What a Mix!

After Fathers Day, we stayed home and I did home stuff.  We did WISE and then all week we scanned paperwork for the Elder's car accident.  It was a paperwork nightmare for all of us because we have the scanner for paperwork to Joburg and Durban office. Elders were here everyday for a week.  By Wednesday I started my cakes for the big Relief Society Homemaking meeting featuring Sister Rhodes and cake baking.

 On close questioning the Sisters are really fascinated by cake decorating-like the cakes at our bakery at Pick-and Pay our local grocery bakery.  Lucky for us Sibonelo (the bakery manager) will do anything for me,  so I asked him to demo piping on a cake and he  was willing.

 It has been a long time for him because he's been the bakery manager for a long time.  He was cute and so patient with me when I told him he needed to talk to his audience as he did his demonstration.  He was good- I think, because it generated into a Zulu fest.

 I had my computer set up on a demo video for a paper cone bag for the frosting and everyone learned how to do it and tried to "pipe" .  We made a lemon jello cake to eat with whipped cream dolop.  (Most had never seen someone whip cream because they do not have electric mixers).  They bake with their ovens, but not desserts and mostly just use their stove tops.  They decorated their red velvet cupcakes that I brought and he (Sibonelo) decorated Elder Trapnell's birthday cake

for later that night at our home.  Kent stayed and took pics and tried to be useful--but mostly ate and had fun.  The sisters ate cake and then had dinner. We took our plates home as soon as we cleaned up.  I think a good time was had by all.
   This week was busy with Elders and Browns also.  Elder Brown is getting 2 new members of Ladysmith Branch ready to get the Melchezidek Priesthood and conducting interviews and classes with them .  We see the Browns and go to lunches a lot the  next few weeks.
  We had Ladysmith Branch Conference on the 25th of June.  Practicing with the choir with Sister Banda sounded pretty bad, but when we actually did the performance it sounded pretty good.
  Monday was Kent's and my excursion to another Boer and English battlefield by our house.  I'll let him tell all about it.

  Okay, this is Kent!  I love the local history and it is extremely interesting. I think I have already talked about the Boer/English war around 1900 and have described how 21,000 Boer soldiers surrounded our town of Ladysmith (where we live now) and trapped about 12,000 British soldiers here for four months. Sir Redvers Buller was in command of the rescue attempt but was held off for these months by the Boers. One of his attempts to break through the Boer lines was at a tall hill called  Spioenkop. We visited this site and were impressed with how they had displayed the history and the battle that took place.  The British lost 343 dead, 563 wounded and the Boers lost 68 dead and 134 wounded. So, the Boers won. Most of the British are buried on the hill, many right where they fell. Did I mention that I love the history. Just wait until I get home, I can Boer you to death!
  Met with  Sister Adams and showed her a video and convinced her to get a councilor.  She came to Branch  Presidency meeting that same night and we gave her a flash drive with sacrament meeting program videos and music.  Equipped her and had something she could do for Sunday.  The Browns came again and I put her to work with Doreen and English book to  see how she was doing.  Doreen and husband Benson are from Malawi and were at first struggling with our church vocabulary.  He does great but Sister Brown assessed her and decided that maybe she would just need help with her writing and reading.  Language was pretty good except for church lingo.
   Wednesday we did and spent most of the day buying and looking for stuff to go in the Elder's 72 hour buckets.  Went home teaching and VT to our group this week and had my first VT visit from Sis. Adams.  It was a picture perfect visit. Went to Ezakheni Sunday and they had 7 confirmations but what a mess for Primary.  I had Nursury,but Kent went and got the councilor to look at Primary--no adults or any teachers and kids were  just running all over the building.  Things will happen!
   Monday the 2nd we decide to go a few hours away to the VanUtierts in Bethlahem.  We went to the mall and had lunch and drove around Harrismith, where we found our first real Antique store.  (Winterton doesn't even count) There was lots of everything especially furniture but mostly from England.  She says that antiques don't survive here and she would have nothing in her store if she did not import. (of course I found something!)  Such a fun P-Day excursion.
   Crazy 4th of July with a very hairy day.  We had Zone leaders show up and the Browns coming from Durban and staying until 6. We had a late lunch.  Our Elders came early to use the computer.  It was grand central.   Petersons came late at 5 with a missionary that needed to go home to Ezakheni.  Kent had to go out by himself while I entertained.
   My Family's reunion going on this week and face timed with my Mom.  My kids did a great job hosting in Utah around Heber with 60 of my brothers and sisters and their children.
   Met with Ezakheni Branch Presidency about what is needed for the Primary presidency.  I gave a little presentation of the type of lady we need for the 40-50 children.    A 16 year old has been in charge for the last 3 years.  It never should have happened, but sometimes I guess little branches are desperate.  That was when the Branch was small and only 20 kids.
     Met with Sister Adams again and showed her leadership training video and Kent went to Branch Presidency Mt while we met at home.

Ho Hum and Hippos

 

Don't forget to check out the pineapple video at the end.  

   The last 3 days of May were pretty routine.  Elders came to see their new boarding on Goa St. and we met the Browns and went out to Winterton for pizza at the Pig and Plough  (1-5  lunch on P day.)  Tuesday we got 2 new Elders Jada and Mbongi they were to stay till we could find them another new boarding---that is 3 in 3 months.  Help!  Our Institute finished on Wednesday with 4 students and we gave them their assessments.  Only 2 students will get credit but not the young men that came. They were not 75% attenders.  Good priesthood holders are hard to find around here, even if they go on missions.

Instead of potatoes with KFC.  How about some pop?

  The Woods came up on the 1st with new furniture for the new boarding and extra appliances.  We took them to Penelopes and off they were again. The infested furniture and stuff from Carlton was not to be used.  Only some new kitchen items would be used in Goa.  The next day we bombed or gassed the old house for bugs and the Elders were to move out the following day --but --wait.  We checked the new boarding and had the plumber out because the water would not work.  Postponed till Monday.  That night Elder Varner came to our boarding sicker than a dog wanting some relief from diaharia and heaves.  It turns out that it probably is not a good idea  to eat a R4 (30 cents) sandwich made by  a township  grocery store.   Kent found some remedies from a pharmacy open till 9 and fixed him up.  All was well the next day.

While E. Varner was on the couch,  the guys finished my puzzle.  

  Saturday we had Branch Presidency meeting and I met with Mabel.  She never gave her lesson because the President wanted to leave early.  (some responsibility issues?)
  On Sunday our Primary in Ladysmith finally got changed and Sister Adams got put in as President.  She will be great!  I can rest easy now because she is at the helm and I gave her reading material to read from Priesthood handbook of instruction.  We need a music leader now!  Tuesday and Wednesday we were still outfitting and going back and forth with blinds and drapes.  Cake and whipped cream for collecting assessments but only had 3 kids showed for last meeting in Institute.
  Thursday we worked on Wise, Kent had Presidency meeting, and more window covering stuff.  We started Ladysmith boarding check on Friday and moved all the old appliances to our boarding from Carlton where the Elders had to be bribed to really clean Carlton boarding and all the appliances.

No roaches here

These guys were everywhere and looking for handouts. (Elders!)

We shipped  off to Richards Bay and Dundee for S and I attendance records and to meet the new District Presidency at District conference .   S and I has not quite got off the ground very well.  We can't get the teachers to stick or to communicate with us.  They just ignore us like our kids used to!

Sardine hippos in a row. 

  Since the Browns were there we got them a B and B with us and then scooted on up the coast to another place that they got in St Lucia Sunday night.  We talked the Collins into joining us on another hippo experience with better weather.  It wasn't even cold there and we saw lots more crocs and monkeys, and hippos doing stuff.

Eating again in St Lucia !

  We drove all night about 5 hours on Monday and got home exhausted.   The Elders had us check Carlton again in time for transfers  and the Dundee Elders were in town .  Apparently , someone told the others about Penelopes

Last lunch as a District before transfers.

so we all went to lunch for one last time before 3 of them would leave.  We did not pay because it was their idea !
  Wednesday was transfers and Elders needed to be taken to Madadeni  at 4. That meant travel at night but we did.  Those country roads can be treacherous but we are getting used to the Newcastle road just not the township roads at night.  Kent made Herman for all the Elders that passed through and gave Elder Varner a starter bottle of the starter  to take with him.
  Wednesday transfer days are complicated and I don't know why I decided to look at real estate on that day in addition to everything else but I called  Tanya on a brand new property not to far from Goa.  It was brand new and would not be finished till July.  Perfect.  She was also the agent  with the handyman for little things in Goa that needed to be fixed.  So we finished with the new property and I had keys for the property on Goa.  We had to kick the trash away from the inside of the front door to just get in.  It was a pig stye!  Would this agent let us rent her new property after this?  We were embarrassed for the Church  and I told the Elders they should not be getting the property.  It was a great natural consequence for their choices but now I'm back to the drawing board.  Still looking!
  Thursday was walk through the Carlton boarding with Caryn our agent and note all the damage 4 years have made.  I had to change beds and clean our boarding because the Hicks (the new couple living temporarily in Durbin) was spending the night.  Made a big pot of Minestrone for dinner and did not know how many people so back to the store for more bread filler and big rigotoni (hard to find).
  We ended up feeding 8 with Zone leaders and Ezakheni 1 Elders.  While we were eating the Ezakheni Elders were busy wrecking their brand new car in Acaciaville not far from their boarding.  No one was hurt but it turns out there were other problems with the 2 African new Elders.  We will find out later.  When transfers were over we now have 4 out of 6 African Elders and we will see how that goes. The one that wrecked the car will now go to Dundee with Elder Thompson and the rest are left to sort all this out.  We have not had to sort things out.  Zone leaders were present and the office did all the talking.

  Saturday we sent the Hicks off to the Meander and got ready for Sunday.  We needed to go see Dundee and visit our old seminary class .  We walked in and saw our Elder Jada and Thompson and President DeKlerk asked us to be the speakers in sacrament meeting.

Hippo tooth weighs about 10 lbs in his left hand.

 I am never used to this but it has been happening lately so I prepared a little by reading our Liahona on the way.  Father's Day was at home with phone calls from kids and carrot cake.  We love the DeKlerks!

Mating with kids around.  Female can be under for 6 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0DGBZMQVCM

Life!

Not a bumper crop of navels -but really good.

 

We've got tomatos! 

This was just a typical month that I will highlight with a few interesting things.
Transfers started at the top of the month and we had all the same guys stay.  We love them all so yeah!   We were involved in transport on Wednesday, our teach day.  We picked up Stabiso, our  African Elder at 12PM to leave on his mission to Capetown.  We  then ran up to a toll plaza on the freeway and met the Woods from the office in Durban and picked up 2 Elders going to Newcastle.  Say goodby to Stabiso .

Stabiso's Mom just went to the hospital so this is Sis Mlangi and son.

 We were to  then meet the Browns at a 1/2 way point along the Newcastle highway and handoff the Elders and have 1 hour left to make our Class in Ezakheni.  We were only 5 minutes late with  no lunch, but we did it!
    Kent and the Elders were involved in the Ladysmith show a sort of festival that goes on every year.  We set up a tent/booth for talking to people.

The Elders welcomed the change in pace for 2 1/2 days.

 The Elders talked to many Africaans people that they don't usually see behind their gates. That was going on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.   Still looking for real estate units on Thursday and home duties.  But, on Friday we headed out for Durban because the pickup truck we had been storing in our garage was needed to pick up a couple of zone leaders going to Newcastle and some bikes.

Says he doesn't need one!

 This took all day with no lunch.  We were in other peoples hands with other's schedules--lots of waiting around. Not much fun!  Just 5 hours of driving with crockpot dinner waiting for all and again no lunch.
  We had catch up Saturday and Fast Sunday with Ladysmith.  Wise and home stuff on Monday.  Tues we looked at more possible boardings.  Wednesday we taught institute class. We looked at property again.  It was raining for a few days and gave us a feel for how cold  it was going to be.  Friday I baked with Sister Adams and made cupcakes for a wedding to be held for a couple that the Elders want to baptize.  No date for baptism but the Elders mentioned that maybe we could have a braai and all of a sudden we had a full Branch party in the works.  The Branch President was not happy to spend any funds for this event, so the Elders used their parents credit cards for the meat and the rest of the Branch and us helped with the rest for about 50 people.  It was a good lesson that you never just mention fun stuff to Africans.  They are like kids, they will just remind you and bring it up at every opportunity till you do it.

This is the bride and groom"s family and close friends.  They are dead center in the back.

  Had Elders for braai  and calls to Mom's all night long on Mother's Day.  My boys called on Saturday so that Sunday was smoother than in December.
  On Monday we took Kent to Laverna hospital where I met Dr Khaun for the first time.  He was deliteful.  Picture a kind, fit, tall, 50ish type, Muslim man, who is very educated and smart.  He has perfect English and gave us a lot of info on upper respritory problems and how to treat  (we were there for Kent's ugly spider bite).  Wednesday we had a fun class for Nqobile's last time.  We touched on how parents can teach in the home and "Don't Eat Pete" made his appearance.  Pres. Ncgobo was there and tried to cheat at Don't Eat Pete but just couldn't get any candy.  It was a fun memory for us all!  Madadeni 2 for Sister Mashayo's seminary class on Thursday in her garage.

Sister Mashayo's class and I'm sorry I didn't get her pic.
(District President's wife)

 On Friday we picked Nqobile up from taxi stop and took her shopping for a jacket for her mission.  We had fun and she picked up needed things she hadn't been able to find like sewing kit and first-aid kit.  Took her to lunch and sent her on her way .  Hair cuts with Jenni .  Went to Dundee on Saturday to Siphe's seminary class.  Only about 5 kids showed but he does a good job.  Sunday we went to Nqobile's talk and sang with her and Sister Sosibo and Elder Varner.  We stayed for more baptisms in this branch, it it getting big.
  On Monday we needed a break and so we went to Winterton again and Pig and Plough for lunch.  We stopped at Spinckope Reservoir and saw no girraffes but did see many zebras and even a white rhino!

We have seen lots of rhino but not without his horn --our first.  They remove them so they won't be killed.

  Crazy Wednesday happened again with picking up from the bus, a coming-home Elder Luvuno from Zimbabwe

and then taking him home to Ezakheni.  We then had 40 minutes to kill at the church so we had a packed lunch and then picked up Nqobile for her bus ride to Durban

and the MTC for her mission to Madagascar.  We had to be an hour late for our class and not many came to the changed time, as usual.  It was hard to say goodby to her but she will be a real asset to any mission president. It took almost 10 months to get her out and we helped for about 7 of them.
  Off to Madadeni 1 seminary for this Thursday and we had 11 students show up in a little living room about the size of a large walk in closet.

Madadeni 1 seminary class

 It was electric talking about the New Testament and showing 2 small videos.  The kids loved them.  We stayed the night with the Browns and
  then went to Newcastle Zone Conference on Friday morning.  We stayed all morning and then helped get the pizza and icecream bars for lunch.  Sister Brown and I skipped out to shop for Elders because I could get  things like rugs and mattress heating pads to all my Elders while they were all there.  She took me to a good and cheap home store.  I could drive and we even found a fountain coke zero with ice at McDonalds. (Big gulps where are you?)   Independence felt great for an hour or 2.
  Friday night we got home after President Thompson took the couples to dinner.  We had a Branch Presidency meeting on Saturday night and that meant Mable and I would be working on her lesson.  We can't seem to get through the whole thing before it is time to leave.  I know we are way busier than the men and they know we are too because of the mess we make of the library and RS room.
  Madadeni 3 meeting was first on Sunday at 9 and when the President found out we were coming we were also the speakers.  I played the piano because this is a new branch and they don't know how to work the electronics yet.  We spoke to Kent's seminary teacher and found out she has not had electricity in her home since 2009.  She powers her phone with a solar generator.  When it is cloudy -no power,  She says it gets very cold in the winter and every winter the government promises her area that she will get power to her home.  I just couldn't quite wrap my mind around no power or toilets!
We then hit Madadeni 2 Branch conference at 11.  We had to hand off teacher assessments to 3 teachers.  We hit a lot of bases and now we must visit Richards Bay again.  We went home and went and took the promised birthday cake to the Chingwenas and VT message.  Something is not ok with Nelson and we hope he will let us know soon what is up.  Cute family!

Sma Chengwena wore her very African garb all day for church.  She loves her heritage!  (I told her not to close her eyes)

   

Adrift in South African History

Gravesite near our Ladysmith home

   Since arriving in South Africa I have taken a very keen interest in this country’s history. It started when Chris and I discovered three grave markers in our local neighborhood that marked the resting place of three soldiers who served and died in Ladysmith during the English-Boar war.  Two of them were serving with the 5^th Lancers, an Irish contingent, which was one of many units who fought during this war around 1900.  

   With the help of local historian, John Hawkesbury, we discovered that one of the soldiers, PTE F. Dowsett, actually drowned in the Klip River that runs behind and below our current boarding, the other died of shrapnel wounds. The third I know little about except that he was curator of graves and died about 10 years after the other two.

   I digress. My purpose in writing this is to describe our trip to Rorke’s Drift, organized by Mr. Hawkesbury and the Ladysmith Historical Society.

    The battle, or defense of Rorke’s Drift, took place, Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 January, 1879, when some 150 mainly British soldiers defended a supply station against some 4000 Zulus. This defense was brought to the attention of the world through the movie Zulu, starring Michael Cane. It is a remarkably accurate depiction of the events or those two days with some embellishments. This movie is still available on Netflix.

Museum display of soldiers and their defensive position

Elder and Sister Brown

   Mr. Hawkesbury, a retired British army officer, arranged this trip on our preparation day and invited our local missionaries and the Browns, our good friends from Newcastle, to join us. There were also about 30 other people from Ladysmith, mainly members of the historical society.

John and Charles, X British officers

   Our host at the site was another retired British officer, Charles Aikenhead, who owns a hotel at the site. This hotel overlooks the Buffalo River which played a prominent part in the event. Mr. Aikenhead, and Mr. Hawkesbury, and the president of the society, took turns guiding us around the area and explaining the history of the event.

   Briefly, because many of you may have or will see this movie, I will give an only a few details.

   On January 22, 1879, a British army unit that was encamped at Isandhlwana about 15k from Rorke’s Drift was attacked by 20,000 Zulu warriors. It was a great defeat for the British and they lost about 1700 men. This incident was the “British Alamo” according to our guides.

Viewing the Isandhlwana site with our group

   The Zulu’s had about 4000 additional warriors that were not involved in the battle because they were younger men that were ordered to remain in reserve. When they saw what happened and that they could have no part in the spoils of war, they decided that they would take it upon themselves to attack the supply depot at Rorke’s Drift. The Drift was only being held by 150 soldiers and it looked easy for the taking.

   There are a lot of details and information that I could share, but I won’t do that here. For those of you who are interested, Google will direct you and the movie Zulu will be quite educational and interesting.

  This site is only about 50 miles from where we live, about a 2-hour drive due to a long stretch of dirt road.

John with a Martini-Henry rifle

  Our hosts were wonderful. They led us to various sites and explained the history, showed us the Martini-Henry rifles that the British used to defend themselves, took us to the actual site of the battle and explained how these 150 soldiers held off 4000 warriors before reinforcements arrived.  At Rorke's Drift, eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. Seven to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, one to the Army Medical Department, one to the Royal Engineers, one to the Commissariat and Transport Department and one to the Natal Native Contingent. 

Reconstructed hospital

   We viewed the exhibit in the museum, the memorials to both the British and the Zulu warriors, and generally enjoyed the whole experience.

Zulu Memorial--A leopard atop Zulu shields

   I was a little disappointed to discover that the way the battle ended in the movie, was not what really happened. It ended because the “cavalry arrived” at the last moment!

   We sometimes undertake excursions like this to give us a little break from the other six very busy days of serving the Lord. It fires us up and enables us to continue on in His service.

At the hotel overlooking the Buffalo River. Don't we look relaxed!

Plus, it helps to give us a better understanding of the people of South Africa and how they got to where they are today.  And we don’t take sides...go Brits, go Zulu’s, go Boers!  Did you know that Ghandi served here in Ladysmith during the Anglo-Boer war? Or that Winston Churchill was here as a war correspondent during that same war? And he was actually captured by the Boers?

  Stay tuned!