Orange Farm

These first couple of pictures are of homes which surround the school where the Orange Farm Branch meets for church. It is a middle class township. Nicer than most we see.






Fast Sunday is a special day to me. A day when I can fast from a couple of meals and in return I am blessed with ears to hear the sweetest testimonies of the most humble saints. This past Sunday was no exception. We traveled about an hour from our home to Orange Farm Branch. This branch meets in a schoolhouse like many others. The difference is that none of the streets in this area have street names or signs. Norriss looked at the map and could not figure out how we were going to find the church, we Googled maps with the same results. So we goggled the township and there we saw two symbols indicating two schools in the area. We zeroed in on one of the schools and the put the coordinates of one of the schools in the GPS and off we went. We did have some trouble locating the right school at first. We found ourselves surrounded by Combies as Apostolic Saints poured out of the vans and headed into the first school location. Norriss found someone who spoke English and was able to find out where the LDS church met. Of course it was the other school in this community. We wound around roads paved and unpaved and were unable to cross over the wire fence that separated us from the meeting house school. We finally talked with a man whose eyes we could see over a yard fence. He directed us up two streets and then left where we found the unmarked entry for the school yard which was hidden down a long driveway.



This is a typical home site of the neighbors facing the school.
Beyond the wire are several buildings, the main house, the outhouse and the rental house which is the one closest to the fence. You can see the stove pipe coming up through the roof. A rental house, dismal as it seems means income. Many people also have chickens that run free. Another source of income. Several chickens came into the school yard to drink the water in the drains.

A round house like this one is often used for smoking meats, or storing dried meat.

As I was walking the grounds of the school yard these woman called out to me saying "Mama, how are you today?

I greeted them and asked how they were. I was told two of them had the flu and one had had a stroke. The woman in the striped shirt did the talking and she is the one who is a stroke victim. I took their pictures, as they requested and share them with you now. They were very nice and wanted to know what that other white boy was doing. At first I thought they were speaking of Elder Webb, but then it dawned on me they were talking about Elder Baxter who is serving in this area. I told them we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ come with a message of His love for them. They wanted to visit a bit, which I did. They told me of God's goodness to them. I told them he had sent the missionaries because he loved them so much. I also told them I would bring them the pictures I took of them when I visit next. That is when this young lady came close to the fence so I could take her picture up close. She liked what she saw.

This is the court yard of the school where Orange Branch meets for church. By the time the Sacrament had been served the building was filled to capacity. There were no chairs left.

We took the key board with us so I could play for Sacrament Meeting. This Branch has no piano, but the saint have voices that ring out clear. The chorister was so excited to actually have an accompanist that she kept looking at me and smiling as she sang out leading the congregation with her voice. I couldn't get the key board to play loud enough to be heard above their singing.

After that meeting was over I offered to play for primary. I loved being with the children. They are so loving and open. As I played for them they sang so beautifully. I was told they were practicing for Branch Conference which will be held next week. As primary music time was ending the Primary President gave them an assignment; 3 things they were to pray for before coming to church next Sunday. 1. They were to pray they would sing with their best voices. 2. They were to pray that Sister Webb would be able to come to church again next week to play for conference. 3. They were to pray that the angles would sing with them. I felt very special.

As you can imagine, Elder Webb and I will be attending church in Orange again next Sunday. We love sharing time with such wonderful people.

When Primary was over I let the children take turns playing the keyboard. They were thrilled to have the chance to make different sounds.

Future Ward Organists.

These two pictures are the entire primary. They have a lovely choir and will be a beautiful part of the Branch Conference.

The weather is beginning to warm up. We were able to enjoy our meeting without freezing on this special day.

After the meetings were over we gave a short fireside on the PEF

introducing it's inspirational program to many potential candidates. Elder Webb just keeps getting better and better in his ability to share the basics of the program.

when we are finished these good people can see the blessings available with hard work, determination, and the Lord's help. Africa is changing one PEF student at a time.

I am so glad we are serving a mission. I hear there are relatively few senior couples who actually serve missions. They are missing out on the most amazing experiences; chances to see God work his miracles in small and simple ways; chances to be taught humility by those who are the most humble; chances to grow in ways that cause us to change our hearts and eyes to see and feel more like the Savior. We are not Saints by any means, but we are saint trying to serve in love.

The other half of the Primary.

Orphanage

This past Thursday we went to visit a Zulu mama who runs an orphanage and day care in Thembisa. The vision I had in my head was much different from what we actually saw. This orphanage receives children placed by the state,by neighbors who find children whose parents have died, or from mothers who can no longer care for their children.

Mama, which is the only name we were given for her, has been caring for children for 30 years. We met one of the children she raised. He had come to visit and help; he is 36 years old. He told us he had been an orphan and that he was older than most when he left her home. He was 18. Mama told me she has a big heart so God sends her these children. She has carried many on her back as she goes about her chores. Her youngest charge at present is almost 2 years old. She has had him since he was a baby. I am not sure of the age of the oldest children. They were in school when we visited.

Mama has three woman helpers who do washing, cleaning, and cooking as well as help care for the children. They are homeless and they do this work for food. They all seemed like good kind people, and they laughed with glee when I took their photo and then showed them how they looked.

As we watched them work we noticed that they were taking the clothes from the washer and wringing them out by hand. When I inquired as to why they were wringing the closed I was told the washer has a broken spin cycle. There is no dryer so they hang clothes outside on anything that will hold them off the ground. There is no hot water in this home. The bathroom is out back not in the house. We also discovered that there is only one burner working on their stove. This stove top has not been installed but sits on top of the counter.

In the midst of this malfunction the woman are happily working, singing and dancing. They treated us like family and were so thankful for our visit. We brought food to help stock their kitchen. I made some carrot muffins which mama thought were a treasure from heaven. There is no oven in her kitchen so baked goods are a real treat. The children enjoyed them so much they even chewed the cupcake paper.

When we first arrived we were welcomed by children running to greet us. We received hug after hug from these little ones so willing to love the new arrivals. They are beautiful. The bedroom,, in which they sleep, is clean and well organized even in this very humble abode. The blankets on their beds were a donation from the church. They have had them only a little while. Our winters have been so cold and there is no heating in the home, like most others homes. I do not know how they have made it through the winter without sickness or death, but they have.

Mama called me her sister. I think it is one of the nicest compliments I have had since arriving in Joburg. She, is an angel of mercy. I know God loves her and is helping her in this work. She is not a member of our church, but is a better person than most of us.







This is mama with her children. The young man in green is the 36 year son who comes to help. He has a job and I imagine he brings food for the children when he can.
Elder Webb and Elder Savage helped to unload the food, the children helped carry it to the kitchen









The 36year graduate of the orphanage also helps in the garden.




Mama said when Summer comes she will be able to sell some of the produce from their garden. She will get a few Rands to help with expenses.

This is their garden spot. The man in the picture helps in the garden. He too works for food. They have no tools to work the soil. What they do accomplish is done by faith and hard work. Mama asked us to bring her seeds and tools so they can have a good garden this year.

Mama and children dancing for joy. "God loves me" says mama,"he brought you to me; he always provides". Mama speaks little English but I felt I understood every thing she said. She shines with the love of Christ. She lives to serve his children.

All the children we saw were healthy active little boys, except two little girls.

There were a few broken toys in a trailer that acted as a classroom. The weather was warm enough for them to play outside in the playground.

A couple of the children with Sister Savage.

Unloading the car. Mama says the children get one good meal a day.

Here is the stove top. This cook is one of the homeless woman who works for her food. She is cooking mealies (corn mush) which is a staple on the only burner that works.

This kitchen is kept clean by these good woman.

Laundry in this washing machine is an all day affair. With cold water for all chores and hand wringing the labor is lenghty.

This is the bedroom. All beds have new blankets that are treasured for the beauty as well as their warmth. I'm not sure they have ever had anything new before.

The curtain you see in the right hand corner is the room divider. Mama sleep on the other side of the curtain. She always has the youngest children share her bed so she can keep them warm .

The floor is cement, but they are kept

clean and tidy.

Some of the children eating their carrot muffins.

The muffins were gone in a flash, but each child took one only. We saved half

of them for the children who would be coming home from school.

neighborhood on the way to orphanage

I must say, I left part of my heart here. I thought about these little people and mama all night long. I prayed that we could find a way to help with the stove and the washing machine.

God did send ideas. The area office has a warehouse were supplies for the area office missionary apartments are kept. I asked Malcom, the man in charge of such things, if there were an extra stove we could purchase. He asked me why I needed one. When I told him about the orphanage, their stove and washer, he said they would give it to her. He asked if we needed it delivered. He also asked if I wanted a washer for them.

That was not me working miracles that was the Lord. He loves mama. He loves each of us and as we do our best, keep his commandments, serve one another and prayto him in the name of JESUS CHRIST he make a way for us to succeed. We feel blessed that the Lord would allow to watch his miracles for mama unfold. He is a God of miracles big and small.

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.