Sweet Revenge! -gfh

Elder Watts is the Car Czar here in the mission. He has a great sense of humor and loves to joke and tease with the elders. They LOVE him! But this morning one of the assistants decided it was pay back time! When the time was just right Elder Gustin sneaked into Elder Watts' office and attacked him with silly string!



Ahhhhhhhhhh! Sweet Revenge! But look out Elder Gustin for Elder Watts' comeback. You can be sure it's going to be bigger and better!

It Is (Still) Good for Us to Be Here! -gfh

I have mentioned before how Ennerdale is "the frosting on our week".
Saturday morning we spent the day in the temple with a wonderful couple. I was Sister Norma's escort as she went through the temple for her first time. Later Sister Norma and Brother Richard were sealed for time and all eternity to their sweet family of three little boys: Ayanda Gift was just recently baptized and turning 9 next month. Lisani is five years old and the third little boy is a sweet angel who had died a couple of years ago. It is beyond words to describe the feelings as one witnesses such a sacred moment. Little boys who are normally busy, wiggly and noisy walk into the room dressed in white looking and behaving like angels. As they look in to the faces of their mommy and daddy there is such a look of love and trust. They KNOW that what they are doing is right! This is what the restoration of the Gospel is all about!

Then we were off to Ennerdale for a YSA activity. However, this is the first time that the activity fell through. The YSA young man representative had asked one of the sisters in the branch to teach the YSAs how to cook. She was all ready and had prepared special cakes but only two YSAs showed up. Elder H and I were very surprised! We reconnoitered and decided to do a mini lesson after our YSA Sunday School class.

In this picture are the two Ennerdale Elders, Sister Jillian and Barry the parents of Sister Laura (who is the cook for the activity), Laura's son Valentino and then two YSAs, Pride and Ntkozo with the phone at his ear.
This is Sister Jillian's mother and Valentino's great grandmother.She is 81 years old and is in charge of the vegetable stand. Her daughter calls her "The Commissioner of Finance".
We used our extra time to go visit a less active YSA and track down a "missing" sister.

Then on to Pimville in Soweto. It is now getting dark and the traffic is wild and crazy with taxis(which are actually vans) loaded to the gills hooting their horns, zipping in and out, stopping any old place. The doors open and the passengers take to the streets. This is scary and very disconcerting because the streets are not well lit and there are black skinned people mostly wearing black walking in the dark.....in front of you! We have a goal to make it home from our mission without being the cause of injury to one of these wonderful but unconcerned and perhaps imprudent people. Maybe they'd be more cautious if they knew there were two crazy Americans behind the wheel.

The reason we went to Pimville was for Elder H to do a baptismal second interview. When the President is out of town and his counselors are unavailable President has asked Elder H to conduct the interviews. This is the fourth one he has done and he feels it is a privilege and a sacred responsibility.

We arrived home about 8:30 safe and sound and feeling warmed by The Spirit.
It is good for us to be here.

"Embrace the Cold" gfh

Winter is back! It arrived in South Africa this week and we have a new motto: "Embrace the cold" yeeeeesh! The above picture is Elder H trying to get his "motor running" on a cold crisp FREEZING South Africa morning while he waits for the thermostat to click in. WAIT!! There's no thermostat!!
Here I am all ready to go to the office and brushing my teeth by the heater. I'll shed the bathrobe at the last possible minute for my winter coat, gloves and scarf!

It is good for us to be here . . . rh

Well, it was a fabulous Sunday, today. It was stake conference yesterday and today and we were well fed by the speakers. Both the temple matron and president spoke to us last light and brought up some thought provoking things. Sister Armstrong quoted Elder Kikuchi thusly, “As you firmly grasp the iron rod, it will lead you to the open doors of the temple.” This is a confirmation of the thoughts that Georgia and I have that getting new converts to the temple is the real objective of missionary work. We are told in Sec. 109 of the Doctrine and Covenants that we can receive an endowment of POWER by going to the temple for ourselves. Surely, this power will convert into greater activity among the saints and new and growing leadership as they return from the temple and become “beacons” in their wards and branches. It is especially important in Ennerdale since relatively few members are endowed.

President Armstrong said that President Hinckley told the saints that “Every time we go to the temple, we leave as a better son or daughter of God.” What could be more inviting than to realize that each temple visit makes us stronger and more useful in the kingdom. Georgia and I both feel that there should be more emphasis on the saints receiving their own endowments and then returning often to the temple – whether it be in South Africa, Oregon, Utah, Nebraska or anywhere else in the world.

President Molema (Stake President) spoke on the fall and atonement and made a statement that struck me particularly. He said that just as Naaman had to wash seven times in the Jordan or he would not be cured, we must do exactly as the Lord has commanded to receive salvation. This is a point that is brought to the missionaries constantly as “exact obedience” just like the stripling warriors of Helaman in the Book of Mormon – they served in the stressful conditions of battle exactly as they were directed and were spared from death.

This morning, President Wrench (1st Counselor) told us of a brother who was searching for a secretary in his stake calling. He proposed a dozen men to the Lord and never received confirmation. He then was inspired to propose another brother who was thought by many to be a less than desirable member of the kingdom. He received strong confirmation that this man was to be the secretary needed in this stake organization. He had to convince the Stake President that his decision had been confirmed by the Lord. Pres. Wrench said that this points out the need of being persistent in search of inspiration. When we hit on the right answer, we will know it.

We then heard three powerful testimonies from returned missionaries – two brothers and one sister. President Msane (2nd Counselor) followed, pointing out that life is an open book test. Open book does not equate to easy – he said that we must be familiar with the material (scriptures, commandments, words of living prophets, etc.) and realize that there is a time limit. In life’s case, we are not given the exact time limit – it is different for each of us. This is a great lesson in not procrastinating the day of our repentance.

Sister Poulsen spoke next and posed the question – Did I promise in the pre-existence to find certain people and expose them to the gospel in this life? Wow, what have I/we done about this? How many times have I ignored a prompting to share the word and ignored it? Coupling Pres. Msane’s talk urging me to realize that there is a time limit and Sister Poulsen’s question gets me to thinking that I must do better than I have done.

President Poulsen then gave us a powerful message about being a missionary. I will just share one thought that he gave. He said that EVERYONE we meet already knows that the gospel is true, but that the veil has been drawn over their memory, so that they may find out for themselves in this life. This again relates to the pre-earth life – every person who is on the earth accepted the Savior’s plan, so they know it to be the truth. The point being that we should not exclude anyone from being exposed to the gospel – the Holy Ghost will bear witness that we are telling the truth.

President Molema then taught a powerful lesson in being where we ought to be when we ought to be there. He related a story (which I recall hearing) that President Packer told about getting to a remote Pacific island. The way through the treacherous reef surrounding the island was to be found by lining up two lights – one high on the mountain and the other at the water level. Due to storms at sea, their arrival was delayed and the keeper of the light at water’s edge had given up and gone home to sleep. It was a major problem for them to safely reach the landing area. Pres Molema pointed out that YOU and I are the keepers of that lower light and it is our job to be there for investigators and members alike.

The real payoff of the day actually came after the meetings as three brethren from our branch were given the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained elders. One of them will soon go to the temple, be endowed, sealed to his wife and have his daughter sealed to both of them. The other two have been members a bit less than a year. They both have the desire to serve as missionaries and I’m sure they will do just that and be good at it. I could not control the tears of happiness as I stood in the circle as these last two were ordained.

After the elation of the ordinations, we shared more joy with a sister from Ennerdale who had just received her Patriarchal Blessing. In the one year plus that we have been in the branch, she has grown tremendously. She will be a powerhouse among the saints, not only in Ennerdale, but in the stake and throughout South Africa. The three men who received the Melchidezek Priesthood will also be great leaders in the years to come.

All in all, it has been a wonderful day. “It is good for us to be here.”

95% . . . rh

Recently, we had a missionary come from Mozambique. There is nothing unusual about that except that when he arrived at the MTC, he spoke no English – only Portuguese. It has come to our attention that several of the missionaries coming from Mozambique, Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have arrived not speaking English. Those who have been here for some time now have no problem conversing and teaching in English – the gift of tongues. In fact, one of the Elders from Madagascar who arrived speaking only Malagasy and French told us the other day that they had found a family who spoke little English and mainly French – he found that he was unable to teach them in French.

One of the Elders who recently went home had come from Uganda speaking only Kamba. He spoke to us in transfer meeting in fluent English. These brethren have great courage to not only leave their homes for two years, but to face a sea of English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Shona, Tswana, etc. speakers in their field of labor. I admire them and I am amazed at their ability to communicate effectively with those whom they teach and live.

Incidentally, The Elder spoken of above from Uganda said that he had never had a problem with any of his companions. The main reason being that he decided to always go 95% of the way so the companion would only have to give 5%. What a great idea for getting along in life – 50-50 is not the way to go. If we all went 95% of the way in any relationship, – mission, marriage, family, employer/employee, etc. – we would have such synergy that the world had better get out of the way for us.
I am so grateful to be associated with these missionaries and to be able to learn from them to improve my life and outlook on same.

Trunky Duty -gfh

President Poulsen usually takes missionaries to the airport for their flight home. However this week he has been traveling doing Zone Conferences and needed some help with transport. We drew the lucky staw and got special airport "Trunky Duty"!
Missionaries usually go home in a large group at Transfer/Departures every six weeks. However, this time we had three missionaries whose visas expired before the Departure date. (President made the decision a few transfers back that we would not go to the expense, time and stress of renewing visas that would expire one or two weeks before the missionaries original departure date. sign. This has helped lighten my worry load" a lot!)
Yesterday Elder H and I delivered Elder Sande Sande (yes, first and last name are the same) to catch his return home fight to Zimbabwe. As we waved our final goodbyes we turned away with tears in our eyes. Elder H said "How does President Poulsen do this all the time?"
(and RATS! This is one of the few times that I didn't have my camera!)

Elder Sande's flight was at a very respectable time in the middle of the day but today's trip to the airport meant getting up at 4:00AM. By the way, the stars are brilliant at that time of the morning in ZA.
Elder Musembi and Elder Odundo from Kenya had a flight out at 9:40AM so we had to calculate and include plenty of time for travel and "two flat tires". Elder Musembi met us at the office at 5:45 and an early morning volleyball team was there as well. Elder Musembi is in the middle with the ward missionary who will serve until Transfers on his right. (Br. Welcome who has submitted his papers)and next to Br. Welcome is Elder Musemi's soon to be ex companion, Elder McNally from Scotland. And the rest of The Boyz! (shhh, I don't call them that to their faces)We met Elder Odundo at the airport. He had been there for an hour, was all checked in and waiting for us. It's allowed to use the "T" word at the airport.Elder Cannon and Brother Holmes, who is Elder Cannon's companion until Transfers next week (and who has his mission call to Durban Mission) joined in for final goodbye hugs.
Elder Odundo's carry-on was overweight. The attendant told him to take some things out but when I acted so surprised and sorry for Elder Odundo (sincerely) the attendant decided to never mind. I told him I needed to get a picture of such a nice man.Final Good Byes and off to their next mission! I hope we get "trunky duty" again!

Blessings -gfh

This is Nomvula Shelembe outside of the Johannesburg Temple yesterday! She attended for the first time! Elder H taught the temple preparation class and she is the first from the class to attend. I was her escort! It was a beautiful day! One of our many marvelous mission blessings!
(Sister Nomvula is in the Ennerdale Branch but is originally from Swaziland)

Gauteng Zone Conference -gfh

One hundred and thirty seven missionaries assigned to the Gauteng Province arrived today for a Zone Conference (ZC's are now held every three months. So this will be our last one!) It's a great time to do car inspections! This is Elder Watts, our Car Czar, really getting into his work with the help of Elder Porter who was recruited to assist. (Elder & Sister Porter are CES missionaries) Elder Henrichsen is in charge of ordering and delivering the food for 137 missionaries. Kentucky Fried Chicken was the menu with "137 Streetwise 2" boxes! Wow! What a delicious aroma was coming out of that bakkie!

Knit one Purl Two -gfh

This is Alecia and Robin. Two nine year olds who hang around and wait for their moms while they are in Institute class after the block. Elder H and I wait around too because we transport one of the families and he also has branch clerk stuff to do. I very often bring my knitting and they have been fascinated and have been hanging around very close. Two weeks ago I asked them if they would like to learn to knit. They are so polite and shy but I got the message: YES! So the next week I came with yarn of their favorite color and started knitting lessons.




They learned to do the garter stitch and were sent home to practice. This is a picture of their return project. Yesterday, they wanted to learn to cast on and wanted to start a real project. I told them we'd have to take out all of the knitting they had previously done and start over. They were positive! So we unraveled and reballed and I taught them to cast on and away they went. Alecia asked if I would teach them to knit a cap to go with the scarf. I think they'll have to hurry because we only have eight more Sundays together. It makes me wish I had started these little knitting sessions earlier.

Another Office Seranade -gfh

Elder To'o stopped by to give us a little seranade on his plastic ukelele. He added a nice touch to our day in the office.

I Have Nothing -gfh

Yesterday was the last Sunday in Ennerdale Branch for Sister Malitha. I have enjoyed her so very much. She is positive and dedicated to the Gospel. A single mom with a young adult son who causes her worry over his drinking but saves her from snakes. Last month after church she asked me to take her to the train station so she could go to Soweto and stay with relatives because she had a SNAKE in her little place. She hates snakes! and she would not enter again until she knew it was gone. I didn't see her place but it is probably a 12X12 shanty like many of the others. Yesterday she bore her testimony in Relief Society and said: "I have nothing but I am very happy! I have the Gospel and it fills my life with happiness!" We will all miss Sister Malitha!
Sister Malitha is in the middle with the green scarf around her neck.

Shopping -gfh

I hesitated to do this post but here it goes.........There's some great shopping here in South Africa!

About every other month Sister Poulsen, the mission president's wife, arranges a girls day out and we all go shopping! It doesn't matter if one NEEDs to buy something one NEEDs to go shopping! Elder H and I love the saying "Somethings are NEED to have, somethings are NICE to have and somethings are NUTS to have." Well, it seems like one NEEDS to go shopping ever so often. It helps keep one from going NUTS here in the office even if one doesn't find something NICE to have.

Hope you enjoy the few pictures of our outtings:Sister Poulsen and I ended up wearing the same skirt one day when we went shopping together. We didn't know that we had both previously bought the same skirt. After that I was careful not to wear the skirt if I knew she would be at the activity or meeting.This is a shopping trip to Cinda's in July 2010, one of our favorite places.Sister Christensen, the MTC President's wife is on the left. Sister Koelliker, the Africa South East Area President's wife is next. Then Sister Stonehocker one of our senior sisters. All selecting their favorite South Africa bead necklaces and braclets from Bret's.Sister Stonehocker tried on a bridal headdress but decided it wasn't her. This is at Sela's warehouse.

Sela is an African Dealer who travels all over Africa gathering "treasures". He is a wholesale supplier for African markets and shops. Several years ago the Area President's wife at that time came in contact with him and he has been selling to the senior sisters by appointment ever since. It is a real treat because we have found some of his things in other shops for 4 or 5 times the price he charges us. He is only at his warehouse in Jo'burg twice a year. I'll have one for chance to shop before going home. I always seem to find a "NEED" to have at Sela's.

Just Some Random Stuff -gfh

April Transfer: Elder Jones from Utah in the Traveling Transfer Day Brown Suit:

Brother Shoko has been serving as a ward missionary and being a full-time companion to one of our "odd men out" elders. His official mission call came while here. It was fun to be part of the excitement! His call was to the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. (he's from Zim but has been living here) Also, the name tag he is wearing is a ward missonary name tag in a plastic pin on badge. Looks real, neh?




A few Ennerdale Priesthood holders hangin' out and lookin' cool:

January Transfer: Elder Rodrigues from San Jose Californa in the Traveling Transfer Day Brown Suit:

This grandfather type white man can be seen carrying this little black African boy on his shoulders walking to and fro around our flat complex. One day he was without the little boy and I asked where his little friend was. He said that he had checked next door and he was still asleep. Not sure what the relationship is. Maybe just a kindly neighbor being a grandpa to this young boy. They were out walking one day and I asked if I could take their picture. The man asked why? I told him they would be part of my warm memories of South Africa.

AKA -gfh

The morning of Transfer Day each new missionary gets his picture taken with President and Sister Poulsen. One is sent in a "safe arrival" letter to his parents and he gets a copy. Right before pictures were going to be taken the morning of the April Transfer, Sister Poulsen discovered that she had lost her name tag somewhere between the Mission Home and the Mission Office. We quickly took mine off and clipped it on thinking that no one would be able to read the name anyway but they would notice if she didn't have one on..
Oops! When one of the new elders came in to the office a week later and received his picture, he looked at it and instantly said "What is Sister Poulsen doing wearing Sister Henrichsen's name tag? Who knows but maybe that picture will become a collectors item. Hmmmm.

Munsiville U-Nite -gfh

We love doing U-Nites! This is our fourth one.We were asked by Elder Samoela from Madagascar and Elder Ngcobo(that is pronounced with a click in it. Tricky to do) from Durban. We are pictured above during refreshments at the end of the evening. The cups of tea are Rooibos tea. Very popular here in ZA. It is the bush tea that Mma Ramotswe loves in the books "#1 Ladies Detective Agency". Elder Samoela from Madagascar made chocolate crepes that his mother used to make. Simple but delicious! He made the crepes and while hot he put on Cadbury chocolate bar pieces and rolled them up. The chocolate melted and the result was fantastic! A little bit about Elder Samoela. He knew almost no English when he arrived in ZA. Not too long ago there was a family that needed to be taught in French and he realized he couldn't do it!

After Elder H did his presentation on budgeting and home finance, we had them divide in to teams and do a financial word search I had put together.The picture below shows Elder Samoela helping with the word search game.



Below is a picture of the host family. He has been a member about a month and his wife is being taught.
At the end of the activity I asked if they had any questions or concerns about what we had talked about. One of the women said "We have a problem with budgeting in our culture." I wondered what she meant by that. She went on to explain that they can have their food storage and the food budget for the family but then someone knocks on their door who is hungry and needs a place to live and they take them in. Usually the person does not have the funds to contribute towards the food. The woman asked "What do we do then?" I turned it to the group and asked "What DO you do?" It was decided that if we are careful with our means we are better prepared to care for others which is what the Lord would have us do.
I have added below some more pictures of our U-nite:

Horses -rh

In our transfer meeting yesterday, President Poulsen told of his experience with three of his horses. They would ride up in the mountains of Utah where there are cougars and bears. The horses sense that there is potential danger around them and adapt to their particular roles as they ride. He found that the lead horse would have his ears cocked forward at all times to listen for sounds of danger. The last horse in line would have his/her ears turned as far back as they could go to listen for something trying to sneak up on them. the middle horse in the procession would have his ears constantly moving to listen for things coming at them from the sides. He told us that no matter which horse was in the lead, the ears would be the same - cocked forward. He also said that no matter what order the horses were in the procession they always assumed the role required of their position in the line.

He likened this to the different roles the missionaries play in the mission. Some are junior companions, some senior. Some are district leaders, others are zone leaders while still others are assistants to the president. Each has a role to play and a job to do and we should all be able to adapt as did the horses. Sometimes they are called to be trainers, or zone leaders and then assigned to be a senior companion, even though they have done that job previously. Some would say that we should always be moving to a "higher" position and not going back and doing something that has been done before - but that is not always the case. We accept the call and then adapt to the role assigned, just as the three horses did on the trail high in the mountains.

I am examining the various roles in my life and trying to determine how the Lord would have me play them. I can buck the system and try to be something I am not, or I can make the best of my particular assignment. I have learned that the position of stoker on a tandem bike is not to steer or brake - it is to give my all to making the bike go forward and assisting the captain as asked. If I try to decide where and when to turn, I may be leaning right when the captain wants to go straight or even left. If we don't work together, we can crash and be delayed in our progress or even suffer injuries. It is best to keep within the role assigned - then be the best and most cooperative stoker possible - let the captain decide where to go and when to stop.

I really believe that President Poulsen, although he was likening the horses to the missionaries, was giving us a life lesson to be used every day, in every situation we may find ourselves.

Not A Hero -gfh

So, this is Saturday morning and I'm sick! I was going to be the office hero...the only one not to get sick. But alas, it was not to be. Two weeks ago one of the senior elders was in the office when he was sick. Shortly everyone else took their turn. Rusty was sick last week and we didn't go out to our branch. I stayed home with him because it's too far for me to travel alone..even tho I am independent and capable. President doesn't like it and I am obedient. It looks like I'll be home again tomorrow.
Last night we were "investigators" for the teaching experience in the SAF MTC. We love doing that. However, I had told them earlier in the week not to plan on us because Elder H wasn't feeling well. But the other office couple was planning to go. So Friday morning at devotional the other couple is sick so Elder H, who is now feeling fine, and I volunteer to take their place. Now we hope the germ circle does not continuue in the MTC.
Rusty is hovering. He wants to pamper and take care of me. He won't let me do that when he is sick. I told him this morning that he's just been waiting for me to get sick so he could take care of me. He says "not so". (but it is very nice to be pampered.)
Well, that's the saga of the old sick people. ...

Botswana visas are coming along. Four of our sister missionaries were going to be "kicked out" because they hadn't received their residence visas. But with a new lady in the "power position" they were told to stay and it would be worked out. The sad thing would have been that Botswana is the only place where they can serve in the South Africa mission. First Presidency has directed this because it is the safest place for them..."a kinder gentler nation". So now they can complete their mission. Also, did I tell you that all the stress over getting papers, and requirements together for Botswana residence visas for our other missionaries so President would have a "pool" to draw from for Transfers...that has all been placed on hold. This is a great burden lifted from my shoulders. All the time I'm doing this I'm thinking " why are we flooding the Bots immigration with visa requests when churches are under investigation. Doesn't this raise a red flag?" So I got a call from the Visa Czar in Area Office and he said to suspend all applications BECAUSE it was making the Bots government nervous. Ahhhhhhh, now my office stress is very manageable. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Maybe he was just testing me to see my level of commitment and obedience. I hope I passed. But the Botswana investigation is due to be completed the end of March, which is very soon. We shall see. Don't stop praying yet.
We have our flight itinerary already...actually cause I'm the one who does that. We're stopping over in London for three days and will be home, PDX, 15 July. Sounds like I'm trunky but very definitely not. I do need to see family, and new grandbabies and have some walks on the beach, but there is so much still to do here. I'm editing the office secretary handbook. There have been a great deal of changes since the last update and especially during my time. Funny thing is that I understand the book more now after 15 months than when I first got here and was desperately looking for direction. So my update may not help the new secretary much. We thought our replacements were the couple arriving 11 June which would give us good time to train. It turns out they will be replacing the other couple who do not go home until 1 August and our replacement couple will be here just a week before we leave. Well, that's probably a good thing. Too much time to train can be overwhelming for all concerned. Better to give basic training, hand her the new office manual and wish her well. The work goes forth! It's kind of like drawing the hand out of wet sand...eventually they will say, remember so and so? What was their names anyway! I have put together a folder for each couple with bios and contact details of each they have served with. We had something similar in DC and it has proved to be a treasure! Each couple does their own bio and gets it to me. I add their picture, print it off and distribute out at transfer time. The one in DC was called The Trumpet. Ours is called “The Shield”. There is a line in our mission song that is in Zulu and it means "Faith is our shield". Thought that would work.
New mission president, President Omer and Sister Omer arriving 28 June. We'll have about two weeks with them. Hope that will be helpful to them. We know it will be a blessing for us to serve with them even a brief time.

When ye are in the service..... -gfh

Last Saturday we had a YSA service project of cleaning up the litter around the branch neighborhood. The church grounds are very well cared for and there is a high fence around the property but the surrounding area can be a real eye sore.





The Ennerdale Litter Patrol: Pride, Ntokozo, Brassington and Admire(Elder H was off getting some goodies and Molefe was still out on "patrol")

Of course there were refreshments! I served "Sloppy Joes" which they had never had or heard of before! The guys came to understand why they were call that! The next day at church Ntkozo told me he couldn't get sloppy joe spots out of his shirt but then he asked "When can we have sloppy joes again?"




The missionaries were having a meeting at the branch and joined us...of course!


Molefe, the independant member of The Litter Patrol, joined the group for the food



The activity was great fun! We accomplished a good service not only for the branch but for the surrounding neighbors. This activity had been planned for some time but it turned out to be the day before our Branch Conference with all the stake people visiting! Ennerdale Branch was all "Spiffy" for the occasion!