An interesting, productive, and yet frustrating morning for us. It was interesting because of my reading in Mosiah about the start of Abinidi’s calling. A Prophet is not welcome when he tells people to repent –especially not when he tells a King and other leaders that they are the main cause for the problems the people will be facing.

I thought about the two years that he had between his warnings to his people. What did he do? Were they peaceful years for him to be with his family? How did he feel when he got called again to go back and put his life on the line for the Lord.  It brought to mind one of the conference talks – Elder Snow’s – I read recently related to a man who had a great challenge in his life because of his call to serve a mission. Later though lots of hard work he had again become prosperous and was told he received another mission call. The story tells how he thought about it for a while, spit, and said ‘Alright.’ I wonder what I would have done in his place.

Mary finished our Liahona and I mounted some signs on cardboard in preparation for the last rehearsals before the big event on Saturday. I know the youth will come through but how is still a mystery to me.

As I was posting to the blog, the dreaded red light came on signaling that I had lost the internet. I immediately knew that somehow we were again past due on the account. I did not get upset – I just realized that as I was just now writing about it. I finished dressing, got the bill, and drove down to the mall. Once again I paid everything that was outstanding and found out when I needed to go in next month to make sure I paid just after the bill was issued. I am not going to let it happen again.

The young woman who helped me was the same who helped me earlier in the month but of course she did not remember me. I kept everything friendly because they get enough grief each day. As she was working with me another of the clerks exclaimed ‘It can’t be.’ I laughed and said that I knew that feeling. We all had a good chuckle.

The weather has changed – there are dark clouds and a cold wind this morning. Hopefully it will not rain so the PD youth will come to practice. I still may have to go gather them up as I did earlier in the week but maybe they are committed enough now to come on their own. I sent text messages to those I had numbers for.

The dollar continues to weaken against the Rand. As of this morning it was 7.75R per $. Back in early April it was 11R per $ – so our mission instead of costing about $1800 a month is now costing about $2400 a month. Luckily we can afford the increase, but there are other couples that may feel the squeeze.

As we left for our English class at Port Durnford, I noticed that the internet was still not working. So when we got to the Nzamas I called my new friend Nana at the Telekom office and told her my problem she promised to call and see if she could get it re-connected. When we finally got home, amazingly enough it was and with only one visit and one call. Last time it took 2 calls and 3 visits – or was it 4 visits…

Thembe was at our English class for the first time in 3 weeks but unfortunately Sister Nzama was sick in bed. I asked her daughter Thandi if her mother would like a blessing and she said she would. I called to see if the elders were around but they were busy in Esikhawini. 

The class went well but they have problems remembering short words that they have been working on for a number of weeks. I think we need to do more reviewing before moving on to new words. Today we had the word weep and Thandi thought it was whip because she did not know what weep meant. Also we discussed which and witch. English is a hard language.

After the lesson Thandi came with us to the PD chapel where we unloaded everything. The wind was really blowing and when we open the door to the chapel it was almost torn off the hinges. We ended up tying it closed. After I dropped the ladies and the props off, I went around collecting l the youth and delivering them to the chapel for rehearsal. I actually got one to stop fixing her dinner and come.

Among those I found along the way was Quinton who is the Elder’s President. I asked him to go with me to give sister Nzama a blessing. We reviewed what needed to be said and I told him he could do it in Zulu if he was not comfortable in English.

When we got to the house sister Nzama looked tired but seemed in pretty good spirits. Quinton anointed and I sealed the anointing and gave her a blessing. I felt she would soon be well and back with us. She has great faith and is a wonderful gogo.

Mary had a dress rehearsal and I have to say the youth did great. Many of them have learned their lines and the songs. I think by Saturday they will have everything down. I took a lot of pictures and some movies.

One of the songs they sing is ‘Master the tempest is raging’ with some changes in the lyrics. I must say the tempest was really raging and if we had been in a ship instead of a building the waves would really have been tossing us around. As it was the building often shuddered as a blast of wind hit it.

After the practice I took many of them home or near to their homes. On the way to Gabi’s a small tree was blocking much of the road but I was able to just drive over it. Thankfully one of the big ones did not fall.

President Machaka asked us for a ride to the special training on handling of church funds that was going to be held at Richards Bay and we were happy to do that. We dropped him at the chapel – I opened it so he did not have to wait outside – and then ran Mary home. I had enough time to grab a spot of dinner before heading back. By that time the rain that had threatened much of the day had started.

The meeting was fine and I am sure the branch presidencies learned a lot. I learned some things about auditing which we will use probably next week. I was surprised to see President Malinga in attendance because he was working the evening shift. I will have to ask him how he pulled that off.

President Thusi – 1^st counselor in Esikhawini also came. That was great for me because that meant I did not need to take President Machaka back to Port Durnford. I was going to do this if I had to but I was certainly happy to not need to spend an hour plus driving in the dark and especially not in Port Durnford.

Earlier this week, elder B mentioned that the police stopped one of the couples – I think the Hafens – in Esikhawini one night at about 9:00. When they found that they were a white couple, the police – black policemen – asked them what in the world they were doing in a township at that time of the night. They thought they were crazy to even think about being there after dark.

By the time we got out it was pouring wind driven rain so just getting out to the car was an experience. Of course I was one of the few people there without a coat – not overly bright when it is cold and wet out. But the trip back to the boarding went well and Mary had the heater on so I walked into a warm house from a warm car.

The way the youth came together for the roadshow made it a great day for me. Also to see our non-member at our English class was good. I forgot to mention that a young non-LDS woman who we had not seen for at least 3 weeks came to the rehearsal today and is going to be in the roadshow – at least we hope she will be in the roadshow.