15-20 July Cape Town

Oh yes, I see that someone is in there!!! WHEW!!!!!

July 15-20   We had a great visit to Cape Town with the Curtis’, Nielsens and  Hoffmans.    On Monday we flew Kulula ( Google them.  They are like South West in the US) airlines and landed in Cape Town just after 11:00 am.  

We picked up a rental van and checked into the Links  Bed and Breakfast in Pinesland, owned and operated by Mick and Pauline Davies. 

We then visited the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and enjoyed the craft market and many other shops.  This cute little tug boat takes children for rides around the bay.

Those of you who know Thomas the Tank Engine, will recognize CRANKY.

We concluded the day by eating at the Harbor restaurant by the wharf overlooking the ships and water.  Great food and conversation!

July 16   We left the Links following a delicious breakfast prepared by Pauline and served by Mick at 9 am and proceeded to Hermanus to go whale watching with Southern Right Charters.  

We had an orientation and then boarded the boat just before noon and spent nearly 3 hours looking for and viewing whales.   

We saw several Southern Right whales up close and 2 hump back whales from afar. Southern Right Whales have 2 blow holes and the spray comes out like this.

We came very close to 2 males and 1 female.  The males were seeking her affection.  At one point the female swam underneath our boat to escape the advances.  We watched them for a very long time.  A great adventure.  

A Fin and Body

A Tail

Three Whales

On our way home we stopped at a beach just outside Onrus, a beautiful village. 

We watched this surfer.  He got up on this try.

We met Joseph.  He puts finishing touches on carvings and sells them by the roadside.  We now own a very nice ironwood elephant and he has a Book of Mormon.

This is Nazim

We returned to Cape town and viewed some idyllic villages on the coast line on the way.

July 17   We visited Robben Island and viewed the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years of his 27 year imprisonment.  It was a sobering experience and hard to understand how one race of people in a country could so dominate and basically enslave another race for such a long time during the Apartheid years.  

Table Mountain and Cape Town from Robben Island

Part of Robben island has a village on it.  Very picturesque.

At one time there was a leper colony on the island as well as the prison.  This is the cemetery from the colony.  This and an Anglican Church are all that remain from the colony.  When babies were born they were taken from their parents and sent to other areas.  The parents did not see or hear from their children again.

These are solitary confinement cells.  Some of them also housed dogs to police the prisoners.

Very sobering experience, but a beautiful day.

This bird is the Egyptian Ibis

They posed very nicely for us.

This is a cave in the limestone quarry where the prisoners were required to do hard labour.  They had only small tools to work with. They fashioned stones that were used for building.

Some of the prisoners were illiterate.  They were secretly taught to read and write when short breaks were taken in the cave. 

This is a photo of the prison yard where the prisoners worked on the limestone blocks. The dust caused many eye and lung conditions.

Our guide was a prisoner on the island for 8 years in the 80's.  He is shown here with the Nielsens.

After our visit to Robben Island we enjoyed a lunch at the Bakery next to Nelson Mandela Gateway.   

We drove to the base of the tram on Table Mountain and rode the tram to the top of Table Mountain, One of the seven natural wonders of Africa.  A Clear Day at this time of year is a gift.

Signal Mountain

Spectacular Ocean Views

Cape Town

This time of year, visitor numbers are down and there are places to park and no lines!

 What a view of Cape Town, several bays, Signal Mountain,  and on and on.  

That evening we dined at the Barnyard theatre and listened to an “imitation concert” of Abba, Queen and the Bee Gees.  We tried to reminisce a bit, but the music was too loud and the singers needed a different director.  We only recognized two songs and were happy to leave at the intermission.

July 18   We had a delightful day driving through Simon’s Town to Boulder’s Beach, where we viewed penguins.

Then on to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope.  We had spectacular views of the ocean and mountains and more and more.

We enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner at the Mariner’s Wharf at Hout Bay.  (definitely ate too much, but wow!) 

Feed the seal Tuppins a fish....
This sweet lady had a bag of fish remains that she threw out to the seal.  Reminded me of the Mary Poppins movie.

Then it was on to Camps Bay and on to Sea Point and back to the Bed and Breakfast, the Links.

July 19    We visited Two Oceans Aquarium which highlighted the fish 

from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.   

During a serious rain storm, we spent time at the Canal Walk, the largest mall in Africa.  It had many stores and was quite a contrast to the humble townships many of our dear members live in.  

We met a group of performers. Traditional African music.  We took pictures and bought a CD. 

We ended the day by eating at the Wild Fig with President and Sister Wood, President of the Cape Town mission and friend and neighbour of Greg and Sonya and Jeff May in Fairbanks, Alaska.

This highway was built 11 years ago.  It is turning the wrong way, it should go down instead of up.

From the Movie Mahogany........

Do you know where you're going to? 

Do you like the things that life is showing you?  

Where are you going to?  

Do you know?

Love to you all,

Elder and Sister DaBell

23 July 2013

The Lord pays the same for the day's labour, whether you are there at the beginning or come later.  (Matthew 20 parable of the labourers).

June 29   Elder Basso and  Elder DaBell taught a Self Employment Workshop in the Benoni ward to several  specialists and members from the Benoni Stake.  

We hope this helps the individuals and will train specialists to be ready to teach the workshops themselves.  One participant was Obed, the Elder’s Quorum President from Tsakane Branch, who  has been organizing a chicken cooperative with 12 other people to help them become self reliant in Tsakane.  

Ithemba Lama–Africa

Construction

And

Projects Cooperative

Limited

We are impressed with Obed’s  diligence and his overall business plan.  This is a business that appears will be successful.  He says when he is more self reliant, he will be ready to be married.  He is a faithful soul.

June 30  We returned to Tsakane Branch and taught a combined Priesthood / Relief Society meeting about Self reliance principles.  

We stayed for a baptism in the Tsakane Branch, where a grandmother and two of her granddaughters were baptized and confirmed by her returned missionary grandson,  Mosa from Protea Glen.   Mosa baptized his grandmother, and then lifted her up and out of the font.  It was sweet.

 Mosa's sister is in the Tsakane Branch and will attend with her grandmother and her younger sisters.  The younger girls live with their grandmother. 

We have met Mosa before as he and his two partners started a “fast food” business  that is doing very well, and he now works in the Area Office.  

Also, in Tskane, Elder Garrett, former religion instructor at BYU, taught Gospel Doctrine from the Doctrine and Covenants lesson on not being deceived. What a treat, he has written books on the Doctrine and Covenants and he enlightened us on lessons we can learn from Thomas B. Marsh, Simons Ryder and other people who have been offended by church leaders and were too proud to “get over it”.

Tsakane is a quiet township

It is orange harvest time here.  The oranges, lemons, and clementines are yummy.

The weather here is perfect for drying clothes on the line.

2 July was a memorable day!  We moved the piano to the Tshabalala home.

Tight fit.  Miracle that the van was big enough!!!!!

Ntando could hardly believe her eyes!  A real piano in a home is NOT common. 

We sang some favorite hymns and had prayer together.

We celebrated with the movers and baby Amahle.

Wonderful surprise for some wonderful kids!

July 1-5    Elder Basso and Elder DaBell taught Self Employment Workshop in the Employment Resource Center.  Sister DaBell is getting very proficient at typing business plans.

July 3   We were interviewed by Elder Bricknell of the Area Presidency.  He is very kind.  He is a native South African and served several years ago as President of the Idaho Pocatello Mission.  He is an Area Seventy and will complete his service as a member of the Area Presidency  July 31, 2013.

His replacement will be a new member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy,  Elder Kevin Hamilton.  Elder Bricknell encouraged us to continue reaching out to individual units and training councils and speaking and teaching.  We find this to be a rewarding part of the work.

July 4 the missionaries from the USA celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Songs, food, tributes, and sparklers!  

July 5-7   We traveled to Polokwane Branch.  We stayed at a place called the "Golden Pillow."

Not very golden, but comfortable.

We taught a career workshop to 11 people on Saturday.  What a fun energetic class!

The children were happy to attend, we were happy to have them.

We bore testimony, taught the youth and trained the Branch Council on Sunday.  The leaders and members were very welcoming.  There were around 60 people in attendance.

This is President John Motimele first counselor in the District Presidency.

This is Brother and Sister Thulani Pfende.  He serves as second counselor in the Branch Presidency.

This is President and Sister Ramoolla of the Polokwane Branch.

We returned to Joburg after training the branch council expecting to arrive around 5 pm.  We became “trapped”  in a construction traffic jam and arrived home at 8:00 pm.  We literally covered about 15 to 20 Km  (10 to 12 miles)  in a 3 hour time before we could resume normal speeds. The good news:  we were together and safe and we (I) had a great learning experience in the area of patience.

10 July we conducted a training for the Alexandra Branch Council.  Alexandra is a township located in an inner city area.  The Branch meets in a school. The houses are pretty much stacked upon each other.  We were waiting for the gate to be opened into the school grounds, and we saw something big and fast ...... a rat!!

The training went well, no rats inside.

July 10-12   We taught  Career Workshop in the Employment Resource Centre to 9 people.  We had some great students with practical ideas for getting jobs and improving employment.

You will notice that I am the rose among the thorns!!

July 13  we took Elder and Sister King to the orphanage.  Their assignment is Tembisa Ward which will allow them to visit Mama at the orphanage on a frequent basis.

These are the Kings from Washington State.  Mama says, "Now I have a King, a Queen and a Prince.  (Prince is one of the kids who lives here).

Notice the electrical outlets for the sewing machines in mama's sewing workroom.

 This is Dooba Dooba (I had her name wrong last time).  Beautiful Baby

The old bus is soon to be history!! 
Pretty exciting to have all of the big machines around.

The men behind the miracle.

Elder DaBell did some repairs!!!

One day we looked out of the Employment Resource door and saw the triplets from Birch Acres.  Memories come flooding back every time we see them!

July 14  we visited Alexandra Branch with Elder and  Sister Nielsen.  We spoke in Sacrament Meeting on Self Reliance Principles and taught the youth / YSA about making critical choices. 

After church we went to the MTC and welcomed Elder Slade Jeppesen from 
Rexburg with brownies.

Sister Reber of the Johannesburg Africa Missionary Training Centre.

Slade is a son of Bevan Jeppesen and grandson of Merle and Janice Jeppesen, our dear Rexburg friends.  Elder Jeppesen will serve in the Durban Mission.

One day we were driving down a busy highway.  We looked out and saw a bakkie with the name of Manger Care Centre.  Manger could have a lot of meanings...........................

Two men were sitting in the front and someone was in the back.............................

Yes, someone was definitely in the back...........................................

Looking forward, Cape Town and Flat Dr. Jake.

Until then,

Elder and Sister DaBell