{"id":1700,"date":"2009-06-23T08:50:49","date_gmt":"2009-06-23T15:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pierfamily.com\/wordpress\/2009\/06\/23\/22-june-2009\/"},"modified":"2019-08-21T14:53:15","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T21:53:15","slug":"22-june-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.pierfamily.com\/wordpress\/2009\/06\/23\/22-june-2009\/","title":{"rendered":"22 June 2009"},"content":{"rendered":"

22 June 2009 \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u201c Monday<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n

We made it a \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u02dcLet\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122s see part of South Africa\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d P-day by heading up the coast to the St Lucia Estuary \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u201c Saint Lusha here \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u201c to see some of the sights.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span>St Lucia Estuary is just North of where the Umfolozi river comes into the sea and extends for a good distance. <\/font><\/p>\n

We ended up only seeing a small part of it including a long section of white sand beach that stretched from one headland to another. About the only people on the beach were surf fishermen. No surfers and no sun bathers. As we walked along the sand dunes and the beach I wished I had brought swim trunks \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u201c not so much so I could go swimming but so that I could catch a few rays. Next time I will be sure to do that.<\/font><\/p>\n

I had a nice talk with one of the fishermen. I mentioned that my mother and aunt loved to fish the California surf. We talked about what they caught, the large amount of sharks and barracuda that were just off the beach, and fishing in general. When I asked if the presence of sharks is what kept the surfers away, he said no. He said that there had never been anyone attacked along this stretch of beach. I decided I would not see if I could be the first.<\/font><\/p>\n

We then visited the Crocodile exhibit and found it rather interesting but not something we will rush back to do again. We will come back and take the coast road up to Cape Vidal because we were told we will see many animals along the way. We also want to see more of Lake St. Lucia.<\/font><\/p>\n

We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant and had Kingklip for the first time since we left Swaziland. The food was excellent, the service was very good, and we sat outside to enjoy the soft ocean breeze that kept things cool. As we were leaving, Mary remarked that St. Lucia seemed like a nice place to live. I think it reminded me a lot of Redondo and Hermosa Beach before they became popular. <\/span>All in all we had an enjoyable day of travel and sight seeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>In the evening I continued to work on Indexing \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u201c Utah 1920. I find it is a good way to use some of the time in the evenings when we are in our boarding. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>During the day we received a letter from President Mann about a special event that is coming up in a couple and how all the missionaries might prepare for it. Here is what is going to happen:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>What happens this September & October? <\/span><\/strong>An event that happens only once every two years. (It happens a little bit every year in these months but every second year it is huge.)In two cycles, just a little over two months:<\/span><\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/font>1.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>We will lose 25% of our missionaries. Our most seasoned and experienced. Those who brought us through the transition to where we are today. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong>2.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>25% of our missionaries will be brand new and another 25% will be training. This means 50% of the mission will be either training or being trained.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong>3.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>We go from being a very experienced mission to being a very young mission.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong>4.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>We launch the next generation of the South Africa Durban Mission.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong>President Mann then goes on and outlines ideas on how all the missionaries can make this possible stumbling block a great stepping stone for the mission. He explains how by making the missionary boardings, cars and personal lives \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u201c including preparing, finding and teaching – examples of a true Preach My Gospel mission we can raise the bar so that all the new missionaries will learn from the beginning how to be excellent, positive, and productive in all aspects of missionary life. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>As I read this letter that went out to each missionary, I once more saw and felt that a prophet of God called the Manns to serve here in the Durban Mission at this time. <\/span><\/p>\n