Happenings for the Week 19 - 25 January

19 January -Meet with Apaka at the Berea building to give her Bishop's Checklist, which is the starting point for a PEF loan. She explained that she needed the loan because her husband could not bear the costs alone anymore for their education. This concern is being voiced more and more just in our short time here. Lots of telephone and computer work in the office-great having a home office! January 18th is Jonathan's birthday, but we could only leave an answering machine birthday greeting yesterday. This morning (for us) Jonathan (18th for him) called us, so it was still his birthday at his house, and we could still officially wish him a happy birthday.

20 January -Today we had a SKYPE conference call meeting from Johannesburg about PEF. One matter of business was giving the bad news about couple missionaries. Two PEF couples are going home in February and there are no replacements for them-these are in Nigeria and Uganda. Two go from home from Johannesburg and there is only 1 replacement and not until 6 weeks after the couple goes home. We were asked to make any contacts we can and encourage (perhaps the better word would be “beg”) our friends or anyone else we know to fill missions. Again, we were reminded that the number of couple missionaries the church would like is 5,000 and right now there is not even half that number out. The call was to give new information to the four couples (PEF) serving in South Africa.

22 January - Mission Tour/Zone Conference with Elder F. Michael Watson of the First Quorum of the Seventy and a member of the Africa Southeast Area presidency, also Sister Watson. For the past 38 years, Elder Watson has served as assistant secretary and then secretary to the Quorum of the Twelve and then to the First Presidency. Having spent his working life among the Brethren , he has been an eye witness to the growth and progress of the Church for nearly four decades. Elder Watson has served our last seven prophets: Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson. Elder Watson explained to us how he learned shorthand and typing in high school, then used it in the army and since then has taken notes for all the meetings in shorthand. Sister Watson went over to a large pad on the easel and opened to a particular sheet. There was a shorthand message, which we were told was from President Monson. Elder Watson asked if anyone could read it and Sandy could. The message was as follows, “Tell them that I love them.” She spent a few minutes talking with Elder Watson, telling him that he and her father were the only men she was aware of that were skilled in shorthand. This would have been a great experience to share with her dad! After a pizza lunch, one of our approved loan students came to the building to sign papers and bring a friend, who is wanting to begin the PEF program.

23 January - The Watson's had agreed to present a fireside for the two Durban stakes in the evening, but didn't have any other commitments during the day on Friday. So, President and Sister Mann decided to take them and whichever couples wanted to come to uShaka Marine World/Sea World. The Wreck Aquarium is one of the largest in the world. It is constructed like a sunken ship and we walked through different levels viewing sharks, eels, sea turtles, sting rays, and numeroous varieties of fish that would be found in this area. It was a fantastic exhibit and we could have spent more hours there than were available. The dolphin show featured four females, four males and one very large male who has fathered seven of the dolphins in the show. This show was comparable to the Sea World in San Diego, only our admission ticket was only $11. As we enjoyed the show, we could look out over the beautiful palm trees swaying in the breeze, into the Indian Ocean. A mid afternoon lunch at MOYO (soul or spirit in Swahili) server brought a large pitcher filled with warm water, a large bowl and towel to our table. Went from person to person, held your open hands over the bowl as she poured from a pitcher some warm water over your hands. It felt so good! Then she brought a tray with four varieties of mini-mini loaves of breads(about 1½ inches in length) with four different spreads (seasoned oil, crushed chilies, blend of herbs and sesame seeds, chick peas mashed with paprika) to put on the breads. Another server came to the table asking if we wanted some face painting. She held a small flat basket, which contained a small bottle of white paint and an applicator. Being good missionaries, we asked for arm painting, instead of the traditional face– all the servers had different objects in nature (simple flowers and ferns) made with dots or stripes of white paint on their faces. Don't know the significance, but it was really fun to be a part of-probably the first time Sandy has evered been painted! All of the servers were dressed in a native attire, just note sure which tribe. Chips (fries) came in brightly painted metal cups with handles, sitting in the middle of each serving plate and as always the food comes beautifully plated. As you order, you are asked what starch you would like, mash (mashed potatoes), pape (no clue what this is yet, will have to try it once), rice and chips. Sister Mann had an ostrich burger, but none of us were brave enough to order crocodile from the menu! As we were walking along the boardwalk to uShaka , the skies were overcast, making the water looked rather murky and not too pretty. Later in the day, during lunch the sun came out turning the water blue green and beautiful. Some sea kayackers and surfers were in the water along with swimmers and dotted here and there on the beach were sunbathers. All commented that it looked like we were in Honolulu rather than Durban, South Africa After our meal, three couples (Mann, Watson, Mickelsen) shopped at the Village Walk, adjacent to uShaka.
25 January – We can now check off our list another unit that we need to vist, the Bluff Ward, which is appropriately named as it is located on a bluff overlooking Durban. As we walked into the chapel, the music director came to Sandy, asking if she played the piano. When the answer was yes, she said how “lovely” it would be to have a real person playing and not the recordings! Arlo was asked to speak shortly after we arrived, guess one of the speakers, didn't show. He introduced briefly the PEF program and lead into an experience from our Florida mission, concerning whether membership in the church was “worth it”. We gave the bishop an orientation for the PEF program in his office during Sunday School and nearing the end, a knock came on the office door requesting “the bell.” This was a small bell which was rung as the person walked the halls to signal the end of classes. You Today was a combined Priesthood/Relief Society/YM/YW to introduce a new member missionary program the Durban Mission is initiating. The bishop, who is a fun loving man, gave out the challenge of 500 baptisms this year. Several people thought he was joking, but he was very serious and he said this program can help us accomplish the goal. Sandy loves the different little forms of speech we hear at times, here is one. The YM/YW were all sitting on the back row of the chapel-anyone surprised. The bishop asked them to move up nearer the front, but they were slow to move. One sister in the audience became a little impatient with the slowness, turned to them and said, “you are not flies and we (the adults) are not spiders, so don't be afraid”-just move! Reluctantly, the 8 youth did move up. Four young people stayed after the meeting block because they are interested in applying for a PEF loan.

Serving as Perpetual Education Fund missionaries is a great and yet extremely humbling experience for us. These young people are so desirous to build better lives for themselves through education, but without this loan most are at a dead end. As we meet to sign the loan papers, there is much happiness in their faces and thankfulness in their voices. Thank you to all who are making PEF contributions! Our love goes to each of you ---

Elder (Dad, Papa), Arlo) and Sister (Mom, Grandma, Sandy) Mickelsen