Hi Everyone,
We have been back a day and we had a wonderful time. We drove this time as you know and believe me South Africa is a beautiful country. ......it is sooo beautiful. We were in high mountains that were a little reminiscent of Tahoe which was beautiful, lush and green and then down in areas that looked a little like driving to SL only the trees had huge thorns and more grass. We drove through a forest fire right on the road that nobody seemed to care much about and villages where water and sticks were carried on heads. We saw many shacks made of tin, but each had a little property around it for a little garden. Some of the towns looked so prosperous and neat and clean. We just saw one extreme to the other in a few minutes. We felt we were in central valley sometimes with the orange trees and avocado trees as well as many fields of mangos. It was lovely. We loved the three branches of the church we visited. We are ALWAYS overwhelmed with the knowledge of the Gospel the people have and their testimonies and sweet humility. The reverence in the meetings are perfect and the singing was wonderful. I played the electric keyboard as no one else could play. They usually use a tape recorder, so the chorister told me the singing was extra wonderful because it was so great to have regular accompaniment. It was fun because I was facing the audience as I played so the voices were basting me and I could see the huge smiles as they sang. And as is always the case every deacon (yes deacons) and child, in fact every single person sings with all their heart. Oh What fun that is. Dad and Steven Snow golfed and Phyllis and I rode the carts with them...not to watch them golf particularly, but to be on that BEAUTIFUL course and to LOOK for ANIMALS. We saw many wart hogs, crocodile, hippos, impala, but no giraffes or elephants. It was sooo much fun and the weather was perfect. We saw many beautiful unusual birds.We then drove over to Krueger Game Reserve and we had 3 hours before the park closed and didn't expect to see a whole lot, but as we drove through we saw giraffe, elephants, baboons, zebras and LIONS!!! We for sure didn't think we 'd see lions that time of day, but as we rounded a corner there was a beautiful male and female lion sitting on the road looking at each other. We sat a watched and took pictures and she finally got up and strolled into the bush and he slowly followed her. There was a HUGE elephant that took us on. As we stopped to look at him and "her", he turned, raised his trunk and flapped his ears (not a good sign) and slowly started for us.....in that position. We slowly moved, but he kept coming so we left. He could have taken our car in a minute. After the flat tire episode, we are a Little more cautious. What fun. We also saw the food of the bush....impala, a kudu and several other antelope type animals which are very beautiful. We saw beautiful waterfalls, and many other sights. This is where we hope all of you will be able to go. Ann and Ben went there and loved it as we did. When we get our pictures onto the computer we'll send them along....we are still slow with that.
We have been back a day and we had a wonderful time. We drove this time as you know and believe me South Africa is a beautiful country. ......it is sooo beautiful. We were in high mountains that were a little reminiscent of Tahoe which was beautiful, lush and green and then down in areas that looked a little like driving to SL only the trees had huge thorns and more grass. We drove through a forest fire right on the road that nobody seemed to care much about and villages where water and sticks were carried on heads. We saw many shacks made of tin, but each had a little property around it for a little garden. Some of the towns looked so prosperous and neat and clean. We just saw one extreme to the other in a few minutes. We felt we were in central valley sometimes with the orange trees and avocado trees as well as many fields of mangos. It was lovely. We loved the three branches of the church we visited. We are ALWAYS overwhelmed with the knowledge of the Gospel the people have and their testimonies and sweet humility. The reverence in the meetings are perfect and the singing was wonderful. I played the electric keyboard as no one else could play. They usually use a tape recorder, so the chorister told me the singing was extra wonderful because it was so great to have regular accompaniment. It was fun because I was facing the audience as I played so the voices were basting me and I could see the huge smiles as they sang. And as is always the case every deacon (yes deacons) and child, in fact every single person sings with all their heart. Oh What fun that is. Dad and Steven Snow golfed and Phyllis and I rode the carts with them...not to watch them golf particularly, but to be on that BEAUTIFUL course and to LOOK for ANIMALS. We saw many wart hogs, crocodile, hippos, impala, but no giraffes or elephants. It was sooo much fun and the weather was perfect. We saw many beautiful unusual birds.We then drove over to Krueger Game Reserve and we had 3 hours before the park closed and didn't expect to see a whole lot, but as we drove through we saw giraffe, elephants, baboons, zebras and LIONS!!! We for sure didn't think we 'd see lions that time of day, but as we rounded a corner there was a beautiful male and female lion sitting on the road looking at each other. We sat a watched and took pictures and she finally got up and strolled into the bush and he slowly followed her. There was a HUGE elephant that took us on. As we stopped to look at him and "her", he turned, raised his trunk and flapped his ears (not a good sign) and slowly started for us.....in that position. We slowly moved, but he kept coming so we left. He could have taken our car in a minute. After the flat tire episode, we are a Little more cautious. What fun. We also saw the food of the bush....impala, a kudu and several other antelope type animals which are very beautiful. We saw beautiful waterfalls, and many other sights. This is where we hope all of you will be able to go. Ann and Ben went there and loved it as we did. When we get our pictures onto the computer we'll send them along....we are still slow with that.
We can't wait to see all of you and hope all is well. Todd got a part in Much Ado About Nothing which is exciting. I know Ann and Ben are fine as I can talk to her on Skype. She is in charge of the ward roadshow so is in deep rehearsals. We heard from John and Elizabeth and Michael and Carol before we left. I'm sure you are all finishing up the school year...or I guess are finished. I'm bringing a couple of projects for the kids to do at the beach houses....something sort of African. It will be great fun.
It will be very hard to have the Snows go. They are such wonderful neighbors. We had many, many laughs with them on this trip and many sweet experiences together also. They are sooo great. I want all of you to meet them. They know about all of you.....maybe someday. Well, guess I'll go back to bed. Hope to hear a line or two from you.
Love Mom
Love Mom
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