Well…I’m telling you…they are working us very hard! Dad counted up the hours and we worked 36 1/2 hours in the temple this week. And that is with no real breaks to speak of. On the days we did get a break it was only 10-20 mins. I’ve only ever worked part time so this is new territory for me. But it is pretty amazing the number of people who come to the temple from all over the southern half of the continent of Africa. I think we had (pronounced “head" here) between 25 and 30 “New Endowments” (people coming to the temple for the first time) this week. In Fresno I would be surprised if we had 5-10. But then California has 7 temples to accommodate the members there. The Durban SA temple should be done in the next 18 months. And there are 2 others being built…one in Kinshasa (?) and I’m not sure….. For now…we are it and we are busy! I’m working on memorizing the ordinances in French. I memorized a few in Spanish to help in the Spanish session at home and it took me a very long time…. but the French is coming much faster. I feel like I have pretty good handle on a couple of them already. I don’t know if it’s because I already have the experience of memorizing in 2 languages and the 3rd is easier or if I’m being blessed so I can be of service. A bit of both perhaps.
There are 5 other Temple Missionary couples here. They have been so nice to us. Our fridge was full of everything we needed for the first week. It’s a good thing because trying to figure out the money, the shopping, the oven would have been too much. One couple took us shopping. The grocery store is right across the street. They even let us take our carts home with us. We just put them back in the lobby of the apartment complex and they collect them at the end of the day. We spent 1368 rands. ($104.00) I think Dad only had 800 with him. We are learning to use our new credit card quickly! 3 others took us to the Apple Store because I forgot the remote to the Apple TV. We went to Fournos a Portuguese bakery chain here. Dad and I had fun in there. We got a baguette, bagels, a couple of rolls, croissants, cookies, and muffins. We had to freeze most because there are no preservatives in the bread…but coming home from church yesterday, it was nice to defrost the bagels and split them and make grilled cheese. Another day we went to a candy store. Literally…all they had was candy. Nothing looked really familiar so I wasn’t much in favor of buying stuff. We did get a box of protein bars to take as snacks “if” we get a break at the temple. Dad got a little packet of what he hoped (and it was) a Good and Plenty knockoff. So….we’ve been out and about a bit. LOOMING before your father is the task of learning how to drive over here. I’m praying for him big time! Yesterday on our way home from church a “comby” (think the old volkswagen buses) and a police car ran a red light together!) Combies are one of the modes of transport here. They are crazy on the road. No rules. They put into them as many people as they need to. We are not allowed to travel on combies. (Not that I’d want to.)
We’ve been to church twice now. Last week we went to a ward. The other missionary couple and we were the only white people there. We were greeted very nicely. I was frankly amazed at how solid they were with their administration and their gospel knowledge. There were 4 talks and they were all based in the scriptures. I don’t know why…but my heart thrilled to hear them bear testimony of President Monson and the Book of Mormon. I told your dad that I felt like I was in the minority there….There were no old people in the congregation! Really! They were all in their 30’s and 20’s (except the kids) There must have been some that were in their 40’s because there were a few teenagers around…but no grandmas and grandpas. Sunday school and Relief Society was very much like at home. Good discussion. The SS teacher told in Priesthood how he didn’t have a way to get to church and he prayed that he could get there. So….he started walking. A cousin of his saw him and gave him money to take a bus (or comby???) so he was able to come. I love the lesson there. So…he started walking. The definition of faith.
Yesterday we went to District Conference. This is like Stake Conference but not so many people. They had a great choir. They were told to wear (pronounced “we’re”) black, white and red. The mission president who is the presiding authority there did a cool thing. He called the Elder who played the organ up to the microphone and asked him if he could play before he came on his mission. He said not really…just a little. He then asked if his companion had been teaching him. And he said yes. Pres. Leavitt said…as you were playing for the choir number I looked over at your companion and saw tears streaming down his face. He used this as an example of self-evaluation. This Elder wanted to play better to be of more service so he found a way and got to work. It was pretty tender. (Most of the companionships I saw were a mixed set…one white, one black.) I had similar feelings as I had last week when it came to hearing the choir sing songs from our hymnal and hearing testimonies of reading the Book of Mormon every day. I was trying to think of how to describe my feelings. The thing that came to my mind, even though it’s not an exact comparison, was when Alma and the Sons of Mosiah reunite after their missionary travels. I’ll change the words around a bit. Alma 17:2-3
2) Therefore I did rejoice exceedingly to see my brethren; and what added more to my joy, they were my brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men and women of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3) But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught they taught with power and authority of God.
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