THE PASTOR

Since we have been here Elder Hunt is always being called the Pastor.  The guys at the security gate call him Pastor, people in KaNyamazne call him Pastor.  Elder Hunt will say, "I am not the Pastor, I am a Missionary."  The reply is always the same, "yeah we know Pastor."  I love it makes me laugh when he is trying to explain what he does. On the other hand, it comes in handy when he is stopped by the traffic police.. he pulls those Missionary Papers out pretty darn fast and plays every card he has. 
The Traffic police are pretty prevalent here. They have road stops everyday somewhere.  They have it figured out where someone will have a tendency to speed and they set up their little station right there.
Now Bob, the Pastor, has had some problems with lead feet meeting the pedal. We have been stopped a few times....well a number of times...well, there was only one ticket the first month we got here, but, now the minute they stop us he pulls out the missionary handbook.  If that  doesn't work he starts talking about his work in KaNyamazane that ends it. They always seem shocked that we work in KaNyamazne then they tell us good luck and let us go.  Over all they are very nice and they know the little white missionmobile now.

The best Pastor story was a call the Pastor got in December.  December is the end of the school year and they have these big awards meetings.  He was asked to give a devotional and prayer at the school.  Again, Elder Hunt explained he is not a pastor and told them he is a missionary.  It was the same response that they knew that, then principal said, "Pastor can you be there at 8:00 am.
Here is the story of the Pastor and the school program.

South African Schools

The program was at the Vulumasango School.  This is a primary school of about 1200 students. It is the school we meet at for church.   It considered a good school, as all schools it is very deficit in teaching supplies (pathetic really).  The physical structure is okay but not great.   But, it is better than many schools.  In January  a six year old fell into a pit toilet and drown in a town near here.  This school does have flushing toilets.  The class sizes are huge,  52 first graders in one class and 53 second graders in one class. It is the same for all grades.  The teachers have no teaching assistants or anything.  It is sad to think of all the money being siphoned off by illicit politicians with no regard to the needs of the people that live here, especially the children. It is millions of dollars.

 

The Event

The invite said 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.   It finally ended at 3:30 pm.  We left at noon because we teach seminary on Saturday afternoon.

 

It was held in the Community Center and they had decked it out in decorations. White, Blue, and Gold Draperies (I think they are the ones used at a funeral held there several months before).
There were lots of flowers. some for me, one for the Pastor, and one for all the dignitaries.

 The students took 1/2 of this huge auditorium.  They were all very excited.  I took some pictures before the event started. 
We did arrive at 8:00 an and it finally started at about 9:45 pm.

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Some Community dignitaries were there.  They represented some large companies in South Africa: Cannon; Old Mutual (big investment/insurance company); and several others.  The girl on the end was a former student that has become a hospital dietitian and does well working at a big hospital.  She got a distinguished alumni award and gave a little speech.

 

The pastor is giving a spiritual thought and the prayer.

 

 

 Each class grades k-8th gave a little presentation.
They were cute.  Some were music or dance.  The little group in the costumes had the jive going.  Then the best student in each grade level gave a talk.

The Thing I loved about the talks was the fact that every person that gave a talk, addressed God and Jesus Christ and gave thanks that they have been blessed in so many ways, (many of these people have very little compared to most of us in the USA.   

 

They pray in school here.  Schools invite ministerial people to talk to the students.       The principal asked me the other day if I could play the piano because the school is going to sing the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah for the Easter program about Christ.  After I finished rolling on the floor with laughter I assured him I couldn't play chop sticks let alone sing.                                             

 .
 But, the point is religion is taught freely, gratitude to God is expressed openly at school.  I find that more than refreshing,  What has happened to America.

 

Represented from Grade 8 giving her talk....it was good.  She talked about following God.

 

Principal Peiri giving Pastor Bob an award for being so helpful to the school! It was a nice pen set,

 

 

 

It was fun, especially because the children were so excited.  In many ways it reminded me of home and going to school programs there.

The longer I am here, the more I realize how much alike all of Heavenly Father's children are.....more about that at about another time.

 

 

 

 









THE FASHIONISTAS

 KaNyamane Ladies Sewing Club Fashion Show

(I might add it was an event)

Elder Hunt and I were invited to the KaNyamazane ladies sewing club's fashion show.  Sister Nobela  and her son Bhekisisa have been sewing for the past 5 months with these ladies and at the end of the term there was a fashion show.  It was scheduled to go from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  We also had Seminary that day so I decided we would go 30 or so minutes late and leave early.  When we got there they had been waiting for so they could start-----duh we were the honored guests.
The Fashion Show begins:

 LOCATION

One of the ladies in the sewing club had the event in her front yard.  Many yards do not have grass other than the natural grass that comes up during the summer months.  In her yard was a pile of junk with long metal things that could have cut off your leg if you rubbed against it. So, it was kinda like a war zone with land mines. They had put up canopies to protect the guests from the sun (bless their little hearts--the sun here is blazing).  They had invited their neighbors and others from around the area.  They had draped the front of the house in white draperies.  They had a nice table with flowers where the MC of the fashion show sat.

It was a pretty festive look!

The Canopies were helpful.  In this picture

there is a white man and lady.  RARELY have we seen other whites in the township.  Mostly just us.  But, The lady owns a sewing franchise of some sort from the states and she teaches sewing to some ladies and they go back into their townships and hold these sewing classes.  They are not free by any means.  Any little cost is pricey to the folks that live here.  She was going to be the narrator and he was braaiing for us.  At the fashion show they served wors (huge hot dogs), some bread, and juice.  I am use to little sandwiches, and cakes at fashion show, so that was a change.  But, it was okay.

 

All of the friends really like the braii.  Elder    Hunt is in the back of these two pictures of    the guests.  It was funny because a couple    of drunks wandering down the street walked  in and sat by him.  They loved the braii and the models.                                                 

.

These folks were a great audience. They hooted and hollered and did the tongue click thing.  It was fun.

THE ENTERTAINMENT

Throughout the show they had these little dancers.  They did traditional dances.  They had on little Zulu skirts.  The leg kicking is a common thing in this dancing.  They will kick so high that they fall over backwards and that is part of the dance.  By this time I started too see why the fashion show would last so long. 



THE MODELS

The night before the fashion show I was talking to Sister Nobela.  She was all worked up because the lady had told them they had to do this pose or that pose.  She was terrified and said she did not think she could do it.  But, I knew better because these Africans love to pose for their picture.  I was right, they were fashionistas and they had it down pat.

Now, it is important to remember that this was a beginning class these ladies had not touched a sewing machine before the class started. They started by sewing some shoulder bags, of which I am the proud recipient of one given to me as a gift by Sister Nobela  I was pretty amazed at what they had made.  The pictures show them modeling their own clothes that they made.

 

Bhekisisa Made two pair of pants and two

T-Shirts.  This kid is so off the wall and people like him.  He is known all over the township.  But, he is a bit ADD and it is a hard to believe he was focused enough to do this.  But, the sewing ladies loved him.  He kept them smiling.



Sister Nobela made her self these jammies, some sports wear, a couple of dresses and some tops.  And, her poses were just great.  It was fun to see how excited all these ladies were.                                                             

 

The dress to the right is the one she  made for her cleansing.  I was impressed.  In a prior post I talked about the cleansing and there is another picture of this dress in that post.  At the time I did not know she had made it.  I was impressed. 

The models below all made the clothes they are wearing.  Some were hesitant, but a few really thought they were models.  The was fun.  And the audience, what can I say, they whooped it up for their friends. 



The Fashion Show was at the lady's house dressed in the black suit.  I would say that is pretty good sewing for only 5 weeks            

 

This lady was the real model.  She kicked up her heels and she had the moves.  Very cute and she had been sewing the world up making outfits.

 

 

THE FINALE

 

 

 

I WILL SAY THIS IS A FASHION SHOW I WILL REMEMBER.  I AM NOT SURE ELDER HUNT LIKED IT,  BUT, I DID!  IT WAS PRETTY FUN!

 

 

 

 



 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

 

HAPPY  NEW YEAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Elder Baxter was the decorator...
I felt like I was at the Gold & Green Ball.  (if you are too young to know what that was...don't ask)!

 

 

I am too old for this....made it to 1:00 a.m.

The South Africans love the fireworks!

 

Wishing Everyone a great 2014!

I Met a Sheik --- A Mission Vacation!

On Tuesday the 19th of November I took off on Air Emirates to visit my adventurers (Wade and Katelyn). They seem to find themselves in strange lands and places. They moved in September from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Mr. Whitt arrived on November 3rd and I took a little time to see this new little member of our family. 

Bob stayed home and "missionaried", and I went off for a week.  The best part of the trip was seeing our cute little family that lives there.  It had been a long time since we had seen them (summer of 2012) when they came on their yearly excursion to the home land. 
They were all great and have a busy little life in the Arabian Desert.
Bode has own style walking around in soccer clothes and is African Drum made out of Elephant hide. He has lots to say about everything,
Tessa is still a ballerina, rides her bike and has grown up. She goes to an English School so she wears her uniform and she looks dang cute.  Bode goes off to pre-school
and his gymnastics class. I got to watch him right before I left to come back to SA.
Christmas trees were decorated,  Hibibi(sp) the Arab elf arrived from the North Pole and we were all excited.  It was fun for me to see baby Whitt.  He looks great after his scary entry into the world.

Dubai was so much more than I expected.  It is an oasis out in the middle of a very arid desert.  As you drive from one place to another it is sand everywhere.  Then you come in to these little areas that are amazing.   The city has three different business areas.  Each is amazing, you drive into the area and the landscaping is beautiful.  The architecture is unbelievable.  It is like you are going into a city of the future.  The look is ultra modern and then sprinkled with a few amazing building with traditional architecture.  The two hotels below are examples.
Everything is very new, while I was there they were celebrating "National Day", the beginning of United Arab Emirates.  The country is officially 49 years old.  Forty Nine years ago the Sheiks of Abu Dhabi and Dubai realized they had a dying area.  The source of income was pearls!  They decided to develop this international  financial mecca.  Pretty wise.  The current Sheiks are still committed to being at the very edge of all new tech stuff.  It is a very international community.  Some of the best Tech minds from all over the world live there.
The crime rate is extremely low, almost non existent and it is immaculate.  In one week I saw one item on the ground.  A cigarette but tossed in a bush and that was it. The standard of living is high, it is expensive and it is very pleasant.  I worry that the wanderers will never come home.  The seem happy, like the job, like the ward, like the friends....Echhhhh.
The ward building is a restored villa.  The church had it redone so they could have a place to meet.  There are two wards in Dubai.  There are no signs on the building.  However, I was impressed that I saw a number of references to Christmas, decorations etc in the malls. Generally, that is a no go! But, it is a very progressive culture and society.

The malls are something else.  There are something like 7 in Dubai. They are a shopping women's wonder. They have all of the big name boutiques from around the world.  I did see a Bloomingdales.
The two largest are 1) where the Burj Khaif  is (Burj means tower and Khalif is the name of one of Sheiks).  2) The other is where ski Dubai is located.
Burj Khalif is the tallest building in the world I think I was told it is once and a half taller than the Empire State Building.  I kept looking up at the windows to see if I could see Tom Cruze crawling around outside, no such luck.  This mall was four stories, surrounded by a lake, dancing fountains, apartments, and really pleasant places to eat dinner.  You sit outside on veranda and watch the dancing water as you eat. The shops were stunning.  There is an aquarium in this mall.  Wade told me the large piece of Plexiglas below was the largest single piece ever constructed, it was broken as they were trying to install it.  They just had another one made.
Mall 2 is the home of Ski Dubai and a Cheese Cake Factory!  It is also the home of an artificial eco system that allow the Arabs to ski.  They do it.  It was strange to see them in their big robes with heavy quilted Jackets. There was a bakery similar to the Magnolia Bakery in NY, NY.  I tried to take a picture to two young girls in their garb (Women there are beautiful.  They look like they have their make professionally done before they leave the house), I wanted a picture to show you all how beautiful they are.  Suddenly, they rushed over to tell me that I had to erase their pictures, it is not allowed. They wanted to see the pictures in the my camera and they stood there while I deleted the 3 pictures of them.  They said their family does not allow it.  I did not argue, because I did not want to end up in a jail in the middle east with my name plastered all over the world as the dumb broad that took pictures of the Sheiks princesses or something.   They really were very nice and we chatted for 15 minutes.  They asked how I liked Dubai,  I said it was wonderful.  They said yes, just like the United States.  I told them that I love the United States, but most places are not as clean and beautiful as Dubai.  They liked that and did not call the military police on me!

 I really think Little Mr Hollywood thinks he lives in Hollywood  (but, it beats Hollywood all to heck).

Below are pictures of the most fantastic aquarium I have ever seen. It is located in Hotel / Resort In the pictures talking about architecture.  This place is on the beach and huge.  It is on Palm Island,  This is a man made island extending out into the ocean.  It is in the shape of a Palm Tree.  How they ever made it is beyond me. And, how do they keep the land eroding from the water? The aquarium is designed after the lost city of Atlantis that sunk into the sea.  It is pretty realistic.  You walk through chambers with fish and artifacts all around you.  The fish were awesome and the designed artifacts seemed that they could be authentic.  It was pretty neat! The little princess and prince are residing in a huge oyster shell.

I liked it a lot.  I definitely want to go back there sometime when I can spend more time and go to the camel races and visit the attraction more in depth.    I just need to keep reminding my kiddos....There is no place like home!

CHRISTMAS BELOW THE EQUATOR

MERRY CHRISTMAS

It's not beginning to look like Christmas
Anywhere we go

Haven't seen many trees with lights,
 Santa or mistletoe.

But, the prettiest sight to see

Was red and green

Perfectly wrapped around

the old palm tree.

 

It's not beginning to look like Christmas

We miss sparkling lights and snow

Here it is summer....

And the perspiration does flow.

We wondered if Santa would  come on

An Elephant or Giraffe

Would he be black or white

Either could make us laugh.

It IS beginning to look like Christmas

Any where we are

Because we know Christmas is in the heart

and is attached to a His shinning star!

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Oh, we miss you all....near and far.   As you can see from the pictures our Christmas was pretty traditional in many ways.  Christmas Eve was spent going to the Baxter's playing games and eating pizza with all the missionaries.  On Christmas Day we had a great devotional with the other missionaries.  Then partook of a very traditional Christmas Dinner.  The month of December was busy making treat boxes (lots of them) for the members of the branch and for some of the people we have met in the township.  It was not much but they do get excited. 

Christmas is very low key here compared to the states.  In our branch most people do not give gifts to each other.  The celebration consists of getting together with their families and having a braai (barbeque).  No one I know of had a tree other than the Baxters (other missionary couple).  I know some of the Afrikaners (whites) do have trees and  have a more traditional (as we see it) Christmas.   There are very few outside decorations.  The Christmas program at church was a typical meeting but with  talks and music focused on Christ.  It was the first time all month that they even sang Christmas Carols in church.  We missed the good musicians in our home ward.   The best part of Christmas for us was talking to and seeing our cute little grandchildren (and of course children).  They are growing and changing so fast. They are all busy. 

Wade, Katelyn, Tessa, Bode, and baby Whitt are still living in the Middle East in Dubai. They always have fun experiences to share with us and they seem to thrive there.

Adam, Lori, Parker, Addison, and baby Cameron are still in Sandy.  They do a good job  going down and taking care of our abode there.  Addison always has lots to tell Grandma, not many secrets there.

Rian, Jim, Carter, Morgan, and Gavin are skiing fanatics and are very good.  They love all the snow! My little lovelies are very good students (honor roll) and are swimmers, skiers, soccer players and busy.  Jim and Rian visited us in September and it was very fun.

Bob and I are busy, busy.  We do like it here and love the people we work to support.  They are amazing.  Sometimes I forget my skin is white.  The work can be hard, we have not seen the branch move along as it should, but there have been some changes.  But, I know we have made a difference in the individual lives of a number of people.  We have been so appreciative of the kind generosity of our family and ward friends in supporting our work.

 

There are miracles all around us.  Nana passed in October in her 104th year.  It was a blessing.  This year we are  also thankful of the miracle of new life in birth of Cameron and Whitt.  We know that Whitt is evidence of the kind hand of our Heavenly Father.  We will be ever thankful for the many prayers and fasting from our family and friends.  Prayers do make a difference. 

As usual our thoughts this season turn to Reid.  We miss him terribly, but the sting is easing. We know he is where he should be.  And, that brings us to our thankfulness for the redeeming sacrifice of our Savior.  He lives, as does Reid and those we love, as we will also. 

 

 Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year!!

 

 

 

 

 

A MONTH FOR THANKSGIVING AND MIRACLES

Definitely one of the big sacrifices of being on a mission is leaving your family, children and grandchildren. This Thanksgiving I was on one continent and Bob on another.  He stayed in Africa had a traditional meal with the Baxters (bless Sister Baxter's heart) and other missionaries.  The next day they were off on a five hour trip to Tzaneen for a Zone Conference.

I flew to Dubai to check out the Hunts there and especially the new little Whittman Hunt.


Since leaving on the mission we have been blessed with two new Grandsons.  We are Thankful.

Mr. Cameron Robert Hunt was born in May.  With every picture I see how much he a grown and I realize I am missing a special snuggly part of his life. 

                Cameron Robert Hunt
                       Six months old



Mr. Whittman Wade Hunt arrived November 1, 2013. 

Whittman Wade Hunt

Four weeks old

 Little Whitt entered this world under very trying circumstances.  It is hard to be far from you children and know they are suffering, There were a number of very anxious days worrying about what would happen.  I am so thankful for the many, many prayers offered in his behalf.  Many of our family and friends from around the world and from many religions prayed hard for his recovery.  A testimony that God hears all righteous prayers.  Wade and Katelyn know many folks that love and support then.  While visiting in Dubai he got a clean bill of health from the pediatric neurologist.  I do believe in Miracles and Whit is one.

The month of November has been good to us through the years; Reid was born in November, Gavin was born in November (both the 16th) and now Whitt.  We are thankful.

THE CLEANING LADY

I now have a cleaning lady.  It is presumed the mission is all sacrifice and the question is why do I need a cleaner for a two room flat?  Well, I don't need one. Meeting Martha started my need for the cleaning lady.

MEET MARTHA

                                

Martha came to church one day.  She just showed up.  She was peppy and interactive with everyone.  She told me she had moved from a town between Joburg and Nespruit.  I liked her pretty much right away.   She is in her early to mid fifties with lots of energy.  She told me she joined the church in the early 90's.   

I gave her a ride home and she had me let her off on the main road.  She explained she lived like a "squatter".  I told her it didn't matter where she lived.  That I would like to come visiting teaching to her.

The next week I drove the same ladies home.  They live in a big circle of maybe 12 to 15 miles and it takes a while.  Elder and I are teaching some temple classes.  But, that Sunday Elder Hunt came out and told me that I need to take someone to the clinic. So I drove them to the clinic, dropped them, then came back and got the ladies for the big take home trip.  I could hear the ladies chatting in the back seat.  When we get to Sister Solita's House she asked me to wait for a minutes.  She ran into the little tack shop (small neighborhood store that people run out of their garages) and came back with two bags full of groceries.  After I dropped the others off Sister Martha and I were alone in the car.  I asked if she was alright.  "Ahhh Sister Hunt life is hard."

MARTH'S STORY                            

    Martha had been married and was an active member of the church.  Both she and her husband had been to the temple and had been very active.  They were never able to have children.  He did have an decent job and she sold clothing that she would go to Durban to buy, then bring it back and sell it on the streets.  She said they had build a nice home and she loved it.   Her husband had the roving eye, or as Martha tells it he liked the young girls.  One  day he came home and kicked her out of the house. He explained that his young girl friend was moving  into her home.  He physically moved her out.  He also told her that he was divorced from her.  He went to court and divorced her without her knowing it.  He took someone to be in her place pretending to be her.  She then took him to court to divorce him.  When the judge heard the story, he reprimanded the husband then motioned that she would have 1/2  of everything they had.  The husband  then started threatening her that he would have her killed if she tried to get anything.  He would hire someone and blow her away (common here in Africa).  She was trying to hide from him.  She had grown up in KaNyamazne  and had some family here, so she ran away to here.  She had no place to live.  She noted that when she had things her family were always coming to stay with her, but when she had nothing to offer them they had little interest.  That was about 5 years ago.  She thought the only church was in Nelspruit, and there is no way she had money to attend church, then one of her sister's children told her about the church in KaNyamazne.

I asked her how she got food.  "Ahhhhh, Sister Hunt, it has been so hard."  I go around to see if I can get a piece job."  Washing window, racking a yard, etc.  And that is how I got Martha the cleaning lady.  I told her she could come one day a week.  Here in SA domestic help is not expensive Rand 100 per day  ($10). Think of it $10 a day, they show up at 7:00 am.  Work until 3 or 4.....$10 a day.  All the whites here have domestic help for 5 days a week.
So I struck a deal with her to clean for me one day a week

 

and she has been coming for the past 3 weeks.  I always try to send food home with her and pay extra to pay her way home. Most weeks Elder Hunt and I drive her one way

One of her sisters sold her a small stand (building lot) in back of a house she was selling. She paid Rand 50 for it  ($5.00 American).  She then became very ill.  She started building her own house on the stand with things that she could find that had been discarded. 

THE HOUSE THAT MARTHA BUILT

This is the house that Martha built.  I has no electricity, no water, no outhouse.

It is about  8 by 10 feet.   There are not chairs, not even one to sit down on during the day.  She cooks using a paraffin stove.

She bathes in a tub in some trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



                               SIDE VIEW

 



                  

This is a view of the inside.  For a bed she puts a blanket on the floor and sleeps there.  Since working she bought herself a used foam pad to sleep on.  The rains have been bad, so she has dug a big hole around the house and piled the dirt up the sides so the water does not get in from the ground, but the roof leaves something to be desired.   

WHEN POOR IS POOR

 I can remember telling my children when they were growing up that they could not have something because, "we are poor".  I know now that most of us have no idea what poor is.  Sister Martha is a reminder of how blessed we are.  Elder Hunt took a friend of ours from the township to her house to get some advice. He has seen plenty of hardship, but when he saw this, it he had to leave for 5 minutes or so because  he was so overcome with emotions that someone had to live in such deprivation.

I explained to "Builder Bob" we have to do something about this and he agrees.

  But, for now I know I must never forget this picture.  My cute little cleaning lady, that in all reality has nowhere to clean of her own.