April 10, 2013



Getting ready to cook dinner.  Isn't she cute!



LOST but trying to trust the GPS.



We always give them the right-of-way



Working and having fun.



Four generations for the Ndlovu family. 

Dearest Family and Friends,

We love to hear the news from home.  Our latest from home is that Troy and Tiffany have a new baby girl, Carly Lynn Smith.  Also, we have two granddaughters, Alexis and Adalie,  preparing for baptism.  We are proud grandparents even if we are a million miles away. 

As for Africa, our journey continues.  We love to visit with the branch members.  Often that means going from village to village.  This past week we decided to trust our GPS and let it tell us the shortest route from Modjadji to Motupa.  Oops, after 20 km of dirt road we decided to not do that again.  However it was beautiful.  (picture above) 

The African people are very loving and almost childlike.  We try to take cookies when we go visit, therefore we do lots of baking.  We have a sister in the hospital, she told me yesterday that she is dreaming of a plate of cookies.  Then also yesterday we got two SMS (text messages) from two different people telling us it was their birthday.  In America we are too shy, or maybe too "sophisticated" to do that, but they are so loving and appreciative that if a plate of cookies is what they want for their birthday, then a plate of cookies will be delivered.  

We were invited to visit a new baby last Saturday morning.  The custom here is that no one sees the baby for the first week, so we were honored to be invited along with the grandma and great grandma who were also seeing him for the first time.  We took a gift of course.  After visiting and talking and me secretly wanting to hold my little Carly, the grandma said, "I'm so anxious for you to show us what you brought.  Please open your present."  I said, "Oh no, the mom needs to open it, it's for her and the baby."  So she did.  Afterwards I learned that here in Africa the person who brings the gift opens it and shows it off to everyone.  Another OOPS! It was a lovely morning anyway.  (The four generation picture above is from that morning).  They also asked Ed to give a blessing on their home and family before we left.  We felt humbled to be a part of that gathering.  In Matthew Chapter 5 the Savior teaches us to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.  We are grateful for the good works we see here and from you at home.     

We miss and love you,

Ed and Jolene (Grandma and Grandpa too)