Because this venue is about an hour away, and because many people don't cars for transportation, we decided to meet at the Church to car pool together. The day was sunny and warm and everyone was excited to come. As they were planning a menu, they immediately started talking about what to braai, or bar b q. I suggested that we have something already to serve like Sloppy Joes, and just bring salads and other things to go with it. They didn't know what Sloppy Joes were. When I explained what they were, everyone agreed that it would be a great idea if I would make it. I agreed, and plans were set.
Friday was spent cooking up pan after pan of hamburger, or "mince" as it is called here. I filled my crock pot as well as Sister Hunt's extra large crock pot. Worrying that some people might not bring enough salad and other things, which seems to be the case in other Linger Longers that we have had, I made a large potato salad, and large pan of brownies as well. That night I sat out several items from the kitchen that I thought we might need as well as several plastic table clothes. You never know how clean the tables might be in an outdoor area.
Saturday morning, we began loading our car with all our food items. The potato salad seemed especially heavy when I lifted it out of the fridge, so just for fun, I put on on the bathroom scales. 18 pounds! Well, that should be enough to feed a crowd of hungry people! We also brought our 2 gallon drink jug of ice water, since we thought with the hot day, it would help quench thirst better than juice, which is what they usually drink. I also filled two other large bottles of water to refill the jug because I wasn't sure what kind of drinking water they might have. We also loaded in some games, balls, and bubbles to add to the fun. Each organization was supposed to bring a game or an activity.
Several people were waiting at the 'church when we arrived. Others came and when we determined that all were here that were coming, we loaded the cars and headed out. The day was gorgeous and everyone was excited for this get together! The cost was 10 rand, which is about one dollar, to enter the area. Just as we parked, the Elders and other young people came to assist us in carrying all our load up to the picnic sight. Several people who lived closer had already gathered. It didn't take long to get games going. The water in the pool area was low because of no rain for quite some time. Several children had brought their "swimming costumes" and were anxiously hurrying to the water while the moms enjoyed visiting while they kept an eye on their children. The children waded around, caught tad poles and splashed each other, having a great time!
Adults joined in the fun as well. This game was one that Elder Baxter started where you start out with one tennis ball which you throw to someone, they in turn throw to someone else, and keep it going until it has gone around the circle and everyone has had a chance to catch and trow the ball. Then you add a second ball and do the same thing, always throwing to your same partner and catching it from the same person. The goal is to see how many tennis balls you can keep going without someone missing.
Others had fun playing paddle ball, similar to tether ball.
The wind was blowing just enough to make it difficult to keep the table clothes from blowing off.
We discovered that if we tied a knot in each corner, they would stay on!
Notice the shoes kicked off on the grass. Evidently some people aren't bothered by
walking on dry stubble with bare feet! Ouch!!
Soon it was time for lunch. Diane, our Primary President started getting the plates ready for the food.
Notice the white plastic bowl. It had green salad in it. After sitting in the hot sun, the salad and dressing turned to a small pile of wilted sog.
Just before we started to serve the food, I asked the person who was assigned to bring the drink and cups if they had brought a container to mix the juice in, since they had brought two large gallons of concentrate. No, they hadn't thought about that, nor water to mix it with or anything to stir it with. We ended pouring it into the water container. I had brought extra utensils, just in case, and we were able to stir it to mix the juice. We used the extra bottles of water to make additional juice.
Lunch consisted of sloppy joes, potato salad, 2 green salads, chockolaka, which is a spicy veggie-bean dish, a type of relish type dip, all kinds of chips (on another table) and desserts.
It was interesting to me that people brought their food and set it down on the serving table or dessert table, without checking to see if it was uncovered ready to serve, or if it had a spoon in it. The people who brought cakes or other desserts never brought a knife to cut it with or a spatula to serve it with, Good thing I threw in my portable kitchen. I think we need to have a few more Branch Activities before we finish our mission, so I can show them what to do. :)
Members enjoyed eating...
And visiting... and face painting...
And visiting...
And more face painting...