ELDER AND SISTER MICKELSEN: Happenings of the week 21

Christmas came too fast and now is past and on to the New Year's preparations! There has been some office work, but with the Area Office and schools closed for summer break and holidays, the computer and phones haven't been buzzing quite as much. As soon as January 7, 2010 rolls around, the panic will set in again for our students. Monday afternoon, we met Markums for mid afternoon lunch since Griesemer's were with their children traveling around the Durban area.
Wednesday afternoon was really a first for us as we braved the last-minute Christmas shoppers at Pavilion Mall and found ourselves in a sea of people. In times past, we have always tried our best to be finished with everything requiring a store several days before Christmas, but the movie “Invictus” was calling to us. It is the true story of how in 1990 Nelson Mandela and the captain of the South African rugby team worked together on and off the field in an effort to bring the country together and begin the healing process after the end of apartheid. The title comes from the poem written by William Ernest Henley, and was the source of strength for Nelson Mandela during his 27 years in prison at Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town. It tore at our hearts in places and many times found ourselves with tears as we watched the events unfold on the screen.
Christmas Eve was a quiet dinner in our boarding, but Christmas Day we made arrangements to meet the Johnson's and Markum's at RJ's Steakhouse for their holiday buffet. Each of us commented that never, ever before had we ever spent Christmas in a restaurant, but we had a nice meal and great visiting with each other before heading back to our boardings in anticipation of SKYPE calls. During the course of our evening, we were able to see the excitement of Christmas morning unfolding at each of our children's homes.
Saturday it was back to work as we traveled to Newcastle to meet with PEF students from that branch to sign loan papers and were discouraged when none showed up at the appointed time. One finally came 1 hour and 10 minutes later after we called her, but she redeemed herself when she was able to direct us to a home of another student, who had her phone stolen and we hadn't been able to make contact with her. We were also able to meet with another student later in the evening to sign loan ducuments. By the time we finished and were back at the Knudsen's it had started to rain, which was appreciated since it cooled the very warm temperatures down considerably. We all started a puzzle which was a beautiful giraffe, but it is going to take a fair amount of work even though there are only 500 pieces, since sky and giraffe skin all looks the same! After tossing around some ideas for dinner, we decided to go to Chinese and it was very good. At a neighboring table we saw up close, the dish locals call walkie-talkies, which are fried chicken feet (walk) and chicken beaks (talk). It wasn't even tempting to try!!
The Madadeni chapel was our destination on Sunday, so that we could sign loans with three more PEF students. Sacrament Meeting was presented by the Relief Society and Sandy was enlisted to play the keyboard for the sisters to sing three different hymns throughout the program and for the other hymns. These sisters have the most beautiful deep voices and sound fantastic accapella, but since Sandy was there, they wouldn't take no for an answer about the keyboard playing. Those speaking, expressed many words of thanks for this great organization and the strength it brings to their lives. After the meetingblock, there was a baptism scheduled for three people. Arlo filled in for an absent speaker, talking about the importantance of baptism. Each of the three had to be baptized at least two times and this was because of their dreaded fear of water and not wanting to go under. We were told that many do not know how to swim and that it required a great deal of faith to just step into the baptismal font. Later in the evening, we helped to feed the elders from the Newcastle area dinner and all joined in to sing Happy Birthday to Elder Samai as he walked in the front door. He turned 24, which isn't unusual for our African elders. Many have not joined the Church until their twenties and then they are anxious to serve missions as soon as possible. It was a good evening, talking with the elders and becoming better acquainted with them, and an end to a good Sabbath day.

Christmas day dinner at RJ's Steakhouse with Elder & Sister Markum (CES missionaries) and Elder & Sister Johnson (Office couple).

Five of the eight elders of the Newcastle District having Sunday evening dinner at Elder and Sister Knudsen's. The Assistants to the President were in town and also were there. We were in Newcastle taking care of PEF business and staying with the Knudsen's. The final tally was 14 for dinner.