We had the privilege of being in the midst of an apostle on Wednesday, 28 October. What a pleasure to hear Elder Bednar's words of encouragement and admonishment. We all gathered under a tent on the White House grounds (where the area presidency resides with their wives) to hear Elder and Sister Bednar. Elder Bednar told us that we are all blessed with moral agency, which is what distinguishes children of God. “Agency is far more than choosing; it is the ability to act and not be acted upon". Agents are those that act and objects are acted upon. Lucifer’s purpose is to make us objects not agents! He told us we are to act and be doers of the word and not simply hearers who are only acted upon. He reminded us that we all know many things, but translating what we know into what we do is essential. He gave us specific examples: Sacrament meeting - do we feel the spirit; it is up to us...we are to act on the words not wait to be acted upon. Prayers - as agents, we should offer prayers that ask in faith, with the expectation to act. “There is a big difference between praying to know versus praying to do”. He gave a great example of a prayer that we have all heard or said ourself in Sacrament meeting..."Please bless those who are not here today, that they will come next week." That is an example of an object being acted upon. We need to be the ones that go out and get those that are not here today and bring them next week. Our Heavenly Father can't do it with out us. We need to ACT. Moses had to act before the Lord parted the water. The Israelites had to put their feet in the water before the miracle occurred. Can you imagine the fear of seeing that large body of water and having the faith to ACT by approaching the sea and placing your feet in it? When Nephi was bound by his brothers, he prayed to be released....I am sure that he worked on those bands and loosened them until he could free himself. He acted not waiting to be acted upon. Study the scriptures as agents not objects....agents take something from the scriptures into their hearts and then act upon what they learn.
“Joseph Smith instinctively understood what it meant to seek learning by faith. One of the most well-known episodes in the life of Joseph Smith was his reading of verses about prayer and faith in the book of James. This inspired Joseph to retire to a grove of trees near his home to pray and to seek for spiritual knowledge. Joseph had questions that he had to which he took to the grove. Joseph’s questions focused not just on what he needed to know but also on what he needed to DO. His very first question was centered on action and what was to be done……not which church is right but which church should he join!” A great example of being an agent.
He then talked about Africa. Again, compared it to the early pioneer days in America. It is Africa that will lead the way for the church. Africa has the basic, simple truths of the gospel. Then he ended with a powerful statement.....This church is living because Jesus lives! I was taught at the “feet” of an apostle. Loved the afternoon with Elder Bednar. I am striving to become an AGENT.
Sister Bednar
Elder Bednar
They greeted each of us as we left
Waiting for Elder Bednar to arrive…..
Moipone & Dominic Tshabalala
Saturday, 24 October was such a fun day. It started with going for a walk to the park and then to Elder Blake’s flat to give him a birthday cake. I think we woke them up. Shame. Then the Week’s picked us up and we drove for an hour and half to the ward that they attend every Sunday to be part of the wedding celebration of Thembiso and Sipho – she is the daughter of the bishop. We were there from 2:00 – 7:30 taking pictures and basking in the joyous celebration. The Africans know how to put on a wedding party.
Friday night at the Johannesburg Temple ready to be sealed……
The church house transformed…
The groom and his men dancing their way through the crowd
The children are my favorite thing to photograph
Grooms family
Our new skirt and shirt made by Madeline Chikenge in Zimbabwe. Love, love my skirt.
Greg and Sherry Weeks
The bride and her entourage arrive in style.
They danced through the parking lot, all around the church for their grand entrance.
Father of the bride waiting…
Anxiously waiting….
There was dancing all night.
Mother of the bride
Flower girl – look at the beautiful hair
This couple will be married in February
At the end, everyone was enjoying the music
We left the party and went to find a place to take pictures….
When we were through taking pictures, they returned and partied until 3:00 a.m. while we were snuggled in our beds
Our Sabbath, 25 October, was spent at the Saulsville Ward. We had arranged to be there so we could see Nathi Nhlabatsi. He was beat up a few weeks ago and we were unable to visit him while he was hurt. I told my Heavenly Father that will never happen again. When someone is hurt and needs us, we will be there. His wounds have healed but when he told us the story, I wanted to cry. When he called us on the phone the day after to tell us, we could barely understand him because his face was so swollen and he was in so much pain. He told us that he got off work around 20:00 and was waiting for a kombie. One drove up and he got in. There was the driver and three other men. When he went to pay, they said they wanted all his money. They took everything, including his phone, and beat him up. They left him on the curb. Someone got him to the hospital where they treated him and at 3:00 a.m. they released him. We asked how he got home and he said he walked. There was no one to call to fetch him. Again, my tears flowed freely. He should have called us even though we are an hour away. Can you imagine walking probably at least an hour after just being beaten up including kicking him? My heart broke for this wonderful young man that we have grown to love. His left eye was damaged and he needs an operation. He is trying to raise money to have it done.
The Saulsville Ward is great – such a powerful spirit. After, we took Nathi with us to see Flora Kolwane – our 93 year old friend. She had tests a week ago and Grace, her daughter, told us that she has cervical cancer and the doctors said they cannot do anything because of her age. We are making plans to get all her family names gathered and we will take her, her two daughters to the temple and let them be sealed as a family. You should hear Flora’s testimony and love for the temple. It puts mine to shame. We took Nathi home and visited with the Saulsville Bishop and wife, where he stays, and then left. There was a couple fireside at 7:00 with Area Seventy Elder Hall and his wife. We showed the 30th Anniversary DVD of the temple and then he spoke. A great meeting.
Dennis, Grace, Nathi and Flora
My new friend – she drew me pictures of her and me during Sacrament Meeting
Monday, 26 October started with another great devotional with Elder and Sister Davis as guest speakers. They are leaving next Monday. We had a department meeting and discussed goals for 2016 and training that we are doing in a few weeks. Our cute friends from George, Gerrold and Deseree Danjean, came to the temple again with Sam and LeeAnna Gardner from America. We enjoyed our visit. We processed a lot of oral histories that were sent from Uganda and other items of business. We worked late and then rushed home for a gathering to say good-bye to the Clayton, Davis and Hale. They will all be missed.
Nathan (Phil) & Barbara Hale (ending their 5th mission), Roberta & John Clayton (their 3rd mission), Eileen & Lane Davis (their 3rd mission) What great examples these couples are to us and everyone.
Vernon and Janet Jubber – just arrived a few days ago. Our new area doctor
Charlotte & Rion Needs – been here for a few weeks and will be in the audit department
The women – Me,Deseree, LeeAnna
The men – Sam, Gerrold (originally from France), Dennis
We did an oral interview with these two good-looking young men on Thursday. They were the first church-service missionaries to work in the temple. Elder Stanley Nyandoro is from Zimbabwe and is blind. As a young child he had allergies. So everyday he used eye drops. When he was finishing exams his last year in school, he noticed his eyesight deteriorating quickly. The eye drops had ruined his vision. He spent 2014 in and out of hospitals for operations to try and restore his vision. But they were unsuccessful. He always dreamed of serving a mission. So Pres. Cook and his local leaders devised this 3-month mission so he could fulfill his dream. He was the first one in his family to join at 9 and since has brought his entire family into the gospel. He said a miracle occurred when he came on mission. He learned the ordinance words all in two days…remember he couldn’t read. He had to listen to them. He is quite a young man.
Elder Michael Molema was diagnosed with Asperger's a few years ago which halted his desire for missionary service. So this church-service mission was perfect for him. The two together made for one great companionship. They will truly be missed by all at the area office and temple.
Donna and Mac came to stay with us on her way back to Cape Town. It is a good thing that she loved Swaziland! We sure have enjoyed their visits.
Our chef in the canteen all dressed up for Elder Bednar’s visit
Entrance to the temple and area office. We get to view this scene every day.
Friday, 30 October was a full day. We were there early to say good-bye to Elder Nyandoro and Molema; we communicated with all our advisers in church history; went to Bretts (jewelry place) with some of the sisters; ordered turkeys for our Thanksgiving Day luncheon; attended a self-reliance party at the office given in honor of the Davis’; stayed late in the office; the Mokgare’s from Botswana came in to introduce themselves and visit (they are Country Church History Advisers from Botswana). We had such a great time. They are a charming couple. Talked to Misti and Trina. Yesterday, Misti surprised Trina for her birthday by showing up in West Virginia’s Old Navy. I was on the phone with Trina when she walked in and there was Misti. One of the sweetest act of kindness I have witnessed. Thanks Misti for your sacrifice and thoughtfulness.
Bretts – homemade jewelry and bags in their home
Self-reliance department party for the Davis’
Elder and Sister Mokgare from Botswana
He serves as a branch president; they are Stake Family History Advisers; they are currently serving an 18-month mission in CES (notice name tags) and are Country Church History Advisers. Dennis asked if there was any other members in Botswana. What dedication to the church.
Misti surprised Trina by flying to West Virginia to celebrate Trina’s birthday with her. What a special sister!!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN – Halloween is not celebrated in South Africa like it is at home. But there were signs during the day that a special day was going on and we received two little girls dressed up as princesses at our flat Saturday night! We were so excited to have them come. We were ready with candy.
Saturday was just one of those special days! We were out early to board the Red Bus. It was a perfect day to be in an open-air bus to see the sights of Joburg and we spent it with 5 great couples – Weeks, Waltons, Grafs, Powells and Jubbers. We made stops at The Grove – Braamfontein, Carlton Center and Constitution Hill and experienced the hustle and bustle of downtown Johannesburg! It was just so much fun and I captured all the excitement on camera….
Waiting for the bus..
Waltons, Graf, Powell, Weeks, Jubbers
Selling eggs while waiting for the robot to change. They go in between cars as we are stopped selling everything…..but I had never seen eggs before. They must have been hard boiled because I think they were peeling it. How creative!
Even through all the buildings, there was this beauty.
We drove through blocks and blocks of merchandise just out on the street waiting for buyers.
Artwork on the buildings…
Even the apartment flats are colorful..
Remembering a great man
Signs of Halloween at The Grove Market in Braamfontein
Food was artistically displayed
This is the floor in a bar made of coins…..it was quite amazing.
The Red Bus
This was at Constitution Hill – a prison for those who fought the apartheid including Mahatma Ghandi.
Demonstrated how much room each prisoner had – not much
Some who were imprisoned here
A tribute to Ghandi
Ghandi’s typewriter
Back on the bus – enjoy the sights of Johannesburg
Carlton Building – the tallest building in Africa
Waiting to go up 50 floors to the top
Birds eye view of Johannesburg
Our guide
Christmas on Halloween – look how cute that boy is
On our way back
Gold Reef Park- back to where we started. A good day.
November 1st - HAPPY BIRTHDAY Trina – what a beautiful young lady you have turned into – both outside and inside. We are so proud. “Sometimes when I need a miracle, I look into my daughter’s eyes and realize I’ve already created one.” So wish we could have celebrated with you. We love you.
Sunday we went to our Kagiso 2nd ward. I had taken an allergy pill and it affected me with drowsiness. I literally could not stay awake. We left after Sunday School and we came home and I slept. Later in the afternoon Dennis help give a blessing to one of our friends and then we went to the Davis’ to say good-bye. People come into our lives and we are better to have known them. Good-bye dear friends – Davis’, Hales’ and Claytons.
“This Church is living because Jesus Christ lives. As you ponder, pray and are an agent that acts, much more of what you know will be what you consistently do.” Elder Bednar
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