20 January 2010 – Wednesday

We woke to a beautiful cool morning – a true blessing for us.

Sister Mann posted this excerpt from a letter from Elder Mbithi who recently returned to Kenya after serving here. We got to know him well because he served in RB and also as an assistant. I really enjoyed kidding with him but I also enjoyed sharing spiritual thoughts. He is planning to go into politics so he can make a major difference in Kenya. I have no doubt he will be successful in his goals.

“Dear President Mann

I’m happy to say that I arrived home well and 30 of my friends from my youth group were there and after sharing my mission experiences with them I could not fail to extend a commitment for them to come to Church, and I’m excited to be involved in their conversion process and their families, too, as they are excited to join the Church.

Sunday I was called as the Branch Mission Leader and I talked with the Branch Presidency and they gave me the last Sunday of the month to do How Great (Shall Be Your Joy) training and they ordered Preach My Gospel for every family as I intend to introduce PMG Member, and also they agreed to make sure that there are missionary moments in the auxiliaries every Sunday.

President, its fun doing this and I can’t wait to show them the PEC Action List so their PECs can be productive…”

We went to the Empangeni DDM and was happy to hear how much the four Engwelezane elders are doing with becoming involved with the branch and working with President Mngadi. They have a number of ideas and hopefully some of them will work out. We only have time to work a little bit with the youth to make sure they have a good experience on Wednesday, so the elders will need to pick up some of the slack.

After DDM we rushed home to get the computer so we could show the introduction to the new theme in Youth later in the day. I was not feeling very well so after we ate lunch – good old peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – I took a short nap.

While Mary was teaching English to sister Ndlovu I went to see President Machaka about some things. They still have not set a date for their wedding but they are always together so that is good. I think it is a shame she did not keep her job as a teacher but maybe they have other plans.

I got back to the Ndlovu’s house before Mary was done and was sitting in the car when a man walked up and asked what I was doing parked in the township. I explained I was waiting for my wife and then we got to talking about our mission. It turned out that he was a teacher at the local school and he mentioned he was worried about our security. He was especially worried that we came to the same house on the same day and at the same time. He said that having consistent patterns was not a good idea. I am always grateful that there some of the citizens are concerned for our safety. We do not feel insecure but it is there town and they know it best so I think we will change our teaching habits where we can.

When Mary was finished we drove up to Engwelezane and helped with Youth. There was no one there when we arrived but two of the elders and some of the youth came by 3:40. We showed the introduction and worked on the theme. While the video was on I called President Mngadi and asked if he was coming to do Seminary. He came over but did not have the materials so I guess they will start next week. Since I had a district meeting, we left soon after the video was over and left the president and the elders to have some activity and pass out the bananas we brought. I encouraged them to be on time next week so we could have a lesson and still have time for games and snacks.

The district council meeting went on for almost 2 hours but since we had lots to discuss and learn, it went quite quickly. I have decided that President Vezi will have to work with Esikhawini – except of course for PEC on Sunday morning – and President Moloi will need to work with Engwelezane while we try to help PD and Enseleni. That does not mean we will not do what we can in all the branches but they need to be prepared for the day when there might not be any couples to depend on. There is still no word of any new couples for the mission. This means other than the two that we know are coming, there may not be any new couples until May at the earliest.

So it was a busy but good day for us…I think we did some good.

Birding…this morning as we looked out at the empty lot next to our boarding we saw a dozen or so Ha-de-das looking for breakfast. Then Mary noticed a much bigger bird just standing in the lot. It turned out to be a black-headed heron and we got a couple of good pictures. It was strange how it would just stand in one place. The only movement was when it slightly turned its head to look at some thing.

We had one other experience with birds today. We were eating dinner – fried egg sandwiches this time – when I saw something rather large move across the floor. I thought it was some large bug but when I went to look I found it was a young bird – a sparrow I think. It had walked in through the open door and did not know how to get out. I did not want to pick it up – I had heard that is not a good idea – so I got the broom and gently directed him to the exit. It was large enough to fly a little so hopefully it found its way back to mom and the nest.

19 January 2010 – Tuesday

Just one year ago we walked into the MTC to begin the adventure of a mission to South Africa. We were seasoned missionaries and knew what our MTC experience would be like. We certainly had no real idea what experiences serving in the South African, Durban mission would bring.

Today was a typical a-typical day for us. We received calls in the morning from two missionaries who needed doctor’s appointment for different ailments. Neither one is major but in both cases 2 sets of elders will be taken out of their fields – both are walking elders – for a few hours. Also today we took Khulekani for his dental exam – he does not need any work done and then to have his TB test. The test took much longer than expected as there was a mix up on just what test was needed and how it would be paid for.

While he was getting his teeth fixed, we bought a new fridge for one of the boardings so the four elders did not have to try and stuff all their food into just one. After that we had lunch with the Mickelsens who were up here for the morning working with some of their PEF loan applicants. It was interesting to hear about their problems and their successes. They care for each of their students and feel it personally when something does not work out. There will be a big hole here if they are not replaced with another couple.

I needed to get a check cashed so we went to the bank and I had the best experience ever. I walked right up to a counter and in 2 minutes I walked away with my money. That has never happened before – I will not expect it again.

On the way to take Khulekani home, we stopped at Mama Zulu to say hello and tell her we missed her at church on Sunday. She told us she had not been feeling well. She had things she wanted to talk to sister Pier about so they stepped out into the yard to talk about them. Some things just take a woman’s touch.

After dropping Khulekani off at his house with clean teeth and a headache – dentist are the same where ever you live! (Just kidding Shauna) – we went over to President Vilane’s where I tried to help him with the 4^th quarter report. We were having a tough time reconciling the numbers the Church has on their forms with those people who live in the branch. We finally gave up and will work on it again on Friday after I get a new branch list from Calwyn on Wednesday.

Some thoughts on the weather: It started out being a hot and humid day. When I got out of the car at the bank, it reminded me of the time I walked out of a hotel in New Orleans, hit a wall of heat and humidity and went right back into the air-conditioned lobby. Today I walked into the wonderfully air-conditioned lobby of the bank.

When I came out I ran into the guard I have talked to before. We said hello and he asked me if we had a church in Richards Bay. Since he lives in Port Durnford I felt that was strange but told him I would have the elders call and talk to him.

As the day went on the clouds moved in and by the time we left President Vilane’s house it was actually cool. Not long after we returned to our boarding the cool, breezy weather became a short rain storm that further took away the heat and humidity so we ended up with very enjoyable weather for the rest of the evening. We have been blessed with cooler weather so far this January.

A further thought that should have been in Sunday’s entry. While we listened to president Mthalane teach the lesson on pre-mortal life for Sunday School at Esikhawini, it came to me that Lucifer was not rebuked for coming up with an alternate plan or even for his pride in wanting the glory for himself. What he is punished for is refusing to accept God’s decision and then leading a rebellion. It reminded me of Amlici in the BofM when after being rejected as king of the Nephites he leads a revolt that leads to the death of so many people. In the kingdom you have a right to your own thoughts and ideas, but when you try to get others to agree with your ways over the way of your leaders you open yourself to disciplinary action.