October 26 Happy Birthday Lindsey!



This is the Johannesburg Stake Center building



 “Come to the edge, he said.
We are afraid, they said.
Come to the edge, he said.
They came to the edge,
He pushed them and they flew.
Come to the edge, Life said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, Life said.
They came. It pushed them...
And they flew.”

― Guilliame Apollinaire French Poet

October 16-20,  We supervised the reroofing project at the Orphanage in Tembisa.  4 new doors were also installed.  The new roof will keep the children dry and the new doors will keep the rats out.  Family and friends back home donated money as well as some Senior Couples. 



Mama's birthday celebration with her friends.



Mama turned 68 years old on October 20, 2012.  Thank you all again for your generosity with the improvement project.  You have made a HUGE difference!

 October 20  We went shopping at the China mall!  What a deal.  Lots of interesting people and stuff.  I bought a cute skirt for the equivalent of $10.00.

Below is Mary.  She is the Stake Relief Society President of the Pretoria Stake.  Wonderful Lady!

October 21   We attended conference in Pretoria Stake and heard inspiring talks from Elder Holland, Elder and Sister Bricknell, President Boshoff and several members called on to bear testimony.   A choir from Pretoria First Ward provided the music.   Elder Holland inspired us regarding the growth of the Church and the leaders’ effort to visit and mingle with the members.  He concluded giving everyone an Apostolic Blessing, he blessed us as if he were placing his hands on our heads.  He also blessed all those that we pray for, including our extended families.  This blessing was comforting and also gave us more counsel to ponder and strive to make meaningful in our individual lives and the lives of those we serve.

On the way home, we stopped at the orphanage for Mama’s Birthday.  We gave her a pair of new athletic shoes.  She was pleased.  There were a number of her friends who came to celebrate, also.

October 22-24,  We taught  a Career Workshop in the Employment Center.  This course is a miracle.  Many of our students come in shy and reserved, unable to express their dreams and their capabilities.  After three days, they are standing before the group speaking with confidence. (see Shain's story below)

October 25      This day will go down as a highlight in our mission and even our lives.  We attended  an Area Office Devotional where Elder Holland spoke of gratitude and service and we were able to speak with and shake Elder Holland, Elder and Sister Clayton and Elder and Sister Renlund’s  hands.  They are great leaders and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the afternoon at the Joburg Stake Center, we were able to attend a mission zone conference where we received instruction from Elder and Sister Renlund, Elder and Sister Clayton and Elder Holland.  We have never been more passionately motivated by an Apostle to serve our mission.  This mission will change our lives forever. 

Elder Holland counselled us to learn more everyday and make this moment mean a great deal!  He said , especially to the young Elders, “Don’t go home and act like you were never here.”  

He taught us how Preach My Gospel was born in the year 2000 and explained that the missionaries need to study and be taught so that missionaries are prepared to teach individuals and families according to the unique needs of the individuals and families. “We can’t expect investigators to go where we are, until we are willing to listen and teach based on what they are feeling and where they have been.”

We have had some spectacular storms this week.  We understand you have too, especially Idaho area.

Here are some pictures of the sky from our apartment window.

We go to Pretoria on Sunday.  The Jacaranda trees are in full bloom there.  They will be here in a couple of weeks.  I’ll send pictures.

This young man's name is Shain.  He took our Career Workshop this past week.  He has been living on the street.  He is a member of the Church.  He came to hear Elder Holland.  I took a picture of him shaking Elder Holland's hand and printed and laminated it for him.  Shain was really moved by the whole experience.   He spent the rest of the day in the Employment Resource Center and then again today (Friday).  He just came up to me and said that he has a prospective employer who is calling him on Monday.  He said, will you please pray for me, I really need this job.  Will you all join with us and pray for Shain. He is an articulate young man whose dream is to be an attorney.  He is ready to make some changes in his life. 

Sister Clayton (just behind) rubbed his shirt a little and said, "Oh, your clothes are so thin, you must be freezing."  Tears welled up in her eyes.

Thank you for your prayers. 

Love to you all Elder and Sister DaBell

The rains came down and the children were dry,

The rains came down and the children were dry............

October 18, 2012 

Last Sunday was our General Conference viewing.  We watched the afternoon sessions, as we were able to see the morning sessions at 6 pm on the days confrence was held. 

 

There are no Costcos in South Africa.  We are making do with Makro, a bulk quantity store, that really isn't any less expensive, but reminds us a little of Costco. 

This week, Tuesday and Wednesday, we taught a Self Employment Workshop in Mamelodi, a township area about 45 minutes from home.  We had 9 complete the class.  Sometimes when there are not enough jobs, you need to recognize a need and market your skills.  Elder DaBell is really in his element!!!

Busy week this week at the orphanage!  The old roofing was taken off and replaced with better supports and materials.  We have also added an overhang to give some shelter to the doorways.  the roof will extend out to the end of the long boards. One more day of construction and it will be finished.

When we go there the children are always wanting a picture taken.  We take one, then show them what they look like, and then the giggles start.

Mama wanted her picture taken by her “transport.”  Cool wheels, HUH!

It rained Tuesday night and for the first time in... maybe ever, the children were dry.... (from the rain, not even sweaty wet).

I told Mama that our children and others from back home had given money for this worthy cause.  She said somewhat amazed, “Your children, they gave money for us?  Thank you!  Thank you!  I shall live forever!”

It is Mama’s birthday Saturday.  She will be 68 years old.

Thank you so very much for what you have done!!!!

I have a new calling.  I am the Area Music Specialist.  I will facilitate the Harmon Music Education Fund Program.  Brother and Sister Jack Harmon funded a program to loan electronic keyboards to dedicated students who can work to qualify to apply for a grant to receive their own instrument.  In return, they accompany the hymns in their wards and branches, and teach others to play.  There are some who have done amazingly well.  We have a “den” storing keyboards.  There are dozens out on loan throughout the Africa Southeast Area.

I have also inherited 4 piano students.  I will teach them here at the area offices.

We have some fellow missionaries, the Callahans, who are going home in a week.  Elder Callahan has been the Area medical Advisor.   Elder Dr. Callahan has been expecially helpful for Mama's Orphanage. We have a "farewell" for missionaries being released.  It is a home evening with a fun program. The Callahans have been good friends.  We wish them the best of everything.  Sister Callahan served in the calling I have just received.

This is Africa

                                                                           

Thanks again for your orphanage support!  And for your continued prayers for our safety.

Elder and Sister DaBell

October 10, 2012

We have been richly fed again this General Conference!  In South Africa conference is viewed in the wards and branches one or two weeks later because the original broadcast starts at 6 pm and the afternoon session concludes at 12 midnight.

There are 44 couple missionaries serving in South Africa including those serving in the Temple Welfare Services, Humanitarian Services, Member Leadership Support, Seminary and Institute, Perpetual Education Fund, Legal Services, Real Estate, Area Auditing, and Executive Secretary to the area presidency.   There are many areas that are in need of more help.  All are welcome!!!!

We were able to visit Saulsville Ward Sunday, October 7.  There was a great spirit in Fast and Testimony meeting.  We had the opportunity to discuss Welfare / Employment in Ward Council.  (great turn out in Ward Council)  the Bishop is very caring.

We announced workshops being held in Mamelodi on Oct 16^th and 17^th, there may be some attend from Saulsville.

In Priesthood they discussed moving back to Atteridgeville Ward building next month.  There are some travel concerns, but overall seemed like most felt the attendance would improve and certainly the reverence. 

In my experience in Montana and Idaho, I found overlapping the wards with one starting at 9 and the other starting at 11 worked very well and got both wards done by 2 pm.  I know the Atteridgeville building is very well equipped and should house both wards efficiently.

In Relief Society I was asked to give an announcement concerning our Career and Self Employment Workshops.  They gave me 15 minutes.  It turned into a serving through visiting teaching discussion and a review of how the ward council can be of service to those who are reported as having needs through visiting and home teaching.  When visiting teaching and home teaching are not done or not reported as to individual needs, the council cannot be very effective.



On the Left is Elder Rowberry from Arizona.  He is related to the Rowberrys in Sugar City.



Just a little of what we are doing here in South Africa:  every other week, we teach a Career Workshop in the Employment Resource Center.  Three days 4 hours a day.  The participants are given a pass into the Employment Resource Center for three months after completing the course.  They can come in, use the computers, telephones, newspapers, get help on writing resumes, registering on ldsjobs.org, and any other help we can offer.

 The Career workshop is a course designed to help prepare the job seeker to present himself effectively in seeking employment, enrolling in a school, applying for financial aid, or to improve his own business. 

The first category is to review GOALS.  Reviewing your background helps you understand your strengths, weaknesses, recognize the worth of what you have done, express your likes and dislikes, and set goals in an area where you will find success.

The second category is exploring your RESOURCES, including networking with those you know and come in contact with, using directories using employment websites, and following up with contacts.

The third category we cover is INTERACTING WITH RESOURCES.  Making powerful impressions, getting appointments, learning interviewing techniques, preparing impressive written materials, and how to follow-up with your actions.

Lastly, we cover CONTINUED SUCCESSES.  Learning to negotiate, how to prevent problems in the workplace, growth in your career, and recognizing what success is. 

We also teach this course in wards and branches during our “off” weeks.  For many of our clients, the 75 rand to get a taxi to the Center is too much money.  That is the equivalent of about $8 for us.

About 8 people are placed in jobs through the Center each month.  180-190 complete the Career Workshop each year in the Center.  That really adds up to about 50% placement of those who attend the course in the Center.  We need to train leaders who can teach in the wards and branches.  Think of how much power that would add to the program.  There are public libraries, Ward and Branch computers, and many people have some air time on data phones, so ldsjobs.org is quite accessible.

We would encourage all of you LDS or not, to go onto ldsjobs.org and see what is there. 

This week we have 10 attending our class.

I went shopping Tuesday at Bret’s.  It is a home industry type of business.  Bret makes bags, pillows, and things for distributors like TJ Mack’s.  His wife (sorry I can’t remember her name) makes jewellery, table linens and things.  Their home is an older estate with fantastic grounds.  It was a fun outing.



Yes, this is Linda Hymas from Rexburg!!! 
She and Doug are serving here in Seminaries and Institutes!



Jake, the sister sitting here is Sister Green. 
They are from Spokane and have 2 daughters you have met.



We appreciate all who are supporting the roof repairs at the Tembisa Orphanage.  Hopefully the work starts Monday, as the rains have begun.

Our Love to you all, Elder and Sister DaBell, Mom and Dad, Grams and Papa.

Did we really?  Yes we did!!!!

One day in August we were presented with a plate of worms and told that eating one was expected of all missionaries in the ERC.  These worms are actually a source of protein, I don't know how many you would have to eat, though, to call them protein????  Elder DaBell ate a whole one and swallowed it.  I took a fourth of one and chewed it up.  I just couldn't get it all to go down.  Then we found out that no missionaries ever eat them!!! 

Our new friends here in South Africa are very proud of us.

 Pretoria

September 25, 2012  Sister DaBell and I accompanied Sister Vivien Roberts, ERC Manager, to the Pretoria Stake Bishops’ Council meeting where the topic was Employment Resources.  Emphasis was made regarding the benefit of registering on LDSJobs.org as a leader.  Also, discussion was had regarding the importance of using Ward Councils to discuss individual Welfare needs and develop a plan to help individuals and families work towards self reliance and council together to provide resources for individuals to solve long term employment needs. 

 LDSJobs.org is a very useful tool for job candidates, priesthood and relief society leaders and employers.  We received positive feedback from the Pretoria Stake Leaders.  Sister Vivien Roberts also discussed the Skills College opportunities that have become available to qualified members in four Pretoria Stake wards.

Memories

 I remember Grandpa Patterson using siphoning pipes to water the garden.  Each bent pipe was filled with water from the ditch and then quickly placed to the garden row.  The water miraculously went from the ditch down the dry garden rows.  The pipes were left in place receiving a full amount of water until the water reached the other end of the garden row.  We have started our siphoning pipes here in South Africa.  Hopefully the water is travelling to the end of the rows where each member will benefit from the employment resources put in place by our church leaders.

Orientation

September 27, 2012   Employment Resource Services hosted “an evening with stake leaders” in the ERC where approximately 25 stake leaders and ERS staff had a light dinner and discussed all of the ways ERS can support Stake and Ward leaders in  teaching Self Reliance:  Training Ward Councils, Workshops, Firesides, Career Fairs, LDSJobs.org.   Discussion was lively and the feedback positive.  We emphasized the ecclesiastical line of authority and the willingness of ERS to help.

Cordencio Gonzales

Cordencio Gonzales is from Angola.  His wife, Carlota Arthur Manuel Santiago was from Mozambique.  He attends the temple every three months, the cost is the equivalent of 600.00 in dollars.

This is his story:

Cordencio learned of his future wife by an email from a mutual friend.  He communicated by phone and email only.  They did not see each other or exchange pictures.  He went to Mozambique to meet her.  He was to arrive on Thursday.  He missed the bus.  He arrived on Friday. 

There was a long line of young ladies.  He was impressed that Carlota was on the right.  He started on the left and met the young ladies.  When he got to the right side, he came to her and immediately knew.  They were married the next day on Saturday. 

Two months later they went to Angola to visit his family.  Two weeks later she contracted malaria.  She passed away one week after that.  Before she died, she said please bury me in Mozambique.  He said I can’t, it is too expensive.  Five days after she died, she was buried in Mozambique. 

Three months after her death, she was sealed to her parents.  26 Sep 2012 he came to Joburg to be sealed to her in the Johannesburg Temple.  They were sealed Thursday, September 27, 2012. Now they have the opportunity to be together throughout eternity.  (For those of you who are new to this, a living person stands in as proxy for the person who has passed away)

Every morning he told her, "you are the best woman in the world."

She would tell him in return, "you are the best man in the world."

THE APARTHEID MUSEUM

The pillars read, Equality, Respect, Responsibility, Diversity, Democracy

We visited this museum on Saturday, September 29, 2012.   This was a sobering experience.  There have been many inequities and unfair practices in the history of the world, but certainly APARTHEID illustrates a particular demeaning treatment of a race of people, an example of the denial of agency of millions of God’s children. 

The white minority were able to rule the black majority for many years.  It took the courage and leadership of black and white individuals to overcome this practice.  There is still some problems, but all citizens now have one vote each and South Africa has an impressive new Constitution that was drafted in the early 1990’s.  

We have great appreciation for Nelson Mandela, a black patriot, first President of the new South African government, who still lives in Johannesburg in his mid 90’s.   Here is a quote that describes his greatness:  “For to be free is not merely; to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.   (Consider watching movies:  Mandela and DeKlerk and Invictus).

Witbank Branch

September 30, 2012   We visited the Witbank Branch and we spoke on Welfare and Employment specifically.  President Kingsley also spoke regarding teaching Self Reliance.  Sister DaBell played the music for Sacrament meeting and Primary and also taught the Primary children. ( Sister DaBell Here:  no one came to teach primary.  the Primary President was not there.  the counselor had to take care of a sick child.  The Branch President was going to teach primary, I said oh, just leave the children with me.  We had a lesson on having the courage to choose the right in difficult situations.) 

We announced the Career Workshop to be taught in Kwa Guqa Ward on November 12, 13, 2012.  Several Witbank members plan on attending.

JOSEPH MOKOENA

Devotional October 1, 2012     The devotional thought today was given by Joseph Mokoena, head of area travel.  He gave an inspirational account that occurred in November 2010 when Elder Christofferson was on his way to Africa to dedicate the nation of Angola for the preaching of the Gospel. 

Joseph got a call from Church Headquarters at midnight explaining that they had been unable to acquire the visa for Elder Christofferson to enter Angola.  Elder Christofferson was then enroute to Africa, stopping in Johannesburg and then continuing on to Angola.  Joseph immediately started to make contacts to solve this problem, but he kept hitting road blocks.  Elder Christofferson arrived in Johannesburg and met with Joseph.  When he inquired about the Visa, Joseph told him of the problems, they seem insurmountable. 

Elder Christofferson said the Lord wants me in Angola, you will solve the problem.  Joseph was doubtful.  Elder Christofferson said let us pray.  He beseeched  Heavenly Father for intervention.  Joseph testified of the miraculous events that followed and allowed not only Elder Christofferson to get to Angola on a timely basis, but he took Joseph along with him and his group.  In  Angola, Elder Christofferson dedicated the land and blessed it with peace and prosperity.  THIS IS THE LORD’S WORK! 

Lesedi Cultural Centre

The hat is pointed to represent mountains.  It is from the mountain tribe of Sotho

October 2, 2012 we visited the Lesedi Cultural Centre.  They feature 5 native villages, sort of a Polynesian Culture type of experience.  Dancing and a native food meal were included

We learned about Zulu, the warriors, Xhosa from the Eastern Cape area, the tribe that Nelson Mandela is from,

Sotho the peaceful mountain people, and Pedi a tribe that wears a Scottish kilt.  At one point the Pedi were fighting the British and the British put Scottish men on the front lines.  In their kilts the Pedi thought they were women and did not attack them, because they would not attack women.  They were tricked into a lost battle. They wear a kilt as a reminder.

Our appreciation of so many things has increased through this opportunity!!
Until next week Elder and Sister DaBell.