Self Reliance, Best Birthday and Greetings

June 26, 2015

Hello All,

Last Saturday (a week ago) we hosted a Self Reliance Workshop for the Richards Bay District (5 congregations).  We organized it and promoted it.   We felt it was a priority for this entire area.  We defined Self Reliance as"being able to care for your needs and your family's needs."    We drove to each township and spent time inviting people.   It was a full day event from 10:00-3:30 and we had asked for RSVP's.   We only received a few.   At 10:00 we had 2 people but decided to go ahead.   We had invited another senior couple from Durban who are the specialists on this topic for all of South Africa.  By 10:30 we had 29 people and were overjoyed.   As it turned out, we could not have handled any more.   We discussed CV's (resumes), interviews, power statements, etc.   One segment showed how to use your life experiences to show qualities that could be valuable to an employer.   We spent considerable time helping them find their strengths and write a "power statement" about themselves.   Then we broke into groups of 2-3 and they practiced these power statements.   In 5 sentences they were to highlight one of their qualifications.   Then we went around and listened.   We realized we had a great deal more work to do, when we heard several say:   My name is __________ and I want a job as ____________.   I do not have any qualifications.  (I don't think that will get them the job.) We tried over and over to help them say POSITIVE things about themselves.    Another skill we taught was how to use school or church experiences to relate to a specific job.   For example:  " I taught Sunday School for 3 years, I work well with young children. I used music and art to teach my 4 year olds to learn new concepts.   I would bring this same expertise to your preschool."   Or something like that.   One workshop participant  said, "I directed my grade 7 choir.   I think I could be a good waitress."   So you can see there needs to be lots of one-on-one help.               By 3:30 we were exhausted but so happy and so were the participants.   We have another class Friday and one on Saturday.

GENERAL HOSPITAL SOAP, PART 2

Last week I shared the story about President Alvana waiting 15 days to get a hospital bed.   Two days after we took him to the hospital, we stopped to see how he was doing.  He was NOT in his bed.   We asked the nurse where he was, and she said he had left.   I asked if he went to therapy, etc.  She said, he had left the hospital for the afternoon but would be back by 6:00.   I couldn't believe it...you just walk out of the hospital.   The nurse said  the doctor had prescribed medications that were expensive, so he was walking to a discount pharmacy to purchase the meds, because they  would be cheaper there.   I was astounded.   He returned in 3 hours with the meds for the nurse to give him!     He was in the hospital 7 days waiting in the queue for his "heart and organ xray" as he called it.  Why did they take up a precious bed for 7 days?   On the 7th day he had the xray and they discovered he needed a procedure they weren't equipped to handle.  They  needed to send him to Durban (2 hours away).   They took him by ambulance, he had the procedure, and the next day they told him to ride the public bus home.  

YOUR APPLIANCE WILL TRAVEL

Our tumbler (dryer) wasn't working so I called a repair man.   He said he would come by and pick it up in 3 days.   I said, what do you mean, "Pick it up?"   That's right.   They pick up broken appliances, repair them in the shop and return them when they are finished.   However, I explained that I thought it might be the outlet in the wall or just the plug on the machine.     He said, he still needed to come and pick up the machine.   I insisted that he look at the plug before he hauled it away. He said he would think about it.   Ten days later, he came by and discovered it was just the plug, so he didn't have to haul it away.  Whew!  In the meantime, our frig was having problems.   Yep, they don't repair it at our home either.     He said: defrost it,(remember I am not timely in my defrosting duties), and then he will pic it up within 3 days.    He will need to keep my refrigerator 3-5 days! 

ODDS AND ENDS

Sunday I spoke in church.   I know you won't believe me, but I actually finished early!   We went and ate with the Alvana family after church.   Then we visited with another family.    It was such a great day. 

Today, one of our missionaries, Elder Hansen, taught all of us a great lesson from 11:00-1:00 in our District meeting.   Then we went out a taught and young man who is struggling with alcohol and a divorce.   We are trying to help and give him support during this rough time.

BEST BIRTHDAY EVER

I can't believe it, but yesterday Elder Todd turned 70 years old!    How can that be true?   He has never been concerned about birthdays in the past.   But for the first time, he was concerned.   He said, "70 sounds so old!"  (true).  We were so busy and I had not baked him anything special or even thought about a special meal.   For breakfast,  I scrambled him eggs, made hash browns and we were out the door.   At 11:45 we went to the home of Freddy, a man we are working with.   He then took us and the missionaries to his daughter's home for a birthday celebration.  (The missionaries had noticed it was Elder Todd's birthday on our  family calendar and told Freddy.)  This was no ordinary lunch...it was a Thanksgiving dinner:   Mutton Curry over rice, pasta and sausage casserole, roasted potatoes in spicy curry sauce, scalloped potatoes, Butternut squash, beets (popular here) Greek salad, chicken, 2 kinds of drinks and a cake for dessert!   They even had candles with the numbers "70".   The table was set beautifully.   Sarah (his daughter) and her boyfriend are not employed and yet they put on this huge spread for strangers (at her father's request).   Larry was very appreciative and ate so much I couldn't believe it.   Sarah and her boyfriend didn't eat with us but they stood and watched us eat to make sure we enjoyed it.  That part is very difficult for me.   Next Freddy stood and gave a speech about Larry and how he couldn't believe we came all the way from America to help him.   He pronounced a blessing for another 70 years (YIKES...I don't know about that!)

We were both so touched by their love, their efforts and their sacrifice for Larry.     However, the best part was that we invited Sarah and her boyfriend to hear the message of Jesus Christ and they accepted.

 After 3 hours we had to break away because we needed to pick up our materials and then teach Institute 35 minutes away.    There were 4 students attending and the discussion was so thoughtful and inspiring.  We always provide a snack for Institute and Seminary class, so we sang Happy Birthday to Larry again before we ate.  

As we were leaving Institute class to drive home, we received a message on our phone asking us to stop at Pres. Alvana's to pick up something.   When we arrived, their family had a special celebration for Larry.......cake, songs, gifts and tributes.

I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY, THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE BIRTHDAY.

I can't think of anything we would rather be doing than serving a mission.   We love sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the wonderful people of South Africa.   The gospel of Jesus Christ is such a blessing to the world and to us individually.   We love each of you.

Love,

Elder and Sister Todd

We Love Our Mission!!!!

June 19, 2015

Dear Family,
Thank you for writing.   We love hearing about what you are doing.   It really brings added cheer to our day.   Thanks to the grandkids for writing also.   I know it is not easy, but we love it.    Thanks to the moms who scribe for those who don't want to write!

I hope you can feel how much we love our mission.   It was a struggle for the first few days to figure out what we could or should do with our time.   Because we didn't receive any specific direction from the mission president or the Lord, we tried everything we could think of.    Now, we are both completely exhausted and are trying to find a way to manage our schedule better.   We will get it figured out.   We would rather be too busy than not busy enough.  Larry just finished with a nasty 2 -week sinus infection and he lovingly passed it on to me.   How is that for sharing everything!

Larry had a wonderful experience last week.  In fact, it was one of the choice spiritual experiences of his life.   He was asked to speak at a baptism for a new convert and had prepared a talk.   (He is asked to speak at least once a week.  Luckily women don't get asked as often as men. )  He had come up with a visual image or story that related to Africa and it seemed very engaging.   Just as he began to speak, he heard very distinctly the word: COVENANTS!   He knew that he was supposed to speak on covenants instead of what he planned.  So he headed in another direction and the Lord continued to bless him in the talk.   When I type this, it doesn't seem as powerful as hearing him explain the feeling that overcame him.   He just basked in the feeling as he related it to me.   He said that he has not experienced anything like this except once on his mission where he had an impression but not a direct word from the Lord.

I felt like this was the Lord giving Larry a huge "hug" and "well done" gesture.  Larry has loved our mission, but it has been very, very difficult for him.   That is surprising because Larry is always more relaxed, calm, and content than I am.    But things here have been very challenging for him.   He trains the priesthood leaders thoroughly ....and they don't do it.    He speaks very kindly to members and teaches them the gospel but they don't understand.   The district/stake leaders don't run the program according to the handbook---even the district president who has been a very active member for his entire life (63 years).   They ask for help, he trains them, but they don't do it. He helps them again but things don't change much or at all. Because Larry does not like to nag, he stops after 2 times of instruction.     Also, Larry follows the priesthood chain of command and the way he should make changes but it hasn't worked.            Next comes the driving.  It is NOT driving on the left side that drives him crazy...it is people passing us on BOTH sides at once on a 2 lane road or people tailgating us so close that if there was a hiccup for either car, there would be a collision.   Plus, drivers running red lights is a given; rarely does anyone stop at a stop sign, and people just drive crazy.   Usually, Larry can hold his own with crazy drivers but he can't here and it is very stressful. He is worried about our safety.   He does all the driving so he has to take the entire brunt of this.   We are in the car so much every day 7 days a week.   Well, you get the picture.   So I was grateful for the big tender mercy/ inspiration from the Lord to Larry.

On the other hand, I am impatient, right?   Not a good quality.   But for some unknown reason, the people and the pace here do not bother me.   The lack of follow through, the lack of commitment, the lack of church policy and procedure do NOT bother me.   Go figure that out.   I guess that is how the Lord is blessing me.   In fact, it is such a HUGE blessing.    He has turned my weakness into a strength for this time period (or at least the past 5 months....but I'm sure it won't last forever.)  I teach and teach and teach and teach and teach some more.   I remind and remind..... dozens and dozens of times.  I don't quit.      My stubbornness has paid off. (Clark quality????)   I don't take offense when they don't learn or cooperate.    But I don't give up.   I think people are beginning to realize that, and some are even moving a little quicker.   But I have not had any revelatory experience even close to Larry's.   My challenge:   understanding the language (English) and being able to communicate....I still struggle so much.

Another quality that I have prayed for and my prayers have been answered.   I feel great love for everyone.   The different culture, cleanliness, lack of safety doesn't bother me.   A huge tender mercy...from the Lord.

I share these thoughts for 3 reasons.   I especially want my grandchildren to understand these things:

1.  A mission is hard but can still be very rewarding and enjoyable.

2.  Everyone struggles on their mission in one way or another.  

3.   The Lord will help you overcome your challenges on your mission one way or another....but maybe not the way you wanted to be helped.    But I know that THE LORD IS AWARE OF HIS MISSIONARIES...ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG ONES.
 4.   Every elder in our zone has had serious discouragement/trials.   Those that learn to be obedient, to not look back "towards home and/or their country, to not "fight" against the crazy traditions, and love the people can still be happy.   Others, can still serve good missions but they don't feel as much joy. 

I love you so much!!!!   Thanks for being the best family.    All of you are my biggest tender mercy from the Lord.    I am grateful for each of you.  

Love,

Sister Todd

Cooking our Way to a Testimony!

June 10, 2015

Dear Friends and Family,

We hope this finds all of you well and happy.   Today has been our first really cool day.   In fact, I wore a sweater this morning!  Kind of a nice change from last week.  The past 2 weeks have been so busy with very long days.   When we arrived we thought we would not be able to go out after dark.   But our mission president says we can do whatever we feel comfortable doing.   So we have been out after dark on many nights, or most nights.

COOKING OUR WAY TO A TESTIMONY

   Last Saturday was such a great day.   In my quest to help the Young Women develop friendships with each other, have fun and grow in the gospel, I decided to have an activity with just the Young Women in the Ngwelezane Branch.   Although the girls were excited and I thought I had "covered all my bases", at the last minute a  threat of a power outage kept the girls home..   Luckily,  we were able to "rescue" the activity with lots of determination...although we started later than planned! 

This was so simple, yet so fun.   This is the only branch that we work with where someone has a kitchen that 6 people could squeeze into.   Five young women and 1 young adult showed up to bake brownies.   I had advertised:   COME AND LEARN TO MAKE AMERICAN BROWNIES!  ( Don't laugh)   We divided into 2 groups and each group made a batch with me walking them through every step.   Then we put the brownies into bake and had a "Get to Know You"  activity.   Next we tasted the 2 different recipes (I made a frosted recipe and brought it already baked) and decided which we liked best.   Everyone liked the frosted ones the best...so do I because I haven't been able to make my really fudgey recipe here.   Then we cut all the brownies and wrapped them in saran wrap.   Larry had found some  fairly cute boxes (meaning they weren't plain brown)  to put the brownies in (he had looked everywhere for me...finding something like this is a huge challenge, but he did it.).   Then we planned to deliver the brownies to the inactive girls and invite them to church.   However, this part did not work out.   Because we started so late, we were behind schedule and Larry and I had to leave for our next assignment (which was teaching seminary 45 minutes away in another branch). So the girls said they would get the branch president (he has a car) to take them.   They could hardly wait to show their friends and family their brownies!

PRIESTHOOD CAMPOUT 

Our district had a priesthood "campout" at the church for all young men and adults.   They served a braai dinner (bar-b-que) with the district President doing all of the cooking.  Next was a short  "priesthood restoration program"  and Larry was the speaker.  After that they played soccer and then watched a movie.   For sleeping they slept on the wood floor in the church.   Many boys just laid on a blanket, some on a towel, some on the floor and a few had sleeping bags.   The next morning the District President cooked breakfast  for everyone.   Larry picked up 4 boys that live quite a distance away and drove them home afterward.   Without a senior couple (with a car) these boys would not be able to attend.

AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

We have had 2 experiences in the past few weeks that give a glimpse into life in Africa.    Our mission "office couple"says that until you have several of these "you don't understand Africa."   We have had so many but these are recent.

1.   Our elders were driving along a very busy highway and their car just stopped working.   They called us to come and help.   We arrived and Larry tried everything he could think of but the car wouldn't start.   So we called a tow truck.   After a long wait, it arrived and took the car to the car dealership.  We assumed the car would be fixed in a day or two.  We began driving the elders everywhere so they could continue working.  After a few days, we called the car dealership and they still hadn't even looked at the car.   Larry said he would call the next day to find out what needed to be done.  The next day they still hadn't looked at the car.   Fast forward 2 weeks, they said they had just pulled the car apart but hadn't found the problem yet.  We called twice a day for another week and they still hadn't had time to look at the car.    So Larry went to speak to the Service Manager.   He apologized and promised to call back that afternoon.    No call that day or the next day.   Next Larry goes in and asks for the the General Manager of the entire dealership.  The manager couldn't believe our story and said someone would call within 2 hours.   He introduced the employee that would call us back and she agreed.   You know what happened!     No one called that day or the next.    Larry called the mission office and they called the Chevrolet Headquarters in South Africa because the church buys so many cars from them.    Chevrolet called and put the pressure on our dealership. Chevrolet assured us the car would be fixed.    Unbelievable, but still no action.  Next the mission home sent someone to pick up the car and haul it somewhere else.   But the dealership insisted it couldn't be put back together because of some problems.   We  visited the dealership every other day. Eventually, the mission sent another mechanic from Durban (who claims to have ties to the Indian Mafia here) and he insisted that Larry  leave the dealership office while he solved the problem.  We learned afterward that the mechanic threatened them by saying:   put  this car back together within a week or his "buddies" would visit them and their families (this guy is not LDS.)   Three days short of 2 months, we got the car back . . .driveable but not completely fixed.

2.   The Branch President in Nseleni wasn't feeling well and the doctor discovered he had heart problems.   He referred him to a cardiac doc.   That doctor said Pres. Alvana needed to go into the hospital right away for tests. This was critical. That was Wednesday.  However, the doc couldn't get him a bed in the hospital until Monday.   Pres. Alvana drives his children to school (30 minutes from his house) and his wife to work each day.     Therefore, him being in the hospital is a HUGE problem because they are the only ones in the branch with a car.  There is NO ONE to help in or out of the church.    We volunteered to drive everyone on Monday morning and then come back and pick Pres. Alvana up and drive him to the hospital (30 minutes away).   We picked everyone up at 6:30 AM and got back to pick up Pres. Alvana by 9:00.   When we arrived he said he couldn't go because he his pajamas are dirty and he only has 1 pair, and he had  just started washing them.  (The hospital doesn't provide any pajamas or gowns.)  We were frustrated but we thought he would just take a few minutes.   However, he said he would take 2 1/2 hours because he has to wash them and then hang them on the line to dry!   (Rats!   Clothes dryers are really handy...but they don't have one.)  We drive back to get him in 2 1/2 hours and just  then the hospital calls and said there isn't a bed available because the patient (whose bed he was taking) was not checked out yet.   They told him that the doc would be in later that afternoon and check out the patient.   Well, as you guessed.   At 5:00 PM he called and there still wasn't a bed available.   We repeated the same thing on Tuesday (except his pajamas were clean and he was ready to go), but the hospital called again and said,"No Bed.   Call back at 3:00".  For 3 days we picked up the kids and took them to school and went to pick up Pres. Alvana.  But the hospital would call and delay.   Finally, we said, "If the hospital calls and confirms a room, please let us know,   Last night at 4:15 PM they called us and said, If they could get to the hospital by 5:30, they would "hold" the bed.   We were at the store buying food for our missionary lunch at our home today.   We left everything and drove to get him and take him to the hospital.   We arrived at 5:29 PM!   What I didn't mention is that this happened, 15 days after his original hospital appointment and almost 3 weeks after his cardio appointment.   So much for an "important, critical cardio condition."  

This hospital is NOT a township hospital.   This is the best hospital in the area for Afrikaans.   But a person literally has to be on call for 15 days to get a hospital bed....how does the doc plan his schedule?????

BEST FOR LAST

Sunday we attended our district conference.   They changed the District Presidency. The old presidency spoke and the new presidency and wives spoke.   The spirit was so strong.   These men and women spoke with such faith.   These branches and district have so many problems and barely function, BUT the leaders know this is the true church.  And they share spirit-filled testimonies.   I could hardly contain myself because of the spirit.    I felt like I had been in general conference.   I was filled with hope.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true.   It is the source of happiness for every person.   Heavenly Father's plan is for every culture, every country, and every age group.  

In spite of challenges (seemingly insurmountable), obstacles, unique circumstances, etc., the gospel is the answer!   Although we are barely even scratching the surface in helping these people, we continue to plod ahead.   

I am humbled when I realize the responsibility Larry and I have to be the "Lord's hands" in these branches.   It is daunting.   I can truthfully say that every day, I feel so blessed to be able to serve a mission!

Pics:   

Larry and I at the beach.

A pic of 2 Zulu women.   The lady taking the pic chopped off the top of the picture where it showed her carrying a big load on her head.   These ladies were carrying bags of on their backs, on their heads, and wheelbarrows.   It is garbage day and they are out "collecting stuff" for their families.

This is a pic of how they carry babies/toddlers here.   It is a long towel, wrapped tight.  There are no hooks, velcro or closures to keep it tight....but it doesn't slip. 

We love you!

The Todds