May 23 2012

 Some of our members live a ways from Port Alfred.  Jack Barris and his wife Edith live 50K out of Port Alfred in a town named Alexandria. We are one of the few in the branch who have transport so we are their home and visiting teachers.

The missionaries showed us the way to the Barris’ home where they served all of us a lunch of roasted potatoes, rice, pumpkin, cauliflower, green beans, mutton and gravy and then the missionaries gave them a spiritual message.  We had a good time and learned a lot about them.  Sister Barris is German and Brother Barris is English.  She is 75, born in Namibia and has traveled all over the world. He is 84 was a die and tool maker by trade and worked for many different companies and for the South African Navy.  He is a collector of vintage motorcycles and an inventor. They are very interesting people and have a lot of memories of the past; you know, the way it used to be. 

On our way back to Port Alfred, we then visited some investigators and taught additional lessons.  One sister the missionaries have taught is Pumbla. 

We think she might not have it all together because she has so much trouble connecting things together. It’s not likely that she will be able to understand enough of the gospel to be baptized. She seems to have a lot of mental limitations.

The next to be visited is an inactive member, Sister Sinawo who lives in Grahamstown but often stays in Port Alfred and her non-member boyfriend Thabo Mahlangla. 

The Elders have taught them most of the lessons. He wants to know more about the gospel and be baptized while she is really hanging back on things. He is a pretty good artist, draws with pencil and is trying to get sponsored so he can show his work at better art galleries. The last visit the Elders had with them we sent some cookies for them. I guess they fought over them big time. The Elders thought that it might get physical for a while, but things calmed down before that happened.  I guess they have a hard time sharing so next time we will send two plates of cookies, one for each.