Meeting at the New Boarding to Unload the Truck

The Stapleys were a wonderful help to us today.  They had to rent a pickup truck in Queenstown and cleaned out the furniture that we used in an old boarding.  They brought it down to East London so we could use it in the new boarding.  We had the Zone Leaders meet us at the boarding after work on Saturday evening so we could move it in the furniture that the Stapleys brought down to east London. 

This shows Elder Stapley, Elders Judd, Mchunu, Ebong and Carniletto who were able to meet us at the new boarding on the way home from their areas.  We unloaded the truck into one room and then made arrangements for the Zone Leaders to get the other members of their Zone to come back and help us in the morning.

Walking on the Beach with the Stapleys on a Calm Evening

Elder and Sister Stapley come for a visit overnight to help move furniture from Queenstown down to East London.  They made it here early enough that we went on a evening stroll along the beach before dinner.  The evening was warm and not to humid with no wind.  It was a very pleasant walk along the beach.  Sister Stapley really enjoyed it because she grew up a stone’s throw from the ocean.

We asked everyone we walked by if they got the memo about coming to the beach dressed up this evening.  People were wondering who would actually come for a walk in white shirts and ties with the ladies in dresses.  Elder Stapley and I did feel just a bit funny with our slacks rolled up as we walked on the beach.

It was a very enjoyable evening with the Stapley’s.

Flat Inspections in East London

We were a busy couple today.  We began by dropping off a vehicle from Mthatha that needed to be serviced.  That was at 7:30.  Sister Thomas picked me up from there and we began a morning of inspecting the Elders flats and their cars.  Actually, these Elders had very clean apartments and the things that Sister Thomas highlighted were corrected right on the spot.  The vehicles were in good shape and were fairly clean due the the Washing and Waxing events we have had over the past couple of weeks.

We then met with the new landlord and he signed the lease agreement and we paid him the deposit for the new house we are renting for the Elders who work in Mdantsane.  This will save the Elders about 20 kilometers per day as the drive to and from their area. 

Later that evening we met up with Elders Judd and Mchunu in Mdantsane to teach a family home evening to a couple who had recently joined the church.  They were worried about their sons and hopefully we provided some guidance and comfort of spirit.  The Elders shared powerful examples of how their parents and impacted their lives.  Elder Mchunu told of coming in late at night finding his mother on her knees in his room in vocal prayer for her son.  Quoting from the Parable of the Prodigal Son, he said he “Came to Himself” in that moment as he stood outside his room.  He then cleaned up his life and came on a mission.  Elder Judd told a story of having to call his dad after an accident and of feeling the love of a parent when his father’s first question was not about the damage to the car, but one of concern, “Are you all right.”  He said he will always remember that his Dad loves him and was more concerned about him than the car.

Boarding Inspections and Weavers

We drove to and finished the inspections at King William’s Town.  The Elders did a good job of getting the boarding cleaned to a better standard.  We had to purchase a new small oven as theirs has given up the ghost.  We assigned Elder Cossey (on the right) and Elder Chapman to get the bikes fixed up so they would be ready if the President chose to bring another companionship into the area. 

I need to follow up on a new tap for the Elders that will work better with the water filtration systems.

On the way home we came across this tree that the Weavers were busy working on.  Several males were  building away and several of their mates were giving their opinion on the type and condition of their new home.  I love these birds and the males continued  with patience.  He never gives up and simply flies away and starts over when the going gets tough.  We could all learn from better relationship skills and what it takes to make a marriage work.

Breakfast with the Mthatha Elders

We received an assignment from President Merrill to go to Mthatha and take Elder Taylor from East London back to his area.  We drove up on Monday afternoon and met with the Branch President and Brother Boateng on Monday afternoon and then met with the Elders on Tuesday morning.  After we met with the Elders at their boarding, we took them out to breakfast.  It is still funny how long it takes Elders to make a choice at a restaurant.  Elders Jenner, Taylor and  Stegelmeier are no exception.  We actually went to Wimpy’s, something we vowed never to do 25 years ago.  We didn’t eat as we had eaten breakfast at the B&B.

After breakfast we drove back to East London.

Lunch with the Queenstown Zone After the Car Wash

We had Hamburgers and Hotdogs, Potato Salad and other condiments.  Elder Thomas began to cook the hamburgers as the Elders were finishing the last vehicle.  The Elders thought that the lunch was outstanding and Elder Trepaneir is shown giving Sister Thomas a big Thumbs up from the Zone.

It is a bit difficult to see, but in going from front to back and left to right the Elders are: Elders Taylor, Trepaneir, Crowell, Bradley and Elder Thomas, then Elder Wells in his own row, then on the back row, Elders Matini, Shabalala, Ludvigson, Manqane, Malpage and Mmusi.

We had to be done today because we left to drive up to Mthatha to take Elder Taylor back so he could work in his area in a threesome with Elders Stegelmeier and Jenner.

East London Zone Come to Wash and Wax their Cars

The Elders from the East London Zone came to wash and wax their cars at our place this afternoon.  The cars really looked good when they were done.  During the car wash the wind was blowing very hard.  One of the Elder Crowell attempted to toss a washing rag to another Elder and it ended up in the top of a tree.  The Elders fetched a ladder and were successful in retrieving it (only with the help of TALL Elder Malpage).

You can see what the wind was doing if you give Sister Thomas’ hair a look.  It was blown all over the place as she helped the Elders with a last bit of buffing to removing the excess wax.