There was no way I was going to get to spend the day resting as suggested. We were out of the house early enough to get the RS programs and the elder’s announcements printed at a shop before going to the RB chapel to set up for the conference. I started to help but quickly found out that I was probably sicker than I thought so we called the RB elders to come down and help finish doing the heavy lifting.
I called President Baldwin with a problem getting one of the doors open – I did not have a key – and he came down and solved it. He looked at me and said that I looked a little yellow and really should go to bed for a couple of days. He then proceeded to tell me horror stories about tick and spider bites. It was not a great way to cheer me up.
Once it was clear that the ladies and PH holders that were showing up could take care of everything I went home and lay down until Mary called to say that it was finished. I then picked her up and we made it to Esikhawini in time for Mary to give four of her students their piano lessons. I tried to sleep but never could drop off. Â Mary is being very diligent and patient with her students. It is a shame that they did not start much earlier and that they do not practice as they should but all in all she is doing a good work.
By the time we got home I was really tired so we had our McDonalds dinner and I curled up on the couch to read and then to sleep.
I did not sleep well last night – alternating between sweating and being cold. I had decided I really needed to get the car washed so left early to do that. It probably was mistake because all wanted to do was put my head down and sleep. I called sister Mickelsen and asked her about the symptoms that Arlo had when he got bitten by a tick and she basically checked off my symptoms except I have not got to the point where I get major chills.
When I got home I made a doctor’s appointment and was lucky to get in almost immediately. The doctor looked at my bite, asked my symptoms and said that it was a good chance that it was tick-fever. He said he could order a blood test to make sure but it took time and was expensive. Instead he gave me some anti-biotics and told me to go home and go to bed for two days. That sounded wonderful but of course I can not do that – there are things that need doing. However we will just do the major things and I will rest as much as I can.
We picked up my prescriptions, Mary’s bandages, groceries and finally went to the bank to cash a flock of checks that I have been collecting. Thankfully the line was short and the teller did not run back to her supervisor to make sure everything was OK so I did not have to wait long at all.
While we were gone the gardener came and did the yard. With the gate missing we do not need to be here while they work. So there are at least a few advantages to having a gate stolen.
We got a call from president Nyawo about a problem that needed taking care of now, now and so we drove down to Esikhawini, took care of the problem and immediately drove home again so I could get the rest that the doctor said I should have. Mary worked on finishing the program for the RS meeting tomorrow and some announcements that the Enseleni missionaries wanted for an activity they are planning.
I woke up not feeling well and spent most of the morning until 10:30 sleeping. While I was doing this, Mary woke me up to tell me that someone had just stolen the front gate! She had heard a noise and got up to see if someone was trying to get in and saw that the gate was gone. I would say that they were rather bold thieves to take it in broad daylight without knowing that we were gone.
I called to tell the landlord that we needed the gate replaced and he came right out to measure for a new one but it will not go in until Saturday. We are concerned that the thieves might come back and take the air-conditioning units or even the bars on the window. This is the first time that the rampant crime in South Africa has actually touched our lives. I must say that I feel a little less safe than I did when I woke up this morning.
The rush of the gate loss drove away my headache but when I calmed down again, unfortunately it came back. I am not going to be much good to Mary this afternoon as she teaches English, youth and piano.
Once the gate maker showed up to take measurements for a new gate, we had lunch and then went to the store to buy a food order to be delivered to Port Durnford. From the time we got out of our car to the time we got back in it took less than 25 minutes. Elder B said he could gather up the food for an order in 10 minutes – I think he was stretching it a little.
We then drove to PD to deliver the food and pick up the sisters for English. Sister Chirwa could not go because they only have one key to the lock on their house and someone had it out. I think I will get her a new lock with 3 or 4 keys.
While Mary taught English I tried to sleep – it did not work. We had earlier decided that Thandi Nzama would teach the youth today so I could go home and try to get some sleep before Mary’s RS meeting.
In the evening Mary and Sister Khumalo met with Jackie Duplooy and gave her some training for her new calling as RS president of the Richards Bay branch. While they did that I found a comfortable pew in the chapel and went to sleep. I am tired all the time now and I am pretty sure it is tick-bite fever.
I called the zone leaders early this morning and found besides the three elders we knew were leaving, three more are departing Richards Bay. Elders Nkosi, Mutariswa, and Moremong were sent to new areas. Only one of them will be replaced as there will once again be only one pair of missionaries in Engwelezane.
We went to ZDM where the zone leaders held a good meeting. It was especially hard because 6 of the missionaries would only be here for another 2 days. But they reviewed what had happened in this cycle and talked about what could be done in the next one to improve. After ZDM we all went to McDonalds where we treated them to lunch.
I had not been feeling really well all day so we only went to Esikhawini where Mary taught English and I went to the chapel to see if any of the gogos were working in the garden and see if they needed anything. No one was working but Musa showed up to practice the piano – he is determined to be able to play by the time he goes on his mission. Also Elders Lerios and Nkosi came by and put up the sign that we had made a few weeks ago so now people know where the Church is.
In the evening Mary stayed home and worked on things for the RS Conference on Saturday and I went to District Meeting at the RB Chapel. Only half of us from the Presidency and Council were there and only one branch presidency – Esikhawini – for the training. I think that most of the branch presidencies would come if the training meeting was held on Sunday. I believe after the sad turnout tonight, President Baldwin agrees with me.
Mary spent much of the morning working on the program for the District Relief Society Conference on Saturday. I spent the time doing odds and ends around the house and I am afraid twiddling my thumbs at time.
Once we got out and moving we got a lot accomplished. While Mary taught piano in Enseleni, I went over and worked with President Vilane on calendar items and callings that need to be made. He is having a hard time making choices for PH callings. I suggested again that he make some decisions and then ask the Lord if they are what He wants. I also called the elders to come over and talked to them about helping the president fill out and follow up on the New Member forms. This is only really being done in Esikhawini at this time. I am sorry to say that President Vilane was not feeling well – his operation is hurting again.
After my meeting with the president I called Khulekani and asked if he would help us find some members we have not yet contacted. He is always happy to help so we spent some time finding where some of the less actives lived and recording their house number on the map of the township.
By the time we dropped Khulekani off it was growing dark so we headed again to our boarding.
It was a rather different P-Day for us. After doing more clean-up and starting the laundry we headed out to look for a sign to a rhino reserve that I had seen along the N2. Mary suggested that since we were going the right way we should stop at the Reptile City that another sign pointed to.
We found the place and was let in by Riaan, one of the owners and the driving force behind the attraction. We were really not interested in seeing the exhibits – I had seen enough crocodiles, alligators, and snakes – but when we bought a small a small statue of a giraffe, Riaan insisted on giving us the guided tour. I think listening to this young man excitingly talk about the animals and reptiles was more interesting than most things we saw. However we did finally get to see an African Gray Baby and some other beautiful birds. We also saw some emus. Of course there were the snakes, crocs and alligators. We also learned about all his plans for expanding the park. All in all it was a nice way to spend an hour doing something we had not planned.
As we drove along we took a detour out to see a couple of conference centers to see if they were places the couples might enjoy going to. Unfortunately they were not but we did get to see some nice countryside that is tucked away behind the coastal dunes.
After a couple of hours of sightseeing we headed back to Richards Bay for lunch and some shopping. As we were leaving the mall and heading home, the Zone Leaders called and asked if they could use one of our computers for an hour or so to put together a short slide presentation of the last couple of cycles that they wanted to show at ZDM on Wednesday. The hour or so ended up to be more than 3 but they finally got it done and headed off to get ready to go to Port Durnford for FHE with the YSA.
After they left we spent a quiet and restful evening at home.
On our way to Esikhawini’s PEC meeting, we came across this recent accident and I got out and took a picture. This car went through the brick wall but stopped before hitting the house. The other car had it’s whole side wiped out. Amazingly no one was hurt. It is always wonderful to go to a baptism. This one was especially good because we knew one of the families. Also it added another family to the Richard’s Bay branch. In the evening the elders in the zone came for dinner. They are a fine group of elders who have really worked hard the six weeks they have been together. Three of them will be leaving the zone on Thursday – we will miss each of them.
02 May 2010 – Sunday
It was a rather quiet Sunday for us – at least when it comes to visiting branches. After PEC at Esikhawini we stayed for their testimony meeting because we thought Bongani would be there. The testimony meeting was a little unusual because a number of the members talked and preached a little – something that is hardly ever done here – without giving strong testimonies. I wonder what the 14 investigators thought. (I later talked to Elder Lieros and he said that it was powerful and his investigators were impressed.)
We enjoy going to Esikhawini because we know many of the members well and we do not get to see them as often as we would like. Sister Khumalo gave her usual strong testimony as did sister Mathe who talked about how living the gospel changed her life.
The baptism at RB went well. Five new members of the Kingdom including Morris (who’s real name is Clifford) and his wife and son will be a great addition to the branch. I did not know the other two that were baptized. Uncle Freddy conducted the meeting but kept checking with me about what he should do. He is a great member and we continue to pray that someday his family will join him so he can have some support at home. There are a number of members who are the only one in their family and yet they stay strong and live the gospel as the Lord has asked. Mary used her talent and played both for Esikhawini and for the baptism.
After the meeting we came home so we could start preparing dinner for the elders. Because Elder Zondi is leaving, Mary fixed his new favorite food – potato salad – to go with the tacos, refried beans, and fruit salad. Most of the elders enjoyed all the food but a few were reluctant to try the potato salad. I am afraid American food is very strange to some of the African elders. Everyone liked the fruit salad, the brownies and the ice cream.
It was a delightful evening with 12 fine young men. It is the last time these particular 12 will be in our home but they will always have a place in our hearts.
We tried to call Shauna to wish her happy birthday but they were not home. We left a message and we hope she got it.
May starts with a beautiful morning. Just a few thin clouds but who knows what the day will bring. Woke up to the phone ringing and it was Cindy wishing me a belated Happy Birthday. There was an e-mail from Tom doing the same. Bob actually managed to catch us home during our lunch time yesterday and added his birthday wish.
I forgot to mention that last night we got a call from Percy Zibani saying that he had got the job he wanted and would report to work on Monday. He thanked us for our help and I told him we had not done much but prayed for him. He mentioned that we had updated and improved his CV – I had actually forgotten about that. Hopefully he will do well in his job and will be able to support his family as he would like to. He is a good man and will be a great strength to the branch.
When we found out that we did not have a meeting in Esikhawini this morning we called and made arrangements for Mary to teach Mbali Ndlovu her first piano lesson. While she did that I visited Mama Zulu and saw her very impressive garden that she recently put in. Vegetable just explode out of the soil here. Then I was joined by Khulekani and we went to visit Thandeka who was at a friend’s house. It was good to see her out of her bed but she is so skinny that is almost painful to look at her. TB will probably end up killing her before her 23 birthday. She told me she had been sick for four years and she is tired of it.
A quick stop at Woolworths got us the few things we still needed for dinner tomorrow night. After having delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we went to Esikhawini where Mary first had a meeting with sister Khumalo about the RS Conference next Saturday. Earlier in the day she had made handouts to be given our on Sunday in all the branches.
While she then taught four more piano lessons, I put fittings on the hose we bought a couple of weeks ago and then cut it in two so they do not need to drag hoses all over the garden. Just after I had finished that sister Mathe arrived to work in her garden patches and I had a nice talk with her about her garden and her children.
She is taking care of 7 of her grandchildren because two of her daughters died and the fathers do not want anything to do with helping raise them nor helping with any financial support. The gogos here are amazing and the only thing that keeps much of society together.
After lessons we went to the Richards Bay chapel where Elder Griesmer was giving Elders Kitili and Lemmon a shortened Career Workshop. After he was through we went with them to the mall to have dinner.
He was excited to share with us the news that the Area Presidency had approved his idea to have a regular Employment Office in Durban. He gave me some of the credit because I talked him into writing a letter to the Area Employment Office explaining why he thought this was necessary and why it would be of a great help for the members. Â Unfortunately the Griesmers will probably not get to use the new office with computers, etc. but their replacements will. I told the Griesmers that this might have been the main reason they were sent to this mission. To assess the needs and write an excellent proposal for making employment services work in the Durban area.
Wow – where have the last 72 years gone? It does not seem possible that I am having my 72 birthday today but the calendar says that it is. Mary surprised me with one of Marais picture of a warthog. This ugly critter has become one of my favorite African animals.
It is amazing how many things we do that are not very ‘missionary’ oriented but are still important. This morning we bought some of the hard candy we give to the little children – it is amazing how much we go through. Then it was a trip to the municipal building to meet President Baldwin to pick up Musa’s mission call that came to him yesterday. While we were there I tried to get the map of Esikhawini that the elders had asked for but once again the office was closed with a sign saying they would be open on Monday. As I was walking out of the building towards the car, I heard someone call ‘Elder Pier.’ It was sister Mthalane and so I showed her Musa’s envelope – she was very excited but told me that Musa was still in Durban but she will call him to come home tomorrow so he can open his call and see where he is going.
While we shopped for the makings for Sunday night’s dinner with the elders, I had 6 copies of the missionary application made. I decided I would be positive about the branches needing them soon. If Sandile goes out before sister Nkhule comes home they will have 5 missionaries out from the district – what a blessing that will be.
We have been asked by President Nyawo to help with the Friday Youth meeting so we left for Esikhawini with what we thought was lots of time to get there by 3:30. Little did we know that the Friday traffic was backed up even on secret way so we got there barely on time.
We had a great time with the those who came. Unfortunately none of the YW came but we had a number of YM and some younger boys. We worked on getting them to memorize the theme – including doing a puzzle using the theme cut up. I also got a chance to Sne about the YM/YW in the branch as well as those in the district. All in all it was good to be back with the Youth of the branch. Hopefully we will help build it up again before we leave.
We then stopped by President Machaka’s tuck shop to drop off a missionary application for Sandile Chirwa. Hopefully we will be able to get that turned in before we go. The family will need some help with expenses but there are a number of couples who have volunteered to help.
As we headed out of town we got a call from Musa saying that he had decided to come home today instead of tomorrow and was at their house. So we made a big circle and headed back. We had the wonderful experience of giving him his envelope and sharing with him and his family his finding out where and when he is going on his mission.
While waiting for sister Mthalane to come home we took a poll of where we thought he would go and Mary and I both said Zimbabwe. It turned out we were right – he will leave for the MTC in August and will serve in the Zimbabwe, Harare Mission. What a blessing it is to be a part of these young men and women’s lives. It was almost like being with one of our grandchildren as they open their call.
We were going to go out to dinner for my birthday but I decided I would rather just go home and have corn and tomatoes and relax. It was a good choice and we had a relaxing evening. I spent a good portion of it organizing an album on Facebook and chatting with our neighbor Elaina Wendelboe about how our gardens are growing. When I asked about the tulips she said the deer ate them all. I was glad I was not there to experience that. I can see where it is possible to spend way too much time doing Facebook and other social networking.
So another birthday went by with us in the mission field – that makes four in a row and I am not sorry about any of them. I think being with Musa and his family is about as good a birthday gift as I could possible have. I know that God and my savior love me and that is also a wonderful gift. I also know that my family loves me and that me and my Eternal companion are where we should be at this time.
Musa could not stand to wait until tomorrow to read where he was going so he jumped on a bus in Durban and made it home just in time to catch us before we left Esikhawini. He had to wait until sister Mthalane to come home and he was so nervous he kept getting up and looking to see if she was coming down the street. The whole family was there to share in his joy.
Finally he got to open the envelope and read that he is going to the Harare, Zimbabwe Mission. He was so excited that he forgot to read when he was to report to the MTC. He is to report in August. The long lead time is partly because he will not turn 19 until June.
What a wonderful experience it is to be part of helping these young men send in their papers and then to be there when they open their call. It is much like when our own sons got theirs.
