President Dunn drove over to our flat this so he could interview the elders in the Ikageng district. He interviews all the elders about once each 3 months. While the elders waited for their turn to be interviewed we kept them entertained with a new puzzle and church history videos. After the 6 elders were interviewed, the president interviewed 5 members from Jouberton or Klerksdorp to renew their temple recommends. Elder and sister Dummer brought those from Jouberton. This included brother Ayanda Mdlambuzi who will be leaving to serve in the London mission at the end of the  month. It should be an amazing experience for him and his family.

The Ikageng district with president Dunn, E/S Dummer and ourselves. Elders in front row – L-R Oldroyd, Rami, and Di Ruscio. In the back next to president Dunn – Taylor, McAllister, Liera, A great district of dedicated elders that we are privileged to serve with. From L-R – elders Liera, Rami, Di Ruscio and McAllister work on our latest puzzle of Noah’s Ark.

While the elders finished up, the members who came for interviews enjoyed watching Church History videos that Mary was wise enough to think to play.

Soon to be elder Mdlambuzi with president Dunn and then with his mother and the president. That is one proud mother and she should be.

This is not the puzzle the elders were working on. We finished this one last week. The zebras were challenging while the green turned out to not nearly as much fun. In fact Mary left most of that to me to work on.

For our YSA Family Home Evening this month we are concentrating on genealogy and the temple. There were only four men at the FHE but brothers Lebona and Rampai both came prepared and was able to at least 3rd and brother Lebona got some done on his 4th generation. They are super excited to get them on Family Search and then take the names to the the temple.

Brother Rampai met with Mary the next afternoon and was able to get his names into Family Search. It is wonderful to see how these men became involved in this important work for those who have gone before them.

Brother Lenona wrote this on his FaceBook page – “Finally i hve a testimony of de spirit of Elijah in my life…doing Genealogy for our familys it’s de best thing and most satisfying 4 yo spiritual growth.” There is certainly some spirits celebrating this work.

“South African Car Washes are on my mind…today I took our car into be washed – about $4.50 plus tip. As I waited and watched for about an hour, I thought of other times I had our car washed here. The first time was in 2009 in Swaziland. The car wash was 2 minutes from our house and I could always drive right in. However it took about 90 minutes for them to wash it and clean it inside and out. When we got to Richards bay and much more sophisticated wash – $4.00 plus tip – it only took about an hour as did the one today – $4.75 plus tip.

First the car is hand pressured rinsed, then soaped, then hand washed. Then it is moved to the detailing area where from 4 to 7 men and women go over and clean every inch of the car inside and out. Some areas are worked on two or three times.

By the time they are done there is not a speck of dust, let alone dirt anywhere they can get to without crawling under the car. My guess is that in the US the same wash would run about $25 – in fact in Florida that is about what it was but I stuck to the normal $10 one.

Of course in South Africa the people are working for about $1 an hour plus tips and are more than happy to get that. But it sure adds up to a super clean car even if it does take an hour or so out of your day.’