Happening of the week 16-22 November

The heater and jackets have come back out this week, making us all wonder if it is really summer here!
Buckets and buckets of rain, with only a peek or two of sunshine - have not seen it rain this much here. One might have thought we were experiencing a typhoon from the strength and direction the rain was coming – umbrellas don't do much when the rain is coming horizontally. This past week marks a year of serving here in Durban, which is really hard to believe.
Elder and Sister Pier stopped by Monday morning on their way into Durban for mission presidency meeting and had a look at our boarding. Elder Pier even climbed down a rather sharp incline to retrieve a papaya that somehow the monkeys and birds had missed. After checking out the bananas, we came inside and he ate the papaya. Later, we picked up the Pier's from their bed and breakfast and went over to the Pinetown Chapel to meet Patriarch Courtney. He had been to the Newcastle District over the weekend and gave 12 patriarchal blessings and we needed to download them. These won't get transcribed quite so fast due to our many commitments in the coming days. Afterwards, it was up to Griesemers for FHE and shared pizza, salad and chelsea buns (a version of cinnamon rolls) for dinner. The Markums dropped in for a few minutes after finishing meetings for their CES people from Johannesburg.
Wednesday, we signed loan papers with David Moloi and his infant son, Letsi David, in the backseat of the car due to the fact we couldn't get into the Berea building. Great for Sandy because she was handed the baby so David could read and sign. Letsi came because his mom was at a Relief Society activity and dad was babysitting. In the pouring rain, David had walked a fair distance with baby in the front pack covered with a blanket under the umbrella. He was so appreciative when we took him home – not really supposed to transport but we just couldn't let him go off in the rain with a baby.
Thursday afternoon, after giving an orientation to a young lady who braved the rain to come see us, we met with President Mann and the Markums and Griesemers. Our president is feeling the loss of three couples that have not been replaced and was asking what we can do to help. One job will be to help with the boarding cleaning checks, something we did in Florida.
Friday morning, after making a trip into downtown Durban to get our cellphone repaired (was dropped in a puddle of rain), we drove up to Ladysmith, visited and had a nice lunch with the Wilsons. Stayed a little longer than planned, but still made it to Newcastle in time to meet with three of our possible 2010 PEF students. A little disappointed that 3 others didn't show, but found that two were writing exams for their matric and the other was working. It was a rainy, cold day, especially in Newcastle, and no one turned down the hot chocolate offered by Sister Knudsen to us and the Zone leaders who had just returned from Zone Leaders Council in Durban. Dinner was at the Black Pepper , a nice quiet place, good food and a great heater!
Since the three students couldn't meet us on Friday, Saturday morning we went over early to the Career Workshop being held and was able to talk with and help them set up their accounts on the Church website. Madadeni wasn't as productive because the young man who needed to sign loan papers with us wasn't able to come, but two young women came. The trip home was under bright, beautiful and sunny skies and we were back by 3 in time to make our final preparations for Nathan's arrival.
Sunday, we visited the KwaMashu Branch to see how our future PEF students were coming along in the application process and received a tender mercy (Sandy misses the Primary children). As we entered the chapel, we saw the Stake Primary Presidency and realized that today was going to be KwaMashu's Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentation. By the time they finished with the sacrament and confirming nine people, including a family of five, the chapel was overflowing. Overflowing, but not with children, until the side doors opened and in came 40+ reverent, smiling children and their teachers. Stacking chairs were brought from an adjoining room to accommodate all of the children needing to be on the stand. They sang all the songs beautifully, even had two girls sing solos and it appeared that every child had a spoken part. As they stood to sing, some were looking around for family and then huge smiles came. Not all have families at church, some just saw people at the building, came in and loved Primary and now show up each week. With the confirmations and the program, the meeting ran almost through the entire Sunday School time in addition to Sacrament meeting, but we met with our students and then quickly made our way to Durban Airport to meet Nathan. His flights went well, no obstacles, just needs some sleep and then will be ready to be a tourist for two weeks!



Nathan is in Africa!! - greeting him at the Durban airport.

Somethings never change - Nathan in his normal guest pose - the sofa is a little shorter than he is used to.

Electronic sign board at the Durban airport counting down the days until the start of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.