July 26, 2013

"First" Homemaking meeting

Everyone KNITTING, the red scarf WAS mine

Picking flowers on our morning walk - Still winter

WHO NEEDS TOYS!

Ed, Matome (the Motupa group leader) and Bongani

NATURAL ROAD BLOCK ON THE WAY TO HENDRICK'S HOME

 Dearest Family and Friends,

It appears that we are not as good about updating our blog as we planned to be.  As we told our children, we sent our love everyday with smoke signals.  Hopefully you got it.  Our internet was down for 10 days when we learned that it would be another week or so before it would be fixed.  Come to find out the wiring had been stolen, so we went out and bought a wireless plan.

A few night's ago Ed and I visited the Ndlovu family.  Brother Ndlovu is our Elder's Quorum President and Sister Ndlovu is the Relief Society President.  Last Sunday they were both scheduled to teach and they did not show up.  We visited with plans to help them understand the importance of being dependable and calling in an emergency.  (This is a very common problem here.)  However, after hearing a touching story about their last minute rush on Sunday to gather all their food and deliver it to a contact who was traveling to Zimbabwe and was willing to take it to Brother Ndlovu's elderly parents who were in desperate need, we decided to save the "teaching" for another time.

Highlights of this month are that we had a First Ever Homemaking meeting for the sisters. ( At least they say it was the first.) Pauline and I taught them how to knit scarves.  When two sisters showed up Sunday with proudly completed scarves I couldn't help but feel pleased.  The night before Adelaide and Judith from Motupa stayed at our flat.  They helped us make chicken pot pies for the meeting, but I think the highlight of their stay was the warm running water in the bathroom and our morning walk around town.  Their giggles were priceless.  We had another meeting this week with the principal of the elementary school where Motupa meets on Sundays.  It's clear that we have to find another place.  The local church in Motupa is aggressively preaching false doctrine about our church and the effects are far reaching.  Bongani, one of my seminary students, told me that his school teacher called him a Satan worshipper in front of the whole class.  He's 16, well liked, and the president of his little school.  I think he handled the false accusation with respect, but it pains my "teacher heart".  On the very bright side, we have 5 baptisms this Sunday.  Three of them from Motupa.  Getting them into Tzaneen for the baptism is of course a challenge because of transportation.  No cars!  No money!  That means that only a few people will be able to come.  We dream of having the whole "ward" there like we do at home.  We actually met this week to see about locating a baptismal font in Motupa.  It was suggested that there might be a "make shift" font, but then we were reminded that water is only delivered every 7 to 10 days and we might not be able to fill it.  Such are the challenges, but we find joy in helping with solutions.  For you senior couples thinking of serving missions, we would just like to tell you that the elders here say that they can hardly wait to get married and grow OLD so they can come back with their wives.  They think we have all the fun.  We do have more privileges, more freedoms, and maybe a little more fun.  All BECAUSE THE gospel is true and we love being able to serve the Lord.   

Take care.  We truly do send out love.

Ed and Jolene, mom and dad, grandma and grandpa and happily Elder and Sister Smith