Drakensberg

Here we are waiting for the dinner buffet bell to ring telling us dinner is being served. We are at the Castle Rock Hotel on Castle Mountain.

These pictures are taken after we visited the Drakenberg Choir and school. It was a lovely way to end a glorious day. We all agree the food was fabulous by the way.

This is Castle Rock Mountain. The highest peak in South Africa at 11,000 plus feet.

We took a few days off and headed for the Drakensberg Mountains. Elder and Sister Harms, who are Area Public Affairs officials, invited us to join them. They had been given the assignment to deliver a CD to each member of the Drakensberg Choir who performed with the Tabernacle Choir in SLC earlier this year. We were fortunate to be there on Wednesday afternoon. It is the only day of the week they perform for the public.

The Drakensberg Choir are a group of boys who attend this elite school in the top of the mountains. It is a boarding school and these young men are from all over Africa. We were able to visit with them individually as well as listen to their concert. They performed for 2 hours music which was as divers as it's members.

This a picture of the boys holding up the CD that were given to them after the performance. Everyone else had gone and we were able to spend a few minutes with them when Elder Harms made the presentation. We were treated like dignitaries. They young men are very polite. Discipline and self mastery are major components of their schooling. They were expected to converse with members of the audience as we mingled together before the concert.

The concert itself was was half classical music and half African music from all over Africa.

This is Andrea, a 10 year old from Johannesburg. He is 5 hours away from home and is allowed a break twice a year. He told me he had been at the school since January and that he loves it. It is hard being away from family, but the adjustment has been made and he only thinks about how very fortunate he is to have this opportunity. He was delightful and very helpful in explaining what goes on at the school. One must have very high marks academically as well as be gifted in music. He is one of about 30 boys that are here on trial. They are not allowed to perform all the numbers as they have not been trained in all the styles of music performed. Most children that are accepted on trail make it thought the testing period and are allowed into full fellowship.

These are some of the pending students. You can probably tell by looking at them they are very normal fellows with mischief under the smile. The difference is they control when and where they indulge themselves. There is the right time for all things at this school.

We enjoyed the performance and would recommended the same for anyone who might have an opportunity to see them in person. They do have music CD's available in music store everywhere, although I must say I think they are even better in person. Many of the solos performed by guest on their CD's are sung by students when they perform weekly at school. I actually think they boys are better than many of the soloists who were brought in for their names sake. It is to sell product. At least I think it must be

This is a lovely home we saw while in the area. Notice the thatched roof.

We also went to a bird show while on the Mountain. This is one of the bird of prey. They were all beautiful and majestic in their own right. They performed on order of their trainers.

This is an owl who usually hunts fish from the river in the valley down below. He would not fly, because their were two black eagles in the far distance. We had trouble spotting them but with his incredible vision and he spotted them with out trouble. He would not fly until they left the area which they eventually did. I thought owls could not see in the day time. We learned differently.
Sorry, I just deleted the owl.

visiting with guests of the show.

We also meet some intereting animals. Yes this is a monkey and he is eating a piece of the banana

I had with me from earlier in the day. I thought he was the only one around, but when I began to share the banana with him the bushes began to move and what had been a very quiet wooded are

now came to life with hundreds of monkeys. A few made their way closer to me, the larger ones grunting in a demanding tone. I must say I few less secure the bigger the monkeys got. A forest ranger made his way over to me and asked that I not feed them as they become a pest and steel from the campers who come to stay over night. I should have known better.

Our traveling party consisted of the Harms, the Lewis' and the Sister Missionaries Sister Warnick and Sister Gerke. They are actually sisters in real life serving a mission together. On lost her husband last year and the only was divorced a little while ago. They are dear friends.

The swimming pool at the Bed and Breakfast we stayed at. You can see the view is sensational especially since we did not have to look though barred windows. The night sky's were also breath taking; so many stars it made me think of Abraham's desire to know all about the heavens and so God had him instructed in such matters in preparation for his time in Egypt. It was this sky that caused him to wonder.

Notice how blue the winter sky is? We loved being able to enjoy our time here without worry of security. It was so peaceful, quiet, and dark at night we all want to return as soon as possible. The only trouble is there are so many beautiful places to visit in Africa one must choose and plan carefully or the time passes and it's time to go home. We have been here 5 months already.

The owners of this bed and breakfast moved to this spot from Johannesburg for the cleaner air and to write. He is a doctor of Theology and author. They love having the LDS missionaries as guest because we always end our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. He study a long time, delving into most religions before he came to his belief that Jesus Christ is in fact the Son of God. He sounds much like C.W.Lewis in his approach to religion. A non believer who now believes.

Some cottages on the property. We stayed in the larger home which had 4 bedrooms with bath and a nice living area which we share. We walked each morning up the drive way to a building next to the swimming pool where we were served our breakfast.

Some how it is easier to pray, and listen in this environment. I understand why the Lord left the big city for the mountains to meditate, pray, and regroup. I wished we could stay a bit longer, but I am very thankful for the experience we did have. God's world is a beautiful place.

PICTURES FROM PIANO LESSONS

Pictures are of the piano lessons being given by Sister Renea Lewis of Colorado. She and her husband served their first mission in Kenya. They were asked to return to the PEF program and were serving as the PEF couple in the Area Office when Elder Lewis was called to be the Secretary to the Area Presidency. His call made it necessary for the Lord to call a new PEF Area Office Couple. Enter Elder and Sister Webb.

Serving in the Area Office allows the missionaries time on the weekends to find other areas of need. The music program is one such need and the S.A. saints are desirous to improve their circumstances in any way they can.
Developing their gifts is one of the ways the Lord provides an answer to their prayers.

The young man in the pick hat is very talented. He has picked up the mathematics of music extremely fast. It's as if he were born playing the piano. He has been taking lessons for 6 weeks and is already playing from the easy hymn book. He is a very serious student. He is 14.





You might be able to tell the room is cold like most of the churches we attend. This group was lucky to be meeting in a clean church building with actual tables and chairs one which they can set the key boards.

The ages of students in this class are from 10 to 18.

The two fellows in the back right are sharing a key board. One student works from a paper key board the other on the instrument. They trade the instrument back and forth by week. There are several students who do the same thing.

The four students in the corner front and back could start up their on musical group. They have fabulous voices and are naturally gifted. They have been creating songs with the key board and played them after class. They make an amazing sound.

Everywhere we turn we see the Lord blessing His children. He is answering their prayers in the most quiet and sometime unusal ways. We have know idea how great his vision is for us or for those with whom we serve. I close my eyes and see only a tiny glimps into his majestic reality. I am so thankful he has seen fit to allow us this view of His never ending love. He tells us what we can do to receive his blessings. When we listen and try to do what he has asked of us he always makes a way for us to accomplish the very thing we thought impossible or were afraid of doing. He knows the Beginning and the End He is Alpha and Omega.

Piano lessons

The poor of South Africa have aru natual love for music. Their bodies sway with the rythmn of the soul. In the past their songs have been a reflection of their lives. Today many sing of Jesus Christ and his redeeming love. Every church in the Black African community vibrates with that music which is sung from the heart in freestyle everyone joining in with the part that is felt within.





When we have our Sacrament Meetings they are more structured than those of other Faiths. Our worship music is from the Hymn Book, is reverent in it's praise of the Lord and has the purpose of preparing our hearts and minds to be fed by the Spirit. There is little room for inturpretive music.





Their natural gifts and appreciation for music of all kinds still runs deep in these gifted Saints, so when piano lessons are offered to the poor of South Africa they are so excited they will do all they can to participate in such a program. These are the pictures I took of one such group. They are 16 young men who walk to a branch in Soweto from all over the area so they can have free lessons. They practice their home work, and they participate doing everything precicely as their instructor indicates; including sing their assignments and finger plays meant for younger children. Their is no moaning, wandering thoughts, or wishing they were some where else. They are dedicated, thankful and very anxious to learn.

I went hoping to pick up ideas on how to set up and run the classes I will be teaching.

Go Cart Competition at Bedfordview Stake

The Bedfordview Youth Go Cart Competitions was a very fun activity.

Each Ward in the Stake made their own go cart. Each cart was entered into several races; doubles, group, Young Woman, Young Men, and mixed competition. The Carts were varied in size and strength according the the imagination of the participants. Budget most likely entered the consideration as well.

To the right you can see that not all carts finished without minor dents and crashes. In this case one the drivers lost control and the cart went for the curb. There were two groups that lost wheels. One of those casualties involved one of the stronger more refined looking carts. Just goes to show you one can't always tell the out come by appearance only. Everyone worked hard, ran hard and had a wonderful time. The weather was cold but sunny which made the warm food that was served after the races even more welcome. Below you can see some of the carts and their designer/creators. We had a great time visiting with the youth. We always try to encourage them to work hard in school so they can qualify for higher learning. The PEF program is for those who cannot afford to go to school. With PEF many of those who would not be able to go can now consider it and dream of leaving poverty behind.

This fellow is practicing for when he can participate. He was very cute and kept trying to push the cart up a slight hill. He finally made it.

This girls team was favored to win.

This picture shows part of the the course. The teams start on the tract come to this turn take it half way and then the driver is to jump off run to the obstacle (the slide which must be climbed first) make it over and down the slide then run back to the cart and off again with the team pushing.

Some of the drivers had a hard time getting up the side of the slide which had to be mastered before they could slide down. Time was lost here. Some of the drivers who had been ahead were behind after this part of the tack.

This is another picture of the course from a different perspective. It was very fun to watch but more fun for those who did the work and participated.

Maybe we should try this for a family

reunion. Each family could make their

own cart.

Those with the larger front wheels mastered the course with greater ease, although the cart below with the larger wheel actually lost one of their and had to be carried to the finish line.

All in all it was a lively event with good feelings felt by all in the crowd. We actually went to see the Alexandra team participate. It did not have an entry.

You can see by these pictures the diverse economical variance of the Wards in this Stake.

We loved being able to share this fun activity.

Visiting Alexandra again

This is the entry to official meeting place of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The sign is portable in case you were thinking this doesn't look like the Church's normal invitation to worship. The Missionaries (young elders) take it with them when they leave.

The neighborhood around Alexandra Branch is not very inviting. The little school seem to be set at the edge of a dump site. It isn't but it has the feel of one. There are broken shells of homes that were burned out during the uprisings of Apartide. They just sit there in open space and the township has been built up around them. They were brick homes once with nice yards with children playing. Now they look so sad . Like a war zone.

Here is a woman who makes her living doing repairs and dress making. She sets her machine up and people come to her. She is doing well compare to so many. She liked having her picture taken and we exchanged greetings. The man in the Blue Coat is on his way to church. He is Apostolic and the stick he is caring is used to beat off demons.

The Apostolic Church shares space in the same school and the LDS church. They use drums in their service and I honestly thought some construction was going on the Sunday we visited. There is no rhythm to the drumming it made no sense to me. But, I am sure it does to these people. They were very nice.

This man has his business set up. You might be able to tell he runs a shoe repair shop out of the back of his truck. The little shelter is the barber shop. The person with the cape on is getting a hair cut.

These women are headed to church. Some to the LDS Church some to the Apostolic Church.

Look carefully and you can see the large rat that scuried in front of us on the school yard. He wanted to go to church as well.

One of the homes which overlooks the school/church yard.

Sister going to church

There are a number of my new piano students in this photo. When we knew we were going to Alexandra again we decided to take my key board. There was no piano, or key board in this branch so we put batteries in mine and off we went. The Bishop has asked me to bring it along the next time we visited to provide some music. When I was playing he seemed so pleased. He was so pleased infact that before the meeting began he made the announcement that anyone that wants piano lessons should let me know. A list was passed around and before the meeting was over I had 17 new piano students. The problem is I didn't have the key boards or books to go around. I have since learned that I can get some supplies from the Hammon Fund which encourages members like these to learn to play the piano so they can play in the meetings. We are starting with music directing first. I will have two classes of 8 and 9 each and we will meet on Saturday mornings at the school. Hopefully it will warm up soon. It is so cold I was shaking the whole time I was playing. I had on long underwear, a long skirt, long stockings, my coat and sweater and a scarf.

This is the set up for church. You can

see the Sacrament table on the left. The gentleman in the center is just going up to the pulpit.







Sister Webb playing the organ for

Sacrament Meeting.

New friend and piano student.