Back to Swaziland Part 1

I've posted a number of pictures from our trip to Swaziland. They are a bit out of order - but hopefully you will get the idea! Sorry for the spacing issues.....blogspot is not the easiest to navigate!

We had an assignment to visit all the Branches in Swaziland and train the Presidents in Perpetual Education matters. So off we went. The drive was 5 hours long but really beautiful and for the most part uneventful.

This is George. We met him in the parking lot of shopping center when we stopped for water. He is from Zimbabwe and was here selling some of his wears. I bought one of his jars and asked if I could have a picture of him so I could show my grandchildren who made the jar when I got home. As Norriss stood to focus the camera this young lad came and stood by me so he could be in the picture and then the woman with the dusters came running across the parking lot to get in the picture. We gave them each a few coins which made them happy and then started on our way again.

Our second trip to Swaziland was taken partly for pleasure and partly for work. We decided to stay in a nicer place than usual and treat ourselves to a little R&R. We were very fortunate to see some beautiful scenes along the way.

This is the view from the First Branch meeting house overlooking the city of Manzeni. Aren't the Jacaranda trees beautiful?

This picture is of the valley just opposite the driveway we turned down to find our accomodations.
We stayed at a lovely resort in Swaziland called Feildcrest Botanical Garden Resort. It was peaceful, beautiful, and the most luxurious place we have been in since arriving in South Africa. We returned to Johannesburg refreshed and filled with energy after a few days stay here. This is the view from our cabana where Norriss is relaxing after a long drive.
The gardens were extraordinary filled with sights sounds and fragrances that were enchanting.
The next several pictures of the gardens and some of the peacocks that were strutting their stuff. It is Spring here and they were showing off for the ladies.

We enjoyed the magnificant color of all the trees, flowers and birds that share the space in this Botanical setting.

The next several pictures are of the peacocks. It is spring and they are showing off their colors for the ladies.

The next several pictures are of our room, the gardens, and different sights we encounter.

Visiting Joburg and Carltonville Wards

We visited a couple of branches on assignment and I thought the people were so lovely I wanted to share their pictures with you.

These young fellows are in the Carltonville Branch. It is another building that is far from the center of Johannesburg. It took us one and a half hours to drive there and of course the streets are unmarked.

Friday, when we called to confirm that we would be attending their service, Elder Webb was informed that one of the speakers had something come up and would not be able to attend. The Branch President ask Norriss to be the speaker. Elder Webb thought we could just divide the time between the two of us so we each had a prepared about a 7 minute talk. When we walked into the building the Branch President greeted us and then mentioned that he had just received a phone call from his speaker and was informed of the fact that illness had over come once again and he was left needing someone to inspire his congregation. We became the main speakers. We are learning that one should always be prepared to share ones Testimony of Jesus Christ and his Divinity. How he blesses us and changes lives. We are learning to open our hearts and mouths for Him.

I was so taken by this little face I couldn't help but snap her picture.

The tree, under which she is standing, is in full bloom. It blossoms are so unusual I had to include them. Each is a masterpiece.

These are some of the women I met this glorious Sunday morning. As you can see they love to wear the bright colors of Africa.

Africans love to have their pictures taken. When ever I pull out my camera people start to line up. I am so glad they do.

This is the traditional African dress, we are seeing more and more of the tribal colors and dress in the congregations we visit. There was a time when the black South African tried to dress in the Western tradition. More and more the sisters are returning to the colors and dress of their ancestors.

Another beautiful face.

These pictures are of the Johannesburg Ward. We attended there again when we found ourselves with a free Sunday.

One can see the Indian influence in the darling little girl at the right.

Norriss visiting with one of our Perpetual Education Students.

I wanted to show you these ladies. The one on the left is the Bishop's wife. She is a stately elegant woman refined in every respect. She is a dress designer by profession. She is wearing one of her creations.

When the new temples for South Africa were announced at Saturday General Conference she received a phone call from a friend who was attending the meeting in Salt Lake City. She was told a temple was be built in her home country, The Democratic Republic of Congo and she began to cry. She shared her joy and testimony in the meeting on Sunday. While you were enjoying Conference we had our Fast and Testimony meeting. It generally take a couple of weeks for the mission field to receive the DVD's of Conference. So the fact that her friend had left the conference session to phone her to share the news shows what an exciting blessing temples are in the lives of the Saints in Africa.

Some of these woman are very well educated, some less so but each is a charming contributor of the Women's Relief Society of Johannesburg. They serve and lift one another as well as those in their community. Each has a desire to be follow the example of their Savior.

Visiting Ado Elephant Reserve

Elder Webb and I had to do some training if Port Alfred, which is west of Port Elizabeth. After we accomplished our mission we headed east again to meet Elder and Sister LaPray for a day of site seeing. We visited Ado Elephant Reserve. These pictures were all taken there.

The coast had an unusually cold Winter and the Spring brought with it some good hard rains. We were told that the reserve has not been this beautiful in years. The guide had never seen the field so full of wild flowers. You can imagine our pleasure as we feasted on the visual beauties of yet one more wonder of Africa.

The animals were majestic in their own right, but add the fields of wild flowers and the whole experience was unreal. There was a fragrance in the air from the wildflowers which lingered in the air like a heavenly whisper.

This is the view we had over and over. Brilliant animals in the breath taking splendor off painted hills and valleys.

The herd of Elephants below gathered at the watering hole. The little fellow is a new calf, not many days old. We were told that elephants give birth standing up and that the calves just drop head first onto the ground. Ouch!

Off they go again.

This is the old guy again. When the young calves come along, they old fellows get mean. That is when the herd drive them off.

We can learn a lot from the animal kingdom.

We took many more pictures and will share them on another blog page.

This and more is here for you view pleasure. Just hop on a plane and come for a visit.

This old fellow has been run off from the family pack. Some times the old ones get kind of grumpy and unperdictable. The cause trouble in the pack and are run off by the stronger young men. This guy was all by himself.

Zebra are a common site, but amazing non the less. Each one is know for his own pattern.

Off to Durban and Cape Town

A few weeks ago we were given the assignment to head South to train the unit leadership in PEF matters and to deliver a new car to our missionary friends in Port Elizabeth. It is a beautiful time of year for traveling the Garden Route between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Picture do not do it justice. Our trip began with a 6 hour drive to Durban where we spent the weekend visiting a missionary couple, the Gundersons. We also met with church units to train leaders, and and introduce young people to the possibilities of fulfilling their dreams of good jobs through further education..

From Durban we continued South to Port Elizabeth. We got there late at night. It just so happened that the Area Office had chosen that day to change the phone system. That gave us a bit of a challenge and we found we had no way of reaching the LaPrays, our missionary friends in Port Elizabeth. We were finally rescued by Elder LaPray about 9:30 pm. He came to pick us up at a hotel where we stop to use the lobby phones. It was all quite an adventure as we wandered through a town we did not know looking for a gas stations that might be opened, or a store that we might enter. Here in South Africa all stores close by 6pm so employees can get safely home for the evening. Gas stations close about 7pm. We were very happy to see Elder LaPray and to follow him home to a quite place to rest.

The next morning we left for Cape Town, another 7 hour drive. We stopped along the say to enjoy some of the sights. The pictures of flower and birds came from a bird sanctuary we visited along the way. I hope you enjoy the beauty of these African specimens as much as we did.

This is a town ship we saw on our way. It is hard to imagine that people actually live in these neighborhoods, but those that do are very happy to have a shelter over their heads.

These straw balls in the trees (in the picture to the right ) are actually birds nests. They are truly amazing. The male bird makes the nest proving himself to the female. If she likes the nest she will enter from the bottom and they will mate. If she does not like if for some reason she will reject it and the male will try again.

African Birds as well as flowers and trees are vibrant and varied in colors.

While in Cape Town we visited Robin Island. Mandela spent much of his adult life in this prison. The history is relived by those guides who were actually held in this prison, some with Mandela some who served after he left. They all have stories of the brutality experienced during Apartide.

These cells are 5 X 9 feet in size. There is room for a bed and a few personal items. Nothing else.

Above is the chapel on Robin Island. It is adjacent to the prison. Below is a picture which show a view of Cape Town from Robin Island. There is only one recorded successful escape from the prison. It happen in 1649, according to the story, some tribal chief made his escape successfully but was picked up just off the shore of Cape Town. No one else has ever escaped.

The picture below show Table Rock Mountain. We rode to the top of the mountain in a tram and enjoyed the view of the bay and surrounding area. It really is breath taking. South Africans are voting to make this one of the 10 wonders of the world.

Elder LaPray with the Webb's in the boat heading back to the Cape Town Bay.

This lego man is in the harbor and is actually made of Coca-Cola crates. I put this picture in for our grandson Matt who is a lego wizard.

Pictures of the bay taken from Table Rock Mountain.

Standing a top Table Rock Mountain.

We had meetings in Cape Town in the evening so it was back to work. We enjoyed staying in a lovely little bed and breakfast for the two days while we were in Cape Town, after which we headed back to Port Elizabeth for more business and more pleasure.The LaPrays were wonderful hosts.

We feel very blessed to be able to enjoy the beauty of God's creations in this part of the world. There is such a variety of every thing in this the largest content on earth. There is enough and more to spare. There is no reason for anyone to live in poverty, and yet the majority of people do.

We are very thankful to have lived in the United States and to have a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He can heal us, He can heal nations, He can heal the world, if only the people would believe Him and keep his commandments. We are here to share His good news.