Cape Town, South Africa Mission

Cape Town Mission Field       30 December 2018    Day 386 Sunday We had good meetings today. Most of the 5th Sunday discussions were centered around how the new 2 hour format will run starting next week. It was also discussed how the changes to the Priesthood ordinations will affect the youth in that January of each year you move up in class and receive the priesthood if you turn 12, 14, or 16 in that year. Limited use temple recommends are also given out at that time. We also read that Sister Missionaries are now allowed to wear dress slacks at their own discretion. After the meetings the mama's in the 1st Branch gave a going away party with cupcakes to Elder Barnabas who is leaving off mission this week. He has been here for 3 months now. He's heading back to the Papua New Guinea.

Cape Town Mission Field       29 December 2018    Day 385 Saturday We spent today at the office. Sister Courtright had to work on the Crest and some baptisms because we know we won't have any time to work on it next week. We were in around 9:00 and left around 5:00. We had to wait for the mother and father goose to move their goslings across the parking lot before we left. They found the hose next to the shed which has a slow drip in it and so that is where they've been getting their drinks from.

Cape Town Mission Field       28 December 2018    Day 384 Friday Today seemed like a great conclusion to a fairly quiet week. We wrapped up a lot of things in preparation for next weeks transfers. We even left work early around 2:00 pm and went to the Canal Walk Mall to see the new Mary Poppins movie. It was great. Of course, nothing compares to the original, but still we enjoyed it. While shopping for a few items afterwards Sister Courtright came across a store that sells wigs. She tried one on and we decided this is what Stephanie, our daughter, may look like in 20 more years.

Cape Town Mission Field       27 December 2018    Day 383 Thursday Happy Birthday to Sage! She's our oldest Granddaughter and turns 19 today! Today Sister Courtright worked on getting out the post for the Globe Flight delivery man while Elder Courtright did some boarding inspections at Meadowridge and Fish Hoek. Poor Elder Lawer was under the weather and feeling pretty bad. They had some hand cut snowflakes they put on the wall and the first one was rather "simple?". So Elder Lawer showed them how to make proper ones. Elder Reilly and Elder Santos shared their experience with the 'gangster' that wanted to ransom them for money. It was powerful how the spirit took over as they began to talk about their mission and the restoration of the gospel. They showed him a pamphlet that had a picture of the priesthood being restored on earth again and he wished he could have a blessing like that. At that point Elder Santos offered to give him a blessing. The spi...

Cape Town Mission Field       26 December 2018    Day 382 Wednesday Today is a National Holiday here in South Africa, Boxing Day. Not sure we understand what it means. But there is no traffic on the roads so we're happy. We spent the day cleaning up the office and shed that has accumulated a lot of stuff recently. Did some washing of bedding that was hanging around the office for some time. Ate leftovers. And otherwise had a really relaxing day. The Langa elders helped Elder Courtright load up a washing machine and take it to the Nightingale Close garage storage area. We both came home exhausted and a bit wound up for some reason. We felt like we were coming down with something and couldn't figure out why we felt that way. But we relaxed at home and had more leftovers and had an uneventful evening. We did call Jackie and was able to talk to Alena, Boston, and Logan. They told us what they got for Christmas and Alena shared her Christmas songs she learne...

Cape Town Mission Field       25 December 2018    Day 381 Tuesday Merry Christmas everyone! This morning we ran to the office around 7:00 AM to take care of a few outstanding items then went over to the Hamilton's at 9:00 AM for Christmas breakfast there were several elders there with us and Elder Opolot prepared a breakfast pancake. It was sort of like a burrito filled with scrambled eggs and shredded carrots. The pancake was thicker than a burrito and heavy with lard but not as thick as a regular pancake. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast and conversation then we headed back to the office to finish up some supply preparations for tomorrow's pick up by the zone leaders. We then headed for Fish Hoek to have Christmas dinner with the Forsyth's. We had a wonderful, relaxed evening with the Forsyth's. They prepared a great dinner with Turducken as the main course with yams, butternut squash, potato wedges, creamed spinach, stuffing and a cranberry sauce for...

Cape Town Mission Field       24 December 2018    Day 380 Monday Welcome Christmas Eve! We were up around 6:00 AM to cook the calamari and haul all the food to the office and get it setup for the open house. It was a hectic morning but with the help of our dear friend, The Lord, we were able to pull it all together. Sister Hamilton worked on the rolls and some cookies she made up beforehand. She also supplied a ham and a 7 layer bean dip. It was a welcomed treat for all the elders. They were very grateful for all the wonderful food and were excited to receive their packages from Sister Courtright that she has been holding for them. The assistants came back after their soccer game and helped with some kitchen cleanup. We finally left around 6:00 PM and spent the evening vegging out. It was a good day!

Cape Town Mission Field       23 December 2018    Day 379 Sunday We had a shortened service today and each of us was asked to share a thought. Sister Courtright spoke of the birth of the Christ child and Elder Courtright spoke about "Joy". We had a baptism right after sacrament service for a new brother and Sister Courtright was asked to speak about the Holy Ghost. She gave a wonderful talk and focused on the new brothers opportunity to receiver the priesthood and baptize his daughter soon with a focus on the temple for their family. We also met a nice family from Johannesburg who worked with President Lebethoa. We took a picture of their cute daughter with turquoise colored dreadlocks. Back at our boarding we continued to finish cooking for tomorrow's open house and Shirley came over to help us out. She was an inspiration. She also talked us through how to soak and coat the calamari in preparation for deep frying tomorrow morning. It was a long hot a...

Cape Town Mission Field       22 December 2018    Day 378 Saturday This morning we ran down to Fish Hoek to drop off the bike that was repaired. While there we stopped at the Bernina store and Sister Courtright picked up a fabric cutting wheel and cutting board for repairs she does at the office. We then ran to Checkers grocery store at the Canal Walk mall to pick up the food items we will be preparing for Monday's open house at the office. We got roast beef, turkey, shrimp, calamari, etc. We got a picture of a lady working on a tuna in the fish deli. Back home we spent the afternoon cooking and preparing some of the items we could make ahead of time. The others we will work on tomorrow after church. We had to make our own shrimp cocktail sauce. Horseradish isn't a common thing so we had to replace it with ginger. Also, there's no such thing as Frank's hot sauce, so our chicken wings (or legs in our case as those were easier to find) will be made with a...

Cape Town Mission Field       21 December 2018    Day 377 Friday This morning we stopped at Neil's bike shop just up the street and picked up the Fish Hoek bike being repaired. We also bought two more used bikes for the Tableview elders. Sister Courtright stopped at the Bake n Nut store next door and found 'glucose' which is their version of corn syrup. It's a clear sugar substance. They also told her about Builders Square just across the N1 Freeway where we could find a shower rod. Which we did find. It was great to find a store like this. Finally a large hardware store similar to Lowe's back in the states! I wish I would've found this store about 11 months ago. On the way back to the office we pulled off the off ramp onto the center section near the river and took some pictures of the Flamingo's that are hanging out their along side the freeway. President Lebethoa stopped by to interview some elders and we coordinated on a few items. We then wen...

Cape Town Mission Field       20 December 2018    Day 376 Thursday Today is our South and Flats Zone conference. We set up the Meadowridge chapel with the wire Christmas trees and Sister Courtright organized a nice luncheon with turkey and ham (with pineapple) with stuffing and cranberries and cheese cake for dessert. It was a nice change. Elder Lategan played his Christmas song that he wrote for us on the guitar. We put our stuff away once back at the office then came home and rested for a few minutes before we went downstairs and had dinner with our new friends from India. Their mother prepared a chicken curry dish with a rice dish that had a lot of different spices in it; such as anise, cloves, cardamon, chili peppers, etc. It was very good but it was too hot for Sister Courtright. They made a wonderful sweet desert. It was sort of like rice pudding but made with rice noodles. That was very good.

Cape Town Mission Field       19 December 2018    Day 375 Wednesday This morning we dropped the bike off to be repaired at Neil's bike shop. We then spent most of the day at the office catching up on miscellaneous items. Later in the day we went back to the Canal Walk mall to look for some items to finish our candy making and treats for next Monday. Turns out their is no Karo syrup in South Africa. So there may be no divinity, which Sister Courtright was really looking forward to. We couldn't find a candy thermometer or a tension rod for the shower curtain at the new Mitchell's Plain boarding. But we have faith that we will find something sooner or later. I took a picture of the carpet runner Sister Courtright picked up at the Canal Walk mall, it looks really nice in our office hallway. We also ran into our neighbors once we got home. Their little girl, Kritiq, is about 4 months old now. Here she is with her grandma who will be returning home to Ind...

Cape Town Mission Field       18 December 2018    Day 374 Tuesday Sister Courtright woke up this morning at 5:30 and announced we should go to the market to get fruit for this weeks zone conference. As we were leaving it began to rain. We like rain. We stopped on the way into the office to drop off the Fish Hoek elders bike that needed a rear axle replaced. We then stopped at the Post Office and retrieved several Christmas packages. We moved on to the Makro store for weekly supplies. We found bulk chicken legs so we bought some to try and make buffalo wings (with legs) for Christmas Eve in the office when the local missionaries come in and pick up their packages. We boxed up this weeks orders for the missionary pick up tomorrow and Sister Courtright labeled the packages going out to the East Cape for next weeks Christmas celebrations there.  We left work early, 5:30 to come home and make an applesauce cake for this evenings festivities at our boa...

Cape Town Mission Field       17 December 2018    Day 373 Monday This morning we took the Langa Elders with us to the Strandfontein boarding and they helped us clean up the upstairs and downstairs. We brought a lot of stuff back with us. Some will be reused and others will be given to the Relief Society President to pass out to anyone in need. And we will ask Neil from the facilities group to take out the rest of the furniture. Some we will store in the garage at Nightingale Close and the remainder he can donate to a charity he works with. We are really grateful to all their help. Today is a national holiday so there is no traffic on the roads. It was really nice. We left work around 6:00 to go to the mall to pick up some supplies the elders need this week. We found a mirror, rugs for the office, and other bathroom items for the missionaries. We ate dinner in the food court next to the Christmas tree. It was really crowded because it was a public hol...

Cape Town Mission Field       16 December 2018    Day 372 Sunday We had a great service today then grabbed some stickers from the office and brought them back to the Langa 1st ward to put on their Light the World flyers they passed out today after church to invite community members to church on next Sunday to watch the Christmas devotional. Afterwards we stopped at brother and sister Sandie's home for dinner. They invited us to join them to celebrate Sister Sandie's birthday and their 8 year anniversary. Their home is a one room shack behind some structured homes (brick and wood). She made a fantastic luncheon. We shared how we both met our spouses. And learned how brother Sandie decided to go on a mission despite opposition from family members. We then headed for the office to pick up some tools before heading to the Stake Christmas concert in Meadowridge. The Mandalay ward sang two special Christmas songs in Xhosa and they killed it. It was so beaut...

Cape Town Mission Field       15 December 2018    Day 371 Saturday Today we had to run out to Hermanus to deliver Elder Felisberto's passport to him so he could receive a money transfer at the Western Union office that his parents sent him. We stopped in Somerset West first and inspected both boarding's there. After inspecting the Hermanus boarding and taking the elders downtown to pickup his money we dropped them back at their boarding then went downtown to have some lunch. We stopped at an Italian place next to the old NG Church. We sat outside in the shade and across the street was the church yard where they had an open air farmers market set up. One group was playing music and we listened to "Achy Breaky Heart", "Way Down Yonder on the Chatahootchee", and "From a Jack to a King". So I guess country music is alive and well in South Africa. We walked around town and found some wonderful galleries and met some great folks. We also listene...

Cape Town Mission Field       14 December 2018    Day 370 Friday This morning we were up at 5:30 AM to take Elder Wabwire to the airport. He is leaving mission just a little early to get ready for the start of his school semester at the agricultural college in Kenya.

Cape Town Mission Field       13 December 2018    Day 369 Thursday Today was moving day for the Mandalay Elders. They are moving into their new flat in Mitchell's Plain. The Zone leaders showed up at the old Strandfontein boarding to help us pull out all the furniture they will need. We made two trips and then Elder Courtright brought several items back to the garage for storage at Nightingale Close. We have to go back and do a thorough cleaning then notify Neil to come and pick up the remaining furniture items we don't want and donate them to the charity he has affiliated with. Sister Courtright stayed at the office then drove to the Howard Center to get quotes on making some stamps with chapel addresses and missionary contact numbers to make it easier to mark up pass along cards. We got so busy during the move that we forgot to take some pictures. Oh well. Once back home it was vegging out time for both of us, we were very tired and exhausted.

Cape Town Mission Field       12 December 2018    Day 368 Wednesday This morning Sister Courtright administered an English Learning Language test to Elder Barnabas who will be leaving off his mission soon. Elder Courtright closed the leases on two new boarding's; one in Port Elizabeth and one in Cape Town. We needed to get them paid so we could get the keys and begin moving the elders in right away. He also closed the deal on the senior couples new boarding in Port Elizabeth. We wanted to continue our birthday celebration from last week that we cut short due to all the activity around the office with MLC and Zone Conference. So tonight we left around 5:30 PM and went downtown to see the Iziko Planetarium show that started at 7:00 PM. We stopped at the African Pride Hotel next to the museum and had dinner. The food was great and we had a nice view. This was a very nice hotel.

Cape Town Mission Field       11 December 2018    Day 367 Tuesday Happy Birthday to our Grandson Cody! 17 today if our calculations are correct. Today we did our usual Post Office stop and run to Makro to pick up missionary supplies. When we got back to the office we noticed the pair of Egyptian Geese had 2 babies following them around the yard. Elder Lategan's father from Johannesburg was in town on business so he stopped at the office to deliver some Christmas packages for his son. We took a photo of him with Elder Lare and Elder Niutupuivaha (who served with Elder Lategan in the East Cape). He said him and his wife will see us next August when they come to pick up their son for a drive back home along the East Cape Coastline. While Sister Courtright was doing some organizing in the back room she was startled by something that ran down the wall. Elder Courtright found it in the corner. It was a leopard colored gecko that must've come through the...

Cape Town Mission Field       10 December 2018    Day 366 Monday This week should be a pretty calm week. The president is doing interviews and having a zone conference in the East Cape. We spent the day catching up on paperwork. Elder Courtright working on lease renewals for flats and Sister Courtright on shipping packages and setting up a catering event for next week. In the afternoon we put up the Christmas tree that Sister Courtright bought last week. A couple of the elders helped while they were waiting for the president to arrive. He is giving an exit interview to Elder Wabwire who is leaving on Friday. He is leaving mission a little early to coincide with the start of his university classes where he was studying agricultural science. We also managed to catch up on a lot of laundry; table cloths and donated clothing that needed to be washed. I have to take a picture of the Christmas tree tomorrow once we finish putting the decorations on it. ...

Cape Town Mission Field       9 December 2018    Day 365 Sunday Well it's been 1 year since we arrived in South Africa! Can you believe it? We witnessed the changing of the Branch Presidency this morning in the Langa 2nd Branch. President Mbaki had to move and they are two streets over the boundary into the Langa 1st Branch so as we are a church of order we follow the prescribed guidelines so the president and his family will now attend the 1st Branch starting on the new year. President Mosuko is the new Branch President. He came into the church 3 years ago from Langa and was baptized in this building. He just turned 30 and the testimonies born for the changes were powerful. The Lord is definitely watching over his people here.  Sister Courtright passed out the little Christmas card pamphlets she put together from the email we got from the Hansen's about remembering Christ. It's a beautiful reminder of the Savior and his life. We also received ...

Cape Town Mission Field       8 December 2018    Day 364 Saturday Today is the Langa 2nd Branch Christmas party at the chapel in Langa. The 1st Branch postponed theirs due to weather, since theirs was planned for a park and the weather turned a bit chilly and windy. We are glad because we didn't know how we were going to be in two places at once because both Branch Presidents asked us to be a part of their program. We went to the store in the morning to pick up some items to make two large applesauce raisin cakes, one of Elder Courtright's specialties. It was scheduled to start at 1:30 PM, we arrived at 2:30 PM, and it started at 3:30 PM. This seems to be the typical time table the branch works with. We had a wonderful program with the primary children singing a song and doing a skit about baby Jesus. Elder Lategan played a guitar solo of a Christmas song that he wrote. Sister Courtright talked about the early saints and the sacrifices they made cro...

Cape Town Mission Field       7 December 2018    Day 363 Friday Today is the North Zone Conference that Sister Courtright is catering the luncheon to make it a special Christmas luncheon since the caterers she approached do not provide anything special for Christmas dinners. We stopped at the store first to pick up a couple of last minute items and found everything we needed. At the office we prepared mashed potato's, corn on the cob, and a green bean/mushroom casserole. We headed for the chapel and raced to get it set up. The young woman in the Branch were unable to make it due to transportation issues so we managed it ourselves. Elder Courtright set up the serving table with the canned heat for the chaffing trays. Sister Courtright worked on the center table decorations. Elder Courtright ran to the Pick-n-Pay market to pick up the chickens (each elder got a half of a roasted chicken, replaces turkey that is hard to find here). Everything came together...