Johannesburg Training

We have not posted any domestic photos, so here is Sister Gunderson in her little kitchen with curry rice and samoosas.  Samoosas are a wonderful Indian dish consisting of pastry shells filled with spicy meats and vegetables.  Lots of varieties, chicken, lamb, and mince--their term here for hamburger.  I have not met a samoosa that I do not like:-)  Note the curries on the shelf!
We have learned several new South African terms for things.  A dust bin is a garbage can.  Robots are street lights.  A bakkie is a pick-up truck.  They do not use the terms restroom or bathroom - it is just toilet. A braae is a barbeque.  Matriculation or just matric is graduation from high school.  So,we are always not only listening hard to understand the British, Afrikaner, Indian, and Zulu accents, but to also understand what they are talking about.  It is really quite fun and people here say they love our accents????

          At King Shaka International Airport in Durban
This past weekend we traveled to Johannesburg for some training.  We flew there to learn more about our roles, as the Perpetual Education Fund program changed significantly since June 1st and there has been some confusion about the various roles.  We met our new supervisor, Khumbalani Mdletshe, who is the Seminary and Institute Supervisor for all of Southeastern Africa, a very nice man. We are now considered Seminary and Institute Coordinators working in the PEF program.  It is more than just a change in semantics as we will be working more with Priesthood Leaders and training teachers who are key to the workshops that go along with the PEF program.  We will continue to work with the students, our favorite part.  We also may now have Lesoto (another country) and Blomfontaine in the Free State that is west of KwazuluNatal.  Much more area and more travel.

 We are treated very well as senior missionaries.  Our Mission President and Khumbulani have both told us whenever you are near a site that you want to see, take a little time and go see South Africa and its beautiful scenery and wildlife.  We spotted some really pretty beaches on the approach for landing.  So, when we landed back in Durban, and were heading home from the airport,  we took a little detour of about a mile and found Umhlanga, a beautiful beach that is a popular spot for European tourists in the northern hemisphere's winter.  They have the water temperature posted and it was 70F today.  It stays warm because of the currents from equatorial waters that circulate counter-clockwise and come along the South African Coast.  There are shark nets out beyond the rocky, reef area.  I guess they are quite effective.

                                                    Umhlanga Rocks
Not too many pictures to post this time.  However, Thursday we leave for a senior missionary couples conference on Nambiti Game Preserve and we have several, what they call game drives--it is a driving tour in the open jeep type vehicles that gives you great opportunities to see the wildlife.  They are supposed to have the big five there and say there is  good chance of seeing them.  Rhinos, Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Leopards, and Lions and lots of other animals.  Hope to be able to post some pictures of them next week

Swaziland June 20, 2011

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This past Friday we went to Swaziland, a kingdom just northeast of South Africa and next to Mozambique.  We were following another couple who helped us with the border crossing, having our passports in order, and all the other things that make it a smooth process.  Just before the border, we saw 9 giraffes and a monkey but the Coxes did not see them and we were worried about losing them before the border crossing, so we did not stop and take pictures.  We thought that we would see them on the way home--should have known that that never happens so, no pictures.  The first town of any size that we came to was Manzini and Elder Cox in the car ahead of us thought that he could perhaps bypass all the auto and foot traffic.  As you can see it did not work; we were stuck in this traffic for over 1/2 hour and the traffic got much worse during that time.  The taxis (the vans you can see) are ruthless in cutting in and passing three wide!  We finally did make it to Ezulwini, a very pretty location in a beautiful little valley.  It was winter but still quite pretty with flowers and shrubbery even in the dry winter season.  We went to Swaziland to meet with several prospective students in a little town-Ndlangano (pronounced Shlangano)--about 2 hours from Ezulwini where we had a hotel--we won't show you a picture of it because we want you to think that we have to sleep on a mat on the ground when we travel out.  It was actually very nice.

Saturday we got an early start and drove to Ndlangano for our meeting.  It is an amazing thing to drive in the rural areas.  There are people and livestock cattle, goats, chickens and a few burros all along the roads and one has to be totally alert at all times.  The cattle are mostly Zebu  as pictured here on the right--these are actually behind a fence, about the only ones we saw that were.  This particular area has large tracts of pulp plantations which, besides farming, is the only apparent industry in the area.
It is a very poor area.  The main highway is paved but no side roads in the town are and I cannot imagine how they must be in the wet season.

These are some of the dwellings that the rural people live in.  We saw many children, some 8-10 years old pushing wheelbarrows loaded with bags of rice or corn meal along the road sometimes up steep hills.  Many also have fruit or some other things for sale and wave to get you to stop and buy from them.  Saturday apparently is a big laundry day and many still do their washing in the rivers (see below).  They then either hang them on a nearby fence or take them home wet to hang and dry.  Again as in South Africa the people that we see are clean and neat and so friendly.  There was never apartheid in Swaziland so there is no feelings of resentment against white people--not that I have ever felt it in South Africa for that matter.  We had nine potential students in the little branch, three of whom are quite ready to get in school so we got them started.  It is a big challenge as they have no access to computers or faxes making it so difficult to complete online applications and communicate.  Even our cell phone does not work there without buying a special chip that works in Swaziland.  We have our work cut out to make the loans happen.

This picture was taken on the way back to Ezulwini from a very shaky suspension bridge along the Mkhondvo River.  The "mama" is using sand to get the clothes clean and will then rinse it out of them in a rocky area.  We could see no fish in the pools.  They river runs a lot more water in the summer (wet) months.

Gaye braved the suspension bridge--anything for a photo shoot :-)  Shortly after this picture several teenage boys and a girl posed with her but the picture was back-lit and did not turn out.  It is shaky but heavily used by the locals though as in the distance and up against the hills in the background, is a little group of probably 100 homes--denser that much of the area. Note the little boy just to the left of the bridge.  He was swimming but very shy

The only reminder of winter here are these poinsettias in bloom.  They grown to about 12 feet tall.
Sunday we attended Church in the Manzini Branch and met with one student there.  One of the speakers spoke about gratitude and how  much he enjoyed being where he could learn more and more about our Savior Jesus Christ and then he said:  I am grateful for feet and legs that let me walk to this place where I can learn by the Spirit.  I had been feeling sorry that most have to walk and do not have cars.  This young man certainly has his priorities right.  They are so grateful for the things they have and do not seem to dwell on that which they do not have.  That does not mean that they do not want to better themselves.  They surely do so, and are quick to seize opportunities to get more education.  We have not talked to a single elementary or high school student that indicates they do not like school, rather they are always enthusiastic about it and quick to tell you if they are good students.   Gaye played the organ in Sacrament meeting which was a real treat for the branch as no one there knows how to play.  One young girl about 15 came immediately to Gaye afterward and wanted to learn to play.  To bad we cannot be there each week or so so Gaye could teach her.
In sacrament meeting, I sat next to a young boy, about ten, and whenever the speakers would quote a scripture he would turn to it.  I was quite impressed.  As the meeting ended, I closed my scriptures and my marker, that Loren Dewitt gave me before we left, fell on the floor.  He picked it up and gave it to me with obvious interest in how pretty it was.  I asked him if he had a scripture marker--of course he did not.  So someone please tell Brother Dewitt that another person is now enjoying that book marker.  I am sure he will be pleased to know a young boy in Swaziland is a little happier because of his gift to me.

This is the big bend of the Nhloya River.  Hippos are sometimes seen here but not that day.  There is a sugar refinery in the background.  Acres and acres of sugar cane are grown in this area.  The haze is from burning the fields as part of the harvesting.

This plant is partially why this area is called the thornveld.  Very sharp spines.  Doesn't the tree in the background look very African?

This sign is not a joke.  We did not see warthogs, but apparently they go under the fences and get on the highways.  The fences are to keep poachers out of the game reserves and keep the game in and away from the highway and poachers. We did see an ostrich and some springboks but again could not get pictures.  Next trip- perhaps we will not be quite so rushed.

More Swazi huts taken along the road on the way home.  One thing that we learned is that when you stop along the road, the children from these homes come tearing out to the road and want anything that you can give them.

As you can see we had about ten children all of a sudden and we gave away all our change and snacks and almost all of our pass-along-cards.  They were very happy to get the picture of the Savior.  This was a heartbreaking scene as this is the poor of the poor. Yet they were smiling and gracious in accepting what we could give them.




The tree below was just interesting.

 We have had a pretty busy week.  We made contact with a number of students that were in various stages of the PEF loan process and feel that we made some headway.  Coming into the program just as there have been major changes is good in some ways and difficult in others.
Saturday Gaye went to the Kwadabeka Ward and taught piano lessons.  Hopefully our schedule will allow that to happen on a regular basis.
Here are a couple of students Patrick in the shiny red shirt, the sister Themi and Njabulo in the Grey t-shirt.
The others are some of the Elder's quorum there for their cleaning assignment.

 Sunday we went to the Bluff Ward near downtown Durban and right on the Indian Ocean.  We met with two PEF students who are finishing their paperwork and close to enrolling in school.  There were two convert baptisms after the block meetings so we stayed and Gaye played the piano.  The two Elders here are assigned to the Ward.  They one is from Johannesburg the other (the Polynesian) is from California--very sharp young men.  Gaye is holding one that made her sit by him in sacrament meeting.  He loved her Smarties.

Of course because the beach was right there by the Bluff Ward, we had to have a picture.  This particular part has pretty big waves but we have heard that other places are very calm.

For the grandchildren.  This was the first insect of any interest that I have seen.  We had a meeting today, Monday, at the Mission home and he was on the wall.  A really big Katydid with blue legs!

We are enjoying South Africa.  Next Friday we go to the Kingdom of Swaziland for a whole new adventure.  It is about a 7 1/2 hr drive north and in many places quite primitive.

Our First Sunday

 Well, we did not intend to post today but after our experiences we feel we must share.  As I mentioned last night in my post we were going to the Molweni Branch.  We found that it not an actual branch but attached as a dependent unit of the Kwadebeka Ward.  It is there because the people in that area have no transportation and it is hard for them to get to church otherwise.  We rely heavily on the GPS to get us places--that is great where there is an street address--in the case of Molweni there was none, so with the GPS and a map we headed out.  It took us the right way but there are other ways as we found on the way back.  We went down a very steep and narrow road that had people, goats, a few cars, and even a Zebu bull on it.  People were heading to church as they were dressed very nicely and seemed so bright and cheery and friendly.  Nearly all smiled and waved as we passed.  Some of the women carried five-gallon buckets heading to a stream that was in the bottom of the canyon or kloof as it is called in Afrikaans.  The thought of them having to carry them full back uphill was heartbreaking.  Just when we got close to where we began earnestly looking for the Kwa Dinabakubo School, where the unit meets, someone was honking at us from behind.  I thought that it was because we were going so slow but as we pulled over to let them pass, it was the unit leader President Zondi.  He recognized the car and had us follow him to the school-pictured above.  If I ever feel inclined because our chapel is too hot or too cold or there is some other discomfort, I hope I will remember this little school that serves as a chapel for the people of the Molweni Township.  Perhaps even sadder is although it looks abandoned it is still a functioning school.  Children go to school there.  The South African government has recently passed a law prohibiting churches from meeting in schools so the Church has purchased property nearby and will likely be moving in some modular units for the meetinghouse.  The amazing thing is that, although the members live in little very poor houses some without running water, they come to church clean and in their very best.  They are so humble and, because it was fast Sunday, we were privileged to hear their testimonies.  Some spoke English at first then finished in Zulu.  It was quite touching.  But the most touching was before the meeting the little girls, without any prompting, started singing There is Sunshine in My Soul Today  as prelude because there was no organ and the missionaries forgot to bring the CD for the little tape player that they bring.  It was so sweet and they really did mean that there was sunshine in their hearts.  We met Nosipho and got her signature so her loan can proceed and after Sacrament meeting we found that the teacher for primary (there is only one for all the children) was absent so Gaye and I got to teach--mostly Gaye.  She will take over from here. 

When I found out I was teaching, I really wasn't too worried since I never seem to have trouble finding things to say.  We taught about testimonies.  The girls ranged in ages 4 to 13.  No young women leader either.  "Lungile" is 13(in the pink blouse) and was so sweet.  They LOVE to sing.  We gave them time to bear their testimonies, after much encouragement, and they all did it.  I helped the 4 year old.  They all live in very poor conditions but were so clean and happy to be there.  It was fast Sun. so no treats, but I had breath mints and they loved them.  We did alot of singing.  Amanda, in the coat, even knew "Once There Was a Snowman" even none of them have ever seen snow.  We did "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" and they got a kick out of watching me trying to touch my toes. Two hours is a long time to keep that many different ages interested.  One time, I said"do you need a break"? and they giggled and said they needed to go to the bathroom but they said no to "toliet" because they are very stinky.  Then they just ran outside and came back in about 2 min.  Lots of bushes, I guess.

I wanted a picture of lined up so I could get their names correct. left to right:  Aphiwe, Bengeka, Ayanda,Zamile,Sbahle,Pamela,Amanda, and Lungile.  Aphiwe (a-pee-wee) isn't baptized yet so I told her if she got baptized, I would try to come. I don't even know where they have baptisms?? Notice the writing on the blackboard, in Zulu.

Kids like to be silly where ever they live.  So fun, can't wait to go back.  We see that what we offer both spiritually and in the way of loans to help these young people out of these situations is one of their only hopes.  The Perpetual Education Fund is truly an inspired program.  We hope that we can learn quickly and do our part.       Hope you all know to click on the pictures to make them larger.  Til next post........

In South Africa

 Well here are the pictures that we promised some of the kids we would send.  Pictures of an elephant, lion, rhino, and cape buffalo.  Give us another month and I think that we will be sending pictures of the real things.  By the way it takes 6.7 rand to make a dollar.
We arrived in Durban after a gruling 32 hour day, 20 of which was in the air, the rest in airports.  When we got to Durban our luggage was left behind in Johannesburg.  We were told that that happens sometimes so our carry-ons got us through the night and we were blessed to get our luggage the next day.  Our apartment is on the 13th floor of a 23 story complex and is really quite nice.  We have all the modern appliances and comforts.  We really feel pretty spoiled compared to some senior couple missionaries in other parts of the world.  The weather is absolutely beautiful with highs in the mid to low 70's and lows in the 50's.  Not too bad for winter!  There are many blooming plants which remind us of Southern California, especially San Diego. 
We have spent most of this week getting situated and oriented as well as learning to drive on the left side of the road.  That is a pretty weird experience and would cause gray hairs if I was not already there.  The traffic moves fast with lots of cutting in all the while trying to remember that i have to stay on the left side of the road.  It is not bad except making a right turn and just feeling that I need to stay right.  There are very few turning arrows so you just have to wait for a break in oncoming traffic and then go for it.  Another complexity is taxis which are really minivans that make up a huge part of the transportation for many of the poorer people.  They are loaded with 12-15 people and absolutely pay no attention to the traffic laws.  Defensive driving is an absolute must.  Added to the traffic are the pedestrians that also walk between cars and walk when their light is red so, add all that together and it is a pretty scary thing to drive.  I am sure that we will get used to it.

This is an African sunrise from the veranda of our apartment.  We cannot actually see the Indian Ocean from our apartment but those cloud banks are over it.  It is probably only 5-6 miles away.  Tomorrow we are going to the Molweni Branch of the Church to meet with Nosipho Bhengu, the first PEF student we will meet.  She forgot to sign some papers and we need to get that done.  We have talked to several others on the phone and, although they speak very good english for the most part, they have heavy accents that we have not gotten an ear for yet.  I think that it will come.  We are already making progress on pronouncing their names.  They do better with Elda and Sista Gunduhsen than we do with their names.  We have been in several parts of Durban and are impressed at how polite and friendly the people are.  We have felt none of the threats of being robbed that we heard so much about.  But we have not been in downtown Durban at night either. 
The bird life is great here and I am adding new birds to my life list nearly every day--not hard when nearly every one I see is new.  I had to buy a bird book for South Africa.
Monday we begin some serious work.  Thembinkosi Mhkize the PEF Area Coordinator will be spending two days with us in training that is much more specific than we got in Salt Lake City.  Maybe then we can actually provide intelligent answers and advice to students when they need help.
More later.