Indian Dress

Saturday all the senior couples in the Durban area worked on a service project in the Indian area of Durban.  Afterwards we all went to lunch and then shopping at the markets. I bought a Punjabi which is a Indian suit that has a top, pants, and a scarf. They can be plain or colorful.  I chose a fancier style to wear at couple functions ( like FHE ) :)  A Saree is also an Indian dress that usually is a long piece of very decorative fabric that is wrapped around the body.  Often the mid section of the body shows, but the LDS sisters tell us you can have them made so the top comes all the way down.  Often the shop keepers will encourage young girls to wear the Saree with the short tops telling them they are young and must show their skin while it is still beautiful.  We had an enjoyable day with the couples and Monday we will be together again for FHE where we will celebrate Heritage Day and Elder Cinquini and I will wear our Zulu outfits.  We love the cultural diversity here in South Africa.

The sacrament meeting talks today were very inspiring.  Brother Khyndile spoke about the importance of using our time wisely.  He said, " it is easy to be on the bottom, to do nothing.  Perhaps we stop progressing because it becomes painful or too hard.  Facing our faults, letting go of pride, is not easy.  Don't run away from your pain, embrace it, it means you are moving forward." Serving a mission as a senior couple has not always been easy.  We are learning and growing and discovering things about ourselves just like the young missionaries.  Some days it is painful, hard, unproductive.   I hope and pray I can learn new things and use them to better myself, and help other people.    Helaman reminds us we are free to choose to sit and do nothing or use this gift of life for good. 30; "And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free ye are permitted to act for yourselves, for behold God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free." 31; "He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you, or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you."

Radio Spot for the Church

Today we accompanied Bishop Magaqa to Ukhozi FM radio station as he presented topics on the church for a radio station in Durban, South Africa.  Ukhozi FM is the largest Zulu station in all of South Africa.  Below is the article we wrote for mormonnewsroom.org.

Bishop Charles Magaqa of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Durban South Africa joined with Reverend Sabelo Mkhathini on Ukhozi FM radio’s “Ikhaya Methu” (Our Home) to present important family topics in today’s society. Bishop Magaqa, the Regional Coordinator of Seminary and Institute for KZN, spoke on two main subjects, The Family – A Proclamation to the World and Family Home Evening, a weekly program to strengthen families.

Rev. Mkhathini was impressed with the preparation of Bishop Magaqa.  His topic on marriage and family pointed a good way for people. He was most impressed when Bishop Magaqa pointed out the pillars of marriage such as praying together, respect, compassion, and forgiveness.

“I wanted to emphasize some selected themes,” said Bishop Magaqa. “That men and women are equal partners in marriage. I was trying to discount that one is above the other, I wanted people to know that men and women are on the same level.” 

Over the next several weeks, Bishop Magaqa will discuss topics that he feels will make a difference in people’s lives.

The program will begin airing every Thursday, beginning September 18, 10:30 pm on Ukhozi FM, 90.8.

The Family- A Proclamation to the World

Family Home Evening

Special Evening

Yesterday we drove to the airport to pick up two members of Ukhozi FM who were hosted in Johannesburg overnight.  They had a tour of the Area office and saw all the programs of the church, such as humanitarian, self-reliance, family history, and CES.  They toured the Temple grounds, met President Hamilton, and had lunch with some key people.  When we picked them up they were very happy with their experience.

When we dropped off Mr. Lindelani Ngema (Promotion manager for the station) he asked us if we would like to come inside and meet his family.  He lives with his wife, two daughters and a grandchild.  After we visited and laughed and got to know each other Mrs. Ngema served us cake and juice.  We were invited to stay for their family prayer.  I can't remember the name of the church they attend, but he said it was just around the corner from the Mormon Church in Umlazi W.  They passed out bibles and hymn books for everyone.  They sang the most beautiful, and I mean beautiful, Zulu hymn.  The whole family sang different parts and seriously they could have been on tv or radio.  One daughter read from the scriptures and the mother presented a message saying she knew it was God's timing that we should meet.  Mr. Ngema gave a closing prayer and it was one of the sweetest experiences that we will treasure from our mission.

Road Construction Sign

This is my favorite road construction sign.  It clearly speaks to all the drivers on the freeway that speed by the men and women who work along the freeway..

Ottawa Shelter

A couple from the Phoenix Branch asked us to accompany them to an area of Ottawa where the people are in desperate need of tarps to cover their shelters before the rainy season.  The people pay the landowner R500 a month ($50.00) but must build their own shelters.  There are 60 shelters with 140 people including 25 children. The area has two community water taps and outhouse style toilets. One of the outhouses has no top on it. "when it rains", the mother said, "what's the use of the toilet, the children get soaking wet if they use the toilet or not." she has 4 daughters. Lolly, who showed us around the community, has lived there with her family for 10 years.  She said it is a good community and the people help each other.  One women earns R2 (20 Cents) by carrying water up the hill for the elderly folks, another women sews clothing that she sells for R20 ($2.00).

The Phoenix Branch held a HH project two years ago in the community.  At the time they provided tarps and built a latrine, but they were quickly overwhelmed and unable to complete the needed help for the community.  The men living in the community joined the Helping Hands  to help place the tarps on the rooftops of the homes. This community is 95% Indian population and 5% black.  The Phoenix area is predominately Indian.  During apartheid this area was designated to the Indian people. 

The goal is to send in a proposal to the Area Humanitarian to help with purchasing tarps for these people.  Thank you to everyone who pays their tithes and offerings that makes humanitarian work possibly throughout the world.

The rainy season is right around the corner and these people need tarps to keep themselves dry.

This lady makes and sells little girl skirts to earn extra money.  She only uses her electricity for sewing and cooking.

One of the shelters in the community

Some of the shelters have more then one room.  They use material draped on their walls to cover the wood and cardboard.

Piano Lessons

I've been teaching piano lessons on Sunday after church.  I know enough I can take them through the first book that is provided by the church.  It's a very nice, easy to learn program.  The keyboards are a generous donated by J.R.  and Wauna O. Harman from Washington who saw a need and wanted to help individuals learn to play.  Many units in South Africa have no piano players and the congregations sing acappella. Having the keyboards makes a huge difference on how quickly they progress.  The keyboards are loaned to students during the course learning, but at the completion of the course, if they don't have the resources to purchase their own keyboards they can apply for a scholarship to own the keyboard.  I have really enjoyed watching their progress.

Week of August 25 - 29

Monday -  We attended a Religious Forum, with another senior couple, that included ministers of several different faiths.  When we arrived the gentlemen that helped organize the event recognized the name of the church on our name tags.  He said he'd been listening to Ukhozi FM and they talked all about their trip to Salt Lake City.  He was so curious that he looked it up online and read all about the Mormons.  We stood out because we were the only white people in a crowd of 350 pastors.  THREE times during the event they mentioned the full name of the Church, calling us their guests from America.  Once they had us stand up and wave to the crowd.

Mpontshane Sibongile and her husband.  She is the new Chairperson for the Interfaith Committee 

Walid Elsaadi Skeikh is the new Project Officer. Seemed like a very gentle, humble man.

Tuesday - We accompanied the Humanitarian to a  meeting with the Health Department  to work towards a wheelchair donation for the people of South Africa.  It was a very productive meeting with the Church being in complete agreement with the criteria required for wheelchair placement.  The Church also offered to supply qualified teachers who would train Physical Therapist to properly  assess and measure wheelchair recipients.  While waiting for the elevator to go up to our meeting a gentlemen was standing with us and noticed Elder Cinquini's name tag and repeated the name of the Church and said, "you work with education don't you? and I said, "yes, but today we are here to visit the Health Department.  "Are you in Education." I asked.  "No, that's too hard I work with medicine". After we got off the elevator he was kind to take us through the locked doors and pointed at his picture and said, "That's me".  Well.... he WAS the Minister of Health!  He escorted us to his personal boardroom to have our meeting.  It was not just coincidence that we ran into him.  It is good that he knew we were in his building attending a meeting.   

Wednesday - Cleaning in the kitchen and found a small nest of baby cockroaches.

I Immediately called the exterminator.  After he sprayed the house we thought we should leave for couple of hours because of the smell. At our next stop a friend noticed our tire was low so we went to have it filled with air and the attendant said there was a nail in it.  We go to the tire shop and they said we needed two new tires.  While we were sitting waiting for service, two missionaries came in to have some tire work done on their car.  We took them to lunch which helped pass the time.  In the evening the senior couples all met at the Mission Presidents house for dinner to greet a new couple to the mission, Elder and Sister Snell from the UK.  They will be working with self-reliance.

Thursday - We traveled to a township to participate in an interfaith prayer meeting in Umlazi K section.  We were invited by a lady pastor who we met at the Interfaith Summit on Monday.  Elder and Sister Rowberry and Zanele Hlongwane accompanied us.  First we met in a garage and sang together and then all of us walked to the community hall.  There were at least 200 people in attendance.  We were guest and asked to sit on the stage along with the other pastors who came to worship.  Most of the meeting was in Zulu, but we could tell that the loud preaching (yelling), excited everyone.  Four hours later they served lunch to everyone.  People seem to be glad that we came to visit. We made some nice contacts and it was a real experience to witness a traditional African prayer meeting.  Zanele thought it was good to experience these types of traditions because it would help us understand the people better.  

Friday - Today we went to a school to measure the length needed for a hose to reach the community garden.  Ed and I miss our garden so we thought we would help these young people who are learning skills (they are 18+ years old) for future employment.  The school donated the land and water but they need tools to finish the project.  Afterwards we worked on the focus group. The Area Presidency has invited  different groups to come and participate in a forum where church media will discuss the needs for South Africa youth, young single adults and young married couples.  

Saturday - Lots and lots of paperwork, some house cleaning, and grocery shopping.