Visit to a Typical Shanty Town

We visited one of the shanty towns or squatters camps that they are sometimes called.  If you see the hut in the background, there homes usually made of scaps of tin, carboard, anything they can find.  There are thousands and thousands of them all over South Africa and they go on for acres and acres. 

This mom and baby are super clean and so cute.  I don't know how they manage - no plumbing whatsoever.

This little doll was dressed so cute.

Sister Leavitt was the selected grandma to get to hold the baby.

They (the YSA) handed out candy.  That was our connection to go.  You don't just drop into one of these camps if you don't have connections or know someone.

The children love to have their pictures taken - see the big water tank back left.

Can you tell what's on the grill - their favorite - chicken feet and sometimes they'll cook beaks and call it walkie talkie.



Senior Retreat at Lesedi Village

 

In March we went to Lesedi Village about an hour away from Johannesburg for a Senior

couples retreat

These cuties took us to our rooms (huts)

This was the entrance into our room - be careful make sure you duck

 

 

Lots of art work everywhere

 

 

The village was a mini Polynesian center type

 atmosphere.  They told us about the cultures of five different South African Tribes. 

 

 

 

I can't remember the names of any of the tribes but it was interesting

 

Beautiful baby - just another visitor to the village but so cute

The guys and girls performed traditional native dances - very physical and athletic

 

We had game nights,

Discussions and instruction

Private drum lessons

We did lots of sovenier shopping - these ladies specialize in beading

Talked Elder Bishop into getting a safari hat and a drum (don't know how we'll get it in our suitcase but it's cool)

 

We were highly entertained

We rode a tram to the top of Hartbeesport (Elder Bishop and Elder Leavitt were lagging behind us) yes the wind was blowing

Elder and Sister Omer in front of the South Africa Johannesburg Mission Senior Couples at the Lesedi Village retreat

 

We had a great time and it was a much needed "retreat" from the mission office. 

 



Valentine FHE

 

In February, we hosted a Senior Couples FHE at our house.  We were determined to have it outside where we have plenty of room but alas, we were rained out so we stuffed us in.  We had the sun room so it worked out great.  We had a red dinner - lasagna, salad, red jello, garlic bread, and a strawberry cream dessert.  Everyone likes to just talk and visit but we had them help us fold up the tables and then we played games.  I had asked each couple to tell me something unique that no one would know about them and then we tried to match that event up with a couple.  I think one person got two right so it was a very informative game. 

Elder Bishop leaning back full and happy, Sister and Elder Piepgrass on the left and Sister and Elder Blake on the right - both have returned home

Elder and Sister Nielson (area couple) left, Sister Hymas and Elder Leavitt back, and President and Sister Reber front right.

We then played famous couples Charade - can you guess who Elder and Sister Leavitt are?

How about Elder and Sister Blake?

Special Friend Elders

I was always getting Elder Molai and Elder Pasi mixed up.  You can see a difference when they're side by side but really, they are both Hawian, same size, same hair.  They just laughed at me - both really nice guys.  They've both gone home now so I don't have that problem any more.

 

Elder Nielsen is from Leamington (where the Evers live) just by Delta.  He was the AP for a few months and a great Elder. 

Elder and Sister Bishop, Elder Nielsen, Elder and Sister Leavitt.  Elder Nielsen was a hard worker, humble, quiet but very fun.  We miss him.

Elder Farr on the right was a neighbor for a while.  He was very outgoing, fun loving, and a bit needy.  Elder Ryan on the left is from England and has an accent to die for.  He is adorable, sweet, thoughtful and kind. He's barely 18 but already a trainer and will be a leader.   Elder Farr was only a member a year before coming on his mission.  He learned a lot about the church while teaching.  He was a great teacher and a really sweet guy.  He has returned home to Arizona.

Elder Peterson on the right was a Zone Leader for the whole time we knew him.  He just loved to sit and chat with the Senior couples.  He must have had a good relationship with his grandparents because he just loved us:)  Elder Calaway was very quiet and reserved but when he became a Zone Leader with Elder Peterson, he blossomed.  Elder Peterson is attending Utah State and we have a date for a Sunday dinner and game night.  He and I also had a lot in common - he can't stand dirty flats!

Elder Lichtenberg was the Elder when we started going to Jouberton.  He drove us to visit families (it is impossible to find them on our own) and encouraged us when we got discouraged.  He is a dynamic teacher with an incredible knowledge of the Gospel.  He's a bit older and has his college degree already.  He was transferred far away to Tzaneen and we miss him.  He breaks all the rules and gives me a hug when we see him.

Elder Palmer is a sweet Teddy Bear.  He's the one who created the missing Christmas Spirit for me.  When he started to sing, I just started to cry. He has an amazingly beautiful voice and is already booked to sing at our welcome home.  He's from Grantsville so that's not very far away.  He was our neighbor for a while but was transferred and is a Zone Leader in Pretoria but we get to see him every Thursday.

 Elder Shurtliff and Elder McLelland were the APs. They were our skinny giants - both about 6'4".  Elder Shurtliff is a sweetheart.  Elder McLelland had a very sarcastic sense of humor so we got along great.  He's returned home to California (his sister is in Callie's ward).

How many elders does it take to make one copy???

The whole Soweto East crew at testimony meeting

And all the ones going home or being transferred (I taught them how to do the kick line:)

Elder Kelly, Elder McLelland, Elder Parry, Elder Bastian, Elder Anerson, Elder Palmer, Elder McKim

Birthday Surprises

On my birthday, we left early to go empty a Senior couple's flat and clean it up.  We didn't get home until afternoon but waiting for me on my desk was this sweet surprise - Sister Leavitt, of course, because she's the kind of person who would never let a birthday slide by without a lot of goodness and kindness given.

We were tired and hungry so we went and picked up Chinese take out.  While we were waiting, I went into a little clothing shop and bought a new skirt and blouse and Elder Bishop went into a floral shop and bought these beautiful flowers.  All of the lillies opened up and they were lovely.

Eating Chinese food with our dear friends and neighbors, the Leavitts, yummy cake and ice cream, flowers from my hard working companion (we make a good team - he's good at fixing and repairing and I'm good at cleaning the flats) and lots of well wishes from many friends and family constituted a great birthday.  The elders next door even came and sang to me (getting cake and ice cream as a reward, of course)



Our New Friends from the Branch

 

Sipho, Doris, and their two sons invited us to dinner one Sunday.  They fed us oxtail with rice and vegetables.  It was very good.  Then dessert was custard over jello (which they call jelly) with a slice of my banana bread that I had given them.  Then we didn't see them at church for a couple of weeks so we went to visit them again.  Sipho was struggling with feeling offended by what someone had said and was not wanting to go back.  Elder Bishop talked to him and read scriptures with him and got him to see that he was only hurting himself.  He agreed and came back.  Two weeks ago he was sustained as the first counselor in the Branch presidency.  We were thrilled.  Their youngest son in front is mission age and is a great young man.  We're hoping that he'll want to go and will get prepared.  Doris is the Young Women's president and just a dear.

 

Thelma, Tumelo, and Daniel are great people.  Thelma comes to church often but Daniel not so much.  He's the friendliest nicest guy and Tumelo is the cutest and friendly like his dad. 

We travel so much I decided to be productive on all the long road trips so started making doilies for the sisters in the branch.  So for Easter I filled two baskets......

One for Doris, Sipho and family and one for Thelma, Daniel, and Tumelo

I gave Thelma (shes wearing a cute wig) and Daniel theirs at church and we delivered Sipho and Doris to their house.  They loved them and wanted to return the baskets (Easter baskets were tricky to find - I bought them from a florist shop) but I assured them they were theirs to keep