Catch-up Blog

Due to the crazy week we had before we left for Swaziland, I did not get the Blog published, much to Wayne's disappointment.  We had all the flat checks to do for our district plus we taught the final lesson to Norma Qwezi, and we prepared to teach the final Temple Preparation class to the two families in Maseru on Sunday. 

Norma Qwezi Majozi and Elder Holt.  She will be baptized January 27th, 2013

Sunday morning Wayne spoke in Maseru branch representing the district council.  He did a great job.  Once our meetings were finished we taught the temple prep class to the Nachappy family only because the other family wanted us to come to their house later to teach them.  So, once we finished the first class, we drove the Phusamane children and their dad home so we could teach the husband and wife the last lesson.  The wife wasn't there and so he asked us to come back at about 5:00.  We went back to the church to wait for the branches tithing settlement report that we were supposed to get to the district President.  They told us it would be ready when we got there, but alas - about 4 hours later - it was finally ready.  Consequently it was a very long day with lots of good teaching moments, but lots of waiting patiently as well.  We are learning a lot about patience on our mission. 

Once we got home I had to get packed up and then I also had some baking to do for our trip the next morning.  The Wyatt's came and stayed in Ladybrand so we could get an early start for Swaziland.  Their car was filled with supplies for a Seminary and Institute teacher training seminar and Opening social for the Seminary and Institute kids that would be held on December 15th.  They unloaded all of the manuals, books, game supplies, refreshments etc. in our living room in preparation for the next weekend.

We were up and ready to go very early the next morning loaded with a map, google map instructions and two GPS's.  Even with all of that - we still ended up on dirt roads - very lost.

Sister Wyatt, Barb and Wayne on the way to Swaziland - just a little lost

We finally arrived at Summerfield Botanical Garden Resort

The Summerfield Botanical Garden Resort was so beautiful and it was nice to be pampered a little with beautiful surroundings, delicious food and good friends.  The grounds were well groomed and manicured.  Beautiful trees, plants, and as seen in the photo below lots of peacocks.  There were even Momma peacocks with little baby chicks.  We were awakened each morning to the cries of the peacocks calling to each other.

This proud male peacock entertained us each morning as we ate our breakfast.

Each morning we ate our breakfasts outside beside the swimming pool, enjoying the beautiful surroundings.  Elder and Sister Lombardy, the mission couple in Swaziland very kindly took time on Tuesday morning to show us around Manzini and Ezuini.  They took us to outdoor markets, the silver smiths, and many other fun shopping places.  That evening they fed us a lovely supper at their home.  We spent a lovely evening visiting, comparing notes about our challenges in the mission field.  I decided that perhaps our little group of elders was not too bad, and I would stick with the challenges we are facing and leave them to theirs.

We were up by 5 AM the next morning to get to Hlane Game Park in hopes to go on a game drive.  Unfortunately we missed the first one, but did get to go on one a little later.  We didn't get to see any lions (lots of tracks in the wet earth though), but we did see elephants, rhinos, giraffes (from a distance), wildebeasts, impalas, baboons.

The elephants were having a good time with each other

The white rhinos were quite bashful

It was a cool morning, after a rainy night, and the Wyatt's and us were the only people on the game drive which was quite nice.  The guide tried really hard to find the lions.  We followed tracks for a long time, they had been very active according to the tracks, but we were unable to spot them.








The white rhinos were quite magnificent to see.  We got up quite close and enjoyed watching them.  We saw some hippos from a distance in a pond, but they would not come up out of the water.  We had to be content to watch them bob up and down occasionally.







That afternoon we visited the Manzini market where we bartered for nativity sets and other trinkets.  Wayne hated it, as every booth wanted you to buy from them.  After you had seen one or two booths, it became apparent that they all carried almost the same kinds of things.  We got what we came for and then got out of there.  We visited a few other fun places in Manzini where we bought some woven baskets, rugs, etc.  It was a fun day. That evening we met up with the Lombardy's and had them come to supper at the Resort with us and we had a great time.  The Lombardy's have 8 children.  Elder Lombardy was a school teacher and he retired just before they came on their mission.  Their youngest daughter and husband was arriving for Christmas in just a few days. They were so excited to have family coming for the holiday.

The next morning we visited a Swazi cultural centre.  We learned about their culture, how they built their homes, raised their families, bartered for their wives, etc.  When the children are six years old they leave their mothers hut and go to live in the children's hut.  The girls sleep in one hut and the boys sleep in another hut.  Because they do not keep track of how old they are in their culture, when a child can take their left arm and raise it over their head to touch their ear on the right side - that determines when they must leave their mothers hut.  Their culture believes that the man can have more than one wife, and a girlfriend too if he wants.  The men buy their wives with cows, generally 17 cows for one wife.  Once we went through the village tour, we were entertained by a group of singers and dancers.  They did a great job and it was so entertaining.

These are the singers and dancers.  They sang so beautifully.

They performed different dances and songs.  Some were about hunting, courting, etc. 

Dad and Elder Lombardy were picked to come up and dance with the men.

 Here are a few of the performers with us once it was all over. 
Sister Wyatt on the far right, Sister Lombardy and myself.

Elder Wyatt on the left, Dad and Elder Lombardy with some of the men performers.

 Not too far from the cultural centre was a beautiful water fall and a place for a barbeque and picnic spot.  This is a very lush tropical country.  Everything was so green and beautiful.

The trees had long vines hanging down from it.  We decided to play Tarzan and Jane. 








We then headed back to Lombardy's to get some materials that Dad needed to train an Elder to be a trainer to a new Elder.  Transfers happen this week and one of our Elders is going to get a brand new missionary.  We said goodby to the Lombardy's as they needed to get ready for their daughter to arrive the next day.

We spent the evening with the Wyatt's playing rook and visiting.  It has been a nice little break from our usual hectic time.  The next morning as we left our lovely accommodations and headed back to South Africa, back to our cell phones - and as soon as we crossed the border, the phones started ringing and life started to come crashing back upon us.  While we had been away, there had been a hail storm go through Lesotho killing many and destroying homes.  We will be working with the Church Humanitarian people again distributing blankets, meals and hygiene kits in the coming week.  We learned that one of our Elders was in an accident and wrecked the Bakkie (not his fault) and gratefully no one was hurt, but we need to get the bakkie in for repairs.  Also, same elder lost the cell phone and we would have to take a new cell phone into them. 

It was a 12 hour trip home, with road construction delays, rain storms etc.  We were very grateful to get home and ready for the next days activities.  We had agreed to help the Wyatt's with their Seminary and Institute opening social in Maseru.  We had prepared a game and they had some games planned.  We had about 26 kids there and they had a great time being together.

 In this game they had to place an oreo cookie on their forehead.  They then had to work the cookie down and into their mouths without using their hands.  Some of those kids got that cookie in so quickly and easily.  Others dropped it about 8 or 10 times before they finally got it in their mouths.

In this game, they used skewers and a plastic ball with holes in it.  They had to pass the ball from skewer to skewer without using their hands.  They had a great time playing these silly games, laughing and interacting with each other.  They also had a little devotional and then refreshments (juice and cookies).  Wyatts work so hard to get the teachers trained and the kids excited to come and participate in Seminary and Institute. 



It was great to be gone, but even better to get back.  This little retreat to this lovely resort was my birthday gift and our Christmas gift to each other.  We feel refreshed and ready to get back into the thick of the work that needs to be done.  We love our service here in South Africa.  It is not always easy and sometimes it can become very frustrating, but in the end we know it is where we are to be, and we are doing what we are to be doing.  We are looking forward to going to Bloemfontein on Wednesday to pick up Inge and Lida.  I am afraid we will be putting them to work as we prepare for the Elder's Christmas party on Saturday and also the blanket and hygiene kit delivery into Lesotho.  We also look forward to going to the Johannesburg Temple in January with the two families we have prepared to take out their endowments. 

We love you all and appreciate your thoughts and prayers in our behalf.  Thanks again for the pictures, phone calls and face-time visits. 

Love Mom and Dad

"CES Continues"

A view on the road to Fouriesburg in South Africa.  The rain has made things very green.

This is our picture of the week.  All the rain we had last week has greened things up very beautifully.  We are in for more rain this coming weekend.  You can see part of that land is almost ready to harvest.

I ended last weeks blog on Monday - telling about the breakfast "big feed" for 8 elders from Maseru.  A high suctioned vacuum couldn't have cleaned things up any better.  As soon as they left, I started  cooking again.  I had to make cookies for Elder Dickerson (he wanted to deliver them to a family who had been very kind to he and his companion) and a big pan of brownies for ZTM the next morning.

Tuesday morning we headed into Maseru loaded with barbequed beef on a bun, chips, fresh fruit salad and the brownies for desert.  We attended the ZTM meeting with the elders and then fed them lunch.  We again brought nothing home.  Kalani and Isaac, I am just banking mission blessings for you - in hopes that when you get in the mission field some loving mission couple will feed you well on our behalf.

After we finished cleaning up that little mess, we headed over to the old Maseru flat to finally hand over the keys to the property managers.  They tried to make us think that the keys were missing for two of the doors - keys that had been there the day before.  Then they were trying to say that we had damaged the walls in the living room and they would need to be painted.  They are very tricky and very dishonest unfortunately.  I know that they were trying to get more money from our damage deposit.  I am very glad to be done with that flat.

Tuesday evening I got a call from an Elder in Qwa Qwa who was suffering miserably from a terrible rash.  So, Wednesday morning I was up by 5 AM to make muffins to take to the Elders DDM.  We headed for Bethlehem by 7:00 AM to meet the Elders at the medi-clinic for him to be looked at.  After a shot, a pill for de-worming, and a prescription cream for a fungal rash we headed back to Ficksburg to teach our dear friend Norma Qwezi.  We have set a baptismal date for January 27th, 2013.  She will head home this weekend to her home in the Durban area and won't be back until January 13th.  We are hoping by then she will have her passport so she can get to church in Leribe with Sister Cadribo.  She is such a sweet, good person.  We love the time that we spend with her teaching her the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She is like a sponge, soaking up the truths.

On the way home we turned off the highway at a place called Cloclan and headed across country looking for the feed lot that our butcher buys his beef from.  It is a huge operation and Wayne wanted to see it.  Here are a few pictures that we took.  You could smell it long before you could see it.  Trust me.

Just one of many feed lot pens

This ladies job all day is to sweep up around the pens.

These are grain fed cows and make for nice prime rib roast beef!

 This last month has been a very expensive month as we moved four elders into two new flats and received two new elders into the Masianokeng boarding.  We had to purchase new fridges, microves, beds, couches, bedding, drapes, kitchen tools etc.  Consequently, it took me the next two days to get all the financials ready to submit for month end.  This is one part of the mission that is definitely not my favorite, however, it gets easier each month.

On Thursday evening, as we were saying out night prayers, we heard a car outside our flat.  It turned out that it was President Monesa, the branch president for Maseru.  This branch President has been very resistant to our help, and very distrusting of us.  He came in, sat down and visited for two hours.  He had asked us a few months ago to teach a marriage class at a couples retreat between Christmas and New Years, which we said we would do of course.  He was also asking a pastor from another church to come and do a seminar.  Wayne and I were both very uneasy about this.  We asked him where he was getting the money to do this little retreat and he said that the District was paying for it.  We spoke with the District Presidency about it and shared our concerns and gratefully the district no longer had the funds to pay for this retreat.  When President Monesa came to talk to us Thursday night he asked us if we would teach a marriage class to the members of his branch on a weekly basis.  We feel this is a much better solution to his problem and of course agreed.  So, in the new year we will be busy preparing for this new responsibility.  We were also encouraged by President Monesa's desire to come and visit with us.  We have been praying and fasting for help to gain his trust and friendship.  It seems like the Lord is answering our prayers.

Saturday I was able to spend some time getting all the Elder's Christmas gifts put together and wrapped up.  I also got one more baby quilt all ready to tie - just in case.  I borrowed Sister Wyatt's sewing machine and I am going to have to return it this week, so I wanted to make good use of it before it had to go back home.

Just want to let those of you who donated to the missionaries Christmas presents know how much they will appreciate your generosity.  As I have been doing mending for these Elders, and as I see the condition of some of the clothes that they come out with - the new shirts, socks and ties that you have made possible for them, will be greatly appreciated.

Sunday morning we went to Masianokeng to church.  It had been raining for two days and Sunday was a downpour.  It greatly affected the number of saints at church that morning as they have no way to get there unless they walk.  It was cold, windy and wet.  Because it had rained for two days, everything was very muddy.  However, fast and testimony meeting was still great and the testimonies born were sweet and powerful.  Right after the block they had a baptism.  Liako Elizabeth Matala and Nkhati Mohau Grace Kele were baptized.  Wayne had interviewed with these two sisters the week before and I had been asked to speak on Baptism at this event.  Liako Matala has been quite ill for sometime and is still not very good.  She will see a doctor and get a chest x-ray in about 10 days and then perhaps she will know what is wrong.  She is in a lot of pain and is unable to eat very well.  We hope she will get some relief.  Her son was able to baptize her and Elder Kiyimba baptized Grace.  It is so funny to watch these Lesotho people be baptized, because none of them have ever been in that much water before, and certainly never immersed themselves in water.  As they come up out of the water after being baptized they are spitting and sputtering.  It takes a great deal of faith for them to submit to being immersed in water.  After the baptism we hurried back to the Maseru chapel as Wayne had the opportunity to confer the Melchazediek Priesthood on an Elder in that branch.

Back row - Elder Kiyamba, Nkhati Grace Kele, Liako Matala, Solomon (her son) Elder Mukuusi, Elder Daines (front row)

Sister Holt (Left) Nkhati Grace Kele, Liako Matala, Solomon, Elder Holt and a sister who is preparing to serve a mission

 Monday morning started out beautifully, I was hoping for the morning to do some laundry, cleaning and to bake a batch of cookies for Elder Dube.  He had given me a recipe that he asked me to make for him.  I had also decided to make my first attempt at a pie here in South Africa.  I had been unable to find any lard, but after inquiring I found a product that they said they used.  While I was getting started on all these projects, I got a call from Elder Steed and he said they were coming into Ladybrand and did I need to have them stop by for anything?  So...... everything got put on hold while we made them lunch.  I did manage to get Elder Dube's biscuits made (biscuits are cookies here) and I put raspberry jam in the middle of some and I dipped some in some Calebaut chocolate.  Needless to say they loved the ones dipped in Calebaut chocolate.  The Elders came prepared to stay for a while cause they brought their Phase 10 cards and even got Elder Holt to join in a round or two.

Once they left, I got the apple pie finished and then hurried out to get the finishing touches on two Christmas missionary packages that had to go back with President and Sister Vonstetten to be shipped to these elders that serve in the far reaches of the mission.  Again, thanks to the families generosity in financial donations, we were able to make these elders a happy Christmas surprise.

We then headed into Maseru to pick up a final water bill to submit to the Durban Mission office and then hurried over to the church to open up the church for President Von Stetten to meet with two perspective missionaries.  One is a Senior Sister, my dear friend Ikaleng Kato, and the other is a young man.  President Von Stetten had been held up at the border (first of the month line-up) so he was about an hour behind schedule.  Then as he was driving from Leribe to Maseru he got run off the road by a car trying to pass when it was not safe to do so.  Fortunately, there was no damage to car and only minimal damage to the heart. 

After he finished with the interviews, President and Sister Von Stetten invited us to dinner.  We went to a lovely Pursian restaurant in Maseru and we had a lovely meal and a good visit.  He has given us a solution to our passport problem and so there will be some rather drastic changes to our assignment in March - more about that later.

Elder Daines in Qwa Qwa who is being released this month to go home, just before Christmas.  Unfortunately he is an Elder who has had his bags packed for a long time and so has not been very productive.  He will return home to Zimbabwe

Beautiful summer time photo in South Africa

By Canadian Standards it is very late in the season to be planting, but here in South Africa they seem to plant in a staggered system.  Some crops are almost ready to come off, but they are still planing others.  It gives me hope that summer will be around for a long time.

In conclusion, we are healthy, happy and hopeful.  Hopeful that we will be able to accomplish all that the Lord asks us to do.  Happy to serve and grateful for the health that the Lord continues to bless us with.  We go to bed so tired at night, thinking that there is no possible way we can do it again in the morning, but miraculously throughout the night our bodies and minds are rejuvenated and when the sun comes up in the morning we are ready to go again.  The power of prayer!

Know that you are in our prayers constantly.  We love you all and are so grateful for your calls, pictures and updates.  We miss you, especially at this special time of year, but are grateful that we are kept busy serving others, for it does not give us much opportunity to feel sorry for ourselves.  We can hardly wait for Dec. 19th when Inge and Lida will come to visit.  We are so excited to show them this beautiful country and introduce them to these wonderful people.  Stay faithful and close to your Heavenly Father.  Kalani and Isaac - do all you can now to prepare for your missionary service.  It is amazing to me to see how prepared some Elders are, and how unprepared others are.  Learn to cook, mend, and see the needs of others and be willing to meet those needs.  Of course, continue to study your scriptures, and attend seminary. You will be a powerful tool in the Lord's hands if you will but do that.  If you can just make a batch of cookies or brownies, have three or four dinner recipes in your bag of tricks, if you are called to serve in a country like Africa you will not starve.  There is no such thing as a DA (dinner appointment) here - trust me. 

Till next time
Mom and Dad

Just one more flat flood!!!!

 This is a summer view of Lesotho in the early evening.  Everything is so green and beautiful.

Last weeks blog included Monday's activities.  So we will begin this weeks blog with Tuesday.  Wayne went into Maseru Tuesday morning to try to get the washer hose hooked up and some repairs to the curtain rods etc.  He also got the smoke detectors put up and working.  I stayed home and got some office work done and the much needed laundry, etc.  I love it when I get a day to stay home.  It does not seem to happen very often so it is a real treat when it does happen. 

Wednesday morning I got a call from Elder Daines asking if we would be willing to make some soup for one of his investigators who was very ill.  Of course I said I would and so I spent the morning making some good old homemade Chicken Soup and some rolls.  We took it into Masianokeng to the Elder's flat so they could deliver it to the ailing investigator.  Of course I took enough for the Elders to have some for lunch as well.  I heard later that the soup really helped her and that she was up and going the next day.  I told Elder Daines it was probably the Priesthood blessing that he had given her and he told me it was that plus the Relief Society Home made soup.  It is an impossible combination to beat!

We then headed to the Maseru Elders old flat to hopefully hand over the keys, however, there were a few problems that needed to be resolved.  They were going to charge us to empty the septic tank again, plus painting the two upstairs bedrooms, and the water bill for that month.  After a tough discussion we agreed to meet the following week once we had made arrangements to have the water meter read and received a final billing.  We told the manager that we would show receipts for the septic tank having been emptied four times that month and that we were not paying for it again.  I tell you, they will cheat you anyway they can here.  I told her that we did not want to cheat her, but we also did not want them to be dishonest with us.

After an hour at the water company, we managed to arrange for the water meter to be read in Maseru.  The wheels do turn slowly here.

That evening about 10:00 we got a phone call from the Maseru 2 elders that Maseru 1's flat was flooding again.  The geyser had leaked again and water was running out the door of the flat.  I had them put the landlord on the phone (he lives next door) and told him that since this was the 2nd time in a week that the flat had flooded,  I was sure that he would want to help the Elders mop this mess up and that we would be in to see him in the morning and wanted to know at that time what he was going to do to remedy the situation so this did not happen again.  The Zone leaders (that live in the flat) were in Bethlehem for the ZTM the next day.

We were in by 7:30 the next morning to see what damage was done and cleaned up a little more mess that had gathered over night.  Teboho (the landlord) assured us that he would have the problem fixed before the end of the day.  I told Teboho that he was to call me once the plumber had come and inform me of the solution to the problem and then he was to call me again when it was actually fixed. He ended up changing the flex hose piping to copper piping and I think we will not have another problem with it.  I hope! 

We then headed off to Bethlehem for the ZTM meeting.  We always feed the elders a full lunch for ZTM and this time we fed them barbeque beef on a bun with fresh fruit salad and chips.  Brownies for desert.  They thought they had died and gone to heaven.  They ate and ate and ate. 

When we got home from Bethlehem I tried my luck at making a cheese cake here in South Africa.  We were going to Bloemfontein to help the Wyatt's with the Seminary and Institute Graduation etc. and we were going to do a little American thanksgiving celebration.  I was bringing cheese cake.  It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.

A road side fruit stand here in Ladybrand.  I purchased fresh cherries to take to the Wyatt's and Shumway's.

Friday morning we were off early to head to Bloemfontein.  I had errands to run in preparation for the Elder's Christmas party here and just for some general supplies.  We were in Bloem by 10:00 AM and helped the Wyatt's get the Relief Society room ready for the Saturday morning training session for all the Seminary and Institute Teachers and the Branch Presidents for the whole district.  We had to vacuum, set up tables and chairs, haul in supplies, you name it.  Sister Wyatt's mother had passed away the week before and her mother's funeral was going to be the next day.  She was hoping to be able to listen to parts of it thru skype once all her seminary and institute responsibilities were over.  I felt so badly for her with all the pressure she was under.

A local corner grocery store on the way to Bloemfontein

We met the Shumway's late Friday afternoon and went to check out a game drive right near their home.  We are thinking of taking Inge and her Mom on it when they come next month.  Saturday morning we got up very early and went for a walk in the rain.  This was the rainbow we saw in the sky.

After our rainy walk we got cleaned up and headed over to the church to help with the training seminar.  It was a great session headed by Brother Kumbilani from Johannesberg.  He is over all the Seminaries and Institutes for all of Africa.  What a motivator and inspiring instructor.  Once the training was over, we were responsible for setting out Pizza's for them to eat quickly before the Graduation ceremony started.  While everyone went into the Seminary and Institute Graduation, we cleaned up the lunch mess and put away all the tables and chairs, vacuumed again and then went in to enjoy the graduation for a minute before we had to get the refreshments set out for the graduation guests to enjoy.  Sister Wyatt had purchased cookies and juice and we just had to put 3 cookies on a napkin for them to come by and pick up.  There was approximately 110 people at the graduation.  Once we got that all over with, cleaned up and put away we headed back to Ladybrand to get ready for Sunday.

Sunday morning we picked Norma Kwezi Majozi up and took her to Bethlehem to go to church.  Norma is the 21 year old girl from Ficksburg that we are teaching the discussions to.  She wants to be baptized very badly, but until she gets her passport and can get to church on a regular basis we don't want her to be baptized.  She loved church and can't wait to go again.  There was some young people there her age and they came up and visited with her.  The investigators class for Sunday school was well taught and she really enjoyed that as well.  I then took her into Relief Society, and I then got asked to teach the lesson.  Gratefully it was on Elder Ballard's Conference talk on "Being Anxiously Engaged", which I had just talked about the week before in District Conference. 

We dropped Norma off in Ficksburg and then drove into Lesotho and down to Masianokeng where Wayne was to interview two women (candidates for baptism).  President Von Stetten had asked him the night before to interview them as they had needed further interviewing as a result of some unresolved issues.  Wayne said it was a very sweet experience and that both sisters were very ready for baptism and that their repentance was sincere.  As I waited in the bakki while this was happening I got asked to speak at the baptism next Sunday.  My favorite thing!

Monday morning we were up at the crack of dawn.  I made a batch of orange rolls and cinnamon buns, hash browns, a baked ham and Dad made egg mcmuffins for the elders who were coming to our house for breakfast.  Elder Dube had a Dr.'s appointment in Ladybrand so they all decided it would be a fun P-day activity to come together.  They had a great time eating breakfast and they licked the platters clean.

P-day breakfast at the Holt's.  Starting on the left and going around the table - Elder Daines (DL), E. Mukuusi, Elder Smith, Elder Dickerson, Elder Dube, Elder Kiyimba, Elder Adams (ZL), Elder Steed (ZL)

A rousing game of "Wacky 6" after breakfast.  Good thing it was P-day

Elder Dickerson and Elder Dube heading off to tract on bikes in Maseru

I think one of the most wonderful things about this whole week was that we learned that Spencer, Brittany, Michelle and Rod have booked their trip to come and visit us in South Africa in February.  We are so excited and we are trying to decide the things that we want to show them.  We are not sure how we are going to fit everything into the schedule. 

We are also very much looking forward to the arrival of Inge and Lida (Inge's Mother) as they will be arriving on December 19th for a visit over Christmas.  We feel so blessed to have them coming to spend Christmas with us.  I know that it will help us with the pangs of homesickness that might just crop up.  We will be very busy showing them this beautiful country and hoping that they will love it as much as we do.  Inge has been so busy these last few months putting the finishing touches on her Masters program.  She has kept her nose to the grindstone as she spits out numerous papers every week for her final project.  Because she is coming to see us she is trying very hard to get ahead of schedule and has been so diligent in staying focused and on task.  Amazing!

Well, it is late and bed is calling, as morning seems to come very early around here.  We love you all and hope all is well in your world.  The Lord continues to bless us abundantly.  We love the gospel of Jesus Christ and are so grateful for our testimonies and for the opportunity to serve everyday.  We truly are "anxiously engaged" and feel grateful that the Lord entrusts us each day with people to serve.

Elder and Sister Holt

Another week of learning

This was the sky Sunday evening as we drove home from Maseru

 This week has been another full week.  We are constantly learning and growing as we serve and fulfill our responsibilities here.  The picture above is our scene of the week.  This was a sunset view as we left Lesotho.

Monday Nov. 12th was a glorious day for me.  I spent the morning sewing 18 Christmas socks for the elders in our zone.  I shopped for treats to fill them with and got things ready for their Christmas party next month.  Sister Von Stetton has ties for each elder and I got those all wrapped ready to distribute.  Since I had to teach an enrichment class in Masianokeng this coming Saturday I also got two small quilts ready to be tied by the sisters.  All in all it was a very enjoyable day as I got prepared for the coming Christmas season and the coming activities throughout the week.

 Tuesday morning found us on the road very early, heading to Phuda to do a flat check and to also help the branch President check out a new school to hold their meetings in for the coming year.  We met with the principal of one and explained what we would need etc.  They are meeting this week with the board and will let us know after that.  Next we headed to Bethlehem where we met with Elder Maring and his companion to help him celebrate his birthday.  I spent a little time running errands in Bethlehem getting equipment that I couldn't find in Maseru for the elders that would be arriving that night in Masianokeng, thus making the boarding a foursome rather than a twosome.  We picked up two bikes from the Bethlehem elders to give to the Masinokeng II elders who will be walking or on bikes.  We then ordered and picked up pizza for the Bethlehem elders and also for the three elders that we would be bringing back to Maseru with us to complete transfers.  By the time we got the bikes, all their luggage and three big elders into the bakkie, we were pretty squished.  When we picked the elders up at the greyhound bus depot, the skies opened up and it began to pour buckets.  It came so hard and within minutes we were all soaked.  About 9:00 PM that night we got the elders safely delivered in Maseru and then headed back across the border and home again - finally.  One great experience we had when we picked up the elders at the bus depot, was that one elder on the bus (he was travelling on to Bloemfontein) got off the bus for a minute and looked at Wayne's tag and said "Holt!, I got a letter from a young Holt girl - I think it was your granddaughter.  That Saturday we met him in Bloemfontein and here is a picture of us with him.  Annie - he is going to write you a letter back.  Watch for it in the mail.  He was so thrilled to get some mail.  He said he never gets mail from home and it is so hard when all the other elders get mail and packages from home, but there is never any for him.  Thanks Annie for making his day so happy!

This is Elder Ramasianandro - one of the Elders Annie wrote to.  He is from Madagascar.  Look that one up on your globe.

Once I got home Tuesday night I still had to make a birthday cake for Elder Mukuui's birthday the next day.  So I baked it that night and got up early the next morning to get it iced and ready to deliver.  We had to be into Maseru by 8:30 Wednesday morning to meet the carpet cleaners for the old Maseru flat.  It never fails, when we have to be in by a certain time there is always a line-up at the border.  The carpets looked great 4 hours later and Elder Mukuusi was so thrilled about his birthday cake.  Elder Mukuusi is from Kenya and I don't think he has had many birthday cakes in his lifetime.  Wednesday night once we got home we got a phone call from Brother Terry John.  He serves with Wayne on the District Council and he lives in Ficksburg (about an hour north of us).  He informed us that it was the Cherry Festival that week and would we like to come and see this annual event.  We checked our calendar and due to a cancellation for Thursday we could meet him in Ficksburg and go to visit a cherry orchard and then participate in all the fun activities associated with the festival.

We met Terry by 8:30 that morning and went to sign up for the tour of the cherry orchard.  About two hours later (the driver got lost) we finally arrived at the cherry orchard where we learned about growing cherries and how about 95% of the crop this year was killed due to a late frost in early September.  We learned lots of other great and interesting facts about growing cherries.  We got to help ourselves to the cherries and then we went back to the packing shed and saw how they cleaned and sorted the fruit.  We were each given a packet of cherries to take home and we bought some of the dried fruit that they sold there also.  Very delicious.

This is the cherry sorter.  Terry John is the man on the right.  The little cherries come out first and the biggest cherries come out last.

We also went to the Methodist church where they had a display or flowers and flower arrangements.  This is just inside the chapel doors of the Methodist church

Friday morning we spent some time getting out talks ready for the district conference on Saturday afternoon and evening in Bloemfontein.  The district President, President Grobler asked Wayne and I to speak in the adult session Saturday night.  We were asked to speak on "Being anxiously engaged in a good cause."  I think we are almost qualified to speak on that topic.  Wayne had to head into Maseru to take bike repair stuff to the Masianokeng II elders.   That evening I made orange rolls to take to the enrichment activity Saturday morning.

Teaching the Masianokeng RS sisters to put a quilt on the frames and then to tie a quilt.  Sister Sebotsa's first experience using a thimble.

 

 

 Saturday morning we were up very early to be ready to teach the sisters in Masianokeng how to tie a quilt.  They loved the orange rolls and invited me to come back and teach them how to make them.  Plenty of opportunity to serve here!

We left right at noon and headed to Bloemfontein to attend the Priesthood meeting (Wayne) and I attended the leadership training meeting.  After which we went right into the Adult session of conference.  It was a great meeting and we both felt very relieved to have our responsibilities over with.  President Von Stetten (the mission President and his wife) surprised the district presidency and showed up for the meeting.

We stayed over night at the Shumway's home and Sunday morning we got up early and went for a lovely walk in their game preserve that is their back yard.  We hurried home had a quick breakfast and headed off to the area conference which was pre-recorded and then broadcast thru the medium of CD's to the whole of Africa.  President Monson was the concluding speaker and we felt like we had been spiritually fed when it was over.  We left as soon as it was over and headed back to Maseru where we had appointments to teach two temple preparation classes to two different families. 

 

We very much enjoyed teaching both families.  Each are progressing at their own rate, but they love to have us come and discuss the blessings that the temple will bring to their lives.  The spirit is in attendance everytime we meet with them.  What a great blessing to be able to teach these families.

This is the Nchapi family.  They are looking forward to going to the temple to be sealed together forever.

 I was up at 4:30 to bake a batch of raisin cookies to take with us to share with the Wyatt's and Shumway's.  We were heading to the non-school in Lekokoaneng to take the 100 plus books that had been collected.  Once we get turned off the highway onto the dirt road we met up with Mathakeng and her associate.  The Wyatt's and Shumway's get in the front of the Bakki and we three ladies get in the back of the Bakki for the rough ride over dirt trails.

Mathakenge's associate, me and Mathakenge.  Mathakenge told me she is going to have a baby - her 2nd.

This cute little boy was by the road where we picked up Mathakenge.  His little jacket is stitched closed because the zipper is broken.  We gave him suckers, but could not get him to smile.

This is a common site along the trail to the school.  These farmers are off to work for the day.

This is a sampling of the books that Dad and I left at the chief's house. 

These books will be left in the non-school and the children of the community can come in and use them like a library.  Mathakenge was so excited to see so many wonderful books.  Both ladies started picking them out of the crates and were reading them as we bumped along the rutted trail.

The chief is the man on the far right, his wife is in front of him.  The other ladies are volunteers at the non-school.

We also visited the community school while we were there.  These are some of the cute children that we had the opportunity to interact with.

It was a full and wonderful day.  Thanks again to all who have contributed funds for the purchasing of these great books that will enrich these children's lives as they "Read 20 minutes everyday".  We felt that Shauna was pleased with the work we did yesterday.

We will close once again as this is getting very long.  Thanks for your prayers and support as we continue learning many lessons serving here in this part of the world.  Time is going very quickly.  We have been out for over 5 months already.    We will think of all you American's enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner in the next few days and enjoying being together with family.

Love

The Holt's 

Moving Week

Elder Daines, Steed and Mukuusi

 Monday morning started early as we headed into Maseru to help the elders move into their new flats.  As we were trying to move in a woman was trying to get the final cleaning done on the flats.  It was less than satisfactory to say the least.  However, Elder Daines, the Elder with the table on his head above, asked if he could rent a trailer to help expedite the move - a brilliant idea.  We got the Elders "stuff" moved with the help of the trailer and three bakki's.  While the elders finished unpacking, we took Elder Daines to the "Dept. store" in Maseru to purchase a needed fridge, sofa, chair, washer, microwave, two beds, etc. etc.  It was so helpful to have the trailer to load all of these big items in to haul them where they needed to go. Some of it was for the Maseru elders and some was for the Masianokeng elders which are to arrive this week with transfers.

Elder Tshabane, Elder Daines and Elder Dube unpacking the kitchen

The Leribe elders, and the Masianokeng Elders were a big help in getting the move done quickly.  It was especially kind of them to come and help as Elder Motsisi was still out of commission with his arm in a cast.

Elder Motsisi keeping his arm elevated and trying to rest amid the chaos

 We took all the Elders out to lunch once we got everything moved and unloaded, to let them know they did a great job - especially the service the other two districts provided to the Maseru elders.  It was also Elder Motsisi's farewell dinner as he completes his mission on November 13th and will be going home.

Tuesday morning found us back in Maseru running like crazy trying to purchase drapes, dishes, pots, pans.  We then spent time getting drapes hung and apartments organized and set to rights.  What a lot of work!  We got home just in time to go Home Teaching in Ladybrand to Sister Cadribo's home.

Wednesday we went in to help the Elders get their old flat cleaned and ready for a final inspection with the landlord.  When we arrived at the flat these three little children were waiting for us.  As you can see they were especially excited to see us.  You will see why in the next picture.

Three little neighborhood children awaiting treats that arrive in the white bakki

Sister Holt is the bearer of treats to the little waifs.  These children's hands and faces were so dirty, I just wanted to give them a wash.

Elder Steed and Elder Daines putting the final cleaning on the light fixtures.  They had to clean the flat with no running water.

Elder Motsisi (left), Elder Lowry, Elder Mukuusi (top), Elder Dube (right)

 These elders worked so hard - well, maybe not Elder Motsisi, but the rest did a great job doing the final cleaning on their flat.  I was very impressed!  We were so impressed they got hamburgers, french fries and soda for lunch. 

Thursday was a welcome relief, we didn't go into Maseru for a change.  We went to Bethlehem instead and did a flat check there.  There were some repairs that needed to be done there, so we ran to the Build It Store - (sort of like a Home Depot) and got plumbing supplies, door handles, etc. and Dad went back to play plumber and I ran to the mall to get a few needed items for the Maseru flat that I couldn't find in Lesotho.

Friday morning the Maseru Elders arrived bright and early at our house as I had to take Elder Dube to the Dr. to get medication for athletes foot.  Once we got home, the 4 elders were hungry so Elder Holt offered to make them breakfast.  16 eggs later, they were finally full and we sent them on their way.  We had been invited for lunch to Elder Daine's and Mukussi's to discuss the division of their district.  They have been so busy there that the president is sending two new elders to help with the work.  Elder Daine's prepared chicken breasts, tossed salad, and homemade bread.  We brought a cheesy potato dish and we had a great meal.  As we were leaving a little later this was the sight that we saw.

In Masianokeng, this is the Friday afternoon pass-time - rolling tires down the road.

 Friday night I made cowboy cookies, brownies and ginger snaps for the transferring and leaving Elders on Sunday.

Saturday morning we were on the road by 7:30, heading back into Maseru for the Seminary graduation.  On the way in we met up with a major check stop.  There were about 30 policemen stationed on both sides of the highway.  They were pulling everyone over.  The policeman asked for Wayne's drivers licence - which he produced.  Meanwhile a woman police office came to my side of the bakki and asked me to roll down my window.  I did and she said "So, where are you hiding your weapons?"  I told her I didn't have any weapons.  She said, "How many weapons are you hiding?  Are they under the seat?  Where".  I told her again that we were missionaries and we don't carry weapons.  Then the policeman checking Wayne's drivers licence said "Wow, I stopped a pastor".  He laughed and laughed.  Then he sent us on our way.  There were all kinds of machine guns being carried by other police officers stationed up and down the road. 
We had agreed to help the Wyatt's with the graduation by setting up the refreshments once the graduation was over.  It was supposed to start at 10:00 AM.  We were there and all set up, ready to go, and we had about 5 people there at 10:00.  We waited and waited and waited.  A member of the district presidency was supposed to be there to speak - no show!  We couldn't get ahold of him to find out what had happened to him.  The Maseru branch choir was supposed to sing and they weren't there yet.  Finally about 11:00 people started to arrive.  The choir went in and started practicing and then about 11:30 there were about 50 people there and we began the graduation.  Sister Wyatt ended up speaking at the last minute and they had the Branch Presidents present the graduates for their diplomas.  (Wyatt's couldn't pronounce their names)

Some of the happy graduates with their diplomas.  Wyatt's on the back row on the right.

While the graduation was going on, the Maseru Primary was having an activity.  They taught the children how to do a family group sheet.  Isn't this a cute little boy?

All these little primary children kept coming into the Relief Society room where I had set out the refreshments wanting some cookies and juice.  I am sure you would not be surprised if I told you that everything we set out got eaten!

Once we finished cleaning everything up we met with the Pufamane's and taught them another temple preparation class.  Once we finished we drove them home and then went over to the Maseru Zone leaders flat to help them get their kitchen organized.  They had been too busy to get things put away and needed a hand.  Remember, Elder Steed was the only one with two hands, Elder Motsisi was pretty useless with his arm in a cast. 

While I was helping him organize his kitchen, we heard a loud bang.  Elder Steed went into the other room to see what the loud noise was.  He couldn't find anything so he went outside and then next door to see what it was.  All of a sudden we heard water running - actually gushing.  Next thing we know there is water running in the bedroom and bathroom from the ceiling.  We had a flood within a few minutes.  The geyser on the roof had sprung a leak and it emptied the water into the flat.  We started mopping up the mess and trying to save all the books, papers and stuff in boxes on the floor.  We were scrambling.  Eventually the geyser ran out of water and we got the water turned off at the source and finally got things mopped up.  Poor Elder Steed was so tired and discouraged.  The night before there was a terrible rain/hail storm and their bedroom had a leak in the ceiling and it got flooded.  Once we got the office back to order he went in and started doing some paper work and I started to mop the floors in the rest of the apartment that were all muddy from tracking in and out cleaning up the mess.  It was late by the time we got back home that night.  I felt like I had had all the flood experience I needed for a while.

Once we got home we had to cook a roast as we were making roast beef sandwiches for the departing Elders on Sunday.  We pack a huge lunch for them as Elder Motsisi was having to ride the bus all night from Bloemfontein to Durban.  He has his departing interview with the President and then goes home on Tuesday.  Elder Lowry was leaving with him to go to Bloemfontein for transfers.  We will miss them both.

Sunday morning Wayne spoke in Masianokeng as the district councilman.  We then had to head back into Maseru as he had to set apart the new Seminary and Institute Teachers.  Then we rushed home and put together lunches for the Shumway's, and the two leaving elders.  We were grateful for the day of rest on Sunday so we could catch our breath.

This is a typical scene from our kitchen window.  This little calf nursing from its mother!

We are busy, happy, tired, grateful, thankful, blessed, and loving (almost always) what we are doing.  We feel very anxiously engaged in a good cause.  Miss you all.

Love the Holt's