Still in the 50s and Loving Life!

Perhaps the greatest joy we experience on our mission is teaching at the Johannesburg Missionary Training Center (MTC) every three weeks to each group of missionaries prior to their leaving to serve in countries across the Africa Southeast Area. Focusing on pages in the Missionary Handbook, our security presentation includes roleplays, discussion points, class input, review of actual incidents, videos of vehicle 'Smash and Grabs' and concludes with our testimony. This is the group of 26 elders that we taught this week and who arrived from across the African and North American continents. It is an honor, and humbling experience, being in their presence and recognizing their potential in their two year service here and as future leaders in their communities when they return home.



While at the MTC we thoroughly enjoy the friendship of two couples who seem to have unbounded love and energy for missionary service: MTC President and Sister Dean and Elaine Christensen and Elder/Dr. and Sister Keith and Diane Merrill, Area Medical Advisor. This is the third mission for the Christensens and the fifth for the Merrills.



We carpool our 45 minute drive with the Merrills which is always filled with stimulating conversation. They served three medical missions in Western Africa and one in New Zealand prior to their service here in Southeast Africa. We always seem to hear something new in the excellent medical presentation Dr. Merrill delivers.



This morning (14 October 2010) some of our colleagues surprised me in our office singing birthday greetings, one was even delivered in German. Still (barely) in the decade of the 50s there are only two missionary sisters younger than me here in the Area Office.

For lunch Ron took me to a beautiful overview of the city with lavendar Jacaranda trees in blossom across the landscape. I'm in a Congolese wrap-around skirt made during our days in Kinshasa.