TWO NEW ADDITIONS!!!

Two beautiful granddaughters joined our family in the last 2 weeks!  We hate to miss these special occasions.   Nothing is as good as being there, but we are so grateful for SKYPE and FACE TIME.   We feel blessed to have 2 healthy babies and mothers.  The proud parents are Lynda and Ryan Todd in New York City, and Stephanie and Dave Wessler in Denver.

Can't wait to hold and snuggle Lucy and Charlotte.

Lucy Hazel Todd
8 lbs. 8 oz.

Lucy received a warm welcome from her 4 siblings.

Charlotte Ann Wessler
7 lbs. 11 oz.  

Wessler family were excited to meet their new sister!

SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY 

Sunday was memorable.   We needed to be out the door earlier because we had someone that "needed a lift" (as they say here) to church.   This person lived quite a distance away so Elder Todd prodded me to move a little faster so we could be on time.   Also, Larry was giving the sermon at church so we needed to be early.   He gave a wonderful talk honoring women and the role of women in God's plan.   This doctrine does not mesh with Zulu culture.   Men feel like they should be catered to and not asked to do work of any kind.     Housework and caring for children is demeaning for men.   We strive to help the men understand that husbands and wives are equal partners.  Elder Todd has had very spirited conversations with the men encouraging them to say simple things like "please" and "thank you" to their wives.  

After our church meetings, we took Freddy home and went inside to "greet" his wife.   Elder Todd told me, "We cannot go inside because we need to be home in one hour."   It is almost impossible to stay less than an hour at Freddy's home.   Anything less, is considered rude.   We explained to Asha (his wife) our time schedule for the day, but she replied she had made us dinner.   Well, eating dinner takes way more than an hour.   Finally, she came up with an acceptable solution.  We stayed and visited for 45 minutes, she packed our dinner to-go, we "owe" them an extra visit this week and Larry drove like crazy to get us home on time. 

The young missionaries can only call home (or FaceTime or Skype) twice a year (on Mother's Day and Christmas.)   They were coming to our home to use our computer and IPAD to Skype their families.   We had a tight schedule to find times for elders from England, Uganda, South Africa,  California, Oregon, Washington and Utah to call to different time zones.   That morning several last minute changes had to be made, but it all worked out beautifully.    Listening to parents and siblings squeal with delight when they saw their son/brother on Skype was heartwarming.   The elders come out with huge smiles after speaking to their families.   Two years is a long time for 18-20 year olds to be away from their families. And parents certainly show faith, when they send their son half way around the world for 2 years.  

We had dinner in the crockpot and rolls, fruit, dessert and drinks on the counter.   So from 2:00-9:15 p.m. the elders ate, phoned, and ate some more. We had 2 devices going all the time for them to use.    They came and went.   We love this time to get to know the elders better and to answer any questions or concerns they have.   They bring a special spirit into our home and bless our lives.    When they all left and the kitchen was filled with dirty dishes and pans---it still felt like a wonderful day. 

I did not take one picture of these special young men.

LUCKIEST WOMAN

Sunday, I felt so grateful to be a mother!   Actually EVERY DAY,  I feel so blessed to be a woman and especially a mother!  Our children, their spouses and our grandchildren have been the joy of my life.   Each of them have been so supportive of our mission.   I have not been home for the birth of two babies (and not able to help Lynda and Stephanie), have missed Christmases, birthdays, soccer games, track meets, piano recitals, baptisms, priesthood ordinations and day to day life.    Yet, each one of them have cheered us on.    

MONDAYS 

Every Monday Elder Todd is busy ironing 6-7 white shirts. Tuesday through Sunday we are wearing our missionary attire (white shirt, tie and dress pants for Elder Todd).   Monday is our Preparation Day.    If we stay home to clean and  wash clothes, or if we go on a Safari or hike, we wear casual clothes.   However, if we go to the store or sightseeing (except for Safaris), we wear our missionary clothes.   So he needs all those white shirts EVERY week.   So this is a typical Monday.  

UNITING TOGETHER

We take every opportunity to work with other churches.   Yesterday, we received a phone call from a pastor in Nongoma (3-4 hours away) who wanted to meet with us.   She was going to be passing through our city today and we invited her to our home.   Her daughter had attended a cultural program our church put on in Durban, and she told her mother she might be interested in joining us in a project.     We spent an hour with her and her assistant pastor.   We explained what we do in the high schools, communities and with self-reliance programs.   She was very cordial and appreciative.   As she examined the programs, she repeatedly said, "This is what our country needs."  or,  "Thank you for empowering our youth." or, "This is the vision we need."  But, she was seeking money for her church.    Their church had grown, but now they wanted to expand and needed the funds.    We explained that we do not "fund" any churches, but we help in the ways I mentioned.    We appreciate good men and women in Africa who are working to teach their people about Jesus Christ.   We parted friends and she may invite us to speak to their congregation or join us in other endeavors.  

FULL CIRCLE

We continue to learn lessons...sometimes we wonder why it takes so long...or why don't we learn the first time around?????

One example from today:  You might remember, that I am the Young Women's youth leader for all 5 congregations in this area.   We have done so many different classes, conferences, sports events, cooking, service projects and spiritual instruction over the past 16 months.   We began by building friendships among the youth, then providing activities so they could have "fun" (or rather, feel the JOY that comes from living the gospel), and next teaching skills and promoting self reliance.  Food was OFTEN the center of these events.   Woven into everything was the gospel of Jesus Christ.   

However, today I was reminded of the lessons we learned in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.   Here is what happened:   This morning we drove to Ngwelesane to work with the young women on "Personal Progress".   Also included was a cooking class.   The girls had asked to learn how to make American pancakes.  Elder Todd is an expert, so I volunteered his services.   We also decided to throw in other breakfast items like French Toast.   

We began in the usual way by driving all over 2 towns, picking up girls.   But we were still able to start by 10:10 a.m. (Sixteen months ago we would not have started until noon....we are making progress!) The topic was:  The Joy of Womanhood.   Many of the girls have  low self esteem and a very negative feeling about womanhood.  After our introduction, we broke into groups to read and discuss.

We took a break and had a cooking demo by "Chef Todd" followed by the girls making breakfast.   Such fun!   Such serious cooking.   We had apricot and strawberry jam, powdered sugar, syrup and butter for toppings.   They were able to choose which one....but they layered each and every thing.   They did not want to miss out on anything.  They ate, cooked, ate and cooked some more.  We used up every egg and ingredient we brought.    

Afterwards, we finished our discussion and study of womanhood from God's point of view and from a worldly perspective. By this time a neighbor girl and joined us and the house was PACKED!   When it was time to leave, I asked what their favorite part of the day had been.   They chimed in "Everything!".  But when pressed, they said the best part was the lesson and what they learned about their potential!!    

Well, in a nutshell, "That says it all!"   They love the food, they love the friendship and fun, but what they need most is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  
Of course, we all know that!!!   But I needed to remember that. 

We have worked hard to teach skills and fill their hungry bellies, but hungry spirits need to be filled also.    During the last 4 months this has been our "refocus".  This is what we were taught 16 months ago at the Missionary Training Center.  We had not forgotten, but sometimes it was not center stage.

 WELCOME TO THE DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA MISSION!

Wednesday we met our newest missionary, Elder Chico, from Mozambique.   Being a missionary is challenging, but Elder Chico speaks Portuguese and a very little English.   He is getting used to a new country, new food and a companion that does not speak or understand one word of Portuguese!  What faith these young men have!

Elder Chico from Mozambique is on the right.  Elder Smith and Elder Matlala (who is going home...and we will miss him greatly) are introducing him to Enseleni.

FAVORITE SIGHT! 

African people are so clean!   No matter where you go, laundry is hanging outside of every home, shack or apartment.   I love the colorful clothes hanging from fences, trees, rope or wire!   Saturday is the traditional wash day, with Sunday as backup, in case of rain.   Every school uniform (all students wear uniforms) and every article of clothing except what they are wearing, is hanging out to dry.   

ZONE CONFERENCE 

This is our mission schedule so you can get a little idea of how things work.

Our mission for young and old missionaries is divided into 6 week increments.  The first 6 weeks, we (young elders and ourselves) have a zone conference in Durban which is 2 hours away.   Usually 1 or 2 other zones attend the same training with us.  So there are about 20-30 missionaries plus 3 senior couples in attendance.   The training goes from 10-6 and the senior couples provide lunch and snacks.   Our mission president and his 2 assistants (young elders) plan and present the training.   
The mission president travels all over the rest of the mission so he can train the other missionaries that are located 4-12 hours away.  So each 6 weeks every missionary receives training from our mission president.
Examples of the training might be:   How to have more effective prayers, receiving personal revelation, how to work together with your companion, the power of the Book of Mormon, developing Christlike attributes, etc.  

The second 6 weeks, the president does interviews.    He travels to every town/city where there are missionaries and he interviews each missionary one-on-one.   This usually takes him 4 weeks of travel to complete this.  

 This schedule repeats  non-stop month after month. Our mission president is only " home" 1-2 weeks every 6 weeks.   The rest of the time they are on the road.   They also visit all the congregations, speak at district conferences and issue temple recommends.   It is a grueling schedule but they never complain and they LOVE the missionaries.   

This good looking group is our zone (missionaries, us and  President and Sister Zachrison).

 SELF RELIANT

Because of the water shortage, many homes do not have any water.    This woman is walking to find the truck that will sell water to fill her drum--not a job for a weakling!

55 gallon drum

We love serving the Lord in South Africa.  We see more clearly each day how much the gospel of Jesus Christ is needed here.   

Elder and Sister Todd
Grandma and Grandpa
Larry and Sandy 

Mountains and Valleys

May 6, 2016

Dear Family,

This week and a half has had such highs and many lows.   We have not had experiences that have been so heart breaking as the lat 3 weeks.    I wonder if it is because we are trying so very hard to do everything possible to strengthen the people during these last 2 months.  We are exercising our faith and asking the Lord what would be the best use of our time.   We are trying to follow the spirit.  More and more and more things come to our mind.   In addition, the branches, young women and young adults have come up with more last minute requests for help.  But many things fall apart that were moving so well. 

I will start with one of our "mountains" this past week.    On Tuesday we left home at 7 a.m. to drive and pick up Praise (a young woman who returned from her mission to Ghana and is still sick, so we are taking her to Durban to a specialist.) and drive to Durban for our Zone Conference.   This will be the last Zone Conference of our mission!   It hardly seems possible.   President Zachrison, really prepares spiritually for these conferences and you can actually FEEL his longing for the spirit to attend us.    Our zone conferences are supposed to be 10-2, but we have learned that they will go from 10 until much later.    Tuesday, the leadership meetings began at 9, then the rest of the zone conference started at 10.   We took a break for lunch and the senior couples provide lunch.  We took a 10 minute break at 2:00 and we served cookies and cupcakes.     WE FINISHED AT 6:00 p.m.!   We had some business to discuss with other people, then we drove Praise home (she went to the doc for 45 minutes and then spent the rest of the time with us at the zone conference) and arrived home after 9:00.   Larry drove home in very bad conditions and we were so grateful to be home safely.  

We felt so touched by the conference theme:  RECEIVING PERSONAL REVELATION.   I have improved on our mission but I am still grateful to be taught more on this subject.   Joseph Smith said, "Salvation cannot come without revelation."   We were taught that we will succeed in our work as we learn to receive and FOLLOW personal revelation.  Joseph Smith said, "It is vain for anyone to minister without it."    That has been our prayer for the last 16 months.  

Something that was enlightening to me was this teaching:   If I feel that I DON'T receive revelation, I need to reflect on my feelings.   After a LONG discussion, we identified how people feel when they receive revelation:   confidence, excitement, plugged in, joy, reassurance, blessed, and "I can do this."     If we have those FEELINGS it is the fruit of revelation and we HAVE received revelation.   This is probably OLD news to you, but I loved hearing it.  

We were instructed to prepare ourselves to ACT.  We need to be available mentally and physically.  Then more revelation comes.   I appreciated all the effort that was put into this conference.     We were cautioned that NEGATIVITY AND BAD ATTITUDES actually stand in the way of revelation.   Those are 2 things that easily come on a mission. 

Lastly, our president spoke to us about RACE.    We have had some problems because of race in companionships that you would never think of  ..or I never thought of.   We have missionaries from many African countries, Malaysia, Canada, England and the US.    Each African country and every other country have different cultures.   These cultures do NOT mesh easily for many people, even with the gospel.   But President said the Lord has brought all these cultures and races together in one cause so we can learn to become knit together.   Learning to be knit together is ANOTHER purpose for missions like the ours.   The Lord accomplishes so MUCH with one task (mission).

OTHER MOUNTAINS

On Monday night we taught the Van Breda family the discussion on the Book of Mormon.   We felt it went very well and they were receptive.   We brought them a Book of Mormon Stories for children and a Book of Mormon in Afrikaans because that is their first language.   The biggest obstacle is that the mother and father work 6-7 days a week at least 12 hours a day---so time for missionary lessons and reading the Book of Mormon is hard to come by.     We arrive when the parents have been home for 30 minutes so they can say hi to their kids.   Then the dad cooks dinner and we teach the rest of the family.    He can hear what is being taught because their house is very small and he is only 3-4 feet away from us while he cooks dinner.    We teach a lesson, play 1 game and then we leave and they eat dinner and the kids go to bed.   The dad has not had one day off work since February 1.    They have asked for this Sunday off work.      But it will be hard for them to progress as much when their work days are so long.   When we arrive their 2 boys (ages 7 and 10) run up to us and throw their arms around us and say:  We miss you so much.

On Thursday night, we taught the Baxter family the Word of Wisdom.   They are such a special family and we love them so much.   They love the gospel but the Word of Wisdom was tough.   They both smoke lots and drink coffee.   We are praying so hard and fasting that they can quit.   It will be very hard.   They tried at the beginning of our teaching them the first lesson and couldn't quit.   But we know that the Lord can and will strengthen and help them.  

But teaching these 2 families is a highlight for us.    We have to REALLY work hard to get appointments with them.    They are so busy.   But it is worth it.