Week 39


The monument sign has been installed.  From the outside, the temple looks complete.  How can it be so complete and seem like it will open so soon, yet be so far away?  The projection is still sometime April or later 2025.  I was able to go into the building where our office will be.  It is much smaller than the rented house we are in, but there won't be the issues we are having.  More on that at the end of the post.



                                                    There are frequent visitors at the temple.


Bruce and Lottie Anderson are the missionaries assigned to oversee the work at the temple. 

Oh, so beautiful!


Here are some random pictures taken by some of the senior couples who are out and about all week in areas outside of Harare.  

The sweetest watermelon I have ever had.

This woman is stirring sadza for a large group of people who were present for a ceremony held to celebrate the completion of one of the Church's humanitarian projects.  Bore holes were drilled so that a school had water and additional classrooms were built.  Sadza is served at almost every meal in homes and is always served at large gatherings of people.  It is like thick grits that looks like mashed potatoes.  It is cheap and filling and is what keeps many from starving.


                                                                  Just a fun picture

                                         
I have taken over most of the responsibilities in the front office this week.  Bonnie leaves in 1 week and she was gone a lot of the week preparing to go home.  Among the many things I did this week:  Made many calls because we did not have electricity or solar at the office.  Therefore we had to use generator.  When that had problems, there were many calls to get that fixed.  Then there was no internet.  More calls.  Then no water because the pump was broken.   More calls and by the end of the day on Friday, all were fixed.  At one point, I said, "This is not what I signed up for."  But a young sister missionary gave a talk in church today and addressed that very thing.  I DID sign up for this.  In covenants I have made at baptism and in the temple, I have basically said, "I will go where You want me to go, dear Lord, I'll do what You want me to do."  I am thankful to be learning how to detect and fix what is wrong when all of these issues arise.  And if I can't do that, I now know who to call.  In a way that totally surprises me, I love this work. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Weeks 58-59

Image
  Sunday was an Easter I will never forget. Diana and I have served in the Arcturus Branch for the past 4 months. We worked in Primary. Diana taught the children Primary songs and I taught some lessons. We taught Sister Bakilli, the Primary President, how to conduct opening exercises, teach lessons and lead singing time. She is an amazing woman and wanted to learn all she could so that she could teach the children about Jesus Christ through music and lessons after we left. Easter Sunday was our last day there. The children sang “I Am A Child Of God” to us and the Sisters sang “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” We were both moved to tears. Those videos were too large to put here but they are on my Facebook page. I have one of them singing "Follow The Prophet" here. I gave them crayons and coloring pages. Later that evening, we had 10 missionaries at our apartment for Easter dinner. The Elders sang “Gethsemane” to ...
Read more

Week 54

Image
We got 10 new missionaries this week.  I do a short orientation presentation with them at the office before they go to the Mission Home for dinner and further orientation.  I love being able to meet all the many missionaries arriving.                           These fabulous APs spent lots of time at the airport this week. We had  missionaries 10 go home this week.  They were so excited.  I am always a bit sad to see them go but so happy for them at the same time. Transfer day is every six weeks.  It is the happiest of all days at the office.  Lots of hugs and back slapping when they see friends and former companions.                   Diana and I love the hugs and smiles we get each Sunday from these Primary children.                                 ...
Read more

Week 50

Image
 We gave each Primary child a CTR ring last week.  They were so excited!  Most of them came to church wearing them today.  These little girls are so happy to have these rings.  Even those who do not speak or understand English well know the ring reminds them to "Choose The Right".   This is President Bongani Moyo.  He is employed by the mission to make sure passports and visas are updated for all 180+ missionaries.  He is also a Stake President in our mission. He is frequently in the office working at a table in the lobby where my desk is.  This past week, he told me his story.  I find it amazing and hope you do as well.   He was born in Zimbabwe and has lived here all of his life.  He and his siblings were raised by a single mother.  She took them to a Pentecostal Church.  At the age of 13, he met the missionaries and accepted their invitation to attend church.  On his very first visit, he says he felt...
Read more