From time to time, the housing couple have to make a trip to Botswana to take care of business. This was the case the first of December. The senior couple who lived in a house in Gabarone (pronounced havaroney) had gone home and it needed to be emptied and closed. As many of the furnishings as could were moved to the new couple, the Gubler's townhouse. The Taylors, Rands, and Gublers live in Gabarone but have many different assignments. So we took our journey across the border, which was no easy task. We think the border guards see us coming and think "let's send these stupid Americans on a wild goose chase and detain them at the border for a couple of hours." Thus was the case. Everything was legal and in order, our passports, licenses, registration, visa, etc. but they managed to give us the run around. However, we survived and made it across the border to the first city, Labotse, but couldn't find out way out of Labotse to get to Gabarone. This is when our GPS said, "I don't know this new country" and we were on our own. We finally asked a young lady and she drew us a wonderful map that got us on our way. But when we arrived in Gabarone, neither of our phones would work so we could call the Taylors, who we were staying with, to get directions to their house. Well, we finally managed to get through to them and made it safe and sound. This was Friday night and early Saturday morning we all met at the new flat to clean and prepare it for it's new furnishings. We made a lot of progress but we were cleaning out a four bedroom house that had been the Botswana center for missionary supplies, etc. So we made three piles - one was the things for the new house, the second was things for the missionaries to look over and see if there was anything they could use, and the third was throw away. We worked until evening and then the four couples went to a nice place for dinner. We were up bright and early Sunday morning to go with the Taylors to their assigned ward in Mochudi (pronounced just the way it's spelled). Some day you'll probably read an Ensign article about the "Band of Brothers' from Mochudi. A group of young men have joined the church and are all fulfilling missions. Their peer influence has been tremendous and now they're working on the "second generation" of young men preparing to go. There are also young women but not so many. Gabarone was just made a stake in November and Mochudi a ward. However, they have no meeting house but a large tent (like the one we had the boat in only bigger). Botswana is five hours north of us and the further north you drive, the hotter it gets. It was hot in Botswana and you can only imagine how hot it was in the tent. But the members are amazing, love to sing, and have a wonderful spirit of testimony and humility. We miraculously survived the heat of the tent and went to our different classes in a house near by.
Elder and Sister Taylor with their "Band of Brothers" and Sisters. Three already had their calls and will enter the MTC in Dec, January, March. Look at those amazing smiles!
This little guy was wanted his picture taken. See the "hot tent" in the background. They've been promised air conditioning but it wasn't there yet.
These are the four Elders serving there at that time.
Beautiful Mochudi children
We finished cleaning out the house Monday, and Ross helped hook up the Gublers, stove, washer and dryer, and I hung curtains before we left Tuesday after lunch. There was still more to do but the bulk of it was done and they had until the end of January to finish.
Elder Madsen was the AP in the office when we arrived and and he was going home December 19th so we had a little farewell dinner for him. He loved enchiladas so Sister Leavitt and I made those and on the table is my famous no bake cheesecake. We will miss Elder Madsen and wish him all the best.
Sister Bishop, Elder Madsen, Sister Omer, President Omer, Elder Leavitt, Sister Leavitt, and Elder Bishop. Elder Nielsen was taking the picture. After dinner they all helped fill the Christmas stockings we made for the MTC Elders and Sisters. Many hands make light work:)
Ken delivers Sister Leavitt's supplies to the office and invited them to the blessing of their baby girl. That was in November and we tagged along. We visited Johannesburg First Ward and what an amazing ward it is. The Leavitts invited Ken and his family to dinner and also another couple who are Ken's friends. We later found out that Ken and his friend were missionaries in the Uganda mission when our neighbors, Carol and Lew Wright were a senior couple there. What a small world.
Is she cute or what? Sister Leavitt and I took turns cuddling her.
Sister Leavitt and I made (embroidered SAMTC 2012) and filled 33 stockings for the Elders and Sister who were at the MTC at Christmas time. We gave them to them on Monday, December 17th, just before they left for the various missions on the 19th. We stayed and sang Christmas Carols afterwards. It was great!
We had to help President with some pick up and deliveries to the airport. We took Sister Vuki and Sister Joseph to the airport on their way to Botswana. We don't see Sister missionaries very often because they all work in Botswana.
The cake under Elder Bishop's arms says "Happy Birthday Sister Leavitt." The Elders wanted to surprise her after their testimony meeting Sunday because her birthday is on Christmas Day. Elder Watson (center with the beanie- don't ask - it was 90 degrees) is cutting a cake they gave him because his birthday is Christmas day also.
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