December

   1st of December saw us after boarding checks needing a new fridge for Ezakheni 2.  We decided to give them ours, which is a few years old and purchase one for ourselves.  The way it is done! Cleaning and delivery would be later since we were off to Bethlehem, Clarens and the VanUtierts for the weekend.   Got home Monday.
   Signed with and finally agreed on a menu for the Newcastle and Ladysmith Zones' Christmas party.  (that should have been easier but they wanted to give us lamb or curry)  Wednesday was the Christmas party for the moms and children with cerebral palsy at Provincial Hospital.  We helped buy gifts so we got to pass out gifts.
    We left Friday for Richards Bay to give Seminary and Institute certificates to the District President.  The previous District Pres. didn't hand out that years certificates and then he moved.  Hope this guy gives this years out.  Visited with the Collins for the last time and had dinner.  It was fun to see Bro. Mosia from Ladysmith at the Richards Bay Branch just visiting the Branch.  He is such an asset to our Branch.  Salt Lake people were there to conduct focus groups or gathering information  and we got involved with transporting some members to that meeting,later that day. One of those ladies from the Enseleni was going to visit her daughter in St George in January like she does every year.   Small world!
   Came down the Midlands Meander on Monday and got in the Christmas spirit ! ( chilly and rainy helps that)
Looking all over for Christmas food and can't find any precooked ham or poinsettas.  The poinsetta would have been the only Christmas thing in the house --and no banana! I would not give up looking!!
   Christmas party for the Elders at the Royal Hotel and they did a nice job with decoration and food.
   Could only find 1 place that had a Father Christmas suit because Kent had to pass out candy in Ezakheni on Saturday.  He looked good.  Cute play  and entertainment attempt with Baby Jesus flying through the air. (Ask Kent)
Went to EZ on Sunday and sang in Sacrament meeting but there was no time  for music in primary and there was only 1 teacher prepared.  It is not improving.
   Made the first coffee cakes of the season on Monday and talked to our travel agent about going to the Cape before we come home.  Tues we went with Browns to the Meander and found my Poinsetta and ham.  Stayed 1 night in a cute old place (Threshings)  and they told us about a waterfall to go see and the back way to Howick.  Fun weekend!  Back to reality on the 21.  We picked up Nelson and had a good visit in Watersmeet  with Sma and no children.  The girls went to GoGo's early for Christmas.
   Ladysmith church Sunday and Kent spoke and we sang.   Since it was Christmas Eve and only Ladysmith Elders volunteered to call parents early, we had them for dinner and Sibonelo was supposed to come.  At the last minute he could not come so we had a lot of food left over. 
   Eight Elders started arriving at 10 AM on  Christmas Day with their instructions from home about how to call home. The first 2 were Africans and scheduled for later in the day but couldn't wait and showed up early. We gave them traditional  breakfast with the hash browns and bacon and eggs and coffee cake.  6 Elders started arriving at 3:30.   Americans did  Facetime or Skype  But the Africans that had family to call didn't seem to understand that Parents were to be emailed the week before so they would be ready for a call.  At least they were the same time zone but in different countries all over Africa.  My Tanzania Elder could not connect until his companion decided it was happening and they called a few places till they found everyone at the same house and all was fine.  It was tricky this time with all the many different ways to communicate and two different continents.  They were finally all done at 8:30 Pm and all  had watermelon, pasta salad with ham, and cake at some point in the evening.    I don't remember it being like any Christmas from the past but still a neat memory.
   Taxi wars have been going on  and the government just shut the 2 companies down. Their taxis get impounded if they operate.  It's  just the Ladysmith companies because over the last 2 years there have been 71 murders related to the routes to Joburg.  People are still getting around with very full cars and bakis.  Christmas didn't seem to slow down a bit even though it seemed less crowded on the roads.
   Finished my picture project for Ezakheni Primary .  We also met the Brown's whole family visiting for Christmas after they went to Nambeti.
   The only other thing of note was our VT meeting with the Madonsela's and we baked a cake with the family and baked it while we visited.  The power went out -tripped the breaker and of course it made the cake crack and burn on top.  Think about never having your mother showing you how to bake something in the oven, that is what it was like. These are first generation oven owners and they didn't know what "preheat oven" meant.  There was some real learning going on I hope and they try it on their own.  Mostly it was me--I learn more everytime I go to see these guys in their homes.  So what would I choose to have in my home--electricity or running water and toilets?   These guys live 30km out of town in a very rural township.  Ezakheni is only 22 kms but they get both.  Their issues are crime and getting running water only between 3-5 AM.
  New Years Eve was a quiet Braii in the rain with no Elders -just Uthika going back and forth.