Week 25

These children came with their ward after church on Sunday to see the temple.  The Anderson's, the missionary couple who oversee the construction, told us today that it is 90% finished.  In terms of time, they say that is sometime in the first half of 2025.  The people here are anxiously awaiting the opening.  I feel so blessed that I will still be here when it opens, assuming that is before August 26, 2025.  




 






The Senior Sisters were invited to dinner at Reeve Nields home.  When many white families left Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) during the conflict in the 1970s.  Reeve's parents chose to stay and have been a tremendous influence for good in the country, not only for the church but for all people.  


Reeve is the one taking the selfie.  Time does not allow me to tell you all that she does to help people.  I will tell about one for now.  She actively helps missionaries who are leaving from Zimbabwe to be prepared to go.  Haircuts, passport pictures, dental work to name a few.  She makes sure that each missionary has a suitcase with white shirts, ties, suits if needed, and more.  Here are some happy missionaries with their gifts of love. 


 My English Zoom classes continue to bring me so much joy.  My schedule is almost full.  This is Elder Lidea.  In preparing for an upcoming English proficiency test, I asked him to tell me about a game or activity he loved to do as a child.  He is given 30 seconds to think about his answer and then up to one minute to respond.  He was seriously thinking for the 30 seconds and, at the end, his face lit up and he said with the biggest smile, "When I was a child, my favorite game to play with my friends was Chasing Chickens."  After he finished, he and I talked more about it and we laughed together as he related funny stories.  Chasing chickens is a common game for African children.  I looked it up and found this picture.  I like to imagine that this kind, humble, humorous, optimistic, joyful Elder was this happy when he was chasing his chickens.




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