South Africa Durban Mission Final Newsletter 6/23/2012

Dear Family and Friends,

   Elder Hudson has passed his stress test to come home and our mission is drawing to an end.  We have had a wonderful experience.  We have seen the sun rise and sun sets of South Africa.  They are beautiful.  We have seen the growth in the members and the church.  We have seen a beautiful country of rolling hills, green grass with cows and goats roaming the fields.  We have also seen the lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and all kinds of bok roaming the hills in their own habitat. 

   We have served 23 months.  We have helped three branches, taught piano, helped with humanitarian projects, visited members out in the country, attended meetings and been at the call of the eight Elders that serve in the three branches we served in.  We couldn't have asked for a better place to serve. 

   We now look forward to returning to our families and our twenty-six grandchildren.  We can't wait to hold the newest grandchild that turned one on Friday.  We look forward to seeing family and friends.  We hope our serving has been a great example to our grandchildren.

   We send our love to all and we will see you soon.

 

With Love,

Sister and Elder Hudson

August 9, 2010-June 24, 2012

Newsletter from South Africa 5/6/2012

Dear Family and Friends from South Africa May 6, 2012,

We had a really good experience this week.  We had Zone Conference in Newcastle on Thursday.  We had a general authority here with his wife.  Elder Evans is over all the missions the church has and he is doing a mission tour of all the missions in South Africa.  It was wonderful to hear him and his wife speak to the young Elders.  It is a wonderful experience for the Elders to hear from a general authority as they are serving their mission.  I haven't been in the presence of that many general authorities myself. 

 

On Tuesday we were back teaching piano at the Swane family.  We were suppose to have Elder Hudson's brother Grant and his wife Vella with us.  The kids had really cleaned the house spotless.  They had even washed the windows, mopped and polished the floor.  They all had good clothes on and looked very spiffy.  I am sorry Grant and Vella couldn't come at this time because of health issues.  But the kids were ready for them.  They had also practised really hard to play them a song they had learned.

 

I am still trying to make Elder Hudson get plenty of rest.  I get him to lie down at least once during the day.  He is feeling really good.  Sometimes too good, he has washed the car twice this week.  He looks really good too.

 

On Wednesday we went to hear the Drakenburg's Boys Choir.  We had got the tickets for our company, so we went alone.  It was a wonderful program.  They started at 3:30 and sang until 5.  They didn't take a break.  They started with a few religious songs, Broadway song, and ended the program singing African Songs.  They did the boot dance, played the drums, and they turn the lights off and do a song with just sounds.  It sounds like you are in a rain forest.  You hear the thunder coming, then lighting, and of course the rain.  It is very nice.  I have seen duets on the piano, but never a trio.  They have two ladies that play the piano for the choir and a man that plays a key board.  All three were playing on the piano.  It was great.  Then the conductor played the pipe organ.  He was great too.

 

Today we attended church out at Ezakheni.  The two sister who lead the music were both not in attendance.  I looked to see if anyone was going to come forth to lead the music.  I looked at Elder Hudson and motion to him, that I needed him to lead the music.  He stepped right up to the job.  He did a great job.  I was really proud of him.

 

I got bad news this week.  I have  two brother who are both special to me.   My brother Ed was killed.  I felt like he had good health and would live forever.  He was killed in an accident.  I am not ready to say good bye, but the Lord had different plans.  I am glad I know what happens when we die.  I know he is happy where he is and I will see him again some day.  I also know he is with my Mother and Father.

 

We love you and thank you for supporting us in our mission, especially reading our silly news letters.  It is fun to tell you what we are doing even when it isn't much some weeks and then other weeks we are so busy, I am sure we forget to tell you all we have done.

 

Sister & Elder Hudson

News from South Africa Durban Mission 4/30/2012

Dear Family and Friends May 1, 2012,

 

I was going to write yesterday and then got busy.  Elder Hudson is doing great.  He is still taking easy because the doctor said it is not healed yet.  We went to the doctor last Wednesday.  I was in control for one week and then he got the car keys and I lost control.  He started driving on Tuesday and he drove to Durban on Wednesday.  The Gunderson's came to the hospital and then we followed them.  We parked the car at one of the chapel's in Durban that has a locked gate.  They took us to Victoria Market.  This is know in Durban for its African stuff.  I couldn't resist.  I bought two banana leaf giraffe pictures and a rose wood hippo.  They then took us down to the ocean and we walked the beach and Elder Hudson want some prawns.  We found a little restaurant and all had a snack.  They then took us to our B&B.  It got dark before we got to the B&B.  Our GPS wasn't working for us.  They were having trouble with theirs, but they finally got us to the B&B.  We then found out they didn't have reservations for us that night.  But the good news was they had a room available and they let us stay.  We went out to dinner with all the senior missionaries that were in town.  There was a least two couples not there.  We had a great time seeing some we had met some time ago and seeing some who have stayed with us.  The food was great too.

 

Sister Berry had called me and asked if I wanted any green shew shwa.  It is a new color and she had to buy it in 5 & 6 meters.  I said yes I would love some.  I was so excited to see this material.  She brought me 8 patterns.  I had to bring it home and wash it all.  They put starch in it and it is real stiff, but after you wash it it is soft.

 

We came home on Thursday, but had to stop at the quilt store.  We left early on Wednesday and took our stuff down to Elisabeth.  We also took her some boxes.  On Thursday, I got the material to make me a stain glass quilt with the wax material.  I also bought some animal fabric for me and my sister.  She had more in blue than brown.  Rick made us lunch and Elisabeth went up to the house with us to eat lunch.  I had taken my last picnic quilt and one of her ladies quilted it for us that day.  I will put the binding on the quilt when it gets to the states, sometime in October or November.

 

Friday I did some cleaning while Elder Hudson went to the church to work on the computer.  One of the members from Newcastle came down to help him on the computer.  Saturday we went to Newcastle and I got my shaggy hair cut.  It was getting so long it was curling up in the back.  We had lunch at the Miller's house and had a nice visit with them.  They are finding out about African time.  I thought Indian time was bad, but African time is worse.

 

Today is our p day.  I am doing some laundry, cleaning, and cleaned the refrigerator.   We get up early and I can always do some cleaning each morning.  We are having nice fall days.  The sun is out and it is a nice warm day, a California day. 

 

Well, we are still having a great time and love the mission work.  Some days are busy and some days drag.  It is fun to see new Elders come out and watch as the mature and learn to share the gospel.  Elder Hudson made beef stew, bread and we had four of the Elders for dinner last night.  I did an apple crisp.  They will eat anything and think it is good.

 

With love,

Elder and Sister Hudson

News from South Africa Durban Mission 4/16/2012

Dear Family and Friends,

   I have some bad news and some good news.  So, I want to give the bad first.  Lorry had a heart attach Thursday morning at 1am.  He woke me up at 2am and said I think we need to go to the hospital.  His left shoulder and left arm had pain shooting down it.  He was also sick at his stomach.  We had curry for dinner that night and he thought at first he had indigestion.  He would not let me call an ambulance and he would not let me drive.  We are about five minutes from the hospital.  They had a new person at the front desk and she wanted the paper work filled out before they would take him back.  They also had an ambulance sitting there when we arrived and they had brought in a man who had been shot five times.  They started with the cardiogram and then took blood for testing and then put in an iv.  He was moved to a ward because they had no beds in CCU.  He was moved to CCU about 8am.  They gave him aspirin, blood thinners and Lorry said he felt the blood clot move on through.  They said they wanted to stabilize him and then take him by ambulance to Durban.  We went to Durban Friday at noon.  I followed the ambulance in our car.  When they were getting ready to take him by ambulance they told me I would need 12,000ran when we got there.  I said I don't have that much and I can only get 3,000ran out a day.  Surin who works at the hospital and has join the church said don't worry I will take care of it for you.  I know just have to go in and pay the bill once I can get it all out of the bank.  They would not take the credit card.  I had to give the hospital here 10,750ran that same day.  Then on Friday the wanted another 25,000ran.  I have to see if we still owe more.  Everything here is cash.  When we got to Durban the hospital there wanted 69,000ran.  They finally took a letter from the mission President that guaranteed payment.  They will now bill the insurance company.  The hospital in Durban is only three years old and is up to date.  Lorry went in and was never out for the procedure.  They go in the femur artery and once he had a look he put in two stints and brought him back to the room.  I knew then he was going to be just fine.  This procedure was only one hour.  They kept him until Sunday because we were so far from Durban.  His doctor was Dr. Khan.  I drove him back yesterday.  We got here about 1pm.  We both took a short nap and just sat around.  I have him taking a nap  now.  Now, the good news is he is going to be just fine.  We go back April 25th for the doctor to check him.  He can't fly for six weeks.  He looks good and he is still cracking jokes.  I told the ambulance driver not to loose me in Durban because I didn't know my way at all.  He slowed down there and I stayed right close.  When we went through PMB, they were doing road construction and I really got separated from them.  I had a semi in front of me and he was going very slow.  It took me a long time to catch up.

   The senior couples in Durban were practically fighting over caring for me.  The DeLaMar's had gone to Richards Bay and let me stay in there place.  Sister Sweifel made breakfast for me Saturday and the Henninger's made breakfast for me Sunday.  They took me to the hospital and brought me back.  The Gunderson's brought me back Saturday.  I felt like a princess with so much fuss.

   The best thing is how blessed we were through this whole deal.  Having Surin at the Ladysmith hospital helped Lorry received special attention.  We had met a friend of his and we found out she is the head nurse in CCU.  She never left his side for two hours.  Making sure things were being done right.  I called President VonStetten from PMB and he said where are you staying.  I said I don't know I am just getting to Durban.  He said don't worry we'll take care of it.  Since DeLaMar's were going out of town they offered me their place.  The Lord prepared a way for both of us.

   Lorry had no warning.  He has felt great.  We thought because of all the test he had before we came on our missions he was fine.  The doctor in Durban said the test do not always show any problems.  He has doctors with a really good bed side manners.  They have talked with him and explained everything.  After the stints were put in he said I think in time your heart can heal itself.  When he check out, the doctor said it was already showing signs of healing itself.  The attach was on the right side of the heart.

   That is the best I can explain what has been happening.  Lorry said he was going to drive home.  I told him we were going to have our first fight and it was going to be a big one because I was going to win.  He didn't push, he got in on the passenger side.  I hope he continues to be that good of a patient for me.

   I went grocery shopping today and have bought chicken, vegetables, and fruit.  We will have our big meal at lunch and a light meal in the evening.

   We have to get a young lady down to Ladysmith on Wednesday for the President to set her apart for her mission and then put her on the bus to Joburg.

We bought her bus ticket today.  I am still driving and I will drive tomorrow.

   We are truly blessed at we have served our mission here in South Africa.  We are protected everyday we drive anywhere.  They drive worse than in the state of Washington.  They seem to never obey any traffic laws.  Plus the police can see them do something and not even stop them.  They don't get out of the way for the police or the ambulance.  It is scary sometimes.  The pedestrian does not have the right a way.  The cars have the right a way.  You get in the middle of the street and hope the traffic will pass by so you can get on across the street.

   It is transfers tomorrow.  Guess what, we are out of transfers this time.  The President said it is already arranged and you are doing nothing.  We have one Elder going home to the states.  He flys out tomorrow.   We are getting three Elders and two are just getting moved.  The work goes on, no matter.  It is so fun to interact with the young Elders.  They have loved Lorry's cooking and his jokes.  They stopped by today and were so glad he still had his sense of humor.

   I am not going to let him read this news letter.  He might delete it.  I am going to finish and send this one off.  We love you and know the Lord Blesses us when we obey his commandments. 

 

With Love,

Elder & Sister Hudson

News from South Africa 4/1/2012

Dear Family and Friends April 1, 2012 from South Africa,

I now have to try and cover two weeks of news because I never got the week before written about.  We had Zone Conference in Newcastle on March 20.    One of the Elders who participated in the lesson gave the best talk.  He referred to the scriptures in 1 Nephi chapter 3.  It is about murmuring, how the brother Laman and Lemuel murmured when they were commanded to go and get the records from Laban.  This Elder said, as they are commanded to share the gospel with people they meet everyday, they should not murmur, but go and do the work.  It is one a the better presentations one of the Elders has given.  We had just enough time to go with the Miller's to a Chinese Restaurant for lunch and then we had to head back to Ezakheni to teach piano.

I am sure there are other things we did this week, but now I can't think what they were.  So, now for this last week.  President Von Stetten did interviews in Newcastle Monday afternoon and then came to Ladysmith that night.  He then had interviews with our Elders Tuesday morning.  Elder Hudson and I had our interviews to renew our Temple recommends.  They will be good for three months after we get home and then we have to get them done again.  We also taught piano lessons out at Ezakheni in the afternoon.

Wednesday was our anniversary.   Elder Hudson surprised me and said lets go do a game drive since we live so close to the game reserve.  We went out to Nambiti for an afternoon game drive and a wonderful dinner.  I have to tell you I think the cheetah is my favorite  cat.  We got a car length away from a male cheetah and followed him for about a half hour.  He is beautiful, with around three thousands spots on his body.  His bone are very hollow, which makes him light in weight and allows him to run so fast.  A cheetah can run 150 kilometers and the tame ones can only run 135 k.  They use their tail to turn because they don't have a lot of strength in their legs when they make their sharp turns.  We watch a male wildebeast chase another male wildebeast off his territory.  This went on for awhile.

We got real close to elon this time, this animal can weight up to a ton.  It is a big bock.  When it walks it makes a clicking sound with it's hoof.  It toes spread when they put their weight on that foot and when it raises its foot it makes the sound.  Every time we go out to Nambiti it is a new experience.  We had a smoked salmon starter, pork chops, steamed carrots zucchini, rice and dessert was chocolate moose.

We also had to do a food order this week.  Elder Hudson was busy running to the Ladysmith chapel.  He had to do some computer entries and pick up some supplies that had been left there for him.  He was also making doctor appointment for one of the Elders.  They are treating this Elder for a stomach ulcer.  I am not sure that is the problem.

Saturday we went out to Ezakheni for the Relief Society birthday party.  I was asked to bring a cake and juice to drink.  I also took paper plates, cup, forks, and napkins.  The President's wife brought chicken, bread, candy and marsh mellows.  Ladysmith had their birthday party too, so I told them I had already plan to attend Ezakheni.  Plus I was asked to do a presentation about Relief Society.  Last time I did something out there we only had two.  Well guess what we doubled the number this time we had four plus me.

We watched General Conference on the computer last night and plan to watch it tonight.  We have invited the Elders to come at six.  Elder Hudson has made potato soup and home made bread.  I have made a chocolate cake and a banana cake.  We have half the chocolate cake left and three quarters of banana cake.  I did have a hard time staying awake for the last session.  It was really good and we look forward to watching tonight. 

It is nice to make friends here.  I have become friends with Elisabeth from the quilt store.  They have finally sold there farm and are planning to return to Sacramento, Cal.  She has offered to let us put some things in her container.  We have mailed most home but now I can send material home that I wouldn't have done because it cost so much to mail.  Her husband Rick will go home in June and the container will probably go in June too.  Elisabeth can't go until the end of July.  She has a quilting show in Joburg she has promised to do.  They are looking on the Internet for a house in Sacramento to buy.  They have been living here for 22 years and now want to go back to the states.  He is a retired police office.  Actually more than that because he has taught classes to the policemen.

We Love You All,

Sister and Elder Hudson

Newsletter from South Africa 3/18/2012

Dear Family and Friends March 15. 2012,

   We have had a very busy week.  We had transfers last Tuesday.  Then went to Howick on Thursday to meet the Miller's and have them follow us up to Newcastle.  We left at 6am and got home at 7:30 pm.  They are from Boise, Idaho and are excited to be here.

   We went to church in Dundee Sunday.  They are continuing to have close to one hundred at their services.  They meet in a school up there.  This young girl who I have made a fuss over a lot said to me Sunday take me to your home.  I said we stay in Ladysmith.  She said no to your home in America.  I said I would love to take you home and she replied but you won't take me will you?  How sad it is that we can't take her to our home.  She said she is in grade seven and is having a hard time with the Zulu language, because she doesn't know Zulu and is trying to learn it.  It is hard to learn Zulu because they click their tongue.  It reminds be of trying to learn some Navajo.  They make grunting sounds.  I never could do that either.

   One of the Elders wanted a pair of Zulu pants and the lady finished them last week.  We took them to him Wednesday, because we had Zone Conference and he came down from Swaziland.  He had an old pair of his blue jeans decorated in the Zulu fashion.  They have bright colors, fringe, and braid sewed on them.

   We had Zone Conference on Wednesday.  We were asked to take care of the lunch preparations.  I made about 14 dozen cookies.  We bought apples for the Elders break.  Then we order the pizza for their lunch.  The pizza place delivered the pizza right about noon.  We went and paid for it before the meeting started.

We had one young sister at the conference because she has her mission call.  She is really excited to go in May.  I played the opening and closing songs.

   Elder Hudson had to make a doctor's appointment for one of the Elders this morning and he also took him to the doctor because he is new and didn't know where the office was.  The Elder had a spider bite and it is not healing. 

   Elder Hudson also had to go over to the church and get on the computer to see if a person from Durban could walk him through steps to get the computer to transmit data.  He said it didn't work.  The person from Durban will have to come out to fix it.

   Monday, we had a date.  We went out to Nambiti for an evening game drive and had dinner out there.  We saw two buck that we hadn't seen before.  We almost went walking with the elephants.  They were about two car lengths away going along a ridge eating trees.  They walk,rip off a branch, and just keep walking and eating.  We also saw some small elephants but the grass was so high we couldn't get a good picture of them.  Beefy was leading the group along the way.  He only has one tusk.  He lost the other one some time ago in a fight with another elephant.  Lee our drive got a call that the lions were on a hunt and might be going to make a kill.  By the time we got away from the elephants and headed in that direction, they called and said the kill was off.  We watch thunder clouds roll in from three directions, with lightening.  The sky was different colors and changing every few minutes.  Elder Hudson was able to take a few pictures.  I will include one at the end.  We were lucky it didn't rain until we were back at the lodge in and safe.  They said the last two nights they have gotten wet from the rain.  I got pretty cold before we got back.  I did have my rain jacket.  Dinner was just wonderful.  We had egg plant, tomato, and cheese starter, steak with cherry sauce and blue cheese, roasted vegetables, and sweet potatoes.  The dessert was meringue filled with whip cream, apples, and some other fruits.  The presentation was wonderful.

South Africa 3/7/2012

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS MARCH 7, 2012,

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ONE AND ALL THAT HAVE A BIRTHDAY IN MARCH, I KNOW THIS IS THE SAME THING I WROTE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, BUT NEXT YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT.

 

MOST OF THE THINGS WE DO EACH DAY HAVE BECOME COMMON PLACE TO US NOW AND I THINK WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR FEELINGS ABOUT OUR MISSION THAT I WONDER WHAT TO SEND SO THAT YOU WILL STILL READ OUR LETTERS.  LET ME START BY SAYING THAT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE GET TO EXPERIENCE THAT IS SO GRATIFYING ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK.  HAVING JUST HELPED WITH TRANSFERS SOMETHING NEW HAPPENED THAT I MUST WRITE ABOUT.  WE HAVE NOW BEEN OUT LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE WORKED WITH OR HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH MANY MISSIONARIES NOW SERVING THAT WHEN THE BUS CAME INTO THE STOP YESTERDAY SIX ELDERS GOT OFF THE BUS AND CAME TO GREET US AND TALK ABOUT OUR TIMES TOGETHER.  ALTHOUGH THE BUS WAS NOT THERE LONG IT WAS NICE TO AT LEAST SAY HELLO.  WE THEN TOOK A NEW MISSIONARY UP TO A PLACE CALLED PHUTHADITJHABA WHERE I TOOK TWO NEW MISSIONARIES TWO TRANSFERS AGO, AND THEY EVEN SAID THEY WERE GLAD TO SEE US.  LAST FRIDAY SISTER HUDSON AND I WERE INVITED TO ATTEND A WHEELCHAIR HAND OVER UP IN NEWCASTLE WHERE 20 WHEELCHAIRS WERE GIVEN TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WERE NOT MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.  A VERY NICE PROGRAM, PUT ON BY THE MEMBERS UP THERE.  THE MINISTER OF HEALTH FROM THE GOVERNMENT WAS THERE AND SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF THE CHURCH AND WHAT WE DID FOR THE COMMUNITY.  THE CHURCH HAS GIVEN OVER 400 THOUSAND WHEELCHAIRS WORLD WIDE THROUGH HUMANITARIAN SERVICES OF THE CHURCH.  IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN THE DEEP FEELING THAT ONE HAS AT A TIME LIKE THIS.  LUNCH WAS PROVIDED FOR ALL THAT ATTENDED AND I WILL SEND SOME PICTURES.  WE HAVE NEW COUNTRY DIRECTORS FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICES THAT WERE THERE AND AFTER THE PROGRAM WE TOOK THEM OUT TO DUNDEE WHERE WE HAVE AGAIN 20 WHEELCHAIRS TO DISTRIBUTE TO THOSE IN NEED WHERE THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT.  THEY ALSO WANTED TO SEE THE WATER PROJECTS THERE (I KNOW I WAS NOT EVER GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE WATER PROJECT AGAIN, BUT JUST HAD TO IN PASSING).  THERE IS A SISTER ( THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL NURSES DOWN HERE) THAT WE WILL WORK WITH AND SHE WILL SET THINGS UP FOR GETTING THE CHAIRS TO THOSE IN NEED.

 

WE FINALLY HAVE A BREAK IN THE WEATHER AND FALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.  WE SURE DID NOT GET THE RAIN THIS YEAR LIKE LAST, BUT ENOUGH FOR ME.  WE ARE STILL BEING THE B AND B (BED AND BREAKFAST) FOR THE SENIOR COUPLES THAT HAVE THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA, WHICH WE ENJOY HAVING THEM STAY.  WE WILL PICK UP THE MILLERS TOMORROW AND TAKE THEM UP TO NEWCASTLE TO REPLACE THE WARDS THAT ARE ALREADY HOME.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THEM IN PLACE.

 

I THINK I PUT THIS IN ONE OF THE FIRST LETTERS I SENT ( A SIGN OF OLD AGE TO START REPEATING ONES SELF), BUT WHEN WE CAME INTO THE MISSION FIELD, ELDER DAVIS, FROM THE OFFICE SAID THAT THE MISSIONARIES DON'T COUNT BY MONTHS, RATHER BY TRANFERS.  NOW TRANSFERS HAPPEN EVERY SIX WEEKS, SO THAT MEANS A MISSIONARY ONLY HAS 17 TRANSFERS IN STEAD OF 24 MONTHS.  SO IN OUR CASE WE JUST HAD TRANFER 15, BUT STILL DON'T KNOW OUR RELEASE DATE YET?

 

WE SEND OUR LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL,

 

ELDER AND SISTER HUDSON

 

PS THE FIRST PICTURE SHOWS HOW THEY PAINT THE WHITE STRIPS DOWN THE STREET AND THE LAST SHOWS A ZULU LADY WEAVING A RUG THAT WE BOUGHT.

HOUR

PS PS FROM SISTER HUDSON---WE WERE IN THE CAR FROM 5;30 AM UNTIL 8;30 PM YESTERDAY.  WE ONLY WERE OUT ABOUT AN HOUR AS WE SAT IN OUR BOARDING WAITING FOR ELDER DELAMARE TO BRING TWO NEW ELDERS UP FROM DURBAN.  THE BED REALLY FELT GOOD LAST NIGHT.

News from South Africa 2/22/2012

Dear Family and Friends from South Africa Feb. 21, 2012,

I am sure you are surprised to hear from me again.  We had another great week end and I wanted to share what happened this week end.  We went to church in Dundee and they had seven baptisms after church.  We stayed for the baptisms.  The lady that talked at our water project turn over has been coming to church and her two daughters were baptised.  I am going to include pictures.  The mother is Jabulani Mthembu and the two daughters are Strong Amanda Sheile and Nomande Mthembu.  After the baptism we took them home because we were able to get her a sewing machine.  She was so happy.  She was crying I am going to die.  When we met her at the water project she said, "if I had a sewing machine I could sew and make money."  We even took her a sewing project.  One of the Elders wants her to make is Levi's into Zulu pants.  Zulu pants have bright colors, fringe, different designs on them.  He is going to pay her for the work.  Elder Hudson gave her 200 ran so she could buy the material and stuff to do it for him.  I forgot I had some material that the Indian had given me and I am going to take that material to her, maybe she can make something for the girls out of it.  It was a really good feeling to see her so happy with this sewing machine.  She also told us she cleans and sweeps the concrete where the water project occurs.  I know that someone is keeping it clean because when we drive by it always looks clean.  What really makes us happy is when we see so many people getting their water or washing their clothes at the site.

 

Then on Monday we had eight Elders come to learn to cook some fast meals for when they get home at 9pm.  Elder Hudson taught them how to make a perfect omelet, French toast, and his famous peanut butter cookies, that all the grand kids just love.  The main meal was soft taco's.  Boy were the American Elders excited about taco's.  It was really good to see them so excited about food from home.  We miss food from home too.  We have been lucky, because we have had Keely send us some things we miss: soda crackers, gram crackers, tapioca, Yoshida's sauce, are just a few of the things we have missed and really enjoyed here.

 

My letter writing is getting interrupted by a wasp.  He just flew into the house and has made his way into the office.  I have ducked from him a few times and now I don't know where he is.  I will keep an eye out for him.

 

We finally had some lightening and thunder storms like we had last year.  The thunder just rolls across the sky, like for miles.  I had unplugged the computer and came back to plug it in and walked back out to the living room and saw the flash at the window and then this very loud boom.  I turned around and ran back to the  computer and unplugged it again.  We have had some really good rain in the last week.  It rained all night one night and then we had the storm the next night and got lots of rain.  This is when they get the rain and it must get them through winter because they don't get rain in the winter.  The animals need the rain so they will have drinking water.

 

Elder Hudson wanted me to tell you about planning for Semo to play the piano at conference for four months and then the transportation didn't get him to New Castle in time to play for the Priesthood session.  They have construction on N11 and it now takes two hours to get their and we told them they need to allow more time and the transportation was not there early enough.

 

I hope you enjoy the pictures.  The lady we gave the sewing machine to lives in a mud hut and it was clean.  Some of the poorest people are the cleanest people.  They always have clean clothes on.  We see their clothes drying out on the fences and the whites are the whitest.  Sometimes the people do smell of smoke because they have had a fire in their home to keep warm and to cook on.  It just smells like what we smell like when we go camping.  I like that smell.

 

 

With Love,

Sister and Elder Hudson

Newsletter from South Africa 2/17/2012

Dear Family and Friends from South Africa Feb. 17, 2012,

   We are having some really hot weather.  It started the week in the high nineties and now is going over a hundred.  It never cooled off last night.  The nights are usually cooler.  The good thing is it is dry heat for us.

   We had district conference in New Castle Saturday and Sunday.  We went up on Saturday and spent the night with the Ward's.  We went early and I got a hair cut before the meetings.  They had Priesthood training at 2pm for the men and 2:30 was training for the women.  At 5pm was training for all adults.  We had Elder Cook and his wife at the conference.  He is in the seventies and is serving in Johannesburg in the Presidency.  We are not sure how long he is serving, but he came last April.  We are not sure three years or five years.  They both gave wonderful instruction.  We were truly spiritually fed.  We also had our mission President Von Stetten and his wife at the conference.  They are really a great couple and he is so busy.  He has to travel from one end of South Africa to the other.  He has  136 Elders he is over.  Let me tell you he could write a book of some of the things that these young men do or get into.  Some are funny and some are not funny.  I would like to tell you of one experience with one of our Elders here.  The Elders in Ladysmith and Ezakheni both got new cars about a week ago.  Elder Hudson warned them to clean out their cars and have them ready when the new cars came.  Well, it was five days later that Elder Robert's said he had left his camera in the Ladysmith car.  We both told him it was gone and he wouldn't get it back.  He said no I have prayed about it and my camera is at the dealers.  So Elder Hudson got the telephone number for him to call the dealer to check on the camera.  Guess what, prayers are answered, the dealer had his camera.  He had all his pictures he has taken on this camera so it was very important for him to get it back.  This sure helped to strengthen my faith.  The Africans have this thing if it's left you must not want it and it is there for their taking.

   I would like to share part of Elder Cook's talk with you.  He grew up on a farm in a farming community.  When he went some place his Mother always sat in the back and his father up front driving.  When his Aunt and Uncle came and they went with them his Aunt always sat beside his Uncle.  Years later his Mother and Father got a divorce.  He thought so much of this Uncle he wanted to go live with him or by him.  He said his Aunt and Uncle bought two lawn mowers and they both mow the grass together.  He has admired the love his Uncle has shown his Aunt.  They have been a great example to him.  Before they came to South Africa, they have bought a house across the street from his Aunt and Uncle.  Our action can say more that are words in this story of love.  I hope I can be a better example to other by my actions than words.  

   The Ward's came down for lunch yesterday because they are going home in a week.  They will go to Durban next Friday and fly out on Monday.  We will miss them.  They work hard in the District President and help guide and train the leadership in New Castle.  Elder Hudson made a great lunch of potato soup, home made bread, ice cream and date cookies.  We had a nice visit with the Ward's.

   I have to tell you for Valentine's Day I made Elder Hudson the date cookies and he made me the bread.  I really like home made gifts.  He also took me out to dinner.  We had a nice evening together.  We sat outside when we got home and enjoyed the cooler air.

   We are trying to spent one week in Dundee at their District Meeting and the next week here in Ladysmith at their District Meeting.  That is what we have done the last two weeks.

   I forgot the exciting news about our piano students.  Semo played on Saturday at the adult session.  He impressed everyone and we were beaming as if he was our son.  The bus got them to the general conference on Sunday late and they didn't play until after the session.  But our student from Ladysmith came up and played one song.  She is really shy and this was really good for her to play.  Afterward Sharon, Semo, and Popo all played a song.  Other kids came up and said I want to play and I told these kids have been taking lessons.  Sister Von Stetten was really impressed with Popo because she is tiny and has very tiny hands.  She was playing by numbers but she is learning the notes.

   We are doing fine and feel at home here in Ladysmith.  We go to town and now we see so many white people.  We talk with a few of the car guards and always tip them.

   Thank you for reading our news letter.

 

Love to all of you,

Elder and Sister Hudson

Newsletter 1/27/2012

Dear Family and Friends from South Africa,

   I know these letters are boring because we haven't been writing them and no one seems to miss them.  I am writing because I want to send you some pictures we took down time Ladysmith.   We were down town and this truck load of bricks were parked along side a fence and they  were unloading it by one and two bricks at a time.  One man is throwing the brick to another man who then stacks them.  That picture will follow.

   We are back to doing the same ole same ole.  We are teaching piano on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We have dropped the Thursday kids because we have to drive ove 150 k's.  We are trying to figure how we can still teach.  We did some after church, but we might be able to do it if we go to the distric meetings in Dundee at least once a month.  We have had our k's cut to 3000 a month.  We pay for our own gas too.

  We had transfers last Tuesday and we had to be out on N3 at 6;10 am, but the bus was late and it was more like 7am.  Then we took the two Elder's up to Newcastle.  We then picked up an Elder and took him back to N3 to catch the bus.  Again the bus was late.  We stopped by the house and made lunch and fed the Elder and then went to the bus stop.

   The Peterson's are coming today and will stay tonight and tomorrow night.  They will be at the church all day tomorrow.  We have been doing a little deep cleaning.  Elder Hudson worked on the garage Wednesday because it was cloudy and cool.  I cleaned out the closets in the guest bedroom and washed down the doors. 

   We also went on another game drive with the Ladysmith Elders out to the Nambiti Reserve.  The Elder's were so excited to go.  We had to be there at 5:00am and we left at 5:30am.  It is a three hour drive.  We saw rinos, water buffalos, zebra, girraffe, springbok, willabest, and a few more bok.  I can't remember all the bok that is here.  The water buffalo were very close this time.  They are so unpreditable and will charge the vehicle.  I was really surprised the driver got so close.  The rino saw us and turned and ran.  We didn't even get a picture.  We got very close to the zebras too.

   Well, I think I have bored you enough.  I will attach some pictures.

   We are really blessed to be serving here in Ladysmith.

 

With Love.

Elder and Sister Hudson

End of the Year 2011 1/4/2012

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS JAN 4, 2012,

 

SISTER HUDSON HAS BEEN AFTER ME TO SEND A NEWS LETTER FOR SOME TIME NOW SO HERE WE GO.  I WILL COVER THE LAST THREE WEEKS OF THE YEAR WITH THINGS THAT SOUND SO FAMILIAR THAT I WILL JUST HIT THEM AND MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR.  I WILL SEND A PICTURE THAT IS WORTH A MILLION WORDS.  AFTER THE ZONE CONFERENCE WHICH SISTER HUDSON WROTE ABOUT WE HAVE COMPLETED THE WATER PROJECT (NOT ANOTHER WORD ABOUT THAT), WE HAD TRANSFERS, HAD A ZONE MEETING, CHRISTMAS IN LADYSMITH BRANCH, ELDERS HERE FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER AND SOME FUN WITH GIFTS, ELDER MYERS IN THE HOSPITAL OVER CHRISTMAS AND HELPED HIM RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM HIS FAMILY.  ELDER MYERS IS AT LONG LAST GOING TO LIVE AND IS BACK IN THE WORK.  WE DID NEW YEARS AT DUNDEE BRANCH AND HERE WE ARE.

 

THE WEATHER IS HOT, HOT, HOT, AND NOT MUCH RAIN YET.  SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER BREAK (I KNOW THAT SOUNDS FUNNY) SO WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY KEYBOARD LESSONS AND WON'T FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.  THE LATEST IS WE HAVE TO CUT BACK ON OUR K'S (MILES) SO WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS WITH TEACHING. 

 

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.  THANKS TO ALL THAT SENT GREETINGS OUR WAY AND OUR THOUGHT WERE OF HOME.

 

I MUST TELL YOU OF ONE EXPERIENCE WE HAD WITH THE ELDERS, THEY GOT PERMISSION TO SKYPE WITH THERE FAMILIES ON CHRISTMAS DAY (ONLY TWO CALLS A YEAR), SO THEY EACH HAD A TIME SET UP WITH THEIR FAMILIES AS TO WHEN TO SKYPE.  THE ELDERS CAME ABOUT AN HOUR EARLY AND SAT AROUND TALKING ABOUT HOME.  IT WAS LIKE A MATURITY WARD AT THE HOSPITAL EXPECTING THERE PHONE CALL, PACING THE FLOOR AND LOOKING AT THE CLOCK, GLAD WE COULD BE THERE FOR THEM.

 

IT HAS BEEN SUCH A JOY THIS PAST YEAR AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THIS EXPERIENCE.  THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, PRAYERS,THOUGHTS AND LOVE.

 

ELDER AND SISTER HUDSON

South Africa Mission 12/11/2011

Dear Family and Friends from South Africa Mission Dec. 11, 2011,

 

   We have had a very busy week this week.  Monday on p day we cleaned, did the laundry, and had to grocery shop for the Zone Conference meeting.  Tuesday we cooked half the day.  I broke the green beans---five bags for the lunch.  Elder Hudson cooked onions, bacon for the green beans.  He also made Waldorf salad.  I think that was four bags of apples.  We left here at 2pm to go to Newcastle to meet the President and Sister Von Stetten for dinner.  We also had dinner with Elder and Sister Cook.  He is a seventy from the States and is serving in Johannesburg in the area presidency.  What an experience having dinner with him.  President Von Stetten asked each of the couples to tell what we are doing as we serve here in South Africa.  The couples are the Blackburn's from Swaziland, the Ward's from Newcastle and the Hudson's from Ladysmith.  We got home at 10:15pm and got up at 4:30am to go back to Newcastle for the Zone Meeting that was to start at 9am.  We also took the car in to have it serviced.  We have to allow two hours to get to Newcastle now because they are doing construction on the road to Newcastle.  We can have a 20 min wait while we wait for traffic to go through.  They just have one lane of traffic.  Elder Cook and his wife talked with each Elder before the meeting started.  The senior couples did the lunch.  A couple from Newcastle did the decorations.  The tables were beautiful.  I will enclose a picture of the tables.  For lunch we had ham, funeral potatoes, green beans, Waldorf salad, rolls, and carrot cake for dessert.  It was a wonderful lunch, 

   I would like to share just of few things that Elder Cook shared with us.  To remind you who he is, his talk at the October General Conference was about getting on the elevator after a long day in the office and the Prophet got on the elevator and said son you shouldn't be looking down but you should look up.  Before he gave his talk he was sitting behind the podium and Elder Anderson was giving his talk.  He could see the teleprompter and it would give a line and then have a big blank space.  He thought the prompter was not working properly.  It turns out that Elder Anderson only has one line given for each paragraph of his talk.  This had made Elder Cook really worried.  Then he was the next to speak and he was next to Elder Holland and he put his arm around him and said things will be alright.  He almost wilted completely.  I am sure you remember he gave a wonderful talk and didn't look nervous at all.  We also found out if you are to talk for nine minutes, that is how long you are to talk.  If you go over you will get a letter saying you went over and this was wrong.  They look at it this way, if every speaker takes a minute that takes the time away from the Prophet to talk to us.  What a wonderful experience to be in the presence of a Seventy.

   Wednesday, we left at 5:30 and got home about 8:30.  Our plan was to not leave the house on Thursday.  But, guess what we had to leave the house.  We had to do the bank deposit for tithing.  We had a few other errands to run too.  Thursday night a sister showed up from Bloemfontein.  That is a five hour trip.  She came here to see about getting her daughter in the Ladysmith High School.  We found out Ladysmith High School is a very good high school.  We spent the morning running her around.  We also took her to a private school in case her daughter can't get into Ladysmith High School.  They told her to come on January 9th and that is when they know how many students will be returning.  If they have room for her and after they check the waiting list she might get into the school.  We dropped her off along the road side and she said she would get a bus back home.  We went and got gas and groceries and when we came back by she was gone.  She did call to let us know she got home safely.

   Saturday we went to hear the Drakenburg Boys Choir.  Some of the senior couples from Durban came up and they had asked if we wanted to go.  They had reserved our tickets about a month ago.  This was their Christmas program.  Also, performing with the choir was the Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  They are a living legend and world famous group.  They began back in the 60's.  The founder now has four sons who sing with the group.  The only bad thing was they didn't sing Christmas songs.  It rained on us going in and coming out.  They had a tent set up with locals selling their crafts.  I was able to get a beaded giraffe and lion.  We also had some candy coated cashews.  The picture is where we had lunch before the program. 

   Sunday, today we attended church here in Ladysmith.  We had three baptised after the meetings.  A mother and her daughter and a eight year old boy.  It was really nice.  The electricity had gone off during our last meeting but came back on in time for the baptism.  I played the piano for the baptism.  We sang Christmas songs while we waited. 

 

We pray God will bless you all.  We love you.

Sister and Elder Hudson

South Africa Mission Blessings 12/5/2011

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, DECEMBER 5,2011,

 

BOTH SISTER HUDSON AND I HAVE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT THE FAMILY OF SIX THAT WE TEACH KEYBOARD TO EACH WEEK.  IT HAS BEEN FUN AND A GREAT BLESSING TO SEE THE GROWTH NOT ONLY AT THE KEYBOARD BUT IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES AND IN THE CHURCH.  SISTER ZWANE IS A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO, HAS TAKEN IN THREE OTHERS, AND HER NIECE THAT IS EIGHT YEARS OLD.  SHARON IS ELEVEN AND IS SISTER ZWANE'S DAUGHTER, THE OTHER DAY I ASKED HER WHILE TEACHING, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE THREE OLDER KIDS, TWO BOYS AND A GIRL.  SHE SAID "WE'RE JUST FAMILY", SO I ASKED FURTHER FOR CLARIFICATION.  SHE TOLD ME THAT HER MOM AND THEIR MOM LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE AND WHEN THERE MOM PASSED AWAY HER MOM JUST TOOK THEM IN.  THE LITTLE ONE'S MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND SISTER ZWANE'S BROTHER ASK HER TO TAKE HER IN AND CARE FOR HER.  SISTER ZWANE'S SISTER IS ALSO LIVING THERE GOING TO SCHOOL. 

 

SO THAT IS THE FAMILY SETUP IN THE HOME.  I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE KIDS WHEN WE TEACH, HOW THE THREE GIRLS ALWAYS GO FIRST, THEY ALL WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE THEIR LESSON BEFORE THEY GO OUT TO PLAY.  THEY ALWAYS COME OUT TO THE CAR AND HELP CARRY THINGS IN AND CARRY THINGS OUT AFTER THE LESSONS.  WE JUST LOVE BEING WITH THEM IN THE HOME AND TEACHING.

 

FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS SISTER ZWANE HAS BEEN GOING TO NIGHT SCHOOL I GUESS AND HAS GRADUATED AND NOW IS GOING TO TEACH SCHOOL STARTING THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.  I THINK WE WROTE ABOUT TAKING SOUP AND HOME MADE BREAD OUT ON A SATURDAY TO CELEBRATE HER SUCCESS.

THE OTHER DAY SHE WANTED TO PAY ME TO MAKE ANOTHER LOAF OF HOME MADE BREAD FOR THE FAMILY, I AGREED TO MAKE THE BREAD WITHOUT PAY.

(NOW MY BREAD IS THE BEST AND IS LOVED BY ALL THAT CAN GET A SLICE, MISSIONARIES, COUPLES AND THE PATRIARCH WHO HAS SHARED THE RECEIPT WITH HIS DAUGHTER IN AUSTRALIA AND CALLS IT AN INTERNATIONAL BREAD).  I GOT THE RECEIPT FROM MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, JORDAN AND IT HAS WORKED WELL FOR ME HERE IN THE MISSION FIELD.

 

I NOT ONLY MADE ONE LOAF OF WHITE BREAD, BUT THREW IN A LOAF OF RAISIN BREAD.  THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS EXPERIENCE, ON SUNDAY WE ATTENDED CHURCH IN HER BRANCH AND SHE THANKED ME FOR THE BREAD AND TOLD ME THAT THEY BROUGHT SOME OF THE WHITE BREAD FOR THE SACRAMENT.  WITH ALL HER NEEDS AT HOME SHE WANTED TO SHARE WHAT SHE HAD WITH OTHERS.

 

COULD WE EACH BE A LITTLE MORE LIKE THIS DEAR SISTER IS MY HOPE AND PRAYER TODAY.

 

WE LOVE OUR TIME HERE AND HAVE GAINED SO MUCH FROM THE THINGS WE ARE BLESSED TO DO AND THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

 

ELDER AND SISTER HUDSON 

South Africa Newsletter 11/27/2011

Dear Family and Friends form South Africa November 27, 2011,

   Well, another week has passed and we have survived all the activity.  As you know Elder Hudson fed the missionaries on Monday their Thanksgiving dinner.  For our Thanksgiving day, we taught piano in Dundee and Dannhouser.  We got back to Ladysmith at 7pm.  So, we went to this restaurant called Spur and had bar-b-que ribs.  They were good and we enjoyed our night out.  We taught piano on Tuesday and the students on Wednesday didn't show up.  Today at church she said she was writing on her final tests.  So, we have canceled piano in Ladysmith until after Christmas.  We need a holiday.  The kids will be out of school from Dec. 9th to Jan. 9th.  We are still going to teach at Ezakheni and Dundee this week.

   We went to Newcastle on Saturday to a leadership meeting for the Elders of the branches.  Since it was just for the men Sister Ward invited me to spend the time with her.  I bought some yarn to knit slippers while we waited for the men to come back.  We went to lunch at the Chinese Restaurant in Newcastle.  They are now doing construction on the road to Newcastle and we have to add another 30 minutes to our travel time. 

   Elder Hudson made two loafs of bread for our Ezakheni students and we ran that out to them on Friday afternoon.  One of the Elders was sick so he came here and spent the time with us.  Elder Hudson and he watched the Priesthood session of the October conference.  I just hid here in the office.  We fed the sick Elder some left over turkey soup and just as we finished, the other Elders showed.  So, he made them breakfast because that was all we had.  I had made banana bread and shared that with the Elders.

   I have my Christmas decorations up.  It doesn't take long because we don't have that many.  But I have discovered I have now four nativity sets that we have found from all around.  One is wood, one has beads on it, one is made from banana leafs, and the other one is wood, but is painted with the animals being a zebra, giraffe, and lion.  I hung pine cones from the kitchen counter with red ribbon at different lengths.  This look festive.  I bought material and made a table cloth for the desk where I put three nativity's and one for the table we eat on.  I put the big vase out with the red balls we bought last year and guess what, I am ready.  We haven't planned the dinner menu yet.

   Well, this is a short letter.  We are doing good and are healthy.  I feel very blessed to be so healthy and have what abilities I have.  The Lord does bless us here everyday.  The people only know one speed to drive and that is with the peddle to the metal.  Every week the local paper has stories and pictures of wrecks that have occurred.  We finally got some needed rain on Thursday.  It rained all day and all the way to Dundee and back. 

   We attended church here in Ladysmith today.  Someone told Elder Hudson there was going to be a storm today.  Sure enough at about 3pm we had lightning, thunder, and rain.  It didn't last very long.  Keep the notes coming.  We enjoy hearing from you.

 

We send our love to all

Sister and Elder Hudson