Cape Town, South Africa Mission

Cape Town Mission Field   29 October 2019   Day 688 Tuesday Count Up => +2 Today we left Cape Town after stopping at the doctors to get our Physical paperwork to send in for our next mission. We also stopped at the Langa library and donated a couple sacks of Clive Cussler novels to their library. We stopped at Vergenoed Winery just in time to see the duck run. Hilarious. We then headed to Stellenbosch and visited the gardens on campus and ate at their cafe. We met Velum Pretorious, the ex-president of the South Africa bonsai society. He now helps out at the bonsai exhibit at the gardens. There are some world renowned winners here and it is the largest and oldest collection in all of South Africa. We learned some wonderful facts and stories from Velum. We then headed to the Paarl Africaans language memorial. Then off to Franshoek. We stopped at the open market and looked at some trinkets from the local sellers. We met one man from Zimbabwe that was baptized a me...

Cape Town Mission Field   28 October 2019   Day 687 Monday Count Up => +1 We have now started our personal tour of South Africa, this is Day 1. We headed for the Cape of Good Hope today knowing it was going to be raining off and on. This is a trip that you spend a lot of time in the car and we were hoping for sunny breaks when we got out to see things. We asked Martha to come along and she was excited to do so. We first stopped at Simon's Town to see the penguins. We were practically the first on the beach. We met Sean Robertson from Idaho but grew up in Salt Lake around 45th South and Redwood Road. He has traveled the world (52 countries) working mostly on ships as a repair diver and inspector. We left just as it started to rain. We then went down to the Cape of Good Hope and the sun was out so we hiked up to the lighthouse and had some great weather. We also drove down to the beach and took some photos there too. We then went to Scarborough for lunch then u...

Cape Town Mission Field   27 October 2019   Day 686 Sunday Count Down => 0 Day Zero! Our last day on Mission! Wow, when you're anxiously engaged in good works...time flies. We got up this morning and prepared the pulled-pork that has been slow cooking in the crock pot all night. We gathered up the beasts in 2 crock pots and headed to the chapel. We enjoyed the Branch Conference in the Langa 2nd Branch and had the opportunity to sustain all the leadership of the church. The Branch President and the Stake President both spoke. We had a great lesson from Elder Levy about Elder Johnson's talk in General Conference about the 3 D's. He talked about the adversary's Deception by turning to the story of Sharem in Jacob in the Book of Mormon. It turned out that Sister Courtright picked up the Book of Mormon while we were driving down to Capri and she opened it to that story and read it while we traveled. We had some wonderful youth speakers in the Langa 1st B...

Cape Town Mission Field   26 October 2019   Day 685 Saturday Count Down => 1 We got up and headed for Table Mountain to catch up with the Fullmer's. The traffic was terrible and the mountain had an overcast so after standing in line for tickets for a while we decided to try again next Monday or Tuesday when Kerry comes in. We went to the bread store and got the buns for tomorrows BBQ at the Mbaki's house after church. We then headed to Capri to pick up some more plaques we had Hillary Forsyth make for us to give to the senior couples we meet on our journey across the East Cape. We had a nice toasted cheese sandwich on home made bread with chutney sauce. When in Africa. We stopped at Rhodes Memorial on the way back to the office. There were two wedding parties taking pictures there. We got to the office and wrapped up a couple of items and did laundry. The Assistants came in to get some work done. We left and dropped some shopping items off that we picked up o...

Cape Town Mission Field   25 October 2019   Day 684 Friday Count Down => 2 We went to the Cape Town market to get Watermelons for the party at the Mbaki's tomorrow. We then headed for the airport to pick up the rental for our trip. It is a Foretuner, similar to a Forerunner in the states. It was pouring at times. We then went to the office to wrap up helping the Smith's finish the last few training items we had with them. The traffic was backed up all the way to the airport into Cape Town. Mostly due to the heavy rain. The Liesbeek River (small creek) was very full and the water was up to almost the height of the bridge we cross over to get to the office. Elder Smith is heading home and he was in the office getting ready to have his going home interview with President Lebethoa. We have a lot of Smith's in the mission. Three are serving in East London right now. Elder Fullmer showed up with his parents that have come to tour South Africa with him before they ...

Cape Town Mission Field   24 October 2019   Day 683 Thursday Count Down => 3 Today is our last Transfer Day! Crazy how time has flown by. We'd like to stop time but we feel the separation now that the Smith's are taking over. So with mixed emotions we are pulling away and leaving the mission in good hands. It will be hard on us emotionally these last few days. We helped Sister Smith setup for transfers at the Gugulethu Chapel and saw a group leave for the airport and another group arrive. We then headed back to the office. We saw Elder Chola and Sister Courtright showed Sister Smith how to administer the ELL test for him. We enjoyed lunch with the those elders that arrived that are getting ready to go home. We then headed home and stopped at Mr. Fish for some fried calamari and fish burger and chips. Elder arriving for transfers President Lebethoa leading a discussion with those waiting to be transferred Elder Chola heading home Elder Adams an...

Cape Town Mission Field   23 October 2019   Day 682 Wednesday Count Down => 4 We woke early and went into the office at 4:30. We got a lot done before anyone else arrived. We are preparing for the new missionaries to arrive today. Met a little gecko on the wall of our BnB this morning, he's no bigger than my little finger The gang violence among the taxi's is alive and well, note the bullet hole next to the license plate We observed 10 little guinea chicks that have arrived with the beginning of Spring Linda is our Global Flight courier pickup and delivery person that Sister Courtright has been working with for the past two years, he's a wonderful gentleman We found the words to the SACTM song which isn't sung by the elders anymore, it used to be quite popular but the brethren discouraged it when President Lebethoa tool charge so he followed their admonition and hasn't encouraged it to be sung by the missionaries anymo...

Cape Town Mission Field   22 October 2019   Day 681 Tuesday Count Down => 5 Today we took the Smith's to the Post Office and Makro store again to get them familiar with the routine. We then spent the day in the office going over more training items. Elder Smith got some phone calls on phone issues that he is now becoming familiar with and we also lost internet to the office and was able to see who we call to get that back online. Sister Courtright has been busy with the Annual Yearbook trying to get it all formatted with all the elders pictures that she's received from the president. We left work around 6:00 and relaxed at the BnB this evening. Fred, attendant at the Post Office parking lot, we invited him to visit with the missionaries and come to church Enjoying a muffin with the Smith's at the Makro store, they treat the pensioners well here

Cape Town Mission Field   21 October 2019   Day 680 Monday Count Down => 6 Today is our grandson Boston's birthday, he turns 11 today. We will get to witness him receiving the priesthood in January. Woo Hoo! Stop growing already! He is getting way too cute! This morning we were up at 5:30 and met the Smith's at 6:30 and headed for the Cape Town market to introduce them to the market and pick up fruit for this weeks transfers. We came away with a box of bananas, tangerines, and apples. All for R255, or about $18. We spent the day training at the office except for a quick trip to the doctors for Sister Courtright to take a diabetic eye exam for our application packet for our next mission. Elder Fullmer is going home this week and he sent us an email inviting us to stay in touch. We really enjoy his spirit on mission. Elder Fullmer

Cape Town Mission Field   20 October 2019   Day 679 Sunday Count Down => 7 We received an unexpected but welcomed text from the Hermanus elders this morning. We rarely get any feedback regarding people we come across and sent them to the elders or direct them to the nearest church. But this morning the elders shared with us that Sister Kudakwashe had been attending church this past year after we found her in a Italian restaurant that we stopped at in Hermanus for lunch. She said she was once a member of our church when she lived in Zimbabwe. We explained that once you are a member you are always a member and that there was a church nearby where she was living. She reported that finding the church again had changed her life dramatically and was so grateful that we directed her to the church again. Sister Kudakwashe and child with Elder Bray and Elder Adams We had a wonderful service to day at church. There were many new faces today. Most came as a re...