P-Day with the "Fab Four" at Kirstenbosch Gardens & Spur's for Lunch

This cockroach is larger than my thumb.

Yummy food at Spur's

Elder Cowey

Santa Baby!

Elder Frost

Elders Frost, Cowey, Moangare, & Kuyvui

One perfect day!

SIGN: Don't climb the trees.........boys!

Meet Brother Joseph Smith

This is one incredible man.....and yes, his name is really Joseph Smith. He is a convert to the church. After owning a bar and becoming very wealthy, he had a stroke. The doctors told him he would never walk again. Then one day the missionaries knocked at his door.  Brother Joseph accepted the gospel and after a blessing began to recover. His testimony is very powerful and the last thing he is, is melee mouth about sharing it.

"Slyling in South Africa Christmas Day & Serving the Elders"

 We love our ward in Mitchells Plain. As you can see they are not shy when it comes to sporting the most recent styles.....Amanda check out Tinny's pumps. The young man is Nathaniel DeVries and the Ntshili family is below, L-R:  Sibabablo Gleaeson, Buhle Tinny, Sister Henderson, Tracy, Mandisa Patricia, Brdekile David & Elder Henderson

Turkey dinner at our flat and calls made at my desk at the mission office...........

Like everyone else we had sacrament meeting for only one hour in the morning. After which we came home and continued preparation on our turkey dinner. The elders had arranged to be at our flat at 1 pm. However, they were detained with the members of their ward and arrived at 3:30 pm. It was good though, we were able to catch a much needed nap. I had put the mashed potato's in the oven to keep warm. The potatoes here are a little bit different, but close to ours.  When I took them out of the oven they looked like a thick paste, the surprising thing was, they tasted really good. The elders ate and ate and ate. We had planned on using our Skype but found that it was not possible here in South Africa. Each country has a different charge. We rushed to the mission office, which is only 10 minutes away, and they were able to speak to their families......they were ecstatic.  Kami called us at 7:30 pm, so while we were talking to them, the elders did the dishes, they are so very sweet.

Mitchells Plain Branch Christmas Party 2011

Mitchells Plain Branch comprises of 122 members with only about 30-40 that attend on Sunday.
The building is only one year old and very small. The chapel has chairs that are padded and can be removed in which case the chapel is then turned into a culture hall. That is where we
had our Christmas party on December 10th. These fine elders did some singing, the children anxiously awaited Santa's arrival by also singing, and it didn't take long for the wee ones to figure Elder Cowey out, peeking under his fine set of white wiskers. There was plenty of food. They served appetizers before Santa and after Santa they served the fried chicken they had been preparing in the kitchen, as well as potato salad. There was not one morsel left in the end. Elder Henderson was seduced by a baby doll named "Faith." She would not let him go, not even when her daddy wanted her back. I had to take her to the ladies room to change her as her mummy was at work....she screamed the whole time, until she was back into the arms of her newest admirer.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS FAMILY & FRIENDS"

From Elder & Sister Henderson & Our African Family
We love and miss you!
xoxox

LUKE 2:4-14

4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.


6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there war no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night.
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which is Christ the Lord.
11. For unto to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which shall be to all people.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Check Out the Scarey Cat's of Cape Town

At home I have had a "special friend" since he was 15 yrs. old that ended up being in our bishopric a couple years back. He has given me grief about my cats since day one. Thinking I would be un-scathed by Monte's heckling I came to South Africa. Now my "special friend" is Elder Clyde Mahler, age 81 yrs. from Texas. He and his wife are here to photograph records for the Family History Department and leave to go home in January. He is just an older version of our Monte. We love him anyway even though is has no taste when it comes to animal friends.

Misti is the cat top left. She lives at the flat downstairs but comes to eat, drink, sleep and do as she pleases. The cat below I saw one day while inspecting the elders apartments. Just for all those "Cat Lovers" out there, cats are alive and well in Cape Town, South Africa.

This has been the day every missionary wishes for........

and here is the rest of the story.......... I would like you to meet Angela and her two beautiful children. Angela is very much a christian and had been taking her children to church but they were not happy where they were attending. Angela must work some Sundays and her children attended the LDS branch in Langa with some friends. When Angela wanted them to go to their church they told her that they didn't like that church and wanted to go to Langa Branch. Angela was surprised as she had been having a hard time getting them to go to church at all. She figured she had better go herself and check out what they were finding so special. The weekend Elder Henderson went back to the states for his mom's funeral I visited the Langa Branch with Elder and Sister Mahler. That is the day I met Angela. I fell in love with her the minute I met her. She seemed so kind and her spirit radiated from her eyes when she spoke. As we talked she told me that her husband had died only six months ago. At that time I took the opportunity to share with her about our precious Heath and how I understood exactly how she felt. Since that time we have been e-mailing back and forth. I have been talking to the the Mahler's to check her progress. She has some wonderful friends in the Langa Branch that have really been good examples of the gospel teachings. Today the elders came in the office and told me that Angela had said she wanted to be baptized. The date will probably be the 8th of January 2012. I cannot describe the joy I felt for her. The elders said she is so interested in what it is going to take to go to the temple and be able to have her husband sealed to her for all time and eternity. Thank you Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a very small part of the awesome event. I am yet to find out if her children are so going to be baptized but I would be very surprised if they weren't.

"Meet Sophi my New Little Buddy"

"JUMPING FOR JOY"

Family home evening at President and Sister Brown's was nothing short of "Spectacular!" We started with a yummy dinner, homemade macaroni and cheese (usually not my favorite dish) however, it was the best I have ever tasted. Then for a special lesson by the missionaries on faith. As an example all four of the missionaries used their index figures to lift President Brown off a stool....amazing.

We of course had desert so banana splits were devoured.


Then to top off the evening we jumped (well "WE" didn't) for Sister Henderson's camera.
What a fun fun night. Thank you President, Sister Brown and your adorable five children for hosting such a grand event.














Don't you just love these shots. The one of Elder Cowey (top left) from England is a hoot. I caught it just before he jumped. He said he looked like a priss??
L-R Elder Cowey from England, Elder Kyuvi, Kenya, Elder Cowey, ElderCowey, Elder Frost, England. Elder Moangaere, the island of Kittipass near Figi.

"WE LOVE THE ELDERS"

These young men are incredible. So kind and loving....so much fun!
The two pictures of Elder Henderson and I were taken this past Sunday when we had our Mitchells Plain Branch elders over for Thanksgiving dinner. I was able to find a turkey, and "No" I didn't have to hunt it down. I found it in the freezer department at Pic-N-Pay. Mashed potatoes with gravy, turkey stuffing, cranberry sauce, peas and corn, potato salad just in case. Kami's yummy brownies with ice cream........and absolutely nooooo left overs.








The three "Elders in Black" were our office elders. The one in the middle is Elder Naylor...he was transferred last week:*(
Elder Davenport on the left from Rexburg, Idaho and Elder Hasting from England are still in the office. Elder Hasting is training Elder Henderson with the finances and has been very patient in Elder Henderson own words. Elder Naylor trained me for the most part.

Oh, by the way can you find the flat kids? And can you spot President Mark I. Wood at the Zone Leaders training that took place this past month?