BOUND IN HEAVEN 23 - 29 May 2016

This was a week of TEMPLE SEALINGS. We were privileged to witness the sealing of four couples in the Johannessburg Temple for time and eternity.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled, "The most important single thing that any Latter-day Saint ever does in this world is to marry the right person, in the right place, by the right authority."  And that right place is in one of the Lord's temples.  This week four couples made that decision to marry the right person, in the right place by the right authority. And what an honor to be there with them.

 The most important covenant we prepare for is being sealed in the temple.  When individuals keep their temple covenants, they experience true joy. There is no greater joy than kneeling across the alter and hearing the promises the Lord gives if we are faithful to the covenants we take.  The greatest happiness comes through living the gospel and maintaining a temple marriage. I pray that these young couples truly realize the importance of the sealing and hold on to those promises that they made this week.

Monday, 23 May 2016 I entered the canteen (cafeteria) for lunch and saw this group of three young couples sitting at one of the tables.  I approached them and started talking.  They had just arrived from Uganda. In our conversation I found out that they had been married the week before (most countries in Africa require that couples are married traditionally in their country before coming to the temple - but have to make it to the temple within two weeks or they have to wait the year) and were here to be sealed the following day.  We found out that they knew a lot of the Ugandan elders that served with us and people that we have recently met from Uganda.  There was a great discussion surrounding their meeting each other and their journey to this point. All six were returned missionaries and there had been no lebola paid for the marriage - quite an accomplishment here. These sweet couples come to the temple usually with no family accompanying them because the cost is so astronomical.  This was the situation that these couples were in.  So I told them that I would make them a cake and we would celebrate after their sealing ceremony the following day.  Tuesday morning they came into our office and invited us to the sealing at 5:00 that evening.  Yebo!  In the temple, one of the young men asked Dennis to be one of his witnesses. What a pleasure.

Our first meeting

Ivan and Agnes Babeeyo, Benjamin and Elizabeth Senda, Christopher and Martha Wakaindi

 On their way to the temple

Sealed for time and all eternity....
Mr. and Mrs. Wakaindi

 Mr. and Mrs. Senda

 Mr. and Mrs. Babeeyo

 Our celebration after

Saturday, 28 May 2016 Mohau and Lebo were sealed for time and all eternity.  Mohau Sele was one of our elders in Swaziland and we have been watching the relationship between him and Lebo grow for the last year.  It was wonderful to be here so we could share in their joyous occasion.  She asked me to be her escort on Friday when she entered the temple for the first time to receive her endowments.  You could tell she was well prepared.  They both spent Friday night with us in our home and such excitement on Saturday morning when they woke.  Again, Mohau asked Dennis to be a witness and the sealing was absolutely perfect.  Their eyes never left each other and their love and spirit filled the room.  Lebo made a beautiful bride! Mohau's sister and a few friends were able to be in the temple with him and Lebo said all she had was us.  What a sacrifice for them and for the families that were left outside.  So grateful that all eight of our children and their spouses were able to be in attendance at the sealing of our last daughter.  Our cup runneth over! 

Dennis and I took the wedding pictures outside on the temple grounds after where families were gathered.  It was so fun to be part.  After they had a small gathering at a buffet restaurant in Kagiso where we enjoyed great food and again, a chocolate cake from Fournos.  A busy, tiring day but one filled with happiness.  We drove the couple back to the temple patron housing where they spent the night.  They were going to go home to where his family stays - a three room home where they would have shared their first night with his mother, his two sisters and three nieces and nephews in a very confind area.  We couldn't bare the thought, so arranged with Rene Gorman to let them stay at the area office in patron housing.  What joy to share this day with Mr. and Mrs. Sele.

Getting ready for the temple on Friday

 Enjoying my Swaziland mission book before Mohau retires

 Lebo is getting ready to iron her wedding dress.  She sent Sele out because she didn't want him to see her dress.

 On the way to the temple Saturday morning.

 After the ceremony.....this is Sele's friend from Durban that came to be with him

 Dennis carrying the wedding dress...meeting up with Thabang Mokoena who also served with us in Swaziland

 Bernard Mabena - a zone leader in Swaziland - and his bride whose wedding we also attended

 The beautiful Johannesburg Temple

 A beautiful day

 Mohau's nieces and nephew

 A reunion of Swaziland elders

 Sele's family

 Swazi's forever

 While we were waiting outside, Lebo is getting ready for the grand entrance. Ntobi - Mohau's sister

 Presenting the new Mr. and Mrs. Sele

 Families started singing and they came out dancing

The group

 They have taken the big LEAP..

 Lebo and her mother

 The buffet at Silverstar Casino in Krugersdorp

 A bad picture but I couldn't resist

 This is Mohau's home - they needed a place to spend the night together
FYI - on Wednesday Lebo had to return to her home in Polokwane - about 4 hours away - to finish her schooling.  Mohau works at Avis in Joburg.  They will be separated for quite some time.

THE REST OF THE WEEK.....

On Monday, 23 May we also met these amazing women from the small village of Gulu, Uganda.  We had heard about this small village from the Taylor's who served there and was so excited to meet these women. They were here to attend the temple for the first time.

Ricky and Beatrice - our new friends

 This is Ricky and Beatrice as they were getting ready to return home to Uganda.  They are with Sawman Machakaire - a bishop in Harare, Zimbabwe, a man that they just met.  Such loving people.

 Saying good-bye to Ricky and Beatrice.  (Area office in background.)

Also Monday night we had an "OLD FASHIONED FAMILY HOME EVENING" with a discussion with President and Sister Hamilton.  After, I taught them "huckle buckle beanstalk" and we had peach cobbler for refreshments.

 Our new Area President and his wife

A family we met in the Orange Grove Ward at John Ndaba's baptism.  They are from the DRC and have a fascinating story that we want to capture.

 The Bedfordview chapel

 This cute couple just arrived from a two day drive from Windhoek, Namibia where she has held the position of Country Public Affair director for seven years.  They had come to attend the temple. Such dedicated people to come from all over to attend the temple.
Womba and Licius Nashiwaya - look at those smiles!

 Wednesday, 25 October, we had the elders over for dinner....Elders Tekurio (from Tahiti) and Ndwandwe.  Elder Ndwandwe is one of our Lobamba boys and is returning home 1 June.
 "Well done thou good and faithful servant"

In the afternoon of Thursday, 26 May, we attended the temple with the MTC missionaries and was the witness couple.  It is always a pleasure to be in the temple with the missionaries because they carry such a strong, humble spirit with them.

Sunday, 29 May, we attended the Kagiso 1 Ward so we could do an oral interview with Bishop Crosby Ngwenya and his wife, Thoko, who was the secretary to Area President Cook.  They have been faithful members of the church for many years with Crosby serving in the Soweto stake presidency for many years and now bishop.  They had a great story.  After, we drove straight for the devotional room in the area office for a fireside with Area Seventy, Tasara Makasi and his wife. They were great talks but Sister Makasi's touched me deeply.

Kagiso 1 Ward refreshments after a 5th Sunday Family History presentation

 Crosby and Thoko Ngwenya

 Zone Fireside with temple couples

Sister and Elder Tasara Makasi

 Yummies!!!!!

 Some darlings from Alexandra Branch

 Had to add this common scene on our way to Kagiso

'WHATSOEVER YOU BIND ON EARTH, MAY BE BOUND IN HEAVEN"