Elders Stratton and Elder Wells help out with the Funiture

We picked up a rental truck so we could move some of the Elders’ furniture around today.  We closed down one flat and needed to return it to the Landlord by the end of the December so we moved the final items out this afternoon.  I solicited the help of the East London Zone Leaders who met us at the flat and helped us move and off loaded the beds and desks at our storage shed at the house we rent in Summer Pride.

Elders Stratton and Elder Wells are shown with Elder Thomas stacking the mattresses and covering them with plastic for storage.

Hair Cuts for Elders Hoffman and Richards

We made the rounds today and Sister Thomas gave several hair cuts.  In one of the flats we had to abandon our efforts due to a lack of power.  I only took two pictures of all the hair cuts.  This shows Elder Hoffman is on the left.  Elder Ngobeni approves his companion’s hair cut with Elder Richards in the chair.

Transfer Day in East London

Today was a very full transfer day in East London which, even with all the little hiccups went off fairly well.  We started by getting to the Church at 6:30 in order to meet with the Elders who were flying to Cape Town.  That group is shown in upper right, Elders Chaparadza, Hale, Judd, Sister Thomas, Elders Crowell, Kaufusi and Elder Ndlovu.  Elders Hale and Judd are on their way home and have served their Heavenly Father well.  May they depart South Africa with love in their hearts for the people here.

We delivered three Elders to the bus stop.  Elder Trepaneir going to George and Elders Arthur and Mongalo who are on their way to Port Elizabeth. 

We also picked up 9 elders who flew into East London from Cape Town.  I did not get a group picture at the Airport but I did get a picture at the Church but only after they had fanned out meeting their new companions.

New Missionary Training in East London

Once new missionaries have been in the mission field for about 4 weeks they are brought in and provided some follow-up training.  This training is divided into three different sections.  In one there is a review of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in the second there is a discussion about the ways to give the baptismal invitation to an investigator and this is also role played.  Finally, the elders are interviewed by their Zone Leaders to see how things are going.  Elders Malpage and Elder Wells provided this training because the Mdantsane Zone Leaders, Elders Judd and Mchunu provide the training the last time.

Sister Thomas made some home made Ice Cream Sandwiches from some cookies that she had made and passed them out at the end of the meeting.  In the group picture you can see Sister Thomas at the front door of the church.  The wind was blowing just a bit to much for the skirt she had on so she was staying in the cover of the building for modesty’s sake.

Zone Leaders come for a Skype Conference call with Queenstown and Dinner

Late this evening at close to 8:45 we had the Zone Leaders over for a Skype call with the Zone Leaders from Queenstown.  This is done to correlate where the missionaries are going to stay when they drive down the day prior to transfers.  We are going to have four groups come in to stay over night.

Following that short correlation meeting Sister Thomas had made Navajo Taco’s for dinner for the Elders.  We had to rush them along so that they could eat and be on their way back to their boarding.  The food was good and the Elders had a couple of Taco’s each.  Sister Thomas continues to surprise them with different meals.  Of course, they are missionaries, so anything (almost anything at all), is better than what they end up cooking for themselves.

We were late eating tonight because we went with the East London Zone Leaders on a teaching appointment at 7 pm.  The sister was on the late in seeing us, so the lesson time went a little long.  She is an investigator that has a strong testimony of the Bible.  Tonight the Elders introduced the Book of Mormon to her.  She had a lot of questions.  We love investigators who have questions.  That means they are thinking about things.  She is due with a baby in the next few weeks, so getting a follow-up lesson was a challenge that Elder Malpage did not give up on.

Elder Judd and Mchunu have a baptism in Mdantsane

Elder Freitas Recieves a Package From Home

We only received three packages in the post today.  The largest one was for Elder Freitas who was thrilled that a package from home had arrived.  We keep seeing the joy when a package arrives.  Check out this face and you will see what I mean.