MIssionary Life

A new ward created from another with a new Bishopric.  This keeps Chuck very busy because the growth here is phenomenal!  He deals with boundary changes, new units, church record changes, patriarchal blessings.  You name it, he is probably involved in some way.

Just in case you think I don't work, this is Elder Johnson reviewing the medical portion of some of the missionary applications I process.  It keeps me very busy.

Elder and Sister Rowberry have been the best MLS missionaries.  They are serving in the South Africa Durban mission and we see them frequently when they bring couples to the Temple to be sealed.  They go home in a few weeks and we will miss their enthusiasm and dedicated work,

A Preparation Day included a 15 minute walk from our flat down tree lined streets filled with mansions to the Ditsong National Museum of Military History.  Great planes, tanks, and military transport vehicles to see.  We loved it.

We saw huge and not so big vehicles.  This tank was a very small Italian version.  We are loving our time here in South Africa.  Everyone should go on a couple mission.  Where else can you be so busy yet have so much fun and joy?

Missionary Perks

At lunch time most of the senior couples converge on the Canteen in the patron housing area to catch our breath and enjoy each others company.  It is a bright spot in each day because we are all so busy with very hectic schedules and we need to sit and relax for a few minutes.

On one of our Preparation Days, we went on a tour of the South Africa Mission Office, the MTC, and the Mission Home.  This is the infamous transfer board in President Dunn's office.  He certainly has many great missionaries serving all over his mission area.

This is a spare room at the MTC.  Sister Dunn collects everything a missionary could need or want to serve a mission.  Some of their arrivees, or missionaries in the MTC, are able to go shopping and get the things that they couldn't afford or buy in their own country before going on mission.  Many of our couples and the missionaries themselves, will leave clothes and other things in good condition for someone else to use when the need arises.

More Pictures of Life in South Africa

These men are recyclers.  They spend all day collecting plastic, paper, and metal from garbage cans and then pull their find to turn it in.  We often wonder how they are able to pull their "wagons" up hill, but they manage to get where they are going.

A lot of the people don't have access to cars, so they have to manage without transportation.  

On our way to Tembisa we came across some road construction.  We loved their way of keeping cars off the road that they are fixing. Just find some big rocks to place in the road 

and no one tries to drive there.

This is a typical way of making ends meet.  They sell fruit and vegetables and other needful things from their homemade stores.

Visit to Orange Farm Branch

A new concept in the Africa Southeast Area is something called a Speed Space - literally portables.  This branch is using space on a school ground.  The main building is one big room, mainly used for Sacrament meeting and Relief Society.  Primary uses the school classrooms for their classes.  

But it is a bit of a walk.  

We had Elder and Sister Blake show us the way to their branch.  It took us almost 45 minutes to get there.  But it is surrounded by some beautiful country.

Inside the Speed Space for Sunday School.  The beauty of this kind of church facility is that it can grow with the branch.  As more and more people join, they are able to expand the building to keep up with the growth.

On a nice day they hold Priesthood meeting out under the tree.

President and Sister Dunn came to deliver a mission call.  Sister Zulu has been dreaming of serving in England.  When she opened her call, she was overjoyed to learn that she had been called to serve in England.  This will be such a wonderful experience for her.

Half a block from the Orange Farm branch building is the Branch President's home.  He has installed the baptismal font in his front yard as you can see.  That Sunday there was a baptism scheduled.  All the neighbors can watch and participate if they want to.

Christmas Holiday Album - One Last Adventure - Hot Air Balloon

Elder and Sister Egan received a great Christmas gift from their kids.  It was a gift certificate for a hot air balloon ride about 45 minutes from our house.  We got up very early so we would be able to see the 5:15 am sunrise from the balloon.  Our group included Elder and Sister Berg (from the Public Affairs department of the Area Office), Elder and Sister Egan (he is the Infield Representative for the continent of Africa and she is the flat coordinator for the Area couples as well as Chuck's assistant with all the boundary, bishop, stake changes) and us.  The views were stunning.  We would definitely do this again.  Happy New Year to everyone.  Let's see what this year brings!

Christmas Vacation Fun #3 - Bungee Jumping and Zip Lining

 We passed over the Bloukrans Bridge and Chuck was brave enough to do the highest commercial bungee jump in the world.  I got to go out on the platform with him and watch all the preparations. 

All set to go and securely fastened.  Then Chuck did a perfect dive off the platform!

He is helped back up and thankfully the guy pulled him into an upright position. 

Next stop was a zipline over a water fall gorge with the Lombardi's.  It was so fun.  There times you couldn't decide if you should just enjoy the ride down or the beautiful views.

Christmas Holiday Trip Album #2 - East London

On our way to East London we stopped at a monkey park. They take care of monkeys, lemurs, and other such animals who are no longer wanted by their owners. They were cute and loved the feeding platform with their fruit lunch.

Next boat ride we took was on a catamaran out on the Indian Ocean.  It was very windy that day, but we enjoyed the big waves and the views.  We were very excited when a group of about 200 dolphins joined us and swam all around our boat.  The captain lowered a microphone into the water and we were able to hear them talking to each other.  What a memory! 

We stayed at a B&B right on the 14th green of a golf course.  Elder Jubber's cousin owned the place and had closed down so all the employees could enjoy their summer holiday.  We were able to take over the place and rest, relax and play.  We spent time at Morgan's Bay where Chuck was able to swim in the warm Indian Ocean and we searched for shells.

Our fun traveling group consisted of Elder and Sister Graf (he with the Office of General Council and she with the local Liahona insert), us, Elder and Sister Lombardi (in the Church History department at the Area office), and Elder and Sister Jubber (he is the Area Medical Adviser and she helps me with the missionary applications).  This was a great traveling group.  We had a great time!