We are very excited to have two senior sisters joining us in the area office. Two Sundays ago we picked up Sister Ellen Lee and Sister Virginia Dolinar from the airport and brought them back to Dukes Court to settle them into their new life in South Africa. They are such great sisters and yesterday we took them on an outing.
We went to Lion's park where we saw the most sleepy, lazy lions you have ever imagined! What a change from the last time we were there when I got such amazing pictures. Really is was silly how little they showed off for these new sisters!Isn't this one just goofy?
We did have a chance to feed the giraffes and ostriches. Sister Lee just couldn't keep her hand out there when the giant tongue came stretching to retrieve the pellets she was holding. She could touch this baby one, but could not feed the big one. 
Sister Dolinar was much braver. She fed the giraffes happily and even allowed the ostrich to peck the food from her hand.
As we were leaving we stopped to take a picture by this blooming Jacaranda tree.They are all over and make such a lovely statement everywhere they stand.
There are so many of these beautiful trees and their lavender blossoms next to deep red bougainvillea bushes are amazing!
Next we headed to Pretoria which is called Jacaranda City to see more of the trees, and then to the Voortrekker Monument.
This is an amazing monument and museum dedicated to the early Dutch settlers who, like the Mormon Pioneers, experienced hardships and battles with natives while they were searching for a place to settle and worship in peace and for them, away from British dominance.Their experiences were not unlike our pioneers and their covered wagons, clothing, rag dolls, and other artifacts were almost identical. The fence around the monument is so striking.
This is a view of the blooming Jacaranda trees taken from the top of the monument (which is a huge building.)
It was such a nice spring day in South Africa and we are so glad to be here.
5 comments:
Thank you for sharing. It's always so uplifting to read your blog entries and get caught up on the good things you are doing. You certainly will be missed.....
Love the beautiful trees! Boy "senior missionaries" sure has taken on a different meaning for me. You guys all look so young and beautiful. I think they should reconsider your titles.
Those trees are amazing! How fun to have new sisters to join you!
Thank you for sharing these pictures! I am married to Virginia Dolinar's son Bill. It's been fun to show these pictures to our kids. We have been trying to track down a regular mail address for Virginia. Wondered if you could steer us in the right direction. We've tried emailing her but I'm not sure that our emails are getting through. Thanks! Michelle
I love the jacaranda trees! They were my favorite in Southern California. When we lived there, I noticed that they were in full blossom in June so I always thought of it as Mother Nature's birthday present.
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