Pilanesberg Wild Life

We took a day off from work and drove
2 1/2 hours to Pilanesberg a wilderness
filled with wild animals that live in their natural habitats.

It is a beautiful part of the country. The
terrain looks much like Northern California.

All these animals were seen as we drove through the park
There are many other kinds of animals living in this reserve but these are the ones that came out to view during our time in the park.
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The watering hole is shared by all the animals. These giraffe come along with the water buffalo and the wildebeest. They are very watchful for predators. Cats share the same space.

This fellow along with a couple other ostrich were walking across the road
we came along. They seemed totally unaffected byour presence. In fact this fellow

came right up to the car. We had to close the window to keep him from putting his

head in the car. The reall are big birds, taller than the car.

This fellow invited himself to lunch. He is really quite partial to chips, french fries to

Americans.

Wort Hogs

zebras are a beautiful animal.

Alexander

Below you will read about Alexandra the township. This picture is of the play yard of the school where the Alexander Branch meets. Notice the play equipment, or lack thereof. There is no
grass or even sand on which to play. Notice the walls of block and the wire fencing above it. This
school is built in kind of a pit, Alexander township is just above and over the wall. The jungle gym
on the other side of the cars is their climbing structure.

These beautiful little girls are riding seesaws which are the only play equipment except a jungle gym on the other side of the parking structure. The seesaws are not attached to the flagsones and the kids can move them wherever they want -- a tort lawyer's dream!

The Ladies of Killarney (my name for them) each spend a great deal of time during the week knitting and crocheting squares to go into blankets for poor children of Alexandra.













Notice the individual squares. Each of these is made separately and then joined together by another volunteer.

Again you can see the variety and amazing combinations of colors. The children will love their new blankets.

Robin is the woman who had the vision of bringing women together to care for
"children headed homes".

We meet in this hallway in the mall. The mall donates the tables and set up so we can have a good place to work. The Mall even hires a gentleman to play very pleasing music on a key board while we work.


There are tables and tables of work that has been produced over the last couple of weeks. I think it is inspirational.

The individual squares above are made by different people and joined together by others who know how to make the squares even and appear they were made to go together to become the blanket you have seen in the other pictures.

Below blankets that are ready to go. The group will actually auction off the three nicest blankets to help raise funds to buy clothes and extra yarn for more blankets.

Now for the story of the week.

We went to church in Alexander yesterday. Alexandra is a township about 20 minutes from where we live. I heard about it from a ladies group with whom I work. These are woman who gather on Wednesday morning to knit and crochet the most beautiful blankets for "Children Headed Homes". Here in South Africa the law states that one who is 12 years of age or older can be the head of a home. These ladies are making blankets for those homes run by children. In so many cases, the fathers are absent and the mothers have died of aids and the children are left to themselves. These woman are doing a wonderful thing. Robin, whose brain child " The Alex Project" (I just named it) gathers woman from all over and they meet once a week at Killarney Mall. Some times there are 3 of us sometimes there are 10, but always there are woman working throughout the week crocheting and knitting squares to be added to some blanket made specially for some unseen child. She is also gathering clothes for these children and and shoes and has managed to get the yarn donated for those who want to work but cannot afford the yarn. She is amazing. Her vision is to clean up "Alex" from the inside out. She has asked me to go into Alexandra and work with her on this project. So, Norriss and I decide we better learn all we can about this township.



Our visit to "Alex" was humbling. Alexandra is a township that steps back in time to before Apartheid. It has not received the funds for improvements that other townships have. During the World Cup Soweto was a focal point for tourists. So the government, in order to show how they were helping the poor, poured a great deal of money and resources into that community, including a hug stadium in which the World Cup was played. Alexander, which is located on the edge of one of a wealthier parts of Johannesburg, received no assistance. This is were the aids epidemic thrives. This is where Nelson Mandela lived during the uprising before Apartheid. He moved to Soweto only after he married. This harsh introduction to life is where many of Africa's prized athletes began life. Excelling at something is the only way out.




Back to Church. We had a little trouble finding where we were to attend church. Alexander Branch holds it's services in a grammar school which serves the township. There is no heating, no key board, no sound system, no pictures for class no storage area in which to store church books just the room rented from a very down trodden school. So the Branch President has a large plastic container in which he keeps all his paper work as well as the few hymn book they have. This Branch President, is one of the sweetest, most remarkable men I have met here so far. His manner is dignified and confident, yet he is so humble and so into service that he asked us to call him if we had any trouble getting to church. He said he would personally come and find us. I don't think I have ever had the president of anything take such a personal interest in me and what I might need. He and one of his counsellors have offered to personally escort us through the township of Alex so that we might see with our own eyes the poverty in which these sweet saint live. We asked if there were any children headed families in the branch and he told us of one. A 14 year old boy is the head of his home which has 3 children. He is no longer attending church because he must work on the weekend. He attends school during the week and works weekends just to survive. I asked what kind of work he might get, and how much money he could make. We were told he might work at a grocery story attending carts. President Tladi also told us he would most likely make only enough to buy lunch.

The Perpetual Education Fund is an inspiration, a revelation given to President Hinckley to help these young people rise up out of this poverty. There are plenty of jobs available, but only to those who are educated in the different trades or businesses. These people could never qualify for loans for school from a bank. And their families don't make enough money to live on let alone send them to school. The Loans from the PEF offer a way for them to rise up, prove their integrity to themselves and the communities of Johannesburg and change the direction of their lives and the lives of the children they will have. I wish you could see the faces of the Young Adults as we speak of the love God has for them. That he has heard their prayers and the prayers of many others who ask for help to end this cycle of death and dying in poverty. He has answered prayers, if we are willing to work hard. He does not give hand outs very often (manna being one time) but does provide a way through hard work. The Ark was not delivered in a prefabricated kit, nor were the barges the Brother of Jared, Jared and his friends rode in to their promised land delivered per built. They all received answered which involved heavy participation. No sitting on the side lines while others did the work. I often feel overwhelmed with the love which is so evident as I study the issues with which these people deal daily, and then examine the possible solutions to their problems if they will but engage. God always allows us to choose to believe or not. He tells us what we can do to change things, or live in peace, or be happy. He also tell us the consequences of not following His direction. And so we bring this message to Alexandra. The lowest of the low places here in Johannesburg proper.




The school yard we stood in as we visited had no grass. It was a small area enclosed by 20-30 fences with brick pavers on the ground. There we saw a few yard toys, 2 seesaws one small swing and a climbing structure that would never be allowed in an area where children play in the U.S.. We parked our car in that area as did the Branch President. They were the only cars to be seen.


As we approached the school yard we hear rock music blaring from the other side of the street. The base was so loud it made the window of our car vibrate. It was coming from a church across the street. We listen to that for much of the first half of church. The second half we listen to the choir of drums coming from another hall in the same school. It seems the Apostolic Church meets at the same time in the same building. They come dressed in their robes of green and white. Many churches, like school, have uniforms. It is a perk they offer to their people because it cuts way down on the expense of a wardrobe. Any way, the the men Apostolic members carry a staff and when we asked what it was for we were told it was to beat off evil spirits. Norriss asked the gentleman with whom we were speaking, to beat a few evil spirits for him. They were a very pleasant group of people if not a little noisy.

It is hard to feel much hope when one lives in Alex, yet these people are searching for ways to worship, and they know that some how Jesus Christ will save them. They are a faithful group living in the middle of filth and the pain of everyday life. They know that Jesus Christ is their hope, their only hope.
We in the U.S. are so blessed. I feel to thank and praise God for the chance we have to be here: to reflect on the many blessing we have especially our family.

Hello and Goodbye

A new couple assigned as PEF missionaries arrived in Johannesburg this past Tuesday. We had the privilege of acting as hosts. It is our second time making the trek to the airport to rescue a bleary eyed couple coming off the 16 hour flight from Atlanta.

When we arrived the Neilsons were our host couple. That meant they met us at the airport, showed us around the office introducing us to the staff. They also stocked our refrigerator with a few basics, and the cupboards with fruit and cereal enough for a couple of days. They showed us round town introducing us to stores and the traditions of the area like; taking ones own bag to the market, tipping, driving on the left hand side of the road, safe ways of getting around, restaurants that are good, parks to frequent and the African Market where on can buy things to fix one's apartment to have a bit of an African flair without breaking the bank.

This week we greeted the Piepgrass' from Cardston, Alberta Canada. The seemed to have more energy than I did when we first arrived. They have been working as The Family Research Specialist at the Cardston Temple for the past 3 years. She specialized in translating Original Old Swedish documents into Swedish of today. He is a computer engineer specializing in mapping. It is interesting that while he designs computer mapping programs he has never used a GPS before. That is one of the things we helped them with along with those listed above. The are not afraid to just get in and explore. They will be a great help to the program.

In visiting with Sister Piepgrass I mentioned that my daughter married a Canadian and that her mother-in-law had a sister that lived in Cardston just across the street from the temple there. She asked what Liz's married name is and I told her Gedlaman. She said her grandmother had married a Gedlaman and that her name had been Hannah Anderson Gedlaman. I told her that I was surprise to hear that name because my granddaughter is named Hannah Gedlaman. She said she was quite sure they are related because there are not that many Hannah Gedlamans. They also seemed to be related, in some way, to just about everyone we met. It seemed the world was getting smaller right there before our eyes.



The weather has been cold but beautiful in Johannesburg. The rains have stopped, but the cold air seems to blast through the cracks in the windows and everyone is cold. Remember, most places do not have central heating. Our home for one, and many of the churches we attend. Anyway, we did have a couple of days that were warmer and on one of those days I walked home from work. I walked around the block to get to the front door of our building and while doing so I passed a number of people working. I always greet people with good morning or good afternoon and I think they are most often surprised that I would speak to them. Their return greeting is always gracious and they seem to want to speak longer. As I walk I greeted a man who earns his living by washing cars for people who park on the street. I noticed there were news papers that had blown away from his location. This isn't a big deal to most people as there is garbage all over the streets. I took the paper to him and he said that he had intended to clean up after his work. I said I thought he might need the paper for cleaning the windows. He looked at me and then at my missionary badge and he stopped what he was doing. He came closer to me and said. I want to know about your church. I want a change in my life. I pray to God and I know I need a change in my miserable life. I told him I know God hears and answers our prayers. I asked him if he could read. He said yes. I told him I had a book I would give him, if he would read it, that is another testimony of Jesus Christ's life and Resurrection. He looked at me, and in a soft voice said, "you would give me a book"? I said if you will read it. He said "Oh, I will read it". I told him I would see him again soon and would give it to him. Two days later I saw him again and he asked me about his book. I had thought about him but had not acted. It wasn't until the day after that that I got the Book of Mormon and searched him out. He seemed disappointed that I had not been there sooner, but took the book in gratitude. He said he would find a quite place, after he was finished with his work, and read from the book. He told me he would find me in a few days and tell me what he had learned from the book.

A couple of days later I was walking the street again. He came up to me and said, "I have been reading my Book of Mormon. I like it, it makes me feel good here." He pointed to his heart, and then said " I am not finished with it though". I think he thought I expected him to read it all in a very little time. I told him it takes me longer than a few days to read the whole book. He seemed a little happier than when we last spoke.

On Thursday last I was at our Thursday market in Killarney Mall. It is set up in the hall in front of Woolworths, not that you know what that looks like. Anyway, I was visiting with the vendors. I walked up to one booth where the man was selling mats made from tree bark. We visited for a while and he was showing me the mats. I liked one of them, and he was telling me of it's history. That it was made in Kenya which is his home. He told me he had graduated in Architectural Engineering but that he could not get work in Kenya. So he started this import business to support his family. I did buy one of his mats after which he asked me about my church.

He had been reading the Bible as I approaced his table. He spoke to me a little of Psalms and said it made him laugh a bit. He recounted one of Solomons conversations with the Lord and how he had told the Lord he was doing all the work and he would not be the one to enjoy the fruits of his labors. This man said he felt the same way. When he asked me about the Church I told him that we worship Jesus Christ, as our name implies, and that we have a book of Scriptures that is another testiment of the Savior, His life and Resurrection. I asked him if he would like to read the testimonies of other Prophets that had seen him. He said yes. I told him I would bring him a copy. He asked me to come the next Friday, visit with him and give him the book. I was afraid I might not be able to get away then so I ran home and got him a copy of the book.



It really is amazing how the Lord puts certain people in our path for a purpose. I had been praying that I might have situations in which to share the gospel, and expressed my frustration at not getting out in public where I might build relationship and and friendships and have an opportunity share my testimony.

He showed me he only needs a few minutes with a stranger to make it work. He of course knows who is seeking truth. He is the one making the way and he used me this time
It was an answer to my prayers