Sabbath in Johannesburg

Yesterday under blue skies we drove to a stately brick meetinghouse surrounded by terraces of green grass and rose bushes awash in white blossoms. We were warmly greeted at the door by Melchizedek priesthood holders in tailored suits. Finding a space on a bench in the quickly-filling chapel, we greeted the people sitting behind us as we settled in and were greeted by members sitting to the side and in front of us.
Hymns were quietly played on the piano in the minutes preceding our being welcomed by a bishopric counselor who carefully followed his outlined agenda. The opening and sacrament hymns were familiar and clearly sung by the congregation. The chapel was quiet as members were reflective while the sacrament was blessed and passed by handsome young men in freshly pressed white shirts and suits.
An articulate young man spoke about the blessings of the priesthood which are available to men, women and children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A young mother spoke of the influence the Young Women's Personal Progress program has been in her life as she prepared for temple marriage and motherhood. The ward clerk, a man in his late 20's, spoke regarding proper record keeping within the Church. Each of the three speakers referred to scripture references in their remarks and pages could be heard being quietly turned in the audience. All around us we were surrounded by attentive, reverent members and investigators who filled the chapel.
In the closing minutes of the Sacrament Meeting the bishop referenced Moses 7:18 regarding becoming a Zion people and encouraged us to improve the quality of our lives and obedience to the Lord.
The second hour we attended a Gospel Principles class taught by a full-time missionary elder from Madagascar. There were a total of 26 people in the room, 10 of whom were new members, missionaries and friends who had brought 16 investigators. Many are university students and immigrants from various countries of the continent.
This day was representative of the experience we have each Sunday in the Johannesburg 2nd Ward. One of the first chapels built in South Africa years before the priesthood and temple blessings were extended to all worthy male members of the Church, it sits in the inner city African community of Hillbrow. Part of 'Invictus' was filmed in the stadium across the street and a glimpse of the meetinghouse can be seen in the movie. Only one woman of European descent currently resides as a member of the ward. Often we three are the only nonblack Africans present.
Last Sunday Laurene presented a Family History fireside in the chapel following the three hour block of meetings regarding oral history pedigrees and over 50 people stayed the additional hour. There is definitely an interest in family history and temple work.
We feel honored each week to be welcomed and acknowledged by these remarkably studied, faithful members in this corner of the Lord's vineyard. They are warm, gracious people who are very patient with us as visitors.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading quickly among the African people with some branches and wards baptizing 1-4 people each Sunday. They are people of deep faith, well studied in the Bible who immerse themselves in the study of the Book of Mormon and Ensign/Liahona magazine addresses as they thirst for the words of living prophets.
On Saturday we drove an hour and half north to a valley with small towns surrounding a dam and reservoir. We browsed at an Afrikaner market and bakery where everything was listed in Afrikaans and our choices were tasty. Locally produced items are reasonably priced with imported items more expensive.

These are some of the tallest natural hills we have seen in South Africa.

This is the young mother who spoke in Sacrament meeting with her 15 month old son. She works with us in the Area Office.

35 Years Together

Ron and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary this week. A year ago we contemplated what we might do for this benchmark date, but neither of us dreamed we would travel to Africa and be serving a mission on this remarkable continent! Our anniversary dinner was at a
restaurant of African cuisine, decor and musical entertainment. This two hour eating experience included buffet style samplings of salads, soups and vegetables including curried lamb stew and squash, breads, fish, meats grilled to our preferences (impala, kudu, ostrich and sirloin steaks were our choice), and tasty desserts. All this (including tip) cost 185 Rand, about $24.00 US per couple.
We have found eating out is quite affordable, as are bounteous fruits and vegetables available in grocery stores. All fruits and vegetables we eat raw Ron sanitizes for a minute in a mild bleach solution in our kitchen sink. This includes all our produce including avacados and bananas; even our eggs. Eggs are not refrigerated here so we purchase them in cartons of six each as they have early expiration dates.

This week we surveyed security needs in the Africa Southeast Area and compiled a draft of security standards for various types of housing, mission offices and meetinghouses throughout the continent.

We have been intrigued by the various types of cell phone towers we see around the Johannesburg area. In addition to the designer pine trees we see in the western states, here we also find simulated palm trees and deciduous trees with limbs.

Walking Straight

At mid January Ron experienced vertigo effects for a week due to an inner ear virus. During this time two missionaries were kidnapped south of us. After a couple of hours as hostages they were able to escape and later their two kidnappers were arrested. The SLC negotiators were involved from the very beginning of the incident and all was resolved well for the elders.
We welcomed from SLC International Security our Africa manager who is joining us for the rest of 2010 to facilitate long-term projects. We are excited to work with him on specific security issues.
With our medical advisor on a mission tour, Ron and I presented our Security training to new missionaries at the MTC and then the Health and safety presentation in the following hour. Meeting with these elders and sisters is truly a joy. They are remarkable men and women from many countries in Africa, North America and Australia who will be serving throughout the continent.
One of our assignments is to attend a monthly meeting of representatives of embassy and international corporations regarding security interests. We receive wonderful training and insights from professionals in Johannesburg, particularly in regards to the upcoming World Cup.

The past two Saturdays we have taken advantage of seeing game preserves within an hour's drive of us. At the Rhino Lion Park we were awed by a mother rhino and her baby who walked across the red dirt road directly in front of our car, warthogs prancing in the middle of the road, (scarey) wild dogs who ran around our car yapping and cheetahs lounging in the grass along the roadside. We toured the Wonder Cave which is an actively growing cavern of stalagtites and stalagmites. At Krugersdorp our favorite animals were a mother and baby rhino near the road and two giraffes eating among the trees. In Sterkfontein Caves we were fascinated with hominid fossils dating millions of years ago. Both game reserves had numerous herbivores with all kinds of straight and curvy horns eating along the hillsides and near watering holes.