On Sunday we had a record number of 71 in sacrament meeting. Many of them shared their testimonies. I was especially touched by the number of recent converts who bore testimony of how joining the Church changed their lives. One member mentioned that when he did not live the gospel his life was in chaos. So after a record 61 attending on the last Sunday of 2014, the Potchefstroom branch start 2015 with a new record.

Sister Lorato Kujane comes to the school early because she rides with us. I took this picture when i saw her cleaning up the sidewalk. No one asked her to do this she just saw a need and did it. And a child will lead them…Speaking of children there was about 20 of them in primary. Mary went in the first hour and taught them songs. She said this was a little challenging because some were too young to have much English. Luckily sister Merriam was able to translate.

Some children are not ready for primary and need individual attention. Sister Disney spent time outside with her nephew. Sister Sindi was kind enough to let me take her picture with her beautiful red hat and smile!

On Friday we had the opportunity to go to the Johannesburg temple with the missionaries from the Ikageng district. Elder and sister Dummer took three of the missionaries and we took the other 3. While anytime we go to the temple is special, this trip was a little more special because elder Mukasa was going to do all the ordinances for his father.

After the session we took some pictures outside the temple. The beautiful nativity was still available as a back ground. We also got one of elder Liera and Taylor.

 

In keeping with the tradition, the district stopped in Potch to go to the McDonalds for a last lunch paid for by the senior couples. It actually has a table that is long enough for all the district to eat together. This is not available at the one in Klerksdorp so Mary suggested we hold future last lunches here. The Dummers on the left with the back of elder’s Rami head, elders Taylor, Liera and Mukasa at the end, and of course Mary.

Elder McAllister and just part of elder Oldroyd join with the others. The picture on the right gives a clear picture of elder Rami.

Our ever hard working Potch elders needed to catch up their planners. They have much of the week already laid out with appointments.

We finally get a clear picture of elder Oldroyd down at the end of the table with elders Liera and McAllister.

On Saturday the 3rd we drove over to Klerksdorp to attend seminary and institute graduation for the three branches. Elder Mdletshe presided and mentioned that it was the very first time that there were any graduates from the Potchefstroom branch from either programs.

This is a picture of all those who were in attendance. Lots of smiles here as the certificates are proudly displayed. The one on the right shows president Kwaikwai receiving his institute graduation diploma.

Here are the students from Potch along with their teachers. Although only Renny has a certificate showing, Mary found out that although her students did not complete the unit – they did not even start until September – three or four of her students were eligible for certificates of achievement. She arranged to get them the next time we are in Johannesburg.

So we were able to be here for another first in the history of the Potchefstroom branch! When we were in the Durban mission we were able to help with the first ever Roadshows and to watch the district youth leaders put on their first large district  program with little or no help from the senior missionaries. We are truly blessed to be serving once again in South Africa.

When we are at home one of my favorite pastimes is to plant and grow flowers. So it should not come as any surprised to those who know to find that I spent part of the day planting a small plot of ground just off our patio with dianthus, impatiens, and petunias. Now we will see how my garden grows…

 

When we were in Kimberly, I saw a flower I did not know. Later I found out it was a version of the black-eyed susan. Today I noticed that we had one of these plants in our yard. It must have already been finished blooming when we got here in February of last year so I did not see it.

 Speaking of February – it was then that elder Knowles took this great picture of us in front of a huge field of beautiful cosmos. When we are at home one of the flowers I always plant is cosmos but it never gets as thick in my yard as it does along the roads here in South Africa.