February 18, 2014

You have brains in your head,
You have feet in your shoes,
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.  
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.  
You are the guy who'll decide where to go."  Dr. Suess

Jeff and Wendy Sessions

21 January   We participated in a WEBEX meeting directed by Elder Jeff Sessions from Church Headquarters with couples joining from 4 other countries in Asia, South America and South Africa.  We are discussing items each SRC couple should know and how and when to train starting from the time a couple receives their call to the MTC to the first 30 days in the mission field.

Recycling is done on site, by hand!

We still don't know how things are balanced on the head!!!!

A "Twig Leader" A Congregation too small to qualify to be a branch.

We met with members regarding Self Employment in Polokwane. 

Pink Blouse is Sister Tyler, a sister To Elder Futter, now from England, who served here in the area office.  In the Black Blouse is Sister Beverly who is interested in starting her own business.

23-26 January  We accompanied Elder and Sister Hoffman to Polokwane  and Tzaneen in Limpopo.  

Elder Hoffman gave Patriarchal Blessings, Elder DaBell and I visited with some of the members we had met previously and who had questions on their 

Elder and Sister Hoffman

We took a side trip to the Debengeni Water Fall.  The day was scorching hot.  The shade and spray from the water was very refreshing.  Beautiful place.  It would be very fun for a family reunion....Takers anyone?

I added this Brazilian flag for you, Mark!

In Tzaneen, we were able to present training to the District President, Solomon Matlou.  On Saturday night we had dinner with 3 other couples in Tzaneen at Elder and Sister Smith’s flat.  On Sunday Elder DaBell was asked to teach the Priesthood lesson, Teaching for our Times : President Uchtdorf’s talk, Come Join with Us.

28 January   We participated in another WEBEX regarding training of Senior Couples in Self Reliance.

Khumo is a member of the Summerfield School Relay Team.

Bokang

Khumo

Awande

Ntando

Minenhle

Amahle after enjoying an ice cream cone.

Last minute advice from Dad

29  January  We reviewed and critiqued business plans from our last Self Employment Workshop by Georgina and Michael.

2  February   We visited Soshanguve Branch, Pretoria Stake.  They meet in a school.  One of the members is a teacher at the school and has painted Book of Mormon themes on the walls of the school:  Moroni’s Title of Liberty, Lehi with the Liahona, etc.  They had a spiritual Fast and Testimony meeting and we were able to meet President Marumo, Branch President, the Relief Society President, Elder’s Quorum President, the Self Reliance Specialist and many others.  We scheduled a workshop for 24-25 February in Mabopane on both Career and Self Employment to include both units.

3, 6 February    Taught Self Employment Workshop in the ERC.

4  February  We joined in WEBEX with Elder and Sister Sessions from Salt Lake City along with Missionaries from South America and the Philippines.  We are giving input on a training manual being prepared for Self Reliance Missionaries.   

We had a great surprise and we met with Father Leo Proxell from the Catholic Church in Bozeman.  We met him at his hotel by the airport and had a warm fellow shipping discussion.  He is on a three week tour in Africa for R & R.  We love and appreciate him and our other Interfaith friends from Montana.

8-9 February    We attended the Bedfordview Stake Conference.  Elder Hamilton and Elder Mkhabela were instructed to reorganize the Stake Presidency.  We learned much and enjoyed working with President O’Friel and his Counselors:  Keyes and Matsoso.  The new Stake Presidency is Vusi Msiza, President, Tebego Matsoso, First Counselor, and Dirk Vetten, Second Counselor.  They will be a dynamic Presidency.   We have already been invited to help them train the Stake Self Reliance Committee.  The Choir was fantastic!

11-12 February    We taught 5 Participants Career Workshop:  Gideon from Alexandra wants a job as a driver.   Boitumelo from Florida Ward and her friend Ramonia from Randfontein are just finishing diplomas in Human Resources.  Sinazo is from the Eastern Cape and she has an IT Certificate and wants an internship.  Noreen from Joburg First Ward has been accepted to Nursing School and has an interview at a Health Clinic.

Ramonia is not a member.  Garrett, Jessica, Bridger and Liam, we gave the copy of the Book of Mormon you sent to us to Ramonia.  She was very grateful to receive it.

13 February  Elder DaBell accompanied Deon Botes, Physical Facilities, and Elder and Sister Barnes in inspecting 4 Flats at Dukes Court.  The assignment of coordinating the flats will transfer from Elder DaBell  to Elder Barnes at the end of March, 2014.  Dukes Court is a building built in the 60's.  The infrastructure is interesting.  Often there are repairs to be made.  It is far more comfortable than we ever thought accommodations for an African mission would be.

14  February   We planned workshops, and had a Valentine’s Day dinner and party with the other Senior Couples at Dukes court where we listened to Golden Oldie music and actually danced.  Clark, we found that we could dance just fine to "I Cross My Heart"  by George Strait.  It was our contribution to the list of favorites for the dance.  George is moving right along just like the rest of us!!!!

15 February   We taught 17 Participants the Career Workshop in Hospital View Ward in Tembisa.  They all committed to get 3 interviews scheduled by the end of the week.  On the way home, we stopped at the Orphanage and took individual pictures of the children to help us remember names.

16 February   We visited Atteridgeville Ward:   we trained in Ward Council at 7 am on using Councils.  We used a case study using the Needs and Resource analysis form for discussion purposes.  President Davies, of the Stake Presidency, presided.  They are in the process of reorganizing the Bishopric.  We both spoke in Sacrament Meeting on Tithing and Self Reliance.  We passed a monument build to honor the Vortrekkers, Dutch who moved north from the Cape area to avoid fighting with the English who were taking over the cape area.  They laid claim to this area and its resources.

Occasionally we will have a child come into the center with a parent.
This little guy really enjoyed coloring Buz Lightyear

My wish.........
To play a grand piano in my lifetime..........

Thabo, from Lenyenya, is a graduate of the Keyboard Course published by the church.  He was taught by Senior Missionaries a couple of years back.  We first met him and his friend Mpho Saturday, November 16, 2013 in Lenyenya at a Career Workshop. The next day, Thabo played the electronic piano for Sacrament meeting.  He played VERY well, all his hymns were from the regular hymn book.  He improvised on his prelude music with ease. 

During this visit, we went to dinner at the Fairview restaurant with the Heyens and the Smiths. There was a grand piano there.

Thabo is in the light blue shirt, Mpho in the yellow shirt

Thabo and Mpho were preparing for their missions at the time we met them.  Thabo told Sister Heyen his wish was to play on a grand piano sometime in his lifetime.  The Heyens took Thabo and Mpho to dinner at the Fairview restaurant.  They asked ahead if Thabo could play the piano there.  Permission was granted.  Imagine Thabo's surprise!  He was invited to play. He sat down, then he asked where the volume button was.  It was the first piano he had ever played!

The boys were amazed as menus came out and they were invited to order anything they wanted! They had never had the opportunity to order of from a menu at a restaurant before. 

Thank you Elder and Sister Heyen!  Thabo is now on his mission in  Kenya.  Mpho has his call for  Durban.

Elder and Sister DaBell January 2014 Visits and Activities

5 January   We visited Mamelodi II Branch and visited with President Nkambule and the members regarding the workshop scheduled for 11 January.  26 members registered for our class on Saturday, 11 January....Whew!   We are still adding more from Mamelodi I Ward.  The attendance at the Branch was near 80 members in the school where they meet.

The Branch President's Sons help set up the school for meeting.

The Klingler's attend this branch.  Sister Klingler has a keyboard student who now plays prelude music.  He will soon be ready to play the simplified hymns!

We love Gospel Doctrine Class.  The message is always clear and well understood.

6 January   I was surprised in the office with a birthday cake made by Sister Adams.  The highlight of my birthday was talking to all the kids and many grandchildren. 

Flora, who keeps us tidy in our office gave us Zulu names.
Elder DaBell is Siphiwe.  Sister DaBell is Siphokazi.

7-8 January   We taught Career Workshop in Kwa Thema Ward to 22 people.  It was well received and we had the Elder’s Quorum President and Self Reliance Specialist in attendance.  (President Ntengu and Sister Mashiyane)

Sister Mashiyane, Ward Employment Specialist

President Ntengu, Elder's Quorum President

Great Class.  Baby Tracy attended also!

Wonderful full time Elders, always ready to help

Kwa Thema Building

9 January   I met with 6 members in Vosloorus Ward, some working on a Waste Management Company and several others starting a Sewing business.  We will teach Self Employment Workshop there in February.  I then met Elder and Sister Eggett in Kathelong and toured Brother Jacob Mlambo’s  sewing business.  He employees 5 people and sews uniforms, traffic vests, hats, and other clothing. I will review his accounting later.

Jacob Mlambo

Sister Eggett modeling a hat.

Jacob and Elder Eggett

10 January, we drove to Ennerdale to look at the garden.  Sister Suzen Nkomo, one of my piano students is in charge of this project.  Different people plant boxes.  Some are ways for needy people to supplement their diet.  Some people work on the landscaping by contract and are paid.  It is very impressive.

Suzen Nkomo Head Gardener and Relief Society in Ennerdale Branch

The Chapel

The tidiness of the church landscaping has had an effect on the neighborhood.

10 Jan This is Sister Alvonna from Enselini Branch by St Lucia.  We met her husband when we traveled there last August with Ryan and Family.    She has had some major health problems.  The family is here to attend the temple.

11 January we taught 25 people from the two Mamelodi Units Career Workshop in the Mamelodi Ward Building.  We had Bishop Dlamini and President Nkambule there at the beginning and the Mamelodi Branch Self Reliance Specialist in attendance.  On our way home we ate at Lotus Thai in Pretoria.......Delicious!

12 January   we spoke in Sacrament meeting at Tembisa First Ward.  President Chatora was in attendance.  

Modjaji and Ofentse

After the meeting, we went to the Orphanage. We introduced Elder and Sister Barnes.

 Mama showed us a certificate from the planning commission allowing a 3 story building.  She also had drawings to renovate making private bedrooms.  We hope a local construction company is helping her and will allow her to get government certification with funding.  

Essa is almost hidden by Lerato and Mpho

I think this is Themba

We then drove to Nelspruit with the Adams’ and ate a dinner at Elder and Sister Hunt’s apartment celebrating a young missionary’s, Elder Kalana from Kenya, birthday. 

13- 14 January  We taught Career Workshops in both Nelspruit Branch and Ka Nya Mazane Branch. 

Coming up to Nelspruit, we became lost.  We asked a policeman for directions to the Towne Lodge where we were staying.  He gave us an escort.









The Branch Building is in a rather questionable area.

Nelspruit Branch

Love the missionaries!

Indoor Baptismal Font

We had 12 in one workshop and seven in the other.  Monday night, we taught a 4 hour abbreviated class on Self Employment in Nelspruit for 10 people from both branches.  Elder and Sister Baxter and Elder and Sister Hunt , Member Leader Support missionaries, are such great hosts and great help in these branches.  

We met a young man, John Paul, at the workshops who was baptized this week in Nelspruit. 

Lomthandazo Silombo had a job two days later.

As we teach, we always invite the students to set long term goals.  Do you now where you're going to?  Do you like the things that life is showing you?

Ka Nya Mazane Branch

Elders DaBell and Adams spent the day in Ka Nya Mazane Branch.  The cute little girl stayed the whole day, and then attended the Self Employment session at night.

The evening Self Employment Workshop

16-17 January  We taught 6 people Career Workshop in the Employment Resource Center.  This was a particularly bright group.  One member got a job on the second day and 3 others already had interviews lined up.  

Left to right, Siyubulela who got home from his mission 5 days ago, Georgina, very well qualified and confident, Her son, Michael, who has a Civil Engineering Degree, Maanda in the dark blue, and Lancelot, on the far right who was baptized 26 January just 10 days after the class.


17 January  we served in the Temple in the afternoon and in the evening  joined the Adams’, Barnes’ and Roses to celebrate Elder Adams’ birthday. We ate at JB’s in the Melrose Arch. (delicious and fun)

19 January   We attended Church at Alexandra Branch and spoke with President Tladi about employment and other Self reliance needs.  

The first time we visited Alexandra, it was night.  There were rats running all over!

When Branches meet in schools,
they come on Saturday and clean the building for Sunday worship

Alexandra Branch meets in a Secondary School.  It has a very nice courtyard.

This is a hair salon.

Need a muffler?

Alexandra on a tilt!

In the afternoon we attended a two hour meeting with the 7 Gauteng Area Stake Presidencies with our Area Presidency and Elders Gay and Sitati and Brother Murray instructing them on how the Priesthood Leaders will lead out in PEF Self Reliance.  Much time was spent on the Doctrines of Self Reliance and how Heavenly Father wants us to be Spiritually and Temporally Self Reliant.  This is the essence of the Gospel according to President Uchtdorf.

20, 22 January  Elder Adams and I taught another Self Employment Workshop in the ERC.  We had business ideas:  Restaurant, machine shop, multi level marketing,  consulting, and fresh orange juice sales .

Suzen Nkomo has made a CD herself playing hymns that she plans to share with her keyboard teachers.  Suzen is very talented, focused and a wonderful friend.  

Congratulations Suzen!

 (See Ennerdale Branch Garden above)