Johannesburg Senior Couples Retreat

One June 13 and 14, the South Africa Johannesburg Mission had a senior couples retreat in Johannesburg arranged by President and Sister Omer. President and Sister Kimball from Gaborone rode with us during the retreat. On the morning of the first day we visited the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve. This is a private reserve with many animals ranging freely within the reserve. The animals would congregate in areas of water, food, or salt which made them relatively easy to see. We saw twenty-two different kinds of animals from our car as we drove around. Notice the great variety of horns on the animals. It was fun to see so many animals in one place up close. The rhinoceros got so close Sister Rands kept saying "Back up!"

Black Wildebeest

Blue Widlebeest

Cape Buffalo

Cheetah

Common Waterbuck

Eland

Gemsbok

Lion

Ostrich with an attitude guarding a trash can and gate

Red Hartebeest

White Rhinoceros

Sable Antelope

Wild Dog

Traditional Thatched Building

For lunch all the couples met at Mike's Kitchen which is close to the temple. We were seated in two different rooms at the restaurant. After lunch we went to endowment sessions at the temple. There were thirty-eight missionaries so we had to attend two different sessions. Before we went to the temple session we went to visit Tom and Noreen Green from Spokane at the area office which is next to the temple.

Lunch at Mike's Kitchen

In the evening we went to Founders Restaurant for dinner. We did a lot of eating! It was all delicious.

On Thursday morning, we had breakfast and a meeting at the Church Education System (CES) office by the Mission Office and Mission Training Center. Khumbulani Mdletshe, the CES area director, and President Omer spoke to us. All the missionaries told a little about themselves including where they are from, where they serve, and their responsibilities. We enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about the other couples. It is amazing how many couples are on their third or fourth mission!

Meeting at CES Office

The afternoon was free time and we chose to go to the Organic Market where vendors sell crafts and organic foods. We really enjoyed wandering through the market. There was a lot to see and there was also live African music. We sampled some of the food. We would have liked to stay longer but the market closed at three o'clock. When the market closed, we drove to the African Craft Market to shop and bought an ebony wooden Christmas Nativity set, Noah's Ark with animals also carved from wood, and carved kudu bone salt and pepper shakers.

Elder and Sister Hymas at Organic Market

Thursday evening was dinner at the mission home. For entertainment after dinner, Elder Woolf told the story of "Prindercella and the Cince" (Cinderella and the Prince with starting letters switched). Everyone had a good laugh at that. We ended the evening singing hymns and the mission song. The whole retreat was very uplifting and enjoyable.

Dinner at the Mission Home

Elder Woolf telling the story of "Prindercella and the Cince"

On the way home from the retreat we came across an accident involving two semi trucks that had also derailed a train. It was a big mess and there were lots of vehicles and people working on cleaning things up. We could not figure out quite what had happened.

Sewing Lesson

Sister Taylor invited Sister Kimball and Sister Rands to help teach a sewing class today in Molepolole, a village about forty-five minutes drive from Gaborone. Sister Oborn visiting from Johannesburg also helped. The Molepolole Relief Society had organized a learn-to-sew activity.

We had three sewing machines. One of the sister missionaries was at each machine to help the sisters learn to sew a hot pad. This would allow them to learn some sewing skills and go home with something useful they had made. The other sister missionary would help the Relief Society sisters get their hot pads ready to sew. Elder Rands and Elder Kimball tagged along. Elder Rands was able to repair machines that had trouble. Twenty-one sisters attended the activity and each made a hot pad so there was a lot of activity.

All but one or two of the sisters had never used a sewing machine before so this was something very new for them. They were very excited to learn and you could see the delight in their faces as they made their very own hot pad. Everyone involved had a wonderful time. It was hard to tell who was having more fun - the learners or the teachers; all had big smiles on their faces.

A lunch of hot dogs, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, cookies, and punch was served. After lunch the Relief Society sisters washed the dishes at the tap outside the church building; it was the only source of water. Everyone helped clean and sweep the building after the activity.

Utilities

We are grateful that we have electricity and water most of the time and that the water is safe to drink. It also usually tastes very good. We only have hot water to the kitchen sink and one bathroom. There is no hot water to the second bathroom or to the washing machine.

Power outages are somewhat common. Quite often the traffic lights (robots) are shut off when there is a power shortage. They are also frequently shut off when they are not working properly.  Everyone seems used to this and slows down at intersections without traffic lights. Most politely wait their turn, except kombis. It can snarl traffic when it is heavy. One companionship of elders was stuck at an intersection in gridlock for some time this past week because the lights were out. They thought it was a good object lesson on what happens when there is no authority.

We have outages at our house about three weeks apart on average.  They usually last only a few hours. We have been fortunate to avoid long outages. Two of the couples have had their power off for three days. Ours was off for three days but we were away on training. Several of the institute classes in Botwsana have been canceled due to power outages after sunset. One time we taught our whole institute class using a torch (flashlight). It made for an interesting experience. The young adults did not want to miss class and did well at participating in the dark. At home we use candles and torches when the power is out.

The water is more reliable than the electricity. Yesterday, our water was off for a few hours. If we do not realize the water is off and are washing clothes we finally get hot water in the washing machine because the cold water pipe then drains the hot water tank which is mounted on the wall outside our house. The elders from Molepolole came to our house last week to do their washing because they have not had enough water to wash their clothes or take showers for two or three weeks. They store water in their bath tub early in the morning for use during the day.

All this adds to the adventure of the mission. We are happy to be in Botswana where the utilities are safe and much more reliable than in much of Africa.