In the second photo our flat is in the lower left hand corner looking down from the fifth floor.The sixth floor of our apartment building was originally designed for domestic help but now houses mostly young families who access their flats by the fifth floor metal fire-escapes. Our parking garage is on the ground floor. Elder Erickson has become very adept at backing into our space between two pillars with only about a 3" leeway with the side mirrors.
This is the view of our hall and adjoining Senior Missionary door. Our kitchen window is to the right of our door. Each door has a metal gate which we unlock, enter sallyport, lock gate behind us, unlock our door and enter our livingroom (which was completely furnished when we moved in). We decorated our flat with Christmas wreaths we found in our cupboard left by previous missionary couples.
On Tuesdays we assist in the Johannesburg Temple when missionaries attend from the MTC. This week 15 elders received their endowments which was a remarkable session for us.
Elder Erickson was given an investigative assignment from the Area Presidency and has taken considerable preparation time for us.
On Thanksgiving Day we shared a dinner with our Area Office's 15 Senior Missionary couples and two single Senior Sisters, Area Presidency and their wives.
The next day (Friday) we enjoyed our weekly devotional which was the Area Presidency's Christmas devotional and catered Christmas dinner for everyone in the Area Office, the MTC President and South Africa Mission Presidents with their wives, and visiting guests. December is traditionally the summer holiday when native people return to their homelands for 6 weeks, thus our early Christmas celebration as many staff in our Area Office go on holiday. The university and city schools are out now until mid January.
Each Sunday we visit a different ward or branch, meet the local leaders and members and make a Security survey of the buildings. Our days are full.
