Finding her schedule open for an outing, Sister Ruth Renlund graciously offered to be the driver to Bryanston Organic Market for browsing among the shops and enjoying lunch in the sunshine. Joining us (left to right) were recently arrived senior missionary sisters Sharon Judd (Idaho), Auditor Assistant, Dian Robinson (Utah), Public Affairs, and Phyllis Lewin (Utah), Family History Center. Seventeen companionships are currently serving in Area Office assigments.
Ron and I flew to Cape Town, South Africa, 12-17 February 2011 for building surveys and security training with mission and stake leaders. We were delighted to meet senior missionaries serving there and join them for dinner on a windy evening in this beautiful city.
Serving in the Cape Town Mission Office are two couples--Victor and Darlene Herbert (Idaho) and Mark and Kaye Plehn (Utah). Making digital images of print records in the Western Cape Archives are Clyde and Laura Mahler (Texas). The fourth photo finds the Mahlers in their Family History Records Preservation studio.
Twelve couples are currently serving in the Cape Town Mission (a gorgeous, tropical setting) in assignments which also include member and leader support, employment, education (Church Education System and Perpetual Education Fund), and public affairs.
We scheduled our return to Johannesburg to teach our security presentation to 26 full-time elders at the Missionary Training Center the afternoon of the 17th. Each new group that arrives every three weeks has their own personality; these elders were especially open and enthusiastic. They will be serving in Durban and Johannesburg, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Sister Elaine Christensen joined us in the photo.
Arriving from Zimbabwe for the week of February 14 to serve in the Johannesburg Temple was my dear friend, Rachel Sibanda. We were able to visit for an hour the morning of the 18th prior to her returning to her home on a 15 hour bus ride.
With Ron and my mission in Africa coming to a close in a few short weeks, this was a bitter sweet reunion and farewell. We will be departing a continent with awesome landscapes where the spirit of the Lord is upon the hearts of good people in many lands--and cherished dear friends we have met in our experiences here.
Sweet people we interact with on a weekly basis include the Area Office housekeeping staff who have come to Johannesburg from many communities.
Carolyn, Housekeeping Supervisor, popped into our office on one of her frequent visits with her hair beautifully plaited. She was agreeable to our photoing this labor of love which took 3 1/2 hours to complete, will last up to two months of careful attention and take her 4 hours to unbraid. African stylists are very innovative with their intricate creations.
The second photo below is a fun hairstyle worn today by our Relief Society 2nd counselor, Thembi. She is tending a friend's son in traditional swaddle. Children are attentively cared for by members throughout the ward.
After Church meetings five baptisms were performed for three members of a Zimbabwean family--mother, son and daughter (mother of the sleeping baby); and two young men from Malawi and Nigeria who had been individually introduced to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one by a friend and the other by missionaries who contacted him. Our bishop (with a green tie) is standing between the two men.
Being away from our ward for two Sundays it was a delight to meet again with our Young Single Adults in Sunday School. The final two snapshots are of our group of 30 today, five of whom jumped in for a closeup photo.
These associations are precious examples frequently experienced by senior missionaries throughout the Africa Southeast Area.
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