Not sure where we've been, but we are back............

Elder and Sister DaBell April 2014 Visits and Activities



29 March  Big Day!  Nombuso the former intern in our office was married in the Johannesburg Temple.  She married Siyabonga from Durban who served a mission to Kenya the same time as Nombuso, and was a member of the Branch Dominic used to be Branch President of in Durban.

Amahle, Bokang, Kanya, Nombuso's Sister and Awande

Sivuyele and Pheladi Pezulu, Bokang, Minenhle and Khumo

Awande

Bokang

Mr. Sibonyoni See the entry for Feb 19, 2013

Dominic, Amahle and Sivu

Awande and Bokang

April 5-6   General Conference:  What a treat!  

We listened to all the Sessions on BYUTV.   It was a challenge to watch and listen to the Priesthood Session at 2 am local time, but it was worth it.  We were inspired to be better Disciples of Jesus Christ, follow up as missionaries and above all be kind to one another.  Elder Oaks was masterful in teaching about the authority of the Priesthood and how it blesses women and men alike.  Elder Bednar reminded us the Atonement not only covers sin, but all of our weaknesses and afflictions.  President Monson seemed so engaged and strong and reminded us to reread the talks and study them for the coming 6 months.

April 7-8   We taught 16 individuals in the Career Workshop, a very intelligent and savvy group.

April 10   I attended a meeting at Tedcor, a Waste Management company, with the Okhuhle Management Cooperative from Vosloorus.   They are hoping to get a subcontract with Tedcor to do waste removal and recycling in Vosloorus and Kathelong.  They have attended our Self Employment Workshop twice and are moving forward on their business plan.  We spoke with Jack tonight and wished him Happy Birthday on his 41^st birthday.  We picked up Elder and Sister Cook at the Airport returning from General Conference.

April 11   Temple recommend interview with Elder Cook, First Counsellor in the Area Presidency.  He has been called to be the Area President, effective June 1, 2014.

April 12   Elder and Sister Barnes accompanied us to the orphanage.  


The power was shut down two days ago.  There has been a misunderstanding with the Social Workers  and the power company.  We hope this problem will soon be solved.  

We then visited Kumbalane Alterations in Kathelong.  We gave them material to make two African dresses and two African shirt.  Jacob and Judith Mlambo greeted us and prepared to do the sewing.  Earlier that day they were sealed in the Johannesburg Temple to each other and their 3 children.

Just show a picture, they take the measurements and make the clothing.

April 13   We travelled to Mabopane where we spoke in Sacrament meeting.  



The second hour we oriented their new Self Reliance Specialist. 

 We taught a combined meeting in the Third hour on the “Critical Score.” Everyone except the primary children attended  Usually we have ages 12 -32.  We had great participation and hope many including parents and children decide to make critical choices.  After church we attended a Baptism. 

We then went to the home of Moipone's parents, Godfrey and Constance Magkatle.

Moipone's father is blind from an injury he received a year before they were married.  His independence and confidence are a tremendous example.

The dinner included "Steam Bread."  Very delicious and interesting to make.

Moipone’s parents have been “pioneers”  in the Church in Mabopane since 1992.

The drive from Mabopane is very beautiful

Fall in Johannesburg

April 14 and 16   We taught 6 people Self Employment Workshop.

April 15  Elder Adams and Elder DaBell met with Elder Cook and Thabo Lebetoa and discussed the most effective way to engage the Stake Self reliance Specialists in both developing  job networks and maintaining and communicating the existing  job networks to ward specialists and ultimately to the individuals who are seeking employment and / or improving their existing employment.  “getting water to the end of the row” is always a challenge wherever we live.  Elder Cook is a great listener and analyzes problems quickly.  He gives concise and helpful counsel.  He will be a great Area President, effective 1  June, 2014.


April 17 Amanda and her husband, ??? Chikara visited.  They were married the same day as Nombuso and we attended their wedding in the Johannesburg.  We were unable to get pictures that day, so we were thankful for the visit.  Amanda was in the first class we taught in 2012. Cute married couple.

April 20  (Easter)  We attended Tembisa First Ward.  Sister DaBell played the Sacrament music and we were inspired with talks from Elder and Sister Chris and Debbie King.  After Church, we visited the Orphanage and provided an Easter Lunch for the Children. The electricity is still off.

The Kyles, a missionary couple here, had a son who came with his finance and her parents to the Johannesburg temple to be married.They made cute CTR bracelets for all the children.

Dominic explained Easter in ZULU.

We served a delicious hot dog Easter Dinner.  With the power still off, it was greatly appreciated!  There were enough left-overs for another meal.

The Kings are regular visitors, as they attend the Tembisa Ward just through the block.  Elder King plays the Ukulele and sings.  Sister King teaches the hula "Pearly Shells" They taught the children to sing "You Are My Sunshine."  So SWEET!

Awande and Bokang

Ntando learning to play the Ukulele

Elder Kyle, Elder King, Sister Kyle and Sister DaBell giving Amahle a drink.

New Playground Equipment

April 22-25   DaBells and Adams flew to Port Elizabeth:  we rented a car and drove the beautiful Garden Route.  The ocean and forest views were stunning and beautiful in spite of lots of rain as we drove.  

 On our return to Port Elizabeth, we stopped at the “Big Tree”, over a thousand years old and over 36 metres high.  We ate some delicious fish on this trip.    That evening we went to dinner with Elder and Sister Blatter from Hamilton, Montana whom serve in Port Elizabeth in PEF /Self Reliance.  Delicious food and fellowship!!

Wind mills reminded us of Judith Gap in Montana

Beautiful Horse Barn!!!

We stayed in a comfortable bed and breakfast in Dana Bay, just beyond Mossel Bay.








On the second day we visited Outshoorn where we toured an Ostrich farm and then we visited Kango Caves, similar to Carlsbad Caverns in the United States and bigger than Lewis and Clark Caverns. 

The feathers are used to make many different things........

Ostrich skin is amazing.  Tough leather!  It can be dyed.  I would love a handbag!

The baby chicks are ........ugly.

Feeding an ostrich is an adventure.  You don't know when they will strike!

On the third day, we visited Addo Elephant Park where we saw many Elephants, Wart Hogs, Red Hartebeest, Spring Bok, Zebra, Water Buffalo, Monkeys, Ostrich, etc....   What a beautiful country with wonderful people and animals.

This guy walked right by us.........................

We visited the Kango Caves.  Reminded us of the Lewis and Clark Caverns.  In the largest room they used to hold Symphony orchestra concerts.  The acoustics would be beyond description.  But as the concert goers were breaking off the formations to take them home, they stopped the concerts.  This was back in 1960's to 80's

April 26 We celebrated Margaret’s birthday by eating with Elder and Sister Barnes at Del Forno’s in the Killarney Mall.

April 27 Happy Birthday, Margaret...29 years and counting!  We attended Hospital View Ward, Centurion Stake, Sister DaBell played the music and we were called on extemporaneously to speak.  It was a great opportunity to share our testimonies and thank the members for their kindness and examples.  Sister DaBell shared what she had learned about the Atonement from local member Letti who recently lost a newborn child last December.   Letti is Thlalefang's sister.  It has been a strength to us to know her

Letti has been a great of example of using service as a means to tap into the Atonement and be healed.

That evening  Sister and Elder Adams had us and the Hoffmans over for Sunday Dinner in honor of Margaret’s birthday.  The Tshabalala family stopped by to sing and share cake.   Happy Birthday sounds good in Zulu.  That evening Margaret loved hearing from her children with birthday greetings.

I invited Bokang to cut the cake.  She did a beautiful job!!

April 28  Public Holiday, Freedom Day:  we accompanied Elder and Sister Shupe (legal and public affairs) to visit an old Fort Merensky and an old Mission outside of Middleburg, Mpumalanga near Witbank (Emalahleni).  Great day and fellowship.

Fort Merensky was built to protect Botshabelo (place of refuge), a mission station established just 5 km north west of Middelburg, in the 1860s by Alexander Merensky and Heinrich Grutzner of the German Missionary Society. 

Amongst other things the fort provided a refuge for black Christian converts fleeing their own community, where they were regarded as having betrayed the community's ancestral beliefs. 

Middleburg Church

April 29-30  We had nearly 30 sign up for Career Workshop.  Therefore, the Adams’ taught in the Centre and we taught in the Devotional Room.  We had 5 recently returned missionaries in our workshop, all of them from Tembisa.  These young men are a great example of the future of the church in South Africa. 

One of the young men, Mfanfikele Nkambule, served his mission in Alabama and now serves as a volunteer in the Self Reliance Center.  His father is the former Bishop of the Tembisa Ward and his mother has taken two workshops from us.  He is very intelligent and good with people.  We tell him he has an Alabaman accent.