MISSION MEDITATIONS

THE MISSION

The mission has stirred lots of thoughts over the past four months.  There are constant highs and lows.  We love our experience, but it has not been without a number of frustrations. 
I have come to the conclusion that every parent that sends out a missionary needs to plan to serve a mission themselves one day.  You will gain a  true appreciation for your child's sacrifice during the two years they served!  I am so thankful for these four and the fact that they served honorably.      
                                                                                                            Wade  Italy

Adam Sacramento
                                          Jim Korea

 
                                                      Reid NYC-London

As I watch our young Elders and how hard they work and the many disappointments they face, I often think of the darlings above. 
I know each of my missionaries are better people, dads, workers, because of their commitment.

Even though we have lots fewer restrictions, we are often frustrated by the desire to move the gospel forward here and the reluctance of local leadership to change how they have been doing things.  In some ways it is a different kind of church here, but there are also lots of similarities.
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HOMELESS WITHOUT A CHURCH (building)

I have mentioned before, we meet in a school.  The new missionary plan will not work here.  I don't think many people will walk by and want to come in so they can see where we meet.  It will be difficult for the Elders in this area to do missionary work via internet. They have no accessible internet or equipment.

Not having a church building really hit home a few weeks ago.  The first counselor in the branch presidency passed away.  It was not expected.  He was taken to a hospital near our home.  Someone called Elder Hunt and he went down and gave him a blessing before we went to Seminary.  On the way home from Seminary we stopped to visit him at about 6:00 pm.  It was obvious  he was very ill.  The nurse reassured us that he would be fine but his blood oxygen levels were in the low 60's.  He basically drown from the water on his lungs.  It was interesting to me because they were making no attempt to drain the water from his lungs.  At any rate he died several hours after we were there.
Several members were sad because there was not a church for the funeral. I am going to add some picture of what it is like have an open air event.

The night before the funeral, the funeral directors brought a big tent and put it up right in front of their home in the middle of the street.  It completely blocked the street.

They also brought the body to the house.  Elder and I were there to take some food (that was another story).  I went to talk to the wife and I was leaning on this thing.  I looked down and it was the casket.  They bring it the night before so everyone in the family can view the person  the night before and in the morning before the funeral. The funeral was at 7:00 a.m.   We got up at 5:00 am to get there.  I was still dark when we arrived, but there were lots of people (several hundred and the tent held maybe 30 to 40ish).  People were lining up and down the streets.



The following two pictures are of some of the mourners. The funeral itself was conducted by the Elders Quorum President. The out line was pretty traditionally LDS,  However, every time there was a break, someone in the audience would start singing, then everyone would join in and sway.  It was really kind of neat.     At the end it was announced that Elder Hunt would give the closing prayer...a surprise!
 

 From the time of the death to the funeral the widow was covered with a blanket as a shroud.  She and her grannies, mother, aunties all stayed in the house sitting and laying on the floor,  All furniture was moved from the house so everyone could fit.  
During the funeral the widow sat on a woven mat on the ground next to the casket. Her granny sat next to her.  She grew up with her granny which is common here.  Although her mother was there it was the granny that comforted her and was with her constantly.             

 Toward the end of the funeral several young men and women passed a collection plate for money for the widow and family.

 

After the funeral everyone gets in their car and drives to the cemetery with lights flashing etc.  They also rent a big two length bus to drive people to the funeral since many people do not have cars.     

 



The funeral director in the hat.  She was all about business.  She would take the frames supporting the casket and just throw them around like they were nothing.  Watching her gave me a smile.  In the background is President Mashego the Elders Quorum President.

 
 

The Grannies helping the widow to the car.  Note that she still has the blanket covering all of her,

It is off to the cemetery,  It was a 6 mile drive with flashing lights etc.  The cemeteries here are interesting.  This one is nicer than most, but notice it really is dirt and weeds.  The singing and chanting continued during the whole time. There were some practices at the cemetery that were different for me. 

 
After the dedication of the grave the casket is lowered into the ground with everyone there,  There was some weeping and wailing at that time.   After, the family and some men friends of the deceased fill the grave in while everyone watches,  They are singing during the process.

The mourners are walking back down the mountain to their cars.  As we were leaving the cemetery there were four other funerals backed up waiting to come into the cemetery. They only allowed one at a time.  Remember this funeral started at 7:00 am.  This process will go on all day.  There is a high death rate here,  Mpumalanga Providence has the highest % of aids in South Africa.  There are many deaths weekly related to it.  People are pretty hush, hush about it to avoid stigmas. I think this death was one of those, 

Members of our branch waking down the hill.

 

Just remember if there is not a church building, they will put up a tent for you with a dirt floor.  It works just fine.

 

Pray for this little branch to get a church building!

 

IT IS ALL IN THE HEAD.....or......ON THE HEAD.....or ON THE BACK!

ON THE HEAD

 

 



The head is a valuable commodity.  It has the brain, we supposedly think with it.  It  manages our spinal cord so we can walk and move. But, here a head is more than a head.

I have seen people carry 50 lb bags of maize (ground corn that they make pap (pronounced pop) with, ironing board, flats of eggs, bundles of wood, wooden pallets, the list goes on.  But, the funniest was a woman in Joburg that had a great big purse.  She had it perched on her head with the handles under her chin.  It was honestly hysterical.  We were both so dumb founded I couldn't get the camera out before she got away.  Many of the pics are taken through the window because I do not want to be so brazen, But it is interesting.

 

Have no idea what this is.  Maybe a body.....oooooooooo!

 

OVER THE HEAD

 



Rain or shine umbrellas are in here. They use them to keep the sun off and they use them to keep the rain off......Mostly the sun.   As you drive through the township, everyone is walking around with an open umbrella.

These umbrella are very colorful and have interesting designs.  They are fun to see.

 

 

 

 

 



ON THE BACK 

Or the back is useful too!  They wrap those babies in a towel someway and then throw them on their back and the way they go.  The other day there were these two ladies that had taken plastic laundry baskets and then threaded some material through the holes in the basket and then they put it on like a back pack. These baskets were loaded to the top,



My Neighbor upstairs' domestic/nanny!

 

 

 

SWEET BABIES

 

 

This one takes the prize.  Twenty-five lbs of maize on the head, baby on the back and carrying the supplies she sales. Pretty tricky she is!!!

 

 

 

BEAUTIFUL SOUTH AFRICA

 

Beautiful South Africa

This country is Beautiful! The United States is amazing also.  But, there is a mystique here that is difficult to describe.   One of the sadness's is  that there is little concern regarding taking care of the natural beauty.  People litter like you have never seen (more about that later!)
We took a trip to Tzaneen In the North East in Limpopo Providence for our Zone Conference.  It is near the Zimbabwe boarder.
It was a 5 + hour drive and the scenery was spectacular. You go through the Panorama highway and  the drive is beautiful.

The following are some of the shots from our trip.

There was turn off after turn off to beautiful water falls and pools.

 

 

The following picture is of Bob standing at the top of a trail to Burkes Potholes.  It looks dry because we are in the bush.  But, when you get below there are these amazing potholes in the rocks making formations.

 

 

      

Burkes Potholes

There all kinds of little

formations down in this river





 

 There are may vistas to look out over.  This is the Three Rondavels. A Rondavel in South Africa is a circular hut or other building, usually with a conical thatched roof.  The three round forms with trees on top is suppose to represent a Rondavel.

The most awing vista is a place called God's window.  It was a misty day so we could not see much.

 

 The giant "Easter Lillies" grow wild all along the roadside.

 

 

As always there is no way to describe the skies here.

Beautiful South Africa!



 

 

Despite the beauty here, litter is terrible.  Someone will go start a garbage pile and others keep adding on until there is no more room then they move on to a new spot.  At taxi stops and bus stops there is litter all over the place.

 

  I guess litter feeds the goats!

Range Chickens are all over the place.   Some people eat them, others refuse because they eat garbage mostly.,



 

 

Goat, cows, chickens have free reign of  the road ways.    But, I tell you they need some serious littering laws here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I TOLD THE WITCH DOCTOR

My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to say
My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to do
I know that you'll be fixed-up when I try this on you...

Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang...
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang

It is true, I am practicing my own medicine here.  Two weeks ago we had two interesting experiences.  We have an older sister in the branch....I love her. But, she was under great duress because she kept having accidents. We got her some medication from the pharmacy and she says she is like  "16 years old" again.  Amazing if I say so myself... With the same medication I also cured her sugar problem and her heart problem and a whole bunch of stuff and she knows I was sent to her from God.  She loved Sister Moss (the former Senior Sister Missionary) and when she went home she cried and cried, But now she know it was so I could come.  And, "She knowd I was smart, yes sir, she knowd I was smart"....so how is that!

The same week we went to visit an old "Go-Go" (grandma).  She is 85 years old, does not see well, she doesn't really have any shoes, speaks little English, and lives in extreme poverty.  She takes care of a few kids that come to the branch.  They are her grand children.  Where the mother is no one knows.  It is a pervasive problem here....Grandmas are rearing all the kids. And she is a member converted in Zimbabwe.

Anyway, we were visiting her and there was this yellow, gooshy stuff coming out of her toes on one foot and lots of  flies all over the foot (I was sure laying larva in her wound that I could not see).  I told her she needed to go the to doctor and I did understand when she said no money, no money.   So I came home and drag Bob with me to the drug store and buy all these wound care supplies and antibiotic cream.  I even bought a box of gloves because there was no way I was going to touch it.  Bob bought me a plastic paint pan she could soak her foot in and we take off with some Epsom Salts.
She was in her room, 10' x 10' full of everything she owns.  In the middle of the cement floor there is a big hole, but her foot was cured.  I am thinking what the heck!  Then Bob mentioned that she probably has just walked in some food that attracted the flies.  Yowzie!  Well, I had her soak her feet anyway in the warm water Bob had carried for me from Nelspruit, and she loved it.

But I am going into the Witch Doctor Business.   The witch doctors hang a white flag on their house, that is how people know where they are.

 
The Witch Doctor thing is alive and well here in South Africa.  They call them Sangomas.  There appears to be two types.  There are some more into the witch craft stuff (evil ones), but most think of themselves as healers. The second type thinks they get in touch with your ancestors and they direct him or her on how to treat you and what is wrong.  The treatments are usually herbal remedy. 

For either type they go through some gruesome type training. Involving blood of animals, and they have to be called by the ancestors to be chosen to become one. 

 I am thinking of hanging out my own flag.   When I get home, I will treat you all for far less than American medicine will. 

SOME INTERESTING HAPPENINGS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

FIRST:
Two weeks ago we were going to church and came to a spot on the dirt road that was full of people.  It was ladies dressed in their Sunday Costumes going up and down the street singing, chanting, laughing, and dancing. It was neat.  They were joyful and I was loving it.  I was waving to them and giving them a thumbs up, suddenly Bob said this is a funeral.  I put my hand down fast, but they were waving back.  There was the funeral car and about 30 cars behind the dancers so we waited for them. And I behaved myself. 
The next week there was a group of ladies in the red attire standing on a street corner doing the same thing.   I was told that they start Friday night, sing and dance all night and then go to the funeral the next morning.  

Ladies and men from many of the churches here wear this type of attire.  It is many different colors and the colors indicate which faith you belong to.  I asked one of the branch ladies why they wear this and she said it was for modesty.   I will tell you it looks like it would be hotter than H_ _ _ _, especially in the summer.    Many people have a problem with our church because they want to go to church and sing and clap and dance.  I will tell you they really rock.

SECOND:

 

We went on a little outing to a town called Barberton.  It is about 30 miles away.  We decided to go check it out on a day off (not many of those).  It was interesting.  The drive was beautiful.  There are many vistas here where you look out on big valleys.
The winding road way down there is the road to Barberton.



The town use to be a gold mining hub, and there is not much there.  In the town we didn't see much that was impressive, but it was a nice little town.

These town markers were impressive.

The rocks are hand painted.  They were really pretty neat.  They appeared to be painted with colors and designs that are similar to Zulu Art. 










 I was a great two hour drive. And as everything here, interesting.

 THIRD:

 Last Saturday and Sunday we watched General  Conference.  I will tell you I missed watching it home on my comfy couch and with a special breakfast.   Here they receive the DVD from Salt Lake about two weeks after conference (We had watched it in the middle of the night on the computer during the real conference time, but most here do not have that luxury).  So we had 5 to 6 hours of church on some very hard chairs.  We had a two hour session, then a lunch break for an hour, then another two hour session, then clean up.  For the lunch break they had red viennas.  You have not lived until you have eaten a red Vienna.  It is a hot dog that looks like red play dough and tastes like it too.  Bob is always a good sport, it was just too much for me.

 This kid is one of my faves.  His name is Thabang (tabong).  He is the only member in his family, but he is always there.  He loves my chocolate chip cookies (Rian really yours). 




These two really kept the place rocking.  This is the most darling little boy.  He has a flake for a mom, so he stays with his great aunt in our branch sometimes.   He is the happiest, most pleasant little thing and it makes me sad.  FuFu with the little pig tails lives with the same great aunt and I will tell you she is FULL of it.

 Ward members watching Conference in the school room.  There were about 40 + there and it was interesting that most of them were the youth.  This was on Saturday.  On Sunday there were larger numbers, but the youth really are the strong ones in the branch.

Cute Elder Parrish (Meridian, Idaho) below,  and Elder Moyo (Johannesburg SA) slouching behind him take the responsibility to make sure it happens.  It is always amazing that these kids keep so much together out here in this mission field and mission fields around the world.  The are amazing! (Even if Elder Parrish picked up my brand new refrigerator in the bakkie, and knocked it out of the bakkie getting it here.  Even though it has 3 big dents, I love him and I put his picture of the dents saying that I still loved him!

This continues to be an amazing experience.  It is an up hill battle trying to teach people how to raise above poverty and enjoy the blessings of our Heavenly Father.  But, there will be another day tomorrow!

This week's most magnificent sunset!