Happenings of the week 8-14 February

Monday was a catch-up day for household chores and then it was over to Griesemer's for our last FHE with the Markum's. The Johnson's were able to join us after they finished at the mission office.
Tuesday, it was work-at-home day until time to go up to the Hillcrest Heritage Marketplace to meet the other couple's and President and Sister Mann for dinner at Butcher Boy's for a good-bye dinner for Markum's. It is always great to visit with each other and have some great steaks. The Pier's were able to come down from Richard's Bay and it was wonderful to see Sister Pier looking so well, since she has been in the hospital for two weeks.
Wednesday, it was over to KwaMashu to meet with Sibusiso and help him enter his application into the computer so that he can move closer to getting a loan for welding school. We hope this training will lead to some gainful employment in order to better support his family. It was fun to be grandpa and grandma for his little daughter while her dad worked on the computer - something we haven't had much chance to do lately!
On Thursday, there were 46 companionship changes as the first official transfer was held in the newly expanded Durban Mission. An area in the Free State was opened up to missionary work for the first time which is truly exciting. It would have been wonderful to see the workings of this particular transfer as brand new elders and experienced elders from both missions meshed together to move the work of proclaiming the gospel forward!
Friday we left around 8 am to drive up to Ladysmith, where we had lunch and visited with the Ladysmith Wilson's before continuing up the road to Newcastle for appointments with some of our PEF students there. The Knudsen's surprised us by being at their boarding when we arrived, since that wasn't the plan. We soon learned that their day had not gone at all on schedule. At 3 am they had been awakened by the Zone leaders telling of one of the elders and his medical challenges and that he was at a hospital. The doctor had determined there was a need for an appendectomy and things were progressing towards this. First thing though that needed to be done was to move him to a private hospital and when this happened an alert doctor picked up on a few things and ordered another test, which showed kidney stones and not appendix concerns. Throughout the ordeal, this young elder, only 4 1/2 months on mission remained smiling and optimistic and felt the support and love of his seven fellow young missionaries in the Newcastle area and the Knudsen's. All this was a challenging welcome for his new companion, brand new from the MTC and waiting to be trained. After all was settled for the night at the hospital, we joined the Knudsen's for dinner at a Chinese restaurant. As we entered, we noticed that all the patrons were Chinese, being very vocal and enjoying each others company, which made it a little difficult for us to speak to each other. Later into our meal, one smiling man came over to our table and apologized for the noise, but wanted us to know that they were gathered to usher in the Chinese New Year. As we left, the party was still going strong and we wished them all a Happy New Year!
Our major objective for Saturday morning was to meet with another deaf student in one of the Madadeni branches. The building was a beehive of activity with many young people coming for an all-day Valentine's activity, which was a braai (bar-b-que) and maybe dancing along with lots of laughter and visiting. Using the laptop, Arlo worked for almost two hours typing back and forth with Sithabiso to determine what he was planning as far as school goes. Things were still up in the air when we finished, but both we and he left with assignments until we can meet again. It was back in the car for the four hour travel back to Durban, but the air conditioning in the car was worth it since there was none in the church building.
Sunday, it was back in the car to go up the road about an hour to Stanger to attend their church services and meet a prospective PEF student. Vincent and his three siblings live together trying to take care of each other and especially the youngest brother who is seriously ill. There are no parents in the home, with their mother dying in 2003, so much has fallen on the shoulders of this 24 year old young man. Vincent wants to serve a mission in the worst way, but it has been decided by his priesthood leaders, that it would be better for him to obtain some schooling in order to be able to care for his family for effectively.

Another busy week, but lots of satisfaction!!!


Our family home evening group. On the left are the Markum's from Wyoming who left to go home yesterday (Saturday) and served as CES missionaries. On the right are the Johnson's from Idaho who have functioned as the office couple since October and go home in March after extending for two months waiting for the new office couple to arrive. Standing are the Griesemer's from Indiana who are serving as employment missionaries and go home in July.


The young daughter of one of our PEF applicants that Sandy was trying to entertain while Arlo was helping her father with his application.


One of our PEF applicants, Vincent, and his younger brother Spha. They have been on their own since their mother died in 2003. Vincent plans to study information technology. He is very active in his branch serving as branch mission leader and membership clerk. He also taught the priesthood lesson the day we visited the branch to give him a PEF orientation.