Our First Christmas Tree

 Little Rosa.

First the lights.

Then the ornaments and garlands.

Rosa will get into the ornaments?

A Great job done by all.

Merry Christmas 2011

Singing with the elders helped us all have the Christmas Spirit on Christmas Eve.

 Elders: McDonald, Leach, Houston, Critchfield, Zarbock, Khanyile and Pres. Ladle (in back)

Christmas Day dinner at the Ladles: ham, funeral potatoes, carrotts, christmas jello, crescent rolls and
apple pie and ice cream. These are wonderful elders. From the front: Elders Khanyile, Leach, Critchfield, McDonald, Houston and Zarbock and Sister Ladle on the left. We have the BEST Zone. It will be hard to say goodbye in February.

Kirstenbosch-National Botanical Garden

The clouds were so beautiful.

We sat for 1 1/2 hour on a bench just taking in all the beauty.

Bird of paradise.

Protea is the national flower. There are many varieties.

I loved how the brochure said, "Botanical gardens are living museums." Kirstenbosch is the largest of the 9 botanical gardens in South Africa. The forests here were surveyed in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company.  The gardens began as most, a little here and then progressing to the beautiful gardens we saw.

YSA Activities each Friday night

 Friday nights finds about 25 YSAs at the church playing Nerf games. Trying to hit the highest number on the rolling white board.

For the others: it may involve Ping pong games.

OR volleyball or

A fun new game no one had ever played before: UNO. This was the favorite place to be.

Thanksgiving Day 2011/Welcome 3 New Elders

 This Thanksgiving we had much to be thankful for. We received 3 new elders yesterday. I will star the new ones. *Elder Khanyile, Elder Leach, Elder McDonald, *Elder Zarbock,Elder Houston and *Elder Critchfield.

Turkey, potatoes, gravy, jello, corn, cranberry sauce, crescent rolls (homemade), pumpkin pie and apple cobbler. What a feast to share with loved ones.

 They were too full to have 2 desserts so
returned later that night to have the cobbler and
make plans for Windhoek missionary service.

These three elders have really given us all energy for proclaiming the gospel. We are so blessed.

New landscape at Katutura

This was a fun morning project. The CES administrator brought up fake grass and all we had to do was measure and cut. Fake grass does have a nap to it so lucky I knew how to figure that out. We measured a perfect circle. Pretty impressive!  It just makes everything look and feel cooler in the midst of summer.

 This is Elder's project. With limited space we didn't have any place for the 18-3 year olds. So we found a corner outside that would work. We bought carpet, took the two blue dividers from primary which they didn't need, added a few chairs and the moms love it. They man it. I got my American friend in the other branch to donate some toys.

This is the wall being primed because of moisture problems. I will have to send an updated picture of the landscaping.

With all things here we say, "IT is a work in progress."

Robben Island

We were in Cape Town, South Africa for a mission presidency seminar the end of Sept.

This is the ferry to the left that we borded to see Robben Island. From 1866-1921 it was a convict prison. Then during WWII it was a learning and defense station.

From 1846-1931 it was a hospital also for those with leprosy and mentally and chronically ill patients.

This is the quarry where prisoners worked all day. It was almost blinding in the sun and did much damage to the prisoners eyes,

Only one prisoner ever escaped from the island.

All the guides in Robben Island were previous inmates in the prison. It was quite the experience to have them share what it was like to live here. Robben Island is known for the place where Nelson Mandella was imprisoned.  This was his cell. From 1961-1991 the facility was a maximum security prison for political prisoners.  It became a museum in 1997.

Is it red and white stripes or white and red stripes?

 Try to envision two black bars. I told the hospital administration when we were there in Aug. for Helping Hands that one day I would be back and their black bars would be painted the red and white they had been many years before.

The guards were wonderful and we had good conversations over the course of 2 days. They tried to help keep the people away from me as well as the cars and trucks when I was painting  the other gate.

This is the view from across the way. I was going to use spray paint, but it kept being windy. I began by painting the bars all white. Then with masking tape I added the red. It wasn't perfect but looked much better than before. I asked some of the young boys walking by to help pick up trash. They did. Then I asked them if they were visiting people in the hospital. They said, "No, we are patients being treated for flu." I apologized and told them to not pick up the trash any more.  I had a lot of people stop and look. One lady asked me if I had a work permit to to the painting. Everyone has to have a permit to work. I told her volunteers didn't need work permits. Boy! I actually did have permission however. A painter came by looking for a job. I told him he was welcome, but that it was a free job. Another person asked me if our church taught people how to paint. Namibia is all about getting a job. The unemployment rate is 50% but in the age group from 18-30 it is 80%.

There was another gate at a different entrance. Doug said, "Don't volunteer."

New Sights in Namibia

Did you guess that this was a WART HOG crossing? Great job if you did. This is on the way to and from the airport.

This is one of my other favorite signs. L stands for learning to drive. I think it would be great to know who to watch out for. We should put L on all the TAXI drivers. They pass on the left, on the right, and pull in front of you when you make a left or right turn if you are too slow. I wonder what kind of drivers we will be in the states. 

WELCOME ELDERS!

Don't they look extra handsome and excited?  Elder Chatora (returning), Elder Houston, Elder McDonald (returning) and Elder Leach.

Elder Chatora and Elder Leach are the Zone Leaders.
Elder McDonald is the District Leader and Elder Houston is his companion.

Saturday, Sept. 10th, President and I went to the airport to bring these elders HOME. We were so excited. They are already working hard after a wonderful Fireside Sunday with Elder Renlund, South East Africa Area President. He also attended our Zone Conference on Monday with President and Sister Wood.

August 20, 2011 All Africa Helping Hands Day

This is at Central Hospital. They have a huge problem with TRASH.

#1 on our areas to fix. Can you find AFTER picture?

The next 3 pictures were taken at Mt. Sinai.

Back to Central hospital.

 Taking a well deserved rest.

These 2 pictures is about 1/2 of the sacks we filled.

Good-bye

Our time ran out with the Visas and the last three elders had to leave for Cape Town and new Assignments. We miss them so! Thank you for your service Elders Chatora, Nkala and McDonald. 

Mission Call

My mission call is inside!

I think it is to Africa.

KENYA!

November 3, 2011

Thank you, Loini for letting us share in your JOY! You will be a great missionary.