UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

Although we have returned from our mission, I would like to share a few things from our last week in South Africa.   We were so "swamped", I did not take time to blog.   It was such a bitter/sweet week.  We were anxious to get home to to our wonderful family and 2 new grand babies!  Yet, these people had become our "African family" and were so dear to us.  In addition to being so busy, I could not face trying to express our feelings about our experiences in Africa in writing.

(Because this will be long, I will blog ONE more time at the end of the week talking about our 11 days of sightseeing in Africa after our mission was over. ) 

"All Good Things Must Come To An End"

As I reflect on the last 18 months, I do not think this saying is true.   Many things will last forever---our feelings for Africa, our testimony of Jesus Christ, our love for the people, our appreciation for the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it helps ALL PEOPLE in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

We do not feel our mission was a sacrifice.  We were blessed beyond measure .  We will never be able to thank the Lord enough for allowing us to serve him in South Africa.

Miss or Not Miss

*We will miss $6.00 car washes which include hand washing on the exterior of the car.  Trunk cleaned, tires scoured, interior vacuuming, carpets scrubbed, dash board polished, windows cleaned on the inside and outside.    This takes a team of young men about 1 hour or more!  Quite a Deal.

*We have not pumped any gas for 18 months! When you pull into a gas station the attendant washes your windshield, checks your fluids and pumps your gas---for a 50 cent tip---even if it is 105 degrees outside.   

*Breathtaking experiences with animals will be missed.  

*Opportunities to serve the Zulu people will be missed.

*We will miss wearing our name tags.   What a privledge it was to wear the name of Jesus Christ on our chest every single day.  Our name tags opened so many doors for us!  Taking off our name tags was one of the hardest things we did.

*We will NOT miss driving in South Africa.   Each time we climbed inside the car, it was stressful.  Driving on the left hand side was challenging at first, but eventually became second nature to Larry.   Crazy drivers never got easier.   The traffic rules are just suggestions in South Africa.   We never saw a traffic policeman stop anyone for any reason.   Having cars pass on your right side and your left side at the same time on a 2 lane road was unsettling.  People randomly slamming on their brakes and completely stopping, taxis and buses stopping to unload passengers without notice in the middle of an intersection, cars and trucks driving with no lights at night, etc.  

Interestingly, we have been home since July 9th, and already the thoughts and emotions have begun to fade as we step back into our life in the USA.   I will not be able to convey fully, the daily goodbyes and celebrations that continued in our behalf.    Because I did not write sooner, the thoughtful acts have become blurred.    But I will give a brief recap of what I remember.

Countdown to Departure

We had not scheduled anything the last week of our mission so we could clean, sort, cancel utilities and pack, etc.  We were "patting ourselves on the back" for allowing time to close up our house.   Well, we DEFINITELY congratulated ourselves too soon!!

Although these appointments during the last week might seem mundane and maybe just "busyness", looking back we know we were guided by the hand of the Lord.   

During the week,  we felt impressions from the Lord during each visit.   We could feel the Lord's love for each individual and felt the Lord sending a unique message to each one.   I typed those simple messages in italics.  

Monday, we drove to Enseleni to have our last Family Home Evening with the Alvana family.   I hurried and made some "treats" for us to eat and packed up any food from our frig that we would not be able too use.    The Alvanas were the first family to welcome us and we have spent so many hot evenings together under their mango tree.   After our lesson, they served us dinner and then we taught them a new game called, "Seven Up" (but not the game from school where you put your hands down on the desk).   We laughed so hard.   Fo the last 2 hours, "we walked down memory lane" recalling so many events from the past 18 months.   When we left at 10:30 pm (they used to go to bed early until we started to visit them), we were shocked at how late it was.  During the evening, we took the opportunity to challenge Mesllissah and Shaga (their teenage children) to continue to do well in school.  We discussed the importance of college and how they might achieve that goal.   They listened and they began planning.   Education is a vital key to their future which we discuss often, but tonight they were eager and receptive.

The orange crate in the middle serves as the table for everything---playing games (rolling the dice, laying down UNO cards,etc.), serving drinks (they set a large tray with all of the glasses), serving dessert, holding the flashlights on dark nights and much more.  Under this mango tree is where everything is done!!!

Tuesday, Praise and Nondumiso asked us to drive up to Empangeni and tell them goodbye. When we arrived, they announced they were taking us to dinner.   Praise does not have ANY money so we insisted that we would rather "just visit".    However, they were determined to treat us to dinner.   We found a cafe and visited for 3 1/2 hours.   Praise is about 21 and Nodumiso is about 26 years old.   They presented me with a beautiful beaded Zulu necklace and shared their love for us!   

I shared with them more ways to work with the young women in the Richards Bay District.  (I know it was crazy to be training until the last possible minute!)   We both felt impressed to share some thoughts with them.   Larry counseled them about "waiting for the right young man to marry".   So many of the young women have such low standards for a marriage partner. Women receive so little respect.  We expressed our admiration for them.   What choice women they are....we pray for the Lord to send them a righteous man to marry.  

Wednesday we attended our last District Training Meeting taught by the missionaries from 11-1:00.   We will miss their spiritual trainings that they prepare for all of the elders (and us) each week.   It is humbling to be taught by these 19-20 year old young men about developing the attributes of Jesus Christ, understanding the teachings of our Savior, serving others and sharing the gospel.   After the training, we bought pizza and served lunch for the last time.   

Richards Bay elders (with stuffed animal they found in the building).

At 5:00 we drove to Ngwelesane to visit Samkelo Moloi and his grandfather.   They are both struggling and we shared our love and encouragement. We read scriptures together and there was a wonderful feeling.
 At 7:00 pm we drove to President and Sister Gezane's home for dinner.   Again, we were given beautiful Zulu jewelry.  We shared a very simple assignment with them and they readily accepted.   When we feel into bed, it was very late......and we had not done any packing or cleaning so far.    

Gezane Family

Thursday, we went to workout for the last time. I took a Book of Mormon to each of the ladies I have become friends with.   Next, we hurried to get haircuts and then went grocery shopping.   How can I be shopping for food when we are leaving in 2 days?!   I guess because we needed something to eat!   At noon, we took Louise, our landlady, to lunch at her favorite place.   We spent a few hours so she could show us some of her favorite places in the area.  She was so happy to have someone to listen to her talk about her husband and the places they went before he passed away.     We have developed a very close relationship with Louise, and we hate to leave her alone.....there will not be another senior couple to take our place until September or October.

Louise Nels, our landlady and passionate Afrikaner .

At 3:50 we were on the road to Enseleni for our final goodbyes.   We had printed out pictures we had taken at baptisms, and put them in frames to give to give to several youth.   We delivered the photos along with candy bars (a must!).  Next we stopped at President Chiliza's home to say goodbye to the 12 children/grandchildren that live with him.  We asked all the grandchildren to sing hymns for us.   They loved it.   Then we made our final goodbye to the precious Alvana family.  So hard!   Sister Alvana called us so many times until our plane finally left South Africa---that is a big sacrifice, because people are very frugal with their "air time" (cell phone minutes).  

Friday at 10:00, we arrived at Freddy and Asha's home for my cooking lesson.   We had eaten Biryani (how do you spell it??) so many times at their house.   I asked Asha to teach me cook an Indian dish.   She was thrilled to spend the morning showing me how to cook this Indian dish (with many spices I have never heard of). She could hardly wait to tell her friends she gave an American cooking lessons.  Inspite of my lesson, I don't think I will ever be a fabulous Indian cook!  This couple has treated us like family members.   Asha is not a member of our church, but we are dear friends.     These farewells are each heart breaking.

Learning to make an Indian dish from Asha.

At 2:00 we headed for the mall to buy the missionaries a vacuum cleaner.    They have no carpet, but felt they could clean their apartment better.  At 3:00 we arrived at President duPlooy's home.    We wanted to share our concerns and dreams for the members of the Richards Bay district with him.   He did want to know our ideas, but was seriously disappointed that I had not brought any brownies or cake...big mistake.   It was on my list but we ran out of time.

We realized we needed to cancel our phone and internet service, and hurried back to the mall.    We were informed we had to give them 30 days notice or they would not cancel it. We asked if they could cancel by "flipping a switch" at the office.   They said, "Yes."   But they needed 30 days to put us in the schedule!

TO-DO LIST OR "PEOPLE"

Saturday morning we awoke in a panic---packing not started, cleaning and sorting was still incomplete.  However, I felt like the Lord had guided us all week.  We realized that we had spent all our time with people---not completing "tasks".  HOWEVER, Larry reminded me that we would be up most of the night because of our choices.   We began working in a frenzy.    In the afternoon, I calmly asked if we had time to go and buy me a Zulu skirt.   It is something I had planned to do for months, but had never gotten around to it.   Surprisingly (considering the work we still needed to do) he said, "Let's go."  

ANOTHER TENDER MERCY

We drove to a Zulu market that we had never been to before.   We found a stall with the skirts and purchased on.   The area was packed with customers/vendors but I thought I heard my name being called.   I turned to look and saw Nobuthle running towards us.  She gave us the biggest embrace and greeting.   She was a member of our congregation, but moved suddenly and we had no idea where she went.    She told us she was married and living in another area and was lonely.   We met her husband and invited them both to come to church.  Her husband had not wanted her to attend any church, and husbands have complete control over such things here.   We explained to him why she wanted to come to church and the blessings it would bring to their marriage.   We stood in the market and visited for quite awhile.   

As we left, I knew that the Lord loved Nobuthle and guided us to go to the market at exactly that time so we could meet her and show her love and attention.     She told us that they just "happened" to walk this way to the taxi.  This experience,  "MADE MY DAY".

We hurried back to work and at 9 pm, I began baking brownies.   I was determined to deliver them to President duPlooy before we left (which I did the next morning).  Larry felt  I was crazy, but he continued to pack as I baked.

Sunday morning, we picked up Freddy and drove to church in Richards Bay Branch.   After our meetings, we drove home, put our suitcases in the car, and tearfully drove off for the last time.    

About 4 p.m. we arrived at the Mission Home.   That evening, President and Sister Zachrison honored us and 5 other missionaries who were going home the next day.   We had a yummy dinner and a testimony meeting.  There was so much laughter and tears.   The powerful testimonies of these young elders were amazing.  These young men were returning to Uganda, Johannesburg and the United States.  

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the last 18 months.  Where did the time go???   In a week I will post the pictures of our 11 day trip after our mission was completed.

Love,
Elder and Sister Todd
Mom and Dad
Larry and Sandy