The Best Feeling! Surprise!

Decembere 24, 2015

Greetings to our Wonderful Friends and family,

We (mostly me, but Elder Todd helped with the dishes..and there were many) decided to make cookies and candy and take them around to people we love.   I ended up being very creative with substitutions for candy making.      I actually went online and "googled"  to find how to make Karo Syrup and caramel  and many other things.   The candy didn't taste the same, but it was close enough.  We also made sugar cookies and frosted dozens and dozens.    Now I know why most people don't bake or make candy for Christmas in South Africa---it is too hot to have your oven on!!!!!   Our landlady thought I was crazy, but I was determined to deliver Christmas goodies.   Of course, I was sampling the goodies and eating more than my share.  

Many of the people are not used to super sweet things like fudge, truffles,etc., so I wasn't sure if they would like it.   However, they all smacked their lips and asked me to bring them more (not until the weather is much cooler).    We loved visiting with people and sharing a Christmas message.   We were able to share several Christmas videos and felt the true meaning of Christmas. 

I imagine that all of you are very hustling and bustling with all the Christmas preparations.  We are striving to help people focus on our Savior Jesus Christ.   It has been interesting to experience the "Spirit of Christmas" in South Africa.   The feeling is very different here.    Very few homes (even with small children) have a Christmas tree or any decorations.     Those that have trees, have 3 foot trees.   The emphasis is on big parties with lots of food and lots of drinking.   People are planning  braiis (bar-b-ques) and going to the beach (remember it has been over 100 degrees and very humid).   Many people return to the "land of their birth" for the "festive season" as it is called here.    We have seldom heard the word "Christmas" by anyone.   In fact, families often send their children to a relative in another city for the festive season if there is not enough money for the entire family to travel. 

Church attendance has been way down!   If people do not go out of town, they stay at home and take a "holiday" from church, work, obligations etc.   Last Sunday, Elder Todd and I were asked to give the sermons at church.    There were only15 people, including us.  It was empty.   We were wondering if it was because they heard we were speaking (ha) but then we remembered that we had only been asked to speak the night before--so no one knew we were the program. 

THE BEST FEELING

No matter where you live, or what time of year, the best feeling comes from focusing on other people.   We have been so blessed to be able to do that!!!!!    We hope we have been able to brighten lives, lift burdens and share the joy of Jesus Christ.   But WE have been blessed as well.  It is hard to describe the feeling of gratitude that washes over me several times each day.   I will briefly share what happened one day.   (It is so hard for me to be brief because I want to share every detail of our work here.)

Elder Todd and I were driving to Enselini to visit the Alvanas.   They do not consider it a "visit" unless you stay AT LEAST one and a half hours.    If you pop in for 10 minutes, they do NOT feel that you visited them.   We had many things we felt we needed to do that Friday and we said to ourselves, "We will NOT stay more than one hour."   However, as we sat outside talking, it seemed like this family was our own family!   We enjoyed hearing every detail of the past week.   We sat and discussed random things. We also showed 4 short videos and they loved them.  So we showed the same ones again.    I looked at my watch a few times and ignored what I saw.   Finally, after 2 1/2 hours they said, "You probably need to go see someone else."   We were so HAPPY we had stayed and given our full time and attention to this wonderful family.

We left and drove back to town to visit a part member family, Freddy and Asha.   We had the exact same experience here.....2 1/2 hours of heart- felt visiting.  They have many issues that they repeat over and over and over.   But we did not feel impatient.   we listened carefully.   We showed a few videos here also.   They have 6 grown children that live nearby but they are still "lonely" and hungry for inspirational messages.  

We headed for home, realizing we had not accomplished much on our "To-Do" list.  Yet, we felt so filled with happiness!   Then we had a thought to go visit Bongi, who just finished all his cancer treatments.   His wife just joined, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but he is not interested.    He was semi-interested in letting us stop by, but agreed to let us come for only a few minutes.    Well, he shared so many of his feelings and struggles.   His wife had been feeling overwhelmed with the financial/emotional burdens of cancer.    As we prayed together, shared their burdens and shared a thought, we all felt peaceful.   They had us stay for over an hour. 

When we finally left, we felt exhausted and exhilarated for the friendships we have made here.   There is no better feeling!

SURPRISE.....but more than one person was surprised.  

The following Saturday we attended a surprise party for Bongi.    Because it was a surprise, we felt we needed to be on time.  We left a practice for a Christmas program early, and drove to the party at 5:00 as instructed.    We were the ONLY ones there and we didn't dare go up to their apartment and ruin the surprise.   At 5:30 one other person arrives.   At 7:00 others arrive.   There is a pool for this apartment complex and we are sitting around the pool waiting for the guest of honor.  At about 8:00 the party begins.  At 8:45, Elder Todd stands up and is talking to some people.   He takes a step backwards, and falls backwards into the swimming pool!    He is fully dressed in his suit pants, white shirt, tie, dress shoes, etc.   I see a big splash and realize my companion is thrashing about in the pool!   It would have been no big deal, except he twisted his knee as he fell.   He has been limping and in pain for the past 6 days.   He is putting ice on  it when he can.   

But maybe even worse, is his iphone was ruined.    We have had the iphone for 5 months and it makes our work so much easier---texting is much easier and we can hear better on the phone.     We even took it to a repair shop in Durban when we went for our mission party.
 Oh well!    The challenges of modern technology.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE MISSION

Another way to feel the Christmas spirit is to join with 110 young missionaries, 6 senior couples and our mission president and his wife.

All of the missionaries within a 4 hour drive came to Durban for a Christmas Party hosted by our mission president.     They repeated this party on the other side of the mission for the 30 missionaries and senior couples that live 5-11 hours away.   Each missionary zone sang a Christmas carol and presented a Christmas message.   President Zachrison shared powerful insights on the Savior, we had a catered meal (Yipee!   No cooking and no dishes!!!).    The spirit filled the room.   What a treat to see these 18-21 year old boys/men sacrificing so much to share the message of Jesus Christ.    So many of them have never been away from home before----especially at Christmas.    It was supposed to go from 11 am- 3pm but it lasted until 5:30.   So many of these missionaries are in isolated places and this was a chance for them to gather with other missionaries. 

We testify that Jesus Christ lives.   He is our Savior.    He is the "reason for the season".   He is "The Gift" to every person who will ever live.

Merry Christmas,

Elder and Sister Todd

Grandma and Grandpa

Mom and Dad

Nana and Papa