Bedspread, Bride, and Baptism

So here in South Africa and probably all over Europe they use Duvet covers instead of quilts.  You buy just a basic comforter then put the duvet cover on and wash that instead of a quilt.  It's a nice idea but our cover did not fit our comforter and we got tired of fighting it so we pulled it off.  This is the fabirc I found at the amazing fabric store.  I also bought a contrasting fabric for the back, sewed it on three sides like a pillow case, put the comforter in and then stiched that little hummer on all four sides so it won't move.  How am I going to wash it you say - I'm not - we have sheets between it and us.  When we're ready to come home, I'll unstitch it, leave the comforter here, take the fabric home, and make a quilt out of it for a keepsake.  Brilliant!

 Fiona at her bridal shower at Sister Reber, the MTC President's wife's apartment.  This was all new to her but she was very cute, excited, and appreciative.

 

I went to a bridal shower for Fiona.  Fiona is from Uganda.  Her brother Powell Oketa came here for his mission and served his whole mission with a deformed foot from an accident he had when he was young.  He was a great missionary and the senior couple here, the Oborns, went to bat for him so he could get his foot surgically repaired.  They worked it out so the surgeries would be paid by fast offerings.  Their family background in complicated but there is no way he would have been able to have this surgery back in Uganda.  Fiona, his sister, came to South Africa to help take care of him after the surguries.  His foot was so badly deformed that it took two surgeries.  Fortunately, while she was here, she met Mbusa and will be getting married in the Johannesburg Temple on September 28th.  He is a fine man, has a job, house, and car so we are thrilled for her.  We're hoping we get invited to the temple sealing.  Mbusa is 35 and Fiona is 27.  It's a happy story.  Powell is healing well and is close to being able to walk without crutches.  His girl friend is back in Uganda so he'll probably return when the doctors release him.  This is Fiona, her mother-in-law to be, and Sister Oborn who is really the only Mom she has known.

This is Powell Oketa, Fiona's brother, at the MTC reception desk where he is volunteering while his foot heals from the surgery.  He is a very nice returned missionary and we hope that his future brings wonderful and good things. 

This is Mary and Coleta on their baptism day, September 2.  We met Mary when we went with Elder Reeve to interview her for her baptism.  Her husband is already a member and is so happy that his wife has finally been baptized.  Coletta is her friend.

Left to right - I don't know the man's name who baptized them, Mary, Patrick her husband, Coletta, Elder Reeve and Elder Farr