09 August 2007

Sawubona, Everyone!

We have just completed our first cycle, meaning transfers, zone conferences, zone leader training. Does this mean we now know everything? Dream on...

We were excited to greet our first group of new missionaries, but sad to say goodbye to missionaries we had only just started getting to know. The new missionaries came in on Wednesday, August 1st. It was fun going to the airport and trying to catch glimpses of them as the door opened and shut from Customs/baggage. They were pretty easy to spot - and in amazingly good shape, having flown from Salt Lake to Chicago then from Chicago to London, where they sat for 8 hours, then from London to Johannesburg, and the last flight from Johannesburg to Durban. Usually our missionaries go to the MTC in Johannesburg, but it's being remodeled this month. This group was cheerful, but definitely jetlagged. They spent the next several hours taking pictures and receiving training, and dozing off. It was actually pretty funny: there was usually at least one person with their eyes shut all the time!

That evening we all had dinner in the mission home - the new missionaries, the assistants, the office couple, the office elders, and Hunter and Morgan. Then we had a testimony meeting, and let them go to be. We had one companionship with us, and the rest scattered between the office, and the office staff.

That night the assistants called all the missionaries who were involved in transfers, and on Thursday there was a big meeting at the Pinetown Chapel (our ward) to make the changes. It was so great watching missionaries catching up with old companions, and the news of their areas. The missionaries really are a family. In the transfer meeting, Steve had the new zone leaders and district leaders stand, and as he gave out trainer assignments I introduced each new missionary. As each new trainer was announced, the missionaries would "OO-OO-OOH" and "AA-AAH". The the departing missionaries bore their testimonies. It was very impressive. I think that instead of sending home "returned missionaries" we are sending home very well-rounded "member missionaries". These missionaries have been finding, teaching, baptizing, activating, teaching members to be missionaries, doing service, teaching English, modelling how to teach classes, conduct meetings, and speak in Church, playing piano, singing in choirs... Missions have changed since my day!

We had another dinner at the mission home with the departing missionaries, and "story time" where they each told something from their mission experience. I hope they wrote them all down. The missionaries are supposed to write to the mission president every week, and then when they go home, they get all the letters back, so they should at least have that record, if they haven't kept a constant journal. They also have their planners, so if they save them they have a record of their investigators, and how they helped them progress.

After a chaotic weigh-in of all the luggage, and a few discards, the missionaries left on Friday morning. We left after lunch to drive up to Newcastle (3-1/2 hours NW of Durban) to meet Elder and Sister Parmley. He is our new Area President, after 3 years here as 1st counselor. He's a member of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy, and a very well-known cardiac surgeon from northern California. His mom was General President of the Primary for many years (we were at Philmont with her) and his dad taught physics at the U of U while my dad was teaching there. I wasn't sure what to expect, but he and his wife are terrific. We met them at the bed and breakfast, then went out to dinner, and the next morning started their mission tour.

First up, zone conference for Newcastle, Ladysmith, and the missionaries from Swaziland. We started with two excellent talks from elders, then I did a Preach My Gospel chase (like scripture chase) and couldn't believe how competitive some of the elders were: "Pick me! Pick me!" Then Steve went over some things they could ask themselves to determine if they were really Preach My Gospel missionaries. Sister Parmley and President Parmley did the rest, and they were really good, and fun to listen to. I will not attempt to give their talks: if you want to hear them, you'll have to come out here on a mission!

Our couple missionaries had made crockpots of sloppy joes for lunch - a nice change from pizza! Then we took the requisite zone conference group picture, and started again. There was a musical number that was very good. Steve had worried, because he attended a cottage meeting where a group of elders sang, and it was awful. We don't know if they realized it, because they kept going and sang every verse. Oh well, it's the thought that counts. We then had a few testimonies, and finished, and President Parmley interviewed a few missionaries before we headed out to eZhekini. This is a township with a "twig" - which is what we call a unit that operates under a branch, but doesn't have an official unit number or standing. It's an hour away from it's "center of strength" and wouldn't usually be encouraged, but there are about 100 people out there who are really strong. They meet in a former slaughterhouse (abattoir) that has cement floors and walls, a couple of tiny heaters, and a roof that leaks. They have to open a roll-up metal door in the summer so they can put more chairs out. Some of the classes meet outside because of space, and because it is warmer in the winter. They hold seminary there, too; the couples teach it. The property is for sale, and Steve was hoping to get President Parmley's support to buy it and redo the building, with an eye to an eventual chapel there. It's on a hill and you can see it from almost the whole township.

The longer we drove, the less inclined President Parmley was, but when he saw that the township was actually large, and clean, and stable, he felt better about it. We're hoping eZhikini, Newcastle and Ladysmith will be able to be branches in a Newcastle District, and eventually a stake. So Steve is drafting the proposal, and we'll see what happens.

Then, home to Durban, where the Parmleys stayed at a bed and breakfast, and Steve and the assistants picked them up Sunday to go to Church in a nearby township branch. I went to Pinetown with the boys. (Did I mention that we scattered to different wards to keep an eye out for a sort of "stalker" we're having to deal with? We've had to change all the sister missionaries' cell phone numbers, and Steve gets lots of crazy calls and text messages from her. Sorry, that's all I can say. Isn't it tantalizing?

After lunch at the mission home, the Parmleys gave us our mission president training session. Steve got yet another big binder with "stuff" in it, and I got some good advice from Sister Parmley. The mission president's wife really does design a lot of her calling, depending on the mission, and the family situation. Transfers and zone conferences are pretty much the same, and dealing with missionary medical issues, but the rest of the time you get to be creative. I can't wait until November, when we meet in Johannesburg with all the mission presidents from our Area, so I can compare notes with the other wives.

Back to the mission tour. Sunday night was a 2 stake fireside, which filled our chapel and some of the overflow (transportation, especially at night, is very hard for a lot of the members). The topic was Are You Happy, and everyone went out much more smiley than they went in.

Monday and Tuesday were zone conferences, with the same pattern, but catered lunches, which was really nice, only I don't know the total bill yet... But how often do you have a general authority around? The missionaries LOVED it! Tuesday night was dinner with the Mission Presidency and their wives, and then the men met with President Parmley while the wives chatted and we went over the health manual for out here, and other issues. Wednesday morning the Parmleys drove back to Johannesburg, and Steve had Zone Leader training, and we all had lunch - we eat a LOT here (sadly). I have started going to a little gym by the boys' school after I drop them off at 7:15 in hopes of a little counter balance to all the good food.

Wednesday night was the end of rugby season braii for the rugby families. We ate with 2 very nice couples who taught us to braii boerwors and were really friendly and offered all kinds of help, anytime. They wanted to know all about where we were from, and why we were here. One of them had some kind of relative who is a golfer in Salt Lake and married to a Mormon girl. Good start!

So today is Thursday, and the boys have a long weekend for the Women's Day holiday. I'm taking them to roam the big mall we only spent a minute at one time, and on Saturday we're going to go see a beach. Some of them aren't too nice just now, as high tides have taken out a lot of sand. The couple last night recommended Umhlanga (pronounce oomshlonga). I have no idea where it is, but we're forcing the president to take a day off, and going out to find it.

The Church is true, we miss you all, and are having a great time.

Goodbye, my darlings! (That's South Africa talk.)

Love,
Sister Mann/Mom/Susan/Sue