South Africa

Hi chickadees,
    This week was a break from the norm......we took a little walk-about to South Africa - and boy, was it nice

 to have a moment to breathe. Monday, we flew out early in the A.M. to Maputo where I had an eye appt at an eye clinic

 based in India.  After waiting for over 2 hours, I finally saw the doctor who said that he wanted to dilate my 

eye to check the retina. Well, by then I'd been there 2 1/2 hours so I asked how long it would take and he 

said another 1 1/2 hours.  Oh Africa....sigh....  Dad had scheduled a dusk drive in Kreuger Park for us that 

day so we had to leave Maputo in 45 minutes to cross the border and make it in time, so we said we would come 

back on Saturday, which meant that we would have to get up super early on our last day but oh well, what do 

you do? So we took off. After the two border crossings, we got there with just enough time to check in to our

 guesthouse and head to the park. We hadn't eaten, so Dad ran off to buy us each a waffle from the only food

 place we saw, while I boarded the safari jeep. We were starving! I felt kind of stupid eating while everyone else 

was pulling out their binoculars and getting primed to leave, but when you gotta eat, you gotta eat....
    We didn't see as many animals as we saw when we went before and when it got dark it was kind of

hard to see the ones that we did find. We had to use spotlights to look for them. 

We decided that the day drives are better. 

 Here's Dad getting a picture of the giraffe before it got dark. 
 

An elephant with her baby - but so hard to see in the dark!

After the safari, we went to get dinner and could only find a little 7-11 type store open so we stopped and bought some stuff and headed back to the guesthouse. We ate and fell into bed because we had gotten up at 5:30 that morning and had been driving all day, and we had to get up at 5:00 AM for a day safari that was scheduled for the next day. 

At 5:00 am we rolled out of bed in super cold weather, got dressed, and stumbled outside to meet the safari jeep. It turned out to just be us and another couple from England who were really nice. It was freezing!!!

 I had on my North Face coat, gloves, and an ear band, and I was still so cold!! They gave us each a blanket and we all tried to bundle up which was hard when you're driving 50 mph in an open jeep. The guy from England wrapped it over his head. The guide said it was the coldest day of the year - yay!...... It was also super foggy and we didn't see hardly any animals. 

But here's a few....

Water buffalo with the 'cleaning bird' on its back.

Zebra!!

Dad watching the hippos at a rest stop

Impalas

Pumba!

We found out that the park does a 'burn' every June and July to clear the brush and it had just been done a couple of weeks before so the animals had migrated from that part of the park. Big bummer..... We had scheduled a full day's drive but the other couple had just booked a 1/2 day so when it was time for them to go back, the guide asked us if we wanted to continue or stop because the sightings were so poor and we were so cold. We opted to cut it short and go back.

 We called the Bed & Breakfast in Neilspruit - the next city that we were going to - to see if they had a opening for that night. They did! When we got to the guesthouse, we asked if we could check out that day because there wasn't any reason to stay on that night. She said we could if we paid for the full day safari, so we did and took off to Neilsprut - after a stop at the gift shop...

In Neilsprut, we stayed at a place that Ann Hobson - other Sr. Missionary in Maputo - had recommended called Utopia. Oh boy, did it live up to it's name!! It was one of the nicest, most eclectic places we have stayed in.

The couple that own it, built it as their home and then decided to turn it into a Bed & Breakfast. She is from England and he is Middle-Easteen and they met in Saudi Arabia and got married 15 years ago. They're like early 60's and so cute! She says things like "Well, let's just get you sorted out." and "How was your day? Was it lovely?" Their home is filled with antiques, paintings, and things from all over the world. And it borders on a forest, has a view on 3 sides, and beautiful gardens around it. Now granted, we have been surrounded by houses made of sticks and cinder block, garbage piles, feral dogs, and contaminated water, but I think I would still love it just as much pre-mission. But we enjoyed it 10 times more because of what we've been surrounded by for the last while. So relaxing - a word or state of being that hasn't been part of our vocabulary or lives for over a year. Ahhhh.....! It was WONDERFUL!!!

This is the lounge area - the chandelier is made from bicycle rims with lights

Our bedroom overlooking the forest

The deck where we ate breakfast

Ok, y'all are probably bored by decor pics so here's what we did:
We ate - and ate - and ATE! And then we ate some more. Actually, we only ate twice a day because we had such a big breakfast, but our meals were so big and so good! When the only restaurant food you can buy is pizza and grilled chicken, and the food you prepare is limited by availability - which is hit and miss, of poor quality, and so labor intensive when you can get it, because it has to be bleached, rinsed, yada yada, then food loses a lot of its appeal. So being able to eat any kind of food and have it always be delicious is a novel experience. Oh, and it's about half the price in South Africa, and we can't eat salads in Mozambique because they are not sanitary so we had a salad with every meal!

And I got my hair cut so I look semi-normal. Hip, Hip, Hooray!!! The yucky water kills my hair and it was kind of a shapeless pile of straw. It was heaven sitting in a real salon!! (Crystal, my hair and I miss you!)

And we shopped. Well, I shopped after my appointment for a bit and then the next day, we went to a Costco type of store (but not as big) to buy mini DVD players for the mission. That was a blast! One, because I haven't seen so much merchandise in one place in forever, Two: because the stuff was all new with tags (in Beira, a lot of the stores sell used stuff that they've 'reconditioned'), Three: it was cheap - just like Costco -, and things cost a fortune in Beira. Dad and I each got a pair of jeans and I bought a new top because my clothes are starting to look shabby (the water....) plus, like maternity clothes, I'm sick of the same ten tops.
And we went to the dentist for the first time in over a year to get our teeth checked and cleaned but due to a misunderstanding, the cleaning appointments weren't scheduled so that was a bust.
And we went to a Jane Goodall chimpanzee preserve for abused chimps.

This guy used to be in the circus so he showed us where his ears are.

And how strong he is. ;)

We had an interesting incident there. We were with a Dutch couple and their younger teenage son for our tour. While we were listening to the girl explain about the monkeys, I started to feel kinda woozy and broke out into a cold-sweat. And I was so thirsty! I thought, "I better sit down. I'm gonna pass out." But I didn't want to make a fuss and thought I'd be fine until the end of the tour. I just leaned on the rail of the fence. The next thing I knew, Dad was saying, "Kim, are you ok?" It took me a minute to realize that I was laying prone on the concrete. I was so embarrassed! I started to pop up but everybody said to stay down because I had just fainted. Oh boy....
I had kind of forgotten to drink my electrolyte drink each day while we were traveling, and I guess the low blood sugar/low sodium got too low and Boom!, I bit the dust. The place got me a coke and some water to drink. I happened to have a drink packet with me - it's part of my purse 'if we get stuck tool-kit' so I mixed it up and drank it and started to feel better pretty quick. I asked Dad what happened and he said that he noticed that I started leaning into the teenage boy (poor kid!) but he thought I was just stretching. (Really???? I'm laughing even as I write that.) Then I just kind of slumped and went down. No, he didn't catch me. But he did think that maybe I was having a seizure so he was trying to figure how to keep me from biting my tongue. (Ok, now I'm laughing out loud as I write this. Oh Dad....) So, he thought my leaning into a stranger was 'stretching' and didn't catch me before I hit the concrete, but he did try to think of how to prevent me from biting my tongue. (I'll be smiling about that one for a long time...Bless his heart....;) To be fair, it's the first time in our 35 years of marriage that I've ever fainted. I told him that I wished he had taken a picture. The people would have been appalled, but it would have been such a good picture!
Dad was thinking that we ought to leave, but I thought I would be fine if I sat down, so we brought a chair over and I sat like an old lady for the tour. 

After the chimps, we went to the Sudwalla caves.

We had some 'ducking down' in places:

But mostly, we just relaxed and enjoyed some downtime (both rarities). We were long overdue and it was wonderful!! 

On Saturday, we got up super early to drive back to Maputo to be there in time for part 2 of my eye appt. Going to South Africa, it took 3 hours to cross the border into South Africa but coming back, we waited 5 hours to get across. It was a combination of bad timing and bad luck. We moved - and didn't move - at 5 mph max. The highway (I use that term loosely - it was a narrow, 2-lane road) was packed with semis, cars, trucks, and trailers stacked to the gills. When we finally inched up to the South Africa border, Dad got in one line for some required form and I got in the passport line. After 20 minutes, I saw him get out of line and leave the building - not a good sign. I made it to the front of the line, but still no Dad and I couldn't get out of line to check where/why he had gone. I had people go around me and he eventually came back. It turned out that the South Africa border hadn't given us a 'vehicle permit' when we entered the country and so they didn't want to let us out of the country without paying a penalty. Dad found an officer and that guy called the head of customs, who came over. After some negotiating, the guy stamped the paper and we got through.
At the Mozambique border, we got in line and then Dad left it to check on something and when I got to the front I had to explain to the people again - but this time in Portuguese - to go around me while I waited for my husband. The hang-up this time was that something wasn't stamped at the South African border when we left so unbeknownst to me, Dad jumped in the truck and drove back to that border, got the stamp, and drove back. The red-tape is endless here. Oh Africa.....
We cleared that border and headed into the country. Long story, short, the doctor's office was closed by the time we got there and the doctor was in the parking lot getting ready to leave. He told me to come back anytime but when you're 8 eight hours away, it's not going to happen. Maybe in Virginia......
We had planned to go to lunch with Tidwells and Hobsons so we headed over to the restaurant, Cafe de Sol. Mexican food - yummmmm!! It was so good! I got a burrito to take home with me (yes, I'm that desperate...).

There was a small craft fair going on there so we bought a few things.

Then we headed to a local marketplace.
Here's Ann playing checkers with a guy. They paint squares on a piece of cardboard and use drink lids for the pieces.

Here's an aisle in the craft part of the marketplace:

And us by the produce:

I have kind of wanted to buy a black wig to see what I would look like, so I tried one on. I don't think I'm a good brunette though. :)

When Dad got out the camera, the sales-girl grabbed a wig and posed with me.

 

After the market, we went back to the Hobsons apartment to hang-out and visit before our plane left. Maria, the cute girl that left Beira last week to start her mission in Maputo, happened (well, it was really a 'tender mercy') to come home with her companion for a few minutes. Ann called her over and when she walked in and saw me, she was so surprised! It was fun!! She's happy and doing so well on her mission. I really admire these kids that haven't had a lot of experience in the church or working with the public, or even been on a plane, being willing - even anxious - to serve a mission. They have a lot of faith! A lot.

When it was time to go, Dad and I drove to the church to meet the APs, who were taking us to the airport because they had some stuff for us to take back to Beira (our mission's pony-express service). Dad talks to the office several times a week because he's their 'point man' here in Beira. And it's been a running joke that we've never met the office elders, particularly an Elder Douglas who is the main problem-solver in Maputo and the one that calls Dad the most and visa versa. Dad mentioned something to that effect when we were talking to the Tidwells because they work in the office and Sandy mentioned that E. Douglas would like to meet Dad, so Dad called him and said, "Am I ever going to meet you or are you just a recording like the Wizard of Oz?" So he and his companions came to the church too to meet us, well, Dad mostly. They'll miss him - and his ability to "put out fires" - when we go. Elder Douglas is the line-backer on the far right.

Then we were on the plane and back to reality. Goodbye South Africa! Thanks for a lovely week!!
Sure love you guys lots & lots & lots!!!!! ~mom

P.S. Hope you're having a fun, relaxing anniversary get-away, Brooke and Josh! And hope you're having a great (and safe!!!) adventure in Belize, Chad and Chanelle!

"I would ask if all is done ?" (2 Ne. 31:19)‏

From Sunday, October 27, 2013 thru Sunday, July 6, 2014 we attended the Dondo Branch. Almost half of our mission was spent in this humble, tiny branch. We love the members and miss our association with them but we enjoy meeting other members in the various other branches.

This week Mom and I have flown to Maputo and then traveled to Kruger Park and Nelspruit, South Africa. While we had internet service at a Whimpy Burgers, we learned that Aubrey's release date is December 11th. Her exciting itinerary for December 11th will be, from Honduras to El Salvador to Houston to Amsterdam to Johannesburg. Returning home together with Jason, Chad & Chanelle on December 26th. 

To help you to continue to focus on your mission.....

Nephi asks: "And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you Nay" (2 Ne. 31: 19) 

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with

1.)  a steadfastness in Christ, [faith]

2.)  having a perfect brightness of hope, [hope]

3.)  and a love of God and of all men, [charity] 

Wherefore, if ye shall press forward [with faith, hope & charity] 

4.)  feasting upon the word of Christ, [daily scripture study] 

5.)  and endure to the end,

behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

(2 Ne. 31:20) 

A few photos from this week:

Kruger Park

 

 

 Notice the white bird on the back of the water buffalo 

Mom at a dentist in Nelspruit, South Africa

 

 

 Bananas sold in boxes

 

 

 

Today, we went to a Jane Goodall orangutan encounter  

I Love You!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants...‏

Hi guys,
It's midnight and we have to get up early (more on that later...) 

so I'm gonna be brief.  "Just the facts, Ma'am."

     But first: (drumroll, please....) CONGRATULATIONS TO 

JASON FOR GETTING ADMITTED INTO THE MBA PROGRAM!!!! 

We are way happy for and proud of you!!  Way to go!! 
    Ok, back to the facts: It was transfer week so Monday the elders 

all raced to the internet places to see what the changes were. 

They had heard that there were going to be a lot and they were 

right - we had 31 elders either coming or going to Beira, which

 meant that we made a lot of trips to the airport on. Our last one 

on Monday was late and we didn't get home Til 1:00 am - so tired!!
 

I had to entertain these guys

 while we waited for the others to take a group shot.

Tuesday was staff meeting but it started an hour later because of transfers so we had to leave early because we had an appoinntment at the Portuguese consulate with one of our elders to help him get a visa for Portugal. He's from Maputo but has been called to Portugal so he's been serving here I Beira while he waits for his visa to Portugal. We also met Carlotta at the consulate for Dad to help her with her visa. She's local girl from Manga who's been called to serve in Portugal and had been having difficulty navigating the Portugal red-tape, so Tualufo (who's in the office) called and asked Dad to help her. She's a cutie - spunky, lively, and laughs full-on. We like her a lot!!
Success! Well, they don't have visas yet but they've cleared the next step. Getting visas is a major pain. The last elder had to go to the consulate 10 times before he got his visa. I played word games with the elder's companion while we waited in the waiting room for all of them to go through the process. He was a lot better than I am...;).
Anyway, here's Carlotta being schooled by Dad.

And with me and her sister, who came along with her.

When we finished there, we zipped home and I got my English lesson ready, threw some shrimp enchiladas together (trying to find ways to use our frozen shrimp supply - we bought 8 kgs last time), and headed to class. Finished class and zipped back home to eat fast and head to the airport. We had to go to Dondo which is 45 minutes away to get an elder, plus another on the way, and take them to the airport.

When we got there I saw Mariana and Graca, Pres. Camalizane's wife. They said, "Sister, hurry!!" and scooted me toward the door leading to security, which is inside a separate room. Maria (the cute girl that made me the earrings for us girls) had just gone through the security check and was on the other side of the conveyor belt. Graca told me to go inside but I told her that I wasn't allowed but she said "Go!!" and pushed me through. I paused in the doorway and asked the security woman if I could come in and she nodded 'yes' so I hurried in to Maria and gave her a hug across the belt. She started to cry and said, "Sister, I waited for you but you weren't here." I told her we had to drive far and got stopped by a policeman and then I started to cry too and we just held onto each other. Oh, she's a good one! I love her!! We couldn't take a picture in there but this is her from last Sunday.

Wednesday morning, we had two more elders flying out, so we made another trek to the airport. One elder wanted to have his suitcase Saran-wrapped ( I've gotta take a pic of that for y'all - it's so funny to watch them do it!) so I waited with him while Dad went to the ticket counter to get a place in line and get the other elder started. When the elder finished up, I turned to go with him to the counter and I heard, "Hey, there's a missionary." I looked over and there were four white people speaking English coming toward me and one woman says that they're from Utah and they're Mormon. She (Jessica) and the guy with them (John), both just sent their sons to the MTC last week. It turns out that Jessica's parents - her mom was with her - own a bullet manufacturing plant in Mona and John owns a gun-making business in Gunnison. They came here to hunt. For crocodile, leopard, Cape buffalo, and I'm not sure what else. They were so fun to talk to! We took a photo on Jessica's camera because I didn't have mine so I have to wait until they emerge from the bush and she has the internet to email it to me. They're the second group from Utah that's come to hunt big game. So crazy! What are the odds??

Thursday - I've finished the manual that I was using for my English class so I don't have material and have to come up with my own stuff. It's been a busy week, so I decided to play Guesstures again so they could practice their vocabulary plus they like it and best of all, it's super easy for me to prepare. ;) Here's a Marcio enthusiastically demonstrating something: 

(He's 16 and not a member, but heard about the class from his aunt, who is a member. He's so nice, smart, and has the cutest sense of humor. I love to tease him. We always start and end class with prayer and he recently volunteered to say it. It was a good prayer! I love the prayers that they say in class. They always ask Heavenly Father to help them learn English and to bless me in teaching them. It's a good thing - I need all the help I can get!!
This girl is demonstrating the word "dance." She got a few "Oohs..." when she picked the guy. ;)

 

 Friday, Sandi and I went capalana shopping (I know it seems like I do that a lot but it takes a lot to make clothes and other goodies for you guys!) and went to a new Chinese store that just opened up. There wasn't any parking by the store so we had to go around the block, park on the other side, and walk in the street because there was no sidewalk on one part. There we were, walking single file with the people, as chapas, cars, and trucks whipped around us, and Sandi hollers, "You know we're taking our lives in our hands." She was being tongue-in-cheek, but she was kinda right. The cars, especially the chapas, don't wait or slow down for anybody. I wanted a picture of the street, the people line, and the total craziness of it for you, but I was too busy trying to stay alive.

Saturday, we didn't have anything scheduled (hooray!) so I stayed home, did laundry, and packed. WE'RE GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA!! And I'm a little excited - ok, I'm ecstatic! For the break, for the good food, for the cleanliness, and for the SAFARI! We're going for all of the above but also for my eye which is better, but not cured from my bad eye infection. It's kinda scary - I hope it's not permanently damaged. I told Dad it won't be a very fun trip if they tell me that I'm going blind. He said it'll be a good thing that I'm gonna see everything before I go blind. "Oh Dad. Bless his heart!" So, I'm pretending my eye is fine and I'm going on an awesome vacation. ;) We're also getting our teeth checked - for the first time in over a year - and I'm getting a haircut which is just thrilling. It doesn't take much to thrill us these days. Ha! So lots of cool pictures in the next email. I hope!

Today, we visited the new branch again and I was better prepared to teach, now that I knew the President was a 'one woman show'. We had 45 kids and 11:30 - 2:30 is a long time for them to sit quietly so by 2:00 they were maxed out. So, we played 'Simao Disse' (Simon Says) cuz it worked so well in the other branch. These are my last ones standing. I should've had them flip around so you could see all the kids in the room. These guys were pretty proud of themselves for not getting tripped up.

At 4:00, we went to the piano recital that Sandy had for her students. While I was there I asked one of my tea party girls, Emilia, if I could borrow a pair of jeans because I don't have any long pants and it's supposed to be in the 50's in S. Africa. She was wearing a pair and I asked if she thought they'd fit me. She said yes but seemed a little hesitant. I said, " oh you probably need them for school." And Rudy piped up and said she was on vacation so I asked Emilia to be honest with me and tell me if it was ok for me to borrow them. When she said 'yes' again, I asked her how many pairs she had and she said, "Two." and I said "Oh, I better not take them for a week." And she said, "No Sister, I'm just going to be home for two weeks." The other girls were excited for me to try them on so we went in the bathroom and I tried them on under my dress. Stretchy jeans - one size fits all. Here we all are: Emilia is the one in the stall...

We gave them all a ride to Emilia's house so she could go in and change. When she got out, I asked if I should wait in the car or come in. I love to go in all the houses, but sometimes they're self-conscious. She kinda sighed and said, "Come on sister.", like, "If you're crazy enough to ask for my jeans, then why the heck shouldn't you come in my house?" So we all tromped in and waited while she changed. I didn't take a picture inside but here's the front door.

Some random pics:
Dad buying some bananas and tangerines.

I could hear him but I couldn't see him. I opened the window and he was right below us in the yard digging for worms and crowing up a storm!

Sweeping the classroom before English class. They used a torn page from a hymnbook as a dustpan...

Guys loading a frig to haul on their 2-wheel cart. I thought for sure it was gonna tip!

They made it!!

Somebody making a fire to stay warm in a field.

Well, it's after 1:30 - not a good way to start a trip. Sigh.... All you guys go on your trips this week too! Once again, there will be more of us out of the country than in. Chad and Chanelle, BE CAREFUL in Belize!! Brooke and Josh, Happy 10th Anniversary!! Aub, be safe and healthy in Honduras, and Jas, hope all went well with your Az. Adventure and a big Congrats again on Grad School!!!
I sure love you guys and wish I could blink you here for a few days! ~mama