One of Our Elders Featured

We are so proud of all of our missionaries! We are always excited to highlight their stories!

Click on the link below to read the story:

One of Our Elders Featured on LDS.org

A Pastor and His Wife

This former pastor and his wife were baptized just a few

weeks ago!

President Thompson and I had the privilege

of going with the missionaries to one of

their teaching appointments at the home of

this wonderful couple. He was a pastor that

felt as if there was something missing! He

obtained a pass-a-long card and called the number

on the back where you can get a free

Book of Mormon. Two missionaries delivered

the book and started teaching. When President and

I went to their home, the gentleman announced that

he knew the church was true and there was no denying

it! He was eager to tell his congregation, but did

not want them to follow him, just to follow him. He

would take them pamphlets and share what he found

to be true, and would encourage them to seek the missionaries!

His wife had some very difficult questions that night.

I was so impressed with the strong spirit that guided our

young missionaries to answer with some of the most

profound answers I've ever heard! The spirit truly does

work through these young men - no doubt! This man and

his wife announced to their congregation at Easter that they had joined

the church!  His son, who is living a couple of hours away, is also

being taught by the missionaries!  

I am convinced there are many

miracles happening in preparation for the temple that is being

built here! It is such a blessing to be part of this important work of

bringing happiness, joy, peace, and comfort through the gospel of Jesus

Christ to the people of South Africa! I'm convinced that many are prepared

and ready to receive the gospel here! 

One of our couple missionaries

told us that they not only pray for the missionaries to find 

people to teach, but that they pray for the people to find the

missionaries! President and I have adopted this into our prayers as well.

We've seen more miracles as a result in the last month - well over

50 investigators just showed up at the various wards and branches,

without invitations from the missionaries! It is continuing! 

Couple's Conference

We were able to see giraffe, zebra, rhino, hippo, alligator,

impala, nyala, cape buffalo, wildebeest, and some

interesting birds on our game drive.

 We left so early for our game drive, that we stop to

eat a breakfast that was packed for us!

 Lunch line!

 We visit a Zulu compound and learn a lot about the

Zulu culture and labola (labola is where a man must

pay cows in order marry a young woman).

 We learned that when a young man turns

about 16, he builds a hut where he can

sleep apart from the rest of the family.

 This hut is used as an ancestral hut - meaning,

that when a family member has a problem, they

can go inside to talk to their ancestors.

 Ancestors are a very important part of the Zulu culture.

 A spear to slaughter a cow!

 A final meeting to wrap up our conference. We also

conclude with a testimony meeting!

 The Van Uitert's

 The Wood's

 The Brown's

 The Petersen's

 The Dransfield's

 The Rhodes

The Collins

 The Porter's

 President Johns

The entire group!

Couples Conference

This past week, the couples throughout the mission attended 

a conference. We had several meetings, food, and a few

activities! This gave us an opportunity to discuss the

progress of the mission, and counsel together on ways

we can improve the mission, and the Districts and

independent branches.

 South Africa has amazing trees!

 The relaxing lanai off the lobby.

 We held the conferences in a conference room at a

hotel. 

We dressed casual because we had a couple of activities!

President Thompson led the discussion and gave some

remarkable instruction that was uplifting and edifying.

 We all participated!

 We were fed very well!

 A group of singers sang a few songs at dinner!

8th and 9th Grandchildren Due Same Day

I had to post this fun news! Our daughter is expecting our first granddaughter!

(photo below)

In addition to having seven grandsons, we are equally thrilled that our

daughter-in-law is expecting another boy!

We are so excited for both and are eager to see lots of photos

in October! 

Grandson and granddaughter are due on the same date!!!

Bloemfontein & Lesotho Zone Conference

Arriving for Zone Conference in Bloemfontein!

 Setting up the room for our meetings.

 Leadership council before Zone Conference.

 Morning snack before the conference begins.

 Cleanest boarding awards!

 Our April birthdays!

 Lunch break!

 Pizza is the favorite food of our missionaries!

 Elder Groesbeck (right) is the only person I know since the

time we've been married that has

ever been able to pull an April fools joke on President. Every

year President is able to play a joke on me, and this year

I giggled and giggled as this young missionary finally got

President! 

 Another successful conference!

Time to get back to work!

The conference was wonderful! So many uplifting and teaching

topics about prayer, yielding our hearts to God, an being bold!