DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, APRIL 3, 2011,
WE JUST WATCHED THE FIRST SECESSION OF GENERAL CONFERENCE ON THE INTER NET AND WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE RECEIVED IT. THE NORM DOWN HERE IS TO HAVE A CD SENT AND WATCH IT THE 23 AND 24 OF APRIL. ANYWAY IT WAS A WONDERFUL FIRST SECESSION.
NOW TO OUR ACTIVITIES DOWN HERE IN SOUTH AFRICA. WE FOUND OUT TUESDAY THAT OUR GROUP IN DUNDEE WILL BECOME A BRANCH ON MAY FIRST, AND THAT IS GREAT NEWS. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO THINGS LOCALLY IN STEAD OF ANSWERING TO NEWCASTLE BRANCH, CAN LOOK FOR PROPERTY AND BUILD A CHAPEL IN TIME. WE ALSO HEARD THAT OUR WATER PROJECT IN DUNDEE SHOULD BE APPROVED ON THE 20TH OF APRIL AND I THINK WE WILL TRY TO GET PEOPLE TOGETHER THE WEEKEND OF THE 30TH AND 1ST TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER. THE MISSION PRESIDENT WILL BE THERE, THE HUMANITARIAN MISSIONARY COUPLE WILL COME DOWN AND WE WILL TRY TO GET THE MAYOR AND PAPER THERE. BEYOND THAT, THE IMPORTANT PART IS TO DO THE PROJECT ITSELF, WHICH WILL BE SUCH A BLESSING TO THE TOWNSHIP AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO DRAW WATER THERE AND WASH THEIR CLOTHES WHERE THE WATER IS. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND I'M SORRY TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT THERE IS SUCH A NEED.
SISTER HUDSON AND I VISIT A SISTER IN THE LADYSMITH BRANCH THAT ALSO LIVES IN A TOWNSHIP OUTSIDE OF LADYSMITH. SHE TEACHES SCHOOL AND IS SINGLE WITH TWO CHILDREN, HAS RAISED TWO OTHER CHILDREN AND NOW HAS A NEPHEW AND A NIECE SHE IS RAISING. I GUESS SURVIVAL IS THE BEST THING I CAN SAY ABOUT IT, BUT FAMILIES TAKE CARE OF THERE OWN, IT'S WONDERFUL. AFTER TEACHING THIS SISTER, SISTER HUDSON ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SHE COULD DO FOR HER. SHE STARTED TO EXPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING SHE NEEDED DONE ABOUT HER TOILET. SHE THEN POINTED OUTSIDE AND I SAID LET'S GO OUT AND YOU CAN SHOW WHAT YOU NEED DONE. THEY HAVE NO RUNNING WATER IN THE HOUSE SO THE TOILET IS A PIT UNDER AN OUTHOUSE. THE PIT IS FULL THE TOILET IS FALLING OVER AND I OPENED THE DOOR AND THE BENCH IS COLLAPSED NOW I KNOW HOW THESE THINGS WORK AND THIS IS NOT A WORKING TOILET. THE 12 YEAR OLD IS QUITE LARGE AND THE MOTHER SAID SHE HAD A HARD TIME USING THIS ONE. WELL I DID SOME CHECKING AND HAD SOME SLEEPLESS TIME THINKING ABOUT THIS DEPLORABLE SITE AND TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT FOR HER. SHE IS OUT OF TOWN FOR A WEEK, AS SCHOOL IS OUT FOR BREAK AND SHE WENT UP TO JOHANNESBURG TO SEE HER MOTHER. SHE GAVE SOMEONE MONEY TO FIX IT ALREADY AND HE SKIPPED TOWN WITH THE MONEY. I TALKED TO THE BRANCH PRESIDENT AND ASKED IF THE CHURCH WOULD HELP IF I DID THE WORK AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF THINGS. I HAVE SOMEONE IN THE BRANCH THAT WILL HELP ME WITH THE PROJECT. WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO BE PUT IN PLACE SO WE CAN OFFER BLESSINGS TO THE PEOPLE HERE. HOPEFULLY I CAN TAKE, BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. WE HAD ANOTHER EXPERIENCE ON TUESDAY WHERE WE TEACH KEYBOARD. HERE AGAIN SISTER ZWANE HAS THREE CHILDREN OF HER OWN, BUT IS TAKING CARE OF THREE OTHERS, ONE IS HER BROTHERS CHILD. HER NAME MEANS GIFT SO THAT'S WHAT I CALL HER. SHE HAD HER BIRTHDAY TUESDAY SO WE ASKED IF WE COULD BRING A CAKE. SISTER ZWANE AGREED SO WE HAD A PARTY AFTER LESSONS. SHE TOLD SISTER HUDSON, SHE TOLD GIFT THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PAYDAY FOR A CAKE. SHE WAS VERY PLEASED, BUT VERY DESERVING AND I'M GLAD WE DID WHAT WE DID. GIFT'S DAD PHONED AND THANKED SISTER HUDSON FOR THE CAKE AND BEING SO NICE TO HIS DAUGHTER.
I WROTE AN ARTICLE FOR THE PAPER THAT I'M GOING TO SEND ALONG TELLING YOU ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE WE HAVE HAD WITH THE BIRTHDAY FAMILY. YOU CAN TELL BY THE ARTICLE THAT WE HAVE SURE BEEN BLESSED ON OUR MISSION AND WANT TO PUT IN A PLUG FOR SERVING, GREAT BLESSINGS AWAIT EACH NO MATTER WHERE WE'RE SENT. WE LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE AND HOPE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.
WEDNESDAY I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM AN ELDER BARBER AND HE SAID HE WAS BRING US A NEW CAR ON THURSDAY. I TOLD HIM IF HE BROUGHT ME A NEW CAR I WOULD COOK HIM BREAKFAST. SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW CAR TO USE ON OUR MISSION. I MUST SAY IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH US, THE OLD CAR WAS JUST READY TO BE TRADED IN. THE RELIEF SOCIETY HAD A BIRTHDAY MARCH 17, AND SISTER HUDSON HAS BEEN TO TWO HERE IN THIS AREA, GIVING A TALK TODAY IN EZAKHENI. WE WENT TO A WEDDING THIS MORNING SO HAS BEEN A BUSY DAY. NOW WE ARE HAVING A LIGHTING AND THUNDER STORM THAT IS FRIGHTENING.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT,
ELDER AND SISTER HUDSON
P.S. WE HAD OUR SECOND ANNIVERSARY ON THE 28 OF MARCH, WHAT A WONDERFUL TWO YEARS IT HAS BEEN.
FAMILY OF SIX IN EZAKHENI LEARN TO PLAY THE KEYBOARD
Shortly after being baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder and Sister Hudson, missionaries from the church approached me to see if they could teach my family to play the keyboard, said Thembi Zwane. Now each Tuesday they each give three one half hour lessons to my children, and all are progressing well. Sharon, who is ten is progressing the fastest and the three boys Vincent, Emanuel, and Simo all want to play by the time they turn nineteen and can go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Not only are they learning the keyboard but enjoy the one on one time with Elder and Sister Hudson. Each want to please and enjoy advancing as each new skill is learned. Each week for that hour and a half, the families support each other by staying until each member has had their lesson. “This has brought our family even closer and I love what the children are learning," said Thembi Zwane.
This opportunity is offered through a music grant set up by Jack and Wauna Harman. The self taught program is helped along by Elder and Sister Hudson, senior missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who serve in Ezakheni, Ladysmith and Dundee. Some twenty-five young people have had some contact with the keyboard and fourteen are progressing weekly, thanks to this program. Not only are they learning the keyboard, but are gaining self confidence and a sense of accomplishment. Elder Hudson tells each that family and school come first, and all have been able to balance their time to do all three.
“I have enjoyed learning how to play the keyboard," said Sharon Zwane who is in grade six at Colenso School. “It’s been a tremendous experience for my whole family. Sharon now can play the hymns for our family home evening. My gratitude to Elder and Sister Hudson for their unfailing love, the children always look forward to seeing them every Tuesday, a million thanks,” said Thembi Zwane.
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