Driving on the wrong side

Dear Family, It is a beautiful day here and in a few minutes I'm going to walk 4 blocks out of the compound with Sister Brown to the fruit stand. We are quite brave to do this, but it is great to get out. The street we will be walking on is lined with jacaranda trees which are all in bloom and it is breath taking. They are huge trees (like oak) so it is a canopy over the street. The blossoms are beautiful lavender. Saturday we went with 2 other missionary couples to Pretoria to see the trees which are more abundant over there and then to a wonderful monument honoring the men and woman who trekked from Cape Town to avoid persecution. ...in about 1835. The had covered wagons and were heroic as our pioneers were. It was a very familiar story, however instead of Indians attacking they had Zulus attacking and killing. When you come we must go there. We saw some animals roaming around but I can't think of the names......beautiful with long straight horns black stripe down the center. I am going to buy an animal book, a flower book and bird book.....there are so many unusual kinds here. We went to church in a ward about 20 minutes from here. A very small ward. I visited the Primary of 12 children and it was fun. I was asked to play piano there and in Sacrament meeting because the don't have any who can play. This wonderful black chorister came up and asked me if I played, by any chance. I said I hadn't done if for years and years, but I would try. He said he had prayed for an angel to help him with music that morning. I looked at him with a chuckle in my eyes (if that is possible) and he got very serious and said, no, I really did pray for an angel to help me. I guess I was the angel, but I had a little trouble with 3 sharps. Jenna, keep practicing those hymns. You are going to be needed.
The big news is that I'm learning to drive.....on the wrong side. I know it doesn't sound too hard especially for you Ann. I know you are going everywhere over there in Australia, but here it is different for several reasons. There is lots of traffic, with not too polite drivers. They tend to be impatient. The street names can change 2 or 3 times in a 2 mile stretch, but the main reason is the problem of safety. You really can't stop and ask for directions unless it is a service station and they are not too plentiful and the people who work there do not drive, so they can't help. Many , many people do not have cars and they are in the middle of the street selling things like glasses and fruit and newspapers and all sorts of things. It is a little nerve wrecking, BUT the good news is that I now can drive to 2 shopping centers and I don't feel trapped. The grocery stores are in the shopping centers for security reasons and there are guards to take care of the cars while we shop. We tip them a few rand to do that.
We hope you are all well. You are in our prayers morning and night and in between. I now you are all busy and that is good. We have a meeting in the morning with humanitarian missionaries. They are amazing and are doing wonderful things. They are coming from all over Africa. It will be fun to See them as we meet them and get to know them as we travel. Dad is speaking. We go to Congo on Thursday which will be quite a trip I know. We will not do much when we are not in meetings, but stay in hotel or mission home.That is one place we have to be careful, but I am thinking that mission president's wife will take me shopping...That is a must, don't you think. I am taking her some books, because she can't get them there. It is a french speaking country. I am also taking them a few treats that they can't get there. Will e-mail on return. We are fine and it is good to feel needed.
We do miss you though and love your e-mails. Here is some news that i know:
Carol is busy as PTA pres. , Michael is busy with practice. John is busy with trials, Elizabeth is busy as soccer coach, Todd is in play about atomic bomb, Ben is busy traveling with work, Ann is busy learning new city and is new counselor in Primary.I love you all and really love your e-mails even if they are short. Did you think about Skype and a t least a microphone? I am gong to spell check on orders from John, or should I say because of criticism from John. Be safe. Love Mom