06 September 2009 – Sunday

Up and out by 7:00 so we can pick up Presidents Nyawo and Nkosi for PEC meeting. After PEC we headed to Port Durnford for the regular meetings. There were not a lot of people at the meeting because some were working and some were recovering from the funeral. I really felt some of the testimonies – especially President Zondi’s as he talked about those who were not at the meeting and how we need to love them back. After sacrament the members kind of mill around but we got them organized. Mary taught Primary and YW mixed, Elder Richey pretty much taught Young Men, and I taught a combined men and women’s class.

I asked them what was the biggest problem in the branch and they almost simultaneously said that it was the less active. So we sat and talked about what each of them might do to help get one person who was not at church today here next Sunday. Each of them had good ideas and are committed to trying to love the inactive back to church. It will be interesting to see  how it works out. We will not be able to beat PD on Sunday but I will ask Elder Richey who comes.

After the meetings we took Thandi Nzama and her children as well as sister Chirwa to see gogo Nzama. She is looking much better and has started to eat again. I think she will be back in health by next weekend. After that we drove Thandi and sister Chirwa to sister Joyce’s road so they could visit her and see why she has not been coming to church. So they got started on re-activation right away.

While we were at the Nzama’s I found that one of our front tires looked very low, so we decided we better get some air in it. There is only one petrol station in Esikhawini and luckily we know where it is. We went there and got some fuel – I know it was Sunday but I hate to take free air and not give them some business. I have the same problem using a restaurant or fast food place’s toilet without buying something. Anyway we filled up the tank but by the time we had finished there were four or five cars lined up to get air in their tires.

Since we had actually been at the station the longest, I got out and started talking to the men who were using the air hose. We talked about a number of things including the US. After they had finished with their tires, they did mine and so we did not have to wait for everyone else.

We arrived at Esikhawini just before they let out of the last meeting. I was excited to see brother Mavundla at church. I made it a point to go over and talk to him and tell him that. I hope that our talk a couple of weeks ago helped him decide to come.

I talked to president Nyawo and president Thusi for a short time. I think they had been talking about holding Presidency meeting. I certainly hope so. While Mary taught her piano class – only two of her students come almost every week – I helped lock up the buildings. We once again ended up the last folks to leave and so I end up locking the gates as we left.

The rest of the day was spent at our boarding eating, napping, studying, indexing and checking in to see how our family was doing. Taylor and Spencer had engagement/wedding invitation pictures taken. They are a good looking couple.