July 29, 2013 P-Day at Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve

AAAHHH…p-day.  This is the long awaited day we are scheduled to go to Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve. All of the senior couples in the Eastern Cape attended…that is eight couples.  This included the Boyces (East London), Chases (Grahamstown), Van Sickles, Sherberts, Stokoes (all in Port Elizabeth), Gardners (George), Scotts (Knysna) and us (Port Alfred).  The vehicles are all open air, have three rows of seats, each row a little higher than the last one.  

It gave everyone a great view but it got a bit cold. We were provided with blankets and ponchos to use and we also brought our own coats and sweaters, but we still got cold. We have heard great things about this adventure and were hoping to see a lion kill.  We didn’t get too however; we did see three lions very up close.  As the pictures show the lions were right along our travel craft so close at times that you could reach out and touch them although it would have been a bad idea. 

 It was nice to have a guided tour as the guide was very knowledgeable telling us the names and interesting facts about each of the animals. 

 Rick got to ride on the seat they have on some of the vehicles that is right on the very front of the vehicle.  I was just hoping he wouldn’t bounce off as we all did a lot of bouncing.  

As you look at the picture of the rhino you will notice that the horns have been cut off. 

 About 3 months ago some poachers dropped in with a helicopter, shot them with a tranquilizer gun, cut of the horns and took off. These rhino’s where extremely lucky.
The poachers injected them with a huge dose of M99, the knock down drug used in wild animal capture. They were not given the antidote and therefore nearly had a total atrophy of the muscle system which usually is fatal. Even though they were administered way too much drug, were left with no antidote administered, lay in the bush for over two days unconscious, they were found and nursed back to health. Most of the time things don’t turn out so well. It was also good that the people who did this didn’t cut the horn back so far that it would kill the rhino. They told us the horns would go for about $1,000,000 each on the smugglers market. It’s a sad world.

We started the tour at 3pm. About 7pm they served us a great meal of local South African cuisine which was delicious.  

The meal included kudu stew, chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans and rice with malva pudding for dessert. We ended out tour back at the office about 9pm.   All in all, it was a nice getaway and we enjoyed visiting with the other senior couples, which we don’t get to do nearly as often as we would like.

July 27, 2013 “Putting on the Whole Armor of God”

Our elders held a branch activity entitled “Putting on the Whole Armor of God”.  

After we read and discussed how we need to put on the full armor of God to withstand the devil and his temptations, we divided into two teams.  Each team was to make a set of armor to be used by one chosen from their team.  Cardboard, tape, cutters and string was supplied and they were given one hour to make the best set of armor they could to protect their team member from the “fiery darts” of the other team.

The “fiery darts” were nylon stockings cut so as to be about palm size and filled with flour to be thrown at the armored one from the other team as they navigated a gauntlet set up by the Elders. 

At the end of the armor making hour, each team was given instructions, put into positions and the fun was ready to begin. 

But, before things began, the Elders blindfolded the ones going through the gauntlet and had the team pick someone to be their guide, just like the Holy Ghost should be our guide. The guide could not touch the person, but only help by giving directions. It was great, everyone just had fun. 

After both teams had run the course the Elders judged which team did the best job of protecting their team mate. After that things just turned into a free-for-all where everyone was throwing at everyone and all had a blast. 

We finished the activity with oranges, pineapple, cookies and cool drinks.  Mostly, it was youth and children who attended, but that’s OK. It was a good branch activity.

July 26, 2013 East London Zone Conference

We woke up at our B&B to a breakfast of eggs, toast, rashers, tomato and milk or juice.  It was very nice.  We then went to the Amalinda Chapel in East London for the zone conference.  It was a very good meeting.  The zone leaders did their lesson and then President Wood presented his lesson on grace.  He used a BYU speech given by Brad Wilcox on July 12, 2011.  We first knew about this talk when Josh sent us a link for it and he told us how amazing it was.  It truly is.  Rick forwarded this talk to President Wood shortly after we got it, and I guess several other people did, as well.  Anyway, it was used today.  We had lunch and then left to make it back to Port Alfred by 4pm, when Ricks first appointment was scheduled.  It turned out a “no show”, but he had a meeting with President Nteyi the EQ President at 4:30 who did come.  His other meetings were cancelled due to the illness of one of his councilors.

July 25, 2013 Dinner with the President and Sister Wood in East London

We headed for East London around 1:30pm for dinner with the President and Sister Wood, President and Sister Boyce, 1^st Councilor in the mission presidency and Elder and Sister Chase. 

Left to Right   President Wood, President Stumm, Sister Stumm, Sister Boyce, President Boyce, Sister Chase, Elder Chase Sister Wood.

 We ate, again, at Grazia, which is a really good restaurant.  Actually, the best we have been to here in South Africa.  We stayed at Shiraz B&B…not bad and only R550.  We stopped at the Birah Crafts shop on the way hoping that Rick would be able to find another spear and a shield, but nothing more or new.  Darn…maybe next time.

July 24, 2013 Our last call to Elizabeth till Christmas

Well, we just made our last call to Elizabeth before she checks into the Provo MTC.  I am sure going to miss talking with her each week.  It is always fun to hear of her adventures at work or church or whatever she has been doing.  We are so proud of her for making this decision to serve the Lord on mission and know she will be a great asset to the Texas Dallas Mission.  Just 5 months till Christmas when she will be able to call home and we can speak with her again!  It so nice to have email…we look forward to those, now.