Dear Family and Friends from South Africa February 28, 2011,
We are fine and well and still enjoying our time and experiences here in South Africa. We had a really great week again, but very different from last week. The privilege of having Patriarch Courtney say with us Friday, Saturday, and left Sunday after we fed him lunch. We took him to Ladysmith chapel Friday night and he gave two blessings there, and then Saturday we took him out to Ezakheni and he gave five blessings there. On Sunday, he gave one before church and two during the other meetings. He gave 10 blessings and each one takes at least an hour. The first Lady at Ezakheni is where we teach the five kids at her home and she insisted she wanted to feed us lunch, plus she wanted to have the Patriarch in her home. She is a new member and is such a good mother to her two, and four others. Elder Hudson started teaching the eight year old two weeks ago. She doesn't speak English real good but is learning fast.
For our family and friends that don't know what a Patriarch is I will try to explain. He is a man chosen by our Heaven Father to be a messenger from him to give a special Blessing to a member about them personally. It is a guide what you can achieve in your life if you choose to live by God's commandments. It is something a person must read often and interpret the meaning.
Patriarch Courtney also talk in church on Sunday. He talk about faith. I have never heard faith given in such a manner before. It help me to understand a lot more about faith. I sometimes feel that I do lack faith. He said think of two chain links and then think how they are held together, this if faith holding our link back to our Heavenly Father.
He said don't dought the Lord. Our faith also must be combined with work and the power of faith is the key to blessings from Heavenly Father. No more preaching, this was for me a big help. The Patriarch shared many things with us that was so very nice.
Wednesday morning we had to drive to Dundee to make sure we could still rent a room at the school. She said, Oh, I think the principal has rented that room to another church. Now we have been renting this room since December. Well, the principal wasn't there and we would have to come back the next day to make sure we had the room.
So, back we went Tuesday, and we got a letter with their banking info so that Durban can transfer the money to there account.
On Wednesday, we also meet with two contractors about giving us bids to do the concrete and plumbing work for the three water sites that we want to improve. One is an Indian living in Dundee and the other an African that lives outside of Dundee in another township. We are still waiting for the bids. We also tried to find another place we might rent to hold the church services in, but we were told there is nothing available. We spotted the Hummer with Zulu the police officer and the newspaper man was with him. Elder Hudson told him what we were trying to do. They said talk to the mayor she will help, only talk to the mayor. So, we are waiting until we know more about the pads at the water holes to talk with the mayor.
On Monday we had to drive to Harrismith to pick up a missionary who was going home. Then we drove him to Mooi River were he was then driven to Durban. President VonStetton would release him and then he would fly to Johannesburg and go to the Temple and then he would fly on home. His home is northen Africa. Elder Hudson had made us a lunch and on our way home we stopped at a gas station and ate our lunch in the car. We got home about 2pm. Tuesday, it was transfer day for the Elders. We waited for the Ward's to come with three Elders and they took one and we took two and drove them to Harrismith. We got two new missionaries, one for Ladysmith, a brand new missionary from Capetown, and the other missionary for Ezakheni, came from Swaziland and he is from Idaho. We now have two white missionaries out at Ezakheni, I hope they won't have any trouble. Since we have been here there has always been one black and he can speak Zulu. The two missionaries we lost did not want to leave here. I guess that is good they liked the people here and wanted to stay. We just got home on Tuesday and the Elders from Dundee called and they had locked themselves out of the car and we do have a spare car key for them and off we go to Dundee to rescue the Elders.
We didn't teach piano on Tuesday, but we did teach Wednesday and Thursday. We can't get the message across, they have to practice in order to play. They have to have their minds tell their fingers they must play and when to play. I keep trying to show them if they practice they too can move their fingers like I move mine.
We have had a busy week and sometimes it seems we just run errands---somebody has to do it. We do a lot of grunt work so the missionaries can teach.
I am going to try to remember to have Elder Hudson add pictures before I send this email. We love you all and know we are truly blessed serving this mission here in South Africa. We have had some experiences that are just reminders, He is looking out for us.
With Love,
Sister and Elder Hudson
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