December 24, 2012

Us, The Alders and Elder Duma in Tzaneen



Our church in Tzaneen

Visitor at a church members home in Tzaneen

It's Christmas Eve and we were feeling a little lonely even though we had plans to go to dinner with the other senior couple serving in our area, however the last three phone calls have changed life as we know it.  The first phone call was about a sister's home that blew down in a storm last week.  We received permission from the District President to rebuild it for her and it was suggested that we start tomorrow.  Yes, that's Christmas.  The next phone call was to confirm that Ed, the new branch President,  would be able to take care of the building project because the District President lost 2 family members in a car fire and his brother's home burned down this past week so he is dealing with his loss and concerns.  The third phone call was to tell us that the Elders in Modjadji are having a difficult time and would like to meet with us tonight.  Our thoughts are, "What were we thinking that this would be a "lonely" Christmas Eve and how do we transport each of you to help with building this home as we know you would and could."    

Now let us  tell you a little about our new home.  We have been assigned to serve in Tzaneen (Za-neen) which is a little town about 5 hours northeast from Johannesburg.  So much for our dream of seeing the Padovichs when they go down to Johannesburg for meetings.  Anyway, we are in a nice area and our flat (apartment complex)  is secured with  high walls and electric wires along the top.  It's cute and we are comfortable here.  We have become painfully aware of the fact that there are the "Haves" and the "Have nots" in Africa.  We are in an area with fairly affluent families, but our branch members (We serve 2 branches) are in the townships that are truly the "Have Nots."  The home that was destroyed looked a little smaller and older than our metal shed to the side of our home in Saugus.  Almost all the members live outside the town and have a long walk to church.  A few of them take a taxi, but the taxi's are unreliable and a bit scary.  Not to mention that it costs more than they have even though they are cheap according to our standards. 

The town of Tzaneen is green and beautiful.  It has been nicknamed the "Hawaii" of Africa.  I will attach a picture or our church where the Tzaneen branch meets. They tell us that we will often find monkeys hanging out at the church.  There were none on Sunday, but we will take our camera each week to get pictures when they do join us.  We haven't had a chance to go meet with the Motupa group (Ed is the branch president over both), because we were called  to speak in the Tzaneen branch.  That too was an experience.  We received the call about 9:30 Saturday night.  We looked at each other and said," We can just give our farewell talks from home,"  but as we sat on the stand the next morning it dawned on us that this was the Sunday before Christmas.  We needed Christmas talks.  During the very short sacrament we both prepared our talks.  The other senior couple in the area tells us that we were lucky.  They were asked to speak as they walked into church.  (When I say speak, we were the meeting.) We have much to learn and are very thankful for the Alder's who not only are the other senior couple, and live right across the hall from us, but they have quickly become our friends and our life line. They have been here for 14 months and know the culture, the area, and have learned to love and know the needs of the people.

Tomorrow we will have been in Africa for 1 week.  We spent the first few days sheltered in the mission home and arrived in Tzaneen Friday night.  It has already been an enormous growing and learning experience and we have to remind ourselves hourly that we are doing the Lord's work and he will watch over us.  We know that we are blessed, but miss each of you more than you can imagine.  Please take care.  MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR and PLEASE keep in touch.  We can respond  to emails, but pictures and Skype will be limited as our internet access here is not what we are use to.    

WE LOVE YOU,

Ed and Jolene