Two Weeks Later

For those of you who may have been concerned, we haven't misplaced any other missionaries since the first one. We have, on the other hand, had:
a) 1 break-in: the elders came home and realized what was going on, and went next door to call the police. The burglars ran off with a camera, but fortunately dropped the bag with a credit card, and, more importantly, the 17 tickets for the zone to attend a rugby game on P-Day. (Whew!) The burglars had bashed through the iron gate and smashed the window.
b) 2 car accidents: no injuries, but both cars out of commission for a week or two.
c) 1 sister in the hospital for 2 nights: she bashed her head on the lid of the boot (trunk) and got a mild concussion. She's fine, although a little spacey at times.

On the other hand, we've had a round of "real" zone conferences that was fun. The drill is: Song, prayer, etc; birthday recognition, "pick a tie" by the hardworking elder of the month; recognition of those who have completed a level of the Master Teacher program; information from the office couple on cars, boardings, and getting ordinance dates in (apparently we have a number of men without priesthood ordination dates on file, who are serving in branch presidencies and other priesthood callings!); the Dalebouts then go out and check all the cars, and visit the boardings. The Pres introduces the theme of the conference, and the Assistants carry on with training while he pulls the missionaries out for interviews. Sister Pres (me!) gives a talk supporting/expanding on/jazzing up the theme somewhere in the middle. I also organize lunch. Ever had pizza 4 days in a row? Afterwards, Steve and the Assistants go out on splits with the elders in the zone. I didn't go up north to the 3 zones there, this time, as it was the first week of school for Hunter and Morgan, but I sent "epistles" that were read by couple sisters.

Meanwhile, we were interviewed by the assistant headmaster on Monday, who suggested the boys watch the Grade 8 rugby practice after school. So we got uniforms and some school supplies, and I dropped them off at 3:00. When I came back at 5:00, Morgan had a jersey on and was practising with the B Team. He played "Wing" in the game on Saturday, and made a "try" or goal: 5 points. The final score was 47 to 0.There were 4 games going, one every hour, starting at 8:00 am Kicks are 2. The big one, the 1st Team, was at 4:00.
All the Grade 8s are required to come to the game in their uniforms, and sign in (rent-a-cheering-section). Any other students who come also have to wear their uniforms. Prefects climbed up on the wooden bleachers, and the Grade 8s lifted the bleachers (3 sets) and carried them to the side of the playing field. Then the older boys sat on the bleachers and the Grade 8s sat on the ground. I like it. There were probably 300 or so boys from each school, and they did organized cheers, and chants, and even songs. It was oh so "Goodbye Mr. Chips"-ish. We won, as apparently usual, but it was tough - 18 to 10.

Hunter is getting some custom arch supports and working with a "biokineticist" on some exercises for his knee that always bothers him, so he can play basketball in a few weeks. "How is the team, Hunter?" "I AM the team!" Rugby is actually ending, so he can pick it up next spring when he's in awesome, NFL draft form. He is making friends hand over fist, and had his first sleepover last Friday. I took the boys to the mall, where they went to Transformers and "chilled". The mall on a Friday night is full of families - even though most of the stores close by 7. Whole families are grocery shopping together, and teenagers are going to movies and playing in the video arcade (a game is 4 tokens, or 60 cents), and acting cool. All the restaurants and the food courts are packed.

I'm working to create my calling - it seems that the mission president's wife job is different for every mission president's wife. After I'm done with mom stuff and house stuff, and zone conference stuff, I'm kind of at loose ends. So I'm learning to input baptisms into the computer and submit them to Salt Lake. (I'm going to be REALLY good at Zulu names by the time I'm done!) I need to get my hands on more jobs, though. next week I'm going to do work on the "new, revised" Master Teacher plan, otherwise known as the "Becoming a Preach My Gospel Missionary" checklist.

We did have a sisters' activity to celebrate the 24th of July. They all came to the mission home P-Day afternoon, and we went to the little local museum. It shows the history of Westville (where we live) and the German settlers who came here in, dadadaDA!, 1847. There were a few rooms set up pioneer style, so it was very Days of '47. There was also a room with a travelling exhibit of Hindu weddings, including a gorgeous wedding dress. We talked with the very nice Zulu assistant curator, who is pretty lonely, I'll tell you. The sisters are going to stop by and chat her up.

In my next and quicker coming message, I'll report on our first transfers - we're losing/gaining 7 missionaries. Then that weekend Elder Parmley our new Area President is coming for a quick mission tour and some mission president training. And about Morgan playing with the A Team against a team from the UK - scheduled for July 30th. Maybe we'll make a video...

Miss you all!

Love, Sister President Mann