Our Cup Runneth Over: SOWETO SISTERS UNITE 6

As LDS women, we have valuable contributions to make to our church, community and family. Because we are so powerful, the adversary works hard on us at times to make us feel worthless, unimportant, failure. But we have strength in numbers. As we unite we can rid ourselves of all those negative feelings. It is easier to open our hearts and mouths against the evil and negativeness that surrounds us. With our combined prayers, we witness miracles. We encourage, teach and support each other. Together we stand for truth and righteousness and mold the generations to come. As a sisterhood, if we keep our covenants, we fulfill our divine destiny and gain access to all His blessings and His power. It is great being an LDS woman.

Elaine Jack, Twelfth Relief Society General President, said: "As sisters in Zion, we have added to the strength of each other. Which of us has not felt a hand reach across to take ours just at the right moment? A sister has written a note or called to check on us just when our world was falling apart. As sisters we know, we understand, we feel for each other. Lucky Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith, told the sisters of Relief Society in 1842, "We must cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another and gain instruction that we may all sit down in heaven together." Notice she talks of each of us eventually uniting in our Father's house. But for now, we are here and we have work to do."

On Saturday, 11 June 2016, the Soweto sisters united to worship, sing and bask in the spirit of our Heavenly Father. Nearly 200 hundred sisters of Zion gathered together at the Dobsonville chapel to feel of each others strength and love. There was a beautiful choir that sang 'Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth", 'We Believe' and "Beautiful Savior'. They had the voices of angels. Sister Grace Mbobo, Stake Relief Society President, conducted this first ever Women's Conference. Wensile Radebe, Sister Mbobo's daughter, Sister Linda Dunn, wife of the Johannesburg Mission President, Sister Marcia French, area mental health, and President of the Soweto Stake, Thabo Lebethoa, spoke to us. Such beautiful words of wisdom. It was followed by a time of eating and just enjoying each other's company.

We are LDS WOMEN and as we stand strong together as sisters in Zion, we need not fear Satan and his forces that try to wear us down.

Poster announcing the event

The women begin arriving

Sister Grace Mbobo, Soweto Stake Relief Society President

Women's choir

Sister Martha Egan and Sister Grace Mbobo

Speakers

Marcia French, Wensile Radebe, Linda Dunn

Sister Mbobo and Patricia Mbuyisa (our dear friend from Swaziland), newly called counselor in the Stake Relief Society

The joy in just being together

THE REST OF THE WEEK

Monday, 6 June 2016 Elder and Sister Todd came in to see us at the center. They are serving in Richards Bay and had brought some couples to be sealed. We had a delightful dinner with them that evening.

Fun times in the canteen.....

Tuesday, 7 June I completed some oral histories in the center, worked on excel sheets for our reporting, communicated with country church history advisers, etc. That afternoon I went to the Gatehouse to enjoy the children that were waiting for their parents so they could be sealed as a forever family. It was such a great afternoon. There were 14 children, most of them spoke French. After the session, I went back to the center and worked. Elder Hamilton called us in just to see how we were doing. It was a great interview. He is officially the Africa Southeast Area President.

Snack time

This young man and I had some major intense Jenga games going.

The children are in the Gatehouse from 1:00 until 5:30. Even the older ones get tired!

A great afternoon with these sisters

On Wednesday, 8 June after a long day at work, we had Elder Chuck Walton and Elder and Sister French over for dinner. Liz, Elder Walton's wife, is in America visiting her son and his wife who just had twins. We figured Chuck was tired of bachelorhood and thought he might enjoy a homemade meal of swiss steak, mashed potatoes and gravy. Marcia and Jeff French came along for the evening.

Both Thursday and Friday we spent all day in the center getting caught up and preparing for Misti's visit. Thursday we were in the office until 8:00. Friday, we had Thabang Mokoena over for dinner and then took him to Park Station so he could catch his bus to Durban. He is going to spend the weekend with friends.

Me, Thabang and Dennis

Of course, Saturday 11 June was the special Soweto Stake Women's Conference, but before we spent the morning in the center and then headed to Patricia Mbuyisa's home to celebrate Ziyanda's 8th birthday with all the trimmings. I felt so badly for her because she was not feeling well but we enjoyed the cake and being together. Then we took Patricia with us to the conference. We left the conference quickly because we were meeting the Weeks for dinner and the play, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat. It was Sherry's birthday and we were treating her. A great day!

Ziyanda and her 8th birthday