Birthday Celebrations of Elder Shabalala and Elder Matini.

We had some actions that we needed to take care of in Queenstown.  One of them was the birthday celebrations of Elder Shabalala and Elder Matini.  We invited the Elders over so we could sing happy birthday and share some of Sister Thomas’ cakes.  She made one cake in East London and another one when we arrived in Queenstown.

We were some what lucky because the Assistants to the President were in Queenstown so they could come and join with us.  With a group of Elders like this it is hard to get a picture of each of them.  However, in these pictures you can see each of the Elders in Queenstown and the AP’s.  That is Elder Shabalala and then Elder Matini on Sister Thomas’ left.  They both managed to blow out their candles.

Around the room in the lower left picture are Elders Cathemer, Gillespie, Shabalala, Manda, Potter, Matini, and Chaparadza.  In upper left are Elders Matini, Chaparadza, Andersen, Murphy, Labrum and on the floor, Elders Ah-Fua and Pennington.

We have established a wonderful tradition that was inaugurated by Elder Shongwe.  At the end of the evening when the bewitching time approaches and the Elders have to get to their boarding, one Elder kneels down and all the others follow.  As it turns out, the last person standing “gets to say the prayer”.  We have had the pleasure of hearing some of the most earnest, heart felt prayers as we have had the privilege of kneeling with the Elders.  Heavenly Father’s servants kneeling in prayer is a powerful faith promoting thing.  This is a little piece of our mission that we will carry with us always.