22 - 25 December 2013 (8 January 2014)

This is the season, beloved of the year, sing a rhyme, Christmastime soon will be here.........

Christmas Celebrating lasts a long time.....

22 December  We attended Sacrament Meeting at Katlehong Branch and enjoyed great talks honouring the Saviour and this Christmas Season.  We were able to visit with the Branch Clerk regarding his Sewing Business and Welcome regarding his construction business. 

Sister Nhlanhlan ( aka Likey) attended our Career Workshop a while back.  She is preparing for a mission.

We enjoyed having the Eppels (Temple President and Matron) and Barnes’ (Church History missionaries) over for Sunday dinner.  We also welcomed Brother Schwab and his grandson Ryan from Thayne and Jackson, Wyoming.  They were waiting standby to fly back to the United States.  The Grandfather had served in Kenya and had returned for a Sealing in the  Temple. 

President and Sister Epple

Elder and Sister Barnes.  This is their second mission to Africa.  They served before in Durban in the same area we werve in.  This mission they are serving in Church History, assembling the history of the Church in Africa.

23 December  We went to Tshabalalas for piano lessons and had a Christmas home evening with them.  Christmas songs, story from the Liahona, piano performance by the children, what a treat and spiritual way to celebrate the season.  Afterwards the children were surprised with some books and puzzles for Bokang and Awande and Basketballs and a basketball standard and hoop for Ntando, Minenhle and Khumo.  They were thrilled and appreciative of the gifts.

Family Home Evening Lesson

Bokang playing Jolly Old Saint Nicholas and Mary Had a Little Lamb

Minenhle played March of the Androids and Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Khumo played Jesus Once of Humble Birth and 

Awande played Mary Had a Little Lamb. 

Opening presents was a treat

I'm not sure that Amahle really cares!

Clothes from our family and friends in the USA!  Thank you So Very Much!

Basketball??

YES!

A Basketball Hoop!  You will notice the old hoop (THE TIRE ON THE GROUND!)

Ntando played When the Saints Go Marching In and Silent Night

24 December   We visited an Orphanage in Vosloorus with the Eggets and others and helped feed the disabled orphans.  The Mama at this orphanage has done this great service for 32 years.  In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these...

The orphanage is a home that was owned by an Afrikaans gentlemen who was cared for for many years by the "mama" of the orphanage.  When the gentleman died, he left the property to her.

This is the wonderful lady who cared for the gentleman and now owns the property

The residents are all ages and disabilities.  Many of them had gone to visit relatives for Christmas.  We took Kentucky Fried Chicken, potato salad, bread, and staple supplies to them for Christmas

24 December  In the evening, we ate homemade pizza at the Hoffmans and watched the Audra McDonald Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert with Hoffmans and the Garretts.

25  December   Merry Christmas   We were surprised by the Tshabalala family at 8:30 am with a candle light Christmas Morning breakfast.  Dominic asked us on Monday evening about Christmas traditions in our family.  We told him how much we enjoyed a candle light Christmas breakfast before getting into all of the stuff of the day.  What a thrill to see them at our door!!!! Sorry about the "back light" we are still point and shoot people!

 We enjoyed "skyping" and speaking with children and grandchildren.  At noon we took our "Yum Yum Rice" (green and red peppers, onion, soy sauce etc) to the back entrance of Duke's Court and enjoyed a Chicken Casserole meal with the other Senior Couples in the building.

President R___________ Second Counselor in the Johannesburg Temple Presidency, President and Sister Epple, and Elder King

Leigh Ann and David Bowman Area Controller

Sister Bukus, Sister _____Elder Rakotonjanahary temple missionaries

Elder and Sister Nielsen

Elder and Sister Clayton, and Sister Heaton

Sister Jones Sister Klingler, Elder and Sister Kabey

Emmanuel and Elder Rose

Temple Missionaries and Elder Shupe

We will finish up the celebrating next time!!!!

Elder and Sister DaBell