A prophets quote:

I would like to start this weeks blog with a quote from President Monson:  "My young friends, be strong...... You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that (truth).  If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone.  Everyone needs good friends.  Your circle of friends will greatly influence your thinking and behavior, just as you will theirs.  When you share common values with your friends, you can strengthen and encourage each other.  Treat everyone with kindness and dignity."

I know that my grandchildren and children are good examples of this admonition from a prophet of the Lord.  Thank you for being the amazing people that you are.  We were so sorry to hear that one of Mealii and Keola's friends from school passed away very unexpectedly this last week.  This friend was someone who was not considered to be "cool" or part of the "group".  Mealii and Keola often stood "alone" to be a friend with her.  We are so very proud of you and of the young women you are becoming.  We love you all.  We know that the Holy Ghost will be a "comforter" to you as you adjust to the loss of Megan.  You can feel at peace knowing that you were her friend and were kind to her even when others were not.  You set a great example to others around you.

Since it is "Thanksgiving day" we want to "thank" Rod and Inge for taking time on Saturday to go to our house and spend time figuring out what was wrong with our garbage disposal.  Thanks "no crack plumbing" for figuring out the problem, fixing it and then putting it all back together.  Two great minds do great work together.

Also, we want to thank the Spencer Holt family for inviting us to the piano recital yesterday afternoon.  We were entertained with some amazing musical numbers by Ty and Anne.  The program concluded  with a musical number by Brittany, with some amazing dance moves by Ike, Josh, Anne & Ty. Keep up the hard work with the piano you kids.  We love getting the videos of your musical renditions.  Congrats to you Ike on your great basketball weekend.  We were glad to hear that you played well on Saturday.

We know that Le'olani went to Vail on the weekend for a soccer tournament.  We would love to hear how that went for you.  Please let us know.

Thank you too Jenn for facetiming us yesterday afternoon.  We loved seeing all the Rod & Jenn Holt kids for a few minutes.  We also enjoyed hearing about what is going on in your lives.  Hope you arrived back home safely at the close of the long weekend.

Inge - we are very "thankful" to you for all the errands, banking, mail sorting, bill paying etc. etc. that you do for us in our absence.  We also love to hear from you and catch up on what is going on at home.  We are very proud of your continued efforts on your Master's Program.  We know it is a hard thing to do - even if that was all you were working on in your life - but to work full time as well, while being a vice-principal too, - we think your pretty amazing.  Do not get discouraged.  We know you can do it - especially when you call on extra help from above.  You are practically finished - I know that is hard to believe - but it is true.  Hang in there.

Now, onto our week.  Monday was the day we had to do all the reports to send into the office.  I spent all day working on the financial reports, car reports, flat reports etc. etc.  I am always relieved when that is done for another four weeks.  Also it was the day we clean house and do laundry.  That always makes me happy!

Tuesday was mission transfers.  We lost four of our Elders, and we gained 4 new elders.  We have been trying to get to meet the new ones this week.  We had to drive to Bloemfontein on Tuesday to meet Elder Steed (from St. George, Utah). Elder Steed is going to be the new Zone leader in Maseru.  He is a fine young man and will do a great job. We left as soon as we had gone into Maseru to meet with the landlord of the Leribe church to get him to sign the new rental agreement for another year.    We had been invited to go to the Wyatt's for some lunch and a meeting regarding PEF before we picked him up.  The Shumway's came too of course and we had a great visit together.  We picked Elder Steed up about 4:30 and then headed out to the Bloemfontein airport to meet with the elder who was bringing Elder Steed's passport (from Durban) so we could get him into Lesotho that night.  By the time we got through the border into Maseru and then to the Elders flat it was about 8:00.  They had no water at their flat.  We told them we would bring them in some water in the morning and left to head back through the border again.  We were pretty tired by the time we got home that night needless to say. 

Wednesday we were up and on the road early with a Bakkie full of bottled water to get to the Elders in Maseru.  Before we left that morning we got an SMS from the Masianokeng elders (who had had no water or power on and off all last week) asking if they could eat meat that had been thawed for a long time.  I told them if they didn't want to be sick they had better throw out the meat that had thawed in their freezer with no electricity.  So, we took some meat out of our freezer to take to them so they could have something for supper that night (until they could get to the grocery store to get more groceries).  On the way in to Maseru, Wayne was trying to figure out why the Elders in Maseru had no water.  He had me SMS them and ask if the switch had been turned off outside, to go check it.  They called back a few minutes later and said that it had been turned off somehow and they now had water again.  Mush for brains!  After meeting missionary needs, we headed up to northern Lesotho to run an errand for another missionary couple and then back home late Wednesday afternoon.  We spent the rest of the day getting ready for the Father & Son's outing on Friday and Saturday.

Thursday morning we got a call from the Elders in Leribe that their phone was not working - it wouldn't hold a charge.  So - while I went to get a hair cut Wayne went to Leribe to take them a new cell phone.  On the way out of Leribe he ran into a terrible mess at the border.  They were checking everyones cars and passports very thoroughly and it took him an hour and a half to get through the border.  Once he got home, we left to go to a town called Zastron where the district Father's and Son's outing was held.  Each of the mission couples (just the men) had been asked to provide an activity for the Saturday part of the program.  We women went along for the ride, but did not participate in the activities.  We stayed in a very quaint B & B.  It was filled with antiques and was most enjoyable.  It was nice to have a little down time and also to have some enjoyable company to enjoy it with.  While we were there the Wyatt's got news that they had just had a brand new grandson born on Friday evening.  We did a little sight seeing around Zastron on Friday until it was time for the men to head over to the campout. 

The Vulture Lodge - the B & B we stayed at Thursday and Friday night.  A very charming old house in South Africa.  It has maintained its charm and is filled with antique furniture and fixings.  We loved it.

This beautiful bird was on the grounds of the B & B we were staying and welcomed the day with a beautiful song.

 We headed out to see some sights in this area of South Africa we had never been before.  Look at the beautiful plants that are blooming in South Africa.

Those mountains in the background are in the southern part of Lesotho.  We did not cross into the Kingdom of Lesotho but stayed on the South African side of the border.

Saturday morning breakfast was to be served at 7:00 AM.  We did not get out quite early enough for them and so these people started singing to let us know that breakfast was served.  Then when we told them that Wyatt's had a brand new grandson born the night before, they sang a song that welcomed him into the world.  When we get home we will play the video for you and you can hear them singing.  Sister Wyatt is in the gold jacket in the centre. 

Elder Shumway in the background, myself and the proprietor of the B & B - Tania.  Tania doesn't live at the B & B but lives about 10 km from it on a farm.  She also runs a business in the town of Zastron.  She told us she carries a pistol in her left front pocket at all times and is not afraid to use it.  Tania said SA is quite lawless and she said she and her husband often have to deal with issues because the police don't.

About 103 fathers and sons came to Zastron for the campout.  This is the lodge they ate their supper in. 

Saturday morning after breakfast they had organized games and activites.  This was spider web and they had to pass people through the holes in the web without touching the ropes.  They could only use the same opening once.  It taught them to work together and to plan ahead.

This was the human battleship game.  Elder Wyatt is the name in the middle helping the youth participate in this activity.

One of the fathers and sons attending the event.  Aren't they a handsome little family?

 Once the Father and sons campout was over we headed back home. On the way home we heard that the Maseru Zone leaders had had an accident in their Bakkie.  They hit a car in the parking lot at the mall.  Gratefully no one was hurt.   Home looked pretty good and we spent the evening getting ready for the Sabbath.  We really missed conference - just knowing that it was going on and knowing that we would not be able to enjoy it until two weeks later was a little hard.  I guess we still get to anticipate it and look forward to it for a while longer.  We did hear from family back home that President Monson announced Saturday morning that Elders can go on missions at age 18, once they have graduated from High School and young women can go once they turn 19.  That was very exciting news.  That means Kalani, that you could be in the mission home about 6 months after we get home from our mission.  Pretty exciting huh?  We better be spending some quality time with you before you get gone - right?

We were up and on the road by 6:45 on Sunday morning.  We had to pick up President Monesa and his counselor and take them up to Leribe on Sunday for church.  The branch president attends the Leribe group meetings one Sunday a month and this was the Sunday.  They didn't have transportation up there that day so they asked if we would drive them up.  We were happy to do so, and then we waited for about 2 1/2 hours after the block for him to finish all his interviews and then we got to drive them back to Maseru and then finally head back through the border to get home by about 5:30 that night.  On the way home we heard from the Bethlehem Elders that they had been hit by another car on their way home from church.  They had just received a brand new car the week before and the accident took off the back bumper and the back right lights.  Fortunately, once again no one was hurt or injured.  I would hate to be the Elder in the office in charge of vehicles.

This is the son and daughter of Brother Ramalitse.  Brother Ramalitse is teaching the PEF class in Leribe.  This young man is 14 years old and can hardly wait to go on a mission.  He was so thrilled when he learned that he can go when he is 18 years old.  He told me last week that he couldn't wait for the next 5 years to go by so he can leave on his mission - now he only has to wait 4 years.  This is his little sister - she is a year and a few months old.  She is such a cutie.  I got to hold her on my lap in church on Sunday.

All in all it has been a busy and productive week.  We feel great gratitude to be able to be here serving in this beautiful country among these wonderful people.  They have such strong testimonies of the gospel.  They have so little but feel such gratitude for the blessings Heavenly Father gives them. We can learn much from them.  We recognize that Heavenly Father is blessing us and keeping us safe everyday.  We are also very grateful that he is blessing you at home and taking care of you.  We pray for you daily and are grateful for your prayers for us. 

It is late, so I will sign off for another week.  Morning will come very early once again. 

Love you all
Mom and Dad