KEEP IT SIMPLE 11 - 17 April 2016

"...I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..."

On Monday, 11 April, we had a special devotional with the Area Presidency where they shared their experiences while taught at the feet of the first presidency and apostles when they were in Salt Lake City for general conference.  It was a powerful meeting. Again, my testimony was strengthened and I received another witness that our Area Presidency and our prophet and leaders in Salt Lake are truly men of God.  I thought my heart was going to burst with the spirit and the gratitude I felt for the blessing of the gospel.

PRESIDENT COOK
What a gentle, kind man Elder Carl B. Cook is.  I have gleamed from him since the first we met in Swaziland in 2012.  I marvel at what he accomplishes and still has an "open door" policy to all who comes to the area office...which included us when we were in Swaziland.  He makes everyone feel like they are the most important person and his friend.  He is leaving us here in Africa on 20 May for a new assignment in Salt Lake.  He will be sorely missed by all Africa Southeast Area members.  He is truly loved by all but leaves us with a legacy of faith, humility, kindness and unconditional love for the African people.  SAFE JOURNEY ~~ our dear president.
Here is his testimony that he shared with us that morning:

• How good it was to be back with his area family (and we do feel his love)
• We need to see through African eyes and hear through African ears as we serve them. The gospel increases our vision.
• Bednar came to an African area seventies gathering and told them that the Lord has a great deal in store for Africa - again, told them that they are the pioneers of today.
• There were two great eras in the church - when the saints went west and the movement going on in Africa
• They were told that Africa will prosper and we need to prepare them so they do not get caught up in the pride cycle.
• In Africa, we need to KEEP IT SIMPLE
• Joseph Smith said if we "start right, we will stay right".  That is our goal in Africa and in our own personal lives.
• Africa's church is in the home - in Nauvoo they had a grove of trees to meet and the temple
• 1000 new stakes will come
• Simplify your life - cut away on what is not important and focus on what is important.  Have a simple faith.
• Bring more people to the temple - temple in Kinshasa will be a blessing
• Savior lived a life that was simple and pure
• Whenever you do somethings ask yourself two questions:  Is it simple?  Is it pure? And then receive your inspiration.
• Scriptures he shared:  Alma 37:6;  3 Nephi 12:8;  Moroni 7:33

Final words of a great seventy to the people that he has served so diligently and with such love and kindness. He will be missed.

Here are a few other  thoughts shared that morning:

Sister Hamilton:  Talked about councils specifically Family Executive council between husband and wife; council every night during prayer; hold hands and pray.  Alma told us to council with the Lord.

Elder Hamilton:  Testified that President Monson leads the church - his talks may be shorter but very powerful.

• 'Always choose the harder right than the easier wrong.'
• Of the fifteen Church areas, one-half of the business comes from Africa
• In 2010 there were 25 stakes and not there is 46 stakes with 4 more being split.
• In 2010 there were 655 missionaries serving from ASEA and today there are 1,467.

Sister Ellis:  Talked about service

• Love is making space for someone else
• He feels the comfort we give others as if we had given it to Him
• Elder Ballard spoke to the general authority's wives and gave them council that the Lord gave Emma - D & C 25; 5 - 13
• The Lord comes in and will fill in the gaps duing absences
• CHOOSE CHRIST!!!

Elder Ellis:  President Monson has told us to "Trust the Lord"

• With a mighty change of heart, everything else will follow
• Decide to become a celestial family
• Remember the simple acts of service - be kind, see through their eyes
• He shared the thoughts of Prince Buthlezi at the Durban Temple groundbreaking (I shared his talk on my blog entitled Temples Will Dot the Earth  13 April 2016):  married for 64 years, family focus, five children have died, he has no regrets, moral conscious should dictate
• Shared a couple of personal miracles

Sister Cook:  

• Privilege to hear from living prophets
• This time stretches her and calls her to repentance
• Gives her comfort, encouragement and love
• Shared a story about her five-year-old granddaughter that told her grandfather, Elder Cook, just tell me what you want me to do and I will do it.  We all need such simple faith.
• Give your will to God - the trick is giving it joyfully
• Please God and you will be happier
• The Lord knows, loves and trusts us

I came back from this meeting and made the above picture, placed it on my desk to remind me to KEEP IT SIMPLE   KEEP IT PURE.


Kalin and Tajia Wilson and Kory Shaw were privileged to go with us to the meeting.  What a treat for them to be able to hear from three seventies and their wives and feel the spirit that follows them. After, we left for the Lion Park where they saw lots of lions, fed the giraffes and were able to pet the baby lions.  We had a great time.  We took them to the airport to return home and then entertained Walt and Susan Peterson that evening in our home as they are preparing to finish their mission as Zimbabwe office couple.  We will sorely miss them.  They have become dear friends.

Dennis, Tajia and Kalin Wilson, Kory Shaw

 It looks like the lioness in the back is SMILING.  Love this picture.

 Wild dogs

 Tajia feeding the giraffe

 Hyena

 Dinner with Susan and Walt Peterson

Some of the things we did in the center this week included: gathering Church history on the Kasai which is a region in the DRC which includes Luputa and Kananga; cataloguing a missionary journal that was donated, processed oral interviews, did a couple of oral interview, searching the dates for the country dedicatory prayers from apostles, sending out our quarterly Church History poster, communicated with our 22 country church history advisers, etc.

Yoli Hlongwane helping Dennis with distributing our Church History poster.  Yoli volunteers in the Self-Reliance center every day and helps us periodically when we need extra hands.  She has two small children and is delightful.

Yoli is the sister-in-law of Elder Khumbulani Mdlestshe - an area seventy.  She is always smiling.  How we love her.

 Amandio Matusse came to visit.  He is our Mozambique adviser that is going to London for work so is turning in his Tascam recorder.  We will miss him.  He has done a great work.

Developed this timeline

A sister made some baby blankets that she wanted to share, so we sent them with the Petersons in Zimbabwe, where Elder and Sister McMurdie found good homes.

We had a farewell lunch for Walt and Susan Peterson

 Walt and Susan Peterson.  As senior couples we become very important to each other and feel a true lose when they leave.

 Families we meet in the canteen that are attending the temple.  The highlight of my days.

 I love their smiles.

On Thursday, 14 April we had an oral interview with Mary Letsebe Ndaba in her home in Alexandra. She was the first to be baptized in the Alexandra township in .  She discovered the gospel through her brother who was building a church chapel in another city.  The missionaries were not allowed in Alexandra to teach her because of the crime associated with the township.  So she had to take kombi every day into Bedfordview to be taught.  She accepted the gospel and through her example and hard work, brought many others into the gospel from Alexandra.  Her two children, Desiree and Thabang, were baptized with her, They are all strong members of the church serving faithfully.  In January she married, John, who is taking the discussions right now and will be baptized 22 May - that is where we will be!  We love this lady.  It was the most delightful 2 1/2 hours.  She is so full of energy and love for the gospel.  She exuberates happiness.  I was admiring her jacket that she had on.  Before I knew it, she had taken it off and gave it to me.  There was nothing I could say or do to change her mind.  (I have learned to keep my mouth shut, because they are so wanting to please.)  So I wore it the following Sunday to show her how grateful I was.  

Mary Letsebe Ndaba (I shared a story of hers on a blog entitled, A Visionary People 20 April 2016)

 John Ndaba (will be baptized 22 May) and Mary

 How do I look in my new jacket?  Eish, I love her.

Mary, Desiree and Thabang on their baptism day and the two sister missionaries that taught them.

Her husband never joined

 Mary soon after her baptism

 First Alexandra Primary with Mary as President

Drive to Mary's home

 Thursday, we also went to Mary Louise Beckstrand's flat to make homemade Lion House rolls.  So good.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful senior couples.  The cream of the crop.

Mary Louise Beckstrand, Jann Powell and me

 Loved this picture.  How smart of that sweet lady to keep the children together and under control.  I wish I thought of this when I was raising our eight children.

On Friday, 15 April a young lady came into our office, introduced herself as Sheilla George from Zimbabwe and said that she was bearing gifts from the Nield family.  That was a blessed day.  To meet Sheilla and her story was such a gift.  Her conversion story I shared on a blog post previously written called Surrounded with an Aura - Sheilla George.  I did not take a picture that day.  I was so surprised by the kindness of the Nield family, I was stunned.  But this is a picture of her and her daughter.  Sheilla was here to attend the temple for her first time.  The gospel is true and blesses lives!

 The Nield sisters and Sheilla in the middle

 Our gifts from the Nield family - this beautiful huge tablecloth and beaded tray.  Sheilla said that she was Sister Santa Claus!!!

 Love the beaded work of the South Africans

Also, on Friday, we had a surprise visit of Onward and Maureen Chivungas from Zimbabwe.  They were one of the first people that we met when we arrived on mission.  It was 17 June 2015.  They came into the center, introduced themself and became instant friends.  We then met them when we went to Zimbabwe to train Never and Everjoice Chikungwo.  Never had set up an oral interview with Onward.  What a pleasant surprise to see him again. At that time I was so impressed with his story that I started to share it with others and we got it published.  What a strength to Zimbabwe and to the church that this sweet couple is.  How my live is blessed through their example. Again, I shared his story entitled "What We Need"  28 Sept - 11 October, 2015.  It is amazing how these interviews have created cherished friendships for us.

Maureen and Onward Chivunga

Onward when we interviewed him

 Friday was a day of visits.  President Michael and Sister Linda Dunn came to introduce their friends from the states that were visiting.  Only those that have served missions, understand the joy of having people from "home" come visit.  It is like a face lift - makes everything look better.

ZOLA ARRIVES!!  Friday was one special day with so many wonderful people blessing us.  Zola Shongwe from Swaziland arrived to spend the weekend with us.  How we love our Swazi daughter.  She traveled for the first time to Joburg by herself which was an undaunting experience for her.  We had a great weekend attending the temple, visiting friends and just "hanging" with each other.  The following pictures will depict our fun...

So happy to have Zola here...

Saturday we attended an early session in the temple meeting up with her friend, Lindiwe from Tembisa

 We also ran into Elder Kuwanatsoka - a former elder we served with.  Now Witbank Branch President

 We met this cute family from Zimbabwe.  He is the Highlands bishop - Onward taught him the gospel and baptized him.  He is now Onward's bishop.  The fruits of our hard work.

 Lindiwe and Zola over for lunch

 We drove Lindiwe home - pictures of our journey to Tembisa

Lindiwe's aunt that she lives with

 Zola has stayed friends with Elder Shipalane that served with us in Swaziland.  He came to visit.

We drove back to the temple and met up with Kayise and her husband, Phaphama.  Kayise is expecting twins and it was so fun to see her.  She was married right after we arrived and we were so glad that we were here to be part of the celebration.  And now she is expecting TWINS - in the middle of May.  We came back to the home, ate and presented her with gifts.  We then drove them back home to Tembisa, again, so they would not have to take public transport.  We came home and watched "Singing In The Rain".  It was a good day.

Kayise, Zola and Phaphama

 Twins about to enter the world

 Enjoying "Singing In The Rain"  - can't believe that I am actually putting this picture in - kind of scary!

 Sunday, we went to the Alexandra Branch for Sacrament Meeting and then needed to take Zola to the taxi rank to get her a kombi for home.  But we had no idea where to find the Wandras Station and a kombi that goes to Swaziland.  We went to the Johannesburg Ward and found a friend that took us.  This is Kumbulani that was so helpful to us.  Eish, there are so many wonderful, kind people in this world that are so willing to stop everything and help someone in need.  

 This is a picture of a young lady that comes into the center often to talk to us (I have forgotten her name)  She has only been a member for a short time but is teaching her mother along with the missionaries.  This is her mother.  So excited to meet her.

 Also, saw Sister Warr who is serving as S & I in Johanessburg.  She is the aunt to my sister-in-law, Cindy.

Sunday afternoon we were invited to the Jubbers for dinner and we did an oral interview with Elder Bernell and Sister RaNae Taylor who are serving in Uganda.  He is here to have minor surgery done.  But we wanted to capture their time in Uganda.  The time they have spent in a small village of Gulu, Uganda are incredible.  True missionary work.  A great interview.

RaNae and Bernell Taylor

I've thought a great deal about President Cook's testimony at Monday's devotional...Is it simple?  Is it pure?  Last night I saw this same theme as I read an article in the Liahona written by President Cook.  Keep It Simple.  Quoting Elder Bednar, he wrote:  "If you start right and keep it simple, you will stay right."  Then Elder Cook went on:

"We can't let the things of men or the things of the world distract us from our core beliefs.  We must stay focused on the things that bring peace, joy and success in life.

I invite each of us to evaluate whether there are things that may be over-complicating our lives and distracting us from the things that are most important.  It may be time to re-establish priorities, get rid of the things that encroach upon our time, and get back to the basics.  Perhaps it is time to simplify our lives."

Our life has truly changed since we have decided to serve missions.  Our life has become considerably simpler.  The Africans have shown us that we do not need possessions to be happy.  Life can be simple.  The gospel is really all we need.  I pray that when we go home after mission, we do no re-complicate things. I pray that we keep our life "simple" so we will be available to serve whenever we are called. 

"As we help the African Saints establish the Church here, we must be careful not to add unnecessary layers of programs and LDS traditions which can pollute the pure and simple beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If we do not interfere, I firmly believe the Church in Africa will become the strongest center of faith and righteousness on earth."