Funerals and YSA Activities

   

Egyptian moths love to fly in at night (small birds)

Sunday was the usual with Tolly (Primary president and music leader) there.  She can only come once a month-so it was fun!
   Elders came on Monday for email and it is getting annoying on our p-day.  We've let them know that it is  only an hour because we also need to use our computers. We get 4 guys at 2 hr blocks and it is a real problem.  Internet at the church is never reliable and they need a reliable alternative.  Tuesday was study for lesson on Wed.  We got new plumbing for bathroom and the guy was there for a few hours in my bathroom in the afternoon.  We spent all morning in Ezekheni with Self Reliance group setting them up with LDS accounts so they can sign up for this class that they are almost done with.
   The van Uiterts, a new couple living in Bethlelhem and on Wed would be arriving through our area going to the Zone Conference for Thursday.  We had them stay with us that Wed night after we had our first Institute class at 4.  I had made dinner early so Kent could eat and run to a Branch Presidency mt at 8pm.  It would have been great, but these people are so quiet and reserved it was hard to engage them after and even before he left.  I tried to teach her how to download leadership training videos for her branch but she did not know much about the computer.
  The next day they left early with our muffins (our contribution to the conference).  Zone Conference is our zone of 20 Elders and it is our responsibility to help with food set up, set out and purchase.  It was overkill for so many couples to help with this and since we have attended and didn't need to be in the meeting we opted to stay home and do other stuff.  Elders by rights should hate pizza after being a missionary for 2 years.
  Thursday was errands and real estate duties.  Yes we have real estate duties!  No MLS here in South Africa probably because of security issues and all the keys involved.  I'm trying to change our 1 large house with 4 Elders and get twp -2 bedroom boardings that are still safe.  This is hard to catch.  By the time I find the boarding  on line, that I like, and the agent gets back to me, it is gone.  Thank goodness this does not need to be a quick transaction because it won't even be within the month.  The problem, besides the cost, is the security.  The mission has particular security criteria and a lot of areas are not safe.  Metal electric gates with a proper fence in certain areas, are hard to find.

Our first funeral by Kent:

At grave site

               

Many things are different here in South Africa, besides the driving on the left side of the road and dodging pedestrians, cows, and goats. Last week we experienced our first funeral. The good brother who passed away was a member of the church and I (Elder Rhodes) had the opportunity to meet him in the hospital shortly before he died. He was a teacher, and much respected in the community.

This was evidenced by the number of people who showed up at the local LDS chapel for his services. The chapel was not large enough to hold everyone. It was attended by his family, branch members, friends and fellow teachers, and members of his former church (Methodist) whose women all came wearing the same blue dresses and headscarves.

We were fortunate that the meeting was presided over by our district president, and conducted by our branch president. If that were not the case, the funeral could have, and would have taken on a different atmosphere than would a normal LDS service.

Nevertheless, there were differences that we have never seen before. For instance, when a speaker got up from the congregation to speak or give tribute, they started singing as they left their seat and everyone joined in as they made their way to the pulpit. The singing stopped and they gave their message. If the person got emotional, there was a designated Go-Go, or grandmother-type, who came to the stand, comforted them and then escorted them back to their seat if they could not control themselves.

The man had ten daughters and most of them joined together to sing. They did a nice job.

The night before the funeral, we went to the home of this brother who passed and met inside with family members. There we sang, I gave a little message of comfort, sang some more, we prayed, we sang, and then we went outside where they served us juice and scones.

This took place next to the huge tent that had been erected in the street to house the family and friends who would return after the burial to be served lunch.  Whenever you see a white tent erected in town you know there is either a funeral or a wedding. They block the street off and for a period of time, they own the street.

There were dozens of family members at the home, upwards of 60 or 70, many who traveled for a long distance. They do not stay in motels or hotels, they all find a place to sleep at the home, most on the ground.

After the funeral, we all drove to the cemetery where I was asked to dedicate the grave. Seeing that the man’s son-in-law was present (told me he wouldn’t be) I prevailed on him to do the dedication, which was only appropriate. He did a fine job.

   The casket was placed over the grave, as we do it at home, and that is where the difference began. In South Africa, everyone stays until the casket is buried. They lowered it into the grave and then placed a row of small logs crossways

over the casket. Then a grass mat. Then everyone threw their funeral programs into the grave, followed by the flowers. Then the women in the family walked by and dropped a handful of dirt into the open grave. They were followed by the men who took up a shovel and added more dirt. Then the cemetery workers took over and with gusto shoveled dirt until the hole was completely filled and a mound added to the top.

piled up every shovel full and then left site

   All the while these things were happening, all of the Zulu’s in attendance, with the exception of our church leaders, were singing traditional Zulu hymns or songs.
https://youtu.be/lr4B7SI3c4M


I am told that if this were a pure Zulu funeral, they would have killed a goat and placed it into the grave along with the flowers and programs.

   I tell you all these things not to make light of local traditions but to describe a colorful experience that Chris and I will not soon forget.  This is just one of the many cultural differences we are experiencing here as we serve the Lord. 

   Later that day after we did our weeks shopping, we headed over to Newcastle for the first ever planned YSA District activity for Valentines Day.  We were at the planning meeting a couple of weeks before and they let them know that the district would pay for food or transport but not both.  They said they would handle all the food.

 We wanted to see our youth in action.   

  

   The sweet and tireless Browns were hard at work with these youth making and cleaning up food all day long.  This would be more like a mini youth conference rather than just a Valentines party/dance.  They had swimming in the morning, lunch,

Mission president and wife speak, and late dinner with dance outside on the basketball court (that they don't know what to do with.)  It was so good to see the kids mingling and there were about 50 or so in attendance. Some of our Dundee kids were in attendance and Ezakheni group were there.  They all loved the activity and the YSA reps learned a lot about activities and delegation.  The taxi's went home about 10:30 and we headed out about 9:30 because we were starving.  All-night McDonalds was still opened and we had a wrap and hamburger.  One of our Seminary teachers, Willy was working there and we checked in with him.

   Our week-ends are dramatic!


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