27 August 2009 – Thursday
It was one of those days where things get changed but everything works out OK.
It was pretty much a normal morning around here – we did start neatening up the house because the Mickelsen’s were coming. Nothing major to be done, just putting away some (make that a lot) of the things that we tend to let stack up and getting out towels, etc.
While we were doing this, we got a call from Elder B asking if we could get together to do some planning. We thought this was a fine idea so we packed up the car for our day and then went to their boarding. It was great to see sister B out of the hospital but she still has not regained her strength. I think this will just take some time. The main thing we talked about was Sunday night dinners for the elders. We decided to cut them back to every other week – that is the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sunday of each cycle. After the B’s leave we may cut it back further but if we are the only couple here, we might like having the missionaries over that often just to feel their spirit. We also talked about what we would do with some of their stuff if no new couple came to RB. It is good we have a large 2 car garage. They gave us a braai that they only used once in the 23 months they were here. I think we will use it more often once summer comes.
After we left the B’s we went to lunch at the mall – as always I ate too much. We left from the mall to head out to Port Durnford to do English class and youth. We made a quick stop at president Machaka’s shop to get some information and then headed down the road to PD. Along the way we got a call from Thandi Nzama saying that her mother was getting out of the hospital but all her rides fell through. To keep it short, we spent the next two hours getting them home. Hopefully she will be able to eat and get well.
We had to cancel youth and it seems some of them did not get the message. We stopped by the chapel but they had all gone home. We did get to see Ayanda and told her that we can not have Youth next Thursday because we would be in Durban but we can have it on Wednesday. She said she would let the youth know about it. She had already memorized Psalms 100 but we told her she had to wait a week.
On our way home we stopped by Bungumuse’s and talked to him about doing a drawing for us. This is a way he can earn some money. He wanted to know all the details right then, but we had to tell him we did not have them yet. He is a very nice young man but strung just a little tight.
We then zipped home so I could grab something to eat before going to the RB chapel for District Council meeting. Before the meeting the Mickelsen’s gave the branch presidents – at least those who were there – a presentation about PEF. I knew most of what they presented but it was excellent for the presidents and those who did not understand the role of the PH leadership in the process. I am afraid that most of them just sign where indicated without fully interviewing the youth. I did not realize that one of the things that they had to certify was that the person seeking the loan was ambitious and was working at a job. I mentioned that I did not know a single South African high school or college student who worked. It is part of their culture that in most cases if you are going to school you should not have to work. Hopefully some day this will change because I think that is one of the strength of America. The work ethic is instilled in the youth from an early age.
After the presentation we had our meeting. Brother Mathalane finally reported on his mission. He talked about how he grew not only spiritually but also learned a lot about how to deal with people and their problems. It is excellent training for when he becomes a PH leader.
The rest of the meeting was used for taking care of district business including moving the District Youth activity until after the B’s go home. We talked about Helping Hands and other things. It is amazing how quickly an hour can go by. Since they did not know how to get to out house, the Mickelsens talked to the return missionary until we finished with the meeting.
When the meeting ended they followed me home and I had them park their car in the garage so it would be safe and not gather any more rain then it already had. Mary had hot chocolate and rusks waiting for us so we enjoyed them while we sat around and talked. I can not write too much about the Mickelsens on this blog because they read it so I will save all the good things we have learned about them for my personal journal.
Just kidding Mickelsens! The Mickelsens are fun to talk with – they served a mission in Florida and seem to have had some great experiences. This mission is quite different for them as is ours but that is one of the advantages of serving more than one mission as a couple. We would have never visited either Indonesia or South Africa if we had not been called to serve our missions there. Even if we had visited, we certainly would not have grown to know and love so many wonderful saints.
As I have often mentioned, one of the blessings of being on a mission is getting to know the other couples and the young missionaries. You share an experience with them that will continue to be a bond between you for the rest of your life. Elder Mickelsen offered our family prayer when we finally quit talking and headed off to bed.
While writing this I thought of King Benjamin’s “When you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God.â€Â