After the meeting the fellowshipping goes on for hours. But there is also the moving of luggage from one car to the one from the new area. Here are the pictures I took after the meeting and before we headed back to Potchefstroom.

Elders Compton and Harris were serving in the Ikageng district when we came to Potch some 14 months ago. Elder Compton has just one more transfer before he is released. Elder McAllister was transferred from our district last transfer and elder Oldroyd heads to Witbank to be DL after serving in Jouberton.

Elders Smith and Allen – not the new elder Allen – pose for me. The picture on the right is a rare photo of four generations of elders. Elder Magrangqaon the right – who is being released – trained elder Dube who trained elder Pickup who will be training our new elder Gwaka.

Elder McAllister is laughing with an elder I do not know – Elder Ramiliarijaona – who is always just called elder Rami – stopped to have his photo taken. He served in our district.

Elder Togiatomai – who was transferred from the Vaal Zone shows some pictures to elder Andritiana who also served in the Vaal zone but is heading home. Elder Stilgoe points out elder Olseon

Elder McAllister managed to find another elder who I do not know. Elder Menendez was released as an AP and will spend the next two transfers training.

Two former companions as ZLs in the Vaal Zone get together. Elder Bryner with a friend.

Elder Larsen who served in our district back at the turn of the year with his new companion elder Nelson. Elder Todd with his new companion elder Turauskis and elder Peterson

Elders Tekurio, Melese, Adjin and Holmquist were happy to have their picture taken. Here are some photos of the transfer of luggage – some have neat stacks and some look like they are moving everything but the kitchen sink.

Sister Dunn has a few words with elder Anderson. Elder Anderson’s parents came to pick him up and got to experience a transfer meeting. Elders Rushton and Graham got together.

As did elders Taylor and Smith…for my last photo of the transfer! See you all in 6 weeks or so.

We arrived at the mission office about an hour before the transfer meeting started. We thought we were 90 minutes early but they moved the starting time up 30 minutes because so many elders were going home and they needed time for them to give their parting thoughts. I took over 180 pictures – some before, some after and of course most during. It takes a lot of time to edit and put names on that many pictures so I am going to post them in sections. First just as pictures and then I will go back and write something about them. The mothers and others who follow our blog will just be happy to see a current picture of their elders. I must confess that I tend to take more pictures of elders we have served with or who we bump into regularly at conferences and transfer meetings. Also I try to take pictures of those elders who’s mothers take regular looks at our blog even if we have not served with them. It is a real blessing to be able to go to transfer meeting and interact with these great elders and senior couples. It is special to sit or stand in the chapel and join with over 100 voices singing  hymns. So here are the pictures I took before the meeting…hope you enjoy them.

Elder Liera talks to Mary while elders Oldroyd and Todd stand by – I think that is elder Taylor in the back ground. Elder Liera with elder O’Riordan and friends in the background.

Elder Andritiana has two name tags so he does not forget who he is…this was his last day in the mission and we are sorry to see him go.

Elder Todd’s latest camera – it is a Samsung and it communicates by wi-fi so you can send pictures right to e-mail or social networks. He finally found a spot near the mission office where he could tie into the Church wi-fi.

Elder Oldroyd with elder Anderson who trained him. Elder Anderson is wearing the famous departure coat with that is signed by departing missionaries who are privileged to wear it to transfer meeting.

Elders Rushton and Di Ruscio pose for a photo. It was elder Raymond’s last day in the mission so I got a photo with him. We served in the Vaal Zone with him and he seemed to turn up at many of the group meetings we held since we have been in South Africa.

 

Elder Rodgers was transferred back to the Vaal zone after being away for just one transfer. I guess this is his home away from home. Elder Kankkunen has been serving in Sunnyside as DL and received a new companion at the transfer.

Elder Perkins with a great smile and a really short hair cut – he was serving in the district when we came in 15 months ago. Elder Larsen with elder Guencia – still the only real Mexico Mexican in the mission.

Elders Anderson, Larsen, Pickup and Guencia with two friends who tags I can not read. Elder Pickup is the brother of a sister we served with in the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission. This was the first time we really got to meet him as he just finished his training and will train another missionary. He served 3 months in the states while waiting for his visa so he is a seasoned missionary.

I went in to watch the new elders getting instruction about mission rules, how to use their debit card, etc. I was just in time to hear sister Dunn wrap up the meeting and then she took a picture of me with the new missionaries – timing is everything.

Two of the new missionaries seem comfortable striking a pose for a photo – elders Allen from Texas and elder Ngialzi from Zimbabwe. It would not be a transfer meeting without elder Sigel who I caught with elder Yates who serves as DL out in Orange Farm.

   

Although we have never served with him – not even in the same zone, Elder Cummings is another missionary who is always around. Elder Turauskis, our only elder from Lithuania, talking with elder Yates…I just noticed that elder Anderson is in the background.

One more picture of elder Cummings. Elders Oldroyd, Bryner and Wilkinson buddy up for a photo

As does elders Carter and Bua – elder Carter was transferred out of the zone. As was elder Togiatomai who is with elder Thompson.

Elder Oldroyd turned up in many pictures – here he is with elder Stilgoe and Olson. I was surprised that elder Alvial showed up as neither he nor his companion elder Barton were being transferred but they had to see elder Thompson about something,

Elder Neuenschwander gets the last photo before we had to round everyone up for the meeting. He and his companion, elder Savage, are not being transferred but had to drive some of the other elders to the meeting and take the new missionaries back.

We made a quick trip over to Klerksdorp so we could pick up some of the luggage that the elders need to take with them to transfer meeting. When we got there we found that elder Peterson is not going to be transferred but he only found out when elder Menendez called this morning to say they had made a mistake. Of course being an efficient missionary he had already packed everything except his speakers and bed roll so he got to unpack it all.

Since it was P-day the elders were in their p-day clothes. Elder Oldroyd also was barefoot. But he had almost everything packed so we took his three bags and some other things. Here is what may be the final picture of this great Jouberton companions together. You have to love elder Todd’s cap…

Elder Di Ruscio is leaving so I took a picture of the dynamic Klerksdorp duo. I think elder Peterson’s smile is a little wider knowing he gets at least 6 more weeks without being transferred. Their flat is a little short on furniture but they do have two extra mattresses to sit on. Elder Todd does not look to excited about this.

The final picture is of the flat mates…elders Peterson, Di Ruscio, Todd and Oldroyd. They have done good work in their areas and I am sure Di Ruscio and Oldroyd will help whatever district they are transferred to. We will miss them but soon we will  have two new elders to get to know.

On Saturday Mary taught Seminary and then had a fun activity for the youth who came. They made Mother’s Day cards so they could give them to their moms. President Kwaikwai came in and borrowed a card so he could be in the picture.  When Mary got home she found this African neckless and flowers as my Mother’s Day presents. While I was shopping for them load shedding kicked in and so I got to buy the flowers by candlelight – the poor florist was packed with customers and the had no way to process credit cards. Since I had the exact amount of my purchase it did not hold me up at all.

Pictures from Sunday’s meeting. Brothers Audrey Maine and David Rampai posed for their photo. Adrian Gerber has his arms and hands full with the young Thulo boy.

Brother Gomoleno is talking to brothers Tinashe and Kenny. Later brother Gomoleno received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a Priest by brother  Kenny. I got Mary’s back as she passed brother Andries Louw. I have no idea who he was about to shake hands with.

It may have been sister Thato Kujane – that is sister Neo in the background with the young lady –  not hers. Brother Kenny seems to be pointing out that Tinashe and Meisie are holding hands.

Elders Barton and Alvial flank the future Elder Gerber. Kenny again with sister Lebo and a friend she brought to church stand next to Kea and Omphile – the future Mokate family perhaps? 

We were happy to have Bongani Buti visit us from Joburg – sister Ratema seems happy to be with him. The elders also got their picture taken with sister Ratema.

The elders seem to have ended up in a lot of pictures –  this one with sister Lebo. After the meeting the Primary and Youth passed out Mother’s Day treats to all the women. They moved so fast that none of my pictures turned out very well but I decided to include them even if they are blurry…

Mary gets her treats from Nasi Williams with Papa Thulo looking on. Sister May posed for me while sister Neo talks to brother Gomoleno.

Sister Mathapelo Lekebe smiles as Bongani looks on. The elders get one more picture with a young lady – sister Kujane. I do not know why elder Barton looks the way he does…since it was Fast Sunday maybe it is something he did not eat. Below is the goodies that the Primary made to give to the Moms.

Friday is district meeting and since this was the last one for this transfers there was the usual predictions of who would be transferred and where. After the meeting we all went to McDonalds for the traditional Last Lunch as a district.

Friday night we received an SMS saying that elders Oldroyd, Peterson, and Di Ruscio were being transferred. This means that elder Todd will be the only old timer left in the Jouberton/Klerksdorp flat. He will have three new companions. The Klerksdorp area is being whitewashed. No one predicted this happening.

Thursday evening we went to office so Mary could give a piano lesson. I took this picture of the very tall light tower that has gone up in the school yard grounds. They are being installed all over the Ikageng area and will provide lots of light. There are some already functioning out in the extensions and it makes the dark streets much safer. I just would not want to be living right under one as it would be like having the sun shining all the time.

While Mary was giving a piano lesson to sister Lebo – her best student – Omphile Mokate and David Rampai came in to use the church computer to try and up grade David’s phone. David has been blessed with a job as supervisor on a project that was supposed to be for just 2 months but keeps being extended because of the good work they have been doing. I am sure David’s supervision has a lot to do with it. It is hoped that this will lead to a permanent job with the construction company.

To keep busy I took back some pots and pans we borrowed for the big wedding party a couple of weeks ago and delivered a lesson plan to a young sister who lost the first one. It is good to get out and meet the members even for a short time.

May 7, 2015 – Flat inspections take about 5 hours door to door with most of that time spent driving the 140 plus miles there and back. These were unannounced inspections and so some of the flats were a mess, some kind of messy and one clean and just a little messy from the morning activities. It was good to see and talk to the elders in the zone. I have missed flat inspections for that reason. We are able to talk to them about their areas, how they are doing and take some pictures of their flats and a companionship picture.

The Vaal Zone leaders – elder Tekurio and elder Togiatomai. Since the guard at the gate would not let us in without contacting one of the flats, the ZLs had a little warning about us coming so elder Tekurio was busy washing dishes when we went in.

The cleanest flat by far was that of elders Andritiana and Stomp. Elder Andritiana was just finishing washing all of his clothes so he could start packing to go home on Tuesday. He is from Madagascar – a name I can never write correctly – and is one of the few who’s last name does not start with an R and contain at least 20 letters.

The Sebokeng 2 flat elders - Savage, Neuenschwander – was well kept up and was just a little messy but not dirty. Elder Savage was trained by elder Clegg and so i sent the pictures we took off to sister Clegg to forward to brother and sister Savage. I know parents – especially mothers – are alway glad to get photos of their missionary sons and their surroundings. Their whiteboard shows that they are keeping very busy and have a couple of investigators on date for the month.

Our final inspection in the complex – there are four sets of elders there – was Sebokeng 1 with elders Carter and Mwale. Their flat was lived in but you can see that all of their dishes were washed and not piled up in the sink like some of the other flats we inspect. They did have one major problem and that was that their bathroom ceiling was almost black with mold and that is very dangerous. We gave them instructions on how to clean it and hopefully they will.

We then drove to Ennerdale where we expected to inspect two flats – Ennerdale and Orange Park but found that one of the elders had gone home so they were now a threesome. Elder Yates is the DL and his companions on his left are elders Turauskis and Rizk. Elder Turauskis is from Lithuania. Since elders are not allowed to sleep in a bedroom by themselves – these three elders share a cozy bedroom in one of the flats.

Meet Ory…he is a parking attendant at the Moori River Mall. While Mary was in helping get a food order for one of the families in the branch, I found a parking spot and met Ory. I have often wondered who hires the attendants that are in almost any parking lot and how much they were paid. So I introduced myself to Ory and asked him if he would mind answering some questions. He was not very busy so he agreed. It turns out – although he wears a shirt that says Moori River Mall – he does not work for the Mall and he does not get paid anything for his work except the tips that people give him. I asked him out of 10 cars he helps park or helps get out of their spot safely how many people tip him. He said about 2 out of 10. I then asked him about how many hours he worked and it turns out it depends where in the lot he is working. Some times it is as few as 3 and sometimes as many as 6. He makes from 60R to 200R a shift but he must pay someone – I forgot to ask him who it was that he paid – 30R a day no matter what he makes. He told me he likes the job because he gets to talk to people and help them. He has been working at the mall for 4 years. When Mary and the sister was through shopping and brought the cart load of food to the car, Ory loaded the bags into the trunk and I gave him a good tip…hopefully one of many he got today.

This morning I clicked on the Tembe Elephant Park webcam in time to get this great shot of a very old – just look at those tusks – and large elephant. The park advertises that they have some of the larges elephants in Africa and looking at this guy I believe it. Unfortunately the waterhole is getting smaller and smaller each day and if it continues it is likely to dry up. If that happens than the animals will have to find someplace else to get their water.

The only picture I took on Monday was of the great fried rice and chicken spring roll I had for lunch. We are lucky to have a very good Chinese restaurant just 2 minutes from our flat and they give large portions at very reasonable prices. This pile of rice will make three meals for me. Mary usually has almond chicken and we share the spring rolls.

On Tuesday one of our stops was the orphanage that we help out with some food from time to time. If you are a follower of our blog you have met Lolo and Peter before. They have 13 orphans right now and they seem to take good care of them. They grow some of the food but not as much as Peter would like because of a flooding problem when it rains. I was interested to see one of the women who help at the orphanage washing dishes out in they yard – I do not remember this from our prior visits and wonder if it is something new to make more room in the main building.

As I have mentioned before if there is an empty piece of ground and a ball around you will find a group of boys play some kind of soccer. I asked this group who was the best player and of course they all raised their hands. You might think the area does not look like much of a play area but it is better than the community dumping grounds that is right behind the orphanage where they sometimes play or look through the trash to see if there is anything worth saving.  Even though they play in dirt, somehow their clothes and themselves always seem to be clean! We found this true in Indonesia and our two missions here in South Africa.

Due to the problem with Load Shedding, the branch had to wait until this weekend to finally get to see the sessions of conference. Saturday sessions of conference were shown in the Relief Society/Branch President’s office area and there were 20 attending.

Sister Ratema with brother Omphile Mokate. Dorcas and David came for all the sessions on Saturday and Sunday. They met at the temple about a month ago and are planning for a September wedding.

The young sister Williams had a hard time sitting still but was quiet about going in and out. Thato Kujane kept trying to hide from my camera.

Two of the three members of the Primary presidency – sister Mogapi and Merriam Lerefolo. 

Brother Andries Louw is not only the branch clerk but also our audio/video expert. David Rampai is the branch executive secretary. Although she was not feeling well sister Yvonne Williams came to the Saturday sessions. Sister Viona Kruger is the third member of the Primary presidency.

Sister and president Kwaikwai spent most of the day up in Joburg getting sister Kwaikwai’s surname changed. The numbers might have been small but the spirit was great.

Sister Nasi Williams filled two pages with notes from the Saturday conference sessions – she wore her pencil down to a stub. Mary’s two piano students – sister Lebo and brother Kruger just happen to be together when I took this picture.

The Sunday sessions were shown in the main room so that more members could be seated comfortably. There were about 40 for the first session and 30 stayed for the second. 10 of those attending were Primary aged children.

As usual the Tabernacle Choir sang beautifully.  Sister Thulo was brother Menzi’s girl of the week  for this continuing series of pictures. We were happy to see Menzi and other youth come and stay for all the Sunday sessions while taking lots of notes.

Sisters Kruger, Mogapi, and Lerefolo hold a quick Primary presidency meeting. While a few of the brethren gather during the break between sessions.

Elders Avial and Barton with brother Rampai and Williams. No elder Barton is not kicking elder Williams it is just the perspective. The young women worked together to provide sandwiches during the break. They made a lot of sandwiches and had enough left for themselves. Sisters Ntabiseng and Shavonne are shown here.

Brother Simon and Williams together and this young man was very reverent during sessions. The Primary presidency had activities that tied in with the conference talks to help the children stay quiet.