Hello Family and Friends from South Africa March 27, 2011,
We have had a fun and busy week. It started off on Monday with our p-day. Well, we had help plan a district activity. The farmer who is here from Utah said we could come out to the farm and he would show us the farm. We were to meet at 9:00am at the trading post on the way to Newcastle. Tyler said come out and we will feed the cattle at 9. So, when we got there the hunters had shot a Kudu the day before and one of the workers was skinning and cut it up. I do have a picture of the horns. The most interesting part of the farm visit was they had just received 120 yearlings that need to be branded, dehorned and castration. The missionaries were setting on vulture row watching this whole process take place. Then we all loaded into the back of a pickup truck and headed out to feed the cattle at the back of the farm. We were going down N11 with eight white people and two blacks in the back of this truck. Cars were passing us and honking at us. I think it is a very strange sight to see whites in the back of a truck. We see the blacks riding in the back all the time. We go over a dirt road for a long ways and then we get off on a smaller road. We go to the field where the cattle are and Tyler starts blowing a whistle and the cows are mooing and start to come running. Even a pig from the native farms comes a running for the grain that is going to be poured out too them. This farm has been in the family since the 1800's and the son is now the fifth generation. After we fed we came back through the middle of the farm. They said they usually see some wild animals, but we didn't see anything. They said probably because of the hunters there over the weekend. The Elders started playing sock er and Tyler started cooking---they call it a braai here. We had taken the rest of the food, chip, buns, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, condiments, watermelon, and soda pop. Tyler's wife had made a fruit cocktail cake. Everyone had a very good time.
Tuesday, I made chocolate chip muffins for the Zone Conference that was to take place on Wednesday. Chris came to the house for piano lesson at 10:30 because we weren't teaching on Wednesday. Then we went to Ezakheni to teach piano out there. Our last family's oldest daughter was studying for a test, so we didn't teach there.
Wednesday, we left at 7:00 and didn't get home until after 8pm. We had training from 8 until 2:30. We had pizza and chocolate muffins for lunch. The Blackburns brought us the big five. We had wanted a carving of each of the big five. They are bigger than we wanted, but they are very nice. The Ward's had picked up the manger sets I had order that were in Johannesburg, so we were able to pick those up too. The best thing we got was a box sent from home with See's candy. We got some See's for Christmas and we knew we were missing the really good chocolate. Keely had packed this box of goodies for us and there was not an inch of space left. We got chocolate chips, brown sugar, a roll of summer sausage, and a few other goodies.
Thursday, we went to Dannhouser and Dundee to teach piano. While in Dundee we meet with one of the contractors about the water project we are trying to get built for a township up there. When we got to the Dundee house to teach, the Go Go said the boys were studying for a test, so we didn't teach there. Her daughter is going to help with the water project. The Humanitarian Missionaries are coming Friday to teach this daughter what they want her to do. We think our project has been sent to the Area Presidency for approval. So, we are just waiting to hear if it's a go.
Now, Friday we sort of used as our p-day. We left about 8am and went to Howick to the Mzansi Zulu Quilt Centre. It is about two hours from here. The shop is out in the boonies for sure. We had to drive 10 or 15 miles on dirt roads, but we found the place. Elisabeth Baratta is the founder of establishing this shop to teach Zulu men and women to quilt for market. Through grants from the Rotary Foundation and many other who donate fabric, this shop operates. Here is an opportunity to purchase a bit of Africa directly from the men and women who create them. You can purchase one already made or they will make you one to order. We have ordered on queen size quilt made with Africa prints and made by one of the Zulu women who does quilts there. All of the quilters have been able to purchase their own sewing machines and have water and electricity installed in their homes with the proceeds of their quilting. Some of this info I have taken right from the pamphlet. We spent about two hours there and talk a lot with Elisabeth Baratta, so now this info comes from here. The Zulu women will made 80% of the sale and the shop keeps only 20%. The quilts are machine quilted with a long arm machine.
Elisabeth has come to Texas to help teach at quilts shows there. The long arm machine was donated to her, for teaching the Zulu men and women. One of the biggest problems she has is getting the young to come and learn. She has taught many, but the sad part is they die from aids. She said that aids is really strong around her area. She teaching someone to use the long arm and the next things she knows they had died. We were happy to purchase a quilt from her shop, because we are helping the person provide food for her table and family. You would be surprised at how many do not have running water and electricity in there home. This sure makes you humble to see how they still survive. I wished I could share this with my Grand kids, so they would know just how blessed they are. We are truly blessed to have what we have in the states.
Saturday, the Relief Society in Ladysmith called and invited me to the Relief Society birthday party. The Relief Society in 169 years old. We had a lesson on emergency preparedness and then sandwiches and of course a birthday cake. We then ran out to Ezakheni to take some papers out there. But, I do have to tell you what the Sacrament meeting was about. It was about the Relief Society. The President talk about how it evolved and what the sister do for one another and then each sister told how the Relief Society has helped them personally. It was really very good.
Now, you see why I said it was busy but a very good week. I love going to church with the members. They are so strong in their beliefs and have such good hearts, you can't help but love them.
God Bless You and We Love You
Sister and Elder Hudson
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