sacrament for the first time today. We were so proud of him. He also bore his testimony. We had a marvelous testimony meeting today. The President had to stand and shut it down at ½ past 10 due to the many people who wanted to share their feelings. It was really a treat to hear the humble testimonies of so many of our members and newly converted friends—three non-members also offered their testimonies.

I’m fixing dinner for the Elders tonight. The branch invites them for dinner occasionally but sadly, sometimes when they do, they cancel which messes up their entire day. Last week, they left a meeting earlier than they wanted so they could go to a dinner appointment only to be half-way there and get a phone call canceling the DA. All their appointments canceled today. But, I will feed them and we will laugh and have fun.

A bit of sadness. One of our members was playing rugby yesterday afternoon (Human Kruger who had serious hopes and consideration for playing professional—He’s a very large young man) when he was slammed in a scrum and had his shoulder seriously dislocated—like out of the socket and wrapped around his back dislocated! He was rushed to the hospital (an hour and ½ away) where his mom called his Home Teacher, ES, to come and give him a blessing.  We are all afraid that it will be the end of his aspirations. The team he was trying out for will not want the risk of another injury like that. But his mom was secretly overjoyed as she’s hoping this will turn his head and heart around to serving a mission. I hope so too. `

Today, Monday the 7^th of June, we drove to Pilgrim’s Rest, an old mining town similar to the towns of Jamestown in California or really, really pre-success Park City, to pick up a table cloth I had made for me. Last January 1^st, when Elders Ah Wong and Smith went with us on a road trip I talked to a woman by the name of Lucy about her beautiful tablecloths. I told her they were all too small for my table at home. She told me she would make one for me. Last Friday she called telling me that she had made me a 5 meter long tablecloth and if I would come out and look at it she would tell me how much it would be. Last January, I only told her the size and the colors of my kitchen/dining room at home.

So, today we drove out there—it’s about 1 ½ from us—and when I saw the cloth I was blown away! It is so beautiful. It is hand painted… stenciled actually. I love it. 5 meters is really long but I think it will be perfect for my table when it is fully extended with the addition added to it. I consider it a piece of art. The ride was worth it.

Not only did I get a beautiful tablecloth but we had a missionary discussion as well. Last January when we were there the Jrs. gave her a Book of Mormon. This time her husband was there with her. While I waited for Lucy to get the tablecloth her husband asked—ES was looking at the other vendors around the corner – “Are you the one who gave my wife that bible?”

I said yes, probably, but was it a Book of Mormon, maybe? He said it was. He went on to tell me that he had been reading it and had some questions. He asked who wrote it. Did prophets? Of course I told him they did. He asked about the name of the church and if we baptized by immersion. He asked when and where we met as a church. I don’t really expect to see them in Nelspruit but when Lydenburg is opened, we’ll go invite them to church.

Today is Thursday. Tomorrow is ES’s Birthday! He will be 67 years old. He’s kinda liking turning that age and for why we can’t figure out. He just likes the numbers. Just sounds old to me and wow did I feel my age yesterday.

But back to my day today. I baked another pumpkin pie—using my last 1/3 cup of shortening I might add. I also had to make my own pumpkin puree. Wow! We really don’t know how easy we have it. I at least did not. But, I’m out of the pumpkin puree business for a long time. The pies really taste great but I wonder? Are they really worth it?

Here’s what I did the day before that nearly took me to my knees feeling my age… oh, my aching back, feet and shoulders… well really all of me.

At about 11: am, Elder Swan called and wanted me to critic the paintings he had done for Sister Maleka. He painted from some poorly taken photos paintings of both Brother Maleka and Sister Maleka. He brought them down and after a few dozen oohs and ahhs, I had him make a few tiny corrections. She hadn’t had her eyebrows painted on when he took the photo of her but she always wears them—most always anyway. He left and I began making roll dough at about 12:00 right after the Elders left to teach people. I do not have a large enough bowl to hold dough beyond 5 cups so I decided to use 2 bowls making ½ the recipe in each bowl. While just beginning my project, Sister Maleka called asking if she could stop by. Sure. We just visited. It was after 1 when she left. I started making my roll dough again and while it was raising—in my bedroom where the sun shines quite nicely all day long—I pulled the chilled butternut squash from the refrigerator. I had cut it up into manageable sections and boiled it also in two pans as I do not have one pan large enough to do much—I guess they figure 2 Seniors—how much can they cook?—the night before. So, anyway, I began peeling the orange away from the green… yep, the pumpkins here are green. I have seen some small orange ones but only around Halloween time which they do not celebrate. I guess they import them for us Yanks. So, here I am cutting away this flesh from the green skin which is usually eaten along with the orange flesh ‘cause this is served almost at every meal and offered at every restaurant and, after about 30 minutes, I end up with a huge bowl of orange pumpkin. Now, at home I would put this in my Cuisinart and puree the stuff into pulp. Well, not having one of those here, I thought I’d just sieve it. Well, I don’t have a sieve either so I put my metal colander into a bowl, dumped a spoonful of pumpkin yuk into the colander and, using a ladle, I smushed it through the holes of the colander. After about 45 minutes and a lot of mess I had the pumpkin separated from the stuff with fibers in and the smooth puree just like you’d find in a can. And I had way more than I needed to make a pumpkin pie.

After I finished with my pumpkin mess… now mind you, I do not have hot water in my kitchen so I must carry hot water from my bathtub to my kitchen sink so I can do dishes… I checked my roll dough and it was wonderfully raised. I punched it down and kneaded it once. It was ready to raise again. At about 4:30, my friends, the Weitzs stopped by for a visit. I couldn’t stop what I was doing as I had begun rolling out the dough into shapes. They watched as I worked.

I had tried that Crazy Cake recipe from FB and it was really good (I baked that in between things) so we ate cake, talked and laughed until about 5:30… after which I finished baking the rolls (4 pans full) and got ready for Institute which starts an hour early now due to the winter weather and darkness of the time.

During all that time I had not sat down once. My feet were killing me. My back started to ache while I was teaching Institute—Jacob 5—and while we were watching an old Seminary DVD I downloaded from the church website. I highly recommend it if you have questions about the allegory of the olive vineyard.

ES brought home KFC for after class and wow was it a welcomed treat. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. After I teach class we always eat then take the girls home. We left about 8:30 and got home about 9. Really tired. I felt so old.

In fact as I began to get up from the couch to prepare to take the girls home, one of them asked, “So is it really true that as you get old you start to ache?” Ah, yeah! Eish. Pretty bad when these 19 year olds can see the bones jarring when I move.

So, today, I bought decorations and stuff for the RS enrichment lesson that we no longer call enrichment except here in South Africa that I must teach on Saturday immediately after I teach Seminary. I came home and began my pumpkin pie only to discover I do not have a recipe for the filling. I said to myself, no prob… I’ll look it up on the trusty internet… No dice. Down. All Day! So, trying to search my memory for my recipe in my very own computer brain I winged it. I nearly forgot the sugar. Would that have been awful? Eish.

But, I had so much pumpkin that I made the pie (which looks great btw) and pumpkin muffins after adapting a banana bread recipe I had, decorated with balloons and banners and streamers, did laundry, ate Chinese food at the only place in town while reading my Kindle and cleaned the house a bit.

Still no internet and that means no Netflix tonight. ES and the Jrs. are in Lydenburg. I expect them back in another hour. They left extra early so they could stop in Sabie as it is Sister Bethel’s birthday today. I sent them with cupcakes. Brother Bethel is not doing very well. I hope he lives until we go home. I don’t want to attend a funeral.

If I live through the next few days I’ll catch you up with all the events of the upcoming fun-filled Friday and Saturday.

Well, ES’s birthday was rather enjoyable and a great diversion from the responsibilities of a mission. Not that we really need one but change is often a refreshing alternative. We found him a new pair of running shoes…we looked all over for Adidas but not one of the 20 pairs he tried on fit him comfortably. He’s back in Asics. We took in a movie: Avengers—Rise of Ultron or something like that title. Really great flick. My kinda show. ES’s also. Then we ate at an Italian restaurant where ES had a 4 cheese pizza. Probably the best in SA.

The next week flicked on by with me being deathly ill. If I were in the states, I’d say I had a severe cold but here in SA it was termed the flu. Everything is the flu no matter what the symptoms or the severity. I never left the house until Saturday and that was to teach Seminary and then home again and back to bed. Sadly, ES now has it. He’s going to the doctors tomorrow due to his always turns into some kind of upper respiratory infection or another so he’ll recover rapidly after he’s on drugs.

But!!!! Here is the greatest news of all. Today, being Sunday and Father’s Day at that was the record setting baptismal event of Nelspruit. Yep! 8 new members as of today. 2 from Nelspruit and 6 from Lydenburg (still no word of the status of the Lydenburg Branch) with each one bearing their testimonies afterward. ES did a great job with all the names and the sizes of people. Olgar was the toughest as she panicked trying to get up. Then ES pronounced her name incorrectly so she had to do it again. She was so happy that she doesn’t have to do that again. I’m not sure we’ll see her signing up for Temple baptisms any too soon. She is deathly afraid of water… three of the girls were terrified but they all did great.

During the baptism service, our car was victimized. Yep, burglarized right in the church parking lot. This is still our old building which is not in the best of areas but still. The thieves will really be surprised with their take. The Nkosi girls went downstairs to change… they took their bags and stuff and put it in our car. The thieves (there were 2 of them according to Sister Louise who saw them hanging around the car) must have watched them place their backpacks in the car and waited until they had gone into the alley way where the bathrooms are located. One kept watch and the other smashed in the window with his foot. The glass was not broken just smashed in. All they took was Khetsewi’s bags. It had her lotion and a clean pair of underpants along with her scripture bag. Maybe they will repent when they discover their haul. LOL!

I called the police and after 2 hours and the end of the meeting we left. We’ll just get the window replaced tomorrow (hopefully) and carry on. We are so excited about our new building. It has fences with gates and such all around the grounds. So much of a better area.

We had a great luncheon and Father’s Day Celebration. I made bags filled with cowboy cookies for all the Dads, and two of the other Sisters made photo cubes for all the Dads. Really nice day. I also made 72 cupcakes and a large potato salad. We had lots of food and lots of people. Our average attendance the last few months has been in the 80s. Of course, this will taper off a lot when Lydenburg leaves us but this is just the beginning of the growth of Nelspruit Branch.

Feeling particularly blessed today. I have never been called an angel before and both ES and I were likened to angels. Kinda nice.

Just another little side note… You know how people tease those in Seattle about having one day of summer? Well, I think that’s winter in Nelspruit. I am wearing tights and more wintery clothing but the cold has gone and it’s just CA nice weather. Oh well. At least it is not hot.

The power has been off for just minutes shy of 2 hours. I had just started to cook dinner when they shut it off. I’m ready to cook and eat now. Not much of a Father’s Day dinner for those of us who didn’t prepare cold foods.  Yay! Power just powered on! Gotta Go Cook! And eat!

 

Was already to post this to my blog when the power turned off again. 5 o’clock on the dot. So I’ll try again tomorrow. Still sick after one day of being well. Went to the doctors today and discovered that I have contracted a parasite most likely from eating a salad at the restaurant in Kruger. Will NEVER eat a salad again while on mission. ES got food poisoning from one and I’ve been trying to die all week long because of one! Lesson learned. No more restaurant salads.

ES also went to the doctors regarding his stuffy nose and he has 3 infections: an eye infection, an upper respiratory infection and prostatitis again. What a sad state of affairs. We are both just sick enough that we don’t want to do anything about anything. Hopefully, the wonderful medicines we have begun taking will edge us out of this blah.

Still had the most marvelous day yesterday watching 8 people’s lives change. So very blessed to see great things transpire. Despite the power outages, the toxic salads, the water outages, (I have hot water again thanks to Elder Swan and ES) the short winter and the car burglaries (which I personally know happen in the best of areas) I am happy to be serving the Lord and being included in these miracles. After all, what’s a miracle if it’s not someone being baptized? I rest my case.

teaching Stephen in his house. He was one of the 8 baptized

teaching at Stephen's with Lindy and children

my tablecloth

Elders teaching Prosperity

Our little Birthday party for ES

ES's Birthday Chicken Cake!

his gift

says "W Scott Dad of the year"

The Bethels... Poor Derrek

cleaning our flower gardens at our new church building

our  smashed window at our  old building

Chapter 15: What a week!

 

 

I know I say this every week but time has whizzed by again. This is late due to our busy Sunday and our exhausting week. And the power outage. And...

Here it is in a nutshell.

Monday: errands

Tuesday: House cleaning and more errands

Wednesday: Baked brownies and prepared a lesson (which didn’t come to past)

Thursday: Uh? ES went with the missionaries and then we took a nap??? I think

Friday: Went to Sabie, Hazyview and huddled during the wildest rain and thunder/lightning storm ever!

Saturday: Went to Lydenburg and rescued a stranded family (not in that order)

Sunday: Church, baptism, farewell dinner, nap (not in that exact order either)

 

I actually forgot to blog about the baboons we saw while driving home from Lydenburg the time before last. An entire tribe was crossing the road as we came around a winding bend. The road to Lydenburg is a winding road much like the AF Canyon road without the trees along side. It has many hair-pin turns and top of the world views. As we rounded a bend we all saw about 50 baboons ranging in size from Dad who was nearly as big as ES down to babies. Dad Baboon stood on the side of the road and watched as all his family came across safely. They were all running and I think we were all in awe over the incident that we forgot to take pictures but it was quite amazing especially for a city girl. So now when we go to Lydenburg we watch for Baboons. ES said he saw some last Saturday but we all voted that they were just rocks.  

We had some amazing lessons this week. ES taught most of them but I participated in the one in Lydenburg. We met at Colistos home in a township (these are the areas where the government built homes and communities for the blacks during the appartide.) This one is particularly small and Calistos house is very small. He works at Spur 6-7 days a week as a chips (French fries) and onion ring fryer. His shift is from 7 am to 12 midnight. Most of his money is sent home to his wife in Zimbabwe. He is very anxious to be baptized but he keeps getting called into work and in order to qualify for baptism you must attend church 5 out of 7 weeks in a row. He has only been once.

The day before while I was teaching seminary at the Weitsz’ home the Elders went to teach Lebogang in Hazyview. He is progressing nicely and has very solid questions. The lesson finished just before the biggest rain storm so far started. This storm blew down trees and brought hale to Sabie and overlapping thunder claps with lightning that hit quite close to where we were in Sabie.

Now, since this post is going to be even later than planned I suppose it would be appropriate to use the saying: the best laid plans of mice and women… I am typing this in the dark and using the battery function of my laptop. Our power went off around 11 am and as of this writing (not posting since I have no power or internet) at 3:00 pm it is still not on. Well, normally, I’d say, “Oh well.” But today is my turn to do the “welcome to the District” new missionary dinner. ES and I planned a Thanksgiving dinner sans his favorite part—cranberry sauce as it is nonexistent here. I bought a 12 lb. turkey that I later learned I’d paid $44.00 for (not sure I would have had I actually looked at the price label) Nonetheless, I’ve made rolls, yet unbaked, green bean casserole with real crispy onion things (not Frenches’), deviled eggs—an unknown item here—and apple pie with a new for me crust using only butter as Crisco is also not sold here. Now, of course, if I ever do get power today, I’ll add mashed potatoes and gravy and corn to complete the meal.

So as I was preparing food and preparing food and preparing food ES got a call from Sister Jennifer who he is Home Teacher for and the one who lives in Hazyview that the terrible storm they had last night (we only had some rain) blew apart some of her stairs. She is the one who lives in the wooden house that the Jrs and the Srs. went out to stain. Her stairs are kinda vital since she couldn’t get out or in her home without them. The men all loaded up, canceled a few appointments and left for Hazyview. So, maybe we will have a dinner and maybe we will not.

I may have to use Christy’s quick method of turkey baking… that is if I do ever get power today.

I wish I could have the skills of James D. my photo friend. He could have captured what I saw but I could not have so I didn’t even try. Last time I spoke about all the swarms of flying bugs…I can’t begin to describe that horror scene…but yesterday while I was cutting the Elder’s hair out on our back veranda (terrace) I noticed a huge swarm of birds, yes, birds flying and zigzagging around each other just inches from our view. We have a net that covers our opening so they couldn’t have entered and I’m so glad but they wouldn’t have been the problem. There were probably 2 or 3 hundred birds—small sparrow sized creatures—swooping and buzzing the air catching in mid-flight the hundreds of white bugs that were rising up from our below neighbors garden area. I don’t know if some nest or something had suddenly burst but you could see the bugs lifting off and then the birds swooping in to eat their fill. It lasted for about 20 minutes and then suddenly when the bugs were gone so were the birds. It was, I imagine, akin to the crickets and seagull episode of the pioneers but obviously on a mini-scale. I was cheering on the birds as I’d take a million birds to one flying white bug. Like I said, I cannot describe the beauty of the birds as they flew around in a figure-8 without running into one another and feasting on those nasty little bugs.  I wish I had the ability to show you first or second hand thru print the incident.  Go birds!

So, its Wednesday. We had no power until somewhere around 1: am the next day…today. So tonight is the “welcome to the district/early by one day thanksgiving dinner.” My rolls collapsed and we ate all the eggs last night waiting to eat real food. We went to a place called Ocean Basket and had overpriced fish dinners. I, for one at least, will not eat there again. Not so hot.L

For the rest of the info of my life see the captions for the badly taken but at least taken photos.



This is Kombicillae. ES baptized her on a hot, hot Sunday after church in KaNyamazone. The stairs you can see in the background go into the small build-it-when-you-need-it baptismal font. As you can tell we are all outside. The other white people in the pix are the Swans. There were 72 people attending Kombi's baptism. Great baptism and super good attendance. You would have thought we were in the States...except for the attendance part. Never have I been to a 72 people in attendance baptism.

Another guy was also baptized.

this is a home of some investigators the elders and ES were teaching. They are all interested but they are also the children of a polygamist. The Elders are checking into the circumstances of whether they can be baptized or not... Mom probably not and she is most interested... We really don't know what the church's policy is but we're checking. It is quite legal here.

This is Lebogang who is also being taught. He lives in Hazyview or at least near there. This is outside his apartment... They taught outside as he doesn't have any windows.

Another view.

And his view of his beautiful area.

a waitress that was very friendly. she told us she was in training and that if she had one complaint she would be let go. This was right after ES said, "I'm a little upset!" "Why?" "Because you haven't given me anything to complain about!" Tee Hee Hee! Only she didn't think it was very funny. In fact she sighed hugely!

This is the family the Elders went to rescue. They were stranded without gas and food or a place to stay. Its too long a story of how they got the Elders phone number and ended up in Nelspruit but needless to say, the Elders put them in touch with our Branch President who called their Branch President and etc., etc. They were at church on Sunday. We don't know if they plan to stay. He is out of work and looking for jobs in the mines.

This is Callisto and this is the cul-de-sac where he lives. His home is the one on the left side of the pix. Just below ES's thumb. It was quite warm but only got worse when we went inside.

The smiling guys.



These are views of the inside of Callisto's home. The walls are tin and wood and yes, you do see newspapers stuck in between the spaces. Ceiling is tin and the floor is almost lino... its actually an oil cloth that he has spread out. He is very fortunate as he has a window. I was sitting in front of the window. His kitchen is behind him and ES was sitting on his bed. This is a man who used to live in Zimbabwe with his wife and baby in a real house. He was a journalist and a journalism and media teacher in school. It was because of his job that he lost everything he had. He had to come to SA to work as a chip fryer. Nice man and very faithful. When I see this I have to remind myself not to confuse poverty with unhappiness. You can see from his smile that Callisto is a very happy man. Made happier because he has found the "gaps in his soul." His words, not mine. I love this man and hope he can continue to progress for his sake and that of his family. We gave him an extra Book of Mormon to take to his wife in Zimbabwe next week when he goes home to see her.

This young man is begging. We are on our way to church on Sunday morning. He is wearing a Santa hat. Yes, he's standing on the center traffic line. His sign says that he is hungry. We think he is one of many who work for a "pimp" of sorts. Like Oliver...and what's his name. Usually, there are as many as 3 at this intersection, 4 at the other and 3 at yet another. All have similar signs and they seem to trade off. He got mad at ES because he took his photo. No such thing as stealth with ES... Well, the kid marched over to our car and demanded money for taking his photo. I gave him a 2 rand coin (.20) and he said it wasn't enough. We told him take it or leave it and drove off. Probably not going to get a referral out of that contact...