May 13, 2012

Not only was today Mothers’ Day, but today Elder Stumm became President Stumm to serve as branch president over the little Port Alfred Branch.  We have been taught and guided by the out- going President Frank Robinson and his wife, Sister Dian Robinson.

Today they will begin their journey back to their home in St. George, Utah.  They left us large shoes to fill.  We have decided we need to find out what we are to bring to this branch while continuing the good things the Robinsons did.

After the branch meeting block, there was a get together outside to wish the Robinsons well on their journey back home and welcome the “new guys” to the branch.  A picture of most of the branch was taken which is included here.




 Here are a few pictures of our little branch building. 

Relief Society Room

Chapel

Primary Room

Front of The Church

Baptismal Font

 

Branch Presidents Office

Branch Presidents Kitchen

Back Yard and Branch Presidents Beloved Avocado Tree

Although we have no Elders Quorum Presidency or Young Men Presidency We have a strong Relief Society, a good Young Women President who is a senior in high school, a  Primary President and I have two councilors.

Elder Robinson, 1st Councilor Canny Nobebe, 2nd Councilor  Ncebazakhe Hola, President Stumm

Neither of my councilor have ever held a leadership position, never touched a computer, never conducted a meeting but I am so thankful to have them. They know the members and are so very willing to learn. With time I can teach them the things they need to know.

We are officially on our own now and thankful we have the full time Elders helping us along the way until we get our footing.

We were invited to the Relief Society Presidents home for lunch. Her husband is not a member; however, he supports her in everything.  That will be one to work on.  The missionaries were there as well as the Barris’. They are an older couple, the husband very English and the wife very German and they make a cute couple.  One of the dishes we were served was wart hog.  They may look rather ugly but served with Sister Cockbain’s special cherry jelly of some sort it was rather good.  We are beginning to experience at least a little of the local cuisine.  A couple nights ago we also had malva pudding for dessert, which is something they serve over here and it was very good.

After our lunch, we were then able to move from our temporary boarding into our new flat. Everybody in the mission has made such a fuss over how nice this flat is but I don’t understand all the fuss. It’s just your ordinary 4 bedroom, 4 baths, half again as big as our house back home, 50 yards from the beach “castle on the sea” as we call it.

Castle on the Sea

 It is a beautiful 2^nd floor flat with a beautiful large balcony off of the living area and the master bedroom that overlooks the ocean and two smaller decks off two other bedrooms.  This house may be the envy of the mission, but it is a little over- powering to us.

Front Room

Our Small Bed

Our Bedroom

Hall Way

Our Bathroom

Dining Room

From Our Bedroom

On The Balcony

Ocean View From The Balcony

Beside us is a golf course but we like to call it our private game reserve because of all the animals on it.