Senior DaBells

2 Jan 2014 (December 11-21, 2013)
The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence. Denis Waitley

11-12 December Elder Adams and DaBell taught a Self Employment Workshop in the Soweto Ward. There were nine in attendance on the first day and seven the second day. Three of the people actually had a draft business plan on the second day and gave presentations. Princess from Dobsonville has plans for a Kiddie Carnival. She had a great plan including some financial analysis. Moses and Steven from Orange Farm presented a plan for a glass repair business. They seem prepared, but stepping out and getting the first sale is the tough part.

13 December We had a Christmas dinner and devotional at Sunnyside Hotel for all Area Office employees and Senior Missionaries. The food was delicious, the music reminded us of Christmas and Elder Hamilton’s remarks encouraged us to think of and follow the Savior.

Employment Specialist Sister Mashiya, orange dress, Kwa Thema Ward

15 December We attended Kwa Thema Ward with Elder and Sister Hoffman. We were able to meet the Bishop and Elder’s President and schedule a workshop for 7-8 January 2014 to teach Career Workshop and Self Employment Workshop. We also met with Brother and Sister Tshabangu and discussed his Tutoring Business and their Career, Self Employment and Educational Goals. They were sealed in the Temple recently and desparately need work to care for their two children. Sister DaBell prepared posters and flyers to help Nkosana promote his Tutoring business and Elder DaBell met with Sister Tshabangu and the Elder’s President during the week to follow up on their goals. Nkosana was at a job interview: good news, he got the security job. This job along with his tutoring business should allow them to provide for their family and make progress in saving for additional education for both of them.

16 December Reconciliation Day

The Day of Reconciliation (Public Holiday)

Different racial groups stand together for the sake of the future of South Africa

Coming into effect after the 1994 democratic elections, the Day of Reconciliation – 16 December – was inaugurated to help South Africans reconcile the horror of the events of past and the promise of a shared future together, regardless of race, culture or creed.

However, during the Apartheid era, 16 December was known as Day of the Vow (also known as Day of the Covenant or Dingaan's Day). The public holiday was created to commemorate a vow taken by the Voortrekkers, a group of Afrikaaners who had moved inland to escape the clutches of British colonialiasm, in preparation for a battle with the Zulu people with which they were having a land dispute. The Voortrekkers, who had moved onto and claimed the Zulu people’s land,took a vow before God that they would build a church for their descendants to observe the day as a day of thanksgiving should they be granted victory. More than 10 000 Zulu troops under the command of Dambuza (Nzobo) and Nhlela attacked the Voortrekkers on 16 December 1838, but the 470 Voortrekkers, with the advantage of gun powder, warded them off. Only three Voortrekkers were wounded, but more than 3 000 Zulus were killed during what would become known as the ‘Battle of Blood River’.

In the 1920s and 1930s the public holiday became a day on which the divide between white South Africans and black South Africans became especially gaping. Those who felt discriminated against by the nation’s unfair laws began staging protests and holding meetings on this day to communicate their dissent and to rally against a day that celebrated the Afrikaans conquest of the indiginous African. Even into the 1960s, the day retained signifcance; on On 16 December 1961 uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) (Spear of the Nation) the military wing of the ANC announced its existence by launching its first acts of sabotage.

With the advent of democracy and a gallant gesture by the new government in South Africa, 16 December retained its status as a public holiday, however, this time with the intent of building a nation and unity amongst its people.

We visited the Nizamiye complex, built 2011-2013

The Nizamiye Turkish Masjid in Midrand has fast become a visitors’ attraction. With its awe-inspiring dome and soaring minarets, the mosque – the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere

Its dome rises 32m and is framed on four corners by four towering minarets, each 55m high.The Nizamiye Turkish Masjid in Midrand is the first Ottoman-style mosque in the Southern Hemisphere.

The mosque is, in fact, a smaller replica of the Selimiye Camii mosque in Edirne, Turkey, completed in the 1570s and now a World Heritage Site. The Midrand version is some 25% smaller than the Turkish original. Set on 10ha on Old Pretoria Road, the Nizamiye Turkish Masjid was built at a cost of several hundred million rands.

Its funder was a retired Turkish property developer, Ali Katircioglu, who spent a few years encamped in a caravan on the site of the building, watching it take shape. ‘Uncle Ali’, it is said, was inspired to embark on the project by the teachings of a Turkish preacher, who also suggested the mosque be developed in ‘Madiba’s [Nelson Mandela's] home’.

Over and above the house of prayer, the site includes a school for 850 learners, has boarding facilities, a clinic, shops and a restaurant.

Some of the architectural features: generously proportioned courtyards, arched stained-glass windows, 21 small domes, marble columns, sweeping staircases, fountains, rich mosaics, and Turkish calligraphy on the walls and ceiling.

Our Muslim guide

"Uncle Ari" and the Imam

The inner sanctuary where women's heads are covered and shoes removed

17 December was Movie Night at Viviens home. We watched "The Croods" really goofy movie! besides us, Elder and Sister Adams, Elder and Sister Barnes, the Tshabalalas, the Roberts and the Kgosiemang family, Dan, Tlhalefang, Pule, Lumko, Thato, and Ofentse. It was a very fun evening, pizza, Christmas Carols, and babies to hug!

Thato, Pule, and Lumko Kgosiemang

Ofentse is the little girl in the center

Elder Adams, Sister Barnes holding Vivien's Grandson, Eli

Vivien and Sister Adams

Sister Barnes holding Amahle

Ntando and Minenhle

Awande

Moipone and Amahle

Elder and Sister Barnes

18 December Elder DaBell traveled to and met with a group of Self Employment Workshop graduates at Vosloorus Ward to review their ongoing plans to develop a Waste Management company. They have established a Cooperative and have met with a City official to try and get an opportunity to obtain the city waste contract. We will meet again on 9 January to review assignments and make additional progress on their plans.

18 – 19 December Elder Adams and Elder DaBell taught an evening Self Employment Workshop at the Germiston Ward to 6 participants. They all had business ideas: restaurant, property management, investment advising, architecture, sales consulting and office administration. We will await written draft business plans after year end before issuing certificates.

20 December Served in the Temple, always a learning experience and opportunity to help wonderful people serving God and their ancestors.

21 December The Tshabala family, Elder and Sister DaBell, Elder and Sister Adams, Elder and Sister Hoffman, Elder and Sister Nielsen and Elder and Sister Rose, spent two hours at the Tembisa Orphanage having a Christmas Party with Mama and the children. We sang Christmas Carols, acted out the Nativity using New Testament scriptures, ate lunch and played games. The highlight was just hugging the children and giving and receiving much needed love.