Worst storm in many years!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.   We had a nice dinner at the mission home then about four in the afternoon the angry skies cut loose and we had a wind, hail, rain storm like no other.   The power went out, the mission home sprouted leaks all over the place and the hail/ice was piled up like someone had plowed the road after a snowstorm.   It finally calmed down, the Hillams went to the hospital to see Sister Winward who fell and broke her ankle and has to have surgery on it tomorrow (another story), the Omers met up with some neighbors who were here visiting, and we proceeded to take their helper, Irene, home to Dobsonville.   Now Dobsonville is a bad place to get through in the late afternoon as it is but with all of the mess from the storm - well.....there were piles of ice/hail on the road, on the side of the roads, trees down, roads flooded, rocks and debry all over the roads and traffic backed up for miles.   Irene was a nervous Nellie worried about taking our time.   We assured her we were done for the day and had nothing to get home to.   What should have been an hour round trip turned into two but we got her home safe and sound and we came home to hail piled up against our door.   But everything was dry inside. Fortunately the power was back on and we had a quiet night.   The Hillams weren't so lucky.   Their place was soaked.   I can hardly wait for the calls I'm going to get from elders today who were flooded.   They don't build places to withstand that kind of storm.   On our walk this morning, the road was covered with a blanket of leaves and junk off of trees.   So the beautiful climate I've bragged about turned into an ugly raging storm last night.   All of the poor people who live in shanty towns will have most likely had water up to their knees and won't have time to dry out because it will rain again today.   So that was our thanksgiving - how was yours:)



Storm raging and hail collecting on the mission home's lawn

This is hail not snow.  In some places the hail was as big as baseballs and broke through windows

I didn't get a picture of the hail piled up on the side of the roads but it was impressive

Eclectic Missionary Pictures

Elder Hoffman's birthday cake - he was transferred from next door to us in November.

Elder Caleb Coon - I told him our grandson was named after him - great elder

Elder Ndlovu - he had cerebal palsy - could hardly understand him but a sweeter spirit and good missionary could not be found.  I'll never forget his slow drawn out S..i..s..t..e..r   B..i..s..h..o..p

  Elder King - great Zone Leader - good guy

Elder Zebe - neighbor elder and furniture loader's birthday

Last testimony meeting for Soweto East Zone

It was a wet and muddy night

Which black shoes would you like?

New bathroom in one of the new flats we opened up - no worries about waking up in the morning

You rarely see Elder Bishop looking up at an elder.  I thought this was pretty cute

We like to try out new eating places - this was a cute quaint place with good food.  We ate in the blue room

And there was the pink room and a red room that I didn't get a picture of - the chandelier's color didn't come through very good - it's the same color as the wall:)

Renae's baptism - tiny little lady who came into the office looking for the missionaries.  My contribution was to send the missionaries to her.  I gave the talk on baptism

Elder Bednar's visit in Sandton:  The Meldrums, the Dummers, the Hillams, and the Bishops

Cutest little guy in the world - he's everybody's buddy.  We had his mom who is the Relief Society President, dad who works on the mission office/MTC maintenance, and another couple Spu who teaches at the MTC and his wife Mantua for Sunday dinner

Spring in South Africa.  This Jacaranda tree is in front of our house

They are everywhere in Johannesburg plus the bright boganvillas to the left



Rhododendrons outside the elders' flat - too bad they won't appreciate them

Entrance into their flat - they've got it tough don't they?

How gorgeous is that!  Don't know the name of this flowering tree

Elder Litchenberg - he was serving in Jouberton when we arrived - what a great elder!

Elder Jackson - his real last name is Ndayambaje.  He was the first missionary to serve from Rowanda and the first African AP. Because of the political situation in his country, he couldn't use his last name.  He was just Elder Jackson to us and a very sweet, kind soul.   He will be a great priesthood leader back in his country. 

(The wind has been blowing since August - thus the tossed hair look)

Elder Bishop, Elder and Sister Winward, Sister and Elder Hillam, Pres Omer at Elder Bishop's birthday dinner

Rati and Sidney - their story:  Sidney is from Highland, Utah, and graduated from BYU.  She applied for the Peace Corp and was sent to northern Botswana, Africa where she worked in a camp with the youth.  She signed up for two years.  It was difficult for her to get to church but she managed to get to the Francistown Branch as often as she could and was adopted by the senior and sister missionaries.  She went to a Youth Single Adult conference and met Rati.  He joined the church when he was 23, went on his mission to Zimbabwe at 24.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple last October.  I met them at the Dobsonville ward just before that.  They now live in Soweto.  Rati is a counselor in the ward bishopric, Sidney works in the temple and is a counselor in the Stake Young Women's.  They have all of the comforts of life where they live except a kitchen sink:)  She says she isn't sure she wants to put the money into the sink as they won't be there forever.  Rati works at the MTC and is going to law school.  Some day they'll have a nice home, he'll be successful in his profession, and both will continue to be leaders in the church.  My love and respect go out to Sidney and Rati.   We had them for a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday - Rati loved everything but the pumpkin pie:)  Sidney just barely dyed her hair red - she was very blonde.

It's hard to see us but this was our mission in December, 2012.  We are in the  middle right

Life at the South African MTC

This week was hectic but we had a little different experience.   President and Sister Reber, president of the MTC went to mission presidents' seminar for three days.   They asked us to keep an eye on their sixteen elders.   We started Sunday afternoon and met them in the cafeteria for dinner.   These are sixteen very fine young men - about 7 from US, one from Johannesburg, and the rest from around Africa.   We watched a movie we had never seen about the Salt Lake Temple then Elder Bishop led a discussion about the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.   The elders learned a lot in that hour.   They had snacks which consisted of peanut butter sandwiches and quesadillas.  I played the piano for song practice and they went off to their rooms.   Lights are suppose to be out at 10:30.   We went to President and Sister's apartment which is attached right to the MTC, went to bed and didn't hear a thing.   We ate breakfast with them, they went to class and we loaded up the trailer and bakkie and drove to furnish a new a flat.   Sister Hillam joined them for lunch and dinner because we didn't get back until about 7 p.m.   We then changed our clothes and joined them for snack and singing time again.   I took some ripe bananas from the cafeteria and Tuesday morning made them some banana bread.   I thought peanut butter sandwiches and quesadillas every night for two weeks would get pretty old.   Anyway, we ate breakfast Tuesday morning and they were off to the temple for the whole day.   This would be the Africans first time through.   We then took the banana bread for snack that night.   You'd think I'd given them the moon - they were so cute about it and gobbled it all gone.   Then singing time, prayer, and good night.   I didn't really sleep very good in a strange king size bed and felt pretty ragged by Wed. morning.   But we had breakfast and lunch with them again and the Rebers were back and we got to go home to our own bed Wednesday night.   We never saw them again until today, Sunday when they sang for our Sacrament Meeting. They were adorable and sounded really good.   I had some free time Saturday so made oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies to take over Sunday night.   I just felt like they were just our special boys.   I didn't have a chance to get really close to any of them but there were a special few who stood out.   You know how some people really relate to adults and are comfortable with them - we had a few of those.   And Elder Matli was from the ward we attend so it was fun being there and seeing this great young man.   He has been teaching the Gospel Principles class and will make an amazing missionary.   I checked in with Sister Reber to see if it was all right if I brought the cookies over and she said great and why don't you join us for family home evening at 8.   So after church and before evening we drove to a place called Pimville to attend the Soweto Stake choirs' Christmas concert.   This was an all African choir dressed in native costumes singing Christmas Carols.   It was wonderful and really started Christmas off for us.   So after returning from that great event, we took the cookies over and joined the 16 elders and Pres and Sister Reber.   Sister Reber is a master teacher and makes everything fun so after her lesson, we played "I love everyone who...."   like the fruit basket game.   It was great fun and the elders were such good sports.   The Americans are great but the African Elders are just so humble and sweet - it's hard to describe - they are never loud - they are quiet but not standoffish - just adorable is all I can say.   We went and had cookies and ice cream - all cookies were gone and they were so appreciative.   Song practice again but this time Pres. Reber accompanied with the guitar.   My heart was full as we sang with these fine young men - full because of the privilege of just being in their presence, grateful for their desire to sacrifice and serve, and also maybe had a little prayer for each one of them because I know that they're going to go out in the hard cruel world and have some really hard times.   It's that feeling of throwing the lambs to the wolves.   They are so sweet and full of the Spirit and desire to be missionaries - I just pray that none of them falter or stumble too hard but that they are stalwart and overcome their hard times.  I know that most of them will be leaders and have amazing mission experiences.   They have a final testimony meeting tomorrow night and then they fly out Tuesday morning heading for Durban and Uganda.   They are really only here for 10 days - pretty short mission training. It makes me sad that I will never see any of them again in this life but it was a treat and privilege to have this special time with them.     Good luck you group of sixteen.   May the Lord protect you and bless you.     In line for breakfast  Goofy picture, I know - eating with the elders   This group's official picture



More Amazing Animals

In October we took a day trip to the Lion and Rhino park not far from here.  We saw some different animals

I'm afraid I didn't keep the book so can't tell you what this animal is called but doesn't it have amazing markings?

Haven't we seen this animal in fairytales?

Wart hogs are very hard to get a close up but this Pumba was not so skiddish.  We saw a water buffalo(in the rear) pick one up and flip it up over its back like a basketball.  Guess Pumba got to close.

First good shot of a water buffalo - they are UGLY!

Did you know that the ostrich's legs have no feathers on them - just big bare drum sticks

Seems I've seen these in Uncle Doug's house

Big rhino.  They feed these animals in this park so that's why we can get such closeups

Just a baby one

White lion - they aren't albinos - they're just white lions

This guy's got to be related to the elk - big old dude

Het come back!

Elder and Sister Hillam and Elder Bishop waiting for our tour to the Wonder Caves - big underground caves with amazing formations