June 3, 2012

Today was fast Sunday. Interesting Sundays seem to be the norm since we arrived here and this one was no exception.  First of all about 8:45 am the missionaries SMS us (text) and said that they are walking with some investigators to church and were running late.  Rick looked around to find only one other priesthood holder present, and since the full time missionaries constitute about 1/3 of the priesthood in the branch, he thought it a good idea that I should call them, find out where they were and go pick them up. My thoughts were why are they out in the township walking, what happened to their car and how I’m I ever going to find them. Sister Cockbain, the RS president extended a tender little mercy and volunteered to come with me, which I was grateful for.  We finally found the missionaries – they were walking with a family of investigators and had gotten a late start. I picked up one Elder (so at least they would have enough Priesthood to administer the Sacrament), loaded as many others as I could in the car and drove them to church, then went back and picked up the rest of them.  When we finally got to church, they were just starting to pass the sacrament. You would think that would be enough excitement for one day, but the best was yet to come. After a few testimonies had been borne, Alfred, our friendly professional neighborhood beggar and alcoholic decided that he should add something to our meeting. Now he had been to church before and had been told that he was welcome as long as he sat quietly and didn’t go around hitting people up for money during church. Rick thought they had an understanding so when he had come in late and had taken a seat without his usual begging he thought things would be alright. He was wrong.

As Alfred was walking up to say something, Brother Hola, Ricks 2^nd councilor, stopped him.  Unknown to us he had come up during testimony time in a previous testimony meeting and started cursing at everybody so Brother Hola was not going to let that happen again. They tussled a bit and after physical exchanges and some bad language by our friendly drop in we were able to help him outside where Rick stayed and talked with him. Rick and Alfred were out there awhile during which time we inside were having an adventure also.  First, I will tell you about Ricks adventure with Alfred and then ours.

Friday when we were at the church Alfred had dropped by begging and saying that he was so hungry and please didn’t we have something for him. We told him that we didn’t have anything to give him at that time. Rick decided after that to always carry something to eat with us that we could give he because we were not going to give him money which he would spend on alcohol. As Rick and he were talking Alfred said that he was very upset that we would not let him go up and tell people about Jesus. To make this short, he was told again that he needed to not be under the effects of alcohol and needed to be respectful of how we worship. He asked for money and was told that he would not be given money but Rick did have some food for him if he was hungry. That did it. He went off like a wild man cussing’ telling Rick that he had plenty and should give some money to him. He said Rick was judging him and had disrespected him by offering him food and he wouldn’t take it. He went away, but not happy.

Now for the inside story.  After Rick went out with Alfred, Elder Moangare went up and bore his testimony followed by an investigator named Pumbla. We have talked about her before and thought that maybe she really wasn’t all there. Today she helped confirm that belief. She started by saying my name is Pumbla “Viva la” something – I couldn’t really understand what she was saying.  She spoke really loud and not understandable and ended by raising her fist in the air and shouting “Viva la” something again. Strange lady.  Seeing that Rick was still outside with our friend, Elder Scicluna got up and bore his testimony and tried to set things right. He let the investigators know that this was not the way testimony meeting is and shared what it should be. I also bore my testimony.  It is amazing how many times a week we now bear our testimony.  It is really kind of neat!  The meeting ended well, then on to the rest of the meetings.  I spent my time with the only two children in junior primary.  It is not easy filling two hours when the children are very young and do not speak English and I don’t speak Xhosa.  It has been an interesting Sunday!!

I successfully made lasagna for dinner tonight from scratch.  It was pretty good.  I put some of this and some of that in until it tasted really good. Mozzarella cheese here is similar but not the same as at home. It's firmer in texture and has a slightly different flavor.  It was good.  Success number one and hopefully not the last.