May 31, 2013

 Today we went to Grahamstown for our district meeting. Of course, we filled our water jugs at the spring just outside Grahamstown.  It’s really good water!! 

 The meeting was fine…they talked about finding through members.  After the meeting we went to lunch with the Chase’s to a fish and chips place.  It was good.  The Elders suggested it. 

The Chase’s just got back from two weeks back at home for the wedding of their daughter.  On their way back to Grahamstown from Port Elizabeth, Sister Chase fell asleep, and then, Elder Chase did so as well.  That meant their car crossed over on-coming traffic and side swiped a guard rail.  It messed up the drivers side of their car and flattened the front tire, however, they were unhurt. 

 Surely angels were watching over them…it could have been a whole lot worse.  They just feel very embarrassed.

May 27, 2013

 Took Sister Moore and Sister Van Rensburg to PE for Patriarchal Blessings.

May 25, 2013

 Today is the big day for Sister Hola. She is being baptized and very excited about it.  She has been investigating the church ever since we have been here.  Actually, she has wanted to join the church for some time now, it has just been here inability to read and understand English that has held her back.  But, with a lot of hard work on her part, she was able to pass her interview, albeit in Xhosa.  President Wood said she could do it in Xhosa because she has been working so hard to learn with the Elders and with my reading with her each week in the Book of Mormon.  I explain to her what she is reading as she reads in English.  She has improved very much over the past year.   I am very proud of her.  She also, even though she was very scared, bore her testimony after the baptism. 

Another sister, Ntomboxolo Phahlwa, who recently came from Cape Town, was also baptized.  She was a bit nervous, as well. 

 Elder Davuke baptized Sister Hola and Elder Tennant baptized Sister Phahlwa.  The water was quite cold…even the Elders cringed!! 

May 23, 2013

 Scheduled for today was the move of one water tank from Sister Dells to the Hola home.  Brother Hola has been working hard to get the prep done for the tank and today was the BIG day for it to arrive!  While Rick, Tim Cockbain and Elder Davuke and Elder Tennant were moving it in, the neighborhood by the Holas was all abuzz.  I don’t know what they were saying since it was all in Xhosa, but you knew they were talking!  Brother Hola had a big grin on his face when it was put in place!

The Zone Leaders Elder Burton and Elder Sibeko stopped by this evening.  We fed them some cookies and brownies and milk.  Then our Elders stopped by, Elder Davuke and Elder Tennant…who also got the same treat.  Of course Elder Davuke considers the brownies his, since he totally loves them and they are now to be known as “Davuke Brownies”.  Elder Burton thought “Burton Brownies” was a better name…didn’t work, though.

May 20, 2013

 Well, today we, once again, headed to Port Elizabeth. On our way we picked up Edith Barris and took her to visit with her husband, who is now at Aurora Hospital in PE recovering from his stroke.  He will be there for about 5 more weeks of therapy before going home.  He is doing a lot better.  We can understand a lot more of what he is saying and he has some movement on the right side which he didn’t have at first.  

On our way to Port Elizabeth, we stopped at one of our favorite Farm Stalls to get their braai bread with jam and butter.  While waiting for the bread, Rick started a conversation with a lady waiting for bread, as well.  It turned out she worked for a person from Utah who does bursaries for people here.  We have a young woman in our branch that needs a bursary for high school.  They don’t do those, but she was going to help direct us to where we could get help for her.  Interesting how that all “just happened”.

While in PE we meet up with the Sherberts and went to the Kragga Kamma Game Park which is just right outside PE. We had a great time, saw a lot of animals very close up but the best part was spending time with the Sherberts. They are a great couple!  

 At the park you have the opportunity to enter the compound containing two cheetahs. Rick was the only one brave enough to do that and was able to pet them.  Of course, they loved him.  They fell asleep as he scratched their head and ears!!!  

May 3, 2013

 District Meeting today included the elders from Grahamstown.  It is always nice to have a larger group for the meeting. As you can tell some of the Elders need some maturing.

 Usually it is us and our two elders.  After the meeting, we went to lunch with Elder and Sister Chase.  We usually feed our elders at our boarding after the meeting, but today we told them they are all on their own for lunch.  Next time we will probably have them for lunch…I just didn’t have the energy to do it today.  It is nice to go out once in a while!!  After lunch, I dropped Rick at the church and I came back to our boarding and as I walked in we received a call from Sister Edith Barris informing us that her husband, Jack, had another stroke and he was in the hospital in Port Elizabeth.  They were there for an appointment for a check after a stroke he had last week.  While they were there, he had another one.  This one left him paralyzed on one side and he can’t speak.  She got back home, but she is a basket case right now.  Jack is 84 years old and Edith is 75.  We are going to PE on Monday and we will pick her up on the way and drop her at the hospital.  They live 50k from Port Alfred and 100k from Port Elizabeth.  We called the elders there and they will give him a blessing tomorrow…Sister Barris said that would be the soonest they would be able to get in to see him.

May 1, 2013

 Wow…starting another new month here on mission.  Tonight was seminary and it really has been going quite well.  The first Wednesday of each month we bring treats according to how well the students have been doing their homework.  I made the chocolate dipped peanut butter sandwich cookie I like to make.  We cut three of them in half since some of the kids only did some of their homework, so they only get some of the cookie!!!  A couple of them did well…one got a whole cookie and another got three of them…the only one to completely do it all correct!!!  I think some of them were taken back a bit, but they were determined (at least tonight) to get a full serving of cookies next month!!