10 January 2010 – Sunday
A very normal Sunday for us with PEC at Esikhawini, sacrament at Port Durnsford, and then up to Enseleni for another sacrament and then Priesthood. The only real difference is that I was the District speaker in both sacrament meetings and there was some District business to conduct. I had done some thinking about the topic – The Lord’s Health Plan – but as usual I pretty much worked off inspiration. I did use Titus 2:11-the end as an opening. Talking about how we were being prepared to be Jesus’ unique or special people and that the Word of Wisdom was part of that preparation. I also spoke about how in the Word of Wisdom the Lord pointed out that there were men who wanted to addict people to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs to make money. I mentioned that the first thing the Dutch did when they landed on the cape was to give tobacco and whisky to the native chiefs so they could make them addicted.
I think the talks went well – I felt especially good about the one in PD and OK about the one in Enseleni. Elders Nare and Tseguna said that they thought the talk in Enseleni was good and direct. I hope they helped someone to keep the Word of Wisdom.
In the evening the elders came over for dinner. They staggered in over almost an hour’s time and it was hard to keep things warm for the late comers. Actually it was hard to keep food at all for the late comers. I should not be surprised but they went through 11 pounds of beef, 6 pounds of mashed potatoes, 4 ½ pounds of corn, lots of toasted rolls, salad, drinks and topped off with a liter of ice cream.
I took pictures of the new elders and had them fill out information sheets about themselves. We are keeping a journal of the elders who served with us in Richards Bay – I wish we had started it when we were in Swaziland.
After seeing the elders off bearing all the left-overs – Elder Wengert put roast beef, gravy, corn and rolls all in the same plastic bag. I guess he decided that they would all get mixed up in his stomach so why not let them start out that way – we cleaned up. Mary puts things away and I wash the piles of pots, pans, bowls, etc.