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