Current  Busies - January 2013

Sorry we have gotten behind in our weekly letters. Things have been extremely busy lately. With seven families to visit and several others that would like us to come by, plus lost souls that we have been trying to locate, we haven't had many spare minutes.

We thought we had been doing well to get our apppointments set up in order to get everyone seen before the end of the month. One by one, we had several appointments cancel for one reason or another so we've had to reschedule them, and that isn't easy since most of them have to be done at night because of work schedules. We should be o k in seeing seeing everyone if no one else cancels this week, because we are running out of days.

Last weekend, Elder and Sister Alder came down from Tzaneen to do a training for all those teaching Seminary or Institute. Some of the people hadn't gotten their materials yet, so they had brought the materials for them. It had rained for the past three days, so some of the people who live far away couldn't make it. I made carmelitas for a treat afterward. It was a nice afternoon despite the rain. We went to dinner that evening with the Alders. It was nice too relax and laugh a little with another Senior Couple as we share our stories of woe working with first time members and trying to teach them how to do their jobs in a helpful way without making them feeling like we're trying to take over. We're not trying to take over, it's just that some people perceive that we are and get a ittle huffy. We just smile, side step a little, and reword our suggestions in hope that they will see the light. Such is the life of a missionary!

Last Monday we had the two sets of missionaries over for dinner since one from each set was being transferred, and we wanted to have one last get together. I made a roast beef dinner with rolls and cheese cake for dessert. They enjoyed the food and sharing laughs one last time before they departed to different areas the next day. With the two new elders coming in, we now have 4 different missionaries than were were here when we first arrived. It seems a little strange. One of the new ones is from Zimbabwe, and the other is from Nampa, Idaho. So now we have two from Zimbabwe, one from Idaho and one from Nevada.

Because of several of the members that weren't able to make it to the Seminary Training, we had to deliver the materials to them. Consequently this week we have been on the road a lot because they all live at least an hour away. Tuesday, with the two elders going to Joburg for transfers, the other two didn't have appointments for the day, so we invited them to come along with us to see where these far-out members live. And because of the area that we were going to be in, we decided to drive thru Kruger Park. It is the largest National Wildlife Park in the world, right at our doorstep and we haven't had the time to go there yet. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. I packed a lunch because you oftentimes are in remote areas with not much to choose from by way of eating establishments. We went to Jennifer's - our visit to her is on the blog - so I won't elaborate. We stopped in town for a bathroom break and a cold drink and we were on our way.

Several of the entrances to the Park were closed because the heavy rains had washed out roads and bridges at some of the gates. Coupled with the fact that we missed the turnoff to where we wanted to go, we wasted an hour of driving time. But we did make it there, and it was well worth it!!!! Immediately upon entering, we began seeing animals. You can't get out of your cars because of the danger involved, so you just stay in your cars and enjoy the amazing beauty and snap pictures as fast as you can go. There will be a blog post and pictures of this event, so be sure to check it out. Needless to say, it was totally amazing!! I was wishing we had the whole family there to enjoy the fantastic sights of animals that you only see in the zoo, and there they were, right outside our car!! AMAZING!!!!

By the time we got home to meet the new Elders and get them off to their apartment, I was about beat, as I had a touch of the flu this past weekend and just felt like I was ready for bed. Just after I finished taking off my shoes and badge, we received a text that our Branch President had been admitted to the hospital with meningitis - a complication from the mumps that he has been down with the past 2 weeks. I got redressed and we went over to the hospital to give him a blessing. They had been down since 11:00 that morning from Lidenburg - 1 1/2 hour away, and at 9:30 that night they finally diagnosed the problem and admitted him. This is their family's fourth trip to the hospital in 3 months and she still has an eye surgery to have done. I feel so bad for them. We invited her to come and stay over at our house, but she had not brought her eye perscriptions, so she needed to drive back home.

Wednesday, I made clam chowder and bread to take to a family who we were visiting with. She has been inactive for the past 5-6 years, yet was a R. S. President when they lived in Joburg. We're not sure what caused the problem. Because we feel like we're imposing on them when we come because she has just reeturned from work, I wanted to make dinner so she wouldn't feel like our visit was infringing on her evening. A couple of hours before the appointment, she sent a text that her husband had an unscheduled meeting and they wouldn't be able to meet with us and she would be out of town the next couple of weeks for her work. I told Lynn I was taking the dinner anyway and just saying "Hi" and leaving. We let them know that we were coming. She met us by her gate and stood by the car and visited for about 30 minutes and seemed happy for the visit. She was very grateful for the dinner as well. I got a text later saying that they were enjoyoing the dinner and could she get the recipe for the clam chowder. We felt like our efforts had paid off. With her, that is HUGE progress!!

Thursday, we had scheduled to go to Barberton to take their Seminary supplies as well as assess their food needs and take them grocery shopping. They are the ones who moved up there to start a poultry farm, but they're still waiting for the government funding for the project. When I talked to her the other day and asked about their needs, she said they were struggling. We had talked to the Branch President and asked about the possibility of doing a food order for her and he gave us the go ahead. After visiting with their family and leaving a message and stressing the importance of staying in school and doing well, we made a list and went shopping. She was very careful to buy only staples and the inexpensive brands at that. She wouldn't buy any cereal because it required fresh milk and she only used powdered milk since she has no transportation to go to the store. Driving back to her house, Sister Machile said, "The other day I starting singing the words to 'Count Your Blessings,' and it is really true! And to think, a year ago I hadn't even heard about the Church." She said how much she appreciated what we had done. After we finished hauling the bags on food in, her son thanked Lynn and said this will really help.

Friday, after District meeting, we left for Komatipoort to visit the the Kruger family. They hadn't been to church because their car had been in the repairs and they had no transportation for the 1 hour 45 minute drive, and we still had their Seminary materials to get to them so she could start her lessons. They are struggling right now. They lost their motel busines when the economy slowed down and have now started a wholesale potato business. We met them at their business and visited inbetween customers. They were very grateful for our visit. I think she just needed someone to talk to becaue she went on about each of her kids, the choices some of them were making, the problems she has with blacks, (they are white South Africans) and on and on. They even followed us out to the car while still bending our ear. After almost 2 hours, we finally got on our way. They thanked us for our visit. I was convinced even more of the importance of home and visiting teachers. Because of where they live, she is her daugher's V. T. and her daughter is hers. So how many times is the daughter going to call the R S Pres and let her know about a problem that her mom is having and vise versa? Duh!! We decided that somehow or another, we need to find the time to visit these families who aren't able to make it to church on a regular basis in order to keep their testimonies strong and to let them know that they aren't forgotten.

Saturday, was basically a P day of laundry and cleaning and making cinnamon rolls for President Sigauke. When we stopped in to see him Friday night, he seemed to be getting a little discouraged. Who wouldn't after being in bed sick for three weeks. We asked if we could bring him anything. He said, "No". We said isn't there something that you would like that you haven't had for a while? He thought for a minute and said, "Well, I would like some of those cinnamon rolls that you sent to Presidency meeting that time." I told him he would get rolls. So while Lynn prepared his talk for Sacrament meeting today, I worked on those other things.

Lynn gave a very good talk on "We Are Our Brother's Keeper". It was geared to many of our members who don't worry about anyone else during the week. We had invited one of our investigators, Lorraine, to come for dinner. While we were getting in the car, we noticed one of our Young Women and her little brother walking outside the gate. Lynn called to them and asked them if they were going to ride the bus. (Their mother wasn't there and they live about 45 minutes away) When she said they were, he called the mom and asked her if they could come home and have dinner and then we would bring them home when we brought Lorraine because she lives on the way to their house. She agreed. The teen is 15 and her brother is 5. Everyone enjoyed the dinner of chicken stir fry and watermelon and cinnamon rolls. Lynn showed them a video on the Savior while I cleared up the dishes. We dropped Lorraine off first and then took the kids. The mom, Thundiwe, insisted that we come in for a minute. She was saying she had been hoping that we would come by some time and read scriptures and have a prayer and was very glad they we had stopped by. We have made a couple of appointments with her the last couple of weeks, but her work schedule required her to cancel them. We were glad we were able to meet with her finally. She is also a single Mom. You can't believe the road that we had to drive on to get to her house! But that is the norm in most of the areas that are off the main road. I think our car is going to need new shocks after our week of travels.

I'll close. You're all probably needing a snack and potty break. I know my back says I can't sit any longer. So just in case you wonder why we don't write any more often than we do, now you know. Life is good here. We're loving the work and it is verified to us every day that this is where we're supposed to be. We hope life good for you too. We know that we are missing out on many things, but hope you are taking good videos so we can enjoy them when we get back. We also hope you have given our love and hugs to the families who have lost loved ones recently. Our prayers and thoughts have been with all of them, as they are with each of you. We love you and pray that your testimonies and love for our Savior are growing each day, as ours are.