Daily Archives: April 28, 2014

Catching Up #4 – Couples Conference

The first time we came to South Africa we arrived two days before a wonderful couples conference was held in Swaziland – which happened to be where we were to serve our first 2 1/2 months. So we got to meet and share experiences with all the couples in the mission. This time we had to wait a month before we attended one. As always it was a great experience as we got to know each of the couples and introduce ourselves to them.

The first day we all met near the mission office and spent the morning getting to know each other. There was a very informative presentation by President Mbletke of the mission presidency who talked about living under apartheid and how he came to join the church. Joining the church completely changed his life by opening up educational opportunities that he had not dreamed of. We were thrilled to hear his name announced as a new area 70 at conference. He will be a wonderful one.

Mar2014 CC - Setting up - TaylorMar2014 CC - DaviesOur good friend elder Taylor looked at the camera as I took a picture of setting up for the conference. Elder and Sister Davie serve in the Randburg

Mar2014 CC - E-S BrammeMar2014 CC - E-S Cloward - Randburg

The Brummers serve in Mokopane and the Clowards serve as S&I missionaries.

Mar2014 CC - E-S Harward - Polokwane Mar2014 CC - Harward and Cloward

E/S Harwood serve in Seshego as MLS missionaries.

After the morning meeting we all met at the temple for a session. The Johannesburg temple is a small one and there were enough of us that we not only filled the seats but they had to bring in chairs. It was very special to share this experience with all of our fellow senior couples.

After the meeting we all gathered at Mike’s Kitchen for a meal where the conversation was more important than the food – but the food was also very good. I got to eat Kingsklip for the first time in over 3 years!

Mar2014 CC - Group eating 2 Mar2014 CC - group eating 3Mar2014 CC - group eating



Interlude – 28 April 2014 – Monday – I get my haircut!

I rather feel like Mormon when he writes some of his thoughts in the Book of Mormon. However some pictures are taking a long time to load so I thought I would write about getting a haircut in Potchefstroom.

One of the small malls we visit has a real barber shop and I decided that I really must get my hair cut before President Omer says something about my curls. So after washing my hair in the sink – one of our geysers (hot water heaters) is not working so there is no hot water in the bathrooms – I went there. I knew it was a holiday but I thought since many stores are open to cater to all the other people with days off that he might be also. Well I was wrong – almost. When I got there the shop was dark and i was about to walk away when a man asked me something in Afrikaans and then again when I answered in English. It turned out he was the barber and he was just heading home.

I told him I would come back tomorrow but he opened up his shop and gave me one of the best haircuts I have ever had. We had a good time talking about his life, his training and how he ended up being a barber. It took about 20 minutes and the cost was only 50 rand or about $5! I told him he had my business for the next 16 months.



Catching Up #3 – Zone Conference

Soon after we got to Potchefstroom we drove back to Joburg for Zone Conference. I took pictures of missionaries because that is 1/2 what the blog is about – letting the families back home see their missionaries. We learned in Fort Lauderdale that some missionaries do not attach many pictures to their letters. Unfortunately I do not know the elders and

Mar 2014 - ZC - Elders 1 Mar 2014 - ZC - Elders 2

Elder Mavulnda and his companion. Elders Jackson and Johnson…I think I asked elder Johnson where he was from at least three times but I can not remember where it was.

Mar 2014 - ZC - Elders 3 Mar 2014 - ZC - Elders 4

Elders Sibandze and Lyon. Elder Lyon managed to get in more pictures than anyone else. Elders Smith and O’Riordan – elder O’Riordan serves in the Soweto West Zone and we inspected his flat  just a few days ago.

Mar 2014 - ZC - Elders 5 Mar 2014 - ZC - Mary with Dummer

Elder Stilgoe with elder Lyons. Elder Dummer taking pictures with Mary in background.

Mar 2014 - Zone Conference 1 Mar 2014 - Zone Conference 2

 

The Soweto West and I believe the Soweto East Zones with President and Sister Omer.