Our first week in Africa was intense training. I guess it was designed so the Dow's could leave for California and brother Elks could take some time off from the office. We are now trying to keep the ship afloat until he returns. Your mother may have more to say about her work but I have major projects or initiatives going on or being approved for Uganda where a major portion of the refugees are going to escape the war in the Congo---there are something like 25,000+ in a couple of camps. They left with nothing but what they could carry or wear. I guess it is pretty bad. The situation in Zimbabwe is also pretty bad. Cholera has taken the lives of several thousand, food is scarce and it's pretty grim. Several organizations are involved and the church strives to assist them instead of being the major donor in many of these situations. Much the work done by the country directors is designed to help local organizations be more effective. It is really leadership development instead of "giving" aid. This is done so the work will be sustainable in the long run.
We went to church today in the Etwatwa branch(2nd week). It is amazing! The branch president is a successful local businessman (computer area). He gave a talk on the status of the branch that was so good. I am amazed at the depth of understanding of the gospel the people have even though most are recent converts. The people are hard for us to understand even when they speak English (UK brogue). We (Packers and Us) plus a couple of single elders are the only whites in attendance (about 70? in people). Your mother has been a real hit. She goes to Primary. The kids love her. I took my camera today and three (about 10 year olds) were my instant friends. All the boys wanted me to take their picture. The school is old and not in great shape but it does not seem to matter. The meetings are great!
We had a nice Bar-b-cue on Christmas day with the couples that had not departed for other places over the holidays. Then last night we had a turkey dinner with three other couples---Wrights from Eagle Idaho, VanStetton's from Pennsylvania, and Well's from Provo. I think we are the oldest (in years) but we are the newest couple in area office. The couples have made us feel very welcome. It has been nice to get to know them. These are indeed new friends.We just finished "Sunday Dinner" and I thought we would share what we had. We bought a smoked pork neck yesterday. It turned out to be just like ham----yum yum. We also had fresh watermelon. The rest was pretty traditional (spuds, salad).
From Judy:
I did go to primary again. This week one of the mother's took care of Primary—everyone else seemed to be away on "holiday". This week while the primary leader did everything herself, I held her baby. I had the easiest job because the baby slept for an hour or so while she sang and taught the children. She knew a lot of songs because she had been a primary teacher. She would say one, two—and then they would begin to sing. This young mother was very much in control. Those kids behaved well. I have no idea what she would say, but they snapped to attention when she said it. She is tall and thin. When she came into Sacrament meeting she had her baby tucked on her back in the large bath towel. If she would have put her baby back in after Primary we would have taken her picture. We will get a picture one of these next times. She was wearing her hair like a lot of the young women. It is like ringlets all over her head. Not kinky just tight curls and probably medium length although it is curled so tight it is like a shorter hair cut.
Did I tell you we met one of the people who were in the book that Boyd (nephew of Judy's) shared with us about pioneers in Africa? Yesterday when we met him in the hall—he was coming home from the market with his collard "greens"—he was wearing a Nelson Mandela t-shirt. It appears he may be quite politically active but he is very nice. We would like to get to know them better. Speaking of Nelson Mandela—we have been told he does not live far from here in one of the mansions that are nestled here and there in the trees surrounded by high fences. Someone has supposedly seen him in the nearby mall with his body guards.
We are getting a little more comfortable in Johannesburg. We know the route from the "flat" to the Area Office and to one other shopping mall (everything is under one roof--hardware, groceries, clothing, etc.). We walked up through the neighborhood on Christmas day. There are some very nice, quiet apartment buildings around here. There has not been a lot of people in the streets or on the roads the last week or so because of the "holiday". I still do not plan to drive here but your Dad is doing quite well.
Most people do not wear suits to work each day, at least in the heat of the summer , so your Dad bought a couple of new pairs of slacks. When we asked if he could try them on—all the measurements are in centimeters so he was not sure of the size—we found there was only one dressing room for men and women with little curtains for doors. He didn't waste much time deciding if they were going to fit. You probably heard he bought a new plaid, too, so now he has a South Africa plaid shirt!
I still have not baked here. There is no Crisco or other shortening appropriate for baking. The brown sugar is granulated and sprinkles like regular sugar. The only nuts in the grocery store were like little pieces of gold. We have not found American chocolate chips although I did buy a Cadbury milk chocolate bar to cut up like Wendy suggested. To tell you the truth I would really like to eat the chocolate bar straight up--forget the chocolate chip cookies!
Last night at that dinner your Dad mentioned, they served fresh green beans. They were so good. Of course it is summer. The watermelon we had today was good, too. We just bought a wedge so we were pretty sure it was ripe and ready to eat.
I think one reason the food is so inexpensive here is because it is all produced in South Africa. Even the salad dressing which was labeled "Knorr" is produced here. The clothing must also be manufactured here or somewhere nearby. The dress slacks were about 150 Rand which is about $15.00.
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