View from our Back Yard to the West

This is a panoramic picture taken from our back deck in Gonubie.  Of course, the deck railing is not curved as shown in the picture but because the picture is a full 180 degrees, it "bends" the deck as a result of the movement of the camera.  It is a wonderful view out toward the west of our boarding.  There is peace and solace here and you can feel the lingering spirit of the Boyces, who just went home and the Fowers, who were here prior to the Boyces.  We even received a note from the LaPrays who served here in Cape Town Mission in 2010 - 2011.  On occasion, they stayed in the Gonubie boarding.   Hopefully, we will be able to leave some of our lingering spirit when we have successfully completed our mission in another 10 months. 

Busy Day Picking up the Post and District Meeting

Today was a busy day.  It began on a trip to the airport to pick up the post.  Then we had to open it and separate it into Districts so we could deliver it to the Elders before District meetings.  We were able to do this but next week we will have to get an earlier start.

Once the post was delivered, we met up with the Elders for district meetings.  We had called prior and asked Elder Hixon who is one of the District Leaders in the East London Zone if we could attend with his district.

The training was lead by Elder Roeloffze and we had a good training where his questions were addressed directly to those in attendance and, as a result, all were involved.  He also extracted a commitment to undertake better planning through prayer with the individual being mentioned.  It was a good meeting.

We were able to deliver some post to these Elders and to surprise Elder Ellingson with his package.  He was excited and had to open the box before district meeting started.  It was filled with all types of goodies  - well done to the Ellingson family. 

We watched some training videos during the district meeting and Elder Ellingson insisted that we all get one or two Junior Mints to eat during the “Movie”.  He shared with the biggest smile on his face.

That is Elder Ellingson with his package being face bombed by Elder Hixon.  The pictures of the District in the upper left are as follows:  Elder Hixon, Sister Thomas, Elder Moliki, Elder Roeloffze and Elder Ellingson.  It was a chilly day as you can see from Sister Thomas’ wrap.

Companionship Study with Elder Chaparadza & Elder Labrum

While we were in Queenstown, we arranged to meet with the Elders who are serving in the Sada Ward. (Elders Chaparadza & Labrum) We did this to make sure that they understand what we were trying to get accomplished and that there is a measure of hand over to the ward from some of the things that we were driving forward.

It was a good review “Breakfast” and we agreed that we would arrange a meeting with the Bishop so we could come back up and agree how the Bishop would drive some of these things forward.

When we were done, we went over to the Elders’ flats to deliver some items that they needed such as dish washing soap and some bleach and we had to purchase one heater.  Then one final clean up at the apartment and we were on our way back to East London.  That is me locking the door as we get ready to depart.  We really enjoyed this apartment.  Sister Thomas did a good job of making it feel like home.

Cleaning out the Queenstown Flat and Spider Bites

Today we completed some urgent errands in East London and also delivered some Books of Mormon to Elder Black and Mashego.  We also helped them make the final arrangements for their car to be serviced tomorrow.

We arrived in Queenstown and had to pay some bills and then began to move the final items from the flat.  We had most of that done by 7:00 PM in the evening and then went out to dinner because there is not much left in the flat.

Later, we went over to visit with the Elders so we could check on the progress of Elder Shahalala’s spider bite.

SACTM Leadership Skype Call

Mission Leadership Skype meeting was today and we had this from our new boarding in East London.  The Elders that joined us were as follows:

East London Zone - Elders Nance & Capozzoli;

Mdantsane Zone -  Elders Obonye & Whitsorth

Queenstown Zone -  Elders Murphy & Manda. 

We invited them over for breakfast prior to the Skype call.  The Queenstown Zone Leaders drove down this morning but the arrived here on time.  Sister Thomas made a breakfast of French Toast casserole, Hash Browns, Scrambled Eggs and Bacon.  It was truly enjoyed by all.

The meeting included the Statistical Report from the Elders around the mission, a message from Elder France on automobiles and Flats and some instructions from Sister Peterson on the new health insurance procedures. There was also some instruction on Finance and budgeting from Elder Peterson.

There were some issues that were discussed from the eElders and President Wood provided some guidance and good counsel on several of these issues.

After Zone meeting, we went out and Elder Murphy had left his car’s lights on.  The elders had to push it back up a hill where we tried to jump it.  The battery was so dead that after 20 minutes of trying we eventually had to remove the battery and put one in from a different vehicle.  Once it was running, we took the good battery back out and replaced it with the dead one.  Hopefully, it will be fully charged by the time they drive back to Queenstown.

A Welcome to East London "Moment"

While we were driving down to East London we received a call from Elder and Sister Boyce.  They received a call from a tow truck who was about to tow an Elder’s car from an accident.  The Elders had called Elder France but not Elder Boyce.

It is a long story but the incorrect driver was driving the car at the time.  It was an Elder with no license so the Elders were off to the police station and then there will be all the insurance forms and the ticket from the accident.

I guess we felt like it was a “Welcome to East London Elder & Sister Thomas" type of moment.

I called President Wood and recommended some actions and he will review and we will follow up next week at the Zone Conference.

Last Sacrement Meeting in Sada

Today was testimony meeting and we enjoyed the opportunity to stand and bear our testimony to all the saints at Sada.  We have truly enjoyed the time spent here.  In fact, there is more than a little bit of reluctance on our part in contemplating our departure.

During Primary and Young Men/Young Women Sister Thomas passed out the toothbrushes that Trisha had donated and which we brought back from the United States.  The Primary children were very pleased and were grateful.  The Young Men and Young Women looked at the gift and wondered for a minute. Then Sister Thomas told them that we wanted to remember their wonderful smiles so if they brushed everyday, we would be able to come back and see their smiles again some day.  You can see Sister Thomas beginning to pass them out to the Primary Children.  They were also supposed to say, “Mdingumntwana ka Thixo” while looking in the mirror and brushing.  That is “I am a Child of God in Xhosa.  Soso Mpinda wanted a picture with us.

Sister Xalabile claimed that she wonders if the church is really true to have us go to the office in Cape Town.  We explained that we are moving to East London and what we will be doing and she better understood.  We will still be in the area, we are just responsible for more missionaries and a larger area,  at least for a while until the next couple arrives in the mission.