Mission Home Dinner

Our new elders have had a full day! After the temple site they went to the office to learn about their boardings, take a driving test (on the left side!), go proselyting, and have an interview with President Thompson! They have been up early, so by now they are starting to get tired! But usually food helps, so I have prepared dinner, and then we will have testimony meeting, and assignments will be declared!

 Elder Hiatt

 Elder Waite

 Elder Ockey

 Elder Tamanivula

 Elder Memmott and Elder Watson

 We are waiting for President Thompson!

 Elder Ndlovu

 Elders Tamanivula and Rangwanasha

 Elders Waite and Memmott

 Elder Ockey

 Waiting for the big reveal as to who their companions (trainers) will be, and what area they will be serving!

 Suspense!

 Laying out the map of the mission!

 Elder Ostler (AP) will reveal the areas and companions!

 After dessert, the missionaries were kind enough to help clean up and do dishes!

 Yes, I have a lot of aprons!

A Stop at the Temple Site

On our way from the airport to the mission office, we stop at the Durban Temple Site

 Elder Hiatt

 Elder Rangwanasha

 Elder Memmott

 Elder Ockey

 Elder Tamanivula

 Elder Waite

 Elder Ndlovu

 Elder Watson

Our Newest Missionaries

Just before Christmas our new missionaries arrive!

 Assistants, Elders Ntaka and Ostler welcome our new missionaries

 Elder Tamanivula

 Elder Rangwanasha

 Elder Waite

 Elders Ockey, Tamanivula, Memmot, Ndlovu, Rangwansha, and Hiatt

 Singing at the airport!

 A young lady who was also waiting at the airport is playing the piano for our Elders to sing

 Elders Ndlovu, and Waite

 Elders Ockey, Hiatt, and Memmot

 A favorite hymn in KZN is "Come Come Ye Saints"-  a radio disc jockey on a local radio station that had 8 million listeners would play this hymn everyday as the means to end his show! Lots know it!

 This gentleman videotaped the missionaries song. He is a pastor in a different African country and

spoke with President (in French) about the church! He wanted to get a selfie with President!

Welcome to Durban Elders!

Filming

CHURCH TRAINING VIDEO

Brother Blair Treu, film director, flew to Durban to film President Thompson for a new training video for missionaries!

President Thompson talks about the importance of missionaries being obedient.

One of our departed missionaries, Elder Baumgartner, will also be featured on the video about his story while serving in Lesotho last year. Elder Baumgartner and the other missionaries were asked to stay inside their apartments one afternoon due to some civil unrest. They were asked to study since it was a Sunday! However, Elder Baumgartner and his companion and two other missionaries decided to build a ramp to jump a bicycle outside. While Elder Baumgartner made the jump, the front tire of his bike detached and caused a horrible crash. Elder Baumgartner broke his jaw, his face was scraped, plus arms and hands. He had to have to jaw wired shut for six weeks and was sent home early. If these missionaries would have been obedient to what was asked, this accident would not have happened. Needless to say, the story will be part of a safety video that will be ready in about six months to use as training for missionaries!

 Brother True director and produced the movie called "Meet the Mormons", plus a host of others!

Goodbye Sister Jenson

Sister Jenson - A True Pioneer

South Africa has not had Sister Missionaries for the past twelve years! However, about 18 months ago we received a phone call from Sister Jenson. Many years ago, she and her late husband had served a mission here. She had always wanted to come back. President Thompson was able to get permission for her to return and serve a mission as a Senior Sister Missionary.

As a result of Sister Jenson coming to Durban, we now have five more Senior Sister Missionaries!

Each one of them have had incredible experiences and witnessed miracles. We hope to receive more!

Sister Jenson just finished! Thanks to her, she was a true pioneer to the other Sisters serving here!

We thank her for her dedicated service and will miss her!