March 8, 2013

 This was zone conference day in East London.  Since there was something else happening at the usual chapel we meet at (Amalinda Chapel), we met at one kind of in the middle of town.  Traffic in downtown East London is interesting at best. 

There are a lot of cars, all with horns that work really well and the drivers are not afraid to use them, plus people cross the street anywhere, anytime they want. Makes for some interesting times. 

 Now, we are used to going to the other one, so we actually had to pay attention to street names and go through the middle of town to get to this one.  Luckily for us, it was quite easy to get to.  During the reports from all of the zones and the AP’s, we learned that Namibia which is in the SACTM will, as of July, be put into the Botswana Mission.  SACTM has had a very hard time getting the visas needed for missionaries to serve there.  Not sure of all the problems, but hope it is better for Botswana.  We have one couple missionaries there right now.  There were two, but I think one was leaving for home this month.

When we first arrived in Cape Town, we went up to Signal Hill with Elder and Sister Oldham.  While we were there, a tour bus came up and it turned out to be a group from America…Utah mostly. The tour organizer, Sister Taylor and her husband, saw our missionary tags and introduced themselves to us.  As it turned out, their son was called to the SACTM mission and she had spoken to Sister Oldham earlier on the phone about missionary stuff.  

Well today at zone conference, we met their son Elder Taylor.  He is a very nice young man…his parents can be proud of him. 

 We told him about meeting his parents, and of course he was going to tell his parents about meeting us.  We wondered back in May if we would get to meet him sometime on mission. 

On the way home from East London, Rick was going a little too fast in an area posted with signs saying there can be mobile speed cameras.  There never have been before, but today there was.  Rick said the thought came to mind about choosing right and slowing down but he didn’t listen.  We were pulled over and informed we were going to fast. The officer asked for Rick's license. He looked it over a couple of times and then asked "where are you from". Rick told him Spokane Washington. He was so excited to see an American license and Washington on it.  He started asking if we had been here and there, places around Washington DC. As it turned out, he had lived in Washington DC area for around 10 years and had gone to school back east. We didn't have the heart to tell him we were from the other side of the country. He was very nice, and said he just couldn’t give Rick a citation.  We talked for a while and we all had a great experience.  We sure do love tender mercies…especially Rick!!  The only thing I wished I had done was get a picture of him.

Just a few minutes ago, we got a call from the AP’s.  They asked if they could spend the night here…of course.  They know about the AP room and love the idea of staying here, I am sure.