21 August 2009 – Friday

 

I took these three pictures today. The pink balloon has been bouncing around our house for at least 6 weeks. We blew it up when we were trying to make the Liahona for the roadshow. We will keep it until either it pops or we go home. I kind of like the clown. Mary has wanted me to stop to take a picture of the rhino crossing sign since we have been here in Richards Bay. It is located along the John Ross highway where cars go by at high speeds. I am not sure what would happen if a rhino actually was crossing. I am not sure why I took the picture of the five security guards on bikes, I just did today.

I slept well but Mary woke up way too early and was up for a time before managing to go back to sleep. I spent part of the morning posting pictures on the blog. Everything takes time.

I doubt if anyone besides perhaps Cindy remembers the problem I had with white shirts during the first 3 or 4 months we were in Indonesia. I seemed to ruin one every week or two. Since we have been in South Africa I have only ruined one – remember do not do whites and colored clothes together stupid – when a new orange wash towel we bought bled all over one of my shirts. I should mention that later Mary wrote the Title of Liberty on part of it so it did do excellent missionary service.

Any way, although that is the only shirt that has been rendered useless, a number of my shirts have accumulated so much lint and other things in the bottom of the pockets that I had to spend more time than I wanted cleaning out the seams, soaking the shirts in water with a good dose of bleach, and then washing them again. Hopefully I will be rewarded with nice clean white shirts.

Speaking of white shirts I have noticed that the elders’ shirts are always really nice and white. I asked elder Babeeyo about this and he explained that they spend time pre-cleaning the shirts before they wash them. I wonder if they are taught this in the MTC or if one of the things a trainer does is teach the new missionary how to keep their white shirts, white. I am spending way too much time on this subject.

We were getting ready to go to the hospital to see sister Nzama when I got a call from Elder B saying that they were just admitting Sister B to the hospital. It seems she had a terrible night and finally agreed to go. I thought about the blessing she received last night and wondered if the terrible night was an answer because she has been very reluctant to go in. He called to ask if we could take care of something for him. I told him of course we would be happy to.

We quickly re-arranged our day and went to the RB chapel to meet the Zone Leaders so they could get in and pick up some baptism clothes for tomorrow. When we got there we found that brother Holder and another man was there putting a security door on the clerks office to protect the computers that are coming. We talked for a while and I was impressed by how much he cared about the chapels and their condition.

We met with the Zone leaders and took care of their needs – it turns out that there will only be 3 baptisms as two of the candidates felt they were not ready. We also had a nice talk with elder Richey and he seems to be focused on the mission and not home.

We then ran some errands, ending with buying what we need for the Last Supper on Sunday. We decided to get the makings for tacos because we felt that if sister B really wanted to have it at their home it would save them shopping and fairly easy to prepare. But when we got home I called Elder B and he said that they were keeping his wife in the hospital for at least two days so they can run all kinds of tests and give her a chance to rest. So far the tests have not turned up any problem so they are thinking she is just exhausted and her body has revolted.

I called president Malinga to see if we could visit him today. He was at BuildMart getting everything they will need for tomorrow. President Vesi is helping him choose the paint and the tools. It just goes to show that the Esikhawini branch is capable of taking care of most things themselves without the couples help. I am proud of them.

As I was writing this a very small mouse started running around the walls. It was a baby and after a couple of missed opportunities I managed to kick it as it ran by and either kill it or knock it out – either way I was able to dispose of it in the trash. Mary is quite happy to see it gone.

We went to Ngwalezane Hospital to see gogo Nzama. First Mary set the GPS to take us to the wrong hospital but she caught the mistake early so we did not go too far out of our way. I think we can now find it without any help from Lia. Then we had been told she was in Ward E but when we got there her name was not on the board. We were starting to worry when a nurse said they had an Nzama in Ward C.

When we got to Ward C, Sister Nzama was just a couple of beds in and right on the aisle. Her sister who lives in Esikhawini was visiting her. We had a nice talk with Sister N and got her to laugh a number of times. We pin up a picture of the resurrected Christ above her bed and told her that was to remind her that He was looking over her. As we prepared to leave her sister asked if we could drop her at the taxi stand but we said we would be happy to drive her to her home. She had already indicated that it was near the Nkosi home and we knew where that was.

 

We came across of children playing and one had a wire car that he was pushing around. This is a common toy here and Mary has been trying to get a picture. So we asked them to pose and they were happy to but we had a hard time getting them to understand what we really wanted was a good picture of the car. This one is OK but still does not show the car very well. We then started passing out some candy and had a mad house. Forming a line just was not going to happen. Some I am sure got two or three pieces – I just hope all got at least one.

After dropping her off I called President Malinga and asked if we could have 10 minutes of his time. He said certainly and so we went over. I told him I just wanted to congratulate him on getting everything ready for the Helping Hands project tomorrow without any help from us. We talked for a short time and then I asked if we could help in any way and he said yes. He mentioned that a few minutes before I called he was about to turn off his phone so he could go to sleep to be ready to go to work at 7:00. But he felt he should leave it on and then we called.

It turned out he needed us to take the paint and tools he had bought today so we could deliver them to the crèche where the branch would be working tomorrow. He also mentioned the braai that he said they would have and which he had not done anything about. I told him he should first call his counselors and RS president and see if they had already made preparations. I told him we would be happy to help if they needed it.

This also gave me a chance to explain that if he was holding regular presidency meetings he could have delegated all of this to his counselors a month ago. I got him to promise that he would hold one either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Hopefully he will see the wisdom of holding them each week so he will be in better control of the branch.

 

I took these pictures of Mary and President Malinga because it was a nice day. I do not remember what I said to break him up but I like the picture. He is a good man and is developing into an excellent branch president.

We left him to try and get some sleep before going to work – he will not have much. On our way back to our boarding we made a stop at the mall where I got some cash, tried to pay my Telkom bill but it was not out yet, and bought some more rollers and paint brushes at Games so more people could be painting at one time. Hopefully we will need them.

We called elder B and asked if we could visit sister B and to find out what were visiting hours. He said we could and that they were between 7 and 8. After having some dinner at our boarding we went to the hospital. After a number of false starts – there are no signs indicating room numbers – we found the right room. However sister B was fast asleep and elder B was out of the room. We did not want to wake her – she really needs her rest – so we dropped off another picture of Christ so she will know we came by and left.

Got an SMS from President Malinga telling us that he had taken care of the Braai. This means they have handled the whole thing by themselves. Hopefully it will also give them confidence that they can plan and accomplish other things also.

Before going to bed I posted the Tembe Elephant Park pictures on our blog. Also posted a number of pictures we got from Elder Mickelsen and gave him credit. He has not answered my inquiry about what camera he is using. This was the first time we made two hospital visits in the same day – hopefully there will not be too many of them.

 

 

 Since it is rather hard for me to take a picture that has both of us in it, we are grateful to Elder M for providing these. I am glad in at least one we are standing. From the others it looks like we spent all our time at Tembe sitting. Come to think of it we did!

Some of his great shots of animals and scenery – he really has an eye for content

Everyone loves giraffe pictures – the one with sunset in the back is a classic.

His camera reached into the bush and pulled out the three lions that were looking back at him. The Nyala picture is also great because it shows the raised hair on its back which means it is really angry. I guess we were interfering with his lunch. We were told the baby elephant in this picture was about a month old. But it already learning that elephants really do have the right of way.

BTW all income from these pictures will be forwarded to Elder Mickelsen- as soon as I deduct my fee and operating expenses.

I was going to weave these pictures in among the days they occurred but decided that was just too much work. So here are some of two or three hundred we took.

This first elephant was about 25 feet or less from the side of the truck. He was eating his dinner when we came upon him. He really did not stop but would grab a trunk full, stuff it in his mouth and then look at us as he swallowed. I wonder what he thought about us. He certainly was not scared – in fact I doubt if much scares a grown elephant. The second picture I titled “An where do you think you are going?” Elephants and Rhinos tend to not get out of the truck’s way until they are good and ready to do so. The last picture was of just 4 elephants out of probably a dozen that crossed the road in front of us. Our guide said that the two babies are less than 6 months old.

Sunrise on the third day – Sunset on the first. While the animals are the main attraction, the always changing countryside is also amazing. Sometimes I think we were looking so hard for animals that we missed many wonderful sights.

This was the first time we had seen crested guinea fowls. Before that we only saw helmeted ones. Now that we have seen both of them, I am torn as to which I like best. We have seen warthogs at every game park we have gone to. They tend to run when the truck approaches but this family was far enough away that we did not disturb them. The last picture is dung beetles at work. I wonder how long they will be busy with this pile?

A dozen great couples together for the last time as the Klinglers, Bartholomews, and Sessions will be gone before we meet again in December for All Zone Conference. Hopefully some new couples will join us by then.

  

Somehow I managed to go through my whole life not realizing the importance of the dung beetle to the ecology of the whole planet. Only after visiting Tembe Elephant Park and becoming informed of their value have I come to appreciate their contribution. Notice the right hand picture where the beetle is pushing a ball of dung that is larger than it is but holding it with its hind legs and pushing backwards with his front. Can you imagine how many times a day a beetle must form, move and bury a ball of dung to dispose of the droppings of just one elephant!

For more information try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dung_beetle

After reading this you will give the dung beetle the right of way.

Thanks to Elder Mickelsen for these excellent photos.

20 August 2009 – Thursday

Slept well but had to get moving this morning because the Bs were going to pick us up to go get our car. I spent much of the time posting to the blog. I am going to try to keep up each day because it is hard to play catch up.

When the Bs tried to leave their boarding they found that they had a flat. Elder B said that he had it changed in under 15 minutes. On the way to pick up our car, we stopped to drop off his flat to get fixed. Once at the Nissan dealership it took about 15 minutes to get our car paid for and out from the back. I think if I had left it for 2 more days they would have sold it.

We then followed the Bs almost back to the mall but they stopped to get their tire. We had a number of things to do at the mall including getting some money, buying air time, and getting a new battery for my watch that stopped while we were at Tembe. We would have been much quicker if the stores would not have been at opposite ends of the mall.

We then dashed home to have grilled cheese sandwiches – Mary also had tomato soup to warm her up. I just realized I did not mention that it rain all last night – hard – and started again this morning. It was also quite cold – even I felt it. After lunch Mary caught a quick nap and then we loaded up and headed to Port Durnford.

Our first stop was President Machaka’s tuck shop so he could sign the last food order. We also talked about the new business he hopes to open in Richards Bay. He and two other men are going to start a training school that will teach basic computer skills and other job skills. I hope it works for him because the tuck shop does not make enough money to support a family.

 

Then we went to teach English. By now the rain was not very heavy but the wind was howling. It cut right through the sweater I was wearing. We found that Gogo Nzama was in the hospital. We will go see her tomorrow. Also our faithful Temba has a job so he will not be able to attend the class. But we taught Thandi and she is a good student. Note that in the picture she is wearing a thick coat and a hat in the house. We were both wearing sweaters. The home is un-heated because the house is not insulated and it would cost too much to pay for the electricty.

We then took her to the Port Durnford chapel for youth. With the wind and cold we did not expect many to show up but they just kept coming and except for Fufu we had pretty much a full complement. Two of them had memorized the 7^th and 8^th Articles of Faith and I gave them a small reward.

 

Mary then played a game of ‘I am going on vacation. In my suitcase I am going to pack’ memory game. We were astounded how well they did. We called it a draw when it got down to two left and they were remembering 15 items. They loved the game. We then let them watch the part of their roadshow that we had – they thought that was great also. Finally we gave them the treats – strawberry soda and candy before bidding them goodbye.

As we were getting ready to leave, Quinton told me that he was asked to be in charge of the Helping Hands project this Saturday. They are going to clean up some class rooms at the local high school. For some reason he had been led to believe that we had been asked to supply everything they would need. I had to explain we had not been asked to do anything and we did not know what they needed. He said he would check into it with President Machaka and get back to us. But he asked us to at least go over to see what we would be cleaning up. So after dropping off Thandi at her house we picked him up and drove to the high school. It really needs as much help and cleaning as we can give it. I doubt if what we will do on Saturday will make a dent in the condition but at least it will be a good service project.

On our way home we saw this beautiful rainbow in the sky. I think we needed it to remind us that this is the Lord’s world and that there is hope for the future.

We took Quinton home, stopped by Bungumuse’s house to drop off the photo of his great backdrop for the road show and then went to the Bartholomews to give sister B a blessing. We had a nice visit and then I anointed and elder B sealed the anointing. Hopefully she will soon be well so she can finish her mission on a high note. We got home about 6:30 and had a great breakfast for dinner.

We got a great surprise when the Vonage phone rang and it was Jim. He had managed to fix what ever the problem was with incoming calls. So now everyone at home can call at any time…hint, hint – well at least at any reasonable time.

Elder Mickelsen sent us an e-mail with a link to his Picasa album of pictures from Tembe. He must have worked on them all day. There are some great pictures there and I will borrow some for the blog. I wrote to thank him and to find out what camera and lens he is using because it is great. He got shots my Casio will just not get.

I have spent the hours since dinner looking at pictures, down loading some I want to save and writing today’s journal entry. The night has pretty much flashed by – I notice this happens quite often. Mary is now in making a Baptism program for the elders to take to Cosi Bay Saturday. They are going up for 5 baptisms and will stay over for the confirmations. If they keep growing, they will some day be an independent branch.

It was a good day in Richard Bay for the Piers

19 August 2009 – Wednesday

Once again we were up early so we could go on the morning drive. I started packing some things last night and we will finish up this morning before eating breakfast so they can take all the luggage to where are cars are parked.

The morning drive was not anywhere as exciting as the others we took. It was almost like the animals were saying – enough is enough. Our driver tried everything but while we saw lots of fresh dung from elephants we never saw anything other than the usual antelope and a couple of water buffalos. But the morning was not too cool and there were some great views. Maybe I was supposed to learn to enjoy what is there and not worry about what was not there.

After the better part of 2 hours we stopped for hot chocolate and rusk bars. We also took pictures with our guide and the other couples around the safari car. They do not use Range Rovers but Toyota Land Cruisers. They are in excellent shape for a vehicle that spends most of its time being scraped by the brush.

We were on our way back to the lodge when we briefly saw what our guide said was a black rhino – it was the first one we have seen since we got here but the view was so brief – they can really move quickly if they need to – that I can not say what kind it was. We thought that would be about it for the day when we saw a group of rhinos – white ones this time – and when we counted there were four of them. So Sister Klingler got to see her rhinos – even if they were some distance off and basically showing their rumps. Not too much further along we came upon a huge white rhino that was closer to the road but moving through the brush. We only got a couple of good looks at him but it was obvious that he was the largest rhino we had seen at Tembe.

Back at the lodge, we finished our packing and went to breakfast. Poached eggs on toast, more of the great sausage, lots of toast and jam, and of course good company. As usual we were running late for the last meeting. The Mickelsens gave a very good review on PEF and mentioned a number of things that I wrote down to use in our branches. I was especially interested in a keyboard that can be used to learn keyboarding which would be a wonderful class to have at the branches. We could have them 2 or 3 times a week so the young people – and older ones of course – could come and learn to type. After the had become proficient in that we could have a limited basic computer skills class – elder Knudsen is a IT specialist and is looking into what is available free on the internet – which would help them when applying for a job.

The highlight of the morning and perhaps the conference was a talk by sister Sessions on the atonement. She told a couple of personal stories that were very spiritual in nature that tied in perfectly with the subject.

President Mann spoke last and spent his time explaining what the focus of the mission training would be over the next few cycles. It is aimed at getting the 25 new missionaries up to speed as quickly as possible so that the work will not suffer as the 25 most experienced missionaries are released over just a 6 week period. Of course they will also lose 2 wonderful couples in the same time – the Klinglers go home at the first of September and the Sessions near the end. Then the Bartholomews will go home early in November and as of now there are no replacements called. But perhaps like the Taylors who go into the MTC just 3 weeks after receiving their call, the replacements are just getting theirs.

After the last prayer – Mary gave it – we all were gathered together for a picture. Sister Mann had been thinking about this and had just the spot picked out and knew where she wanted each couple to stand. This kept the shuffling to a minimum and everyone one could clearly be seen.

We then got into the Land Cruisers for the last time. As we sat waiting for the Manns to settle the bill and join us the staff sang and danced for us. I was able to get a lot of it on video – including a great one where the Manns had to work their way through the group to get to the vehicles.

On the way to where the cars were parked we found the big elephant that greeted us a couple of days ago. We kidded that they kept him on a chain so would only allow him to walk up and down a given section of the road so each group would see him coming and going. We had a good time thinking up how they controlled him.

At the car park we loaded up our luggage and then stood around talking and taking pictures for 15 minutes or more. We said goodbye to the Klinglers because we probably will not see them again and everyone promised to visit when we all got home. We will probably see the Sessions at least once more before they leave but perhaps not. It is strange how these friendships are established when you only see some of the couples at All Zone and Couples Conferences. But there is a bond that does not need much personal contact because we share the experiences and spirit of our calls. In fact it is only possible to really explain what we experience with other couples who have served missions. In some cases it is only possible to share with couples who have served in the same mission.

We – the Barts and us – were the last ones out of the parking lot but since others stopped at the gift shop, we were close behind the Manns on the way back to Durban. As we were going along we got a call suggesting everyone stops at the Ilala Weavers to shop and have lunch. So we all pulled in and placed our lunch orders, shopped and then ate. No time wasted this way. I had a delicious chicken salad and Mary had a toasted sandwich. The food was great and again we got to share some of our experiences with other couples. With lunch finished we once again bid farewell to those who were going home to Durban and we traveled back to Richards Bay.

Since we would not get home until after the Nissan service shop was closed, the B’s dropped us off at home and they will take us to get our car early tomorrow. I should mention that the sky had clouded up and we had some rain spots on the windshield as we neared home.

It was good to get back in our own boarding and relax. The couple’s conference was great but there was almost no time for just relaxing. We spent much of the night down loading, editing, and putting captions on the almost 300 pictures we took over the three days. I also spent some time on this journal. Mary was in bed quite early and an hour later so was I. Tomorrow it is back to work with the branches.

18 August 2009 – Tuesday

We had to get up early to be on the game drive at 6:00. The morning turned out to be nippy and I kept adding layers of clothing as we went along. On the morning drives they stop for a snack of hot chocolate – which was greatly appreciated – and a hard biscuit called rusk which turned out to be really tasty. Although they certainly contained corn and raisins, I am not sure what else was in them.

Back at camp we had a very nice breakfast with the best sausage I have eaten since I was in South Africa, scrambled eggs, cooked tomatoes, toast, juice and a great strawberry jam. Of course we also had a good time talking to other couples about our mission experiences.

The first session of the conference included a number of reports from the couples – including us. Also there were talks by the Knudsens on love, the Bartholomews on Service, and the Klinglers on Faith. All the talks were great but it was sister Klingler’s talk on Faith that touched me most. She told of a young woman that after prayer turned down a job that would have required her to work on two Sundays a month. In a country with 35% un-employment, turning down a job is almost unheard of. Soon after that she had 7 job opportunities made available to her.

She also told of a very poor member who made a suit for Elder Klingler that was much to small in chest and much too long so there was no way he could wear it. But a young man in one of the branches was called on a mini-mission, needed a suit and of course could not afford one. He was much taller and thinner than Elder K and the suit fit him perfectly. The Ks asked the man who made the suit if it was OK with him if they gave the suit to the young man and he gladly said yes. Since then the young man has put in for a full time mission and will be taking the suit with him.

Elder Griesemer talked about what they were doing with doing in Employment. It sounded like they are doing a great job in preparing the stake and district employment offices to function if they are not replaced as employment specialists. They are a great couple. He is very funny and she seems to be very serious, but when you get to know them you soon find she is just as funny and sharp as he is but she is not as vocal about it. You can easily see how much they love each other. He has a very special story about his conversion and what it has meant to his family. It is on the lines of the conference talk called “Its True Isn’t It,” but since he does not readily share it with others, I will not tell it on the blog until I have his permission.

One funny thing just popped into my mind. Since there are two Wilson couples serving in the mission – the elders are brothers – one couple is known to the missionaries as the SwazilandWilsons and the other as the LadysmithWilsons. It is almost like it was part of their last names. Sister Wilson from Ladysmith confessed that she often finds that she refers to herself as Sister LadysmithWilson to those who are not missionaries.

We ended the morning session in time for us to eat some lunch and then head out to our evening game drive.  This was the best drive of the trip because we saw lots of elephants.

One of the trucks found a group of elephants and called to tell the others. We arrived just as they were disappearing into the deep bush and we were greatly disappointed as all we got to see were glimpses of about 5 or 6 of them through the bush and trees.

But our driver took us not to far to a rather large watering hole where there was a single bull elephant drinking. We got to sit and watch him for quite a while. As kind of comic relief monkeys would almost at regular intervals run across the edge of the pool and disappear into the bush. The elephant finally drank its fill and started to walk around the pool. A single impala came running across the edge of the pool, took one look at the elephant, did a very sharp 180 and hurried back the way it came.

We figured that we had our elephant experience for the day when out of the bush came a couple more very young elephants which started to play with each other. Soon after that the elephants just kept coming out of the bush in a long string. Big ones and little ones – the guide thought the youngest was about 4 months old. For the next hour we watched and followed elephants. At times we were pretty much surrounded by them as they strolled through the bush and down the road. I would bet that the two truck loads of missionaries took something like 1500 pictures and videos of those elephants. Unfortunately the third truck did not get the message about the elephants and so they missed out on the experience. On the way back to camp we saw a family of giraffes and our only sighting of zebras.

Back at the lodge we had a brief rest period before dinner. Dinner included warthog steak which turned out to be a little tough but pretty good tasting. We also had sweet chili chicken which was delicious. Tonight and last night while we were eating we were visited by a pair of Bush babies who have learned if they appear at dinner time, people will feed them bread so they can take their picture. The ones who came tonight became scared of something and quickly disappeared. But they later came back and I fed them while Mary took some pictures.

After dinner we gathered around the nightly campfire and had a wonderful testimony meeting. I found it amazing that such a diverse group of LDS would be gathered around a campfire in South Africa sharing their testimonies of the gospel and the work we are doing. Each knowing that they were called to serve here at this time by a prophet and each finding what they why they were called to serve where they are. We are very blessed to be a part of this group and to have the opportunity to know them and hear their testimonies. I do not think that you would find any of them who would say that they sacrificed to come on their missions. They all sing ‘Called to Serve’ with a true knowledge of what this means.

17 August 2009 – Monday

We were up early so we could finish packing for our trip to couples conference. The time seemed to fly by and it was soon time to leave for the Nissan agency where we were to drop off our car to have its brakes serviced. The Bart’s picked us up there and we headed off to the petrol stop on the N2 where we were to meet the rest of the group coming up from Durban.

When we arrived one van load was there and soon after President Mann came with the other. The trip to the Tembe lodge was on good roads. One of the amazing things about the road is that on some sections of this road that runs basically through an open country side there are long concrete walk ways and in some areas there are almost new, wide sidewalks with curbs and gutters. It is a strange contrast to see these modern sidewalks and curbs running through an area where the houses are often made of waddle and rocks with mud plaster. There are few places in modern, well to do Richards Bay that have sidewalks. It is a strange country at times.

The lasts 14 kilometers to the lodge was worse than any part of the Port Durnford road. Except in a couple of sections that obviously had been re-surfaced, there were pot holes that often went all the way across the road. Once again there seemed to be no reason for those sections that were re-surfaced. They would start at one point in the pot hole riddled road and then a couple of kilometers later they would end and the pot holes would resume.

Since we have 12 couples – including the Manns – we were able to reserve the whole lodge for the conference. So we were well taken care of. To keep things short after we arrived we signed a paper releasing the lodge for any accident or injury we might incur – such as being eaten by lions or stepped on by an elephant. Then we were shown to out ‘tent.’ This turned out to be about 20’ x 30’ raised tent with shower, toilet, and beds with electric blankets. Talk about roughing it!

Almost as soon as we got settled we had lunch and then we went on our first of four game drives. To keep this simple on the drives over the next three days we got to see elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and enough impalas and nyalas that we stopped taking pictures of them.

When we got back from the drive we had time to freshen up before having dinner. Dinner included impala steaks. This was a first for all of us and I must say it was pretty good. It was tender and had no gamey taste.

After dinner we gathered for a short introduction session and then we gathered around the campfire to roast marsh mellows. Sister Mann thinks of almost everything but she did not bring long sticks so people were using wooden skewers to roast the marsh mellows. (As I was typing this at 10:20 on Tuesday night a monkey just ran across our roof. At least I hope it was a monkey.) I saw the problem and walked over to a nearby bush and broke off a longer thin branch and solved the problem of getting your fingers  roasted along with the marsh mellows.

16 August 2009 – Sunday

Our normal busy Sunday from about 7:00 am until 2:30 when we get back to our boarding. We picked up brother Nwayo and his son on the way to Esikhawini. President Malinga came to PEC and we had a majority of those who should be in attendance there for a change. Hopefully some day we will get a full group.

The only thing that was different for the day was that elder Musemare taught the adult SS class and I taught the adult Priesthood class. Brothers Percy and Malando had the Aaronic PH conferred on them and were ordained Priests. President Nyawo did the ordinances with the help of Elder Vance holding his white handbook turned to the right page.

After the meeting I was able to get a couple of problems solved and then spent some time training President Nyawo to be a counselor. We had a good talk and I tried to show him why it was important that they hold a weekly Presidency meeting before having PEC. While I was doing that, Mary had a couple of piano students.

On our way to dropping president Nyawo off, I stopped at brother Nkosi to see why he has been missing church. We had a short but good visit – president Nyawo is his home teacher – and I told him I would pick him up at about 7:30 next Sunday for PEC meeting. Hopefully he will be ready and we will be really close to having a complete PEC. After taking president Nyawo off we finally wended our way back to our boarding.

We made taco salad using the meat Mary cooked last night for dinner. I cut up the tomatoes, lettuce and grated the cheese. The salads turned out to be very good and we broke up the left over crisp shells and used them like tortilla chips in the salad.

I guess I should explain that while we can not buy corn tortillas nor plain corn tortilla chips, we can buy a taco kit that has 12 pre-formed, pre-fried corn tortilla shells along with an almost decent seasoning mix and a not very decent salsa.

After lunch I crashed and woke up a couple of hours later. We then started packing for our trip to couples conference tomorrow before we left to go to the B’s boarding for Sunday dinner with the missionaries. We celebrated Elder Richey’s 21^st birthday and had a good time as usual. It is a nice way to end each Sabbath day.

15 August 2009 – Saturday

I was up early so I could be at the car wash before 7:00. I got there at 6:50 but there were already 2 cars in front of me. That is better than the 4 last week, but if you add the wait time for it to open, I still spent over an hour getting my car washed.

Mary was invited to attend Richards Bay Enrichment meeting this morning so I dropped her off at about 10:00 and went and went to get some prints made. I started to say I dropped off some … what do you drop off when you are using digital images? Anyway a very well versed young lady helped me choose what I wanted copied and told me to come back in an hour.

On the way back to our boarding, I stopped at the Engen station to get some scones and pick up a newspaper for Mary. I could have bought the paper at the mall but I forgot so I swung in to the station because it is right on my way home. As I was checking out the young lady who was helping me looked at my name tag and asked where the church was. Since I never seem to be able to tell anyone the correct street name, I asked for her name and phone number so someone could contact her. I also left her a ‘Plan of Salvation’ pamphlet. I then called the Richards Bay elders – she said she lived in the area – and gave them the name and number so they could contact her later. So my ‘mistake’ in not getting the paper in the mall led to a contact. BTW they did not have the paper at the Engen station but I did get some scones.

I picked up Mary at noon and we went to the mall and picked up the prints. I then went to CNA and got the newspaper. We then hurried to Esikhawini so we would be on time for English lessons. We were just about to give up that anyone was coming and a student showed up. Mary taught her while I sat in the car and read.

Since we did not have any lunch we went to KFC and while we were in line the four elders from the area showed up. We treated them to lunch – I told them that their timing was perfect – and then had them help us gather up a food order that we needed to take out to Port Durnford. As we were doing this, I realized they could take the order and so the whole thing worked out well for everyone. They got a free lunch and we saved a trip to Port Durnford. Reciprocal tender mercies.

When we left the mall – or what passes for one in Esikhawini – Mary felt we should go by and visit sister Mavundla. I thought we should visit others, but Mary felt strongly about it so we went to her house. She was not there, but her husband was and as we talked to him we learned that his wife was not feeling well at all and was at her mothers. I asked if he thought she would like a blessing and he said yes, but he needed to go to work. So I called elder Richey and Mbhiti and they said they would.

We then went over to sister Khumalo’s to try and straighten out her family’s records. We had a nice visit and found that her children had different last names and how we needed to attach them to her. Hopefully by the time we are released the records in the branches will be correct – including addresses and phone numbers.

After that was done it was getting time to leave the township so we headed home for the evening.