Hurt and Happiness

My morning started out as usual, prayer, scripture reading, journaling, and going over my planner to see what all we had scheduled for the day.  As I looked at the appointments we had scheduled for the afternoon, I remembered that I hadn't heard back from a lady who I had already sent 2 other messages to last week, as to when would be a good time for me to come visit.  Thinking that she might be working out of town this week, as sometimes happens, I sent her another SMS (that's what they call texts over here).    A few minutes later as I heard the phone buzz, I discovered it was her answer.  However, it wasn't the answer I had expected.  Instead of seeing a suggested date and time, I saw, "Hi Sister Baxter, we are in town.  My husband and I feel strongly about not being visited.  It's not personal.  Thanks".  I was stunned!  We have been working with this family for the past 7 months.   He is a returned missionary, and  she is a past Relief Society President.   He told us first thing that his wife wasn't active.  No explanation.  The first time we visited her at her gate, she seemed friendly and also told us that she wasn't active, then added, "maybe I'll share that with you one of these days."

She has gone from not answering the calls, to speaking to me, accepting appointments, being there for appointments, bearing testimony about some of the messages that have been given, and last time we were at her home, she thanked us for the Primary C D, and said how good it was to listen to the Primary songs again, and her husband said how much he enjoyed the spiritual message, (which sometimes he has acted totally bored).  I was thinking, "At last we are making some headway--even though they're just baby steps.!"  Needless to say, I was heart broken, not only for them, but for their darling 10 year old daughter who never gets to come to Primary!  Well, we all have our agency!  I'll keep praying and maybe a miracle will happen down the road!

Later that afternoon, we left for our two appointments which were about an hour and a half away.  The first one, Jennifer a single mom, was very grateful for our visit.  She is the one who lives in a house on stilts so the snakes can't get in, and has no electricity and no water.  She has a large green tank that holds water.  All her washing is done by hand in tubs outside and much of her cooking is also done outside on a propane stove.  When she runs out of propane, she makes a fire and cooks in the outside fireplace.  She doesn't complain.  She keeps praying for water so she can start "farming", or raising some vegetables to sell.  She needs a well so she will have access to water enough to water a garden. She has been a member for about 2 years and though she has very little, she saves her money to have bus fare to make the trip to church or any church function.  What a strength she is to the branch!

The other single sister we visited, Thundiwe, lives about 20 minutes away from Jennifer.  Her house is also on a back road that is seldom ever driven on because no one has cars.  There was a dirt path there, but the road had rocks and ruts, and tall grasses, taller than the car, which made it almost impossible to drive on.  We couldn't remember which direction we were to turn on with all these little paths, so we asked two people walking down the path.  They couldn't understand English, so we thanked them and drove on a little farther, while trying to call her to see if we were on the right path.  She came out to look for us and sent her 5 year old boy to look in the other direction.  We saw him, and he got in the car with us and pointed us on the right path.

She was so happy to see us!  She just hugged me and started to say how she had been waiting for us and looking up one road while sending Tabiso down the other path to see if he could see our car.  When we got in there, she just kept saying how happy she was to see us.  She has been a member for  less than 2 years, and is looking forward to receiving her Patriarchal Blessing and going to the Temple to receive her endowments.  She recalled our last visit to her home and said, "After you came last time, whenever I had discouraging days, I remembered the lesson that Sister and Elder Baxter tought me, and I thought, "I can do this!  I remembered the things you said, and it helped me!!"    We had a very nice visit as we shared a lesson, talked about Visiting Teaching and Patriarchal Blessings, and the fun that her 15 year old daughter had at Youth Conference.  Her daughter,  Nolwazi, brought in juice and cookies for us, which her Mom bought especially for us, but for their dinner they were having chicken feet and rice, which the young Elders say they love and eat often.  As we left, we were thankful for a full moon to light the roadway so we could see the path for sure because of the tall grasses and rocks.
I thought about the contrast between the family who has been in the church for a long time, but is refusing our visits; with these two single sisters who have been members for such a short time, but are so thankful for the gospel, for Home and Visiting Teachers,  and for their very existance.  I think I felt a
little of what our Savior must feel when, after He has done so much for each of us, we reject Him and His teachings at times, just becaue we don't want to be bothered to get ready to go to church, or we'd sooner watch a ball game or go shopping rather than do our Home Teaching or Visiting Teaching.  I felt major rejection this morning, but later felt that our day had been productive and well spent despite the many miles we drove to make the visits and the kind of roads we drove on to find their houses.

I guess its all in a day's work in the life of a missionary.  I'm thankful to be a missionary so I can help repay my Savior for all He has done for me!

This is Thundiwe, her son Tabiso, and her daughter, Nowalzi

This is the road - path to their house.   

Those grasses were taller than our car in some places.

An Unusual Easter

I love Easter!  It is an indication that spring in on it's way.  It's a representation of everything coming to life again - trees, flowers, green grass, etc.  But most of all, it's a reminder of the crucifixion and resurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It's a time to reflect on the wonderful sacrifice He made for each one of us, that we and our loved ones will also live again.

As we spent our first Easter in South Africa, I was happy to know that this was one holiday that they also celebrate here.  At least, most people do.  Friday is a holiday and many businesses were closed.  But on Sunday, many people were doing what they usually do - shopping, riding bikes, hanging out with friends, moving, etc.

I had noticed a couple of months ago that I was on the schedule to speak in Sacrament Meeting on March 31.  I made a note of it and wrote down the subject that I was to speak on - "Our Work is to Save Souls" from the Teachings of Joseph F. Smith.  When I later realized that March 31 was Easter, I decided I would speak on something related to the Resurection.  As the time neared, I began working on my talk.  I had mentioned to my daughter Crystal that I had to speak on Easter Sunday.  She said, "I had to speak last Easter".  "Oh perfect!", I replied,  "How about sending me your talk, since we have to be gone all next week and my preparation time is going to be next to nothing?"  She sent the talk and I began my preparations.  The talk was based around Elder Holland's talk from April conference entitled, "None Were With Him".

Usually, the Sunday before you are to speak, our Branch Clerk gives you a reminder note of the talk and how many minutes to take, etc.  Last Sunday I Received no note.  I continued to work on my talk, fitting it to my particular circumstance.  On Wednesday, I still had not received a note.  I decided to check with him to veriify that I was still on the schedule to speak.  I sent an SMS - (text) to him saying, "I'm still scheduled to talk on Sunday, right?"  Much later in the day, I received a text back saying, "No".  I was surprised and wondered why I was no longer on the schedule, then thought "It must be because I just spoke a month ago."  I put my talk away and went on with the rest of my busy week.

On Sunday as I finished getting ready and was walking out of the room, the Spirit told me to get my talk and bring it with me, just in case.  I grabbed it off from the desk and put it in my church bag.  There weren't very many people at church when meeting was ready to start.  Lynn turned to me and said, "You maybe should have brought your talk."  I told him I had it, I just hadn't had  time  to look at
it since Wednesday. He replied that I might want to look it over.  While they were doing the Sacrament, I  pulled it out and read through it, since I hadn't looked at it in 4 days.

After the Sacrament, the Branch President got up to announce the speakers.  He first called on a new Young Woman to bear her testimony and then said that Sister Baxter would follow.  My mouth dropped open as I  looked at Lynn, with an "I can't believe I just heard that!  James told me "No," I didn't have to speak. "  I quickly scanned my talk one more time, and thought, "I don't mind speaking,  I would just like to have adequate notice, to prepare."  It felt like 3 seconds later, and it was my turn.  That morning I had beeen reading in the Doctrine Covenants, 100:5-6 that if we speak about the Gospel, it would be given to us in the very hour that we speak.  I prayed all the way to the pulpit that this would be so!

I was actually  grateful to have the opportunity to talk about my Savior and His great sacrifice for me.  I prefaced my talk with some thoughts of my own and then added the part that I had prepared and closed with some things that the Spirit had prompted me to say.  Although I was more emotional than I usually am while speaking, I was definitely grateful for the help of the Holy Ghost to be able to share some thoughts to bring each of us closer to our Savior and his great sacrifice for us and that He never leaves us alone, He is always there for us to bless and comfort us.

Saturday night, our upstairs neighbor had asked Lynn if he could help him move on Sunday.  Lynn explained to him that he had church responsibilities and that it was Easter and we had plans, but if it were another day he would be glad to help him.  The neighbor told him that he needed to move on Sunday, so he could clean on Monday.    This neighbor is a non member, but had expressed a delight in the Tabernacle Choir, so Lynn had a friend pick up one of their CD s from the Distribution Center to give to him.  As he thought about it, and talked to the Elders about their feelings about doing this work on Sunday,  it was decided that they would go help him after church, which is what they did.
The neighbor had already started moving some things when they went to help.

I thought about them moving, and thought maybe I should make something for them to eat since they were packing everything.  I started some Chicken Cowboy Delight and finished it when I got home from Church. It seemed strange not to be making potatoe salad and deviled eggs for Easter like I usually do. I took that, along with some chocolate nests with eggs, and some paper plates and cups up to them for their lunch.  The Real Estate lady was there checking on things and telling them that the other people were supposed to be moving in today. She had just failed to check witih the neighbors and let them know that.  That created more of a problem.  By now, the rest of the furniture was sitting down on the lower porch area so they could start cleaning upstairs in the apartment.  I thought that with the dinner out of the way, that I would grab some cleaning things and go up to start cleaning.  Elder Baxter and I and Elder Center and Elder Madebe were cleaning also.  It was a bit of a challenge, but I knew that with new people waiting on the landing, we needed to keep  into gear.  Before long, we had the apartment cleaned except for the upstairs.  That was a chore in and of itself.    It rather looked like the city dump, with a little bit of everything.  Not knowing just where to start or what needed to be saved or kept, we decided that we maybe should leave that part up to them.  Besides, my rolls were ready to go into the oven and I needed to cut up the veggies for the vegetable tray.  I don't know where the lady went.  No one was around.  They had probably gone to the other house.  As we left, the new people started carrying mattresses up the stairs.  I guess we finished just in time.  As I stood in my kitchen, still trying to believe that it was Easter because of the chain of events that had taken place the last 3 hours, the thought came to me, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brothern, ye have done unto me."   I decided that I had still been able to honor my Savior, because He would have been there doing the same thing.

I finished my rolls and veggie tray and we headed to the Hunt's for Easter dinner  She had prepared a beautiful meal.. I was grateful that she had offered to do the meal, and that I didn't have to worry about being hostess and chef of the Easter dinner with our Missionary Family.

We had an enjoyable dinner.  Sister Hunt had gone to a lot of work to prepare such a lovely meal.  I was especially grateful because it freed me to be able to help the people upstairs.

Sister Hunt was slicing the ham and putting the finishing touches on the dinner.

Four hungry Elders ready to dig in!

Elders Parrish, Center, Medebe, Handirade

Dinner consisted of baked ham, scalloped potatoes, brown sugar carrots, sauted mixed veggies, 

fruit salad, hot  rolls, veggies & ranch dip, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and paper carrots filled with treats for the Easter celebration.  Wow, what a feast!  Thanks Sister Hunt for all your hard work!

Prior to Easter, Jeanette had let me know that she was sending an Easter package.  Before long, the tracking showed that it had arrived in Joburg.  There was only one problem.  The Post Office in Joburg was on strike, and they couldn't guarantee when the package would be in Nelspruit and be delivered.  We checked every few days.  Finally, four days before Easter, the tracking showed that it was finally at the Nelspruit hub. We stopped at three different post offices to finally find which one was the hub.  They gave us the slip that showed what we owed on the customs fees, which had to be paid in the Nelspruit branch near where we stay.  So we went back there, paid the fees, and took the receipt back to the hub and FINALLY retreived the package, as well as the one from Jennifer that was mailed a week after Jeanette's.  

WOW! Look at all these goodies!  The Easter Bunny had hopped all the way to South Africa just so the Elders could color eggs and have a basket!  They were very excited!  Thanks Jeanette!! 

The Elders were busy decorating and coloring eggs.

For Elders Medebe and Handirade, it was their first time to color eggs!

It seemed like it took a long time for those brown eggs to turn bright colors!

They're finally done!!

Colored eggs at last!  

I really should have cooked more eggs.  But they were proud of their finished product!

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Besides all the treats, there were even cute decorations for our flat.

Check out the bunny on the elephant.  Elder Center, being the cowboy that he is, 

thought the bunny might want a ride on an elephant while she was in South Africa!

Left over plastic ice cream cartons made really good baskets.  After the Easter dinner, the Elders received their baskets to finish off a memorable Easter day!

An African Wedding

A short time ago, James, one of the members of our Branch invited us to attend  his Brother's wedding.  We had had a busy week, and I really needed to stay  home and get things done and be ready for Sunday.  Besides, we didn't know the brother, but since James is a good friend, we felt honored to have him invite us to his brother's wedding, so  we accepted the invitation.  We later found out that it started at 6:30 a.m.  Yah !  That's what my Saturday schedule loves - getting up at 5: 30 to go to a wedding of someone we didn't even know!!  Positive side:  We also get to witness first hand an African Wedding.

The first thing you need to know is that in South Africa, you can only have a "white" wedding if the groom has paid the "labola" or "bride price", which is the total value of so many cows depending on what the family decides the bride is worth.  The groom's father and uncles negotiate with the bride's family on an acceptable amount that the groom is to pay.  Because it is difficult to come up with this amount, many young people just live together for many years before they are legally married.  This  is the case with James's brother.  This couple, in fact had two children, ages 9 and 1.  The "labola" was finally paid, and now they are able to be married in a "white wedding" and the groom's family is finally able to meet the Bride's family for the first time.

We picked James up at his home.  His wife was wasn't feeling well, so she didn't go.  I think James was happy to have some family to come with him.  He sort of thinks of Lynn as a brother.  We went to the home of the bride's parents.  They were  putting the finishing touches on things for a yard ceremony.  Everything looked very lovely!

As they set up the cake table, they brought out one cake, then another, then another.  Finally they had all five cakes there and set up along with the corner flower arrangements.

Almost ready for the entrance of the bride and groom!

This was the wedding party.  Our friend, James is the second from the left, the bride, the groom, the girl holding the orange flower is their daughter as is the little one.   I think the people on the ends are some   other family members.

After the ceremony, they not only exchanged rings, but wedding gifts to each other as well.  

This is the gold watch he gave her.  She also gave him a gold watch.

After the exchange of gifts, they took a break and passed juice and muffins to everyone.

When everyone was refreshed, they continued with the ceremony.  

This time it was prayers for the couple.  Just before they started, one of the fellows came and talked to Lynn.  Then he started to walk up to the front.  The next thing I knew, he was pronouncing a prayer on the new couple.  They aren't even members of our Church.  But they saw our name tags and knew we were affiliated with the Church and had asked Lynn to come give a prayer for them.  He had the camera in his pocket, so I could get no pics of this special moment!  Lynn's 

prayer was very nice and fitting for the occasion, especially since it was a spur

of the moment kind of thing.

The parents and extended family joined in with the wedding couple.

Then other family members joined in.

After they finished with the prayers and picture taking, we walked to our car to go to the next part of the wedding and discovered they had put lamenated license plates on all the cars in the wedding party.

As we were leaving, the bride's uncle, whose house the wedding was at, came to us and thanked us for being there.  He said he knew God had sent us there today to be able to bless this wedding, and that he was very honored that we would come.

Maybe we should send the missionaries to him and have them tell him the whole story!  :)

The wedding party vehicles drove over past James's father's house.  He is now deceased.  Many of the extended family were along the side of the road clapping, singing, squeeling and really welcoming the newly weds.  They did some kind of a little ceremony with a pot in the middle of the yard, and everyone danced past and put money in the pot.  Then we got back in the cars and drove to the house of the bride and groom where they were busy setting up for the rest of the wedding ceremony.  I helped finish tying bows on the chairs, just to have something to do.  

This is James's father's old house that the family rents out.

We noticed that they had put all the rinds from the butter-nut squash in a pit dug around the tree.

I guess is acts like a fertilizer.  Good idea.  Saves garbage space and buying fertilizer.

The wedding party arrives for the next part of the celebration!  

They're still making wishes and dropping money in the pot.

The cakes had been boxed up and brought to the next celebration.

The guests continue to arrive.

This part of the celebration consisted of everyone giving tributes to the new couple.

This went on for nearly three hours.  Near the end, people brought up their gifts to present to them.

The bride and groom looked like they would die of boredom!
This is James giving his tribute.

Finally, it was time to cut the cake!

Following the cake cutting, they had a very nice luncheon which consisted of chicken, pork, pap, salads, potatoes,  rice, squash, and cold drinks, and of course, cake!

When we left, it was 4:00.  We had arrived at 6:30 a.m. to begin the festivities.

It was a long day for everyone, but it's all a part of tradition -- TRADITION!!!!!