Cape Town Mission Field 30 November 2018 Day 356 Friday This morning we stopped to pick up the post then it we spent the rest of the day at the office, except when Elder Courtright drove the assistants car down to the panel beaters to swap it with the Mandalay elders car. That car started out at Westvaal's in Somerset West and after an expensive quote we took it to Mullany's where in the end it cost us R2,300 versus R25,000. So, it was a good move. Charles Mullany suffered a heart attack about the time it was to go down there so there was some delay's and confusion. But, in the end his son Wayne took it over and did us a great job. He was very concerned about his father and said he lost about 7 kg's during the week he was in the hospital worrying about him. He said that his father was his best friend and he considered leaving the business to be with his father, which he considered more of a priority. They're a great group to work with. Sister...
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Cape Town Mission Field 29 November 2018 Day 355 Thursday Today we did some boarding inspections by visiting the Gugulethu Elders (Zander, Santos). They've done a nice job with their boarding and the holiday decorations of Christmas are a nice touch. Elder Zander received a package from home with drawn out hands from all his relatives and each hand had a personal message of encouragement on it for Elder Zander. He made it into a Christmas tree. The Mandalay elders are also keeping their boarding in good shape. We walked up the street at noon to have lunch in the little village of Observatory. We came across the Rust Cafe and Bar. There was an old rusted front end of a pick up truck (1950's era) sticking out the side of the building where there's some outdoor seating. So we knew this was the right place to stop. The coffee table in the corner was the front end of something I couldn't identify. And there were old Cadillac head cov...
Cape Town Mission Field 28 November 2018 Day 354 Wednesday Happy Birthday Logan! It's our grandson's birthday today. Today was mostly paperwork at the office. With the exception of elders coming by to pick up their supplies. Sister Courtright is sending out the first wave of Christmas packages to the senior couples to hold until the 24th of December. The mail room was packed with packages and the Globe Flight carrier stopped dead in his tracks when he entered the room. All he could say was "Oh my". Elder Courtright has been shredding old lease files and he's about a third of the way through the stack. This evening we took out Elder Steffenson's luggage to the airport. He and his family arrived from the East Cape after touring that area and they are leaving for Salt Lake tonight. We were holding some of their luggage while they were touring around. We had dinner with them in the airport and had a good talk about what Elder Steffenson...
Cape Town Mission Field 27 November 2018 Day 353 Tuesday Double Bonus Day Today! Elder Courtright's birthday and it has been 1 year since we began our mission when we entered the MTC. We went to the post office then to the Makro store to pick up boarding supplies. We stopped at the bakery and the packaging store on the way home. At Merry Pak packaging store Elder Courtright found some table decorations that had a colorful spray of tinsel in gold, silver and black with different numbers for how old you are. Elder Courtright had 3 of them sitting on the counter with the number 21 on them and he proclaimed, "Look, this is how old I am, 21 (x3)". Elder Courtright received 3 phone calls from different groups of elders in the mission and they all sang Happy Birthday to him. Sister Courtright was awake at 2:00 AM so she decided to bake Elder Courtright a pie. The closest thing we have to pumpkin was sweet potato's. So when he woke up he got sweet po...
Cape Town Mission Field 26 November 2018 Day 352 Monday This week we are looking at a quiet week, crossed fingers. The president is in the east cape for zone conferences there. We will be planning our week long birthday celebration where we plan on doing fun things everyday between Elder and Sister Courtright's birthdays. We had some usual things to deal with, replacing stolen phones for the George elders who were mugged on Saturday. Sister Courtright is dealing with the Christmas packages that she is preparing to ship out this week now that the transfers are over and we know where everyone is staying. Elder Courtright also had to track down some elders who were speeding and it is difficult when the prior elders change zone to know who was responsible for the traffic violations. One elder it turns out was a bit cavalier in his last week of driving since he went home last week. So it's difficult to admonish someone who is now 9000 miles away. ...
Cape Town Mission Field 25 November 2018 Day 351 Sunday Today we enjoyed church without having to teach as they called a new Sunday School president from among the members. We enjoyed the talks and lessons. We put in the turkey we found into the crock pot, as it wasn't a very big turkey. Then we whipped up some mashed potato's and some yams. That with some gravy sure was nice to have on a Sunday afternoon. Since we were a bit busy taking elders to the airport on Thanksgiving this was a nice relaxing afternoon. We ended up at the office in the evening while Sister Courtright put out the Crest newsletter. We finally left around 11:30 PM.
Cape Town Mission Field 24 November 2018 Day 350 Saturday Today we stopped off at the office to pick up our passports to take the Robin Island tour. Turns out, they don't require passports anymore. They've added a short movie to the beginning of the line that speaks about the islands history. The timeline goes back to the 1600's when Dutch settler used the island as a place of banishment for those native chiefs that opposed the new world settlers. This continued through the English occupation. Then in the 1800's it began to be used as a dumping ground for lepers and criminals. In the early 1900's that was eliminated with the advent of the cure for leprosy. The mid-1900's saw political prisoners from the apartheid regime being sent to Robin Island and criminals were eventually moved to mainland prisons. There were several distinct sections all populated by prisoners according to their behavior. Some cells were single (mostly used to keep the lea...
Cape Town Mission Field 23 November 2018 Day 349 Friday This morning we had a rather unsettling experience on the way to work. We took the freeway because our normal road was really backed up. Once we got off the freeway and went under the overpass we saw why the Liesbeek Parkway was closed. There was a car smashed into the center support column of the overpass and there were three bodies laying on the pavement with coverings over their heads. That is hard to see. We then went to the post as usual and spent the day at the office catching up on reports and planning for shipping out the Christmas packages we're collecting. We did run home at lunchtime and Denis showed up and repaired our washing machine. Woo Hoo! No more hauling dirty clothes to the office. We did receive a letter with some pictures and letters from the old Primary class that Sister Courtright used to teach. That was wonderful to see their drawings and we sent an email to the P...
Cape Town Mission Field 22 November 2018 Day 348 Thursday Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! It was a busy day today with the end of transfers this week. We had 5 missionaries depart for home today. We started by grilling up some peppers and onions then had a braai (BBQ) for some Boervoers (beef sausage) for lunch to say goodbye to the departing elders. Elder Steffenson's parents joined us as they arrived the day before yesterday and are going to tour the East and West Cape for a week with their son before returning to the states. Elder Steffenson is going to do the driving as his father almost got into 4 accidents driving here from the airport. It was difficult to say goodbye to Elder Milne and Elder Reedy, they are both very special to us. We left a little early to pick up our car that was in for repairs. The key had to be reprogrammed. In the evening we went to the mall to pick up some more curtains and a mirror for the elders. Afte...
Cape Town Mission Field 21 November 2018 Day 347 Wednesday This morning we were up and out at 7:00 and stopped to pick up some more sandwiches at the mini-market. We stopped by the office to put the lunch together in the crock pot. Then we darted off to Gugulethu and stopped at the Shoprite just as it was opening at 8:00 and picked up some more items for the lunch at the office today. We then drove up the street to the Gugulethu chapel and set up for the snacks and sack lunches for the missionaries coming and going to their new assignments. That's a crazy couple of hours then back to the office to set up for the luncheon. Elder Courtright had to run a spare set of car keys over the repair shop where the car was towed yesterday. It seems it wouldn't start because the key's program was fouled up and needed to be reprogrammed. We enjoyed lunch with the elders at the office. Sister Courtright then kept those busy that were waiting for elders to change loc...
Cape Town Mission Field 20 November 2018 Day 346 Tuesday This morning we picked up the post and a few items at the Pick-n-Pay store for tomorrow's sack lunches for those elders traveling between the west to the east cape. Elder Courtright drove with Elder Reedy to pick up the new elders and bring them back to the mission home for lunch with the President and his wife. We met Sister Lebethoa in the store last night and she was selecting a couple of new salads to try. If she finds one she likes then she will buy some for the elders luncheon. That way she can experiment on them and keep the ones she likes. We ran the elders through orientation then took them to dinner at the River Club down the street. We got to chat to a few of them. Elder Reilly is from Kanab and we have an Elder Clark for Australia. We also met Elder Ware, who we could tell had been a wrestler. He is from Orem and placed 8th at the Nationals. There were 24 mats at the Fargo, North Dak...
Cape Town Mission Field 19 November 2018 Day 345 Monday Today we started out by going to the Cape Town market to pick up some fruit for this weeks transfers. We had some elders stop by for their P-Day. And after Elder Reedy changed from their hike up Lion's Head he stopped by with his guitar and he played a few numbers for me including one called Framework. It was very relaxing. In the afternoon we got a call from Elder Opolot stating that his car wouldn't start. He felt very bad since it is actually our car that he is driving. We drove to Mandalay to pick them up after the tow truck took their car to Car Smart. They realized they left their boarding key and remote in the car. So we drove to Car Smart and got there at 5:00 PM right when they were closing, just in time to get their keys.
Cape Town Mission Field 18 November 2018 Day 344 Sunday Happy 1 Year Anniversary Stephanie and Jim! We had a wonderful sacrament and Sunday school and Relief Society and Priesthood meeting today at church. Many spoke about their feelings and impressions from last Sunday's Stake Conference with Elder Anderson. The priesthood lesson focused on being "the light". Brother Sikori gave an inspiring message about stepping up and getting involved. He shared some personal experiences that seemed rather bold when stopping some teenagers during a knife fight and stopping some young kids from throwing rocks at passing cars. He felt that doing nothing allows evil to prevail and he never felt he was in harms way. There was always a sense of purpose and love and protection that allowed him to help correct these peoples ways. We enjoyed speaking to all our children this week. Our daughter Stephanie is celebration her one year anniversary! We are so happy f...
Cape Town Mission Field 17 November 2018 Day 343 Saturday This morning we went in to the Cape Town Market to pick up some fruit for next week's transfers. The market is open on Saturday from 3:00 am to 8:00 am. We found out that there were no banana's, they come in on Monday. We did get some onions and bell peppers for some boerwors (beef sausages) that we will cook up on Thursday for those missionaries going home (5 of them). We will receive 6 new missionaries on Tuesday and there will be 30 missionaries changing location on Wednesday, many flying to and from the East Cape. While we were at the office cutting up the onions and peppers we had and elderly couple ring the bell to get through the gate. They greeted us and informed us that they were staying next door at the Protea Hotel and noticed the sign on the gate. They are the DeMordant's from Idaho Falls on vacation here with their son. It turns out that they were the Mission President in t...
Cape Town Mission Field 16 November 2018 Day 342 Friday Today we stopped at the Post Office and picked up a lot of mail and several packages for the elders. It seems the holiday mail is starting to pick up. Elder Courtright was working on some laundry in the shed since our washing machine is out again and won't be fixed until next Thursday. The same company showed up at noon to pick up the washing machine that we brought back from Paarl to take it into their shop for a tear down and repair of the door latch that is broken. This afternoon we will be picking up the Meadowridge car from the service center and taking it to their boarding. They've been using public transport these past couple of days while their car is being serviced. The Gugulethu elders car is in for brakes today and we will need to get them to their car pickup today also. Just received AIG approval to take the assistants car into Mullany's to have the rear bumper repaired ...
Cape Town Mission Field 15 November 2018 Day 341 Thursday Today was a full day. We stopped at the Mission Office to pick up two bikes for the Fish Hoek elders. We then went to the Meadowridge boarding for an inspection there. The place is actually looking quite nice. Elder Lawer is managing the boarding with the two Grassy Park elders. It appears they've done a very nice job and Elder Lawer indicated that everyone is pitching in. Elder Dos Santos used a 20% bleach solution in a spray bottle on the shower ceiling to eliminate the mold there. They all got Oreo's for their good work (Elder Lawer got three boxes, just because he deserves it). We took the bikes to Fish Hoek for their boarding inspection and the place looks really nice. They've done a nice Spring Cleaning job on the whole boarding. Sister Courtright gave them some extra Oreo's too. Elder Farer is a big fellow so we got a large frame bike for him to ride. They have set up some exerci...
Cape Town Mission Field 14 November 2018 Day 340 Wednesday Happy Birthday to our oldest son Kirk! Woo Hoo! 41...what? We have a 41 year old son? Suddenly we feel much older. But it's the grand kids that keep us young. This morning we drove out to Paarl, which is about an hours drive out on the N1 freeway. We picked up their washing machine and dropped off one we had in the garage for them to use. It was Elder Adams and Schwendiman boarding. We found the whole town was in bloom with all the Jacaranda Trees all in bright purple color. This evening we finished up some preparation work for tomorrow's travels, we finished some curtains for the Milnerton elders. Sister Courtright was trimming, hemming, and ironing the curtains she's modified. Afterwards we went to Milnerton beach to get something to eat, we had to celebrate Kirk's birthday. We had a wonderful seafood platter while watching the sunset over Signal Hill across the bay.
Cape Town Mission Field 13 November 2018 Day 339 Tuesday Today was a busy one. We hit the Post Office then stopped at the Milnerton elders boarding to get a measurement for some curtains that Sister Courtright is hemming for them. We then stopped at the Makro store for our weekly boarding supplies. We then stopped at the Elsie's River boarding on the way home to pick up an extra bed that they were using temporarily when Elder Mauerman came back on mission. Sister Courtright was busy with orders to get ready for Wednesday pick up. Elder Courtright picked up a washing machine from the Nightingale Close storage garage with the help of the Assistants. He brought it back to the office and set it up in the shed and ran a load of table cloths through it to test it out and ensure it works. He had the Assistants help him load it back on to the truck for delivery to the Paarl elders tomorrow who have been experiencing problems with their washing m...
Cape Town Mission Field 12 November 2018 Day 338 Monday HALF-WAY THERE! If our calculations are correct today is our half-way mark through our mission. Can you believe it! Time is flying by. I guess when you're so busy putting in 12 hour days things do go by quickly. We stopped at the bakery up the street from our flat before going into work to pick-up a cake for Elder Opolot as part of his Birthday celebration. Sister Courtright gave away some pass-along cards to three ladies and is going to go back to give one of them a Book of Mormon. Elder Courtright went next door and bought a used bike for the Fish Hoek elders who we will be visiting this Thursday. It was a sturdy bigger frame bike that can hold-up Elder Farer who weighs in around 250 pounds. He used to wrestle heavy weight class in high school. We also received a photo from Elder Lopes who is in George. We asked him to send a photo of the fire that was burning on the mountain behind...
Cape Town Mission Field 11 November 2018 Day 337 Sunday This morning we left early for the Meadowridge chapel and had a wonderful Stake Conference there. We managed to get seated on the front row. Which was fortunate. Because as Elder Anderson came into the room and was about to take his seat on the stand he asked to greet a few people. So he came down and shook peoples hands on the first two rows. He then saw Elder Smith and took a picture of him and his companion, Elder Mabanga. He stated later that he had to send that picture back to his home ward to assure Elder Smith's mother that his son is doing well. We had some wonderful messages from the Stake President (President Holmes) about being worthy of the temple, living our lives as the Lord would have us obey the commandments, and sharing the gospel in a normal and natural way. Elder Anderson gave a powerful testimony of Christ and having an eternal perspective. We all will live forever! We...
Cape Town Mission Field 10 November 2018 Day 336 Saturday This morning we drove out to Somerset West and then on to Hermanus to do some boarding inspections. We are very pleased with the effort the elders are taking in their boarding. The Khayelitsha elders, 4 of them, share the same 2 bedroom flat and they are getting along well. The Somerset West elders have taken really good care of their flat too. The Hermanus elders have proven to be very picky in their boarding cleanliness and we see nothing out of place. We stopped at a farmstall in Houw Hoek pass to have some lunch and picked up some of their famous meat pies for lunch tomorrow. Once home we realized that it is our 46th anniversary of meeting each other at a church dance when we were in high school. So we went to the Canal Walk mall to get our hair done to look nice for tomorrow's Stake Conference with the general authority. Elder Courtright found a place called Edge for Men and he had a...
Cape Town Mission Field 9 November 2018 Day 335 Friday This morning we picked up several packages from the Post Office. We are starting to get more Christmas packages. Elder Lawer received a couple of letters which we know he will appreciate. He seemed very down after Elder Barbre returned home and he had to face the continued training of two companions who haven't been very easy to work with and all this with him only being out on mission himself for two transfers. We pray for his strength and success to continue moving forward. We cleared off a lot of items on our desks by working late until around 8:00 PM like vehicle reports, lease renewals, opening up new leases, reprogramming phones that have been stolen, organizing baptism records, and cleaning up files on our computers. Elder Courtright took a picture of the vehicle we just got back from the body shop (panel beaters) and inserted a before picture too.
Cape Town Mission Field 8 November 2018 Day 334 Thursday This morning we ran out to Somerset West to look at a boarding for the elders there, it may be closer to their area they work in but it is on top of a hill so they would be getting in some good exercise. Back at the office we served some leftovers to those coming in for other interviews with the president. We then headed to Mullany's and picked up the car that was stolen. They did a nice job putting it back together. Elder Courtright then met with Francois from the area office in Johannesburg. He is taking the mission van for a few days to escort Elder Anderson around the area for his Leadership training on Saturday at the Bellville chapel and the Stake Conference in Meadowridge on Sunday. We then spent the afternoon and evening updating files and cleaning up items we've let go. We finally called it quits around 9:00 PM. The Assistants left just before us and came back in to call us outs...