Sawubonani!
We have just returned from Swaziland, and two terrific events. The first was our Couples Seminar, which convened at the Timbali Lodge in Ezulwini. The couples came in from all over the mission (except the Baums, who live 10 minutes from the Lodge). Our topic was priesthood and auxiliary training, and we had an intense time adapting all the manuals and guidebooks and training guides provided by the Church (thank goodness for lds.org!) into very simple training for brand-new leaders who with varying fluency in English. We were divided into twos and threes and fours, and tackled Primary, Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, financial clerk, branch president & elder’s quorum. Initially we met in the conference room and in our rooms in the Lodge, but by the second round we were out at picnic tables under umbrellas and trees!
The training presentations will have three parts. First, a powerpoint presentation. Second, a flip chart version for training one or two people at a time. Third, a set of handouts for the new leader. We are all taking pictures for the powerpoints this weekend at Church, so we will have an assortment of people, buildings and settings. I took a picture of our Primary – they thought they were pretty hot stuff. I promised them each a copy, but they don’t get it unless the Primary President thinks they’ve earned it. (Our Primary is just a little rowdy...) Then I went into Nursery, where the one and only child was laying on the floor being uninterested in doing anything. The minute I mentioned taking a picture, he was up and eager to go! Reminded me of my kids when they were little.
We also started putting together some 10-minute skill training on preparing a talk, teaching a lesson, conducting a meeting, holding a presidency meeting, issuing a calling, & holding an interview. There are so many skills we take for granted when we grow up in functioning wards, that need to be taught over and over in new units. The goal is to first train leaders, then help them train new leaders as they are called. We’re also starting with the recommended “pared down, appropriate to unit” approach. That means that a branch that has only four Primary children of different ages, has one class, not four, and doesn’t worry too much about Activity Days yet. In some of the branches, the Primary leadership consists of one sister, who does everything. Then, as the branch grows, you can start adding leaders, and classes, and programs, and activities. And no, those of you in large wards are not allowed to drop anything: basic units are not the goal: yours are!
Sunday the Swaziland District was organized, along with one new branch. The people in Swazi are really excited, because they have spent a lot of years being moved from mission to mission and stake to stake. Now they feel independent and ready to grow into a stake. There’s a lot of priesthood there, and baptisms have increased dramatically, so it’s only a matter of time. The goal of the members in the mission is to turn the three new districts into stakes, so we can build a temple in Durban. The goal date is 2010.
On another note, many thanks to Ranstroms, and Maughans, and Allens, and Colton & Polly Pace for their help with the youth temple trips. We’ve had two so far, and others are being planned. It’s nice to know that after the youth work as hard as they can to prepare and earn enough money to go, there’s a way to fill the inevitable gap. Are you feeling the blessings yet?
February 26
So, things got a little busy...I've been staying up 'til midnight proofreading the training powerpoints, and adding photos. I've even learned how to use powerpoint (and how to do all the corrections on a powerpoint, then lose it somehow!). So, in the time between starting this entry and now, the Newcastle District was organized, and all of the training powerpoints and skill trainings are being burned right now on the cds. The push for completion is due to transfers starting tomorrow (5 missionaries in, 4 missionaries out); President & Sister Parmley coming to Durban for the Durban stake presidency reorganization this weekend (and auxiliary training that I will help with); and zone conferences next week.
And in our latest sports news, Hunter's basketball team won last Saturday, 57 to 15, with several baskets and assists from our own #24. And the Rugby U15 A Team was announced today: Morgan is now a prop (look it up). That means he gets to go to the "prestigious Paarl Boys' High U15 Rugby Festival" in Capetown March 19 to 24. Elder Young has approved my going to cheer them on, so Hunter and I will fly down on the 20th when school gets out for their 3 week holiday. Tough duty, being a mom!
Well, I'm hoping to get some sleep tonight, so best to everyone, and Happy Leap Year on Friday!
Love,
Grandma/Mom/Sue/Susan/Sister President Mann
We have just returned from Swaziland, and two terrific events. The first was our Couples Seminar, which convened at the Timbali Lodge in Ezulwini. The couples came in from all over the mission (except the Baums, who live 10 minutes from the Lodge). Our topic was priesthood and auxiliary training, and we had an intense time adapting all the manuals and guidebooks and training guides provided by the Church (thank goodness for lds.org!) into very simple training for brand-new leaders who with varying fluency in English. We were divided into twos and threes and fours, and tackled Primary, Relief Society, Young Women, Young Men, financial clerk, branch president & elder’s quorum. Initially we met in the conference room and in our rooms in the Lodge, but by the second round we were out at picnic tables under umbrellas and trees!
The training presentations will have three parts. First, a powerpoint presentation. Second, a flip chart version for training one or two people at a time. Third, a set of handouts for the new leader. We are all taking pictures for the powerpoints this weekend at Church, so we will have an assortment of people, buildings and settings. I took a picture of our Primary – they thought they were pretty hot stuff. I promised them each a copy, but they don’t get it unless the Primary President thinks they’ve earned it. (Our Primary is just a little rowdy...) Then I went into Nursery, where the one and only child was laying on the floor being uninterested in doing anything. The minute I mentioned taking a picture, he was up and eager to go! Reminded me of my kids when they were little.
We also started putting together some 10-minute skill training on preparing a talk, teaching a lesson, conducting a meeting, holding a presidency meeting, issuing a calling, & holding an interview. There are so many skills we take for granted when we grow up in functioning wards, that need to be taught over and over in new units. The goal is to first train leaders, then help them train new leaders as they are called. We’re also starting with the recommended “pared down, appropriate to unit” approach. That means that a branch that has only four Primary children of different ages, has one class, not four, and doesn’t worry too much about Activity Days yet. In some of the branches, the Primary leadership consists of one sister, who does everything. Then, as the branch grows, you can start adding leaders, and classes, and programs, and activities. And no, those of you in large wards are not allowed to drop anything: basic units are not the goal: yours are!
Sunday the Swaziland District was organized, along with one new branch. The people in Swazi are really excited, because they have spent a lot of years being moved from mission to mission and stake to stake. Now they feel independent and ready to grow into a stake. There’s a lot of priesthood there, and baptisms have increased dramatically, so it’s only a matter of time. The goal of the members in the mission is to turn the three new districts into stakes, so we can build a temple in Durban. The goal date is 2010.
On another note, many thanks to Ranstroms, and Maughans, and Allens, and Colton & Polly Pace for their help with the youth temple trips. We’ve had two so far, and others are being planned. It’s nice to know that after the youth work as hard as they can to prepare and earn enough money to go, there’s a way to fill the inevitable gap. Are you feeling the blessings yet?
February 26
So, things got a little busy...I've been staying up 'til midnight proofreading the training powerpoints, and adding photos. I've even learned how to use powerpoint (and how to do all the corrections on a powerpoint, then lose it somehow!). So, in the time between starting this entry and now, the Newcastle District was organized, and all of the training powerpoints and skill trainings are being burned right now on the cds. The push for completion is due to transfers starting tomorrow (5 missionaries in, 4 missionaries out); President & Sister Parmley coming to Durban for the Durban stake presidency reorganization this weekend (and auxiliary training that I will help with); and zone conferences next week.
And in our latest sports news, Hunter's basketball team won last Saturday, 57 to 15, with several baskets and assists from our own #24. And the Rugby U15 A Team was announced today: Morgan is now a prop (look it up). That means he gets to go to the "prestigious Paarl Boys' High U15 Rugby Festival" in Capetown March 19 to 24. Elder Young has approved my going to cheer them on, so Hunter and I will fly down on the 20th when school gets out for their 3 week holiday. Tough duty, being a mom!
Well, I'm hoping to get some sleep tonight, so best to everyone, and Happy Leap Year on Friday!
Love,
Grandma/Mom/Sue/Susan/Sister President Mann
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