On the 24th February 2016 we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. The best decision I ever made was to marry this man. We have shared so much together......we have shared happiness and sorrows; silences and thoughts; successes and failures. Forty-five years is a long time and we have created some beautiful memories that will last forever. Thank you Dennis.....you continue to make my heart pitter-patter!!
The night of the 24th, we went to "BYE BYE BABY" - a celebration of the music of the Four Seasons. It was fabulous. We had tickets for the balcony, but we were the only ones up there. So they let us move down to the main floor. A great anniversary present.
A selfie!!!!
The music was great! By the end, we were dancing in the aisles. Music that never grows old!
The weekend we spent in Tzaneen, South Africa (a five hour drive) with Rion and Charlotte Needs. We had a super time. I loved the countryside. It is tropical, mountainous and the town so quaint. But we particularly loved the people.
The pictures were taken from inside of the car. It was an overcast day also. Doesn't make for good picture taking. But you can still see the beauty of the countryside.
We could have been transformed to Hawaii...
...if it wasn't for this scene.
Peter Maenetja greeted us at LaPologa Bed and Breakfast.....a delightful young man. We found out that he is an inactive member. He named all the church units in the area. Tzaneen is a district.
Eating at Kentucky Fried Chicken - the only thing that was open when we arrived.
Char & Rion Needs and Dennis
In the morning we got lost trying to find a stitchery place called KAROSS. It was fun being back on dirt roads. I think we got lost so we could feel like we were back on the Swaziland dirt roads.
We stopped and asked this couple where Kaross was.....not sure if they didn't understand English or knew about Kaross....but see the look of confusion. We did leave them with brownies.
He also had a perplexed look - no help to us at all.
When we got back on a tar road, we also had phone service. We called the company and we were 1/2 hour away from the place. They directed us back on the correct route.
The embroidery art of KAROSS - Khosian work meaning 'blanket'. It is a metaphor for a happy gathering of people, participating int he customary activity of embroidery.
Twenty-five years ago, Irma van Rooyen, (pictured below) petitioned some local women to do some embroidery for her. That grew into a world-wide business for not only her but for over 1200 women. Kaross has helped more than a thousand people living in a dozen scattered villages to earn a living, to feed and clothe themselves and their children. The work sold here reflects the beautiful embroidery of the Shangaan, VaTsonga and Northern Sotho women who for generations have been doing this kind of embroidering. It is absolutely a magnificent work of art.
The women from the villages come on Mondays and Wednesdays to bring what they have embroidered and then receive more pieces. Some items take up to two months to do and when you see it, you can understand why.
This lady was sorting the different handiwork .....
Look at all the thread.....
This lady was buying quite a few items to take to America
This is what we bought - a pillow sham. But I so wish I would have purchased this amazing wall hanging. Look at the intricate work they do.
Then we drove to this quaint city on top of the mountain called Haenertsburg - very Swiss looking.
Rion & Charlotte Needs, Dennis, Elder and Sister Campbell
Entrance to the bar....
Agatha Crocodile Ranch.
Blurry but look at those teeth...
....and the guide started feeding the crocodiles.
They told us a fascinating tidbit. They can determine the sex of a crocodile. After the female lays her eggs (50), the sex can be decided by how warm they keep the eggs. So after the eggs are laid, they take them back to a warmer until they hatch. This farm has 200 females and only 20 males - apparently they want females for their eggs.
They also have a baby farm.....this is one of them.
Part of the farm...
Farewell picture with Peter at the B & B
The chapel
The rest of the week.......
Monday, I went to lunch with Sisters Dunn, Walton, Egan and Sister Sherry Allred who is returning home on Thursday. She has served for 18 months with her husband in the office of the Johannesburg South Africa mission. I have had the privilege of working a few times with her. She is truly an amazing organized lady.
Martha Egan, Me, Linda Dunn, Liz Walton, Sherry Allred at Whippet....
After lunch, we went and visited some of the cute shops around. I loved this ferris wheel cupcake holder.
Monday night we had FHE where we said good-bye to Elder Robert and Sister Sharon Berg (PA) and Elder Doug and Sister Marva Peterson (Mental Health) and hello to Elder and Sister Lee, Elder and Sister Lee (brothers both serving in Family History) and Elder and Sister Gatten (PA).
The group gathers
Tuesday, 23 February we went to lunch with Sister Susan and Elder Walt Peterson. We just found out that their mission has changed from Area Humanitarian to office couple in the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. So sad....We will so miss them along with all the others.
Wednesday, 24 February we arose early and drove to Bethel, South Africa to do an oral history with Alfred and Susanna Harrison - longtime members in the Germiston area. He had polio as a child, relearned to walk but in his old age (84) he now walks with a cane. His story will be coming. (Can you believe that I forgot to take a picture!!!) We drove home in a rain storm, went back to the center to work and then off to our anniversary celebration at Bye Bye Baby. We talked to almost all of our children when we got back. We so appreciate their phone calls.
Thursday I attended a computer class that the area office is offering. Sister Powell is teaching them. This one was Microsoft Excel. If I could just remember everything that she teaches. But there is a small portion that remains. Also, all day we could hear crashing lightning and thunder and then the heavens opened with pouring rain. It was amazing. I love the thunder storms here in Africa. They have surround sound!!!!! Crazy.
STATE CHAMPIONS!
We received news that our grandson's, Jaxon, high school basketball team won their division state tournament. He is the second from the left. Congratulations JAXON!!! Would have loved to have been there to be a part.
Grace Modiba called us on Saturday and informed us that her mother, Flora Kolwane, passed away. In September 2015, we did Flora's oral history. She was 93 years old and a pioneer in the Atteridgeville township. We immediately fell in love with this lady. So grateful that we were able to capture her story but most importantly, privileged to get to know and love her. Her funeral would be the following week which we will not be in town to attend. My heart is sad.
Me with Flora and Grace. She will be missed
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.....Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecc. 4: 9 - 12
Dennis is such a good man. He is my Prince Charming and we have our HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!
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