A Halloween Post

Not really anything to do about Halloween but posted on that day.  Not much ado of it here in South Africa.  The following is a rundown of our past week's activities.
Elders Roberts and Bangeter at the Ezakheni Branch.  It is unusual for two USA, white missionaries to be together let alone in a township branch.  A funny story.  We have friends in Gresham that told us they had a nephew serving a mission  in South Africa.  So, I looked on our list of missionaries in the Durban Mission and sure enough there was an Elder Bangeter serving here in one of the Durban Wards. Before we were able to visit that ward, he was transferred to a branch in the Newcastle District.  Sunday before last we went to his branch and had this photo taken and were asking him about his aunt in Gresham.  He seemed to not really know her and was not really sure who I was talking about.  Come to find out there are two Elder Bangeters-same first name as well serving in South Africa.  So the nephew must be in either the Capetown or Johannesburg Mission.

This is the Ezakheni Branch Primary.  In total, 32 children in a little 10x12 room.  Wall to wall and it was 95 F that day.  They were preparing for their Primary Sacrament Presentation and singing their hearts out and reciting their scripture and their lines.
They were so well behaved and enthusiastic for the crowded and hot circumstances.  We were not able to see the presentation the next week as we were in the Dundee Branch, see below.

Our star pupils in the Ladysmith Branch.  From left to right, Sibahle Jili going to be a dentist, her mother,  Nomvuzo Magubane-will study law, and Khulisile Nyembe wants to be a physical therapist.  We sometimes have students that have very high expectations, some occassionally beyond their current capabilities.  But, these three are 100% capable of being anything they want.  They are just amazing.  Two already have three offers of acceptance from Varsitys (colleges) and that is not an easy thing in South Africa.  The other, Khulisile is Head Girl at her school which is the equivalent of student body president!  Nomvuzo is in the Ezakheni Branch that we attended on Sunday.  She came in trailing three little children-her nieces or cousins with no adult support.  Then during Young Women's she was teaching and Sister Gunderson asked if she was a permanent teacher.  They answer was Yes, but she is also the Young Women's President. All at the age of 18!

Our efforts at teaching workshops are beginning to result in students completing their online applications for PEF loans.  Some who have no access to computers or need additional help are coming to our office in our flat to complete them.  Above is Nosipho Mkhungo and below is Sinekosi Manukuza.

The Dundee Branch in the Newcastle District.  A few years ago it was only about a dozen people.  Next to Sister Gunderson is Sister Ward.  They live in Newcastle (about an hour away) her husband is a counselor in the mission presidency.  The tall Elder in the back row, Elder Meyers, had a ruptured appendix about 3 weeks ago and had a pretty rough time.  He was operated on in Ladysmith and just a week ago had a drain tube removed.  We really loved this branch-of course by now you know that is true of every ward and branch that we visit.  Dundee is supposed to be getting a building very soon.  We understand that the land has been purchased.  They rent a school for the time being.

The Senior Primary at Dundee practicing for their primary presentation.  When it is nice weather they hold classes outside because of the lack of space.  This picture was a week later than the Ezakheni photos and about 15 F cooler.







I an not sure why the formatting give me problems but I cannot type next to the all the following three photos.  Sister Gunderson spent some time in Primary with this little guy who reminded her of our grandson Harlen.  He was a real live wire.  By the end of Primary though he and Grandma Gaye were best friends.  You can tell just by looking at him that he might be a little mischievous.  Kids are kids the world over.





One of our students at Dundee, Belinda Sabisa with Elder and Sister Ward.  She is matricing (graduating) from high school this year.  Hers is one of the stalwart families in the Branch.  Her grandfather teaches Seminary and he is likely close to 75 years old.  Her mother is Young Women's President and her sister, Angela, is Primary President.

Below is Nompumelelo Kunene working on her application.  I think that I have mentioned that some of the Zulu names here sound so Hawaiian.  When they say them they sound so melodic.  We actually are getting better at the pronunciations.
When we got home Sunday night our daughter Tara and her husband Jerrod had sent us a wonderful Halloween Card.  If you have not seen it you should ask her to send it to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!