Busy August Days in South Africa

This is a first.  We have 2 young men who are serving as service missionaries in the Africa Southeast Area office.  Elder Molema is from Johannesburg and has Asperbergers.  He received a regular call to serve in the SLC family history center but was never able to get a visa.  So he is serving here, living in Temple Patron housing, and working in the temple and managing the ASEA website.  His companion, Elder Nyandoro, is from Zimbabwe and has been legally blind since the age of 17.  He is so normal that he could probably serve a regular mission, but they have him working in the temple.  Elder Chatora, the Temple recorder, is managing their schedule so that we can keep them as busy as possible.  They work in the temple, family history center, temple patron housing, the laundry, and wherever else they are needed.  They eat in the cafeteria, but once a week we take them to the store for other things that they need.  We have also arranged for a different senior couple to take them to church each week and then serve them lunch and dinner in their flats.  

Elders Chatora, Nyandoro, Molema and us.

Whenever we arrive at the Cosmo City Branch, there is a group of kids that come running out to greet us and give us hugs.  We always feel so welcome!

This week we had an orientation in our Area for 4 new Mission President's and their wives who started on July 1.  They all face a lot of work and issues within their assigned countries.  There was a wonderful lunch in the foyer of what is affectionately called the White House.  The seminar included President and Sister Baehrel serving in DR Congo Kinshasa, President Mkhabela serving in Zimbabwe, President and Sister Koch serving in Mozambique, and President and Sister Foote serving in Madagascar.  We had quite the Portuguese contingent with the Koch's, Elder Ellis and us all speaking in our favorite language.  The whole seminar was such a spiritual feast.

This is the view from the front lobby of the Area offices.  That is the temple spire in the background with Moroni keeping watch on top.  The whole temple and area office hillside grounds are lush and green and tropical.  We can enjoy a nice walk on the trails alongside a flowing stream with beautiful trees and flowers as the hadeda birds sing to us in their distinctive call.  It makes our missionary life so much nicer.

Men In White

For two weeks the Johannesburg Temple has been closed so that these men could work their magic inside and upgrade the interior.  We watched them start early in the morning and work until late at night.  They always have to wear white in the temple even though they are working.  They stayed in patron housing and ate with us in the cafeteria.  We loved talking to them about what they were doing and where they had been.  Then they returned to their jobs and lives in Utah.

Johannesburg Gold

Johannesburg is not a very old city.  It was born when gold was discovered and many came seeking their fortune mid-nineteenth century.  Even in the middle of the city there were gold mines.  One place we visited is called Gold Reef City.  There was a gold mine there and they creatively built an amusement park around the mine.  The whole park has a gold mining theme and is very cleverly done.  We visited a few weekends ago for the mine tour and went down into the actual mine.  They also demonstrated how they refined the gold and made gold bars for transport in the thick vaults on the railroad cars.

Our Place in Johannesburg

We live in a beautiful, older section of Johannesburg on a tree lined street full of other apartment complexes.  Our flat is situated perfectly for us.  We are right across the street from Killarney Mall with 2 grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants and anything else we could possibly need.  The streets clear when it becomes dark because of safety reasons, but it is safe to walk right across the street for some groceries or a bite to eat.