Transfer meeting was held in the chapel with Elder Bodily conducting. Each new missionary was invited to come up and quickly introduce themselves and bear a very short testimony. Unfortunately I either missed getting some of them or the picture came out so bad I could not stand to post it. I apologize for those I missed but I may have caught some after the meeting with their new companion. The rest of the pictures have the names of the missionaries, who will be their trainer and where they will serve.

Elder Bodily, one of the APs, conducted the meeting. I found out after the meeting that he would be going home between transfers in just 4 weeks so he can get into school. Elder Kufoalor is from Ghana.

Elder McQueen comes to the mission from New Zealand but most recently Australia. Elder Won is also from New Zealand and related his very mixed ethnic background that should make his genealogy really interesting.

Elder Garnica is from Mexico and proud of it as he told the group that he was a real Mexican! Elder Smith-Holley is  the third New Zealand missionary in this group.

Elder Clegg is one of three elders from Utah – in his case Lehi. Next to him is elder McCartney who is from Scotland.

Elder Reavely is from Utah as is elder Taylor who is from Lindon.  I am sorry that I missed getting elder Etiang from Uganda picture while he was on the stand. The terrible thing is I also missed his companionship picture.

Before the transfer meeting starts the new elders have about 3 hours of training. President Dunn uses this time to interview each of the new elders and then prayerfully considers who should be their trainer and the area they should be born in…that is where they start their mission.

I took some pictures before going in to the training meeting – we were only there for the last hour. After the training, President Dunn had the arriving missionaries play the departing missionaries in quick – 15 – 20 minutes – game of volleyball. In this first ever event, the powerful departing missionaries beat the arriving missionaries. Maybe it is because they have learned to work together as Unity was one of the subjects president Omer taught.

Elders Stomp and Johnson were two of the first elders I caught. They were closely followed by  EldersBrackett, Rako, McClelan, Richards

Elders Mukarti, Haynes, and Nherera – I think elder Nherera followed me around and jumped in when ever I was taking a picture. It is a good thing he is photogenic. Elders Rakotorimanana, and Nherera are to the right of an elder i do not know and could not read his name tag. If anyone knows who it is please let me know. I hate to not tag a missionary in a picture.

I have only known elder Ryan for a few weeks but I have been impressed by his testimony and hard work as he served as a Vaal zone leader with elder Flynn. He is now home in England and we hope to keep in touch. Elder Dummer instructing the new missionaries on finances.

Sisters Hansen and Taylor give instructions on how to take care of their flats. Like washing dishes, defrosting freezers, occasionally cleaning the floors, toilet, etc. This usually gets done at least once a transfer when the senior couple comes around for inspection. However we have been to a couple of flats when we were not expected that looked pretty good. But it is the exception to the rule.

Elder Hansen sits and listens. He has already told them about how to report problems with their flats and how to take care of their phones. He has a really big job because there are 60 plus flats to keep under repair. He and sister Hansen also are responsible for any moving of flats and of course finding new flats when there is a need and then seeing that it is completely stocked. I caught elder Clegg as he was getting ready to take off his coat and go play volleyball.

This the first official transfer day volleyball game between the departing and arriving missionaries. It only last 15-20 minutes but drew a good crowd who were probably mostly cheering for the departing missionaries who they had served with or at least knew.

Tuesday the 22nd was the first transfer day for President and Sister Dunn. It was done differently than when President Omer was presiding. Since President Dunn has a background in visual presentation it was not unexpected that he would use some for transfers. All of the missionaries – the ones that were heading home, the new missionaries, trainers, and those who were just changing companions and areas all gathered in the chapel. It looked to me like well over 1/2 the mission was there.

I took over 130 pictures and I will probably post two more sets of pictures. These first pictures are those that have special meaning to us.

Elders Loveless, Kelem, and Loumann are old friends. Of course elder Kelem served with us inIkageng for 4 1/2 months and it turned out elder Loumann was transferred into our area along with elder Perez so we will see a lot of him. We were also privileged to serve with elders Mdletshe, Harris, Bird and Perkins in the Ikageng area or district.

Elder Johnson is elder Harris’ new companion. Elder Larsen stayed in Klerksdorp but has elder Graham as his new companion. Elder Larsen decided to almost shave his hair so he does not have to get a haircut for the 6 weeks of this transfer.

Elder Dlamini is our good friend elder Perkins new companion and they will serve in the Matupa area. Elder Cummings leaves the Orange Farm area and joins his new companion elder Heki in the Modjadji area.

Elder Smith-Holley is a new elder from New Zealand – we have 3 new missionaries from there – and he will be trained by elder Olson. Elder Olson is the brother of a young lady that one of our missionaries from Fort Lauderdale is dating. Elder Garnica is being trained by elder Loveless. When he introduced himself in the transfer meeting elder Granica said that he was a real Mexican! You could tell he was proud to be able to say that.

Sister Dunn was also taking lots of pictures. I asked her about her blog posts that seemed to have stopped after a great start and she said that she just has not had time to write. I guess being a new mission mom takes a little adjustment time. After transfer meeting we went to lunch with our very good friends E/S Taylor who are now officially in the Botswana mission. They can not live in Botswana in fact they can only visit there for 87 more days unless their visas are finally approved. But we know the Lord wants them to be there so somehow they will get their resident visas.

Elder Ramiliarijona has one of the longest names and yet is one of the shortest elders. He is now companions with elder Lyon who is one the tallest. This last picture is of three elders from Madagascar - Rakotomalala, Rakotorimanana, Ramiaramanana and their friend elder Nherera. I believe elder Ramiaramanana holds the title for the longest name. Imagine fitting all of that on a name tag or for that matter pronouncing it correctly.

This morning we had a hour’s drive to the town of Ennerdale where inspected two boardings or flats. It is always a pleasure to spend some time with elders that we do not know or do not know well. It is also a pleasure to inspect flats that are well kept up as these two were. We check to see if they have all the furnishings and equipment that they are supposed to have, check to see if they have any major problems with the flat, and check to see how well they are keeping things up. Of course they know we are coming so we probably see the flats at their best but a couple of times we have caught a companionship that had not prepared for us. One was a disaster but the other one was amazingly clean for two young men.

Elders Carpenter and Pedersen serve in the Ennerdale area and this is their flat. Elder Carpenter has two guitars and elder Pedersen is into health and exercise. Their flat was in good shape but there are always ways to improve.

This is what the complex looks like – actually that is not true because only a few of the buildings are two stories. Most are single story like the ones the elders live in. Elder Pius and Cummings serve in the Orange Farm area – at least they did until elder Cummings was transferred this week. Their flat was one of the best kept up that we have inspected.

 

This is the entrance to their flat. I was immediately struck by how neat their bookcase was arranged. Most of the time they are just kind of jumbled up – I know ours is. Also they had the cleanest toilet bowl I have ever seen. It almost sparkled.

 

The Daily Sun is the Johannesburg sensationalist newspaper and so their front pages often have headlines like these that the elders used as pinups over their study desks.

Our last pictures with elders Kelem and Msangi before they headed home. In the last picture brother Kwaikwai and sister Reghina joined us.

The structure that you can see between the two trucks is one of many that can be found around the city. I have yet to learn what they are for but I am guessing they are cell phone repeaters. If not some artist sold the city many copies of the same sculpture.

We were introduced by the Hafens and Bartholomews when we started serving in Richard Bay to the tradition of having a last meal with the missionaries in our district just before transfers. We called them Last Suppers. When we got to the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission we had to change them to last lunches because we could not have dinner with the missionaries as it would take them away from prime time missionary work. Now here in Potchefstroom we kept the tradition alive by having a last lunch right after the last district meeting before transfers.

Todays was some what tempered by the fact that the Potch elders were at the temple as both will go home next week and so they got to have one last trip to the Joburg temple. Hopefully they will both be back to be sealed someday.

But there was also good news. Elder and Sister Dummer have been working in the office almost from the day we arrived so they have not been able to come to district meeting. But they are now back in the Klerksdorp/Jouberton area so they were able to come to the meeting and enjoy lunch with us afterwards. Elder Dummer insisted on spliting the cost with me and that was fine.

The shot of the Ikageng district minus elders Kelem and Msangi. Elders Larsen, Perkins, Mdletshe and Otieno. E/S Dummer join the group.

 

We join the elders. We were taking pictures with 5 cameras and  that is why elder Otieno seems to be looking at a different world than the rest of us. The senior couples have a picture together.

Another picture of the group because I just love elder Larsen’s smile. We decided to eat outside because it was actually warmer and nicer then inside and we could all be together.

As we were leaving I saw this sign on the back of a truck and since I have an online friend named Henning I thought I would take a picture and ask him if he had family in South Africa.

For those who do not know anything about a District Meeting: It is a once a week meeting of the district where the companionships discuss their progressing investigator and can ask for help where they are having problems – such as how to answer a difficult question or over come some objection. Then there is a lesson. It is usually on some part of PMG – this week was on how the Book of Mormon can be used to answer questions. The last DM of a transfer usually also has the elders predict who will be transferred and where, who may train, and if there will be any change in District Leader. It is a fun little exercise and some elders are really good with their predictions. Elder Otieno says he is never wrong…it will be interesting to see how he does this time.

We were introduced to Lolo and George’s orphanage by E/S Knowles who we followed here in Potchefstroom. They have 13-15 orphans who they provide housing, food and a chance for an education. George works at a butchery – meat market – to help supplement the small amount of money they receive each month from the government. Mainly the orphanage is run on faith, hope, prayer and love.

The orphanage is out in an area that is mixed between houses and informal houses. Informal houses are usually single room shacks made out of tin and anything else they can find that does not cost much. The upper left picture shows a woman washing her clothes in a pan sitting on top of a washing machine. The lower left shows a sight that is seen all over South Africa. A house that is being built but not finished. They get some money to buy materials. Build as much as they can and then must wait until they can afford more. The pile of sand with bricks or rocks around it is a very common sight also. As we drove up the road that leads to the road where the orphanage is located there were chickens in the road. The young man on the side tried to get them to move out of our way. In Swaziland it was cattle in the road – here it is chickens.

 

As we were parking next to the orphanage I noticed these two young men searching through the dumping area at the end of the road. I think they were looking for something to play with and not for food – at least I hope it was not for food. The other picture is the front yard of the orphanage.

Some children are not quite sure what to make of a couple of white people. They do not see many as this is outside of the Ikageng township at the end of a road that most white people would never think of traveling to as there is no reason to be there. But the children always greet us with a smile.

 

I asked Lolo the age of the young lady with the beautiful cap. She told me she was two but since she was HIV positive she was not growing as she should. There are a number of HIV positive children in the orphanage which is one of the great problems that there is in all of Africa. Lolo and George try to supply the children with safe places to play but with limited space and money it is difficult. What a difference $200 – $300 a month would make to this wonderful couple and the children.

Lolo had a gas stove blow up in her face a number of years ago and it caused a terrible amount of scaring. But she does not let this get her down or feel sorry for herself. She just smiles and tries her best to take care of the children.

While we spend a good deal of our time visiting members, going to meetings,      working with missionaries, and just taking care of missionary business, we also have everyday things we need to do where ever we live and whatever we are doing. Here is a few things that we have experienced this week.

We of course have to eat and usually once a day we get something from a fast food place. In a small center less than a mile from our house there is a number of them and one is called Chix. They are just across a driveway from a KFC and are little in the way of competition for the Colonel. However on Monday they have a great special. A nice chicken burger – great bun, generous chicken breast and tasty sauce – plus two pieces of their fried chicken. Since the burger is plenty to eat for lunch we save the chicken for a later meal. All of this cost about $2.50 US. 

Now that it is winter here of course most of the trees are bare. Outside our flat is a tree where I noticed a couple of these unusual nest. I should remember what the name of the bird is that makes them but for not it escapes me but the nests are neat little houses to bring up a family until they can fly away.

Until yesterday our electricity was billed to the landlord who then billed the mission. But for some reason the owner did not like this arrangement so we now have a prepaid meter to contend with. This means we have to go to the store and buy an amount of electricity. Then the long number on the bottom of the ticket is entered into the keypad and we then have electricity – at least until the meter reads 0. This is something we do not want to have happen so every time we go into the garage we check the reading. Other than I have to pay cash in advance,  enter a long number, and remember to tell elder Thompson how much we spent for electricity during the month so he can give us credit off our car charges it is not a big thing. However it was a lot easier when the bill went to the mission.

One of the things we miss serving here in Potchefstroom is access to a real game park. We were spoiled by being in Richards Bay on our last South African mission because we were just an hour away from two wonderful parks. To make up for this lack of seeing live animals, I spend some time each day looking in on the Tembe Elephant Park webcam. The other day I was happily surprised to find a pair of lions at the waterhole. It is only the 3rd or 4th time in over 5 years of checking Tembe that I have seen lions so I thought I would share. Hopefully we will get a chance to go up to Kruger National Park and see them and many other animals live! But until then these pictures will have to do.

While we were out visiting members this week we got to see some very cute children. The young lady with her bowl of pap was at the creche we often visit. She was sitting in a pool of sunlight because it was cold in the shade. Actually it was not all that warm in the sunlight but it felt much warmer.

We visited the Tlotleng home to check up on sister Tlotleng who had been in the hospital because of a major illness but was happily home and feeling very good. While we were there I played peek-a-boo with the young man in orange. He would not let me pick him up but liked the game. He obviously did not have the same problem with Mary. Notice that the children are wearing sweaters and hats inside the house. Most homes here are not insulated and often have just single layer tin roofs with no ceiling at all under them. Elder Kankkunen and elder Raymond are companions in the Sebokeng area. They were recently moved there because the area in Joburg where they were serving was a little too dangerous for them to stay. The safety of the missionaries is always one of the greatest concerns of the mission president and the Church.

We had the opportunity to go to the Johannesburg temple with the Vaal Zone. The first picture is of elders Ryan and Flynn who are the zone leaders and who both will be released in just two weeks. We also had our picture taken with elders Msangi and Kelem who are the Ikageng elders who we work with every day. They also will be leaving for home at the next transfer.

The Joburg temple is a bit of heaven that we are able to go to regularly. To add a little color to a rather colorless winter season I picked up these beautiful African Daisies for just $4.00. If we were home they would be planted where they could be seen from the kitchen window. Here we keep them inside on the kitchen counter.

Serving in South Africa is a great blessing but this experience is much different from our first mission. Here in Potchefstroom it is much colder and dryer. In fact we were blessed to be here for a record low temperature of 15 F the other morning. A record we just as soon have not been a part of.