A Look at Our Week, One Day at a Time

Sister Henderson, Elder Mooki & Elder Henderson

Sister Henderson, Elder Thole & Elder Henderson

May 2012 Zone Leader Training

Elder Bryers, Elder Thole & Elder Speed

President Wood & Zone Leaders at Mission Home

Elder Thole waving good-bye, Sister Henderson crying!

Hello Elder Frost

Sweet Reunion

Just chillin'

Elder Henderson (Dad) with Elder Frost & Elder Pearson

Family photo

Elder Henderson, Elder Davenport (going home to Rexburg, Idaho), & Sister Henderson

Elder Henderson, Elder Bangerter (going home to Utah) & Sister Henderson

Elder Venetsanakos (Australia) , Elder Henderson, Sister Henderson & Elder Frost (New Zealand) at the Cape Town Airport

Sad day saying good-bye!

This probably isn't as funny as the day it was taken.

Elder & Sister Oldham were asked to do a funeral, the entire funeral...it last 15 minutes by request. As a thank you they gave them the only flowers that were there. These guys don't have enough to do...me thinks. Elder Oldham and Elder Henderson were playing school boy pranks, you are never too old to have have fun.

SUNDAY - May 6th:
Left for church at 8:10 am, picking up President and Sister Stumm on the way. The are the new couple that arrived last Thursday from Spokane, Washington. They are our newest senior couple and had accepted our invitation to attend church at Mitchell's Plain. It takes about 30 minutes to get to church and we like to arrive about 15 minutes early so we can be there to shake hands and gather as many hugs as possible.
It was Fast & Testimony meeting with wonderful expressions of love for the gospel and the love of our savior.
Joseph Smith, a member of Mitchell's Plain had asked Elder Simelane to teach the Gospel Principals class as it was his last Sunday before leaving for his home in Swaziland. Sister September attended for the first time. What a special lady....more to come.
After church we drove to our flat. The Stumm's came in for a visit, one that will be held in both of our hearts for many years to come and bonded us as special friends.
At 4 pm we left to have dinner at Elder and Sister Oldham's, they are from Kaysville, Utah. Dinner was yummy!!
We arrived home about 7 pm. We relaxed until about 8pm and began to Skype. Unfortunately we could not get it to work. We finally reached Kami and agreed that we would get up early and try again.

MONDAY - May 7th:
4:30 am is the hour in which I opened my eyes and could not go back to sleep. After trying several times I was able to talk to Kami on two occasions for about 30 minutes and Amanda and Noah for only minutes. The internet must be having difficulties. I left at 6 am for Curves. Worked out for 30 minutes and returned home. Leaving for the office at 8 am so I could have my piano lesson at 8:30 am with Sister Oldham. She has taught piano for years. Monday was filled with various office duties. Entering baptisms as they are due in Salt Lake today. We have had a total of 31 for the month of April. Entering is no easy task. They need to be entered in three different programs. The spelling is unbelievable and takes me sometime. Monday is the day I give hair cuts to the elders and staff, there were three this week. I finished the flight plans for transfers this week. Last week I book 70 flights, we have 13 new elders this transfer and 10 elders leaving for home, as well as many moving around the mission. We left the office about 5:30 pm. Elder Pearson came home with us as he is still healing. I made scramble egg sandwiches, while we listened to a talk about the building of the Logan temple and the miracles that surrounded that  building, I made a double batch of oatmeal cookies.

TUESDAY - May 8th:
6:00 am and off to Curves, read scriptures, ate and off to the office early to practice piano. The day was eventful as our 13 new elders were coming. The AP's arrived and wanted to know why I wasn't I waring green for the "Greenies?" Good question? We had never per-planned this before so it didn't occur to me. By chance Elder Henderson had worn a tie with green in it. Elder Henderson had to run to Howard Center to get some printing done before the new elders arrived. I went with saying a little pray on the way, like I always do and after going to only 3 stores I found a perfect scarf with the colors of the African flag and matched a pin given to me by one special elder. Ran home to change my clothes....to match the scarf of course. The new elders came about 1:30 pm. We train them on office procedures. Each of the senior couples as well as the office elder, Elder Pearson spend about 15 minutes each on the different subjects. We left early for Mitchell's Plain and our regular Young Adult Institute so that Elder Zarbock and Elder Takuafu could Skpye to their mothers for "Mother's Day." It was about 5 pm by the time we arrived. We waited around until the class after meeting each of the elders family....what a joy for them. Sister Henderson took home a bouquet of flowers just for helping them out and letting them use our laptop and internet. Institute was wonderful, Brother Nathanial did a great job. We were home by 8:45 pm and in bed by 9, dead dog tired. But a good tired.

WEDNESDAY - May 9th:
"Could you be at our home at 6:30 am, Sister Wood asked?" We were feeding 51 elders. We all pitched in, my job was mixing pancake batter, and flipping pancakes. "WHAT A DAY!!!" By 7:30am the elders were trickling in to the kitchen and that prompted the welcome by President Wood and the blessing. Second and thirds and soon the last pancake was flipped and ate. I had made a flight schedule so that we new at a glance who was going where, however, the AP's had refined it by designating who would travel to the airport and in which car was decided by Elder's Oldham and Henderson. Usually the two couples would return to the office but today we were allowed to mingle. Soon it was time for the group to leave that was taking Elder Thole. We have become very close and it was so hard to see him leave. He was having just as hard of a time as I was. Next we were asked to take Elder Cowey and his new companion to the mall and buy his companion a new pair of shoes. They were literally falling apart. I don't think he has ever had his own brand new shoes....he was pleased. We took them to the airport, which was good to see Elder Cowey off. (One of the original "Fab Four!"). We were able to return to the airport to pick up the group that Elder Frost was in (another "Fab Four") but also our adopted son. Boy! Did Elder Henderson ever get the hugs. All in all it was a "PERFECT FLIGHT DAY!" That is as far as my part was concerned. We went back to the mission home, helping to clean up. We didn't get to the office until about 4:30pm or later. We spent a couple of hours there and then home. I think we were in bed by 9pm.

THURSDAY - May  10th:
Up at 6am, Curves, home, scriptures and to the office by 8am so I can practice the piano.  The day was hectic. Because of the diversion this week with transfers there is much that had been put on the back burner. Later that afternoon we were able to accompany Pres. and Sister Wood to the airport to take Elder Frost so he could leave for home. We all had lunch there at Subways and after some conversation the Wood's left and we stayed until Elder Frost had to go through the gate. Big tears were shed. What a fabulous young man. He took off a silver pin that looked like a feather and had New Zealand on it and gave it to Elder Henderson. He said he had worn it his entire mission. More hugs and he disappeared behind the glass. After the dust settled Elder Henderson and I went to eat at a restaurant close to us by the name of "Magica Roma." Thee best Italian eating place I have ever attended. We met a sweet girl there and I offered her a free DVD, she said yes! Must have the elders call her. Home and to bed.....well I started to bed when the phone rang at 10:30pm, it was Sister Oldham saying the Elder Frost's plane had been delayed and he missed all his connecting flights to New Zealand. She didn't know how to get in touch with his mother. She was going to try e-mailing her to let her know that Elder Frost would be 24 hours late. I Googled his mom but with no luck by it did direct me to Face Book. I submitted a friend request to her and within about 30 minutes she accepted. She has just post Sister Oldham's e-mail. She was not happy, of course, what a disappointment. We were chatting back and forth until about 11:45pm. So tired by now.......

FRIDAY - May 11th
...........still tired but must get up and start the day all over. The office routine was pretty much the same. I had to finish the newsletters and get it out. It is called the "Crest" and consist of the presidents article, the names of the 31 baptisms for last month. The pictures of the incoming and outgoing elders and couple. The transfer board that shows all the movement of the 128 elders and a calendar for the next six weeks. This took most of the day. That night Elder Pearson came home with us. We order a pizza and salad from "Magica Roma and listened to another great talk. By bedtime my tummy was not feeling so good....wonder what's up. Took Grapefruit Seed Extract Oil and juice......the cure all.

SATURDAY - May 12th
Woke up in the middle of the night with severe stomach cramps and diarrhea.  The next day was a total waste as I laid in bed and slept with the stomach problems and took more GSE.  YUCK!

SUNDAY - May 13th
"HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY" Feeling much better. We went to church. After church we had Angela, Beverly and Mark to dinner. Elder Henderson had given me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and card. Angela brought me some darling slippers. Later that night we were able to Skype with Kami and kids as well as Kort. In the middle of talking with Kami and Amanda 5 elders came with a card and more flowers....what sweethearts. During the day I received about 5 texts from the various elders wishing me "Happy Mother's Day!" Thank you my African family for making my Mother's Day a special one, otherwise it would have been very grim.