Our Cup Runneth Over: January 2016

This is a picture of our Area Presidency and Seventies of our area. The top left-side pictures are our presidency - Elder Ellis, President Cook and Elder Hamilton. On Monday, 18 January 2016 we had a special devotional. Every Monday morning there is a 9:00 a.m. devotional for all area office employees and senior couples. But this day they asked us to come with a prayer in our heart that we would receive inspiration as we listened to our Area Presidency give us direction. It was a spiritual morning. They were introducing the 2016 Area Plan. On Sunday, there will be a special 5th Sunday lesson in all units that will discuss the area plan which also includes a special video. Here are just a few notes that I took this morning. (I forgot my notebook and had to take notes on a small piece of paper - not so good notes)

Elder Hamilton: Talked about Silicone Valley in California and how many of the top 500 companies in the United States have their companies in that valley and what makes them a top company.

Magnify your position by understanding what your position responsibilities are
Do more than the minimum - work well when wishy washy wont
Seek to be accountable - be willing to be corrected
Go forward in faith - Ether 12:24
Take risks - don't be afraid of failure because that is where you learn and grow and creativity materializes.
Cream always raises to the top

Elder Ellis: Talked about happiness:

In the Book of Mormon it states that "they lived after the manner of happiness". What makes one happy?
What happens when you are worthy and living righteously?

You receive personal revelation
You are happy

When you are not worthy, you are left on your own 3 Nephi 27

The Lord will loves us but he can't bless us D & C 82;10

When we act like we are worthy but not we become HOLLOW and we offend God (hypocrites)
What pleases God? our faithfulness, worthiness, repentance and our continual desire to do what is right
Together we are more.

Elder Cook: Talked about our 2016 Area Plan - very brief and written for the families and individuals.

Elder Bednar taught him when you start right you will stay right - so lets start right
Vision of the area plan is to establish happiness and righteousness
Increase faith in Heavenly Father and in Jesus Christ
Love one another 3 Nephi 18 - minister to the those who are struggling
Self-reliance 2 Nephi 1:20
Alma 19:35 - 36
Gospel is the answer for all of us

After the devotional a group of ladies went to Bretts - a lady who sales her jewelry in her home. We always have a great time when we get together. Her jewelry is quite spectacular. After we went to lunch at Olive and Plates and then back to the center. Monday night we had FHE where we said good-bye to two couples going home.....Turnbows and Stokes.

How do you like this necklace?

Ladies enjoying their shopping.

Sister Weeks show us her new necklace....

Sister Ellis and her daughter and son-in-law who are visiting

This cute man helped me with some pillow cases that I bought

The group - some had already left.

Lunch at Olives and Plates

Sister Jackson and her chicken pot pie.....

Family Home Evening at the Powells where we said good-bye to two couples....Turnbows

.... Stokes

Sister Ruth Ann and Elder Dan Stokes - Family History Center - leaves for home 28 January 2016

Sister Suzanne and Elder Richard Turnbow returning home 25 January 2016 - Visa and Travel Dept.

Tuesday we went to Munsieville to do an oral history with Victor Miti which I have already talked about on a previous post. So we will move on to Wednesday, 20 January. We spent the day at the center and then spent the night with Ike and Edwina Swartzberg and the lawyers and their wives that work at the area office. It was such a great evening. We had dinner and great conversation in our home.

Victor Miti

OGC's visit in our home

Elder and Sister Weeks arrive

Sister Weeks, Bro. Jackson and Ike Swartzberg

Dinner....we were going to eat on the patio but it rained. So we squeezed onto the table.

A really fun group.....

Ike kept us entertained all night! I have never listened to anyone who has more stories to tell then Ike.

Elder Greg Weeks and Brian Jacksonm (paid employee for the church in OGC)

Dennis, Sherry and Greg Weeks, Brian Jackson and Me

Ike and Edwina Swartzberg, Paul and Ginny Graf ( Tina Jackson is taking the picture)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN

To a most wonderful young man....we enjoy you every day. Your smile has warmed our hearts for 6 years! Miss you dear Logan.....

Logan and our daughter, Cameo.

The Area Office is offering computer skills classes taught by Sister Jann Powell. On the afternoon of Thursday, 21 January I attended a Pictures, Graphs and Charts class. So thoroughly enjoyed it. In the next few weeks I will be attending Microsoft Word, beginning and Excel and Power Point beginning. I am so thrilled to become more proficient with the computer. We also were able to meet some people from Zimbabwe and Congo. I become a better person every time I meet these amazing people.

Sister Jann Powell, our teacher for the computer class

Sister and Elder Turnbow taking the class just before they leave for home.

Just became FOREVER FAMILIES ....

I give families that have just been sealed pictures of the Johannesburg Temple in remembrance of this momentous occasion

Sunday, 24 January we attended the Pimville Ward with the Beckstrands. If you remember back in November, the Pimville Ward had a Day of Cultural Sharing with us. I made a DVD with pictures and music to commemorate that day. Thoba and I arranged for us to show them the small remembrance of their kindness in Relief Society. Of course, when we got there, their DVD player did not work, so Dennis and I took the Beckstrands car back to our place to get our DVD player and then returned. Over an hour turn around time. But it was fun to share it and hear their laughter and comments. I made copies for them. A fun Sabbath day. We were suppose to do an oral history with an older lady in this ward but it was cancelled. Our excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Sunday night we had a Zone Conference with the temple couples and we talked about how we can have spiritual missionary experiences as Area Office couples who are stuck behind computers. It was an interesting discussion. I had some revelation during this time. We will see I can make my thoughts materialize into anything.

Pimville Ward Relief Society where Thoba is the president

Relief Society Presidency - Nomti is the one on the right. She works at the area office in travel and is arranging all our travel documents for those coming in for training next week. She is one that I look forward to seeing every day in the office.

The group with Dennis - his harem!

....and with Thoba. I brought treats but definitely didn't plan on this many ladies. A HUGE group.

Our Zone Fireside Sunday evening....

25 - 28 was spent in the center preparing power points and papers for the training seminar starting on Thursday. The evenings we went to Family Home Evening at the Grafs. cleaning our flat in preparation for one of our church history couples staying with us and baking the treats for the weekend. Mac Shongwe brought his sister, Megan, by so we could see her. She is on her way to Durban for school. It is the first time we have seen her since we have come back to Africa! (Did not get a picture). Our other extra curricular activities this week:

I want to tell you about our amazing night security guard, Lovemore Dlamini (originally from Swaziland). One day last week we were returning to our apartment building and were greeted by this young man with a "high five". Dennis asked him how his day was and he responded with "wonderful". We asked what made it so special and he said that he prayed all day. He was praying for rain. And you know what? Within a day we had rain every day for a week. Next time I need something, I am going to ask Lovemore to pray for me. He goes to church on Tuesday, Thursday and all day on Saturday. True faith. Would praying all day make your day wonderful!

Family from Zimbabwe

This darling family is from Beira, Mozambique. He is Stake President Freeman Dickie and his wife Sue. He came in very humble because he had not done his annual history last year and wanted help so he could repent and do a good job this coming year. He is 34 with three young kids and this beautiful wife. I love the faith and dedication of the African people.

The Primary from the Pimville Ward entertaining at a special walk to this Mandela statue.

Bro. Allan Young and his wife came in to see us. He was the first priesthood holder (I think) to be assigned to church history in the area office. Enjoyed talking to them about what all has happened in church history since his time. We showed him around the center.

Elder Ellis and his wife, KK, invited us over on Wednesday night for dinner and a game of kubb! A great time we had with them.

This young man Mzonksundy Spayire (Monty) comes every day to pick up our packages. He has been struggling to get to Kenya to see his wife, Caren Kogo. They were married in the temple on 5 August 2014, were together for 5 days and then she was sent back to Kenya because of visa problems. He went back to Kenya for a few weeks and since then have seen each other just a few times. He has been trying to earn money to go to Kenya so he can sort out her visa issues (they tell him he has to be in person...they have had her passport for a year) so they can be together but has constant problems that takes his savings. He always greets us with a SMILE but I can't imagine his heartache as he faces each day without his wife. He serves in his bishopric. There has to be a way that they can be reunited and not be separated ever again! He tells me that his wife is his strength.