Thursday, September 29, 2016

Facebook

Our mission also has a Facebook page! If you'd like to add us as a friend, go to Facebook and search for:   LDS Durban Mission    
Request to add us as a friend! Our Facebook page offers inspiring quotes, upcoming events, and offers photos and other info about South Africa.

Service

These fine young missionaries took time to do some service on their preparation day. So grateful for them!







Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Browns


We are so happy to meet the Browns. What a lovely couple! They come from California, and have already served in Nigeria a few years ago! We feel blessed to have them!



Dance

Missionaries demonstrating a tribal dance for some sweet young girls and President Thompson.




Monday, September 26, 2016

Jumping for Joy

The Elders are jumping for joy after meeting and training with President Thompson - not because its over, but because they are excited to implement what they've been taught. The spirit is strong! 








Interviews & Training



President Thompson traveled the entire mission last week to interview the elders and do small group training. We love all these fabulous young men, and appreciate their dedication at being great missionaries. 

 Elders from our three Umlazi areas, and Chatsworth

 Elders from Amanzimtoti, and Ilovu 

 Pinetown, Kwadabeka, & Molweni Elders
 Elders from Enselini and Richards Bay

 Elders of Imbali

 Our Elders from Kloof, Umbhedula 1 & 2,  & Mpumalanga

 I love seeing how well used Elder Frederick's scriptures look. This is the outside cover, and inside is more of the same. His scriptures are underlined, color coded, and well used.

 Our Elders of Dundee, Ezakheni & Ladysmith

 Love Elder Eastmonds energy!
 The young man on the far right is doing a mini-mission as he prepares to put his papers in and serve very soon. The news around the mission is that he is well prepared! He even baptized a young man last week. The Lord is definitely preparing these young men to share the gospel! President says he wishes we could keep him here because he's doing such a phenomenal job - but I'm certain he has a great example of a companion - Elder Smith!

 Elders of Madadeni 1, 2, & 3


 Elders of Phuthaditjhaba 1 & 2, and Bethlehem


 The outdoor baptismal font in Bethlehem
These Elders are ready to baptize!!!

Lesotho Elders of Maseru 1, 2, 3, Leribe, and Masianokeng

 Elders of Botshabelo

 Elders of Thabu Nchu

 Elders of Rocklands, Botshabelo, Thabu Nchu,  Welkom, Bloemanda, Bloemfontein, & Kroonstad


Elders of Kimberly (farthest west in our mission)

The Collins in Richards Bay

Our new couple missionaries have been assigned to Richards Bay. We are so excited to have them.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

The Collins Are Here!


We are so thrilled that the Collins are here with us in Durban. Unfortunately, President Thompson got very ill and we were not able to pick them up at the airport. However, the Sorensen's ventured through a rain storm and picked them up. We can't wait to meet this fabulous couple (as soon as President gets better!)

 Welcome to Durban!

It's a very long flight from the United States. From Salt Lake, and with layovers about 24 hours!

Thursday, September 8, 2016

"Come, Come Ye Saints"

When we first arrived in South Africa, President Thompson was standing in line to get chicken at a fast food restaurant. The woman below (on the right) asked him about his missionary name tag. He asked if she had ever heard about the Book of Mormon. She said "no, but I know our church's song". She started singing "Come, Come Ye Saints". She and president sang the entire song in the middle of the restaurant (many of you know president can't sing on key, but he didn't care!). A radio station in South Africa, heard by over 8 million people, plays that song by the Tabernacle Choir as it signs off the air each night. She agreed to see the missionaries. Besides the missionaries, we have been to her house, and she is pictured below at the mission home.



She shared some fascinating stories about her childhood. She was very close with her father. When he passed away, she and her siblings went to gather his belongings and found that everything he owned fit into a small grocery bag. One pair of shoes, a shirt, and a suit was all. She said that she didn't remember ever feeling deprived, and all four of her siblings went to college. She realizes now that her father must have sacrificed a lot for his family. We are praying that she and her family will be baptized. We love her, her daughter, and granddaughter.