We just wanted to share some of the things that haven't made it on previous posts. Hopefully you will see why we love our mission so much!!
A couple of months into the mission, one of my back fillings broke off. With the recommendation of a former Senior Couple, I was able to find Dr Ferri who did a wonderful job of making a crown for the broken tooth. The nice part was that it was about $350 cheaper than others that I have had done at home. It was a much better experience than my root canal in Bangkok. :)
His assistant was very congenial as well.
Sister Purine was helping clean and dust the Branch President's Office. She is always the one that says,"I'd like to come clean the church on Saturday, could you come open it for me? I'll bring my family also."
Sister Purine's son, Shaun was home from college break.
He also came to help clean the church.
Sister Purine's 9 year old daughter, Zama, is such a good worker. She always scrubs and polishes the floor of the Young Women's room.
Maggie had missed our Enrichment day because of a class she had, so she asked me to please come over and teach her how to make cinnamon rolls. I did, and a week later she asked me to come over again and just "supervise her work so she would know how to do it without me". I did, and she was very successful.
Because of our visits and chats, she had decided to leave her live-in boyfriend and move back home to Polokwane so she could live the gospel. This was her last Sunday at church. She calls us her parents and says I am her daughter's "gugu" - grandma.
The Sunday before Christmas, we invited Purine and her family to dinner. Her sister was here visiting. After dinner we visited for a bit about our lives and families. Her sister, who is a member, started to cry and said how thankful she was that we invited her for dinner. She hadn't been as active lately as she wanted to be and had been praying for something to help her know this was what she was supposed to do. She said when she heard of the sacrifice we were making to leave our families and come here to help strengthen the people here, the least she could do was to be more active in church to show her appreciation for the sacrifice that we were making. We felt very touched, and hope she follows through with her commitment. (By the way - Do you call "having fun" a sacrifice?) :)
We prepared some treats to take to some of our branch members. We were taking them to White River which is about 25 K away.
About 5 K before we got to White River, Elder Baxter looked down at the gas guage and said, "We're about out of gas. He pulled over to turn around and go back to a station that we had just passed and the car stopped. He got out and walked down the road and across the highway to the gas station. The worker found an empty 2 liter pop bottle in the garbage and washed it out with gas and filled it. Elder Baxter walked back to the car and proceeded to empty the bottle into the tank. Thankfully the car started and we were able to go back to the station and fill it full. Good thing we didn't run out earlier, because there is nothing for several miles back. One of the Lord's tender mercies for missionaries!
Sister Baxter's idea of journaling--open journal, close eyes! Consequently, there are many scribbly lines among the script. Things haven't changed in several years. :)
One morning at breakfast, Lynn was adding some yogurt to his cereal. As I watched him scoop it on, I thought it looked exceptionally thick. With the next spoonful, he asked, "Is this yogurt?" I then realized that although it was in a yogurt container, it was actually SHRIMP DIP left over from Christmas! I couldn't stop laughing! He dumped it out and started over after I got the actual container of yogurt out of the fridge!
This is Brother James and his wife Debra. He is our Branch clerk and very organized and intellegent. They are one of the families we visit. We had just attended dthe funeral of her brother in law. It was very interesting. Her sister's family are members of "The 12 Apostle Church". She looked very radiant in her African dress so we just had to capture it!
Sister Precious's family was moving to Pretoria because of a promotion in her husband's work. We came to help her move and clean. Notice the broom. It is a handmade one like many of the people here use. Elder Baxter and I were sweeping as fast as we could go, and we could hardly stay a sweep ahead of some of the older ladies who had come to help.
This is one of Precious's friends who came to help her. How she can do all that scrubbing on her knees on the tile floors is beyond me! They did a wonderful job! My knees ache just from watching them.
The complex that they live in is in a gated community and you're not allowed to drive down in. The Elders helped me carry the trash on a little trolley up the long sidewalk to the garbage area outside the gate.
The truck is about filled to capacity. Good! That means we're almost finished! With everyone's help, we were able to be through sooner than we had planned. Precious was glad she didn't have to come back the next day to clean. It was all done!!! Thanks everyone!!!
One evening before Maggie left, we had invited her to dinner, but we had to go get her because she had no transportation. We were all loaded in the car and Elder Baxter began to back out so we could drive forward down the hill. All of a sudden, *$#* Bang!!! He had backed into a utility box that was the same height as the car and didn't see it!!! So now our car has a cute little dent in it.! Darn!!
This is the sweet utility box that we backed into. It really wasn't as tall as it looks !
Family Christmas party when we got to skype with our family!
So fun to see some of our beautiful grandchildren!!
Elder Handerade and Elder Mower.
Do you like the wall decorations? This was the Elders contributions to our house on New Year's Eve! They were the festive ribbon rolls that came with the fireworks.
I don't know who had more fun on New Year's Eve - Elder Baxter or the young Elders!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
Do you love the decorative paper and the plastic crowns?
When Lynn told the Elders he had bought a few fireworks, they said,
"We're not allowed to do fireworks!" Elder Baxter told them that they wouldn't have to worry about that. He would light them and they could just watch.
He later confessed to the Mission President and the President said he was forgiven!
It pays to be honest - right?
When we went out to do sparklers and fireworks, the Elders lingered behind. When we came in,
this is what we saw!! It just added to the festive decorations, don't you agree?
As the Christmas season comes to an end, and as we look forward to a new year,
we are grateful for the opportunity to serve in South Africa!
We're grateful for the opportunity to touch people's lives - hopefully for the good.
We're grateful for the missionaries and for the opportunity to brighten their holiday,
and for having them here to help brighten ours!
We're grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gives us a reason for the season!
We're grateful for our family and friends who pray for us and support us in our effort to serve the Lord.
May each of you enjoy the Lord's blessings throughout the coming year!
We love you!!!
Elder and Sister Baxter
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