The dictionary definition of adventure….”an exciting or unusual experience. It may be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome.” As we boarded the plane to South Africa, our “exciting or unusual experience began”. It was a beginning with new challenges to face, new memories to make and new obstacles to overcome. I stepped on the plane, took a deep breath and started a new chapter in my life.
It didn’t take Dennis long to get into the missionary spirit. When we arrived in Atlanta, I feel asleep on the ground while Dennis went and made friends with those going to Africa. He met a man that worked for KMPG Accounting firm that had been in America for a convention. His name was Edson. They talked about the gospel and Dennis got his name and number and asked if the missionaries could come. He agreed and then offered to take us to where we needed to go once we got to Johannesburg, but we graciously declined due to the fact that we had a ride. We were seated on the very back row opposite from each other so that we could have aisle seats. A young man was sitting next to Dennis and he found out that this youth had just graduated from high school and was going to Swaziland for a volunteer project in a clinic in Manzini…he wants to become a doctor. Now, what are the odds that of the 350+ people on the plane, Dennis would sit next to someone going to Swaziland. Added to our excitement. Of course, we had a lot to share with him. I was sitting next to an Indian couple that had been in New York for a wedding of a relative and returning home after three weeks. Such a nice couple. And in front of me was a mother with 3 children that had been in Pennsylvania for 7 months while she studied law and they were returning home. They were adorable children and so good during the flight. The 16 hours to our destination didn’t really seem that long. Surrounded by great people, an extremely tired body and soul and excitement about the future, made the time slip by.
Our cute friend returning home
We arrived at 5:45 p.m. Johannesburg time, 23 hours after we left Salt Lake. Getting through customs went smoothly. When we walked outside to the lobby we saw a couple with name tags and immediately felt calm. Again, it is amazing what those name tags can do. We soon found out that they were Elder and Sister Egan. When I turned around there was former Elder Michael Paulo who served with us in Swaziland and his wife, Amy. What a pleasant surprise to see him. I was filled to tears. It was so good to meet his wife and share our memories. I kept apologizing to the Egans but I didn’t want to end our conversation. I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture, so I will just include one from face book.
Cute Amy and Michael Paulo
The Egans took us to what would become our new home for the next 18 months. It was a recently renovated apartment with new furniture and appliances. It really is nice. I was disappointed at first that we were the only couple in the area office that was not in a place called Dukes Court…..I had enjoyed being with the couples there before when we came to visit Johannesburg…they were all together and it was fun. But I can honestly say now, after two weeks, that this place of ours has become home and I love it. We have a beautiful, huge patio that will be great for entertaining. The places here do not have heating or air conditioning, so our place is extremely cold. We came just as the cold arrived and we sit by heaters and wear jackets. But that is okay. We have a king size bed, they had food for us in the kitchen, electricity, a bathroom, running water. Life is good.
Sunday, June 7th the Egans picked us up for church at 8:00 and we drove to Soweto to a branch named Protea Glen. Good to be back in Africa on the Sabbath day . The first people that greeted us were some missionaries. I started talking to them asking them if they knew of Elder Dlamini or Elder Mavundla from Swaziland. One of the elders took out his white handbook with his name on it and it said Elder Mfundo Mavundla!!!!!! Eish, it was Mfundo from Manzini. Boy, was I embarrassed. But it didn’t dampen the excitement of seeing him. I thank Heavenly Father for allowing us to be with him our first day on mission. We loved church. The speaker was a former missionary of Elder Egan who was mission president in Capetown a few years ago. His name is Xolani and his wife’s name is Futhi Lubisi. The lessons were grand and the spirit strong. We came home and slept for a few hours and then had dinner at the Egans with some other couples. That night we slept peacefully…after we got warm.
Dennis, Elder Mavundla’s companion, Elder Mfundo Mavundla, Me
(No, mission rules have not changed. You still have to wear a tie while on mission. Dennis is without a tie because he gave it to Mfundo. Mfundo noticed his Swazi Warrior tie and said that he had given his away to someone who really wanted it. Dennis took his off and gave it to Mfundo.)
NOTE: Dennis gave Elder Mavundla Edson’s, the man Dennis met at the Atlanta airport, contact information so he could follow up on the referral.
Relief Society sisters – we were sitting in front of a little heater…we were cold
Young women in the branch
Elder Robert Egan, Sister Connie Barton (her husband is the area doctor and is gone for 10 days), Sister Jill Jones, Elder Ben Jones (they are going home in a week), Sister Martha Egan, Elder Cornelius (had a broken leg and was going home), Me
Monday, we were picked up at 8:00, taken to the area office, introduced to a lot of people, attended their weekly Monday devotional, were given our entry cards, saw our Church History Center where we will be spending the next 18 months, got our computer set up, received a brand new white Toyota Corolla, and then we were on our own. One of the first people we met was Portia Mabasa– our dear sweet girl from Swaziland that we were privileged to get to know. We did not know that she was working in the Area Office. Another Swazi reunion.
Sweet Portia
?, George, Patricia (our cleaning lady for our office)
Chefs in the canteen (lunch room)
Tuesday, June 9, was spent in the office trying to get oriented. The cabinets were all locked so we had no supplies. We were going through the computer trying to find all the important documents that we needed. We met more of the amazing people in the office – both employees and senior couples. We have no internet or phone at home, it is cold and no television so we end up going to bed early to get warm. The first item we bought for the home was an electric pad for the bed – it felt so good to get into a warm bed. Elder George and Sister Carla Jarvi came over to visit and brought us hangers and a crockpot. That visit was so appreciated. Our first visitors in our new home.
The missionaries in Family History – right above our office
George and Carla Jarvi, Dan and Ruth Ann Stokes, Nathan and Barbara Hales , me
Patricia cleaning our center
Thoko and Chatty – secretaries for the Area Presidency
Elder Bruce Kinghorn (Welfare), Sister Susan Peterson, Elder Walter Peterson (Welfare formerly Humanitarian)
Wednesday was kind of a repeat day of the others this week. Understanding our responsibilities, calling on Marc and Matt (IT department), going home so they can come and fix things. Elder and Sister Weeks came over and brought more hangers (which we needed) and chocolate chips!! Something you cannot find here.
Renee from Temple Housing
Philadelphia our receptionist
Thursday, June 11 was a repeat of the other days. That night though, Nathan and Ruth Hale invited us for dinner. They also invited the Bergs – Area Public Affairs Director. We had a great time. Even though we are only a 7 minute walk to Dukes Court from our place, Elder Hale came to pick us up. We have been advised not to walk anywhere in the dark and it gets dark at 5:00 p.m.
Nathan and Barbara Hale – he is the son of Nathan and Ruth Hale of Hale Center Theatre. This is their 5th mission. A great couple.
Friday, June 12 was a special day. It started the same as the others. Jesse and Cecil (our maintenance helpers) came in to see about unlocking our cabinet doors. Unsuccessful but asked if they could come to our flat and do some repairs and put up our clock at 1:00. Yebo was the answer. While we were there, Renee called us and told us there was someone at our office that wanted to see us….but they wanted to keep it a surprise. So we hurried Cecil along and ran back to the office. It was Gcina and Xolile Hlatswayo from Mbabane! What a thrill! They were coming to the temple to hopefully be sealed but didn’t know that they needed a living ordinance recommend, so they were disappointed. They wanted us to be there. Would have been a pleasure. But we went to a session together which was grand. We walked into the chapel and there were the Hales – they were leading the session. I sat down, looked up and there was former Elder Reuben Holmes and his wife as the witness couple! He had served with us in Mbabane as a zone leader. Can you even begin to imagine the joy that I felt. The session was beautiful. Also, in attendance was Elder Holmes parents whom we had met before at the temple while we were on mission. Needless to say, it was a very special session. The Hlatsway’s also knew Elder Holmes….so another great reunion. After pictures, the Hlatswayo went to their room in the temple patron housing (as he left he said…”safe journey” a very common phrase we hear)and we went back to our office to finish work we had started earlier that afternoon. I slept wonderfully that night.
Our unique wall clock – just like the one at home!!!!!
Me, Elder Holmes, (I need to find out her name – forgot)
Holmes, Hlatswayo, Lombardi
The Holmes family
Saturday, June 13 we slept in a little – too cold to get out of bed. I finally crawled out of bed and faced the cold, cleaned the house, went grocery shopping at Hyper Pic N Pay, made dessert for our party tonight, went to the office to email our missionaries and family, went to Mikes Kitchen for lunner and returned home in time to greet our guests…..Hales – Huntsville, Stokes – Namba, Idaho, and Jarvi – Anchorage, Alaska. We played African Salad and Mormon Bridge, had goodies and dessert. It was a really fun evening.
Sunday, June 14 – back enjoying Sabbath in Africa. Again, my favorite day of the week. The Egan’s picked us up at 10:00 to take us to the ward we have been assigned to. It is in Soweto called the Kagiso II Ward – just split a few weeks ago. It was a warm chapel – felt so good. They had us introduce ourselves and bare our testimonies. The talks were fabulous – one sister talked on having a Christ-centered life and the high council man, Xolani Sibusi, talk was on self-reliance. It didn’t end there. Sunday School lesson was amazing. She talked about Matt 25 – the ten virgins. There was great participation. Next, Relief Society lesson on flooding the world with the Book of Mormon. After church there was a baptism of a sister with two small children. I was so impressed and so excited to get to know these members even better in the future. The ward mission leader came and took our picture for the ward directory. We came home spiritually fed. Later that day, Elder Lane and Sister Eileen Davis (South Jordan) came over with homemade bran muffins. Can’t believe how kind people are. I am now listening to music and guess what is playing…..My Cup Runneth Over. How appropriate…that is exactly how I feel!
Lombardi, Futhi and Xolani Sibusi
Lombardi’s with Bongo (I will learn his sur name eventually) – ward mission leader
Baptism
A note of interest. Just so you know, there are many times that I wonder what I am doing here and miss home so much. Sunday morning I couldn’t sleep. I woke up at 4:00 in the morning, tossed for an hour because it was cold and I didn’t want to get out of bed but finally couldn’t stay any longer, so I got up. I had no internet but really needed to talk to someone from home, so I tried to contact family on messaging on the phone. I think I wrote 12 messages which I think no one ever received. I was so homesick. But then, just a few hours later, I was experiencing this amazing day in church. The Lord takes care of me and I am so grateful for Him and know this is where He wants me. Look at those faces in the above picture. How can you not love them…..my heart is full.
I have been thinking about a statement that Forrest Gump said, “Life is like a box of chocolates….you never know what you’re going to get.” But everything I do get is going to teach me something along the way and make me the person I am today. That’s the exciting part – it’s an adventure in itself. And eish, I am having quite the adventure!
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