Christmas in July

Poinsettia's in July

Everyone in George was so excited to see the "snow" on George peak.  To me it looked like a dusting.  I felt lucky to get the picture since it was gone the next day and the clouds where covering the mountain most of the time.

Welcome to winter in South Africa,
  It as been a most unusual 2 weeks in George.  As you can see by the picture in snowed on a Friday and was about 8 degrees C, about 46 degrees F in town.  It was very cold to me, we enjoyed our 2 small electric heaters and especially our electric blanket.  It rains very hard here and the wind is something else.  Marshall who lives in a small shack (bungalow) said he was afraid that his house was going to blow down.  Last Saturday we had a huge boom and we didn't have internet until Thursday.

Marshall Bongo is getting ready to serve an LDS mission and this is his missionary photo.

School was out for 3 weeks for their fall break.  I said that it seems that since we have gotten here that the kids are on holiday quite often.  They assured me that their kids go to school many more days than the kids in the US, about 200 days compared to our 180.

Elder Richins and I are having your palets delighted and challenged

Paw Paw, it looks a little like a cantaloupe in color but isn't has juicy.

Now for the challenging food.  Elder Speed and Elder Dladla wanted to experience a "true" African dish and Sister Mawindi was more than happy to oblige.  We met the Elders on the road and with a huge smile the Elders said to enjoy and a coke was a good friend.  These wonderful Elders decided that the Richins should also enjoy a "true" African dish.  We had just eaten our meal for the day and were full to begin with so, when we arrived Sister Mawindi went into the kitchen to dish up the "true" African meal.  She fetched Elder Richins from his car and this is what was placed before us.

Sister Mawindi and Elder Richins

The dish it goat innards. The white is "pop" a maize base which is very much staple in the African diet.  Sister Mawindi said that she got them from the butcher and she cleaned them very well.  She didn't tell us what it was we were eating and at first Elder Richins thought it was noodles but as he kept chewing and chewing he began to wonder.  Sister Mawindi said we would have to ask the Elders what we ate when we say them. I'm afraid we weren't the best guests, each of us got down about 4 bites, but we did take what we didn't eat to the Elders, lucky them!

Elder Richins giving out lollipops to all the kids in the area, and each week we come there seems to be more, surprise, surpries.  As we drive up the hill they just come flocking to the car. Whenever we are in the township we see kids out in the streets playing and always have big smiles.  Never do we hear any crying.

Last night we had our monthly activity which was a Family Home Evening.  The Pangels demonstrated a  FHE, their son Houston was a crack up and it was so much fun to see a "real" FHE in action.

After the "lesson" part of the FHE we went downstairs and played games.  Everyone who came had a great time.  This game was spoons.

I had to put these into my account of Africa.  ONLY brown eggs are to be found

Until I get tired of seeing these gorgeous sunrises and sunsets they will be part of my blog.  They are truly awe inspiring to Elder Richins and I.

Isn't she a cutie, we had a FHE with Balangila family and their daughter and I were singing.
The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock

After all the Elder's had finished their work for the day everyone came over to  drink  hot chocolate  and play the Tim Tam game, which isn't a game at all.  Tim Tam's are a chocolate cookie.  Two wafers with chocolate in the middle, then coated with chocolate.  You bite off the tip of each end, dip on tip into the hot chocolate, sip until it starts to melt and then pop it in your mouth.  WOW! what a rich chocolate rush.  The Tim Tam's are imported from New Zealand and Australia.  The Elder Pack with the grapefruit and the Elder Acton in the red tie are the Zone leaders and were in town to do splits with our district elders.  NOTE:  Elder Speed in the overcoat is from hot Austraila and he is always cold.  Sometimes he is wearing, long johns and his sweats under his suit to keep warm.  

We were invited to Knysna for their district conference.  As you can see we just followed the Zone leaders.   I am learning to take a picture with the timer and my camera is on the hood of our car.  Elder Jones did it for me so I didn't have to run so fast.
Elder & Sister Richins, Elder Acton, Elder Pack, Elder Andrianamanatia from Madagascar and Elder Jones from Canada

We enjoyed a nice lunch at the wharf. Elder Richins is telling his Elephant story, ha, ha,  He has gotten a lot of mileage out of that one, especially here in SA.

Today is Sunday and it has been quite a day.  We got up early to drive to Knysna, about an hour drive from George.  We were asked to speak in sacrament meeting.  This assignment was given to us about 3 weeks ago when Elder Richins was planning to come and do the quarterly audit.  On Tuesday when we were in Mossel Bay Veraqouis asked Elder Richins, if he would baptize her on Sunday.  How can you say no to such an honor.  So after we spoke in Knysna we headed back to George so he could perform this sacred ordinance which was after George's meetings.  After we were finished with the baptism we headed back to Knysna so Elder Richins could conduct the audits.  That is where we are right now.  I am sitting next to the window with the sun shining in to keep me warm and Elder Richins is doing his thing with the Branch presidency.

Their were 2 baptisms today.  Elder Richins, Veraqauzi, Stanley, and Elder Dladla

What a good looking group.

It was a fabulous day.  Elder Richins talked about sacrifice and I talked on the Sabbath day and the sacrament. I just took pictures from my window of the setting sun looking at the clouds.  They look like they are on fire.

Quarterly church audit with the Knysna branch

I took these 3 pictures as I was finishing up my blog today.  All I did was look out the window and shot.

We hope all of you have a great week.  Life is good.  Life is challenging.  Life is worth living.  We love you all and appreciate so much your notes.
Love,
Elder & Sister Richins

PS
I wanted to show you some pictures of braided hair, which is just a small sampling of what I see.  Even the little girls get it done.  It takes about 2 hours for these to be done and I have heard it also hurts.