South Africa Durban Mission

I cannot in all justice leave out this picture of my favorite missionary smiles...Don't they just force you to smile back?

2010-06-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

The best gift a mission president can receive is powerful couples...

2010-06-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

The work would not have progressed as wonderfully as it has, without these amazing couples...

2010-06-28T04:58:00.001-07:00

President & Sister Von Stetten have a great group of senior couples to help them out - and you could be one, too!

2010-06-28T04:57:00.004-07:00

2010 07 01 - We're not in Kansas anymore...

2010-06-28T04:57:00.003-07:00

Dear Family and Friends:

I am writing you as a civilian: without a name tag, or cellphone full of missionary, doctor, pizza, and service numbers. I'm not driving the Westville Boys High School "bus", or buying bedding, or paper plates or cups. I'm not giving talks, training or shopping hints, or searching out interesting places for couples seminars. Instead, I'm catching up with all the kids (except Torry's family, who will be here July 24th); shopping for cars (got a sterling gray Ford Fusion Hybrid), cellphones (IPhones), computers (Mac) and groceries (Campbell's soup, Cook'n'Serve chocolate pudding, saltines, graham crackers, grape jelly...); driving a Gator out to see Morgan's wood duck nesting boxes (Eagle Scout project); starting out at a new ward (Vienna Woods) and renewing friendships. And in the midst of all the excitement - thinking about everyone back in the mission. I'm exhausted - and so is my bank account.

It was wonderful meeting the Von Stettens at last; they are as enthusiastic, likeable, and eager as we were told by those who already knew them. The transition for the missionaries will be very easy - and the missionaries will be ready to move forward with all the new things the Von Stettens brought from the MTC. I can't wait to hear about all the huge growth that is about to take place!

I thought I'd give you a few of the Mission Mom stats I've accumulated over the last three years. (They surprised even me!)

Transfer dinners: 48

Pizzas ordered: Over 2000

Miles driven: 100,000(ish)

Chickens hit: 1 (he flopped off - alive)

Nights when a boy stayed overnight and was fed (constantly): At least 700 - probably over 1000

Talks/training at stake and district conferences: Over 60

Zone conferences/Sunbeam Message of the Day: Over 70

Trips to the airport: At least 50

Trips to the hospital: Enough that nurses call me by name...

Times lost (but found my way back): A lot!

Trips to the mall (most often with teenagers): 300 (That's probably a low estimate...)

Fast food meals: Not telling

New friends made: Hundreds

Testimony building experiences: Can't count that high

Grateful feelings for having been allowed to do this: Innumerable

And that's just the beginning. And guess what? Experiences even better than these are available to anyone who goes on a mission - or helps the fulltime missionaries grow the kingdom in their own area. I started my own efforts on Sunday, by meeting the elders in our ward (one of whom is Elder Magoffin's cousin, in the Durban Mission!) and saying Hi to new neighbors out walking their dog - and obviously not on their way to Church.

So there you go. We loved the mission - although Steve is still listening for calls from the elders, and going into withdrawal without a six-week cycle to give form to his life. We're looking forward to seeing our former missionaries (of all ages!) who are home now and will return over the next few years. Our first official missionary reunion will be Friday, October 1st at 6:30 - is someone on the Wasatch Front can help us find an as yet unscheduled cultural hall?

Then in 18 months or so we'll hold reunions in Kampala, Nairobi, Harare and Johannesburg. And then, of course, there will be the trip to Durban with any of the couples who can join us, for the Durban Temple dedication: whenever!

Steve is going to organize a website where every missionary has his/her own spot to post photos, and comments, and current contact info. We'll email the info to everyone, but I may also post the information here on the blog at the end of July in case our email list isn't quite right. Our current contact info is:

Steve stevemannsa@gmail.com Susan durbanmanns@gmail.com

208 891 4072 208 891 3082

Address: 2167 E Handel Street

Meridian, ID 83646

We're doing a report in our old ward, River Heights, on July 25th at 11am. Steve will be picking up Torry and the kids on Saturday the 24th, but he'll be home that night, and I'll be home that day, and it's open house 24-7 for all our missionary "companions" - and family and friends! (Couples: bring brownies!)

It's also open house anytime you're passing through and need a place to sleepover - I'm very good at that! But I still only do breakfasts...

Thankyouthankyouthankyou for all the support and love and help you've been. Let's be friends forever.

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/theformerSisterPresidentMann

ps People drive on the right here

pps And no one wears nametags

ppps But the Church is just as true

President & Sister Von Stetten - It's their mission now! And they're great!!!

2010-06-28T04:57:00.001-07:00

Many, many thank yous to the Piers and the Griesemers - headed home next week

2010-06-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

Had to include this - we have shared some powerful - and some crazy - experiences with this group of elders!

2010-06-27T23:14:00.001-07:00

With all the vuvuzela hype, this was inevitable (And what can they do if I post it: send me home?)

2010-06-26T03:31:00.003-07:00

On the way to Newcastle...

2010-06-26T03:31:00.001-07:00

Newcastle District at FIFA time - and the new entrance to Ladysmith!

2010-06-26T03:29:00.000-07:00

2010 06 27 - Zone Conferences and Hambani Kahle's

2010-06-26T01:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone:

We had a great set of zone conferences this week. (Do I say that every time? Must be true!) We focused first on technical review - reminding the elders of the things that help them in the work, from pass-along cards to weekly planning to Walkabout to the Preach My Gospel Member Program. All the elders came prepared with a talk on "As a missionary, what is the best gift I can give the Savior?" and 4 elders were called on to give their talks in each conference. Their answers included faith, love, diligence, obedience, hard work..." (By George, I think they've got it!)"

For an example of obedience with exactness, an elder talked about going to KFC(which is on every other corner) and ordering a meal. If the price is R100, and you only have R50, or R75, or even R90 - you're not going to get it. Exact results (and rewards) require exact obedience.

I was thinking as the elders sat in the chapels, worrying whether they would be asked to speak, how it would be if everyone throughout the Church always had a talk prepared, in case they were called on. That happens to the elders, the senior couples, and to us all the time here, especially in the small branches. I would suggest some aspect of the atonement. My zone conference talk was on helping investigators understand the atonement, and the Lord's love for them, through our examples. If you have a Preach My Gospel (and doesn't every home, by now?) I went through Faith and Charity under Christlike Attributes and shared my favorite scripture story for each one. Steve then gave his "Last Lecture", which was the scriptures he has most learned from/relied on during the mission, and then there was a brief testimony meeting, started off by the elders who will return home at the end of this cycle. And then, of course, pizza!

After the Hillcrest zone conference on Wednesday Steve and I drove to Newcastle for the Thursday zone conference with Swaziland and Newcastle zones. It was fun to see how the towns have dressed up for FIFA even out there (see photos above). Then we drove back to Durban, so we could fly to Blomfontein at 6:50am on Friday. Bloem is also highly decorated - some of the games are played there - and it was cold - by Durban standards: 0.03 C (34 F?). After the zone conference we had a farewell meal with the Knudsens and Allreds at Coco C's - right near the top of our list of favorite restaurants in the mission, along with Butcher Boys in Hillcrest, Summerfields and in Swaziland, and Mugg & Bean, RJs and Stega d'Oro in Durban.

I think that in spite of the last photos and goodbyes, the zone conferences were pretty cheerful and normal and the elders will just move on into the next ones without skipping a beat. Steve encouraged them all to write a letter this week to President Von Stetton... "and he'll think you write a letter to the President EVERY week!" They loved that - and as you may have guessed from the story, yes, the elders are supposed to write a letter to the President every week; and no, they don't always do it. I hope they're more faithful about writing their families every week.

The mission home remodeling continues - but not as "apace" as Ray Holder would wish. Ray is in charge of all the Church-owned buildings in the Durban and Mozambique missions: KZN, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, & Angola. He really wants the mission home finished for the Von Stettons - it's nice to have lofty goals... However, the painters are done, the tiling is done, the bathroom is maybe a third done, the kitchen only lacks cupboard door handles, sinks and applicances; then we need the new carpet laid, followed by putting all the food and kitchenware away, and straightening the furniture. I'll have to look at the pictures Sister Brock sent me three years ago, to know where the bedroom furniture went: we've moved things around a lot. The good news is, Sister Von Stetton will probably like organizing it the way she wants it, anyway, so "What, me worry?" (Well, yeah, but I'll get over it. I hope Ray does!)

When we breakfast at Little Haven, I always get good stories from Vic and Grace. Today we were talking about the difficulties African return missionaries face in finding work. they told me about a young man who emigrated to the States, jobless and poor. He saw a construction site, bought a broom, and went there and started sweeping up. The foreman asked him what he was doing there, and he answered "Cleaning up." "We didn't hire you!" "That's alright - you don't have to pay me, I'm just going to clean things up." He went to the jobsite every day with his broom, and by the end of the week they hired him and taught him the construction business. As you can imagine, he became very successful.

We met a young man named Surprise, not a member, who is staying with them during some training. His parents are divorced, and when he was 13 or 14 his father took him out of school and away from his mother. Surprise was very good at maths and science, and started tutoring children at a church. More and more students came, and the pastor asked him to encourage them to continue with their education. He was then asked to give his motivational talk other places, and was paid a little - enough to get back in school for another semester. He also started helping at a school for illiterate adults.

He never did his matric exams, but a friend encouraged him to apply at Nestle's. They required their own exam (which he failed) and an interview - which he passed brilliantly as he explained his own efforts for an education. They hired him and are now training him in various areas of the company.

We have elders who were not able to finish school - some because they were supporting their families or helping a younger brother afford school. There isn't a GED type degree anywhere here, that I've heard of, so if they wanted to take the matric exams they would have to go back to school, with the youngsters, and complete all the years they missed. Brother Vic tells me that the answer is to start their own business. There is a niche for everything, and if they can find their's, they can rise to anything. I guess it's like thinking up the Post-it, or rubber bracelets, or vuvuzelas! Completing a mission gives the elders lots of training in goal-setting, strategy planning, endurance and tailoring performance to the needs of the situation. I'm sure they'll find their "niches" if they'll just keep on as they are going now.

And here is one more example of why all the senior couples (including us) wish we could put a few of the elders in our bags and take them home. When I cam out of church at Pinetown Sunday it was raining. Elder Cuguara saw me standing on the porch looking at the rain, came out, and offered me his suitcoat to keep dry on the walk to the car - which would have meant his walking through the rain in his shirtsleeves to bring the coat back.
How can you not love them?

Love,

Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann(until Tuesday at 1:30pm Mountain Standard Time, when the Von Stettons get off the plane at King Shaka International Airport)

ps There'll be a last mission blog next week

pps We're going to set up a mission website where the elders/sisters/couples can post pictures and comments on their own pages

Welcome with vuvuzelas on to our "FIFA" elders - Elder Kubheka & Elder Hall

2010-06-19T02:56:00.000-07:00

Elders Crowther, Honstein, Owen & Syphrett head home after helping two missions grow - Durban & Jo'burg

2010-06-19T02:55:00.000-07:00

We had to snap this fast before Steve & I moved on (revolving restaurant: we were sitting on the moving part!)

2010-06-19T02:53:00.000-07:00

This just in from overseas... FIFA graffiti

2010-06-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

Gateway Mall's Tribute to FIFA

2010-06-18T08:59:00.003-07:00

I like the guy on top of the bridge the best...

2010-06-18T08:59:00.001-07:00

2010 06 20 - Transfer Week: Crazy as Ever!

2010-06-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Family & Friends:

In spite of construction, cars in the shop (including mine), chilly weather and a whole set of issues we haven't ever had to deal with before, we managed to welcome two new elders and send four seasoned elders home to bigger and better things. Elders Khubeka and Hall arrived with a planeload of Spain supporters, and two 12-year-0ld boys blowing vuvuzelas. If two are that loud up close, thousands at the soccer game must be deafening!

The Davises were kind enough to have the dinner and testimony meeting at their boarding, as the mission home was unavailable; it was very nice - and cosy!

The mission home is currently like Grand Central Station. One day we had 6 or 7 tilers, 3 or 4 painters, Nthombenhle trying to iron shirts and clean whatever she could get at, and the yard crew all working away. As you slide along the wall on a path one tile wide to avoid the new tiles being worked on, you have to avoid touching fresh paint. Furniture gets moved from room to room and occasionally I come home to find the closet where I cleverly put things so I could get at them, blocked by 6 lamps and a bookcase. This happened to the overnight bag I packed the day they painted our bedroom. Regroup and move one!

Hunter went to two FIFA games this week at Moses Mabhida Stadium. We dropped him off at the Pavilion Mall, and they took one of the many shuttle buses (full-size buses) to the Workshop mall downtown, and then smaller shuttles to the stadium. It was a madhouse at the Pavilion, but nothing compared to downtown. The stadium holds 88,000 (I think) and was totally full, and very loud, and the fans were all in team shirts and scarves and hats and face paint, blowing vuvuzelas or yelling. Apparently it was way fun. I liked it on TV.

The roadside vendor trade in national flags to hang on your car window is dropping off - most people have them; if South Africa had won, business would have been booming, I'm sure. The vendors have now added back in their plastic hangers and trash bags - it's an interesting combination!

One of the highlights of the week was a dinner after mission presidency meeting, with all the senior couples. It's the first (and last) time we'll have this whole group together. Not everyone knew each other, so it was nice to get everyone acquainted. We ate at Durban's revolving restaurant, and since it had rained earlier, the air was clear and the views were great. We saw one the lights of one ship leaving the harbor, and several more in line along the coast waiting to get in. We now have a Yearbook (Yearsbook?) with messages from all the current couples, compliments of the Knudsens. I'm planning to carry it around with me so I can have all our couples sign it. What a good way to remember everyone (as if I could forget them!!!). The book is full of pictures and information about South Africa, which I will also enjoy, but not as much as the notes from the couples.

I am furnishing our house-bought-over-the-internet with appliances-bought-over-the-internet. I look them up, then I email Parker and Morgan, and they go buy them with my credit card, and install them. Groceries are next. We'll be able to move right in and start living there...as long as we sleep on the floor; we get in on the 2nd our boxes and furniture won't be delivered until the 6th. Won't be much different than now, except the paint will be dry...

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps In their struggling young married years, Vic & Grace Rawlings drove a VW that required two drivers: one to hold the stick and keep it in gear, and one to steer.

pps More new terms (from Brother Vic):
Active Citizen Forces (ACF) = Army Reserves
Built-in cupboard = a closet
Lad = a male any younger than he is!

ppps They have pulled the R200 note out of circulation because there are too many good counterfeit bills out there.

FIFA Fever

2010-06-13T22:27:00.009-07:00

The Stadiums

2010-06-13T22:27:00.007-07:00

Fifa fans (the young lady worked at the City Lodge in Bloemfontein)

2010-06-13T22:27:00.005-07:00

This car passed us on the N2, so we "encouraged" Elder Davis to catch up, and Sister Davis & I snapped frantic pictures through the car windows

2010-06-13T22:27:00.003-07:00

Where would YOU choose to spend the winter?

2010-06-13T22:27:00.001-07:00

More changes in the office as Elder Harmsworth heads out into the field and Elder Owen heads home to New Zealand

2010-06-13T22:18:00.000-07:00

2010 06 13 - In the Throes of FIFA

2010-06-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone:

It is so crazy here! On Wednesday at noon people all over the city (and probably the country!) blew their vuvuzelas - and if you don't know what they are, you haven't ever watched South Africa play sports. They make the constant buzzing sound that reminiscent of an attack by giant killer bees. If you want to see a few interesting human interest articles about the games, check out http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8672014.stm or

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10266485.stm or

http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Vuvuzelas-might-yet-be-banned-from-World-Cup?urn=sow,247947

The reason I'm giving you all this "worldly" news is because our missionaries are greatly affected by FIFA. Most days, no one wants to talk about anything but the games. They gather early to party before the games, and stay after to celebrate or commiserate with each other. The first day, when South Africa's Bafana Bafana played Mexico, many stores and lots of workers (including our tiling crew) knocked off early. And those who didn't were watching the game on the nearest screen! There are 3 games most days, so that pretty well wipes out the contacting in some of the areas.

But never fear! The latest ploy is to invite non-members to a member's home to watch a game - along with the elders. I gave a zone conference talk once that I called (to myself) "Rugby as Missionary Work". I guess now that I'm learning about soccer, I'll have to prepare a sequel. You have to be very adaptable when you're working with eternity in mind...

We had an interesting lunch at Mugg & Bean the other day: the waitress had a different accent than I'm used to, and an unusual name: Zuky. I asked her about it and she said she was Xhosa. Then when she brought our food, she asked if she could "pray for our food" (maybe it was the nametags?). Anyway, we said yes, and she said a few words and off she went!

This weekend was our last district conference - everything seems to be a last something - in Blomfontein. It was also my first district conference in Bloemfontein, and I was very impressed. It felt just like a stake conference. The women's session was held in the chapel and it was packed! The three district auxiliary presidents spoke, and they were as poised and articulate and thoughtful as you'd hear in any stake - and more scripture-centered than I've heard in some of the meetings at home.

There were several young men heading out on missions - including one to the UK and one to Ogden, Utah! - and they are clearly very well-prepared. Over the last few months, in addition to missionaries going out from the mission to other African missions, there have been calls to Florida, France and another to the UK. It will be great for them to see the Church operating in different places, and bring that wider vision back here.

Between Afrikaans and siSotho, the spelling and pronunciation is totally different in Blomfontein/Lesotho from Zululand and Swazi. One more challenge for the missionaries! And for the senior couples - Sister Allred made a mighty effort, announcing the program in the womens' session. I was very happy not to have that assignment! Fortunately, although the members chuckle, they love the couples no matter how they pronounce their names.

It's a lot colder in Bloemfontein and Lesotho than it is on the coast. We landed in a thunder and lightning storm that ended up dropping great big hailstones: it was fun! Of course, we weren't out contacting, or walking to appointments or home from work... Steve had been looking all over for a knit scarf in South African flag colors, but of course they are all sold out. On the way to dinner with the Allreds and Knudsens at Coco C, our favorite "chocolate-centered" restaurant we saw a cute family getting out of their car. The mom was wearing a South African scarf, so he went over and said, "That is so great looking! I've been trying to find one - where did you get yours?" She asked where he was from, and then took the scarf off and put it around his neck. Then her husband took a picture of Steve with the rest of the family. People are so nice!

We had a good office devotional today. The deadbolt (to which there seems to be no key) on the office door got locked, so Elder Harmsworth couldn't get in to check and see who was assigned to participate. As a result, he did both the quote (on facing your fears, and gaining new strengths) and the thought. He talked about Christ healing people, and then expanded it beyond physical healing, which I admit to mostly thinking about, to emotional and spiritual healing. It was very thoughtful - and I particularly enjoyed it in his UK accent!

Steve is starting to interview our four elders who go home this week. Elder Owen asked about the report to the high council - is there a checklist? If there is, these elders will get 100%! I hope all the stakes are taking the opportunity to send these young men around to the wards to speak - and that bishops/branch presidents are giving them callings the minute they get home. We spend so much time here making sure new members get responsibilities right away, I'd hate to think our elders might slip through the cracks.

And speaking of elders who've gone home, we had an email concerning four of Steve's former assistants. As Elder Allred put it, "Hiatt, Schwarting, Vance and I traded in our black name tags for white ones and decided to knock doors again..." They're in Oklahoma City selling alarm systems. I figure being missionaries here prepared them in several ways:

1. Good contacting skills
2. History of perseverance
3. Exceptional understanding of the need for security
4. Personal experience with security breaches of all kind
5. Stamina for knocking on doors
But do they go out in companionships???

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps I'm learning some interesting facts working on BYU correspondence classes with Hunter. For instance, did you know that originally the name tarantula was applied to a spider of the wolf spider family, Lycosa tarentula, whose bite was supposed to cause tarantism, a nervous condition characterized by hysteria? The best cure was believed to be strenuous and prolonged dancing of the tarantella...

pps Khumbelani, the CES coordinator for the Area, has a wife who is one of several daughters. Her name, Ntombifuthi, means "another girl". Her sister, who was the 4th daughter, is called Sibongile, which can mean "we are thankful" or "we have blessings"...or possibly "ENOUGH blessings!"

Newcastle Zone - after a few technical difficulties...

2010-06-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Losing the rest of the Wilson clan - We love you, SwaziWilsons!

2010-06-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

PEF is on back in business after a short break: Welcome to Elder & Sister Allen

2010-06-06T09:37:00.001-07:00

Before & during - after is on it's way...

2010-06-06T09:22:00.001-07:00

Monkey Business - Never be the Smallest Guy on the Team!

2010-06-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

2010 06 06 - Living in a Construction Zone

2010-06-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends:

Every so often a mission home needs a facelift, and we are currently on the operating table. We have an option of moving into a B&B - Little Haven, of course - but we're stalling until it's unbearable, as the office is so convenient to us here. The work started Monday, with chipping and pounding from 7am to 5pm six days a week. So far, the kitchen and hall bathroom have been completely torn out, an all the wall and floor tiles from the kitchen, bathroom, and testimony room. They have started putting tiles on the kitchen walls - and they look great!

So here's how we're managing to stay on:

1. The washer and dryer are in the back boarding of the office: my own private laundromat.

2. The refrigerator is on the back patio, plugged in through the window.

3. The food from the pantry is on the shelves in the family room, along with a few crucial dishes & cutlery.

4. The rest of the kitchen pots & pans, mixers, etc. are on the shelves in the dining room.

5. The computer is in the masterbedroom, but we also have a wireless laptop.

6. The TV, microwave, toaster, crockpot and electric teapot are in Morgan's old room, along with the ironing board and one of the family room couches.

7. The XBox and the other family room couch are in Hunter's room.

8. A plastic tub and dishrack in the bathtub in the master (only) bathroom is the "kitchen sink" for washing dishes.

9. The furniture from the testimony room, dining room, hall and family room are in the extra bedroom - except for the dining room table and the two big couches: they wouldn't fit through the hall, so the men have to move them around as they work.

We are eating out a lot, and getting pre-made sandwiches, etc. from Woolworth's. Aside from the occasional crowded conditions, it's working out pretty well. You even get (kinda) used to the noise of the hammers and chisels.

Today at fast and testimony meeting in Pinetown I realized another reason the testimonies shared here are so powerful. Not only do the members testify to the truths of the gospel, they sometimes tell their conversion stories. Today Sister Ann Fagin, Elder Holmes' granny, shared that it was the 50th anniversary of her baptism - and about the many churches she attended on her way to getting here. After her testimony, several other members shared their experiences, and the difference the gospel and being members of the Lord's church has made in their lives. We need to help more of our neighbors at home gain testimonies and be baptized, so we can have more of those powerful testimonies!

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of my own baptism, and I wouldn't even have thought of it if not for Sister Ann's testimony. I was only 8, so it wasn't as powerful as her adult conversion, but I remember the day. My brother Richard had just been ordained a Priest, so he baptized me in the font under the Tabernacle at Temple Square, on the Emigration Stake baptismal day. In fact, he actually baptized me twice, as one toe apparently didn't go under. But even though I was baptized as an 8-year-old, I can still share the story of gaining my own testimony - and often do, out here. So why not at home?

The stake and district presidents are introducing a new member missionary plan (not ours - President Poulsen of the Johannesburg Mission presented it at the Mission Presidents' Seminar) that is going to be terrific. The bishop is the "mission president" of his ward, and marks on the ward map where the new members and investigators live. He then divides the map into areas, and assigns ward missionaries to specific areas. Their job is to fellowship investigators - which means calling or visiting twice a week, offering to walk to Church together, introducing them to ward members. teaching post-baptism lessons, etc. Of course, they can still find people for the missionaries to teach, too. This is so much more focused than "Do you know anyone we can teach?" The fulltime missionaries will have more time to find and teach, as some of the other support is taken over by members - who will then know the newly baptized members very well, and help them stay active. In the Johannesburg Mission it's making a big difference: I'm sure it will here, too. Steve just wishes he were going to be around to implement it!

As of today, the FIFA countdown is at 4 days to go, and the excitement is mounting! All the teams are in the country and warming up, and multiple vendors on every corner are selling flags to fly on your car; you set the base of the pole on the top of the car window, and roll it up until it holds. Many cars have South African flags, others have flags of their team of choice, some have both! I even saw a motorcylist today with a South African flag waving from his helmet! The missionaries have been asked not to display any kind of national insignias - which makes us perfect targets for the vendors, since we obviously need a flag! More and more people are wearing the yellow Bafana Bafana shirts on "football Fridays" too. It's actually very fun! I imagine Salt Lake was like this before the Olympics...

Love, Mom/Grandma(or maybe Granny?)/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps Ballito is celebrating the 4th of July weekend with a Prawn and Jazz Festival. Think it could compete with Rocky Mountain Oysters and country music in Eagle?

Bloemfontein Zone

2010-05-22T13:09:00.001-07:00

Durban Zone

2010-05-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hillcrest Zone

2010-05-22T13:07:00.000-07:00

Lesotho Zone

2010-05-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

First ever baptism in Leribe (also known as HlotseI, Lesotho

2010-05-22T13:05:00.003-07:00

2010 05 30 - Words to think about

2010-05-22T13:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Everyone:
Happy Memorial Day!

This has been a very difficult week, due to some personal and health issues for some of our wonderful elders. As a result, I'm cheering myself up by sharing some of the quotes and stories I've been writing down over the last few years. I hope you like them, too.

President Koelliker
As people come up out of the waters of baptism, we hope they see the spires of the temple.
As [missionaries] teach the doctrine of Jesus Christ to the people, they need to apply it to themselves.
Endure to the end, continue in faith, be repentant, be service-minded.

President Watson

Learn the doctrines of the gospel, and how to extend the invitation, and you will reap the blessings.
In the timeline of the Restoration, the only thing that preceded the Book of Mormon was the First Vision.

Sister Christensen (Uganda
(After commenting on cultural traditions) In the Church we don't have to bow down to men: we stand side by side with them.

Sister Donnelly (Madagascar - she's originally from the UK)
When something niggly happens to the elders, I like to jolly them along. They've got all those knocks: I'm going to be their sunshine.

Sister Taylor (Kenya)
When you go to war, you take your weapon. The Book of Mormon is my weapon in life.

Elder Ballard

Focus on the Master; anchor to the atonement. Let His spirit walk with the missionaries and make them master teachers.

Elder Holland
Somewhere out there is a young Jeff Holland, who doesn't know what he's doing, doesn't know where he's been, and certainly doesn't know where he's going - and your are arriving in the nick of time.
Every truth that a missionary teaches is only an appendage to the atonement.

Elder Packer
[Preach My Gospel] was designed beyond the veil and put together here.
(See D&C 8:3) Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground just as the gospel can lead us through the dangers of today's world in safety. We show [others] the way to the dry ground.
We are here to help sad people find happiness.

Elder Scott

Using your agency to be receptive and to participate makes it possible to be taught by the Spirit.

Elder Perry
Alma gave up all the power and prestige of being the chief judge...to become a missionary.

President Monson
When you're on the Lord's errand you're entitled to the Lord's help.

Elder Nelson
The word "atonement" is mentioned once in the King James Bible - and 39 times in the Book of Mormon.
We can understand the Restoration only as we understand the Biblical doctrines that needed to be restored.
The Book of Mormon restores, underscores, and clarifies Biblical doctrine.

Elder Uchtdorf
Christlike attributes are essential to becoming a successful missionary [or saint!]; they are a gift from God, and cannot be developed without His help.

President Faust

An intellectual conversion is important, but not as important as a conversion of the heart.

President Wilford
In Leicester, England, an inscription on the outside wall of an old church reads, "In the year 1654 when all things were, throughout this nation, either demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley, Baronet, founded and built this church. He it is whose singular praise it is to have done the best things in the
worst times, and to have hoped them in the most calamitous."

A sister at Durban Stake conference told a story about a tour in heaven given by an angel. The first stop was a very large, crowded room full of angels writing things down. This was the order center - prayers and requests from people all over the world.
The second stop was another large, busy room, with angels filling packages and envelopes. This was the delivery center - blessings and answers going out in answer to prayers.
The last stop was a tiny room with only one angel. sitting a leisure. This was the acknowledgement center - where thanks and gratitude are recorded.

I'm definitely going to try keeping that 3rd angel busier...

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps
GOOD NIGHT AROUND THE WORLD
NETHERLANDS: Goeden nagt
AUSTRALIA: Night, mate
USA: Good night
GERMANY: Gute nacht
SOUTH AFRICA: Are the doors locked, are the windows closed. is the car put away, is the alarm activated and have you fed the Rottweilers? Sleep tight, and dont worry about the lights, Eskom will put them out.

Morgan Earning his Medal at the State Track Meet

2010-05-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

Driving to Bloemfontein Through Golden Gate Park

2010-05-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Pietermaritzburg Zone

2010-05-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

Richards Bay Zone

2010-05-21T13:07:00.005-07:00

Swaziland Zone

2010-05-21T13:07:00.003-07:00

Umlazi Zone

2010-05-21T13:07:00.001-07:00

2010 05 23 - The Zone Conference Loop

2010-05-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends - and especially families of our missionaries:

We just completed our zone conference tour, and all of our elders and couples are doing great. This week and next week I'll put all their pictures on the blog.

Steve asked the elders to prepare ahead of time with scriptures to help them overcome Five Roadblocks to Being an Effective Missionary: Pride, Rationalization, Sloth, Doubt, and Blame. The elders had given it a lot of thought and effort, so the discussions were very good. They also made lists of their challenges in those areas - NOT their companions challenges! - and then the companions discussed ways they could help each other.

Two elders, as well as the assistants, also gave talks at each conference. The talks are always a real highlight. Elder Amerikau spoke about the challenges in loving your companion, and said "You can't ask for this-and-such elder as your companion, and even if you're from the same country, at the end of the day you come from different backgrounds." And if they're from different countries, it's even tougher. But somehow they do it, and in many cases an elder going home will say that his favorite companion was the one whose background was the most dissimilar to his own. And once it was the companion who didn't even speak any English to begin with! (Elder Nielson and Elder Feliciano)

One of the elders told a story his "baba" (trainer) Elder N'Ongom had told, about a young man looking out over his wealthy father's estate. His father approached and asked what he thought of it. "It's wonderful! How can I acquire all of that for myself?" The father replied, "When you become like me." (I thought about that, and about all the times in movies and real life where the father is complaining about his "heir" who has grown up expecting to be handed the inheritance, instead of being trained to be a steward over the inheritance. Quite a difference from the gospel approach to rewards.)

Our missionaries are definitely being trained as stewards...and leaders...and companions (husbands, but don't tell them I said that). When someone at the Area Office expressed concern as to where the leaders will come from to handle the growth of the Church in Africa, Steve wrote back and invited him to visit the mission - where he would see the future leaders in action. There are 60 or more missionaries serving right now from our 2 stakes and 4 districts - up from 9 in 2007 - so hopefully the leaders will grow along with the membership.

And on the purely temporal side: Elder & Sister Knudsen introduced the Allreds and me to a new restaurant in Bloemfontein: Coco C. Every dish, breakfast through dinner, has a little (or a lot, in the case of dessert) of chocolate in it. Next time you have soup or vinaigrette dressing, try adding a swirl of chocolate sauce. Sounds peculiar...tastes great! Especially after three days of pizza for lunch!

This weekend is Hillcrest Stake Conference. The theme is Faith, Hope, and Charity, and the Relief Society presidency did a great job speaking on those subjects. Jillian Rieckhof, from Pinetown Ward where I've gone with the boys, talked about staying hopeful through some very difficult times - like having/raising 4 children near the diamond mines in what was basically an abandoned settlement with no electricity, and Church 1-1/2 hours away, when possible. But she talked about all the wonderful things she learned there. What I learned is that I am definitely a wimp. So many members here have gone through very tough situations - and just kept going. I'm learning a lot about endurance here.

This is from Sister JoAnn Wilson's talk: "The opposites to faith, hope, and charity are doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowman." (No wonder the gospel emphasizes the former!) My own favorite scripture (out of the many) about faith hope and charity is 2 Nephi 31:20.

President Wilford made us all cry during the session by showing a video from LDS.org called My New Life - go to lds.org and scroll down. (Maybe when I get home and find myself with free time again, I can use it to investigate all the wonderful new offerings the Church has put on the internet.) After watching that, my wimpness became even more apparent. However. if the trade-off for becoming strong is horrible trials... I'll have to think about it.

I also got a great line from President Wilford for when someone starts spouting doubtful doctrine or mysteries: "There's speculation about that, but all we really need to know is..." followed by the true doctrine. Very useful for missionaries. It might come in handy in some situations with kids, too!

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps When a rugby player is tackled, he is "taken to earth". I'm using that phrase next time I trip (it's an inherited clumsy gene...)

pps I wonder if an NFL announcer would ever refer to a really good effort by a quarterback as a "lovely move"?

ppps Yes, we are watching Super 14 Rugby... when we're not watching soccer... or the NBA playoffs...

PEF drifts in limbo for a few weeks as Elder & Mickelsen head for home and family

2010-05-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Elder and Sister Van Blankenstein are finally released - and they're off to their next adventure!!

2010-05-15T13:49:00.002-07:00

Plumari Game Park

2010-05-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens - where mission presidedents can relax and enjoy themselves?

2010-05-08T00:31:00.000-07:00

So, is there anything to do in Durban?

2010-05-07T23:53:00.000-07:00

2010 05 16 - Interim Mission Presidents' Seminar here/ Parker graduates from Montana State University in Bozeman, there

2010-05-07T12:09:00.002-07:00

Dear Family & Friends:

We got back Friday from the Mission Presidents' Seminar in Johannesburg: it was wonderful. The best part, of course, was spending time with the other couples. I felt just like the elders when they come to zone conference and get all excited over seeing the elders they came out with from the MTC. We came out with the Livingstones (DRC- went home last year), the Taylors (Kenya) and the Christensens (Uganda). The bond has increased as we have sent missionaries to each others' missions - we have a lot to talk about when we get together! And now we're commiserating with each other over having to leave our missionaries. It's always nice to talk with someone who is sharing similar experences.

In addition to very good training and idea sharing, an amazing braii in the Area Office garage (rainy weather) and a temple session, we visited the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, and Plumari Game Park with it's "domesticated" elephants. I took lots of pictures, and even kissed an elephant.

One of the lunchtime stories swapped: In Uganda baby boy was adopted by the Tar family, and given his new father's name: David. A few years later, Mom Tar had a baby boy. Dad Tar wanted to give this boy his name. so he split it. David became Da, and the new baby was named Vid. So now David Tar has his sons Da Tar, and Vid Tar. Pretty effective recycling...

Elder & Sister Van Blankenstein are heading home from Lesotho, as Elder & Sister Knudsen move there from Newcastle to continue the good work. The Van Blankensteins have done huge amounts in public affairs, as well as practically everything else, and this is their report of their last event - very exciting!

"We here in Lesotho have been very humbled and well-taught as we put the principle of faith and fasting into practice last week. We held a special fasting day for missionary work to go forward in this country, so the top leaders would be moved to attend our "Appreciation Dinner" where we could better introduce them to the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"We know that 'faith precedes the miracle' and a true miracle happened. We had an outstanding evening at the best hotel in the country, sponsored by the South East Africa Public Affairs and attended by Elder Watson, of the Area Presidency. But the miracle was that the government leaders came, even the King, His Majesty King Letsie III. Other Honourable Ministers, Prime Minister of Foreign Relations, Principle Secretaries, Clerk of the Senate, NGOs and Ambassadors all came and were introduced in a variety of ways to who we are, what we believe in and what we can do to help the people of Lesotho.

"During the evening, several dignitaries asked for information and where our church was located. President Watson even invited the King and Queen to Salt Lake City for October Conference! I know that our prayers were heard and that hearts were touched...

"The news camera was there (Lesotho has only one channel) and it was broadcast last night. Also, yesterday we taped an interview for a weekly Christian show to be shown on TV. Our Government Relations Director from Johannesburg, our local member of our branch presidency, Public Affairs Directors and Humanitarian Directors were all present, which started another chain reaction of contacts and future publicity.
"I know that our prayers were heard and that hearts were touched. Van and I feel so blessed to have been an instrument in the hands of the Lord to help bring this to pass. What a great way to leave the mission field!" (Amen!)

Elder & Sister Mickelsen left today. They were our first ever PEF couple, and over their 18 months (and thousands of kilometers) managed to get more than 100 students through the 2-3 month loan process and into school. They have a dozen or so still in process, and hated leaving any unfinished. We miss them already - but I think Sister Mickelsen and I will be able to keep our little "book group" going even at a distance. And now we have yet another reason to visit St. George!

We had two unusual robberies in Richards Bay the last few weeks.

1. At the Pier's boarding: Sister Pier heard some unusual noises outside, and when she opened the drapes to see what it was, someone had stolen...their front gate! It may be the same group that vandalized an early 20th century cemetery in New Germany and chiseled off or wrenched off the name plaques and every other piece of metal on the gravestones, the fences, etc. They sell it all to scrap metal dealers - who should be at least a little suspicious when a cemetery plaque in Afrikaans is offered for sale?

2. Someone broke into the Richards Bay building, and took... baptismal clothes, tablecloths and cutlery. Better than computers and organs - which has happened here!

Elder Davis has a very poetic way of encouraging elders to drive more thoughtfully:

"I have concluded it is time to promote a 'gentler touch' in driving our vehicles. Some of you, probably most of you, drive too harshly, brake too hard, corner too fast, and accelerate too strongly... If you were riding a horse, I would say 'She was rode too hard and put away wet'." I'm already paying attention to his advice - and nagging Steve about his driving.

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps Steve had a little free time last weekend - and spent most of it whinging about moving from beautiful, lush, warm Durban, to the deserts of Idaho...

Brand-new Airport: Same Wonderful Missionaries

2010-05-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Elder & Sister Blackburn - Our First (most welcome) Arrivals at the King Shaka International Airport

2010-05-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

Elder & Sister ladysmithWilson: Our First (Sad) Departure from King Shaka International Airport

2010-05-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

May Arrivals: Elders Denning, Stark, Donry, Magoffin, Tidwell, Shumway, Bringhurst & Webster

2010-05-04T06:50:00.003-07:00

May Departure: Elders Lemmon, Basooma, Summers, Holmes, Kitili, Kuamoo, Hamilton & Ang'ila

2010-05-04T06:50:00.001-07:00

Elder Cunguara joins the office staff as our new financial secretary

2010-05-04T06:49:00.001-07:00

2010 05 09 - Transfer Week: practically living at the new King Shaka Airport

2010-05-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Family & Friends:

The wait, and even the longer drive were worth it: the new King Shaka International Airport is amazing. It's big, spacious, full of stores and restaurants, there are glass doors so you can spot the missionaries (always recognizable) as they look for their luggage, and plenty of parking. We liked it so much we went there 4 times this week! First the eagerly awaited Blackburns arrived on Sunday night. The only glitch in their arrangements was actually om the U.S. side, as their plane was delayed in Atlanta; although they made the connection in Johannesburg, their luggage didn't. Our newest couple handled jet lag beautifully and drove to Swaziland their second day here.

The next trip to the airport was a sad one - saying goodbye to the wonderful ladysmithWilsons. We'll miss them a lot! (Fortunately, you'll be able to see them in the new senior couple recruiting dvd...)

The airport journeys continued as we picked up our 8 new elders on Wednesday - to the music of the Beach Boys singing "Kokomo" - and dropped off 8 seasoned priesthood leaders on Friday. We always have a dinner and testimony meeting for each of these groups of elders, and I thought Elder Hamilton told about coming out to South Africa with Elder Summers, and sitting by a man who was very harsh with them about wasting two years for a meaningless cause. They had no idea what to say to him - then. We're all hoping they will sit by him on the way home, too: it will be a very different story!

Elder Hamilton also gave a very good "last lecture" when he said, "I know the gospel is true. The Book of Mormon is true. In fact, it's all true - and that's all that matters."

For those of you who are not (yet) deeply immersed in Preach My Gospel, here is a message Elder Davis shared in devotional, from page 120. See if it isn't worth your time:

"Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God's will and accept His timing. when you are patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith - you must wait for the Lord's promised blessings to be fulfilled...You must be patient with all people, yourself included, as you work to overcome faults and weaknesses." PGM p120

Every so often Steve sends a special email out to all the missionaries. I thought you might like to see what your elder has been reading lately:
Dear Elders,
As we have travelled this cycle we have often started skills & interviews with the song "Come Come Ye Saints". Each time we sing it I think of my own great, great grandparents and the sacrifices they made as they left their homes in Europe knowing they would never see their families again and made their way west. They made their way filled with hope and a burning testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored. It was hard, they suffered through hunger and thirst and fatigue. They buried children along the trail, but still they made their way west to the Promised Land where they could practice their religion, partake of the saving ordinances and raise their children in righteousness.
How grateful I am for their commitment and sacrifice. What a legacy they have left as their children, grandchildren, and great, great, great grandchildren have grown to maturity in the gospel and gone on to serve the Lord.
Each day as we make decisions to serve the Lord we too are leaving a legacy. As we live and honor the mission equation we leave a legacy. As we strive to build and support and encourage and love our companions and those in our districts and zones we leave a legacy. We leave an enormous legacy with the brothers and sisters we teach and baptize as they change their lives and start on a path that will unite them with their families forever and allow them to return to their Father's kingdom.
We leave a legacy with the people we serve as they observe missionaries from all over the world serving others rather than pursuing their own selfish interests. We leave a legacy for our own children and grandchildren, for in some future day they will read our journals and hear our stories and come to know the trials and joys of their grandfathers as they served the Lord on full-time missions.
Most importantly we leave a legacy for ourselves as we serve with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength and learn to live by the Spirit and by revelation. This legacy is built each day and each moment as we make choices to serve the Lord. This legacy is built with two-mite days, obedience with exactness, one more doors, tailored lessons, and enthusiasm, and hope and faith, and tired bodies and joyful hearts. It is a legacy that sets the foundation for the rest of our lives and a legacy that will bring us and our families back to our Father.
What a joy it is to serve with you and be part of your legacy. You are magnifying your callings and your priesthood and as you do so you are fulfilling your part of the covenant made in D&C 84 that promises you all that the Father has. I love you, Elders. Go out and make this the best week of your mission. Go out with joy. Go out with boldness and courage. Go out with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a determination to invite all to enter His kingdom.
President Mann

This week is the interim Mission Presidents' Seminar in Johannesburg. It will be great to see all the other mission presidents and their wives, as well as the Area Presidency and their wives. (Let's be honest: for me it's especially the wives!) The downside, of course, is knowing we won't see many of them again for years. I guess that's one of the advantages of living in the Wasatch front - there are always a lot of people you met on mission who live within reach for reunions. I understand part of the post-mission adjustment is discovering that after the first few minutes, no one else is really that interested in talking about your mission memories - except the other former missionaries!

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps I was surprised last week to see a truck with the bumper slogan: "Say no to crack", as I hadn't seen any anti-drug projects around here or heard anyone talk about specific drugs. Good for you! I thought...until I looked at the logo on the truck: T&R Paving...

pps For those if you who have been asking, we were just invited (via email) to give a homecoming report in our River Heights Ward (Eagle, Idaho) on July 25th at 11am.

Stills from our new senior couple recruiting dvd: This is Your Time to Come

2010-05-03T02:17:00.000-07:00

Where We Worship

2010-05-03T02:16:00.000-07:00

Where We Worship - inside

2010-05-03T02:15:00.000-07:00

More of Where We Worship

2010-05-03T02:14:00.000-07:00

Where We Worship - outside

2010-05-03T02:12:00.000-07:00

And for a TOTAL change of pace: Morgan's new social life in Parma, Idaho, U.S.A.

2010-05-01T23:03:00.001-07:00

2010 05 02 - Aaron & Elena Anderson visit

2010-04-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone:
We've had a fun week! Week six of our missionary week is transfer planning, so Steve is in town, and a little less harried than the rest of the cycle (dependent, of course on emergencies, car incidents, safety incidents, medical surprises, etc.). We used part of it this week to get better acquainted with one of Logan's good friends/former roommate Aaron Anderson, and his wife Elena. Aaron is doing an internship with Habitats for Humanity in Pretoria, so they took the bus(!) down for 10 hours, and came in Thursday night for a four-day weekend.

Having learned our lesson with Logan and Sara - more activities, less shopping - we ran around like crazy. For those in the Karkloof Zipline Club - they loved it. Their toes have been dipped in the Indian Ocean; they've eaten bunnie chows at Essenwood, schwarmas at Westwood Mall, and butternut bake at Butcher Boys. We tried to ride to the top of the new stadium, but it was under repair (already?). They visited uShaka, and monkeys visited the mission home.

Aaron challenged all comers (Hunter and his crowd) to basketball, things got hectic enough that half the backboard came down - a long expected event, by the way, as the wood wasn't treated for rain, and it has huge holes in it. Two upsides to the visit were someone for Hunter to talk sports with, and someone for Steve to talk world affairs with. I guess the only downside will be getting back on the bus again at 10pm Monday! So, the guestroom is available once again...

Had a "first time that's happened" experience at PicknPay Saturday: I got a cellphone call while shopping, and when I finished a man was standing there, obviously waiting to speak to me. He loved the ringtone on my phone (theme song to Midsomer Murders) and asked if I could send it to his phone. I didn't mind, but had no clue how to do it, so Steve called Hunter, who got it done in a nanosecond. I consider this second only to being asked for my autograph.

I'm updating the mission history booklet missionaries take home with them, and asked two of our couples for their impressions of Swaziland and Lesotho. They are too good not to share:

Elder & Sister swaziWilson
Swaziland is the "Magical Kingdom". It's no wonder the Valley of Ezulwini is siSwati for the "Valley of Heaven". Oftentimes the billowy, puffy-white clouds drift into the valley giving the feel of living in heaven. But the heavens cal also give the rain in due season with tremendous power and volts that cause one to wonder what has made Mother Nature so violently angry. In Spring the land bursts with colour from soft lavenders to brilliant oranges and reds with a lush green backdrop. Homesteads dot the sides of the mountains with a pastoral effect: cows grazing, children playing, and egrets flying.

At any random moment a Swazi can be found helping their neighbour or just visiting with one another. Life progresses at a slower pace here, but from it comes concern for others. On many occasions strangers in trouble have been assisted by a citizen who helps then disappears without fanfare or thankyous. Generally they aren't emotional, but do enjoy a hearty hug in greeting, and it's easy to get someone to smile - just smile at them. The response received is heart-warming.

The Swazi people are naturally curious and enjoy talking to everyone, especially about Jesus Christ. Most have an abiding love for the Saviour and their faith is strong in Him. After asking a sister one day if she was happy, her response was classic: "I have good health and my market. My children are well. Why shouldn't I be happy?" These people are so kind and lovable with hearts of gold.

Elder & Sister Van Blankenstein
Lesotho, sometimes known as the "Mountain Kingdom" is a small country surrounded entirely by the Republic of South Africa. It is very beautiful in the highlands, where the rural farmers live a very simple, independent life style. It is very mountainous with lots of sandstone, but the people use whatever land they can for grazing their livestock and planting their fields.

Their rondavals (round huts with thatched pointed roofs) dot the landscape along with the fields of maize and sunflowers. You can begin to see the changes in the houses, as cement blocks, rocks and bricks are now being used. Most have no electricity or running water inside their home. However, their daily bath is a very important part of their morning routine and they wash in a plastic tub, sometimes with warmed water, sometimes not, depending on what their cooking source is. The interesting thing is that they always look clean and at Church their shirts are always white. [This is true everywhere in the mission.]

As you move closer into the capital city of Maseru, the signs of city life are everywhere: honking taxis, trash-littered streets, hundreds of 'tuck' shops selling fruit, sweets, and snacks. Also, hundreds of little 'braii' stands where during lunchtime the people can buy cooked meat, papa [mashed potato-like staple of the African diet, made from mealie (corn) meal] and gravy (chakalaka). It seems no one ever packs a lunch!

Bakkies [pickup trucks] are the vehicle of choice because most roads are not paved and rainwater runoff makes these roads extremely hazardous at times. Most people in the villages walk from their one or two room homes to the transport stops to get to work, school or Church. Transport funds are usually in short supply, which encourages hitchhiking along the paved inner city roads. Transport also causes severe budget problems for members who live a distance from meetinghouses, especially if several meetings are held in the week, so Saturdays and Sundays are busy meeting days.

The people are a happy people and although they have very little in terms of material possessions, they will share everything they have. They love their history and respect their kings. Their culture and traditions present some concerns to the Church, and it will take time, education, and lots of love to change these ongoing ways. The Church has been in Lesotho for 20 years, and we now have 3 branches [which are starting to send out missionaries]. The work is really beginning to take hold and there are many very faithful members who will be the foundation of the Kingdom of God in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

So there you have it: two wonderful countries as experienced by their own wonderful senior couples. Don't you want to join them and get to know these loving people? (www.lds.org/csm/mission.html)

Love, Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

We have a new grandson, compliments of Torry & Chris Moncivais - Tate with Eva & Brody

2010-04-22T08:34:00.003-07:00

Hunter, the Argentina supporter, with his two FIFA tickets: Netherlands vs. Japan, at Durban 19 June 2010

2010-04-22T08:34:00.001-07:00

By special request of Haylscat - a few of our favourite fashionable workers

2010-04-21T05:17:00.003-07:00

Elder Amerikau: Newest Assistant-in-Training

2010-04-21T05:17:00.001-07:00

More Women Working Hard...

2010-04-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

2010 04 25 - Welcome to Mortality:Tate Christopher Moncivais

2010-04-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone:

We have a delightful addition to the family, born Tuesday, April 20, 2010. His name is Tate Christopher Moncivais; our son-in-law Chris explained:"We're hoping to teach patience, and hopefully not longsuffering as he bubbles in 24 letters on every standardized test he takes throughout life...if you figure an average of three of those a year over 12 years of public schooling, that's 864 bubbles...dang!" (This reminds me of the difficulties Tate's four uncles had to deal with; they are all known by their middle names. Ever try to fit "Hunter" or "Morgan" or "Logan" or "Parker" into one middle initial space _ ? )

People's attitudes don't change much. William Holmes Walker was one of the first missionaries to South Africa. In 1852, he struggled back across the country from Utah to New York City, and prepared to board ship for England, and then again to the Cape. He showed a Book of Mormon to the ship's captain, who offered a very familiar, and sad, response: "It seems to be a sharp book...but I can't worry about salvation now." (See Alma 33:34)

I was impressed with Elder Harmsworth on Monday when he gave a spiritual thought based on the story of Balaam (Numbers 22). It was a thoughtful message, but what really caught my attention was Elder Harmsworth's preface "I read this while I was preparing for next week's Sunday School lesson." Elder Harmsworth doesn't teach Sunday School, he attends the class like the rest of us. I prepare to teach ahead, but I rarely prepare to learn ahead. That was an even better lesson for me than Balaam.

(Remember the "dog that chewed our bumper"? Things have taken a turn for the worse.) When we arrived here, the mission home Peugeot had scratches on one of the door handles. I was told it was made by lions. Right. So, on preparation day a group of elders went to the Lion Park. There are a dozen or so lions there, and visitors drive through while the lions roam free. Instructions to drivers are clear: keep moving. Well, apparently the directions weren't quite clear enough: the elders stopped, not once, but several times, to "see the lions really close!" The lions took advantage of the situation to "see the elders really close!" and we now have a few "mauled" vehicles - serious scratches, even some holes. One scratch, on one car I could (maybe) understand...It makes me so cross!

However, there is a fatal flaw in my irateness (iratitude? irateousness? irativity?): I now have an overwhelming urge to go to the Lion Park and see what happens!

Which car story brings me to Elder Davis, our vehicle coordinator/car guru. He has really had a baptism by fire. During the few months he's been here he has dealt with practically everything, from a car hitting a cow, to a carjacking, to fender benders, to rolling into a wall(?), to a windshield hit so hard it bent far enough inside that it actually got a hole in it...to lion damage. And he's done a great job! It's amazing how the Lord can call someone to a position and help them do things well, that they've never done before. At least, I don't THINK Elder Davis had to deal with lions in any of the many places they have lived? Have to ask...

NEWSFLASH! The Tiida that was hijacked a few weeks ago has been recovered! This is very good...

As I was reading the talks from the priesthood session of conference, I found a very reassuring message from Elder Rasband. He told about sitting with Elder Eyring as he assigned missionaries to their missions, then said, "I had a further witness that morning that every missionary called in this Church, and assigned or reassigned to a particular mission, is called by revelation from the Lord God Almighty through one of these, His servants." The italics are mine, because I was so struck that Elder Rasband included those words. When our sister missionaries were pulled out of the mission in December 2007, they were great about it, but I think it was very hard, initially, for them to feel these reassignments were as inspired as their initial calls. It's comforting to have this testimony from Elder Rasband that the Lord is in charge of all the calls, even when it doesn't seem like it. I hope all our sisters read his talk - it will re-confirm what I'm sure they've already learned.

Hunter has proven very difficult to bribe into doing things I want done: he just doesn't want anything badly enough to work hard! However, on Thursday I finally found at least one thing that works. He had to agree to work hard and finish his history essays and print them, in order to have me drive him to the Pavilion early enough to meet Wehtu (our South African Idol contestant) for a movie, and then pick him up in time to be back home before Zandi came over. Hey, it's better than nothing! Anyway, I encourage him to play the field: safety in numbers...
Love,
Mom/Grandmaofthree/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps Did you know you can enter an ATM password with your thumb?

pps Did you also know that if you forget to do the butter&flour thickening step, but put in lots of chicken, you get a very nice Chicken a la King Soup?

Hurrah, Hurray, & Yebo! Elder & Sister Ward have arrived to work in Newcastle!

2010-04-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

The Women in Africa Work VERY Hard!

2010-04-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

Remember the story of the pineapple vendor in Swaziland who wanted to learn to be a man of faith? He's preparing for a mission...

2010-04-14T01:00:00.003-07:00

Monkeys 1, Hammock 0

2010-04-14T01:00:00.001-07:00

Life goes on...

2010-04-14T00:59:00.001-07:00

"The Africa in Table Bay", Aernout Smit, 1683: my favorite painting in the William Fehr Collection at the Castle of Good Hope

2010-04-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

2010 04 18 - A Whole Slew of Totally Unrelated Events not Necessarily in Chronological Order

2010-04-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Family (due this week to be increased by a new grandson) & Friends:

Elder and Sister Ward arrived last Sunday night to a small African adventure - after 36 hours of travel we took them to their B&B. and no one answered either the bell at the gate or the two phone numbers! We eventually settled them at the Westville Hotel, which I've always wanted to see, anyway, and all worked out well...until they learned firsthand that you can't allow 20 minutes for breakfast and really expect to get it. They already know much more about South Africa than they did a week ago.

Exiting the M13 when bringing the Wards here, we found ourselves in a lake - a pipe had burst, or something, and water was gushing down the road. They dug things up, and worked on it for 3 days, and finally finished it, filled things in and smoothed over the road. I drove out Thursday thinking gratefully about how nice it is when construction is over. I drove back 90 minutes later to find the other half of the same road torn up; I don't know what they're doing down there this time, but my thoughts were not quite so kindly as earlier in the day!

Hunter and I stumbled across a biker convention (or something) Friday. We were returning a video, and at the intersection was a man in a fluorescent yellow vest labelled on the back "KwaZuluNatal MF (Motorcycle Federation) Road Master". A short time later he directed traffic as dozens of motorcycles roared out of the Baptist Church parking lot where they had gathered. [Query: This Baptist Church sponsors a Youth Night every Friday night - could they possibly also sponsor motorcycle gangs?]

This week at our office devotional Sister Davis shared a spiritual thought she heard in the MTC, and I really liked it:
"Life works out best for those who make the best of how life works out." I also think it fits in very well with the talks Elder Foster and Elder Martino gave in the Sunday afternoon session of conference - which we watched Sunday with Hunter, just before Langa Mahaye came over to watch the priesthood session. I removed myself to another room to maintain the required "male bonding" environment.

Sunday I was also simultaneously humiliated and rescued by Hunter. My computer was having problems connecting with the internet, so I unplugged the modem and plugged it back in (as usual). But it didn't turn back on. I tried plugging and unplugging everything I could think of, but after the plug sparked as I put it in the outlet, and it persisted in not turning on, I decided it had died. Steve gave it a shot, too: no luck. So along comes Hunter, wanting the internet. I explained that the modem was no longer working - at which point he reached to the back of the modem and flipped the on-off switch... Story sound familiar to anyone?

I was looking through my zone conference notes and found something Elder Smith said in his talk, that I forgot to include in the blog. He was talking in faith, and said "If you don't have faith, you won't survive: they'll shatter you." Missionaries are really on the front line for the gospel - fortunately ours have been mostly shatter-proof. And they work really hard at it, too.

On Saturday Hunter, Jubz and Anastasia went to Gateway for a movie and to see the queues of people lined up to audition for South American Idol. A few of there friends were trying out - and Wetu made the first cut! We may soon be calling in to help her win!

Elder Davis came up with a new couple recruiting idea - it can be part of either the "guilt" approach or the "challenge" gambit: you take the number of people living in our mission boundaries (VERY roughly 5 million) and divide by the number of proselyting missionaries: 150. That means every single missionary is responsible for 33,333(.3) individuals. See why we need your help?

Love,
Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps OK, I admit it: the Dutch name for the Dutch East Inda Company is Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compangnie, so VOC makes a sensible acronym.

pps I love reading name tags in the shops; this week I was assisted by Sharm, Sphume, Zandile, Precious...and Touch; fortunately that last is a man's name!

Atop Table Mountain

2010-04-11T01:28:00.000-07:00

Cape Point

2010-04-11T01:27:00.000-07:00

Where they played and where they stayed

2010-04-11T01:23:00.000-07:00

Cape Town Architecture

2010-04-11T01:21:00.000-07:00

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

2010-04-11T01:19:00.004-07:00

Castle of Good Hope - 1679

2010-04-11T01:19:00.003-07:00

2010 04 11 - Cape Town in the Fall

2010-04-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone:
It's autumn here, so Hunter didn't get a spring break, but he did get an Easter break, and went to Cape Town with Jono and Jubz and, of course, a mom for driving and paying purposes. They stayed at City Lodge V&A Waterfront and went practically everywhere: Table Mountain, Cape Point, Boulders Beach, Ratanga Junction Amusement Park, Canal Walk Mall, & V&A Waterfront. Their Robben Island trip was unfortunately cancelled, as the ferry needed emergency repairs. This gave them time, though, to tour the University of Cape Town campus. Jono would like to go there after he matrics next year. They ran into three boys they knew: one from the stake youth convention a few years ago, one Westville "old boy", and a Westville classmate visiting his brother. Random!
Meanwhile, the mom visited the Castle of Good Hope (South Africa's oldest colonial building: completed in 1679), and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

Here's what the mom learned from this trip:
1. Teenage boys do not look at scenery - they look at flashy cars and "hot" girls.
2. The west side of Table Mountain is arid; the east side is lush and green. Moral? Always follow the bear over the mountain.
3. If the City Lodge reception desk phone is busy, you can either leave a message or "camp down" until someone answers.
4. Everything really worth seeing is always at the end of a long, exhausting climb.
5. The acronym for the Dutch East India Trading Company is VOC (??)
6. You're never really away - elders can call you on top of mountains, in the middle of gardens, at the bottom of the continent...
7. If there is a longer way to drive somewhere, some moms invariably find it.
8. A free breakfast will get boys up in the morning...but it won't always keep them up.
9. Having a television to watch doesn't necessarily ensure television worth watching.
10. Baboons can get really, really big!

The boys and the mom had a very good time, but are happy to be back.

Love,
Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps I have it on good authority (Rob Austin by way of his now adult son Nathan) that "When the head is stupid, the body suffers." So be careful who you chirp!

Driving to Blomfontein: actually, it was mostly like driving across Kansas for three hours: cornfields, a few cows & sunflowers, and flat, flat, flat!

2010-04-04T04:48:00.003-07:00

Road Music - who needs a cd?

2010-04-04T04:48:00.001-07:00

Bloemfontein

2010-04-04T04:29:00.000-07:00

"Ward Boys" - 3 or more from the same ward, serving together in the same mission

2010-04-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

Great lessons for missionaries (and everyone else?) from the Prophet Joseph

2010-04-04T00:25:00.000-07:00

2010 04 04 - Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T11:27:00.001-07:00

Dear Torry, Chris, Eva, Brody, ?, Logan, Sara, Hayley, Parker, Morgan, Grandma, Marilyn & Family & Friends:

Happy Easter! I hope you had a wonderful and uplifting day with lots of family time. I enjoyed having conference and Easter the same weekend - even if the sessions were at 6 and 10 pm! I especially liked knowing some of my kids were in the conference center I was watching...somewhere?

This has been zone conference week, and I can tell you, adding Bloemfontein and Lesotho Zones to the mission (although wonderful and of course inspired) made it way, way, way longer - both in time and distance. Thankfully, being with the missionaries makes up for the exhaustion. And Steve is hugely more exhausted than I am. I only have to worry about lunch, and a talk, and any medical issues that have come up. He not only does major training, but invariably has elders who need to talk to him "just for a minute", first time temple recommend and missionary interviews, and disciplinary councils. I wish I knew how many interviews he has done through these three years - no wonder the kids say that "When Dad talks to us, we feel like we're being interviewed!"

I especially enjoy the talks the elders give at zone conference. Every morning during companionship study the each elder shares a faith scripture (scripture about faith) with his companion. Some of the talks were about faith scriptures, and how they help. One elder had found that the faith scripture shared in the morning is always the perfect scripture for someone taught during the day. Elder Muthoka explained why: "The Spirit of God gives us the prompting while we are studying of what we will need." Elder Armstrong ponders the faith scriptures as he's walking during the day, pulling out one little phrase at a time.

Elder Kapande talked about the Spirit being there to teach us what we need to say, "...but are we listening?"

Another topic was how living the mission equation (faith plus obedience plus hard work = miracles) brings the Spirit to the work. Elder Mwangi said that when he follows it, he feels confident that "I don't know what I will say, but the Spirit will help me. Elder Friel said the times he's had the most "fun" on mission is when he has been trying to be obedient with exactness. "We have to cultivate the Spirit. If it can't be with us, it'll have a hard time being with our investigators. Elder Armstrong gave me a more personal stake in D&C 11:20 when he read it this way: "Behold, this is YOUR work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength." When you read it that way, you feel a lot more responsible for obeying it!

I loved the way Elder Meistre started out: "Much pondering was taken in preparation to give this talk." It made me wonder how often I do "much pondering" in preparation for any of the tasks I have to do?

The Bloemfontein zone conference was on Good Friday. It was also a public holiday, and although most everything in Durban stays open, Bloemfontein was shut up tight. I went after apples for the elders for break, and there wasn't an open grocery store anywhere! I finally ended up with all the bananas from an Engen petrol station. The malls were closed, except for movie theaters and cd/dvd stores and a few restaurants. I found a Roman's Pizza to order lunch, and they took my credit card, but they didn't deliver, so I became a pizza delivery sister. (In Hillcrest Roman's delivers, but won't take a card: only cash.) While I waited for the pizza, I took pictures of some of the interesting buildings downtown.

Steve and the assistants stayed on for interviews and skills training. Sunday Steve spoke in two sacrament meetings - the second branch reversed their schedule so he could make it there. So fun being the mission president!

Well, it's 6pm, so I'm going to watch conference, along with you earlybirds.

Love,

Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps While we were in Bloemfontein Morgan called us - at 4:30am - to tell us he came in second in his first track meet. As he came sprinting by, Marilyn heard some kids say "Who is THAT? He looks like an NFL player!" I guess that's the American equivalent of "Are you the Beast?"

Even in the mission field, some things are relative...

2010-04-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

The last new elders to arrive at the Durban International Airport: Elders Masilela, Clarke, Ndlovu & Sikanyika (King Shaka Airport opens May 1st)

2010-03-24T07:30:00.001-07:00

Departing Missionaries 1: Elders Martin, Reese, Hagen. Wendt & Rakatoarisoa

2010-03-24T07:29:00.009-07:00

Departing elders 2: Elders Babeeyo, Reese(?!?), England, N'ongom, Otieno & Mbithi

2010-03-24T07:29:00.007-07:00

Pictures by South African children

2010-03-24T07:29:00.003-07:00

Replacing part of the mission home fence - very hard work!

2010-03-24T07:29:00.001-07:00

2010 03 28 - Happy Birthday Sara & Eva!!

2010-03-24T07:20:00.001-07:00

Dear Birthday Girls and Everyone Else:

We've just made it through another crazy transfer week, gained 4 tremendous new missionaries, said goodbye to 10 future Church leaders (home wards and branches, take note), had two cars damaged, scheduled 3 sets of booster shots (4 sets to go), sent 2 elders to the doctor, and performed an Easter Cantata.

Well, not all of us performed the Easter Cantata: only Elder Niemand, Elder Alexander, me, and a choir from various wards in the Hillcrest Stake. It was very fun, and sounded WAY better Sunday night than it did at ANY of the rehearsals. It was pretty crowded in the choir seats, though, with all the angels the choir director had prayed to come and help us!

I haven't done any major singing for quite awhile, and found myself singing in the car on the way home from rehearsal in Hillcrest: We Five and John Denver, of all things! And I remembered all the words. It just goes to show you that teenagers CAN learn...too bad it was only song lyrics...
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CAUTION: Mothers who get nervous, please skip this paragraph!
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I have been thinking lately about carjacking. The Westville public library/civic center/ lawn bowling/tennis court complex has a set of booms that are raised and lowered as cars go in and out. Last week I had to "sign in" with my name, license plate# before I could go in. That must have proved too time-consuming, so this week the guard just handed me a card that I had to return when exiting. I asked, and it was because they've had some carjackings lately.

A few days ago, the Rawlings, who run Little Haven B&B, lost their car to carjackers while Sister Grace was at the hairdresser. It's the 11th car they've had stolen over the years.

And a few months ago in Newcastle, we had a missionary carjacking. Fortunately, the police were able to get it back for us. Even more fortunately, the sergeant involved started taking the missionary lessons, and now he and his family are about to be baptized. So although wickedness never was happiness, it can occasionally contribute to happy consequences!
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I learned a few things from the Easter Cantata, and that reminded me of a few other observations I've made lately, so here they are.

Life lessons: small but totally irrelevant

1. Sally DeFord is an international favorite.

2. Narration of any kind sounds better with a South African accent.

3. The sharp edges of a packet of sheet music fits right exactly into the healing wound from carpal tunnel surgery.

4. She also serves who only waves the piece of cardboard to dry the just-mopped floor at the mall.

5. Six minutes waiting for BBQ dipped bites at KFC is way longer than 6 minutes spent reading a good book.

6. If a crew is working on a digging project in the mission home yard, there is a 90% chance one of the "chappies [will] hit the irrigation line" and the water will be turned off - indefinitely.

7. An elder is three times more likely to hit a cow in Ezulwini, Swaziland, than anywhere else in the mission.

8. A woman can work as a flagger in a flourescent vest and still look fashionable, if she wears a high-crowned, wide-brimmed woven sun hat - with her hard hat perched on top.

9. A man can still be tough who when angry doesn't swear, but says "It makes me so cross." (This man, I might mention, is also over 6' tall, used to carry a revolver in his car until he started working for the Church, and now carries a taser.)

10. Biscotti is not as easy to make as it looks.

So there you have it. Now I have to work on my powerpoint for zone conferences - Steve asked me to speak on the Prophet Joseph Smith. He did a very thorough presentation on the Prophet long enough ago that it's time to repeat. Only I can't do it his way, so I plan to shnake a few of his slides and then put together my own presentation. This is one (of many) of the fun parts of the mission!

Love,
Mom/Grandma/Sue/Susan/SisterPresidentMann

ps I got a cellphone call during office devotional; I answered in case it was a medical issue? It was Hunter, wanting to know the name of the bread that the Jews ate in the Bible, that was flat and hard. I knew the answer to the question, but am mystified as to what brought it up???

Manzini, Swaziland (And no, the couples are not called there based on the colour of the sister's hair)

2010-03-21T03:17:00.000-07:00

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! We have a couple for Bloemfontein! The Allreds arrived Tuesday night and were on their way Wednesday to settle in.

2010-03-20T12:48:00.000-07:00