Best Buy Beds in Mokapane

So on our last trip to set up a senior flat, we took an older box springs and mattress from our selection but thought it was okay.  We take our own sheets and just stay over at the flat we're working on.  Well after me ending up on the couch all night, we realized we couldn't leave that bed for a new couple so we proceeded to downtown Mokapane to buy a new queen size box springs and mattress.  We found Best Buy Beds.  Now it looks like a normal bed store, right?  Wrong, we were there for about an hour and a half because their equipment wasn't hooked up to the bank right so we could pay with our church credit card.  The owner kept jiggling wires, switching plugs (I should have taken a picture of their computer and phones)  So besides being very hot, I was very bored so I wandered outside the door and took some pictures:

Good example of streets in small towns - vendors everywhere - these are some of the nicer ones, however

Perfect example of the way the African moms carry their babies -

 

We finally convinced the owner to let us deposit the money in his bank when we got home.  He agreed only because of our badges:)  So then we needed to have the bed delivered.  He provided delivery - he went out on the street and hollered at a guy in a truck - you want to earn 70 rand (about $7) sure - he pulled up in front - they threw the bed and box springs in the back of the truck and we guided them to the apartment.  Hope the Brammers had a good night sleep when they arrived!

 



And you thought all we did was sit in an office!

So I thought I'd show some pictures of one of our moving days.  This doesn't include the hours I spend searching the internet for possible flats to rent, traveling to the flat to see if it meets our approval, the hours spent with the paperwork, bank deposits, etc, and the time spent shopping and ordering all of the supplies needed. 

This is the garage where we store the furniture.  Elder O'Riodan and Elder Hoffman are waiting for Elder Bishop to shuffle furniture and appliances so they can load the trailer.  These two elders are our neighbors and they insist on being our helpers every moving day.  We can't tell you how much we appreciate them.  We've given them cookies, McDonald meals and taken them to dinner.

Elder Hoffman loading mattresses

Elder O'Riodan, Elder Bishop, and Elder Hoffman

I got a pose and a smile

Elder Hoffman is from California and Elder O'Riodan from Australia.

Then after all is loaded Elder Bishop does the rope down.  We've never lost anything yet - he's very thorough!

After the drive which could be anywhere from one to five hours another set of elders meet us and help unload

Elder Rawnsley (England), Elder Howard (Arizona)

And then after a couple of days of unwrapping, ironing, hanging etc. you've got your brown and red senior flat

There were eventually pretty curtains on that window - I had to make them because they were an odd size and then send them with the senior couple when they arrived

Or the blue and tan one

It does take two days to get a senior flat ready but we have way more elder flats to furnish and they simply get a small two seater couch, a small table and four chairs, a bookcase, two desks, two single beds and simple curtains - no shears on their windows:)

If the flat is clean and in good repair we can get things in and ready in hours.  If not, it can take us all day. 

So this is what we do when we're not in the office - amongst other things like flat inspections and repairs.

Kindred Spirits the Lord put in our path

We spent the first 14 months of our mission working side by side with Elder and Sister Leavitt from Bunkerville, Nevada.  They were fun, delightful friends.  We went on some safaris with them, had lots of Sunday dinners, and cried and laughed over many things.  The workers at our hairdresser thought we were sisters or twins.  They didn't know which senior sister they were working on:)

We had a farewell dinner for Elder and Sister Leavitt and welcome to Elder and Sister Hillam (front left).  Elder Hoffman and Elder O'Riodan, our neighbor elders.

Sister Leavitt was a friend to all and a mother to Rory left and Fiona right. 

We had a little get together with them before Sister Leavitt left.

Rory demonstrated how to wind a long scarf around your head. Africans love their scarves and hats

Elder Blake was going home so Sister Leavitt managed to host a dinner for he and Elder Bastian on the left, Elder Blake (assistant) Sister and Elder Hillam(Leavitts replacement in the office) Sister and Elder Bishop, Elder and Sister Leavitt, Elder Hunter (assistant) and Elder Davidson. 

We'll miss you Elder and Sister Leavitt and love you forever!



Ether 12:6

"And now, I, Moroni would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

That scripture comes to mind as I ponder over the last couple of months.   I finally had a chance to decompress a little since last Tuesday.   It had been a grueling, don't stub your toe or rip a hang nail or we won't make the deadline kind of month and I didn't realize how we had been pushing and forcing ourselves to stay on task until I went home one night feeling sick because I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained.   I actually went to bed at 6 p.m.   We did make the deadline but that didn't mean we could just relax and hang around the office and do our "office work" which was behind, understandably.   You can't do office work if you're not in the office.   We had to get going on the next set of flats we need to get ready for the elders and seniors coming in November.   I kind of took a few days off of looking because we really didn't have any time to go check out new places and some of them are far away.   So here's where I think about the scripture and "after the trial of your faith."   None of the places we are asked to find have come easy.   I have searched, hunted, called, we've driven to and looked until something finally comes up.   But four new flats have fallen into our laps this week - literally.   I still had to research but not for hours and one phone call and one visit and voila - there they are.   A couple because some agents who we have worked with before helped us and the other two just happened after a couple of phone calls.   I feel it's the blessing and reward for being diligent, trudging along, and doing an incredible amount of work.   I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for such blessings.   Truthfully, I could hardly face another month like last but it feels like the hard part is done.   We still have a lot of physical work to do and a lot of traveling, but the mental stress has lessened some - for me anyway.   Elder Bishop has been at the office every night - he can work circles around me when it comes to computer endurance - but I can sure out shop him!   But in order to get everything done, we have to divide and concur!   One of the best things I've done is to learn how to drive on the left side of the road! 

We enjoyed a Saturday outing with the Hillams to the Lion and Rhino park just 30 minutes from here.   Have you ever seen a white lion in the zoo - I haven't.   But there are white lions in South Africa - they are not albinos.   We also visited the Wonder Caves and saw some amazing stalagtite and stalagmites and pillars - and it was nice and cool.   It's getting hot and anywhere outside of Johannesburg is about 20 degrees hotter.   We're going to die when we go to the northeast next month - we're not use to humidity and heat.

Just want you to know how thankful we are that we can be here and serve and also how thankful we are for the guidance, protection, and blessings we receive.   We love you all and are so grateful for your prayers, for your righteous lives, and great examples you are to us.