Update from email dated 3/31/09

My letter is later than usual. I did not have time to do it on Sunday for several reasons that are noted below. To say that we had an interesting week with continuation into this week is an understatement.

The last time Brother Elks left town we had some problems so when he left on Friday I reminded him that the last time he left we had some problems. He just turned to me and said (D&C 122: 7---last two lines). He then walked down the hall but came back and reminded me that “when a ship is sinking, it is women and children out first”. We have laughed several times since then because some of it is true. For example, the country directors for South Africa (we share office space with them) were sent to SA from the Congo because he had some health problems. As a result, they now have to leave. So we are scrambling to pick up the pieces. We have 500 wheelchairs in a warehouse in Botswana waiting for customs clearance (we think the local guy is holding things up for a payment to him). SLC has indicated that if we cannot get clearance soon we will ship them to some other place. We have discovered that working with some units of African government is a “real experience”.

Having a “real experience” reminds me of Saturday evening. Elder and Sister Cox who are country directors in Mozambique were returning from a NRT project in Angola and were stopping in Joberg to get some medical help (minor issue) and to take a couple through the temple today. We picked them up from the airport. This was our second time there—the first time is when we came to SA. We missed a road going out but, our GPS helped us get back to the airport in plenty of time. However, the way back to the flat was different. There are a few places in Joberg where “whites” should never venture especially at night. On the way back, we missed another turn and went right through one of the bad places at about 9:00pm. Let’s just say that my blood pressure was probably elevated and that I had an “adrenaline rush” when we entered the area. But, I do have to admit that we had some additional help because the lights were such that we did not have to stop. Your and our prayers that we can travel in safety were answered that night!

I have to share a neat little saying. Last Tuesday at devotional (we have one almost every Tuesday morning), Sister Noll spoke. She has a neat little saying “Whoop ti do, the gospel is true”. She epitomizes the saying. She is happy, fun to be around and shines like the primary song “I have a little gospel light”.

Elder and Sister Esplin (he’s originally from Cedar City) have been serving a proseliting (spelling?) mission but were recently transferred to humanitarian/welfare. They brought 17 people from Kenya to the temple last week. There were three families plus one single sister. The single sister had served a mission in Zimbabwe and Zambia but, had not been through the temple. We visited with her for a few minutes and discovered that her younger sister was in the MTC. They were able to go to the temple together. But, the neatest part of the story was that the older sister had taught the gospel to a fellow that was baptized and had served a mission. He was now teaching the younger sister at the MTC before she left for her mission. Pretty neat, huh!

Sunday resulted in another change in my life. I was sustained as the 2nd Counselor in the Soshenguve branch presidency. My primary assignment is to train the branch presidency. That doesn’t sound too bad but, conducting meetings (pronouncing names) and getting to know the names of the members of the branch will be a real challenge. I looked at a branch roster and there were no names that I could pronounce and most were not readable. One of the young men in the office is teaching us some Zulu (most people understand that or something like it). We now know how to greet people (like hello and how are you?) but, not much more. I can’t figure out how Ron learned Chinese. We will just have to see how this goes. I hope the branch has lots of patience with me as I “stumble along”. The people in the branch have surely “taken us in” and made us feel welcome. The Cullum’s who go with us each week have also noted that they have never been welcomed in a ward/branch like this one. I did discover that they seek priesthood blessings so I will get to exercise some faith with them.