LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE WONDERFUL September 2016

Our every day is far from perfect. With every day responsibilities, with every day demands, with every day chaos surrounding us, it is hard to imagine life as wonderful. There are many people around me that have been dealt some really rotten life cards and they amaze me because they are always finding the wonderful in their lives.  They are teaching me that LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE WONDERFUL! 

For life to feel wonderful means that you must experience the WONDER in your life.  So often we rush through the small things to get to the big things....but small is wonderful.  Small makes up most of our days, most of our life.  If we are miserable for the small things, then we are agreeing to spend most of our life miserable.  If we don't find small wonderful, then we will not find our life wonderful. Because small is your daily rituals.  Small is.....the sunrise when you wake up, the smell of a fresh cooked meal, a phone call from a friend or family member, the laugh of a child, reading a book in the afternoon or reading to a child, fixing your husband's favorite meal, a good morning kiss, a long walk, a rainbow, music, a sunset, hearing the car horn hoot three times as your husband approaches the driveway, the smell of new paint, cleaning your windows to let more light pour into your home, making your bed every morning, cuddling in bed with your child, a smile from a stranger, a hug, the words "I love you".  Wonderful is compiled of small things.

Life will never be perfect.  You may have some near perfect days but the majority of our days blend into each other without much wonder in them.  For life to be wonderful, we have to stop ignoring the wonderful!  We have to pay attention to things that count.  We have to unconditionally love.  We have to pay attention and appreciate all the small things that surround us.  Take a moment and enjoy the emotion and inner peace that small things bring. Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.

Yesterday, I asked Dennis to run to Makro to pick up some food for me while I began writing my thoughts on this blog. Without him knowing my theme for this post, he said that the strangest thing happened to him while at the store.  A stranger came up to him and said, "Hi, Mr. Perfect."  Dennis' response was, "Where is he?" (A pretty quick response, don't you think?) Then the man said, "You are doing great. Keep it up"  Wow!   A small thing that was wonderful!  

I was talking to me daughter the other night.  She was explaining to me that she is trying to take notice of the wonder around her.  The other night while in the car, a beautiful rainbow appeared.  A small thing that was wonderful!  

While dusting the other day, I discovered a picture that had fallen behind the shelf.  A small thing that was wonderful!

Enjoy the WONDERFUL in your life!

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September flew by without an entry written in my blog.  Shame.  I remember this happening last mission and I never did finish our last days in Swaziland.  I am not sure the reason because life is pretty much the same but I will do the entire month on this post.  

Some who have read my blog have made comments about it looks like what we do on mission is go out and have fun.  I guarantee you that during the days we work hard at the Church History Center but I guess on blog what I am capturing are the small things that makes mission wonderful! 

29 August - 4 September 2016  For our Monday morning devotional, we had a broadcast with Elder Rasband for all church employees.  It was fabulous.  Elder and Sister French invited us for dinner and Elder French offered to take a suitcase full of some of our African treasures back to Salt Lake with him when he takes a missionary back.  That was not a small thing but a HUGE thing because I have been stressed as to how I was going to get them back home.  An answer to a prayer through the hands of a dear friend.  During the week we had activities committee meeting, Patricia is taking some self-reliance courses and joined us for lunch, Rene and Stan Gorman came over for dinner and a movie, went to see the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere, attended the Soweto Stake Conference and visited the Nan Hua Budha Temple.

Dinner at Elder and Sister French with the Weeks 

 Sister Week and Jackson (she has my pink glasses on because it matched her outfit)

 Elder French taking our suitcase to Salt Lake and then he returned it full of stuff that they needed.

 Elder Happy (?) from Khutsong Ward is in the MTC and came to the canteen for lunch.  Elder and Sister Weeks is assigned to that ward and helped Happy get on mission. When Sister Weeks saw him she responded as any mom would....she cried!

 Patricia joined us for lunch....

 Tlhalefang Kgosiemang in her beautiful African attire.  

 Tshepiso Khombane is from Botswana, served in the Durban mission, found his sweetheart there, married her after mission and now they both live in Botswana.  They come to the temple often.  Such a great couple.

Nizamiye Mosque in Midrand - the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Construction on this edifice began in October 2009 and was inaugurated on 4 October 2012.  It's design resembles a mosque in Turkey.  It has one large dome, 4 half domes and 21 smaller domes. All the designs on the walls and ceilings were hand painted.  Up to 6000 people can be accommodated per service within the facilities - the men pray on the main floor while the women pray in the upper gallery.  There are rooms on the upper level for young men that are chosen to memorize the Koran. At present there are 33 young men ranging from 12 - 18 that spend their entire days and nights memorizing their scripture.  We met a young man that had just finished memorizing it and did it in 18 months. There is also a school attached to the building that can house 850 pupils.  Islamic studies are taught along with South African education syllabus.  Also, Arabic and Turkish are taught. Nelson Mandela asked that they offer health care also to the general public, so they built a clinic on the property. 

The upper level on the left hand side is where the young men live that are memorizing the Koran 

 They brought us to this room to present the general information to us.

 The main dome

 The ceiling was hand painted

 

The school is situated in the back right of the main building

 The clinic

 Thoko and Megan Shongwe stayed over an extra night.

 Soweto Stake Conference

Being Greeted by the Elders

 Elder Pickup.  We first met him in Nelspruit.  A good young man.

 Thoko Ngwenya and her grandson

 The choir

 Thomas Magapi - I told his story in an earlier post entitled Visionay people

 Thoba Karl-Bell and her friend

 We took Patricia home after conference and was greeted by the kids.

 NAN HUA BUDHA TEMPLE in Bronkhorstspriut

Nan Hua, which means Flower in the South, is the name of the South Africa branch for the HumanisticBuddhis Order, Fo Guang Shan, who has made it their mission to spread Humanistic Buddhism to all the continents on Earth.  Nan Hua acts as the central religious and adminstrative office for all Fo Guang Shan branches in Africa, which includes temple and centers throughout South Africa, Malawai, Tanzania and the Congo.

 The Main Shrine is the most important building and is also called the Great Hero Hall.  In the Main Shrine there are three very large Buddha statues, commonly referredto as the "Triple Gem Buddha."

 When facing the shrines, on the left is Amitabha Buddha, who represents longevity and endless light, as well as infinite compassion, wisdom and aspirations.  In the middle is the teacher of the Saha World, Sakyamuni Buddha.  His compassionate teachings not only transform but they also bring endless joy and benefit to all beings.  On the right is the Medicine Buddha.  By paying respect and making offerings to the Medicine Buddha, one may avoid disaster and gain good merit and longevity.

 African sights - Sunday must be wash day..

THE SEALING OF TWO SWAZI COUPLES

The weekend was FULL.  We had 12 Swazi's stay over with us.  It was one big wedding party. Manqoba Shongwe and Pontsho Mokoena were sealed on 3 September at 8:00 a.m.  Friday night Pontsho went to the temple for the first time to prepare for her sealing the following morning. On Saturday morning, both Riccardo Nyoni and Queen Dube received their endowments and were sealed.  Dennis was one of their witnesses.  It was such a special day at the temple.  Definitely a near PERFECT day.  They all stayed in our flat Friday night.  Feeding dinner and breakfast for that crew was a miracle of the fishes and loaves.  The group from Manzini was a surprise but it was a joy having them.  Those who spent the night:  Mac Shongwe, Xolani Sithole, Manqoba Shongwe, Pontsho Mokoena, Thoko Shongwe, Andrew and Thembeni Simelane, Abel, Riccardo Nyoni, Queen Dube, President and Sister Mthetwe.  How I love these people.

SWAZI'S ARRIVE

Pontsho, Queen, Thembeni, Sister and President Mthethwe

 Manqoba, Xolani, Thoko

 Pontsho

 Blowing up the beds

 Lala kahle

Getting ready for the big events....

 Presenting Mr. and Mrs Shongwe - sealed for time and all eternity (the following day, Manqoba was sustained as Ezulwini Branch President.  No honeymoon)

 The Shongwes

Thoko, Pontsho, Manqoba, Machawe

 Mr. and Mrs. Riccardo Nyoni - sealed for time and all eternity.

 Swazi couples making one of the best choices in their lives.

5 - 11 September 2016  Rene Gorman spoke at our Monday devotional.  She did a fabulous job.  Also, Bishop Imani Jimmy Mwaipopo from the Mandalay Ward and his wife and son came into visit us.  We met them at Aduma and Analisa's wedding in April.  We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  In the office we are researching historical sites in South Africa and preparing for training on Thursday and Friday.  I am really enjoying researching.  We found out that Trina is having a little girl!  We couldn't be happier for her.  On Wednesday we visited with Ike and Edwina Swartzberg from Pretoria to gain more insight into the Sunnyside chapel that we are documenting.  They are always fun to visit with. That evening we met Osvaldo Chamba from Mozambique who is our new country church history advisor there.  We brought him in for training.  We had dinner with him at the Sunnyside Hotel located near to the area office.  Thursday and Friday were spent training Osvaldo. Part of the training included doing two oral interviews - we interviewed him and then he interviewed an area employee - Marlvern Chitiyo.  We drove Osvaldo to the airport Friday afternoon.  Thursday, Tilungile came into the office to surprise us and also, Nathi Dlamini slept over.  We love our Swazi visits.

Bishop Imani Jimmy Mwaipopo from Mandalay Ward in Cape Town and his wife and child 

 Branch President Stephen Guwa from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and his wife Lilian. I love the people we meet here in the center.

 King of the Day - Vernon Jubber's birthday

 Our visit with Ike and Edwini Swartzberg

 Meeting Osvaldo Chamba from Mozambique who came for Church History training.  He had never been out of Mozambique, been on a plane, or stayed in a hotel.  An adventuure... a lot of firsts for him.

 Every Wednesday night we go to the Blakes to watch The Mentalist...but for some reason they have stopped airing it.  Shame...

 Osvaldo's training on annual histories by Dennis

 Goal setting by Leon Holmes

 Dennis and I interviewed Osvaldo

 Osvaldo interviewed Marlvern Chitiyo

 Teaching the documenting of an oral history

 Nathi's surprise visit with us

 Showing Osvaldo around the temple before we took him to the airport

Friday afternoon we had an area activity instructed by Sister French.

VISIT OF PRESIDENT SELBY BULUNGA AND HIS CHILDREN

Friday, 9 September President Selby Bulunga and his three children came to spend the weekend with us.  We also had a surprise visit from Mac and Xolani who also came for the weekend.  Good thing we like surprises and have blow up beds!  

Playing games

Making for beds for everyone

Looks like someone is very tired!

Saturday morning the men got up early to attend a session at the temple while the children and I prepared for the day.  When they returned we headed off to Hartbeespoort Dam to the aerial cableway.  We rented an area office van so we could all travel together.

Selby, Xolani, Mac and the kids in the back.

Mac getting ready to board the tram....first time for all these people!

Philiswa waving good-bye...

Mac and Xolani on their way up the mountain

The view from top

Selby, Nonzuko, Siyanda, Philiswa (Lisa)

Selby and Xolani (Xolani was just sustained as second counselor in the Swaziland District Presidency)

It was a hazy day but still a beautiful view

Lisa, Nonzuko, Siyanda

Lisa

This is the ramp they use to take off sky diving

There was a man singing some great songs at the top of the mountain.  Dennis and I couldn't resist dancing.

Imagine a wedding on top of the mountain?  Imagine getting your guests up there?  It was fun to see.

Getting ready to go down.

Sunday (11 September) was Philiswa (Lisa)'s birthday so we had cake and ice cream.  Nonzuko's birthday was just 10 days later...so we celebrated both

Getting ready for church

On Sunday attended the Dobsonville Ward where we met up with these ladies who just arrived from America.  They were here to do some volunteer work in Swaziland with Xolani and Mac.

After the Bulunga's left, we had Margaret & Karl Blake over for dinner to talk about the BYU (Blakes) vs. Utah (Lombardi's)game

12 - 15 September 2016 Monday we had a special Family Home Evening with the senior couples. Jann Powell's twin sister and her husband are here for a few weeks to receive some training. They both have served in Nauvoo for quite a few missions and Elder Franklin does a presentation on the days leading up to the martyrdom of Joseph Smith.  It was excellent.  What a great sacrifice Joseph Smith made for us.  I am so much grateful for his life and inspiration and desire to know the truth. Tuesday evening we had Mary and John Ndaba and her family for dinner - Desire, Njabulo and Manzoba (Wonder Boy and Thabang couldn't make it). We talked the night away. 

Elder Kyle Franklin presenting the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith

 Twin sisters - Jann and Jill

 We are working on a Church History poster that we are sending out the Africa Southeast Area

 Mary Ndaba's family for dinner

John and Mary

 Manqoba and Njabulo

John, Mary, Desire

Njabulo, Manqoba

Cas Weston (served with us in Swaziland) with his new baby girl

 At lunch, sometimes we will go out onto a bench on the area grounds and Dennis will read a book to me.

Friday, 16 - Sunday, 18 September  We left early in the morning for Swaziland with the Waltons, Broadbents, Grafs and Frenchs.  They so wanted to go to Swaziland and experience the kingdom through our eyes and our time is coming to a quick end.  So we found a weekend and headed off. Friday we visited, Ngwenya Glass Factory, Baobab Batik, Swazi Candles, Mantenga Lodge and then Sister French did a presentation for the Swazi couples in the Manzini Chapel.  A great turnout with 50 people.  We served them dessert after.  So good to see everyone.  After, we went to Chinese at the Gables.  Saturday, on the agenda was the Silver Smith, Cultural Village, Swazi Candles again, Sibebe Rock and then dinner at Ramblas in Mbabane where the Elder and Sister Martin joined us. We attend the Ezulwini Branch on Sunday and then they all went home except for the French's and us because we did a fireside for the YSA's.  Again, a super turnout with 45 from all over Swaziland.  We arrived home at 10:30 and was welcomed by Mac and Xolani who were staying with us.

SIGHTS OF SWAZILAND

Arriving at the Ngwenya Glass Factory just across the border

 Marcia and Jeff enjoying the handiwork

 Steve and Julie deciding on their purchase

 Lunch at the factory

 Of course, brownies at Baobab Batik

 The ladies showing us how they create their masterpieces

 Final products

 It was a windy day....these pieces were out drying

 Liz, Me, Marcia, Julie, Ginny

 Couples Fireside

 Marcia French presenting

 Newly married and the one in blue, arrived from mission earlier that day (Sphiwe Shongwe)

 Chinese dinner 

 Breakfast at Mantenga Lodge

 Lombardi, Broadbents, Frenchs, Grafs, Waltons

 Execution Mountain

 Marcia fighting her way through the jungle

 Liz an Chuck in front of the rubber tree

 Steve Broadbent enjoying the workmanship of those who make the rings at the Silver Smith

 This young boy's mother works as a clerk at the Silver Smith.  He waits for his "make" all day on Saturdays.

 Dear friends

 Swaziland Cultural Village

 Julie Broadbent learning the Swazi dance steps

 Greeting a group of Elders walking down the streets in Manzini

 Spying the Manzini Chapel from the streets

 Swazi Candles...this young man had just made 50 wax animals.  He wants to become an sculpture

 We drove the couples through the outskirts of Mbabane.  This man and his son was preparing land for their future car wash.  We asked were the water was.  He said over in the barrel.  They do almost anything to make some money.

 They build their homes amongst these rocks

 We were giving suckers out.  You can't see very well, but this little boy was jumping and screaming with excitement over his sucker.

 Dinner at Ramblas

 Marcia and Jeff French

 Ginny and Paul Graf

 Chuck and Lix Walton

 Julie and Steve Broadbent

 Us

 Elder and Sister Martin now serving in Swaziland

 Church in Ezulwini Branch

Thoko and Sphiwe who just returned from mission.  She gave a powerful talk.

 Relief Society

 YSA Fireside

 A powerful trust exercise

 Of course, food after

  A pleasant greeting by Mac and Xolani when we arrived home.

19 - 25 September 2016 A very normal week but was full of wonder.  Monday we had a great devotional with Elder Ellis speaking to us about the importance and blessings of tithing.  He is a great man and leader.  That night we took Mac and Xolani to the showing of Ben Hur 3D.  They loved it. It has a great spiritual ending.  At the end of the movie we all just sat there just wanting to soak the message in.  At lunch on Wednesday a group of us met to plan our trip to Clarens/Lesotho.  Can't wait.  That evening we had dinner with the Weeks and did an oral interview with them.  They have had some spiritual experiences here while on mission.  It was great to capture some of them. Thursday we hosted a couple, Elder and Sister Selcho, who are having training here before they head to their assignment as office couple in Zimbabwe.  They know our friends, the Pecks and one of our elders that served with us, Elder Lorimer.  We went to the temple with them and then had them over for dinner.  They are a delightful couple.  We have cream of the crop that serve here in Africa. Friday, was Heritage Day observance.  Many of the employees came dressed in their traditional attire. Zola and Sphiwe Shongwe came to the office to surprise us.  They are staying with Portia because we are having Tilungile over for the weekend.  It was a lovely evening eating and playing games. Saturday was busy....up early to take Tilungile to Irene's Market.  Then to the mosque, area office Fun Day at Roodeport (I was happy that she knew quite a few employees from the area office), and then took her to Ben Hur.  She also loved it.  The Sabbath day was spent in the Alexandra Branch and then we took Tilungile to the Part Station so she could return home.  There was a couples fireside with Bro. and Sister Keyes speaking.  Another beautiful Sabbath day in Africa.

Meeting the amazing people that come to the temple are the moments on mission that inspire me and make my days most wonderful!

This group is from Mbuji Mayi DRC (they know Elder and Sister Needs who was at the area office) There were three families that were sealed

 And they each received a special reminder of their special day...

Love these people..

Liz Vizzini, our chef in the canteen and her special helpers, are leaving today.  It was a sad day for all of us.....

 Since Liz left, the travel department is in charge of feeding those people on the temple patron fund

Planning our Clarens/Lesotho trip

 Elder and Sister Selcho, headed for Zimbabwe

 Tilungile Ntshalintshali arrives for the weekend

 Irene Market 

 These boys rescued us when we couldn't find the Irene Concentration Camp.  It was more of a park with the lists of names of those who died in the camp.  Can't believe that I didn't get any pictures of the park.  

 The Nizamiye Mosque

 These sweet ladies offered us some traditional turkish food.  We have learned to love all those around us.

 Area Fun Day in Roodeport

 Pearl and Tilungile - they knew each other

 Elizabeth - manager of the Distribution Center and the one that is making me a dress - and her granddaughter

 Zola, Me and Sphiwe

 These three men served in the Durban Mission in Swaziland

Two of them are in the Alexandra Branch Presidency with Sidwell (next to Dennis) as President

 Alexandra Primary

 Alexandra Branch Relief Society

 Two young women from Alexandra that has served in the Area Office - the one on the right is Beverly...

 Tilungile wanted a picture of this cute little girl and her red lipstick!

Some of the sweet children of Alexandra Branch

26 - 30 September 2016 During lunch on Monday we had Rugby 101 course.  Dennis and I arranged for tickets to a Rugby game on Friday night.  Since none of us knew the rules, we arranged for a Rugby 101 class being taught by Sandile and Dudley from the area office.  I brought in lunch for everyone and we had a crash couse.  So fun.  That evening we took the Jubbers out to dinner.  They have been gone for almost two weeks visiting the sights of South Africa with their children.  We took them to the Nizamiye Mosque because we wanted to see it lit up at night. We arrived during prayer time and as they were leaving the main dome, one of the young men came up to us and asked if we had any questions.  Of course, we did.  Selim Can (originally from Turkey) directed us around and we found out that he was the teacher of the 33 young men that live at the mosque that are memorizing the Koran.  While in the main dome we heard a very loud buzz going on.  It was all the boys in the upper compartments repeating their memorization.  Selim took us up and introduced us to the young men....so young most of them (12-18).  I didn't dare take pictures.  We met a young man that had just finished that day memorizing their scriptures - took him 18 months. It was so interesting.  I failed to take a picture of Selim--I was just so involved in all that he was telling us. Tuesday after a day of researching the Port Elizabeth chapel, Luthando and Nomava Matsaluka from Cape Town came to spend the night with us.  We met them at Aduma and Analisa's wedding in May.  While we ate and played games, they shared with us stories of their growing up and being part of the apartheid.  So interesting.  We had planned to do an interview but our boss had arranged to have someone else do it instead of us. Shame...I was disappointed.  Wednesday, we went to Jubbers for dinner, had activities committee meeting and then went to Weeks to watch Victoria - a series on television (which we do not have) that we have gotten hooked on.  Thursday, the ladies took Sherry Weeks out to lunch.  The Weeks are leaving for home on the 13th.  A good time is always had when the women get together. Also, that afternoon Onward and Maureen Chivunga came from Zimbabwe to spend the evening with us.  Their oldest child turned 12 that day and they wanted her to be able to do baptisms, so they took the 30 hour bus ride to come to the temple.  It was an honor to have them in our home.  We had a great time. We first met them in Zimbabwe in August 2015 and they have become dear friends since. After a full day at work on Friday, it was finally time for the Rugby game.  We gathered at the Johannesburg chapel, walked over to the Ellis Stadium and watched the Lions vs. Sharks play.  You cannot help but have a magnificent time when twenty-four senior people get together at a sporting event.  

Rugby 101 

 Sandile and Dudley being patient with our questions

Nizamiye Mosque at night - a most beautiful edifice

 

Janet and I inside the main dome

 We had not seen the inside lit up before....so impressive

 Tlhalefang Kgosiemang and her sister made me some necklaces out of material that I had given her.

 Sister Chandler serving in Lesotho tending some little children while their parents are in the temple

The Chandlers told us what it took to get this family to the temple to be sealed.  They feel like this family is one of the main reasons they came on mission.  They are an amazing couple.

 Luthando and Nomava with Liz and Leon Holmes.  Luthando is a second counselor in the Cape Town Stake Presidency serving with Leon's son who is the president.

 We had such a good time with this cute couple.

 Luthando, Nomava and me

 This young man is from Mbuji Mayi DRC.  He gave Dennis names of his 10 siblings and where they lived so Dennis could contact the missionaries to find them and teach them the gospel.

 On our way to lunch...

 Sherry Weeks - our guest of honor

 Our group

 Back row: Me, Jann Powell, Jean Gatten, Mary Louise Beckstrand, Julie Broadbent

Charlene Lee, Margaret Blake, Sherry Weeks, Liz Walton, Janet Jubber, Cindy Lee

 Onward Chivunga and his family - Mauren and Julianna (it was her 12th birthday)

Thanks to the Wilson's....our new favorite game - Codfish!

 Brenda, our receptionist, is going on leave to have a baby.  We held a surprise baby shower for her.

 Gathering at the Johannesburg chapel for an evening of fun at the rugby game

 Walking to the game

 Arriving at the Emirates Stadium

 This is called a scrum....

 ...a line-out.  When they get the ball over the endline - it is called a Try and is worth 5 points.  A funny name for a goal...you didn't try, you succeeded.

 Unfortunately, Sandile's team, the Sharks (black and white from Durban) lost....28 - 16.  The Lions were red and white from Johannesburg.  I should have known that the best colors would win.

 These kids are into the excitement of the game.

It has been a delightful month with many WONDERFUL moments.  How blessed I am to be here serving my Heavenly Father...and with that service he blesses me more than I could imagine. Life here is not perfect but it is sure wonderful!

BIRTHDAYS

5 September was our little Asia Arkell's birthday....a spunky, full of life 5 year old. I will never forget that labor day as we welcomed in a beautiful granddaughter.  Happy Birthday sweetheart.

22 September is our daughter-in-law's birthday, Katie, who just gave birth to little Luke.  Katie, we couldn't have chosen a better wife for our son.  We love and so much grateful that you are part of the family.  Happy Birthday.

25 September is our little two year-old Jonah's birthday.  When we left he was little.  We can't wait to be reintroduced to this little bundle of SMILES!!.  

NOTE:  Our children put their pictures on instagram which will not let me copy them.  So this is what I have!!!