22 November 2013 

"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things." 

Elinor Smith

November 8   We served in the Temple on this Friday afternoon.   We once again learned from both the ordinance workers and the patrons. 

November 1  President and Sister Eppel began their 3 year service as Temple President and Matron.  We got to know the Eppels while they were serving as Area Auditors.  She was born and grew up in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, but with the independence, all white people were forced out of the country.  He is a retired Accountant and was employed by the Church Temporal Affairs department for many years.

9 November We went shopping with the Tshabalala's for the orphanage.  Sindee Savage from Salt Lake does some fundraising .  It covers the cost of medications, toiletries, and some food. We are so grateful for her help.  Mama visits with Dominic, since our Zulu isn't, ISN'T.  We went with Tshabalala's to help out with the shopping, and delivered the supplies to the orphanage. We noticed that there is some impetigo. 

Mama has a number of sponsors from the community now. Shoprite, Pick N Pay, Cash Build.  The missionary couple before us, the Savages and with their daughter Sindee, began the improvements. Seems like the community can see that there is a need and they are reaching out to help. 

There was a voting registration taking place in the library on the day of our visit.

Tiring day shopping!

Mama is always happy to have visitors!

Every two weeks Pick N Pay donates some of their food products that are at expiration.  The food is still good, and is greatly appreciated!  Some of it that isn't in the African diet is given to those who have helped out.

Clive, Mama's son, has a bakkie and brought the donation from Pick N Pay.

An occasional treat is fun!  Notice the wings?!

There are new wardrobes in the sleeping room!!!!!

This little girl was brought in just before we arrived.  No one knew her name.  She seemed to respond when called Bushi, so Bushi it is.  She was crying.  I sat on the step and held her.  Who ever would have thought that I would be sitting on the step of an orphanage in Africa, holding a toddler who was sobbing.

Moipone is the stalwart behind the happenings at the orphanage.

Mama has a new Samsung Washing machine!!!

This is Tlhalefang, our new intern.  She is from Tembisa.  We purchased some antibiotic ointment for a little guy with impetigo. Tlhalefang delivered it with instructions.  It will be nice to have someone who can help out once in a while.









November 10  We attended Kathelong Branch, Bedfordview Stake.  We had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament meeting and teach about 40 youth / YSA on making Critical Choices.  The Branch President is Pule Nkoe who works in Physical Facilities for the church. We have known Pule for our entire mission.  He is a friendly young man with a fine singing voice.  It was nice to witness him serving as a Priesthood Leader and meet his wife and children.  After the meetings, we met with the Branch Council and presented training on Self Reliance Principles, Needs and Resource analysis and LDSJobs.org.

Elder and Sister Eggett and Elder and Sister Moyer attend at the Katlehong Branch.  The other sister is in the Relief Society Presidency.

One duty is watching the gate!

The Branch meets at a Community Center.  There is a nice play ground

The "chapel" is brightly painted and tidy.

Perhaps Katlehong has something to do with cattle?  Anyway there are some in the area!

A parts store.  Part of this, and part of that!

November 12-14   We taught Career Workshop in the Employment Resource Center. We were very impressed by two returned missionaries from the Pimville Ward, Shaun (L) and Jabulani. 

They have only been home a couple of weeks.  They each joined the Church about 6 years ago.  Jabulani is looking at a career in psychology.  Shaun likes to fix things, especially motors, and is interested in mechanical training.

They are very good “networkers” and seemed well prepared for part-time work and additional educational training.



November 14-17   We left with the Hoffmans to travel to Polkwane Branch in Limpopo.  Elder Hoffman, Area Medical Adviser and an ordained Patriarch, has given 95 patriarchal blessings in the districts in the last 8 months.  He gave two blessings Thursday evening in Polokwane and then we went to dinner.  In the night he became very ill.  We taught a Self Employment Workshop to 8 in Polokwane Friday morning.  Elder Hoffman was still very ill, so we drove the Hoffmans back to Johannesburg (3 hours) and then we returned to Polokwane and then on to Tzaneen (5 hours)   (a long day of driving)  

Interesting load in this bakkie!

We spent the night at the Country Blue Bed and Breakfast.

Self Employment Class in Polokwane.  Wonderful people, fun class

The streets here in Polokwane are well kept.  No litter. Leaves and flowers are always swept up.

In Tzaneen we met Elder and Sister Smith .  We stayed at Sanloo Manor.  Wages are so low.  It is always fun to give a tip.

This is Christine, who kept out room so nice.

This is Eddie.  We remember him from our last stay here

Own a wheelbarrow, start a business!

Lenyenye Branch Building

We taught a Career Workshop in Lenyenye Branch to 8 participants on Saturday morning.  We were particularly impressed with Branch President Molele who met with us separately and counselled us on the Branch needs before the workshop.  Several of the young men in the workshop are preparing for missionary service, Thabo has his call to Kenya and plays the piano.  (He takes lessons from Sister Heyen) He is in the striped shirt in the back.

We were very pleased with Thabo's call.  Just this past week, Nombuso told us of two missionary experiences she had in Kenya, where she served.  I wrote them down, and had her approve what I had written.  We had a copy of it in the car and gave it to Thabo.

This is President Molele and his family.














This is Mamsi, the wife of Thomas, who works here in the Area Office in MSR (records)  His first born daughter is Prudence, then Anna and the baby is Darlene.  We took a picture and gave it to Thomas.  He visits home about once a month.  Many families are separated because of employment.

Saturday afternoon we visited the 1100 year old giant Baobab tree in Mojadji, very interesting.  Saturday evening we went to dinner with the Smiths and the Heyens.  

Sunday morning we went back to Lenyenye Branch and spoke in Sacrament meeting to approximately 100 members in attendance.  President Molele suggested the parents join us when we taught the Youth / YSA on making critical choices, so we had 75 in attendance.  He was wise in saying parents and youth need to be on the same page.  We returned to Joburg by 6 pm.  Very hot!  37 C.

November 18-21   We have been involved with a construction project on our Flat repairing a leaky ceiling and mold problem which requires new cabinets, some plastering on the walls, some painting and overall disruption.

The apartment above us had a leak in the hot water heater, the geyser (geezer).  it soaked down through the ceiling and wall, and mold grew.

The wardrobes were removed and the walls were not plastered, but plain brick.  A plasterer was hired.  Then a coat of paint, then the new wardrobes replaced.

November 21  We took Elder and Sister Curtis to the airport to return to their home in Salt Lake City.  He has served as the Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency and she has processed missionary applications and helped in Public Affairs and served as an all-around super party planner.  They will be missed, their 18 month service went by quickly.  We had the opportunity to travel with them, last Christmas to Madikwe, and last July to Cape Town.  Sister Curtis knows how to shop.  Elder Curtis is a retired orthodontist.

November 21   We had a missionary farewell for the Murdocks who have served 18 months in Public Affairs.  They have served both in Durban and Johannesburg.  Sister Murdock suffered from a ruptured appendix here in South Africa, but had no medical attention for a week.  She almost died.  She has miraculously recovered and they both served well.

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.  It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.  Jeremy Kitson

24 October 2013

Brian has a job as a lecturer at an University here in Gauteng.



He attended our class some time back, and had a baptism date set.














He shared a picture with us of his baptism day.  He is a very qualified individual.  May 4, he attended self-employment workshop after attending Career Workshop.  He is from Uganda.


October 24   Met with Lucky, husband of our volunteer Agnes, to help prep him for an interview at Hollard Insurance company IT department.  He has worked for the company for over 10 years and hopes to get this promotion opportunity.  We previously witnessed Lucky and Agnes being sealed together and having their beautiful 3 sons sealed to them.

On 24 October Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Craig Christensen, of the Presidency of the Seventy  and Bishop Gerald Causse, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, arrived in Johannesburg.  Among other things, they completed the area review, and dedicated the country of Gabon to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. They completed their work here on 1 November 2013 and left to return to Salt Lake City.

 Elder Bednar was interviewed by the largest radio station in Africa potentially reaching 7 million people.   He shared Joseph Smith’s First Vision pointing out that Joseph Smith went to the grove to find out which church he should join.  In other words, he not only wanted to know which church was correct, he wanted to know which church he should join.  He was prepared to act on the answer he received.  
When Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ told Joseph Smith to join none of the existing churches, he found he was called to be the Prophet of the Restoration and responsible for restoring Christ’s Church on the earth.

Elder Bednar pointed out that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is demanding, with high standards.  People are looking for a church with high standards.  These standards help us become better people and more service oriented.

The leaders of the church encourage the members to be good citizens and be active in whatever country they reside in.  Elder Bednar also pointed out that learning is a vital part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We should seek learning throughout our entire life.

Elder Christensen

Bishop Causse

27 October    We attended Germiston Ward.  We were able to speak in Sacrament Meeting and teach the Youth / YSA.  We have mentioned this class a trillion times.  Here is an outline of what we teach.

THE CRITICAL SCORE

The decisions you make within the next 20 years will shape this life and all eternity.

1.             Will you come unto Jesus Christ, accept His atonement and follow

Heavenly Father’s plan for you?   Will you serve a mission?

2.             Whom will you marry and where?

3.             What will your life’s work and how do you plan to get there?

                1.             Prepare for and receive personal revelation in your daily living.

                2.             Set priorities.

                3.             Make obedience a quest.

                4.             Know who you are.

                5.             Act and take responsibility

“When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest,

in that moment, God will endow us with power.”

President Ezra Taft Benson

Elder T. Jackson Mkhabela shared this quote by Korsaren:  “If you are poor, work.....If you are happy, work.  Idleness gives room for doubts and fears.  If disappointments come, keep right on working.  If sorrow overwhelms you, work.….When faith falters and reason fails, just work.  When dreams are shattered and hope seems dead, work.  Work faithfully….Work is the greatest remedy available for both mental and physical afflictions.”  
(The Forbes Scrapbook of Thoughts on the Business of Life, New York:  Forbes Ind., 1968, p. 427.)

 We also met with and trained the Ward Council regarding Self Reliance principles generally and the Needs and Resources Analysis Form and LDSJobs specifically.  Bishop Karabo Mamabolo, husband of Bonolo (receptionist at the Area Office) was very welcoming and is a warm and conscientious leader. Sister DaBell was delighted to play the music.







Germiston Ward building was built in the early 50's.

Below is Karabo Mamabolo, Bishop of the Germiston Ward.  to the right is Bonolo, his wife.  She works here in the area office and is expecting a baby girl in January.  They have a 2 year old son.

















October 31   We met in a Missionary Zone Conference with over 250 young missionaries and some 40 senior couples where we were trained by Elder and Sister Bednar and Elder and Sister Cook.  Elder Bednar reminded us that we should teach with the Spirit and Learn by Faith.  Learning by faith comes in part from action upon the things we learn.  We need to “get out of the way” so those trying to learn can be taught by the real teacher, the Holy Ghost.

I taped a picture of myself with three small babies in remembrance of the real Halloween, the triplets’ birthday!


October 25  We had the opportunity to serve in the Temple

November 2  We enjoyed a leisurely trip to Zoo Lake where we observed Artists in the Park.  There were many artists:  water colors, oils, sculptures, etc. displaying their wares outside in the park.  We actually purchased a water color painting and a metal mosaic.

November 3  We visited Edenvale Ward, Bedfordview Stake.  We taught some 30 Youth / YSA on making Critical Choices in their lives from age 12 to 32.  We hope more young people take education and service seriously at a younger age and become increasingly Self Reliant.  Way too many returned missionaries return from their missions with no goals and wondering what are they going to do now.  Before church we met with the Ward Council and presented training on Self Reliance generally and Needs and Resource Analysis planning and ldsjobs.org specifically.  We invited Gerald and Donita (Hunter) Christensen to Sunday Dinner.  We enjoyed getting reacquainted with Donita and getting to know Gerald.  They are from Pocatello and serving in the Johannesburg Temple.  Donita is the daughter of Donnel and Nita Hunter and sister of Sally Geisler.  I worked with her as a staff nurse at Madison Memorial years ago.

November 4-7  Elder Adams and Elder DaBell team taught a Self-Employment Workshop to 3 young men.  Dean has an IT consulting business and Qoabeng and Lucky have transport businesses where they line up trucks to do shipping for various customers.

 Nombuso will be leaving as her year is up.  We will not lose track of her, however, she is getting married in March in the Johannesburg Temple.









Our new intern is Tlhalefang.  She is married and has 4 children.  She is very personable and well qualified.  She is from Tembisa.








November 4 Devotional speaker was Thembinkosi Mhkize, PEF supervisor for the Africa Southeast Area.  We have learned much from Thembinkosi about Self Reliance over the last 15 months.  He is a High Councilor in the Benoni Stake over Welfare.  We have had several training opportunities in that Stake under his direction. 

Thembinkosi Howard Mkhize grew up in a village with little opportunity. There were two things to watch out for, thorns and snakes.  Either would be very painful or even deadly.

Having no shoes, feet gradually became very tough.  He said that after a few years of not wearing shoes, your feet became so calloused and strong, that you were not hurt by the thorns. When he got his first pair of shoes they were very difficult for him to wear.  He was 16-17 years old.

He wanted to go to school when he was 6.  His mother refused to let him go.  He said he cried for a whole year.  All that was offered in the village for a young boy was to be the “head boy” and watch over the cattle.  Most of the children went to school when they were 12.  He was allowed to go when he was 7 years old. 

Over time, his vision expanded, he matriculated in math and science having very good grades. He then went to university to study accounting.  When he attended his first class, it was in English.  He did not speak any English.  He learned it in the class room.  By the time he graduated, he earned all A’s in his classes and was awarded an accounting degree.  

He holds a very responsible position in the Area Office.  He is one that not only “talks the talk”, but “walks the walk” of self reliance.  Sister Mhkize is a physical therapist.  The Mkhize’ attend the temple EVERY Friday.

November 4   We attended the “Farewell” for Elder and Sister Knudsen, Church History missionaries, in the Devotional Room.   This is their second mission in Africa and they have been in charge of establishing a more definitive training program for Unit Historians and collecting Histories from African Saints in the Africa Southeast Area.  Many of the histories are oral histories and they have travelled and documented many of these oral histories.  


Here is an extensive historical collection preserved by Clive Nicholls and donated to the Area Church History Center.

Person search:  Ken Patterson, David Bly, RQ Shupe (Currently in SA) Monty Eggett (Currently in SA)

Glass Sacrament Cups

President and Sister Badger Mission President here 1967-70

Under their direction the Area Office established a record preservation office and an area to view and work on additional histories.   We have enjoyed the fellowship and friendship of the Knudsens.  We visited both Madikwe and Victoria Falls with them and played games several evenings.  They will return to their home in South Jordan, Utah.

6 November  We had 2 plus hours of security training from the Area Security chief and Security officials from Salt Lake City.  We also had a piano recital at the Tshabalala home.   Ntando, Minehle, Khumo, Bokang and Awande took part.  We also celebrated Bokang’s 4th birthday. What a blessing to be close to this “adopted family."

AWANDE  TURNED TWO IN JUNE 2013

BOKANG TURNED 4 YEARS OLD TODAY!!!

KHUMO TURNED 8 YEARS OLD 13 AUGUST 

MINENHLE TURNED 10 YEARS OLD 17 AUG 2013

NTANDO TURNED 11 IN JUNE

PROUD PARENTS!

GOGO (MABLE) WITH AMAHLE

Sister Naylor attended with us.  Fun family recital!

Also joining in the fun was Gwazzy, a cousin.

This is Maya Malaza and her husband, Lucky. Maya was Nombuso's seminary teacher when she was 14 and investigating the church.  The class had 24 students, some members and some not.  Maya's testimony of Joseph Smith was a determining factor in Nombuso accepting the gospel.  The Malazas currently live in Cape Town.  He is the Bishop of the Kayelitsha Ward. She is still teaching Seminary.