KaNyamazane's First Missionary

     The small branch that Elder and Sister Moss help service, had the privilege of sending off their first missionary.  The whole branch was very excited for her.   "Samsa" is a convert who is the only member of her family.  Though her family aren't members, they were excited and supportive of her in her call to Ghana.

     The Kayamazane Branch is an all black branch.  They don't have much to do with, but they love to have fun and fully support anything their branch does.  Elder and Sister Moss invite us to their Branch functions, and we usually go along to help and support them by taking a dessert  item for their activities.

     After Samsa got her call, the couple who we replaced, who serviced both the Nelspruit and KaNyamazane Branches knew that her parents couldn't afford to get the things she needed  for her mission.  They talked with her and told her they would like to take her shopping for some clothes for her mission.  She was elated!!  She had never had that many new things all at one time in her life!

     A couple of weeks before her departure date, the Branch held a party for her.  It started in the afternoon with games while the men were getting the grills set up and ready for the "brai" (BBQ).
They cooked over sticks of wood, and one grill.

Many of the young people were playing a variety of games, all of which were accompanied by singing, clapping,  and laughing.  

They looked like they were having more fun than kids at Disneyland

Sister Moss had brought a bottle of bubbles.  The children were very fascinated with the bubbles.  They had never seen them before and would laugh and run and try to catch them and then come back and say. " Grandma, blow some more!"

In this game, each person went around the circle as they sang and when it was their turn, they had to put their leg over the other person's arm, until each person was finishsed.  As you can see, they were all having a ball!  Samsa, the missionary is the one in the pink shirt and hat next to the girl in orange.  Everyone joined in--young adults, teenagers, young children, boys, girls--everyone was just  laughing and having a great time.  The surprising thing was that no one fell down in that strange position!

Some of the ladies prepared the typical food of pap, beans, (pork and beans with a large dallop of mayo) and mixed together to look like a pink, runny, bean dish, a green salad, and bbq chicken, and sausage, and pork.

They served in styrfoam containers with the lid folded down to keep it warm and keep the flies off and served with no utensils.  ( They eat with their fingers)

Elder Baxter,  Missionary Samsa, and Sister Baxter

Ooops!  This sneaked in by mistake.  Those are real crocheted doilles fastened to a large tree outside a knitting, quilting and embroidery shop.

The following Tuesday, Samsa was to report to the airport to fly to Johannesburg to be set apart by the Mission President and then to fly out to Ghana to the MTC there.
All the roofs at the airport are typical thached roofs, and looking very South Africanish!

This is looking up toward the second floor.  The railing is made from bamboo poles.

We got a laugh out of this sample bag of skrink wrap!  With only the handle left unwrapped, the case looked like a days work to get through all the wrap to get to your bag.  Well, at least the contents would be safe.  (hopefully)

Samsa's proud parents.   They were a little sad and aprenhensive about her leaving. Her Mom also came to the Branch Social given for Samsa .  Her Mom took many pictures while she was there.

Samsa, in the gray dress, looked radiantly, beautiful, stepping to the counter to get her boarding pass.  Some of her friends came to support her and see her off.  She and her family have been so excited in anticipation for this moment.  We all said  our "good-byes", and she was off to start serving Our Savior.   She had to be set apart by the Mission President  in Johannesburg before flying to Ghana.  

Good luck Samsa!  You willl make a great missionary with your beautiful smile, your jovial personality, and your love of the gospel.  We will be praying for you.  We will also pray for your family that they will feel the Spirit of your letters and the things that  you are teaching, and will want the missionaries in our area to teach them so they can be baptized as well. 

We love you! 

   

We love the spirit of missionary work!