“I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some souls to repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me…”
“A man who is full of the love of God is not content with blessing his family only, but thinks about all of the people in the world, anxious to bless the whole human race..”Joseph Smith
Here in Africa there is a strong missionary spirit – a spirit which urges the young to go out and share with their country what they have so recently discovered “And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them” (Mosiah 28:3-4) and they go out to declare the truthfulness of the gospel because they “could not bear that any human soul should perish” without it.
This week we had the privilege to be with missionaries and feel of their missionary zeal. So many of them had just found the gospel themselves and with this new found faith wanted to share it with others so entered the missionary field. They desire that others know what they know, feel what they feel and do what they have done which was enter into the waters of baptism. The amazing thing about missionary work is that both parties involved, the missionary and the investigator, feel of the spirit and are edified by the teaching that occurs. These newly baptized young men, become stronger and firmer in their testimony when they serve their missions. This I can testify because I witnessed it this week.
On Wednesday, 11 November we joined around 140 young elders of the Johannesburg, South Africa mission for an all mission zone conference at the Walter Sisulu Botancal Gardens. Their theme was to “move their mission to unimagined heights, while inspiring and uplifting their Elders to push their limits and aspire higher.” It was an honor to be there with them. The elders started arriving at 8:00 a.m. and we had our stick game set up (we had another set made to accommodate the numbers) and they played and visited. Then they gathered inside a hall and was inspired and motivated by their mission president and counselors. After they separated into their zones and was instructed by their zone leaders with team building activities. Back for lunch and a speaker who was the 3rd South African woman to climb Mt. Everest (1 of only 500 woman), Lee den Hond. With her pictures and her motivational words, the elders were inspired to meet any challenge and conquer any surmountable task that was put before them. Following the guest speaker, they changed their clothes and hiked to a waterfall led by President Dunn and his wife, Linda. It was a very hot day, but they all enjoyed the hike and reached the summit. The conference ended with an inspirational talk by their president. It felt so good to be back with the missionaries. Oh how I have missed working with them and feeling of their spirit. So grateful to be part of this event.
Setting up the game – Elder Zweli Dlamini helped us since he was familiar with the game back in Swaziland
Sister Linda Dunn and Sister Allred getting everything organized
Playing Kubb
Gotta love the elders…..
Instructions begin….
President Dunn’s opening speech (the only picture I had)
A song was written just for this conference by one of the elders
Bro. Nsane – counselor in the mission presidency
Zone activities begin…..
Preparing the lunches
Me, young girl that helps Elizabeth in the canteen at the area office, Elder Larsen, Sister Dunn and Elder and Sister Allred
Our guest speaker – Lee den Hond
When she reached the summit, she put up the South African flag that had been signed by an orphanage here that she sponsors.
Starting their ascent to their summit….
Successful
Ending this wonderful day of instruction and motivation
Zweli – one of our Lobamba boys that ends his mission on 9 December
Elder Lefthand – one of his ancestors was one of the three first missionaries sent to South Africa – Talbot.
This young man was from Uganda and knew some of our Swazi warriors…
Friday morning, 13 November (Friday the 13th) we were at the airport to welcome Elder Mbongiseni Nkambule and Elder Manqoba Ndlovu, Swazi warriors, back from their mission in Uganda. They had a two-hour layover on there way back to Swaziland. Seeing them again was pure joy. We figured in the two years they have been serving, we finished our mission in Swaziland, went home for 16 months, had returned to Africa and been here for almost 6 months. A lot has happened since they left for mission. It is a long sacrifice for these boys that go out and serve missions. We took them to lunch and had such a good time talking about their experiences and feeling of their missionary spirit.
While we were waiting we met this cute lady and her daughter who was also waiting for a missionary returning from Uganda.
Reunion after two years……
Elder Mbongiseni NNkambule
Seven missionaries returning from mission – one was going to Cape Town, one to Malawi, and not sure of the others.
Elder Manqoba Ndlovu (one of six 1st elders to serve in Rwanda) from Gege, Elder Mothajana (was AP),Nkambule from Lobamba
Manqoba, Me and Mbongiseni
“I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves, that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?” Alma 5:16 Well done, Manqoba and Mbongiseni. You have been faithful servants.
The missionary spirit was at its ultimate height on Saturday when we joined 14 young adults from Botswana who had just returned from their missions. Let me tell you a little about these youth. They live in a small village named Mochudi, Botswana and meet in a large tent for church. These young men and two sisters joined the church around the same time…..all of them in the same branch (which is now a ward). When Elder and Sister Taylor arrived, the branch president asked if they could help him get these young men (called the Band of Brothers) on missions. So for the next year they had fund raisers, got passports, doctor and dentist appointments…..all the many facets accomplished to prepare mission papers. Sister Taylor said she compared it to helping “her sons” receive their Eagles. And all of them received mission calls and served faithfully. They are all home now except one young man but the Taylors are going home (they finished their first mission, went home and came back to be here when the youth returned home). We were invited to join them. They arrived on Friday and did baptisms. On Saturday they did initiatories and endowments for their ancestors and then did sealings for the first time. They were beyond joyous. After their lunch, they had a testimony meeting where they shared what they had learned on mission and their hopes for the future. (We taped all their testimonies). When they sang the harmony was glorious. Better than any choir I have ever heard. President and Sister Cook asked us if we could video a message from them to show the youth because they were going to be away on assignment The message was such a strong reinforcement of making sure they stay strong in the gospel and find a companion that will join them in the temple. The Cooks are a great example of what we all want in a marriage. Later that afternoon, they boarded a kombi and traveled the 6 hours back home but filled with the temple spirit and an increase of unity and love for each other.
The Band of Brothers from Botswana arriving
The Band of Brothers and two sisters (they served in the Ghana Coast Mission)
Elder Mark and Sister Shirley Taylor arrive (this is their 5th mission)
Lunch on Saturday after their morning in the temple
Waiting for the devotional to begin
Everyone got up and bore testimony
Their singing was glorious
President and Sister Cook got them a cake
Thanking the Cooks for the cake
The original Band of Brothers minus two…
Addition of two sisters (can you imagine all these amazing youth in your ward)
Not complete without the Taylors
The young lady and the young man kneeling, are planning on coming to the temple together in a few months
Safe journey home our faithful servants…..
Sister and President Cook – President of the Africa Southeast Area
Sunday, 15 November we rose early and met Bro. Leon and Sister Liz Holmes at 7:00 a.m. to follow them to their stake center where they were addressing return missionaries in a meeting before their stake conference. Bro. Holmes just returned from Ghana as mission president. There was a 93 kilometer (around 60 miles) bike race event going on where 35,000 bikers were cycling through the town which blocked many roads and we do not know the back ways very well. So we followed the Holmes. They did a great job on helping the return missionaries adjust to coming home. Not an easy task. In between the two meetings we walked a few blocks to see the cyclists. Exciting. Reminded me of our daughters doing the exact same event just before we left for mission but in the rain. So proud of them. Stake Conference was amazing. Every talk was meant just for me. The last few days has put me on a spiritual high.
The bike race (I can’t believe that I forgot to bring the camera today – this is from Den’s phone)
Greg and Sherry Weeks came over to visit and brought this nativity set from Madagascar. Absolutely perfect. The Nances who are serving in Madagascar in Public Affairs, got it for us.
We continued in the missionary spirit on Monday when we drove to the airport to pick up two mission presidents and their wives for the mission president seminar this week. We spent three hours in the airport waiting for them but our visit with President and Sister Monga from Brazzaville, Congo was such a delightful time that we didn’t mind. They are a very positive, delightful couple. Here on mission we are surrounded with the most amazing people. Being around them makes me realize how much I need for improvement. This cute couple have had numerous young people live with them for a year, 4 years, etc. along with their 4 children that they are still raising while serving the Lord as mission parents. These are good people. We took them to their hotel and then arrived home at 10:00 p.m.
Sister and President Ericksen serving in Zambia and live in Alpine
President & Sister Monga from Brazzaville
This couple from Kinshasa are going to be sealed tomorrow. The young lady lived with the Monga’s for a year.
President & Sister Berhel serving in the Kinshasa Mission but from Paris France
Tuesday, 17 November we were at Elder and Sister Taylors flat at 8:30 a.m. to do their oral history before they return home on Wednesday. Three hours later we were through. We loved hearing about all the experiences of their 5 missions – Philippines, Indonesia, New Jersey/Philadelphia, Joburg/Botswana and Joburg/Botswana/Temple (they returned to Botswana to finish the work they began). Eleven years ago when Elder Mark Taylor retired, they sold their home to dedicate their lives to the Lord’s service…..and that is just what they have done. They go our for 18 months (but extend a few times), go home and stay with different children for 6 months and then go back on mission. What an inspiration they are to all. They have been instruments in the hands of God of bringing many into the gospel. Every mission has brought about many souls unto Christ and it seemed to be a pattern of each mission of helping many fulfill their desire to serve missions. They have left a path for many to follow. They will be missed. Because of health problems Sister Taylor had, they finished their mission in the temple.
A beautiful couple….
I hope you can you feel the spirit of missionary work. Quite an amazing week, wouldn’t you say? The Lord’s hand is all around us here in Africa. His gospel is being spread to every kindred, tongue and people.
I want to share with you now a few other things that happened this week.
Monday, 9 November, Jerry and Tina Murdock and their friends were in town and we had them over for dinner. We served with them on our first mission. So good to see them. A little bit of America with us in our home. Electricity went out just before they left. Great timing.
The following day they came by the office and Thoba was there.
Elder and Sister Ellis (Area Seventy) found out we like the game of Kubb (lovingly to us known as the stick game) so invited us over for a match and dinner. We had such a fun time. How I love these wonderful people that we have the privilege to be around.
Sister Ellis – such a joyful lady. They have 9 children.
Den and Elder Ellis
Friday night we had a party with the senior couples at Elder and Sister Needs’ flat. This is a positive for being in the area office. Love these couples.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Our tree, that changes color, is up and bringing the spirit into our home along with the music that serenades us. I love the holiday.
We got this nativity in Zimbabwe….I love it! Thank you McMurdies.
Bro. & Sister Feijo and their son from Angola. He is Branch President of Viena. He was here for a week and came in to see us periodically. We took him up to see President Cook. President Cook says he has an open door policy. Luckily, his door was open.
The Church History Center where we spend our time is in the basement of the area office so we have no windows. This is the sight that the humanitarian couples have. Beautiful area of the Lord’s creation.
This cute couple, Herbert and Tecklah Jack, came in Tuesday night. They are from Zimbabwe. He is in the bishopric of his ward and said that he would like to do a history of his branch/ward. He is a security guard and works night so has time to write. They have four children.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY – sweet Josephine. Seven years old, loves life and enjoys everything around her. We love you to the moon and back.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28: 19-20.
