New Elders Get Assignments

Our new Elders came to the mission home after spending time at the mission office. They spent time finding out about boardings. driving, and more. They even got to take a test drive (on the left side of the road). We had dinner, instruction, testimonies, and the reveal of where they are assigned!

 Madedeni is about a three hour drive north of Durban. It's a great area, and the Brown's (senior couple) are more than fantastic!

 Leribe is in Lesotho! The people are awesome there, and he'll have a wonderful trainer!

 The young man in the middle is leaving Durban to enter the MTC in Ghana. He joined us, the assistants, and our two new missionaries for the evening. We wish him the best!

We are blessed to have these two join us!

Goodbye Nicole

Words can't express the deep gratitude and immense love I have for Nicole. She has been my right hand buddy for the past six months (well, 18-1/2 years actually!).  Besides taking on-line classes thru BYU, she has helped President and I with any, and everything, we've asked that has been needed to run the mission. She has been an angel, a friend, and a positive reinforcement. We are going to miss her immensely! She will be attending BYU in Provo! We are so proud of her. We are so grateful that she wanted to come with us to South Africa. She is a shining example to all those who know her. She has a rock solid testimony of the gospel! She has a kind and thoughtful heart! We are blessed to have her as our daughter!

 President and I are officially empty nesters!

Best wishes to you Nicole! I know you will have many choice adventures at BYU.

Love you tons!

Our Newest

We received two new Elders today! Elder Thompson and the Assistants picked them up at the airport. I stayed back to help our daughter finish packing as she was leaving a few hours after to return to the United States.

 Welcome Elders!

 Our former, and new Assistants, with our newest missionaries!

 First stop is the Durban Temple site!

 Things are moving along with the new temple!

 Arriving at the mission office.

 Lunch and orientation with our office couples.

 So happy you are here!

Blessed to have these two new missionaries!

New Assistants Called

We have two new Assistants to the President!

 Elder Takau

Elder Dean

Merry Christmas from our Other Half

Merry Christmas to All!

From, 

Our second half of Elders serving inland.

Bloemfontein Zone

The Bloemfontein Zone 

with Elder and Sister Roberts

Newcastle Zone

The Newcastle Zone 

with Elder Brown (President's other counselor), Sister Brown

and Elder and Sister Rhodes

Lesotho Zone

The Lesotho Zone with Elder and Sister Chandler, 

and President Thompson's counselor, President Johns.

Christmas Dinner!

A big thank you to Sister Roberts who hired the caterers for our dinner! And another big thank you to Sister chandler for making these beautiful table centerpieces!

 So creative!

 Standing in line for food!

 Healthy foods first! 

 Lots of fabulous faces!

 The caterers!

 Bon Appetit!

 Our gift to the missionaries! 

In addition to a tie given my President and myself, the Elders got hygiene kits from the office! It included an individual thermometer, deodorant, shaving cream, a razor, soap, toothpaste, and toothbrush! These items always come in handy!

After our time in the gym, we moved into the cool chapel. The Assistants showed the video of various photos of our missionaries from throughout the year.

After that, we had our Back to Bethlehem Program! I can't believe how fabulous it all went without a single rehearsal.  I made certain that every Elder was invited to participate!

Another big thank you to the senior couples for the unexpected Christmas gifts. We are definitely spoiled to have such wonderful people to work with!

It was another fabulous party! If I haven't said it enough, we LOVE these young men!