Mission Log

Weekly Update (The Late Sunday letter)

2009-12-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

It was a busy week for us last week beginning with finding a solution to a lingering problem that Elder Wells was having with what he thought was neuralgia. Just before we went to Mozambique on Nov 12 he asked for a blessing because he was feeling so much pain through his neck and face. Finally last Tuesday (Nov 24) he asked our resident missionary doctor to look at what appeared to be some scrapes on his back and the good doctor told him it was shingles! So that explained the painful problem that has been bothering him for weeks. He prescribed a medication (5 pills 4 times a day for 5 days) and told him he was a lucky man to have had that shingles shot before leaving the US or this would have been many times worse! He is now just about cleared up and feeling grateful.

Next, at the first of the week we received notice that our water would be shut off from Tuesday at 5:00 am till that afternoon at 3:30. Everyone put aside water in containers to be prepared, but our flat is on the first floor and we weren’t affected on Tuesday. Those on the 5th floor were, though. On Wednesday morning, however, our faucets dried up completely. Not a drop till late Thursday. We could wash and drink what we had stored, but toilet flushing was a dilemma. We went out to eat on Wednesday evening with another couple partly just to use the restroom. Then someone discovered on Thursday morning that there was a bore hole with water outside Dukes Court and we could fill up buckets to pour into the toilet and bingo, flushing was again possible. That made a nice difference.

Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, food was cleverly prepared and dishes washed with our stored water, and we had a lovely time at the Area Office with the Senior missionaries enjoying a delicious meal together under the big tent on the white house lawn. Sister Wells even participated in a musical number; a double quartet singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".

At the conclusion of the meal, Elder Packer announced that he had received word that the water was back on but we may not get it in our flats till about 10 p.m. It sure makes one realize how much we depend on the luxury of running water!

Friday was the office Christmas devotional. What a wonderful beginning to the Christmas season. The messages by the wives of the area presidency were meaningful and the musical numbers were beautifully executed. The offices have been adorned with paper poinsettias and wreathes and Christmas trees. The tables in the huge tent were beautifully decorated and the food was delicious.

On Saturday morning we did a little shopping and then went with a senior couple to a bird sanctuary and marveled at the astounding variety of exotic birds in all their brilliant colors, sizes and shapes.

These Lorakeets really worked over Elder Wells head.Here are some of the other birds that were so striking. The first one is a Scarlet Lorrie. I don't know the names of all the others, but they were so beautiful.

We enjoyed dinner with another couple that evening, then spent a little time polishing up our assignments for Sunday. Primary went well; then Elder Wells and I spoke in the combined 5th Sunday meeting about visiting and home teaching; then there was a meeting with the newly formed activities committee to prepare for our ward Christmas party on Dec 12. We oriented the chairman the week before and the bishop called a committee. Next there was a baptism of two of my best primary girls. We served cookies afterwards. This is Sihle and Thuli and their "Granny" whom they live with. No mothers.

Finally we a late lunch at the home of our DTA (director of temporal affairs) and his wife and son: Bob and Liz Cowan and Steven. The sisters were also invited and came with us, Sister Lee and Sister Dolinar.

A young dating couple Thabo and Sweetie were there also and we enjoyed learning of their culture and stories and had such a nice time. There is still so much to learn and do here and just not enough time remaining to do it in. So sad. I suppose all missionaries feel this way at the end of their assigned time. But what an amazing time we have had here. What a blessing!!

We are now packing and going through files and cupboards, trying to get everything completed before Matt's arrival on Dec 11. Time is RACING!!! We must also.

Sunday Notes

2009-11-22T12:11:00.001-08:00

In Sacrament meeting we sit in front on the side facing forward with the primary children in front of us in rows that are facing to the center. We keep a good eye on them, and today before the meeting started the group on one row took my music picture book out of my box and the 6 of them were huddled together softly singing “Follow the Prophet”. I was just dying to take a picture of them but it didn’t feel right to do in the chapel. They really are so eager and innocent. I had to stop them when Fredrick got up to begin conducting.

I love those rascally children. This is Sister Mashishi last week teaching them. Because she promised she would not do this to me again, I was surprised in Primary today to find her absent. Yikes. But by coincidence (of course not) last night I thought maybe I would prepare the lesson in hopes that I could ask if I could teach today to give her an example of another way to present a lesson, using pictures, discussion, etc. Thank goodness I spent that time and gathered the pictures and was ready to go. I hadn't prepared a sharing time, though, so we did a good deal of singing.

The children are presenting talks now (not like what we see at home, but they are excited to do it and I see some progress). They are passing off their Articles of Faith (earning stars on their name tags), and singing like children possessed! (Especially with Popcorn Popping, Follow the Prophet, and I’m So Glad When Daddy Comes Home!) They love the activity songs, especially "On my head my hands I place." They are learning Christmas songs and today (because we had lots of time) after they sang everything they have ever learned plus some that they had never heard before, I had them draw pictures of what they think about when they think of Christmas. We played Christmas songs while they drew and one-by-one they came up to proudly show me what they had created. Remember, this is senior primary – 8 to nearly 12 year olds.

There were pictures of Christmas trees with lights and presents all around. Some showed snow falling. I asked if they had Christmas trees in their houses. They said no, and no one had ever seen snow. One girl drew a fireplace with stockings hanging there. I asked her if they hung stockings for Christmas. She said no. Of course there would be no fireplace either, and December is the hottest time of the year here. Some drew fireworks which they do for Christmas, quite a few drew Jesus and angels, one with angles blowing horns. Mpho drew a great Jesus in his red robe. When he showed me he apologized, pointing to the picture on the wall, saying, “I couldn’t do the rest of him.” You know the picture, showing only Christ’s face and shoulders- poor Mpho could only draw Jesus as far as his waist because there was nothing more to copy. Almost everyone gave their pictures to me and I love them, but my greatest treasure was from Khanyisile who wrote a letter decorated with hearts and a colorful boarder: “Dear Sister Wells, I love you more than words you can say and I wish you can stay here for long time you take us carefully that know one can be every care like you and teaching us about the Gospel you are the best teacher in here. From Khanyisile.” Now that one is worth framing! I kissed her on the cheek and gave her a teary hug of thanks.

I wish I could follow their progress as they grow. I hope they join the church and become like the Armies of Helaman that they sing about. I hope they Choose The Right Way And Be Happy and keep trying to be like Jesus. I hope they find worthy companions and marry in the temple and sing primary songs to their children as the church grows in Africa. But how will I ever know?

Morning Walking

2009-11-22T11:06:00.001-08:00

We have had the most cold and rainy week! Usually I love the rain here, and I find the thunder and noisy downpours really delightful. But this week it also brought cold temperatures that were surprising. It felt like we were back to winter, when we should be beginning summer. Still, the rain makes everything even more beautiful and it is hard to complain about that. We walk in the mornings with 3 other couples and this week we had to keep to the parking terrace of the Killarney Mall across the street. We circled that place for an hour each morning! Hopefully we can get back out on the sidewalks beginning tomorrow. During the months of October and November, our exercising took us out among the blooming Jacaranda trees and it was so enjoyable. Here we are one morning tossing the blossoms into the air. Sister Wells, Sister Butler, Sister Noll, and Sister Forsgren. The blossoms are at last fading and green leaves are filling out the trees, but I’m surely grateful to have experienced two Jacaranda seasons in Africa.

Black and White in South Africa: By Elder Wells

2009-11-18T12:23:00.001-08:00

We returned Saturday p.m. from a quick trip to Mozambique—zone conference, some counseling with missionaries, and consulting with the mission president and his sweetheart, Loren and Tina Spendlove, from St. George via Laverkin, Shanghai, and Mozambique. They are a wonderful younger couple (52 and 50) who served as CES missionaries in Mozambique just 13 months before.

My missive for today sounds like I’m speaking of racism—which I am just a little—but mostly about the incredible saints of the latter day. When we were last in Mozambique (January), we met an albino elder in Beira. Albinos suffer a great deal of persecution in Africa and this young convert to the Church was no exception. However, his pain and humiliation among his people served to give him an intense desire to know God. A humble, quiet young man, he is more thoroughly acquainted with the scriptures and prayer than many of us who have been taught from “Jesus wants me for a SUNBEAM!” to “Ye Elders of Israel.” In the last “transfer meeting,” which occurs every six weeks, President Spendlove surprised everyone by announcing that this elder was to take a place as a zone leader. Transfer meetings are a highlight in missionaries’ lives, lots of guessing about who will go where, with whom, and who will be called to lead. When this elder was called, he was absolutely stunned, and the zone erupted into magnificent, loving applause and backslapping. He cried a little and then every 15 minutes or so throughout the remainder of the meeting giggled quietly to himself in unbelief and joy. It makes me cry a little too, but that won’t surprise you.

The hot season is just beginning in Mozambique—humidity is high, no wind and the malaria mosquitos are beginning to proliferate. When we arrived at the chapel—a four-story downtown building with a large room for a chapel, district presidency offices, and the mission distribution office—we discovered that the president had left the plug converter at the mission home. So Sister Spendlove and Sister Wells raced back to retrieve it, because this entire meeting was to be broadcast via Skype to the rest of the mission. Without his Power Point presentation of the transfers and the ability to communicate via Skype, the president was in fear of being lynched by his missionaries in Beira and north. While we waited in 90 degree sauna “comfort,” the president asked that a missionary lead us in singing some hymns. Mozambique is a Portuguese-speaking mission, 101 missionaries strong with elders from Canada to Rexburg to Brazil to Cape Verde. So, there I am trying intently to look like I’m enjoying being a steamed vegetable when suddenly the missionaries begin booming “Far Far Away on Judea’s Plain" I was overcome. Here we were, most of us several thousands of miles from home, black, white, and in between in thundering unison singing glory to God. Once again I was so forcefully reminded that this is the greatest work in all the world. And to top it off, the song was written by a St. George pioneer, at a discouraging time in the colonization of Dixie. Like most of us he would never see Judea’s plains and couldn’t possibly imagine how many voices in how many languages would praise God through his inspired words.

We flew back to Johannesburg on Saturday p.m., grateful for a balmy afternoon and a few sprinkles of rain. This morning we were off to the Tembisa ward again, a black ward in the Tembisa township about 40 minutes away. Part of my “assignment” there is to help out as occasion requires with the Young Single Adults. Sister Mosala is our teacher, a registered nurse and relatively “old” convert, having been in the Church for nearly 20 years now. Our lesson was about “Every Member a Missionary,” as I expect yours was too. Sister Mosala is a strong Zulu woman who usually ends her statements with “Ne?,” meaning, “Are you with me?” She said it was hard in the beginning being in a Church where they only spoke English. As we talked about the need for having a friend in the Church, she talked about the first year or two she was a new member in the Kempton Park ward, while Apartheid was still in force. More than once white members told her that she didn’t belong in this Church, that there were churches for black people elsewhere. As blacks joined the Church, whites left it. In fact, when the ward was divided, most of the black members were naturally part of the new ward and were to attend the new building the next Sunday. During the week it was discovered that the building wouldn’t be ready on time and they were to return to Kempton Park. She said it was a great surprise and disappointment to the white members returning from inactivity to find the black members still coming to Kempton Park that Sunday.

But I digress. Sister Mosala talked about her friends in the Church, Bishop and Sister Fourie, a white couple who saved her spiritually. Sister Fourie would ask every week how she was doing, was there anything she could do? The bishop loved all the members, black and white. He was known as the Black Bishop because he loved the black saints so much. He persuaded Sister Mosala to give her first talk. Because it had to be in English, she practiced it for days, over and over again in the front of the mirror. She prayed with humility for the help of the Lord—and she opines now that it may have been the best talk she’s ever given. Bishop Fourie was so visibly pleased and moved by her message that she knew she belonged to the right church. Now 20 years later, Bishop Fourie’s wife is the stake Relief Society President, and Bishop Fourie, later President Fourie, is the stake patriarch. He serves in the temple whenever he can, and Sister Fourie is usually to be seen in the 7 a.m. session of the temple on Saturday mornings.

When Sister Mosala finished her story, she tried to describe how the Church has changed her life. As a young wife she sent her husband off one day to work, and he didn’t return. It was a very dangerous time for black men, not only because of racial tensions but because of crime in the CBD (central business district) where he worked. As days continued without finding him, she began searching in city morgues. Finally, after he had been gone fourteen days, she asked her home teachers for help. They went to the temple. When they returned, they told her that it had been made known to them that she should go back to the first morgue she had visited, that she would find him there. She did (and she bore testimony of her gratitude to the Lord for the blessing of finding her husband). Several years later she met and married Brother Mosala, our High Priest Group Leader now. Then she looked over our little group of YSAs, pointing out the now young adults she had taught as Primary children, now tall and strong in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They know they have a friend in the Church, Ne?

Another one of my heroes here is Brother Tyson, a silver-haired stocky little white man who has served the Church here for forty plus years from convert to bishop to stake presidency. He is now a sealer in the temple, serves as a high counselor in the Tembisa ward, and somehow is having to be sort of an interim elders’ quorum president in the ward for a period of time. He is quietly giving his whole life to the Church, always smiling, always anxious to build, whether in the temple or in this ward every Sunday now. He is so supportive of the ward, but he is blunt enough that he is building—with love and a twinkle in his smile—some discipline in the quorum. The brethren now know that when he teaches the lesson, they had better have read it, because he is going to ask them to stand up and talk about what they read. And I know from personal experience that he is as willing to be blunt with me as he is with the other brethren. We are brethren. Being a white senior missionary doesn’t (and shouldn’t) cut me any slack.

Black and White in Africa, children of God growing and learning to be brothers and sisters in His Family. I am grateful to be here.

Sunday letter (written on Monday morning, November 9).

2009-11-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning to thunder and pouring rain. Normally that would be something I love to see and hear but today is the Wright’s farewell that we have been preparing for and plans for our outside dinner party are looking grim. We have a couple of general authorities in town who will be attending with the area presidency and have arranged for nicer table decorations and food and really wanted it to be on the area office white house grounds, but it looks like it will be in the patron housing canteen instead. Oh Well.

It’s been a busy week for us trying to learn how to make a slide show with music to show at the party. Several calls to Jed who had to try to figure out how to counsel us on our PC when he is a Mac specialist, but he kept patient and helpful. Then on Friday when we were desperate about the music problem, I asked a young woman in the office who spent a couple of hours with me and worked it out, attaching the music to the pictures. Hooray! I keep going over it and changing out pictures, and each time I add one I have to delete one to make sure the timing it right. If it works, it is really nice, ending with a great shot from Elder Wright of a black sky and a crescent moon and the angel Moroni on the temple spire. Nice. Now if it will just work when we get it hooked up to the projector and push play.

Since the Wrights are leaving we have been trying to do some final things together and Dawn and I have been on several short week day outings on some final shopping trips as she picks up last minute things. Through all my flittings and our slide show fussing, Elder Wells continues to write to missionaries, phone them in the evenings and mornings, and counsel with local members who are continually being referred by their bishops and stake presidents. Also, it is not at all uncommon for one of the employees in the Area Office to drop by and ask to talk. He is such a good listener and counselor.

On Friday night we attended a dance performance with the Wrights which included dinner before the show. It was very authentic and well done. The dancing and drumming were amazing. They leave on Thursday, the same day we go to Mozambique so we can’t take them to the airport. It has been a nice friendship and we will miss them. Their replacements are already here and will move in while we are gone over the weekend. It won’t be the same without the Wrights next door, though, so it’s probably good that we are soon to depart as well.

A sadness last Sunday. After primary I discovered that my camera was missing. We went back into the primary room looking, but it was not to be found. I went to the bishop’s office and found Fredrick who was so upset as well, and then we just left. Knowing that one of the children had taken it was so devastating for me. We talked to Fredrick later on in the evening and he assured us he would track it down. Monday evening he called and said he had the camera and would bring it to the office the next day. He sat with us and told us about his experience with the young culprit and we are grateful for his handling of the situation. He was very firm but gentle with her and wants to teach her and protect her from future trouble. (It seems she also took the camera of one of the Elders a week or so ago and it was also discovered and returned). The little girl didn’t come to primary yesterday, but I hope she will come back in the future. One comical aspect is that she took a picture of herself so I have that on the camera. Funny but sad.

We love Fredrick. He conducted the baptisms yesterday and did such a nice job. One of my primary children, Nomatemba, who is about 10, maybe, and her mother were baptized along with 3 young men.

I had baked cookies but didn’t know about the young men (or the mother) who were to be baptized and was surprised to find many people attending the service. (Did I have enough cookies???)
A young men’s chorus sang, and family members of the candidates were gathered as well. In fact it was most interesting to hear the non members chanting and witnessing (Yes! Amen! Holy Jesus! ) as the testimonies were given after the baptism. Fredrick is so gentle and insightful and asked the newly baptized members to share their feelings and also their plans for the future, especially the future mission plans of the young men. Then he called little Nomatemba up and asked her what she would like to say to her mother. She thanked her and told her that she loved her and assured her that they would remain faithful together. In her testimony she said that she would follow the teachings of the gospel and prophets and not go astray. (Could I have helped with that by teaching that song?) More sweet things were said that I wish I had written down, but there were many tears, especially when the tough and joking young men became very serious and thanked their grandmothers or mothers for their lives of service to them and recognized publically what coming into the church really meant to them. Fredrick was there to stand beside them and hand them strips of toilet paper to wipe their eyes.
The meeting was very nice and very long and we didn’t get home till about 3:30. I was up at 5:30 to put cookies in the oven and was blessed by a great visit with Carrie and Eric on Skype before leaving the flat at 8:00 am. The primary president was there and we are trying to learn to work together. I need to pull out and she seems to be ready to get back into the program. Anyway, we were tired when we got home but have the feeling that Tembisa Ward is making progress. We have gotten ourselves in for a little trouble, though, offering help for a Christmas activity on the 12th of December, the day after Matt arrives. We were supposed to orient the newly called activities chairman (they have never before had one) but she was not there. We need to just teach her and let her handle it, but can that happen? We don’t know.

Well, since I have been sitting here writing, the rain has stopped and the sun is shining. A little hope for a pleasant outside event has sprung up again. Also, Dad is now ready to leave and I am not at all ready. But what a good feeling to get this written down. Our days are short now, but as always we are grateful to be here in Africa. So glad we came.

Tough Times in South Africa

2009-10-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

It’s been a hard week or two for Elder Wells. Some very difficult issues have been presented by several of the mission presidents requiring some serious counseling with presidents as well as missionaries. Over the week end the phone and Skype lines were kept busy with calls to and from Salt Lake. This morning I caught him reading this book, Hold on to Hope.

I tried to encourage him by handing him this one: Gifts of Self Esteem "You are doing fine, Elder. It's just one of those difficult periods in your life."

Then to make matters worse, neither of us could get onto the internet to get started on the day. Several others of the missionaries were wandering around visiting with one another and waiting for access to the net since most of the work that is done in many of the areas is by internet. Finally the word of explanation came from Dudley our CSR (computer service representative). It seems that someone had cut and stolen the Telecom internet cable leading from the ground to the top of the telephone pole on the office grounds. There is a market for the colorful cable wires so it is not uncommon to have such thefts. Dudley said ours were stolen once before about 3 years ago. Often these telephone wires are made into baskets and sold in craft markets. It is not uncommon to see a sign claiming: "These baskets were not made using stolen wire."

So people did what they could for a while at the office, then just went home. We don’t know if it will be repaired by tomorrow, but if not, we may just hang around the flat and see what we can do from here. What a funny place we are living in. TIA. This is Africa!

A P- Day Outing With the New Senior Sister Missionaries

2009-10-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

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.

Successful Primary Program

2009-10-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

While you were all sleeping over there, the Tembisa Ward Primary children presented a most remarkable sacrament meeting presentation to the members of their ward. Elder Wells and I could not have been more proud of them. I gave out the parts the week before conference and by the time we met again most of them had them memorized. That may not sound remarkable to you, but most of the children are not members and we have no talks during primary so they really haven’t had much experience. We met for a practice yesterday, Saturday, and a few were missing, but still a good turnout. We had 19 speaking parts and only one or two, who I think may struggle with English or reading maybe, had a little trouble, but the others were confident and had their parts learned. There were a zillion details to think about without really anyone to counsel with (except my great companion) and it’s been a good challenge for the aging brain to put it all together. But today those beautiful children really pulled it off. The bishop and counselor over primary were very impressed with them, practically overwhelmed, in fact, and the children were pleased with themselves, too. The bishop told them that as he listened to them speak and sing he could see them as the future Bishops, Elders Quorum presidents, Relief Society presidents and leaders of the church. He would be an old man then listening to them then, and he would be glad. He was quite emotional and it was very sweet. Sadly, none of the primary presidency was there to see the children perform.

Primary time itself, however, was pure chaos. It was kind of like Halloween afternoon in an elementary school room. There were so many children in that tiny room and not enough chairs and Sister Mabasa who usually takes the little ones wasn’t there so we had them with us also. Elder Wells stayed with me and did a great story of Amalickiah and Moroni with props – a walking stick with a piece of sheet attached on which he had written Moroni’s title of liberty – he even used children as actors, but oh my, to keep their attention was something else.

We passed off a few articles of faith, did several action songs, even taught them popcorn popping. Finally I put my lesson plans aside and passed out paper and crayons and had them go at it. We took a break to take all 30 of them outside for a cookie, and a picture or two, then back in for a closing of sorts. I made each one a coloring book with pages telling what we had studied thus far this year, and enclosed a small bag of crayons as a thank you gift for their hard work which we gave out at end.

I am so pleased that due to the effort to put this program together we have also made great progress in learning their names and even managing to pronounce them relatively well. For the past couple of weeks Elder Wells has taken each child to the back of the room and snapped his/her picture holding a quickly written name tag while I was getting set up for primary. Every week there are new or different children so I now have seven laminated picture cards each showing 4 children that I can refer to. Today as I sat in front of them in the chapel I could actually silently name almost all of them. Amazing! In the beginning I could not remember their names from the time they told them to me till the next minute. The names were so foreign to my ear. But now I’m actually calling them by name during primary. (Of course the name tags hanging around their necks do help.)

I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work so intensely with these wonderful children and come to love each one. I am greeted every week by 5 or 10 children who have already set up the chairs and who give me hugs and take my things and begin setting up the CD player and putting up pictures from my bag, and whatever else they can find to do to help me get ready for primary. They have learned the familiar things that we do to get ready and they want to be a part of it. Then we go to Sacrament meeting. They sit in front in the rows facing center, Elder Wells and I sit next to them in the first row facing forward looking at them. Generally two or three come to sit with us. It is a happy time.

Today two more children told me they will be baptized in November, and the missionaries told me that several more will be baptized on December 20th which will be our last day to attend the Tembisa ward. And the most special bonus of all, Matt will be there with us to be part of it. Wonderful!!!

This is my favorite ever picture so far. As soon as they see the camera come out they pose so last week I decided to put my face into the shot as well. Aren't we a happy bunch? You can see the picture cards I'm using to learn their names. Nyiko is next to me then Sesi (a young woman just there to help), Bennert is smiley in middle, Tabelo on left, then Morena, then Daniel on right. (These are some of the easier names!)

Baptism Day at Temibisa

2009-09-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

It seems I only blog about Primary these days although there have been several trips and interesting experiences since my last posting that I just haven't been able to get to. But today really was special and I wanted to share. Two of my primary children were baptized and it was such a special occasion. Last week in primary the little girl, Katleho, invited me to give a talk at her baptism the next week. I was so excited and I was very honored because this is our first Primary baptism since we have been attending Tembisa. I later learned that her brother, Mpho, was also to be baptised that day. These two are such great children. I found with talking to the missionaries during the week that they are not really sibling, but cousins. Katleho lives with Mpho and his mother. Also I learned that Mpho is 12 and Katleho is 11 so it was considered a convert baptism. The missionaries have been teaching them and I knew nothing about it.

I knew it would be a hectic day because I would have primary to myself again (But Elder Wells came in to help me, thankfully) and I needed to give out the parts for the primary program. Since we are never sure who will be at primary, I had to change some of the names on the parts I had written and give them to the children who were there today. It was a crazy time sorting it all out. In the meantime I had Elder Wells taking a picture of each child holding a name tag so that I can keep trying to learn their names and connect them with those beautiful faces. (Pronouncing the names is another story!)

I baked all morning Saturday to make refreshments and spent the rest of the day preparing the visuals for the talk on Baptism that I would give. During Primary I asked the children to stay if they could and sing a baptism song during the service and they were willing. It was such fun to have a part in making this a good day for Mpho and Katleho and to have the other chldren be a part of it all. Here are a few who were having a cookie after the baptism.

Here are Katleho, Mpho, and their mother. So beautiful! It really was a lovely experience and I'm so glad to have been a part of this important occasion!

Primary at Tembisa

2009-08-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

Another day of doing primary solo. I don’t think I will ever understand how the presidency can just not come to primary and not tell anyone they won't be there. Oh well.

Elder Wells and I spoke in Sacrament meeting and because I was working on that, I didn’t spend the necessary time preparing anything new for primary than I had done last week (which I did solo, also). I just decided I would hope for some member of the presidency to show up and if not I would wing it with sharing time and keep working on the songs for the program.

For some reason, today there were more children attending than we have had for many weeks. Well, with a room full of children and no one else prepared I tried my best. We had a sharing time and sang some, but they were just restless, so about ½ hour into it I pulled out the crayons and paper and set them to work on drawing. Anything that had to do with the temple or their families would be great, I told them. They had a good time and I have some nice art to prove it (they gave them all to me to keep.)

I decided to take pictures of them while they were busy and as soon as they saw the camera they were jumping in front of the lens or calling out, “Ma’am, ma’am,” and smiling at me. By 11:25 I sent them all out for a toilet break (customary here) and moved the chairs into a circle. Elder Wells came by and I invited him in for the last half hour. When they came back they sang a few songs for him (they sang so well!) and then we told them some pioneer stories.

We all had a good time, but it was a little unusual. The sister in the picture with me is the counselor who is so faithful in attending – she never misses – but her responsibility as she understands it is really just to take the nursery children out and tend them half way through primary.

Anyway here are some pictures of these super little primary children. It is sweet to see what good care they take of their younger siblings. Not all of these children have families that come to church with them. Some come on their own or come with another child as a friend.

And here are their names as they wrote them on their pictures: (The e on the end sounds almost like a long A. Th says T, ph says P)
Katleho, Mpho, Nyiko, Siphiwe, Thapelo, Sanele Ngcobo, Thuli Mauimbelo, Letho, Bennert, Mosipho Ndonewe, Sabelo, Sibusiso, Tato, and Buhle.

Lots of Changes Around Here

2009-07-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

Last week brought some noticeable changes for us. We went for a walk one day at lunch time up the hill to the bench by the temple and SURPRISE! Flowers were blooming all along the path. The sun warmed us and the flowers brought hope for the end of the cool weather.

These days it is feeling much like it did when we arrived a year ago, July 21st. We know we can handle the rest - we know what to expect. Weather-wise at least.

The next big change came when we arrived at the office one morning and found a new car parked in our parking spot. We really have liked our little blue Kia, but it was time, I guess, for the trade in, so here we are, suffering with a brand new Nissan Tiida. It is larger than the Kia, though, and somewhat of a challenge to park in the office parking terrace. But Elder Wells is doing great and beginning to like the new wheels. (I'm still not driving. Call me chicken if you want to.)

Here we are as we picked up the car from the washing bay. The next picture is in our parking garage at Dukes Court. I don't know if I told you that we were given a new parking stall that is so easy to get in and out of. We are very grateful. The first one was so tight!

Check out the license plate. Y Jr. I may be able to remember this one. Go BYU! The GP stants for Gauteng Provence

Prayer, Faith, and Endurance

2009-07-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Dad wrote about the Sacrament meeting at the Joburg Ward last week and I wanted to share a portion of the Sunday School lesson that impressed me from that day. Our teacher was a sister from Zimbabwe. The lesson was from D&C 101. She had been teaching about the persecution and trials and faith of the early saints. The African saints are very inspired by the pioneers. They know the stories and have deep regard for them and the hardships they endured.

Then she shared a personal experience. She said that as a child in Zimbabwe her family believed in God, although they were not members of the LDS church. When she was about 17, word came that soldiers were coming to her village to burn and destroy it and kill all the people. The frightened villagers fled their homes immediately. She and her family walked through the night and were aware that the soldiers were following them. They decided to hide in the brush and pray for protection. The soldiers stopped and made a little camp right where she and her family were hiding. The soldiers sat and ate, talking together for some time. She said that one man even came to relieve himself just feet from where she was hiding. He did not see her. After a time the soldiers left and the family remained in hiding until morning. When they left their hiding places they looked around at how open the area was and how easily they could have been seen but they not been discovered. They believed that they had been protected by God so that the soldiers could not find them.

She reminded us of the story of the little girls who saved the pages from the Book of Commandments and hid in the corn field. She asked, “Do you think that it would really be possible to hide a corn field and not be found when someone was searching for you?” Just as those little girls were protected by God, she believes that she and her family were protected from being discovered by the soldiers.

Then she then shared her admiration for the early Saints and the trials they had to endure. “We have trials but nothing like they had. We must be as faithful as they were.”

I thought again how little I can comprehend what these good people have endured in the past and even though I think they have difficult lives (certainly compared to my own) they frequently express sorrow for those who are experiencing hardships.

A meaningful Sunday School lesson for me and once again a reminder of the admiration I feel for those who are members here and throughout Africa.

Durban Trip and JoBurg 2nd Ward (19 July 2009)

2009-07-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

THOUGHTS FROM ELDER WELLS

This week we traveled to Durban again for an all-zone conference with the 125 or so missionaries of the South Africa Durban Mission. Sister Wells and I presented a workshop on coping with stress, and I visited with six missionaries to touch base on how they are coming along.

Fourteen of the total missionary group (7 couples) are senior missionaries, retired men and women from Seattle or Laramie or Indianapolis or St. George, who work in the far flung branches and “twigs” of the Durban Mission. Some are “employment” missionaries whose entire time is spend helping people learn how to get—and keep—jobs, some in PEF (Perpetual Education Fund) where they qualify and then make loans to young people to be able to afford an advanced education (you and I have donated to that fund to make it possible), some in Humanitarian Services where they seek out projects simply to bless people’s lives with wheel chairs, measles inoculation projects, or funding of drilling of wells in rural areas. And some are proselyting missionaries who work with the young missionaries and growing Church membership in townships and villages.

The remainder of the missionaries are, of course, young men ages 19 to 26 from the US, other parts of Africa, or other parts of the world. It is so fascinating to see these young men from so many different countries and cultures so glad to see each other, slapping backs, hugging each other, wanting to put their arms around just about everyone there.
They have a great love for their peer leaders, black and white. When we were here last, Elder Schlenker was the assistant; he is going home next week. The assistant this time is Elder Nan’gilla, a handsome reserved missionary from Kenya. A year ago, about 80% of the young missionaries were white; now 80% are black elders, many of whom have been in the Church for just a few years. They are all great young men, and one can sense that the leadership training they receive here will be just a first step in a life of service in the Church in Africa. I counseled with a young elder from Madagascar earlier in the day. I had such a strong feeling that his struggles were being watched over by the Lord because he is to prepare to be a lifelong servant of the Lord among his people. I felt like a patriarch as I counseled with him, trying to tell him of the promises I could feel in him.

NOTES FROM OUR SUNDAY MEETING
We returned home to Johannesburg quite late; consequently, by the time we were up it was too late to attend the Tembisa ward, our township ward about 40 minutes drive away. (If I understand correctly, townships are communities that have come into being because people have simply squatted on the land, beginning as shanty towns made of corrugated tin and salvaged wood.

Over time people have built houses there, but corners of the community continue to grow up from shanty towns because there are so many thousands of refugees who have fled their own war torn countries.)

The homes around the Tembisa Ward are mostly on this order. After the rough bricking, they are covered with stucco and painted. Many never quite get to that completed stage.

So, we went with Elder and Sister Wright back to the Johannesburg 2nd Ward, a ward we served in until January of this year. The Johannesburg ward (recently divided into JoBurg 1st and 2nd) is the central city ward area, probably the oldest ward in the city and has a large number of refugees from other countries.

Today the young missionaries and the bishop spoke.
Elder Mashashishi, a quiet unprepossessing elder by looks gave one of the best missionary talks I have ever heard.

My notes: Brothers and Sisters, I congratulate you for being here this morning so early. How many who should be here are still sleeping? They say, “We have to work every other day. It is our only day to catch up on our sleep, do our laundry, go shopping, etc." That may all be true. But when are they going to worship the Lord? What will their lives be like if they only work and sleep and do laundry and never learn to know God? Jeremiah 16 tells us that he will choose fishers of men and hunters of men who will gather them to Him. I am here to hunt people, to help them know the truth. Where are the Lord’s hunters? You, too, are to be His hunters and fishers. How are people going to learn the truth if you don’t share it? If you learn the truth and then preserve it only for yourself, you will be as the servant given the one talent who buried it in the ground. The Lord will take away that which you have and give it to someone else who will magnify his talents.

My Brothers and Sisters, I urge you to do your part. If you invite only one person a week to come to church with you, you will see how God will strengthen your life. I am here to say the truth. I don’t say what I want to say, and I don’t do what I want to do. I say what the Lord wants me to say. You, too, can say what He wants you to say.

Next, Elder Wendt from Wisconsin introduced himself, a missionary new to the ward. He talked about how, following the feeding of the five thousand, the Savior sent the disciples to cross the sea of Galilee while he remained by himself to pray. Part of what I took from the talk was the reminder that even the Savior needed time to rest, to be refreshed by his communion with the Father.

Then, in the night, the disciples who were on the water were struggling. The Savior was on the hillside and saw that they were in need of help. They couldn't see him and didn't know he was watching. But he left the mountain and went to them to give them aid and comfort. He walked upon the sea to reach them. In other words, our Savior’s eyes are always upon us. He can see our struggles and will come to us when it is expedient. And when he comes to us, he can come in ways we would not imagine. When he came to them, the wind ceased. When he comes to us the storm ceases. I believe with Elder Wendt that the Savior is watching over us. He knows when we need him, and he will come to succor us, often in ways we do not expect, and often in ways we may not recognize.

Bishop Thlothlo, a young bishop with two small children, talked of the atonement and the grace of the Savior.

(Bishop Thlotho, left, JoBurg 2nd Ward, and Bishop Mulombo, 1st Ward)

(From Alma 7) The Savior has suffered the pains and sicknesses of His people. He has felt it. He has taken upon Himself all our afflictions that He might know how to comfort you and me. The Savior is calling for us to come to Him. Go to the Savior with your pains, Brothers and Sisters.

He told a story of a sister missionary who served with him who sent a letter to their mission president, her usual weekly letter. She told of how she and her companion, in complete obedience, prepared for a day of searching out inactive sisters. They worked and walked all day and found no one. Appointment after appointment fell through. At the end of the day, she felt that they had accomplished absolutely nothing. She was so discouraged and exhausted, she felt that she just couldn’t do what she knew she was supposed to do. And she knew they had planned to walk a long way out to another township to do the same thing the next day. As they walked home, she began to cry. She quietly told the Lord that she loved Him but that she just couldn’t do what He wanted her to do. As she walked and prayed, she suddenly saw herself kneeling before God telling Him of her love, but also of her lack of strength and ability. Then suddenly she saw and felt the Savior kneeling next to her. He said to Father in Heaven, “Father, I love her so much. I will make up for all that she can’t do.” With that strength she knew that she could do all things in Christ (Phillipians 4: 13).

Once more I have been taught in this great land by His Saints of this latter day. 2 Nephi 25:23 is true. I hope that I and each of you will have ears to hear.
Love, Dad

A Change in the Bishopric

2009-07-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

We were pleased today to have our Fredrick sustained as a counselor in the Tembisa Ward bishopric. The first counselor in his testimony said that Fredrick had been the missionary who converted him while serving as a missionary here in Johannesburg. He had attended Fredrick’s wedding and now was glad to be serving with him in the bishopric. Several others, including the bishop, spoke kind words supporting and sustaining Fredrick. Over the past months the ward clerk and the 2nd counselor have both been released and neither one replaced. Fredrick has been clerking, as well as serving as ward executive secretary. (And from our observation, just about everything else that needs to be done on any given Sunday.) He has been out of work since December, although has had part time temporary work with a member of our stake presidency this past month.

In his sweet testimony Fredrick said, “Sometimes when we feel we can’t do any more -- that our backs are against the wall and we feel like giving up -- Father in Heaven gives us even more. Others may think, ‘he is qualified for this calling. It is right for him to be given this calling since he was the executive secretary.’ But I only think of myself, that Heavenly Father needs to teach me more. This is just a change of responsibilities. Heavenly Father looks at the desires of our hearts in each calling. He only asks for a willing mind and a willing heart. . . . (He then testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the Church and the atonement of Christ ).
“. . . Heavenly Father knows each of us and what we go through. We are preparing ourselves to live with Him again. He is shaping and molding us to live in a celestial realm. As we live righteously the Lord will extend his hand and meet us half way. He knows and loves each one of us. . . .”

We were able to attend his setting apart and took some pictures afterwards. This is President Matsusso of the stake presidency, Fredrick and Olga Owour, Bishop Obed Nkambule, and the first counselor Brother Ungunta in front of Tembisa Ward, July 5, 2009.

Elder and Sister Wells with our favorite African son and his wife (our good Relief Society president) on this special day.

The Fourth of July in Johannesburg

2009-07-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is a 4th of July in Africa, but only the Americans celebrate it. We gathered for a barbeque at 3:00 but it was too cold to be outside so we met in the patron housing canteen. Here we are with our neighbors and friends, Dawn and Mike Wright.

The decorations were festive and the food great! Barbecued chicken, baked beans, a variety of salads, zucchini casserole (my contribution) and brownies, cookies, and apple and pecan pie. I was shocked to find some Campbells cream of chicken soup that morning at our little store and bought every can! (They were about $3 each and there weren't many. It was worth it to have that old home flavor!)
Later 10 of us met for a rousing evening of Mexican train (dominoes). Then, best of all, we were able to talk to Stef and Matt and Anita and some of the grandkids before we went to bed. Wow, what a day. Hope you all enjoyed your 4th as well.

Lingering Traditions

2009-06-29T05:39:00.000-07:00

A most unfortunate situation occurred here a week ago. Our young travel agent, Cali, who returned from a maternity leave in April has been having a difficult time recently. We counseled with her one day and found that she and her husband, Welcome, had been living in a small house in the back of his parents’ yard. There had been conflict with his mother who has a problem with alcohol and Cali left. She took her toddler and the new baby to stay with her grandmother in her home village and she had not returned to the house with Welcome, but was staying with an uncle. She and Welcome had not been able to work out the problem as of yet (longer story here that I won’t go into.)

On Friday morning, June 19, Cali got word that her 4 month old baby, Zinele, had died. She was, of course, devastated. She and Welcome have no cell phone so Elder and Sister Von Stetten, whose office is 2 doors away, volunteered to take her to Welcome to tell him. The parents’ house is in a township about 50 minutes from the office and there the couple embraced and cried together. They have no transportation, nor do his parents, so the Von Stettens, against all rules, offered to take the couple to the grandmother’s house, not knowing how far away that was. Welcome’s father also got into the car. They drove about 3 ½ hours to Limpopo province to a little village near Polokwane.

The plan was to take the baby back to JoBurg for a funeral. Unfortunately, the traditions of this family and tribe created a problem for the young parents. Evidently, Welcome, a returned missionary with no money, had not paid the Lobolo for Cali. The tradition says that no marriage is considered legitimate until the husband has paid a Labolo or Labola (a dowry). This is usually a gift of cattle to the bride’s family, to compensate for their loss. We heard that Welcome was required to pay 6 cows and 12,000 Rand -- about 30,000 Rand or 4,000-5,000 dollars when they married) and now the uncle would not let them take the baby. In fact he said that the baby would be buried in the side yard at 5:00 pm that very day. Cali had no choice but to yield to her dead mother’s brother and her grandmother and honor their demand and Welcome and his father had no say at all. Old traditions say that the rights of fatherhood are acquired through Lobola and if no cattle have been given, any child born of the union remains with the mother's family.

Elder Von Stetten asked Welcome to find out from the grandmother who spoke no English if they could participate in the service (feeling that a Priesthood holder should dedicate the grave). The uncle agreed. A few women from the village arrived and Cali’s aunt wrapped the infant in a blanket. The service began, Elder Von Stetten offered a prayed, dedicated the grave and then stepped back as they put a straw mat in the bottom of the one meter deep hole, and then laid the baby into the hole. He began to say a few words regarding the plan of salvation and that Cali would have a chance to raise the child in the next life when the uncle grabbed a shovel and after scooping up some dirt, he walked from family member to family member who each took a handful and threw the dirt on the infant below as they offered comments in their native tongue. He then began shoveling the dirt into the hole. During all of this, Cali was crying hard and was comforted by her aunts and her cousin. Welcome was weeping heavily and stood alone. No one from this family offered him comfort so Elder Von Stetten went to him and put his arms around him.

In a few minutes the village women left and the family disbursed. Then they were told that Cali would not be allowed to return to Johannesburg with them. She had to stay in the village for 10 days. Both Cali and Welcome were surprised. They met privately for about 20 minutes and then they came outside so she could say her goodbyes.

Quoting from Elder Von Stetten: “This was very emotional and very trying time for these two in many ways. For a young father to be separated from his wife and his other daughter for the next 10 days, and to do this on the day that he buried his youngest daughter seemed unnecessarily cruel. A time when they need each other the most, he was not permitted to stay. My own opinion is that Cali’s relatives were making him ‘pay’ on this day of grieving for his failure to comply with years ago.

“I believe that the church is going to struggle with this cultural demand for generations to come. Many of our members are first generation and the young men struggle when coming home from their missions to try to raise the Lobolo, while also trying to follow the counsel of their Mission Presidents to return with honor from their mission and get married, educated and have a family. Those that follow this guidance without meeting the Lobolo tradition can be subjected to very cruel and unkind treatment when a family situation like this one occurs. My heart goes out to those of our members who are caught, as Cali and Welcome Mnisi were, between the church’s teachings and also in showing the respect and honor that they are taught to have in abiding by the heritage. This is truly a cultural clash that will be a major challenge in Africa for many years to come.”

Follow up note July 6: Dad and I were certainly worried about Cali and had a chance to counsel with her when she returnd to the office. She had been able to return to JoBurg before the 10 days so that she could attend to her job, but she explained that she must return to the village again for a ceremony on Saturday (this past weekend) where Welcome's and Cali's families would gather together to eat and talk. Welcome's family must provide the goat to be slaughtered. This ceremony (?) is generally held 10 days after the death of the person but since Cali was employed they postponed it for her till the weekend.

We struggle to understand the tribal traditions and sympathize with the young church members who are torn between the church culture and those of their tribes and families.

A Most Shivering June

2009-06-29T04:48:00.000-07:00

It has been unpleasantly cold here this past week or two. I mean 0 Celsius in the mornings and that means 32 Fahrenheit! Today the computer told me that it was 34 degrees and added “feels like 27”. Now this is confusing since there are green leaves on the trees and flowers are still blooming. But with no central heat in the flats this is just plain cold for us.

You can see that some trees in the back have lost their leaves, but so many are still green and full. This is the view from our office window early this morning.

We bundle up to go into the office (shirt, sweater, jacket, coat)and when we get home we put on a couple of layers of shirts, (I wear my checked flannel shirt every single day), don our sweat suits and put a blanket over our legs when we sit down. Now we are tough and we can take it, but still, it gives us something to complain about. The day time temps get up to the 50’s and that’s not bad but still chilly.

This week, Thursday and Friday our heater evidently tripped our circuit breaker and would not be repaired so we were without power for a day, a night, and a day. Now that was uncomfortable. We got our candles and lanterns out for the evening and bundled up and went to sleep early Thursday night. We still had hot water in our geyser (hot water tank) so we could shower, thank goodness. The Wrights were out of town so I went over there to dry and curl my hair. The electrician replaced the circuit breaker since we have had so much trouble with that, and we have been slowly heating the place back up since then.

I have to continually count my blessings, though, knowing that thousand of Africans are having to deal with the cold weather in tiny houses, some made of tin, with no electricity at all. There is a little group of homeless people who live under the street near here and in the mornings as we drive to the office we see them bundled up with a little fire burning and sitting in the sunshine trying to warm themselves.

My troubles are so insignificant. My blessings so great. A little cold weather is just that. I am grateful for the sunshine to warm them and cheer me in this beautiful place.

President Mutombo Returns Home

2009-06-28T13:14:00.000-07:00

President Mutombo (looks as though I have been spelling his name wrong all along) returned home to the DR Congo a couple of weeks ago wearing a few extra pounds and a new artificial eye making him look very handsome.

He was such a dear man and we so enjoyed having him with us. He was in Johannesburg and away from his family for 6 weeks. It was wonderful how much his English improved while he was here also. At first we could hardly communicate with him (he speaks and teaches French) but in the end we only struggled occasionally to find the right words to explain ourselves.

When he told us his conversion story he became so animated and said when he thought about it he still got that same excited feeling he felt when he first found the gospel. He was all smiles as he recounted his story and I was taking notes like crazy.

I made copies of all the pictures of our adventures together so that he could take them back to show his family to tell of his Johannesburg activities. Here are a couple from the day we spent at the Johannesburg Zoo.

Elder Wells and Pres Mutombo are comparing pieces of thick, dry skins from elephant, rhino, and hippo.

The fellows are enjoying the antics of a big grey elephant across the way.

President Mutombo asked for a copy of our family picture and upon his return he sent a picture of his family to show us. What a very handsome group, don’t you think? And doesn’t he look well? His oldest son, far right, is preparing to serve a mission right away. His first born is a daughter, back row on left. The youngest is just 3.

Here is his note:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Dear Elder and Sister Well,
It is a pleasure when ever I think of off. I here by just attach my family picture for you.
This was the first Sunday I attended church meeting in my ward, last Sunday.What a pleasure to be back home with family after a successfull traitement in Johannesburg!
Best regards
Pdt Mutombo

We appreciate the faithful African Saints and consider our acquaintance with this good man a great blessing.

Kenya Saints Attend the Temple

2009-06-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

Elder and Sister Bishop from the Kenya mission brought two families to the temple this week. The Bishops have served nearly 2 years in Kenya and will complete their mission in 2 weeks. This is their fourth temple trip with members.

Sister Bishop told me that these good families live about a two and a half hour drive from Nairobi. They live in mud huts with no electricity or running water. The women cook over fire stoves and much of their time is spent in cooking and caring for the needs of their families.

Both of the mothers are named Agnes. Isn't that nice?

Fathers, Brother Mutiso and Brother Kasere.

They walk over an hour to church in a very hilly region of Kenya so going both ways it is a difficult task every Sunday. There about 80 people in their branch and the members say that there are many others who would be active if they didn’t have to walk so far on Sundays. They are hoping to have a building built nearer to them and it is in the process of being approved. This building would be only about a 15 minute walk for them and they are very hopeful that it will all go through.

This is Fredrick and Agnes Kasere and their children.

Spending a few minutes looking at the fish in the pond on this beautiful sunny day.

In the family below the father (far right) is named Bonface Makau Mutiso. The custom is that his children go by the name of Makau which is the father’s middle name. He told me that it is very difficult to find work in Kenya but that he plants vegetables and sells them. He pointed to the sky and said, “This is the work that Heavenly Father has given me.” This family came to the temple to be sealed together before their son departs for his mission. Today the administrative director of the MTC, Brother Moake, arrived to take the good young missionary, Dominic, (far left) away to begin his adventure. He will be serving in the Cape Town Mission.

Brother Moake handed the young man his name badges and invited his younger brother (age 17) to do the honors. One was placed on his shirt, the other on his brand new suit jacket!

After he was officially tagged he said his good-byes to his mother (seated in gold blouse) and father, siblings and friends.

Elder Makau, his father, and younger brother age 17.
Brother Moake escourted Elder Makow to the MTC van and he was whisked away! (our office window is the dark one directly above the elder's head)

What a wonderful occasion for this good family and a powerful example for all the children who were watching.

P- Day Outing

2009-05-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

We had an enjoyable afternoon on our P-Day, Saturday, May 23rd. We took our visiting Elder Manwill and President Mtombo for an adventure at the Lion Park! It was sunny and warm and just a beautiful day. Here are the mighty missionaries meeting face to face with a couple of friendly giraffes before heading out on the game drive.

Elder Wells is trying a little American psychology on this one. Just tell me your troubles. You can trust me.

Kind of a strange feeling to have them lick the food off my hands. I'm standing on a high platform.

President Mtombo is here in Johannesburg recuperating from eye surgury where one eye had been so badly damaged by infection that it had to be removed. His other eye is being treated and he must remain here another 3 or 4 weeks. He is from the DR Congo and is in the stake presidency there, having been in the church for 14 years. He has seven children, the youngest just 3 years old. He is a French teacher at home and speaks a little English, but Elder Manwill speaks French and has been so helpful and kind to him. They have been sharing the medical flat here.

When we entered the president was wearing Elder Manwill's sunglasses and seeing his cane they didn't charge admission for him and even gave him special treatment in the cub den.

President Mtombo can see a little and when we were feeding the giraffes and ostriches I asked him if he would like to try feeding them and he said yes. We moved him toward the giraffe and put some pellets in his hand and he was so delighted to be that close to a giraffe and feel his tongue on his hand.

And speaking of tongues . . . Elder Wells is making it easy for the big guy.

When we had the president feed the ostrich he was a little unsure. He thought it was a very big turkey!

It was just such a pleasure to see that good brother enjoying himself so far from his home and family and having just dealt with such a tragic loss of sight. He is optimistic and cheerful and ever grateful for all that he has.

It was a good day of play and resting for our good Elder Manwill as well.

We saw some majestic lions later on as we drove through the lion camps. Here are a couple of my favorites.

It was just another lovely Saturday. In Africa! With lions and giraffes!

Mission Presidents' Conference

2009-05-21T05:29:00.000-07:00

Elder Wells and I were very fortunate to be invited to the Mission President’s Interim Conference Monday May 11 through Friday May 15 in Zambia near Victoria Falls. The conference is a chance for the mission presidents and wives to get together and share ideas and suggestions with one another about what they are doing in their various missions. They also receive counsel and teaching from the area presidency.

Arriving at the airport in Livingstone, Zambia.

The missions we serve are Cape Town, DR Congo, Durban, Johannesburg, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. We have been to all the missions except DR Congo, Zimbabwe, and Cape Town (we were to go to Cape Town when Elder Wells made his trip to Utah in April). Hopefully we will still have a chance to go to those areas before we finish.

We were greeted at the hotel by some happy warriors drumming and chanting . Of course I had to take part.

Elder Wells and I, the mental health advisers, and Elder and Sister Heap, the medical advisers, were invited to the conference to present to both the Presidents and to the wives in the meetings on Tuesday.

They put Elder Wells to work right away counseling with President Taylor of the Kenya mission.

These people work so hard and are so full of energy it is just inspiring to be around them. Well, usually they are full of energy. This is sleepy President Christensen of Uganda. Do you think he needed this little break from missionary worries?

Four of the nine presidents are headed home this July as well as our Area President and wife, Elder and Sister Parmley who have been here in Johannesburg for 5 years!

The Mission Presidents’ wives composed and sang a clever farewell song to Sister Parmley.

President and Sister Taylor, Kenya, and President and Sister Mann, Durban and Elder Wells at dinner.

This sign was at the pond by our hotel. Would that worry you? "Please Beware of Crocodiles."

You can see the spray rising high into the air behind us even though Victoria Falls is a mile away.

Africa is a land of many wonders and Victoria Falls is an impressive sight! Here we are with President and Sister Probst of the Cape Town Mission.

We walked across a bridge where Zambia and Zimbabwe meet. We didn’t have a visa for Zimbabwe so we couldn’t enter.

This monkey jumped right up on our table and stole Sister Probst’ roll – twice! He was so fast!

Another glorious African sunset. We are so seldom out in the evening that each sunset we witness is a bonus blessing!

We saw many animals, especially elephants, on a river cruise and on a short land drive as well. It was a wonderful chance to see Victoria Falls and to mingle with such good people and hear them teach one another and share their testimonies.

We are truly blessed by every new experience we encounter, most especially by knowing and associating with men and women who are dedicated to serving the Lord in whatever calling they are asked to fulfill.

A Fall Afternoon in Johannesburg

2009-05-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

One day we had our minds full of a big presentation we were trying to put together and so we went to the Botanical Garden for a “walk and talk”.

Besides, we wanted to experience a little of the beauties of autumn in Johannesburg.
We spend so much time indoors that we needed an afternoon outside in the fresh air.

We saw all these acorns on the ground but could not figure out where they were coming from. Then we found the sign on the tree that said this is an oak tree. You couldn't tell it from the leaves, could you?

And how about that happy face having just learned something new ?

Another tree that we were fascinated with was this long needled pine. Much like a Ponderosa. The trees are tall and just full of needles draping the ends of their branches.

This park is such a beautiful place. It is so calming and healthy for us to go there. We should go more often.

It gets dark early these days and we chanced to capture this lovely sky and then a magnificent African sunset just as we were leaving.

What a nice ending to our walk in park.

Dukes Court Helping Hands

2009-05-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

The missionaries living at Dukes Court – about 25 couples – some who work in the area office and some who are temple missionaries, organized ourselves and had a mini Mormon Helping Hands day. We put on our work clothes, gathered up brooms, shovels, and other tools and set to work sprucing up our apartment grounds. This is a very old building and was in need of a little TLC. We accomplished a great deal in a short period of time and had a chance for some good visiting as we worked along side one another to beautify our environment.

The Little Red Buckets

2009-04-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

One day we stopped for gas outside of town and I saw these 3 red buckets hanging there at the station. Just had to snap a picture thinking of the book, “The Little Red Buckets.” Remember it?

Back to JoBurg

2009-04-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Elder Wells is on his way back. I talked to him Monday afternoon, then Tuesday morning at 5:00 am as he was on his way to the airport in SLC, and again when he landed in Atlanta at 1:00. In about 9 hours he’ll touch down on African soil again. (But who’s counting?) We just need to get that fellow back to work, that’s all.
Elder Shelley from England and Elder Kintu from Uganda with Elder Wells.

African Game Drive

2009-04-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

We have had two opportunities to visit a game preserve about 5 hours away called Madikwe.
This is a bush camp (Mosethla) without electricity but with very adequate accommodations including do-it-yourself hot water for warm showers.

The cabins are on stilts and contain comfortable twin beds.

The bathroom facilities (down the path a ways) are clean and cleverly presented.

You get hot water by pouring ½ bucket of cold water into the top of this stove and hot water comes out the spout on the side. Presto. You pour the hot water into the remaining cold in the bucket and there is your warm water for the shower.
There are two four hour game drives each day. Guests are awakened at 5:30 for the 6 am drive. The evening drive starts at 4 pm. The first time we went was in October (summer) and it was so hot. This time, on a national holiday in April, we went again. The sleeping was perfect, but the drives were quite cold. Especially in the morning and after the sun went down in the evening. We traveled in this vehicle and when going fast we were bundled under blankets!

Our driver both times was named Patrick. He tried very hard to help us see the “Big Five” -- Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo, and Leopard. We saw many others as well. These are just a few.

It is hard to believe that we could drive right up to these animals and take their pictures.
In fact I marvel continually that we are living here and serving and experiencing Africa. Amazing!

Fall in Johannesburg

2009-04-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

The other Sunday after church we went on a little outing with our firends, the Wrights, to the Botanical Gardens. I was excited to see the changing leaves which helped me believe that it is really autumn here.

The reason we are confused is that trees and flowers are still blooming and the weather is so pleasant.
The Johannesburg Botanical Garden is a wonderful place with acres of grass, a lake, and a rose garden with beautiful water features. Elder Wells did a great imitation of the open mouthed spout here.

While we were strolling along these lovely ladies came up to sell their wares. we told them we could not buy on Sunday but they allowed us to take their pictures.
This fountain at the entrance of the rose garden is very beautiful.
Just thought I'd let you see some of the nice things about Johannesburg on a Sunday afternoon.

A Little Fun in the Office

2009-04-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

We may be on the other side of the world, but we are still connected. The other day we were greeted upon our arrival at the office by the announcement that we must log into U Tube and experience this amazing performance. Soon a group was gathered to watch and cheer for Susan Boyle.

What a great performance.

Tembisa Ward Primary

2009-04-27T01:17:00.000-07:00

We are attending the Tembisa Ward and one day I took these shots of the children and primary president. This is the primary room.

I am always fascinated with the way these wonderful mothers carry their babies on their backs. This is the primary president, Sister Felleng Mashishi.

You can see from the front the little fellow’s feet on either side of his mommy. I asked her how she gets the baby so securely on her back and even though the baby was asleep by the time I asked she proceeded to undo him and show me how it is done. She unwrapped him, put him back down on the ground, and then pulled him up onto her back and pulled the cloth up over them.

After she fastened it in front she pulled the bottom of the blanket around his little body and fastened that. Can you see the large safety pin in her mouth?

And there you have it. He didn't even wake up.

Washing the Car

2009-04-26T23:48:00.000-07:00

We are very fortunate to have this good man, Simon, wash our car every week.

When he has finished and wiped it all down he puts up the windshield wipers to let us know the job was done. We don’t ask for this service but we are happy to pay for it. At the end of the month he comes by the flat to be paid. It works out to about $2 per wash.

One morning we came out to go to the office and he was in the process of doing this task so as we waited and watched I snapped his picture. No hoses or spraying down here -- just a bucket and rags.

There are lots of puddles in the parking garage in the mornings due to the car washing of good fellows like Simon and Isaiah and others who work in the building as guards and wash cars for tenants during their off hours. Don't you wish you had a Simon in your garage?

A Brief Trip Home

2009-04-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

When we were oriented and trained before leaving for this mission we were informed that an occasion might arise when Elder Wells would be required to accompany an elder home because of illness. That occasion arose last week when a good young elder from Portland Oregon required some assistance. Elder Wells is right now in the United States and I am alone here in Johannesburg. He left on Wednesday morning, April 22 and will return next Wednesday, April 29. It was a long trip for him as he needed to fly from Johannesburg to Durban to pick up the young man, and then back to Johannesburg to catch the long flight to Atlanta, then to SLC, then Oregon, then back to SLC. But the children are glad to see him for a few days and he was able to take 2 big suitcases of acquired treasures home with him.

Thanks to the miracle of SKYPE we have been able to keep in touch and when the family gathered on Saturday, I participated from here through the computer. Amazing! The only drawback was that I joined their party from 2:30 am to 5:30 am for me. But it was worth every waking minute. I will be glad to have him back, though. You kind of get used to this 24/7 togetherness thing and it seems strange to be apart for so long. Besides, I really like that guy.

Meeting of the Elderly

2009-02-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

It was announced in the Tembisa ward today that the Bishop would like all the “Elderly” -- all those 55 and older -- to remain for a meeting in the chapel after sacrament meeting. Elder Wells had been asked by the second counselor to meet with him after church and help him understand a letter that he had received from the stake president so I remained in the “Elderly” meeting. After all, I am old. There were 9 people in attendance - eight were women. Only one man remained with us, though he confessed was only 51, and one woman said she would be 54 next month.

The Bishop wanted them to know that he cared about them. After all, he said, I am one of you. I am 55. Even though I may look young, I am one of you. (I certainly felt comforted.) He told them he wanted to know how they were feeling and what were their needs and worries. He said that they could come to him -- his Bishop's door was open to them. He wanted this to be a discussion - for them to tell them how they were feeling.

Since no one leaped to their feet to share their woes, he turned to me and asked how I thought elderly people felt in the church. I was quick thinking and shared the idea that we “old people” wanted to feel needed -- that we still had something to say and the desire to be of service. I mentioned that one of our senior couples who is leaving this week after their 2nd mission here felt that at home they were not really needed because the younger members were having the opportunity to serve and so they enjoyed being missionaries because they could still be useful in the church. Also, I mentioned that older people need to feel that others are aware of them and that their ideas and feelings are still important.

One concern of these good women was about their children. One said, Children now are not as they used to be. The Bishop agreed that children today are naughty. She said, They don’t listen; they talk “any way”. Another said her married children, though they have been baptized, won’t attend church. Her grandchildren are not coming to church. That is hard for her.

One woman said that the group doesn’t know each other very well. They need to have some activities to get to know each other better. The Bishop liked that idea and suggested there could be firesides or activities and perhaps they could meet with other wards in the stake so that there would be more associations and friendships and maybe (with a glint in his eye) some chance to meet future “companions" because if you are single you should get married.

When the Bishop brought up the subject of marriage the attractive 54 year old said she had no interest in being married – that when she was being taught the Gospel she told them she wanted to remain just as she was -- single. The Bishop told her it was a commandment and that she should be looking for a companion -- that she should be married. She was shaking her head. Then he asked me: “Sister Wells, isn’t it a commandment that we should be married?” Now what would you have said? One can’t contradict the Bishop, but I could imagine this convert deciding that this was going to be her last Sunday in the Tembisa Ward.

I agreed that it was indeed a commandment to be married – that in the church we stress marriage and families, but I had to add that choosing a bad marriage just to be married was not a good thing, but being open to marriage so that when the opportunity arises that it feels like the right thing to do is certainly important.

One woman scoffed, I’m 72 years old. Why would I want to get married? To get a man to take care of?

No, said the good Bishop, to have someone to share your feelings with, a shoulder to cry on, someone to talk to. He was enthusiastic and convinced, but his audience was not buying it. Again he turned to me so I said that indeed I knew of older couples who married and found great joy in serving together in the church and in their companionships. (But deep down, eventhough I know that Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni was a fine single man and a good catch for Mma Ramotswe, I am unsure how many L.D.S. Mr. J.L.B Matekonies there are hanging around the Benoni Stake waiting to marry traditionally built women such as these good sisters. (See The #1 Ladies Detective Agency for clarification.)

So then he suggested that they decide on a time when our group of “Elderly” should get together with others in the stake for a fireside or activity. The one active “old person” (as in the only one who serves in this ward – she is the RS chorister, RS 1st counselor, the RS teacher and the adult SS teacher – and she spoke in church today) suggested April 10, Good Friday. No one objected (or agreed).

Elder Wells came in close to the end when the bishop was talking about getting together with other wards and the Bishop said, Maybe Elder Wells would like to speak to us. Dad thought he meant at the fireside or something, but having been in this meeting with the Bishop I whispered to Dad that he meant right now, but just to say that’s a good idea and cut it short since he didn’t know what had been going on. The wise Elder was great. He said in his best psychology that this was a good idea because it was very important for people to gather together. That from infancy the need for attachment and comfort from and association with others was essential to our well being. The Bishop was grateful and pleased and the meeting ended.

The Think System

2009-02-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

We learned one day that there had been a piano in our apartment but when the former missionaries departed another couple (the Parks) moved the piano into their flat. The piano actually belongs in the Kempton’s legal apartment but since they don’t play they loan it out. I have been anxiously awaiting February when the Kemptons said that at the departure of the Parks the piano could be returned here. On Monday, Feb 2 (the day the Parks flew home), my good companion, Elder W., and a couple of the workers in the building moved this lovely Yamaha piano into a cozy spot in my living room.

The distribution center is closed on Monday but Tuesday morning I promptly purchased the keyboard course and spent the whole afternoon at home practicing! Oh my. Please tell every child you know never to quit taking piano lessons while they are young and capable. I fully intended to work on this the year before coming here but I am reminded once again that good intentions get you nowhere. Rusty isn't even a near description of where I am at this point.

In the Tembisa Ward where we attend there is no music played at all. Not even taped prelude music. The choristers stand, sing the first line alone, say “one, two” and everyone begins to sing. There is a keyboard sitting silently in the chapel and I have thought perhaps I could learn to play well enough to be able to even right hand the hymns. After this week I am not sure of that, but it is early yet. The problem is that I am so shy about it that I won’t play when the neighbors are at home and I can’t stay home every day to practice! (The soft pedal is a blessing, though, and I use it all the time.

The Kemptons leave in April and then the next legal couple will have this beautiful instrument sitting in their living room. That means I have only 2 months to work on my skills (?). In the meantime, the piano adds such a nice comfortable feeling to this room and I am very grateful to have it even for this short time.

Hey, do you think Harold Hill’s “Think System” will work for me? Maybe I’ll try it.

Hello, My Sister

2009-01-30T02:18:00.000-08:00

Wednesday morning I looked out my window and saw a lovely woman from Tanzania who is here to attend the temple. She looked so beautiful that just had to snatch up my camera and run to ask her for a picture. She was very gracious, though she was struggling with a toddler who wanted very much to jump into the fish pond with the fishies. There were 2 other children with her and they allowed me to snap their picture holding “Flat Nathaniel” (the topic for another blog). If you look closely you can see that the little girl is holding him. The sister was so sweet and told me she is the primary president in her branch and the 2 children in the picture with her are her primary children (her own little one is behind her back and you can’t see him.)

I came into the office and printed the pictures for her on photo paper and took them to her a few minutes later. She was, of course, surprised and so happy. She told me her name, Sister Tiba (Teeba) (meaning treatment or cure) Furaha (meaning Joy), and I went into the patron housing office to borrow a pen and paper to write it down. When I returned the pen the office sister said, “It is interesting that you would take her picture today because she has quite a story.” It seems that when she and her husband arrived they discovered that although they had been married tribally they had no civil documentation of the marriage. Therefore they could not be sealed. They also have an 8 year old daughter who had not been baptized. So everyone scrambled and held a baptismal interview for the little girl to be baptized today and arranged to perform a marriage later for the couple. Then they would be all sealed together.

I found Sister Tiba again (she was in the patron housing kitchen showing her pictures to the other sisters) and told her I knew of her story and would like to take another picture with her husband and both children. As we were leaving the office abt 5:00 we saw them getting ready for their little girl's baptism.

They said the marriage was to be at 8:00 the next morning and they would like to have us come. The temple president told us it would be at the Joburg Ward, but we waited there that morning but when no one came we went back to the office and found them in a room doing pre-marriage paper work. We stayed for the marriage which was not much of a celebration for them and I waited for some time after to take their picture but they were so long coming out (more paper work) that I was unable to get a picture then in her beautiful pink African gown. She came to tell me later that the sealing would be at 6:30 pm and wanted us to be there. It was an honor for us to attend their marriage and sealing and Dad was one of the wittnesses.

This morning I opened my window when I saw her and she called, "Hello, my Sister." I went out and we visited one last time and I learned more of her story. She was born in the Congo in 1978 and is the only child of her mother. Her father took her from her mother when she was 12 and she has lived in Tanzania since then. She was baptised in 1998 and her husband was a friend of her step brother. She doesn't know if her mother is dead or alive because she hasn't heard from her since 1995 when she visited Tiba in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). She was holding my hands and said, "When I saw you in the sealing room I thought, "There is my mother." Of course I cried with her and we hugged. She has such a sweetness about her. She was so pleased to know that I had a son her same age and I told her I would tell my children about her and send pictures of them to her. We promised to correspond and she asked if she could send names for temple work to be done. I told her we would be honored. With one last hug we parted. The tragic part of this beautiful story is that her husband, Felix, and little girl, Debra live in the Kwazulu-Natal where he is employed and Tiba lives and works in Dar es Salaam. She said he does not make enough for her and little Abraham to live with him. But, she said, "He will come."

It was so hard to see them separate and go two different ways as they departed the area offices. Once again I am filled with gratitude for this African experience.

A Note From Elder Wells: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5)

2009-01-25T10:33:00.000-08:00

I know today is not June 8, 1978, but I am rejoicing in that day as I live and worship with my brothers and sisters from so many different countries. Like a very few other days in my life, I will always remember where I was when I learned that the priesthood was to be given to all worthy male members. Like many others, I cried (and still do) when I realized what it might mean.

The realization of its meaning still unfolding catches me by surprise here in Africa. I often work in the temple on Tuesday afternoons when the missionaries come over from the MTC. I am met by a wrinkled little man whose smile somehow covers his entire face. When we shake hands and he welcomes me to the temple, I know I am welcomed by a man who treasures his opportunity to be in the Lord’s house. I am washed momentarily in gratitude and recognition of God’s love as I look down at a white hand and a black hand clasped in brotherhood. (In the picture are two of the noble temple workers with Elder and Sister Snow, and the one on the left is he with the wonderful smile.)

Sister Margaret Rambau,a woman who works in the Area Office, is giving us the privilege of doing some family names for her, names I can’t pronounce but I am honored to carry to the temple.

During the months of October and November we attended the Johannesburg Ward. Except for the occasional senior couple missionaries, there are two white members. You’ve seen the pictures of these wonderful saints sent home by Gayle. There we are, watching the primary sacrament meeting presentation, and the children sing, “I am a child of God and He has sent me here . . .” and I am captured in the realization of what it means that these cherubic little faces know they belong to their Father in Heaven.

Maybe it’s the singing that gets to me, or maybe the prayers, or maybe it’s the realization that I have been taught a Sunday School lesson in a way that I’ve never thought of before, but these saints make it new for me. A brother offered the invocation in sacrament meeting the other day, a warm and sincere prayer peppered with echoes of an earlier church affiliation (They often say, “Let us pray” when beginning a prayer.) I whispered afterward to Gayle that he had done well, considering we saw him baptized just a month ago. She couldn’t believe it was the same man. “He seems too confident,” she said. But it was.

In priesthood meeting a week ago, we sang a rousing, “Ye Elders of Israel.” I could hardly get through it. Forty six years ago as a missionary in the Northwestern States Mission, we sang that song at the end of every zone conference. Now, these brothers of mine, these Elders of Israel are inviting me to come join with them in seeking out the righteous where ‘ere they may be, in Mafikeng or Polokwane, in Kinshasha or Lubumbashe.

And I rejoice. I praise God for His love and mercy in bringing 240,000 saints thus far in Africa to the full blessings of His plan of happiness, up from 110,000 just ten years ago. The Lord is shining His light on Africa. Gayle and I are blessed to bask in that light.

A Missionary Returns Safely Home

2009-01-25T09:08:00.001-08:00

Just before Christmas we had a young Elder from the Durban mission who became very ill and was brought here and hospitalized in Johannesburg. It kept Elder Wells pretty busy for about 10 days going back and forth from the clinic and providing for his needs there (we had to buy him a toothbrush and other toiletries, towel and washcloth, do his laundry, etc.). We were so grateful to locate his older brother, a young returned missionary, and his wife who live in JoBurg and were great to visit him every day. They live in a suburb called Tembisa, about 45 minutes outside Johannesburg. They have no car so Elder Wells would give them taxi money, pick them up at the taxi station and take them to the clinic to visit and encourage their brother and return them to the taxi station.

Eventually we were able to get this young man safely home to Kenya on Dec 30. And as a bonus and blessing for us, because the elder could not travel alone, and rather than Elder Wells needing to accompany him, his brother Fredrick was able take him safely to his family in Kenya. Still, learning how to make all the financial and travel arrangements was a new challenge for us and it was a relief when we saw them off at the airport. This is Elder Owuor, his brother, Fredrick, wife, Olga (not her African name, which I can’t remember, pronounce or write) and us at the clinic one Sunday.

SUNDAY IN THE TEMBISA WARD

We have been attending the Tembisa Ward this month. Brother Fredrick is in the bishopric there and Sister Olga is the Relief Society president. When we met them they said, “Please make the Tembisa Ward your home ward.”

Today was the first day Brother Fred was in church since his return from taking Elder Owuor home to Kenya and he made an interesting comment in Sunday School. We were discussing the power of the Lord in our lives in answer to our prayers and he gave this example: “Say you have an interview and you don’t have money for transport so you kneel down and pray and then someone comes and he gives you the money so that you can go to the interview and be successful. This is a miracle that the Lord provides. So brothers and sisters lets walk in faith because miracles do happen.” But then he continued, “But your prayers must be righteous prayers. Compare to someone who prays for an expensive new car and he doesn’t even know how to drive or have a license. You are praying unrighteously and should not expect that miracle.”

I continue to be amazed at how little I understand of the simplicity of the lives these good people are living. They have so little, but they are prayerful and faithful and grateful for their blessings and believe completely in daily miracles.

The teacher in our combined meeting (a very young Elders Quorum president) commented that he liked to listen to the testimonies of those new in the church compared to those who are maybe 15 years old in the church because they are pure and simple and are full of gratitude. I had to smile. I like to listen to them too, but I also love to hear the old-timers at 15 years old in the church to recognize their depth of understanding and mastery of the scriptures and their solid commitment to the gospel.

At 60 + years in the church I feel I must listen and learn all I can from these African Saints, young or old. I have so much to learn and only 11 more months to do it in.

We’re Dreaming of . . . . Christmas

2008-12-22T14:36:00.000-08:00

We are trying hard to get into the spirit of Christmas but it isn’t easy. We are just mixed up. No cold weather, no shopping to do, no Carols playing on the radio, no Christmas cards, no lights on any houses, no live Christmas trees, no Christmas movies on TV, no chance to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”, no presents to wrap, no surprises or activities to plan, and no family! See? How could it be Christmas???

There are signs that tell me some people are preparing for the big day. The malls are decorated and crowded and we saw a friendly Santa visiting with children last Saturday.

There are wreaths on the office walls announcing the season and there is a tree in the entry area. BYU TV (which we thankfully receive) is playing Christmas programs and the Seniors keep having socials to celebrate together.

But all these symbols still can’t seem to stir the bubbly spirit I usually feel inside by now.

I finally put up a little tree on Sunday afternoon and I have my Tabernacle Choir CD’s playing. We were watching a Christmas special on Sunday and we took a picture of the snowy scenes while the choir sang White Christmas. That helped.

I have acquired two nativities, one from Uganda and one from Zambia. They are very simple and as I set the little figures in place the quiet, reverent feelings that the season always brings easily surface.

Our gratitude for the birth of Jesus Christ is expanding even more as we see the blessings that come into the lives of those who turn their hearts to Him. Yes, we are missing the traditions and activities of Christmas at home, but as others are doing all around the world, we are celebrating His birth and are grateful to be here because, after all, TIA . . . This is Africa

Soweto Maternity Hospital Visit

2008-12-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

On November 26, Sister Parmley took a group of Senior Sisters to the Soweto Maternity Hospital to give baby blankets to the mothers who had just given birth. These are women who have no money or very little, and are allowed to have their babies but not stay long. After the delivery they are able to stay in the hospital from 4 to 6 hours. If the babies are in special need the mothers can stay with them in the hospital until they can be released.

Some of the sister missionaries had made the blankets and another had received a suitcase full when her son visited earlier that month that had been donated by her home ward. It was an experience I won’t soon forget.

Sister Jan Taylor and Sister Denise Heap (Medical doctor's wife) opening one of the boxes.

Sister Jan Taylor (husband is Auditor) with some of the women getting checked in.
We don't know if this is a couple or father and daughter, but they were checking her in. She is wearing a hospital issue sack sort of gown and holding her blanket.
Sister Ann Koelliker (husband is counselor in Area Presidency) and Sister Wells

Sister Jolene Watson (Elder Watson is a counselor in Area Presidency) with some of the new moms.
After blankets were given to these mothers they held them up for a picture. The women are admitted to the hospital and are delivered by a midwife or by a doctor if a C-section is needed.

Sister Parmley, Sister Wells, and Sister Sutterfield (standing in the back center) with beautiful newborns.

These mothers are getting their babies dressed and will be released soon. Sadly we were told that sometimes a woman who has no other choice will simply leave her baby on the lawn as she leaves the hospital.

Some of the sweet little ones. The little hat on the one below is part of her new gift of blanket and hat.

This baby was well dressed; maybe the outfit was a gift or maybe the mom was a little better off than the others.

The mothers were sweet and appreciative and we gave 150 blankets that day. I left moved and grateful for the blessing of care and attention my own daughters receive as they are able to give birth in our lovely hospitals at home. And yet I felt grateful that these women at least have medical attention and someplace to go when they have so little resources. Another powerful insight into the place we live -- TIA (this is Africa)

Families from Kitale, Kenya

2008-11-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

On Friday, November 28, the Area Office celebrated the beginning of the Christmas season with a Christmas devotional and luncheon for the entire Area Office staff and missionaries. When Elder Grandpa and I arrived that morning the PR people were just taking supplies out to the big tent on the white house lawn so we offered to help. We had to set up more tables and put cloths, napkins, plastic ware, etc. on the tables. Suddenly 4 young people who were here with their families from Kenya for a temple trip showed up to help. Three were siblings and one was from another family. They were so great. They had been here since Monday afternoon and had all been to the temple to be sealed to their parents. They were to leave by 11 that morning.

From Left, Elisha, Lucy, Sammy, and Edward.

After we got set up I spent time talking to them and later met the rest of their families as they came from the temple. Here is what I learned: In one family, The Gideon Chirchir family, the father had been introduced to the gospel in 1991 by missionaries from Salt Lake while on a school break in Sweden from his university studies. He said it was still 5 years before the gospel was introduced in Kenya. I asked him if that was hard and he said it had been very lonely. He said it took time for the church to grow but now there were 5 branches in his area of Kitale. He had been a branch president and now was a counselor to the branch president. He said they had brought 4 branch presidents with them on this trip. I asked if he had been before and he said this was his first time to the temple. They had had to get special permission to have his children sealed to them because 3 of them were already nearly grown.

The oldest daughter, Juliana,(in the purple suit) served a mission in Cape Town. She graduated from the University before her mission and is now teaching high school chemistry and biology and next year she will begin her Master’s program. The next daughter, Damaris, is attending the University in Kampala, Uganda and plans to be a teacher teaching Christian studies (that’s not the name she called it, though) and another subject, maybe Swahili, and the next one, a boy, Elisha, who had helped me earlier is in college in Kitale studying business management. The youngest one, Eliazer, I didn't meet till this picture. I was so impressed with all of them! What a wonderful family. What a blessing that these children have had the experience of attending primary and young men and young women as they grew up.

The other family, the John Mdungu family, have children slightly younger. Sister Bragg is with them. She is over Patron Housing, where the families stay when they come to the temple.

Their father is the current branch president and very warm and friendly as were the children I met. They have been the church for 6 or 7 years and the children have also been through the church programs. They were easy to talk to and so helpful and willing to share their stories with me. All were planning to go on missions and to college.

All family members were so grateful to be at the temple. The adults attended sessions every day and the older children had been doing baptisms for the dead. Returning home would involve a 5 hour flight to Nairobi, then 10 hours by bus back to Kitale. The father said there was a plane flight, but it would be too expensive for them. But no complaining. Then the gal in college in Uganda had another bus ride, 6 hours I think, to get back to school by Monday to complete her exams. What a great experience for me to share this time with them.

This young couple with their little ones we met and talked with earlier in the week and were so excited to be at the temple and to have their picture taken.

I'll send the pictures on to these great families and tell them how much I enjoyed meeting them. Everyday I learn something new because - TIA (this is Africa).

Marriage Conference at Johannesburg Ward

2008-11-29T11:37:00.000-08:00

Today Elder Wells and I participated in a marriage conference for the two Johannesburg Wards. We arrived at 9:00 (the designated starting hour) and could see Elder and Sister Parmley and President and Sister Dilldorf from the Temple presidency waiting on the front steps. They were to be the first 2 speakers. We joined them there. Our assignment was not till after lunch. Soon the new bishop of the JoBurg 2nd ward arrived dressed in a pair of capri’s, sandals, and a great pink and tan striped golf shirt. He waited with us. We had a nice visit till the person with the keys showed up and let us all in.

A few couples began to gather and by 9:38 Bishop Molombo of the 1st Ward dressed in a beautiful black brocade dinner jacket, white shirt, and no tie, (I could see it peeking out of his pocket, though) stood to conduct the meeting. He said, “We learned a lesson today about inviting full time missionaries.” (We assumed he meant because we were on time) “It’s Saturday morning and our people are just a little slow. They’ll be coming along. But it is good for us to begin this meeting.” He announced the opening song and Sister Parmley looked around and then jumped up and went to the piano. The bishop led the music himself. There may have been 5 couples in attendance when we first began. The good bishop told the group that they were about to learn how to have stronger marriages, and be more united and loving in their families. He told them that they must be examples for those who did not come today so that others could see the difference in them and their families in the way they treat each other and lived the Gospel.

President Dilldorf’s message was very nice about preparing to attend the temple, and Sister Parmley talked about why she loved her husband, offering positive examples for the brethren to hear. Elder Parmley told about their first years as students and how poor they were, then gave 14 suggestions for improving marriage relationships and then told why he loved his wife.

By then it was a little after 11 and the stake president who was supposed to speak (according to my earlier notes) wasn’t there so we broke for lunch. They set up tables and chairs, put on cloths and utensils, brought out the food and we were ready to begin eating at about 11:45.

Before the prayer on the food the Bishop told those who had just arrived that they had missed some important messages, but welcomed them anyway. He told us that the spirit needed the food that we were receiving today and that our bodies also needed food to keep our energy up so we should relax and eat and allow our bodies to be strengthened.

The food that the women had prepared was delicious. It was our first sample of dishes that African moms would make for a ward dinner: rice, beef stroganoff, cooked spinach in some sort of sauce, mashed pumpkin, chicken pieces in a curry sauce, and a great green salad with feta cheese, cucumbers, peppers, etc. No paper items were used except for napkins. Here is Bishop Molombo and his wife.

Elder Wells looking handsome as ever.

This couple is, Sister Nomalonga and her husband Paul. We have been working with her and have made good friends.

Everyone had a good time relaxing and around 1:00 we started back into the chapel for the next 3 sessions (ours was last). Not everyone stayed for the afternoon meeting. We had maybe 12-15 couples just after lunch. They left little by little. The bishop did an excellent slide presentation on Eternal Progression – having the vision and setting and meeting goals. Next an amazingly articulate and motivating young man, Dominique Musimusi, spoke on financial management or how to change the traditional African way thinking about and using money. He included budgeting and teaching children to understand and budget their money. Very interesting, but very long. By the time Dad and I were up just before 3:00 I had decided to give up my part altogether except to explain my handout and mention briefly the ideas of “catching them doing something good” and “using positive statements.” I turned the time to Elder Wells who took 20 to 25 minutes to an audience of about 20 tired but receptive and relatively attentive people. (We had originally been asked to take an hour from 2:00 - 3:00 or longer if we desired.)

The bishop closed the meeting by telling them how important it is for them to use all these principles and ideas and that they needed to keep learning and changing and when they did so they were to be examples to others because they were building Zion!

We had a closing prayer and adjourned for dessert – a wonderful pudding cake called Malva pudding with a vanilla custard sauce. Yum! (More fresh plates and utensils were used. The young women who had been tending the children helped in the kitchen now as well.) At the end of the meeting we stopped to talk to a handsome couple (you can see him in the pink shirt taking pictures during lunch.) His wife was dressed in a beautiful African outfit. We were talking and she shook her head and he said haltingly, "We do not speak English." They spoke French. Had they stayed the entire day and not understood anything?

We headed for home about 4:20. I had been up so late preparing and had enjoyed a late SKYPE visit with the family at Matt and Anita’s and so after cleaning up the table which was full of Ensigns and notes and papers I laid down on the little couch listening to our new Christmas CD and slept for nearly 2 hours!

Another day of learning important lessons because TIA (this is Africa)

Treasures

2008-11-23T08:03:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, November 20, Sister Parmley took 16 senior missionary sisters on an outing. She drove one 8 passenger van and Sister Cannon (from the MTC) drove another. We first visited the home of young man who is involved in textile export and sales but who has been "adopted" by sister Parmley and allows her to bring groups to his home and purchase his merchandise privately. Cash only. Elder Grandpa gave me 1000 Rand (about $100 at today’s exchange) and I assured him I had no intention of spending it. Somehow I gave up a good portion of that with the treasures I found there -- Cushions covers for my couch pillows, a little cloth for the coffee table, 2 or 3 little purses . . . .

Next we drove across town to the home of 2 artsy ladies who are sisters and who have a terrific shop in the back of their amazingly artsy home full of treasures heretofore unknown to me. Plus, the purpose of our visit was to hear one of them give a lecture on beads. Her bead knowledge and collection was vast and extremely interesting. She had antique beads from everywhere, precious stones and jewels, oh my! And the antiques and fascinating items from African countries on display and for sale in their shop were remarkable. And appealing. And irresistible. Although we were assured that there was no obligation to buy, everyone did. You would have too. Fortunately for all of us they did not require cash only so we were free to charge to our hearts desire on our American credit cards! So I came away with some treasures.

The beaded doll on the left is called a Namji doll from the country of Chad. It is a fertility doll. There were two but I chose the one with two heads giving the suggestion of twins. I will loan her out upon request. The little Zulu angel in the middle will adorn my Christmas tree. The necklace is a Maasai collar from Kenya.

Our flat was completely monochromatic and I just needed to find some RED to put somewhere so I bought these great pillow covers. There is a basket from Zimbabwe on the coffee table with a nice little African cloth for more color. But my favorite find of all is this great chicken! Besides that it looks so cool it has a real purpose.

It is from Yoruba, Nigeria and it is a "mouse divination box." Here's how it works. The tail comes off to reveal a hole where you put any sort of bones, rocks, teeth, etc.

Then you put a live mouse in on top and put the lid back on. The mouse runs around scrambling the items and then runs out a little hole and out the bottom. Then you take off the lid and read your fortune or the answer to your problem or whatever you are searching the answer for. Now, that is unique, don't you think?

Other treasures I have collected are dolls from Uganda, Mozambique, and Lesoto.

Some "refugees" from Mozambique,

A Poiki pot from our Medikwe game drive. They use cast iron ones to cook the meals in, very much like our dutch ovens.

These shells and starfish I picked up in Mozambique and on Mauritius on beaches of the Indian Ocean.

We also purchased a nice mirror the other day for the front area which we haven't hung yet but you can see how good it will look here.

All in all I am feeling better about the place because it has some warmth and color and that is always good. We will gather for Thanksgiving dinner next week on the lawn at the Area Presidency white house. And I found some boxes in the cupboard that say Christmas so soon I will put up a little tree and try to believe that this is the holiday season.

Then I will remember the best and most valuable treasures I have ever collected.

The adventure begins

2008-07-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

I suppose to say this is the beginning is not quite accurate. They have spent years dreaming of, planning for, and preparing physically and spiritually for the moment when the cameras would emerge to capture the start of their missionary service. And, of course, the recent weeks as Mom and Dad raced around were an exciting challenge in their own right, but this is where the FUN starts.

I can't help but think of the many hours of encouragement, shopping, packing, and prayers these two have offered every family missionary before them. We're delighted that it's finally their turn.

Elder and Sister Wells were set apart on Saturday evening, July 5th with as much family as could make themselves available. Of course, we all wanted very much to be a part of this special moment. We, their children, are so proud of their hard work and determination to serve the Lord. What an example to us all.
Way to go, Mom and Dad. We suuure love ya!

Getting Started

2008-07-07T21:26:00.001-07:00

We are leaving soon for our mission to South Africa.