June 30, 2013 Arrival in Grahamstown

 We arrived in Grahamstown after 8am. 

 We were planning to go the Port Alfred sacrament meeting, but because we got in late, and it is a 45 minute drive to Port Alfred, we wouldn’t be able to make it in time to partake of the Sacrament. We decided instead, to attend the Grahamstown Branch where we planned on just partaking of the sacrament before heading to Port Alfred to oversee the rest of the meetings.  Before we were able to leave, President Bagazi asked us to bear our testimonies in their meeting so of course we did. We bore testimony about the wonderful experience we had going with the branch members to the temple and encouraged them to make plans to go or return to the temple too. We then left for Port Alfred to finish out church services and make sure all was well.  The Relief Society was holding their VT seminar and all of the sisters needed to be there. Primary and YW needed coverage to make that happen so the Elders taught the Young Women and Sister Chase and I handled Primary.  It worked out well but boy are we tired!!!

June 29, 2013 Day three at the temple

Rick and the girls left for the temple about 6am.  The girls did one session then went back to their boarding to sleep some more.  Rick worked till about 10:30.  Brother Nobebe and Sister Van Rensburg and I attended the 8am endowment session.  At 11am Sister Kenney (a former member of the branch) had a sealing time set so she could be sealed to her daughter who is from Durban.  Sister Kenney has already been sealed to her deceased husband, but not to their daughter.  She had asked if we would attend the sealing since we were going to be there.  It was so nice to see her again.  We do miss her in the branch. 

Sister Van Rensburg had her parents sealed and then she to them.  We were privileged to be proxy for her parents when she was sealed to them. 

Each day has brought such a special spirit.  We have so enjoyed the renewal of spirit we receive in the temple.  Because of being on mission and having the temple so far away out and out of our mission, we can only go if our branch goes and only then after receiving permission from the Area Presidency  . Normally, we cannot leave our mission boundaries.  It has been 14 long months since we have been able to attend and we have greatly missed going.  After the sealing, we stopped at the bookstore one more time.  We purchased a large print quad for Brother Canny and Sister Van Rensburg…they smiled and gave us hugs!!! It was special. 

 

Johannesburg Temple

Interesting tree just outside of our boarding

Our boarding, very nice for only $10 per night

In front of the temple

Along side of the temple

Sune' and Hlumelo on the temple grounds

We had lunch of spaghetti saved for us by the canteen people from the night before.  We napped a bit and finished getting ready to leave for Port Alfred.

Sandile Makasi picked us up at 3:30pm to take us to the bus station.  When we got there, he told us to stay in this one room as it would be safer.  The bus station is quite large with LOTS of people. Our bus left at about 6pm.  Busses are the big city to city transport here, so there are lots of them. 

We ended up in the same bus we came in…and the same seats.  We knew this because we had the same light that would not turn off…same broken pull down tray for food…same heater that just kept going!!!  We weren’t looking forward to the long bus ride…but there were better movies…even a Disney one!!  The first was a Monster, Inc. one. I actually fell asleep through it.  

At the first stop we could get off for a few minutes, we went to the restroom and then got a couple of meat pies. They are really big in South Africa and usually pretty good.  We also bought a cold bottle of sprite!  That was dinner!!  We did sleep some…finally!

June 28, 2013 We slept very well

We slept very well, since we were very tired from the long journey and we had a very spiritual day at the temple.  We started the day with breakfast   in the canteen…eggs, toast, and juice.  

 We were at the temple at 8:30 am to take the YW…Sune’ and Hlumelo to do baptisms, but once we were there, we found they needed our help in the baptistery.  The girls did baptisms…Sister Van Rensburg was able to do some temple name confirmations…Brother Nobebe and Rick were witnesses and I was privileged to hand out towels. 

After the baptisms, we picked up the rest of their garments at distribution, then we went for lunch and then to the Family History Center to get some of Brother Nobebe’s family work organized.  We attended the 5pm endowment session and then Rick and I were privileged to meet with our former Elder Alexander’s parents for dinner.  

 We had a great evening with the Elder Alexander’s Mom, Dad and his brother Kyle. What a great family!  We had lots of great food and great conversation…some about our Elder Alexander!!!  A wonderful ending to another great day.

June 27, 2013 Arrival

The bus left last night at about 7pm and arrived this morning between 10 and 10:30am.  A little longer than planned.  We arrived tired since we really didn’t sleep on the bus.  Sandile Makasi, the man who makes all the arrangements for housing and bussing for first time temple patrons, met us at the bus depot and drove us to the temple grounds where the housing and everything is located.   

We then met Renae who assigned us our accommodations and arranged for food to be saved for us when we were not going to be at the canteen during the meal time and for Saturday when they don’t serve meals.

After we were settled in and lunch eaten, we took Brother Canny and Sister Van Rensburg to distribution to get their first set of garments.  I also picked up new scripture covers for Rick and I with an Africa motif.  

We then went to the temple to begin their temple ordinances.  We thought the baptism and confirmation had been previously done for Sister Van Rensburgs husband, but upon arrival they found it hadn’t been done.  She was hoping to have Rick go through the same session she was going through for her husband and then be sealed to him after that.  There was a very helpful coordinator who managed to work it so Rick could quickly to the baptism, confirmation and initiatory all before the assigned temple session.  He did this, as well as being Brother Canny’s escort for his first time.  It was amazing!!  I was able to be escort for Sister Van Rensburg.   We attended the 5pm endowment session and Sister  Van Rensburg was sealed to her husband, Russel Burton Van Rensburg, at 7pm.  After their sealing, their daughter Sune’ was brought in and sealed to her parents.  The spirit was very strong and I know he accepted all of the work that was performed for him. 

It has been a great day.  Before lunch, Rick met the next Johannesburg Temple President, Brother Eppel.  He saw us and our name tags and they talked for a bit.  He will start in November.  I also was talking with Sister Armstrong, the current Temple Matron, and she told me they would be in Port Alfred sometime after the middle of August.  That always takes care of one Sunday’s speaker!!!

June 26, 2013 Today our temple trip begins.

Today our temple trip begins.  I have been making a mental check-off list of all the things I need to remember.  There really aren’t too many…ID’s, temple recommends, one set of extra clothes, toiletries, blanket and pillow for the bus and…oh yes…food for the trip.  We wanted to pack light so we didn’t have to put anything under the bus.  Yes…we are taking a Greyhound bus to Johannesburg.  We will catch it in Grahamstown.  The Chase’s, who are the senior couple there, will help us with transportation and keep our car for us.  Everyone going is excited about the trip.  It will be nice to be in the temple again after over a year since we have been.  We don’t get to go here, except when our branch goes.  This trip is like going from Spokane to Salt Lake City.  The bus leaves at 6:40 pm and arrives at 7:45 am.  Long trip!!!

We made one last quick visit to one of our members (Vivian Prince) and low and behold our missionaries were there.  It was my first meeting with our new elder, Elder Andersen.  

 He seems really nice and eager to work.  He is our new district leader and is working with Elder Tennant.   He is from Denmark and I can’t wait to hear more about him.  I love to hear the missionaries stories.

There are six of us going to Johannesburg Temple…Rick and myself, Brother Canny Nobebe, Sister Mary Van Rensburg, her daughter Sune’ Van Rensburg and a young woman, Hlumelo Fumba.  The bus was very warm when we got on…it’s going to be a LONG night!!

June 25, 2013 We said our good-byes to Elder Davuke

We said our good-byes to Elder Davuke.  He is headed to the Cape Town area.  We will miss him as we do with all of the elders who pass through here.  We grow to love them all.  He got the proper “mom” hug before he left.  I also gave him a bag of the popular peanut butter popcorn.  (or as Elder Dale called it…crack corn because it is addictive!) He said a “thank you” the Fiji way.  It was way cool!!!

June 21, 2013 We had a great breakfast at the B&B

We had a great breakfast at the B&B.  They always serve eggs, bacon, toast and a warmed thick sliced tomato…every B&B does.  They also had this really wonderful homemade jam for the toast.  I complimented them on it and when we left they gave us a jar of it!!!  YUM!!  It was really different, but wonderful.  I think the lady said there were carrots and orange in it…hard to understand the broken English here, sometimes.

The conference, as usual, was good.  The main overall theme seemed to be being obedient to the rules.  Elder and Sister Bricknell gave great talks.  Sister Bricknell talked about getting along with your companion.  

Elders from left to right. Tennant, Davuke, VanZyl, Clarke, President Stumm, Elexander.

I gave Elder Alexander some carrot cake and Elder Van Zyl and Elder Clarke some cookies.  Since they are all former elders of ours, they get special treatment.