November 20, 2012

 We went to the “heads” in Knysna before leaving for Cape Town.  Very beautiful.  

 We had our first Wimpy’s ice cream cone.  It was the best ice cream in South Africa so far.    We also arrived in Cape Town today and are staying with Elder and Sister Henderson. 

November 19, 2012

 Today is the day we leave to go to Cape Town.  We are so excited to be able to “get out of Dodge” for a little while.  It will be a nice break.  We are traveling with the Nye’s.  We stopped at Monkeyland and the bird sanctuary before going into Knysna to our B&B.  It was a nice day.

November 17, 2012

 Today was the branch Christmas party.  We are having it this early because after school lets out for holiday break a lot of children go away to visit family and we wanted to include them. Primary was put in charge of the game which we would have first, followed by a braai and finishing up with a Christmas pageant, of sorts.  As always here, things start slow which means late.  We were ready with our part to begin at the announced starting time of 12:30, but the only ones there were the new members, Relief Society Presidency and us and one uninvited guest.

If it was Sacrament meeting I would have started on time even if we were the only ones there, but seeing this was a branch party I felt it best to wait till more of the branch showed up. People started slowly showing up and at 1:30 one of the Primary presidency finally showed up, but she had no idea what games the Primary President planned to play. We knew what was planned, so with a little bit of our help, games finally started around 2:00 followed by the braai and potluck salads which all the families brought.  

Sister Dell wrote a program about the birth of Christ, which included a lot of the people in the branch and a lot of hymns.

 It went fairly well considering five players didn’t show up. I invited the owners of the building we meet in, and they seemed to enjoy their time.  Since Sister Tunye, the primary president, didn’t make it to the party, we took a bunch of leftover food to her.  When we got to her home, there was a group of people walking past. As we got out of the car two of the young children came running to the car, converging on my side of the car grabbing at things in the door storage. While I was fending them off, one of the mammas who happened to be drunk came over and gave Janet a big hug, slobbering on her neck, I wish I had a picture of it to include.  It seems like when any of these people get drunk they have some things in common. They love everyone and they all say that they are coming to church this Sunday…joy… more drunks at church!!!

November 14, 2012

 Today “Charles” came by the church and put burglar bars on the door of the shed and also on the door to the President’s office. When I saw them I couldn’t keep from laughing. Things are done differently here and we have come to expect to be surprised now and then, but this was something we didn’t see coming. I guess Charles wanted to make these door a little special and made them with a big heart welded in them. 

 At least now the members will know President Stumm does have a heart even if it is made of iron and black as the night!!!!

November 11, 2012

 Rick confirmed both Comfort and Noxolisa today in sacrament meeting.  Some time ago we traded cars with the Fowers so a trailer hitch could be put on the car we drive. Rick wants to buy a trailer for all of the service projects we do in the branch instead of loading bricks, sod, firewood, pig food and a myriad of other items in the boot of our mission car. The Fowers drove up and we traded cars back with them, since the hitch was put on our car a couple of weeks ago. Never to miss an opportunity to have them speak to the branch, Rick asked if they would speak in Sacrament meeting and then give a class the next two hours on how to be a better teacher. Sister Fowers, before mission, set up charter schools and is an excellent teacher. Their talks were, as always, really good but the instruction she gave to the whole adult membership of the branch was fantastic.   Now Ricks next quest is to find a trailer.

November 10, 2012

 Noxolisa Motshotyana and Comfort Mudodo were baptized today.  

  It is always nice to have baptisms and we haven’t had one in a couple of months.  Elder Alexander baptized Comfort and Noxolisa’s husband, Vuyisile, baptized her. Elder Scicluna wanted to be here for them, as he helped teach both of them and it was nice to have him here, even if it is just for a short visit.  The AP’s are very busy and had to leave for Port Elizabeth by 2 pm, so they left before the final bit of the program was finished, but, they were here for the actual baptisms.  At 5:30 this evening we met Elder and Sister Fowers at the Ocean Basket restaurant for dinner.  They spent the night, since they are speaking at the branch tomorrow.  We always enjoy their company.

November 9, 2012

 Elder Van Sickle called Rick yesterday asking him if we could take Delsies’ son, Jeremiah, to meet them near Port Elizabeth so they could take him to a skin specialist for a skin issue.  Elder Van Sickle has been ill himself so Rick and I were more than happy to help him out.  We picked Jeremiah up at 6 a.m.  and were on the road by 6:15am. Record time for here in South Africa. We made great time because there were no trucks on the road to hold us up and meet the Van Sickles outside of P.E. a little past 7:30. 

On the way back we stopped at the Nanaga Farm Stall and got a braai bread sandwich with egg and bacon.  It is great stuff.  They have a number of farm stalls which are older farm houses turned into a kind of country store that sells home made products from around the area. Each one has its own charm and specialties and this is one of our favorites.  I hope to try the braai bread thing when we get back home.

   

We were to have our District meeting today with the AP’s, but they weren’t able to make it. We went to Guido’s for lunch after the meeting and behold, they were able to make that meeting. Amazing the miracles free food can work. Elder Scicluna is now an AP and we are able to spend some time with him, as well as his companion, Elder Grow, who is from Idaho Falls, Idaho.  

 They will be coming over to have dinner with us tonight. It seems like whenever you make or provide free food, Elders show up. I made lasagna and Elder Scicluna’s favorite Chocolate Cupcakes!!  They are spending the night, as well.