Happenings of the week 13-19 July

Monday, visited with Patriarch Courtney in the parking lot at Pinetown Chapel to pick up the pariarchal blessing drafts that he had punctuated, so Sandy could do the final printed copy. It had rained a fair amount in the night, so there were puddles here and there. Things are looking a little parched in places, so any moisture is appreciated. Did our shopping at Fruit and Veg and it is always fun to see what new fruits or vegetables they will have. Much of the produce is not washed, just stacked in bins with the leaves still intact. The celery still had the roots on the bottom of the stalk and we have never seen so much foliage on the top, since celery is usually cut right down to the stalks. Family Home Afternoon was spent learning from some chapters in the Book of Isaiah, which corresponded perfectly with 2 Nephi, where we are studying at the moment. We are trying to delve more into the Isaiah chapters that are used in the Book of Mormon and understand what we are supposed to learn from these chapters.
Tuesday evening dinner was the unofficial start to All-Zone Conference for the senior missionaries. The sign on each table announced, “Welcome to one of the 31 revolving restaurants in the world! -- Roma Revolving Restaurant in Durban, giving us a view of the harbor and the downtown high rise buildings. Due to a chef shortage (5 didn't show up for work that day) we encountered a two hour wait time and including our eating time, the restaurant made 3+ revolutions while we were there. We both decided to try something new for dinner, and so Arlo ordered Monkey Gland Steak and Sandy had the Arrabiata fresh Natal fish which for that day was a tuna steak. A person is marked as not being a resident of South Africa, if they do not know what the disgusting sounding Monkey Gland sauce is. So Sandy googled monkey gland sauce and arrabiata sauce to check them out. Monkey Gland has no monkey parts-just a concoction of different sauces resulting in a wonderful sweet/sour sauce. Arrbiata means angry in Italian, and was made up of fresh tomatoes, garlic, chilies, and fresh herbs. The meal was worth the wait!
On Wednesday, All-Zone Conference at the Pinetown Chapel, began at just about 1 pm-President Mann even commented on how close to the correct time we were beginning. It is just a fact of life here, that meetings don't always begin at the assigned hour, for many reasons. Sister Mann always has a Sunbeam Message for us, and today it fit perfectly - “We believe in honoring, obeying and sustaining the law and leaving earlier so that we can get there on time!” As we walked into the chapel, the air was electric as the brotherhood of 104 missionaries greeted each other. These guys, wanting to be close, had crammed themselves into the pews, not caring that they couldn't move, just wanting to feel each other's spirit. There aren't words to describe the love and devotion these elders have for each other. President talked about the transfer process, wanting the elders to know that it was done by the will of God and not by a throw of the darts! He then introduced two local young elders who would be serving with us for the next six weeks, so that there wouldn't be the need to close an area. Five elders went home this transfer and none arrived, thus leaving a shortage. One of these substitute elders has received his call to Ghana and the other is waiting for his assignment. The afternoon was spent rotating through some workshops, then helping to serve a lasagna dinner. 14 large pans of lasagna and tossed salad were quickly consumed, and the group held a testimony meeting which was a choice experience. Sister Mann didn't quite have the day she had planned, spending time in the hospital with a sick elder and then getting stuck at the Mission Home because the power went out, thus making the electric gate unusable.
Thursday, we continued with Zone Conference, hearing more from President Mann and doing one more rotation of workshop. Then came the time every young missionary looks forward to-two hours of soccer and whatever, at a local high school. This time there were no physical injuries to the elders, just two vehicles with damage as they collided into each other in the parking lot of the school. The seniors didn't indulge in physical exercise, preferring to visit and get lunch (sandwich fixings) ready for a bunch of perspiry and hungry guys. This was also transfer day and as we left, the parking lot was full of luggage and other belongings, plus hundreds of goodbyes as many elders begin another six week cycle somewhere new in the mission.
Saturday, the 18th, South Africa celebrated the 91st birthday of Nelson Mandela. He asked that the day be marked by everyone doing 67 minutes of service for their fellowman, in honor of the 67 years he has served this great country. The people here refer to Mandela as Madiba, which is some kind of honorary title. We indeed did our 67 minutes and then some of service in our boarding. For the last week or so, we have commented on a musty smell in our lounge (living room) area, but couldn't figure it out. In the morning, Sandy pulled the drapes and sheers back from the window to watch the monkeys attack the papaya and discovered what appeared to be a light layer of mold on the wall. So with bleach water, she cleaned walls, window casing and burgler bars, while the monkeys provided entertainment out the window. There is so much fruit turning ripe, and they were truly enjoying getting their fill!
Sunday morning, we attended Phoenix Branch to give Prelene Kisten a PEF orientation. Returning home, as we washed our hands, the bathroom sink wouldn't drain, something that has been happening every few days for the last month. The sink would fill and just sit there for a few minutes and then suddenly you hear a whish and the water is gone. Arlo went outside to the drainage pipe, which drains straight into a hole in the ground and was trying to see if there was a visable problem, when suddenly a large toad comes flying out of the pipe. We guess that he goes up the pipe and has used it as a shelter, until the water pushes him out, then he goes back up again until next time. Arlo got the dustpan and scooped our friend up and took him out to the jungle patch. So it has been a weekend for mystery solving!


Three tables of missionary couples at Roma's Revolving Restaurant. The African young lady at the end of the first table came with the Bartholomews from Richard's Bay. She stayed two nights in Durban and then was put on a plane to go to the MTC in Johannesburg. She will be serving a full time mission in Uganda. She had to hang out with the senior couples since there are no young sister missionaries in this mission.


View of the lights of Durban from the window at our table in the restaurant. At the top are reflections from the murals behind us. The restaurant was on the top of a 32 story building and took about an hour per complete revolution.


The traditional group photo at the mid year all zone conference. There are 104 young elders and 11 senior couples. Although this picture shows the African elders congregated on the left side, these elders are truly color blind and love one another with most serving in mixed companionships. For the photo, the African elders were asked to be in the sun since in past pictures their facial features were hard to see in the shade. Two years ago there were only a hand full of African elders in this mission. Now they make up about half of the group.

After getting lunch ready, the couples are waiting for the young elders to return from their two hour sports break at a near by high school.

Making sandwiches for lunch. These guys have a different look when not in their missionary attire.

This is part of the school complex where the Phoenix Branch meets. We have been asked to meet with and support this branch when our PEF assignment allows. Phoenix is a predominately Indian neighborhood in Durban. Durban has the largest number of Indians anywhere in the world outside of India.