October

Sunday the 1st of October we are home at Ladysmith and oriented Sister Mathe for music leader.  I have a great video for music so I started showing it after the block, and ended up showing it to all the Primary workers. They just came in and wanted to watch a large black primary from the Carribean have a Primary sharing time.  It was informative and they watched actual sharing time music and ideas on how to teach music and their classes.  Youtube is our friend!  They loved it.
   The geyser and washing machine died on Monday.  Had to study for class for Tuesday and go to class. On Wednesday we had to fix Elders broken stuff and we went to their boardings to pick up broken stuff to find parts. 

Rained a lot on Thursday and I wish it would continue.  Friday the Browns came to town and our good friend Sibonelo was re-baptized and Kent got to do it.  We all took him to the Guinea Fowl to celebrate.  Saturday was the start of our marathon of General Conference .  (4 hours and snack.)  Sunday was 6 hours of Conference with lunch made by Sisters and me.

   P-day it rained and we studied, shopped and said good-bye  to the Woods.  Our wedding anniversary was non existent, but we did finish fixing table leg, and fan and other Elder stuff.  On Friday we went for our usual meeting with President and my GoGo Zwane to go over some things in the room and give her keys we made for the room.
  We did our Super Saturday for Ezakheni and Sister Mama Zwane  went with me to get the chicken.  Kids loved the games and we had the same number of people as Newcastle.  I ordered 48 lunches altogether.  Fun was had by all!
   Church at Ezakheni and played for Sister Sosibo on Sunday. 

Monday was prepare for Tuesday and on Wednesday it was Transfers and had about 24 Elders in and out all day.  Transfer  pancakes!

Some Elders were stuck so long that we took them to Penelopes for lunch.  We had to house APs that night. 
   Went to Newcastle on Thursday to do S and I and visit with President Mashayo and home seminary teachers.  Browns came early on Thursday to interview people and we went to a late breakfast together.  Kent was having a lot of trouble and getting a new phone through S and I,  so I practiced at Ladysmith Chapel,(primary music) and he went to sort things out with the phone.

   On Sunday we were at Ladysmith practicing for P. program , District mt for Kent in Ezakheni and fast trip for music and more children pictures. 

We got home at 4.  Monday we did a Durban transport for the APs.  That was our whole day because it was more than 6 hours round trip.
   President Thompson met us with a van full of Elders-6  from Madagascar mission on Tuesday. We kept 2 Elders in our zone.

This is where I digress and tell what thos
e Elders told us.  Yes-- first hand gossip!  We got 2 of those new Elders in our new Ladysmith Zone.  One Elder is from SA up by the Mozembique border.  His name is Kruger (krugerand) and is  6'5" and a big Africaans guy.  They told us that every year there is some sort of parade in  Madagascar where they dig up their ancestor's bones and dance with  them in the  street. Every year there is an outbreak of the black plague (of middle ages vintage) and people die within 24 hours after symptons are discovered.  Many this year, discovered too late and over 100 or more died because they did not get the antibiotic quick enough.  They can't afford it so even if they discover the symptoms it's too late and they die.  The bones are old and powdery and this mideval plague is now airborne.  Our missionaries were quarantined in their boardings with masks until they were shipped off to new missions till it is considered safe to go back.  They had to place 78 missionaries all over Africa.
   At 3PM we went to Ez and oriented Primary teacher and taught our Institute class.

Chicken currie was a nice treat!

   Wednesday was organizing days-cleaning ,washing, errands, Kent's Presidency in Ladysmith and blog.  Friday Kent taught Seminary in Ezakheni and I met with Sister Zwane.  Saturday Kent went again to Ez for Seminary and I had Primary Presentation Activity day from 12 -4.  We served kids lunch and all 13 of them got their parts.  I only helped the music leader a little and played.  We were pooped but our neighbor Yutika brought dinner for us. 
   Sunday Sac mt program in L. S.- went well and I left my cake after Sacrament meeting so they could have their treat after the block.  (we eat a lot in this church)  We took off for Ez. after the 1st hour because we needed to decide with Primary Pres. when we would do Ezakheni's P. program.  We got there and everything in Primary was a mess.  Apparently they could not open the locked Primary room because of the lock on the door.  Primary was meeting everywhere in the building and doubling up in classes.  Kent brings his tools in from the car and can not  get the lock out.  We then just have that big Africaans Elder Kruger kick the door in- in one kick.  We messed up the door jam but did not break the door.

doorjam

   Monday was a visiting day-visited Buki at work (who had gone less active). Went to talk to Sibonelo at work,  Madonsela's for Visiting Teaching, and Sister Fikile for Kent's new pants that needed to be hemmed.   This and lunch took all day. 

Tues was our last day of class and they partied with decorating their own cupcakes.  That night we wanted to carve a pumpkin that we found but just planned too much and would have to do it a day late on Nov. 1. Will that work?  Who cares- right?  --we are in SA?