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
No comments:
Post a Comment