Change of plans

Hello everyone,

Book of Mormon in Afrikaans, Xhosa, and English

This has been a week of change in plans.
Change of plan #1....  As the picture above indicates.  The Book of Mormon is printed in 55 languages.  This week as we were visited with the Jansen family they asked if we had a Book of Mormon in Afrikaans?  We said yes and the Elders furnished one for us to give to his lady.  She speaks English but her native tongue is Afrikaans.  It is important that each people have the opportunity to read and understand in their own language.  Xhosa is also a prominent language in this area.  There are about 9-11 languages spoken in South Africa but English is the common language, that is why in church we speak English. To read and understand the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony of its truthfulness having it your own language is best.  So our change is plans was to get and deliver an Afrikaans Book of Mormon.

Tuesday

Tuesday in our back yard

Tuesday on the way to Mossel Bay

Tuesday entering Mossel Bay

Change in plans #2...  Rain, wind, rain, blue sky, rain, wind, blue sky, rain, cloudy, ??? what's next I don't know.

The weather... Oh my! As you can see above it as raining very hard.  On Tuesday until we got to Mossel Bay we had heavy rain. Then as we entered Mossel Bay we could see blue sky. As we were finishing our last appointment it started raining again.  This has been going on all week.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.  The wind has been blowing so hard especially during the night.
I often think of the people in those shacks in the township, how are they surviving?  Our door mat is constantly being blown from our porch, and it is quite a heavy door mat.

Change in plans #3... Elder Richins received a phone call Thursday morning that a family from Port Elizabeth were stranded on the freeway and could he come help.  It was a mother and daughter going to Cape Town to deliver this car to her daughter who is in her last year of medical school.  The father, a member of one of the stake presidency's in PE had been working on it and thought it was ready to deliver.  Come to find out they need a new clutch.  After towing the car to a petrol station Elder Richins brought them to our flat.  We are going to put them up for the night.  I was preparing dinner, because we were having company, the Danjean's to dinner.  I was so greatful that we were having a soup that I could extend.  Deseree was bringing pate' and smoked trout.  So with that and a Lemon cake roll we were in business.  I have never not had enough when I have been feeding people.  I do believe with all the heart the Lord is looking out for us.
Dorothy the mom is a translator for the church and Joanne her daughter has just received a scholarship to go to Germany to get her Doctorate in Environmental Science focusing  on marine life.  The next morning it was off to the garage to get the clutch fixed.  It is now Friday.  They call about 3:00 and say they can't fix the car until Monday so they had to take a bus back to PE.  Many plans where changed this day, but everything worked out OK.

Joanne and Dorothy in our little office.

Change #4:  The weather is so warm we don't even need coats.  When the sun comes out it is so wonderful. We even enjoyed a walk through the George Botanical gardens.

I was trying to capture a picture of a huge bumblebee, this is what I got.

The green stems on this plant were so interesting to me.  A beautiful warm day to enjoy the sun.  It did get cold by evening again.

Not everything is change.  It is Friday and our trunk is always full of food.  This is the fare for district meeting.  Then later tonight we will have chocolate chip cookies for institute.

Change #5 ... Fire after days of heavy rain???

I got up and went to Curves on Saturday as usual.  I was walking into the center I looked up to the mountains and their was a ring of fire around Craddock peak.  Of course I didn't even think I would need my camera to exercise so I didn't get the picture.  It was a picture perfect photo too.  The wind wasn't blowing and you could see the fire very clearly.  So I hope I explained it well. Here is a picture about 1 hour later showing the smoke.  Craddock peak is the higher peak behind George peak which is in the  foreground.

Change #6... Well this might really not be a change, just status quo for governments the world over.

Elder Richins has been working on the Helping Hands (a world wide day of service that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does each year) project for George for 3 months and as of Saturday we didn't know what we were going to do.  He had been working with the George government and they said they had something but were very slow to return his phone calls.  He started looking at Rotary, an orphanage, and also the Botanical gardens.  No one would get back to him.  Then on Friday Wani from the government got back to Elder Richins and we had a breakfast meeting on Saturday morning.  WE HAVE A PROJECT FOR NEXT SATURDAY IN Thembuletu at the high school.  We will send pictures next week.

Mrs. Bangile, Wani, Sister R, Elder R, Mr. Banglie breakfast meeting.

Change #7 ...  Why not start out how we ended.  Saturday.  You saw the burning mountain with the blue sky, well while we were eating breakfast it starts pouring outside.  None of us were prepared for rain, we got soaked going to the car.  It was so cold I went home and got my coat and raincoat to go to the store.  By 3:00 p.m. it was sunny again.  All night  the wind just howled.

CHANGE #8  In sacrament meeting the Branch president had been in Johannesburg all week and he was so excited to share that he saw, felt and stood in snow for the first time in his life.  He was like a little kid going out to play.

To end with for those who have never had the Mack family traditional open faced enchiladas.  Well today I fed them to the Elders.  Only 2 stacks high and they were full  and 2 of them couldn't finish them.  We topped of the meal with homemade Cookie Dough Ice Cream.  Thanks to Stacey.

Along with all the CHANGES we have  some wonderful missionary experiences:
We visited with the Janson home.  The whole family where their to watch a church video.  We felt the love in this home.  Lucinda is dying because of kidney failure.  She looks so frail but always has a smile.
Took dinner to the Meyers and I am going to help her eat on a very small budget so they can save money to go to the temple next year.
Visited the Frans family,  Sister Frans gives us food, I fill the containers with cookies to say thanks, she has more food for us to take home.  She is a wonderful giving person.
Visit Glorious, Elder Richins answers her concerns and she is ready to come back to church.  As we are having the discussion she is talking in Xhosa to her daughter in the back, come to find out she has never cooked before and Glorious was giving her instruction during the discussion, very interesting.  Just as we are ready to leave the daughter comes in with Brockworst and gravy for us to enjoy.  What do you do when people are so willing to share what they have with you.  Just say thank you and enjoy what is put before you.  It really was good.
Spend Wednesday and Saturday with Noxolo Mawindi as we continue to learn to read and write.  She just sent her 1st letter and has received replies from those she wrote to.  You should see her smile of accomplishment.


We love you , hope this wasn't' to much of a travel log.

Love, Elder & Sister Richins

Magnify

Mossel Bay at sunset

We hope all of you have had a great week.  It has been one that Elder Richins and I will remember, especially if we write it down and have a few pictures. Our memory isn't as good as it used to be and we don't want to forget this experience.  We hope you are enjoying this experience with us.  We recommend it highly and believe it is the best retirement program there is.  Serving others in some way.

Today during the sacrament song the word Magnify hit me hard.

Behold the Great Redeemer Die
#3
Although in agony he hung
No murmuring words escaped his tongue.
His high commission to fulfill
He MAGNIFIED his father's will

#4
Father from me remove this cup.
Yet, if thou wilt I'll drink it up
I've done the work thous gavest me.
Receive my Spirit unto thee

#6
He lives - he lives we humbly now
Around these sacred symbols bow
And seek, as saints in Latter-days
To do his will and live his praise.


It is amazing how one word gets your mind going.  I looked around at all the faithful saints who magnify there callings each and every week.  Then I looked at myself and hope that I am doing the same.  

Elder Richins and I have been blessed beyond measure to have this opportunity to serve others, but I have to admit that in serving others we are the ones that are blessed. Just the simple act of helping someone write their first letter, or doing a Family Home Evening, where we get to share things that make us happy or fill our bucket when we are down, and to see that list we made being used when a sister is having a hard time and it helped to lift her spirits.

We have done this in many homes and here are a few of the ideas that the family members have come up with to fill their buckets when they are down:
letters or emails from home - guess who's suggestion that was
the mountains and the ocean
scriptures
prayer
gospel music
friends
family
exercise
sports


This is the mission we were sent out to do, to help others. But we can't help noticing that no matter what we do we are also being lifted and helped along the way.  This wonderful circle of love and service is what will help this world get back on the right track, and to see the people who are doing it is what we get to enjoy every day. All of you who are our friends are the same kind of people, thanks to each of you for Magnifying your callings whatever they maybe.  Be it mom or dad, business owner or employee, friend or neighbor. The list is endless.  Thank you, thank you, thank you

This week in a nut shell.

P-day going the back way to show the Elders the Map of Africa

We have seen people coming out of the woods for days, betting wood to keep themselves and their families warm at night.

Elder Sheward ust before he lives to East London, he will be missed.  He was always the one to say Sister Richins what can I do to help.

Victoria Bay

Look at those smiles especially from Elder Speed, in yellow.


Tuesday, I came across this turkey in full show.

Wednesday, we spent doing FHE's and teaching Noxolo Mawindi to read and write.  She is doing such a wonderful job.  She wrote her first letter, she is amazing.
Elder Sheward has been on 3 interesting exchanges.  1) He had to be sent in a buggy out to the plane that was taxiing on the runway and their luggage came a day later 2) Elder Bangerter was to go by bus to his transfer they went to the bus stop and they had no record for him, they then took him to the airport and they didn't have him flying either, then back to the bus, no luck again.  Then the mission office just had him fly to Cape Town and sent him by air from there.  (come to find out because of #3 transfer, there are 3 areas in George that you can catch a bus), live and learn.  3) We had the same problem with the bus, so Elder Speed and Elder Sheward stayed an extra day and they got a physical ticket and got on the bus with no problem, though it was 3 hours late in arriving to pick them up.

Elder Speed and Elder Sheward are taking a 10 hour bus trip to East London. Their hearts about sank when they thought they were going to take this bus.  Luckily this bus was going to another destination.

Friday, we had district meeting with our new district.  New faces and new goals.

Elder Spencer from Canada, Sister R, Elder R, Elder Dladla, from SA, Elder Morris from Las Vegas
Elder Pearson from Eden, Utah

Marshal's last institute class in George, he is returning to Zimbabwe to send  in his mission papers.

Saturday: We went to Mossel Bay and had 2 wonderful meetings with members there, Meyer's and Nthabiseng.

Sunday: I mentioned at the beginning of the letter but these pictures are after dinner with Marshal, doesn't he look just like a missionary in his new suit?

Marshal Bomba

Everyone is full and happy

Elder Richins and Marshal have a very special bond.

Kind of a travel log this week.  Hope you enjoyed the pictures.  Don't forget to Magnify.
Love, Elder and Sister Richins

Flowers for my Mom's 90th birthday and more

Welcome to the July 29,2012 addition of the lynn and miriam missionary news.  This blog is a tribute to my mom, Olive Beth Kimball Mack who turns 90 on the 31st.  She is having a 3 day celebration in Salt Lake this weekend with family and friends.  Of her 157 posterity 150 are in attendance at her celebration.  The ones who are not in attendance are on missions (4) military, school,work or triathlon.  I think that is a great tribute that so many of her direct descendants would come from all over the country to be with mom, grandma and great grandma.  Mom happy birthday from South Africa, it was so good to talk to you on Thursday.  I know that flowers are your favorite so I wanted to share some pictures of flowers we have seen.  Some of them are very easy to recognize others are new.  We hope everyone enjoys!  I do have the news of the week which will follow the flower show.

These 2 pictures are taken along the freeway.  Purple and white everywhere you look.

Elder Richins had me take this one that he enjoys every morning on his walk.

A beautiful hedge

This was an amazing tree.  The fruit at the top and the roots at the bottom

On our Sunday walk yesterday.

Bird of Paradise

Bottle brush

Trumpet flower

MOM, enjoy the flowers - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW

The best surfing we have seen

Peaceful Victoria Bay houses to rent on the right and  grassy area on the left to picnic and enjoy the sun and to watch the surfers.

 Most of my best cultural pictures come from Thembuletu

This guy was driving right down the middle of the main road.  It looks like it is something you would see 100 years ago.

These are just huge rock rodents we saw in Mossel Bay on the cliffs.  They were everywhere.

Elder Sheward does not like spiders.  This one was big and he was glad he was in the car.  I let Elder Richins take this picture.  I stayed inside.

Can you see the MAP of AFRICA? To the right is fresh water and to the left is salt water coming from the Indian ocean

On Wednesday Elder Richins finally decided after hurting for a couple of weeks to go and find a chiropractor. He got a recommendation from someone in the branch and the lady was very good.  He can almost stand straight when he gets up from a chair.  While he was there the receptionist asked if he had every been to the Map of Africa.  No was the answer and because it was a clear day we took the 30 minute trip.  It is amazing to look down and see African right there in front of you.  If you turn to the other side you can see the Indian ocean.  It was well worth the time.

In the summer they say there are many hang gliders here

Saturday we had a braai in Mossel Bay with some of the members of the church.  It is about a 45 minute drive to George and many of them do not have cars.  It was a great day.  I know I say how cold it is but I do need to let you know that the temperatures fluxuates quite a bit. This morning it was 6 degrees celcius 45 F but on Saturday when we had our braai it was warm enough to take off your coat and the kids even enjoyed getting in the water a bit.

Elder Sheward was the chef

Playing catch with the Rugby ball

Some of the Mossel Bay members getting to know each other.  It was a fabulous day.  After the braai we went to the Mawindi's for reading lesson.  Elder Richins on Wednesday had been reading the Book of Mormon with Brother Mawindi,  he was struggling so to read.  Elder Richins went to the drug store and got him some reading glasses.  He said that it made such a big difference.  Now he can see what he his reading.

We went to the photo shop and got copies of the pictures we have taken of the families we do FHE's with.  We took the pictures to church so they could have them.  You would have thought we gave them something really big.  Pictures are important to these people and they love them.  To end our week we had some people over after church.  Elder and Sister Van Sickle had come from Port Elizabeth to do employment training presentation during the 3rd hour.  Mrs. Wani from the government came to see if it was something they could also use.

Brother and Sister Nel, Mrs. Wani, Elder and Sister Van Sickle, and of course Elder Richins

Have a great week.  We love you all.
Elder & Sister Richins