By Sondra Hansen
Three families from lush, green Jinja, Uganda, the head waters of the Nile River, boarded a plane with small children and meager belongings recently, traveled through the midnight skies of Africa, to arrive in Johannesburg and spend a few precious days at the temple, full well knowing that they may never visit the temple again.
Given the distance of over 2940 kilometers (4620 miles) and their simple lifestyle, the opportunity to attend the temple more than once, in their lifetime, may not be possible for this group of faithful members.
The 24 Saints, coming from Bugembe and Walukaba, in the Jinja District, outside Kampala, Uganda, were accompanied by Marian and Wade Brown, fulltime Ugandan missionaries, and stayed in Patron Housing on the Area Office grounds during the visit.
Some of the adults had only been members for four years, so the commitment was great to visit the House of the Lord. "Their faces were beaming as they arrived early that morning," said Pam Bragge, director of Patron Housing. "Even though they had traveled all night and watched over small children, their joy and eagerness to be here brought tears to my eyes."
Many of these members' homes are small mud huts with thatched roves and austere concrete floors. At night, their beds are often mats laid out on the concrete slab. Food preparation is done over a fire outside, using a large can filled with hot charcoals.
The blessing of using running water from a faucet, hot showers, and sleeping in a bed with sheets and blankets was a luxury for these humble Saints. Many had not cooked on a stove top, so explaining how to use the kitchen appliances at Patron Housing was important for the young, slender mothers. Sister Bragge also demonstrated how a refrigerator could keep their vegetables and meat cold. Many were eager to try out the elevators in Patron Housing, and having electricity in their rooms was a joy and a wonder.
Each Ugandan shook hands with many fulltime missionaries and employees serving at the Area Office, who saw them by the fish pond and gardens, wanting to introduce themselves and smile and be part of a larger body of Latter-day Saints.
The Ugandan visitors spoke English, Luganda and Lusogo, so the temple sessions for endowments, sealings and temple marriage were conducted in English.
During one morning, Shanna Parmley, wife of Elder William W. Parmley of the Seventy, first counselor in the Africa Southeast Area presidency, spoke to the group of young and old, calling them pioneers in Uganda. Sister Parmley told stories of her early English ancestry who came to Utah Valley pulling handcarts, and then drew a parallel with her pioneer ancestry to the Ugandans, telling them that they were early Church pioneers in their land.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Chuylu
Chuylu is a beautiful remote place in Kenya where Kamba is the language spoken. There are about 1,200 members in that area. The Book of Mormon has never been translated into that language, so people who do not speak English can not read the scriptures.
When I met Sister Christine Mbuvi in Chyulu, I was touched deeply by her outstanding accomplishments. Sister Mbuvi decided a few months ago that she wanted to learn to speak and read English. After a very short time and because of intensive work she is able to understand and speak English and she is able to read the scriptures for the first time. When Sister Mbuvi talks about her accomplishments her eyes light up and she radiates joy. She is 38 years old, and the mother of six children. She is the District Primary President and has been a member of the church for 15 years. I asked her why she wanted to learn to read and she said, “I wanted to learn to read so I could understand the Gospel and I wanted to be able to teach my children about Heavenly Father. I knew the Gospel was true by the feelings I had, but I wanted to really understand everything about it.” She speaks Kamba and there is not a Book of Mormon translation in that language. When I asked her what has happened since learning to read she beamed that beautiful smile of hers and said, “I don’t know the meaning of every single word, but I have learned what the promises of the Gospel are for me and for my family. I know that we have many talents that we must share with others. I am so happy.”
Then I met another beautiful African woman by the name of Damaris Muthenya. Sister Muthenya was also radiating a beautiful smile. She is the mother of 3 young children and a branch Primary President. When I asked hear to tell me about herself, she said, “I am Sister Mbuvi’s teacher!!!!” Sister Muthenya has unselfishly given her time to teach others to read. In fact, she has taught 8 sisters to read this past year by using, Ye Shall Have My Word.” I asked her how it felt to be the teacher of Sister Mbuvi and the others and to see the successes these women are having and she said, “it feels wonderful!! Now that they are able to read the scriptures they can share the Gospel with their families and others. I am so happy.” I could feel her joy and great sense of accomplishment as she looked at her student with love and pride.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Our Gardeners
Our gardeners are wonderful. They keep our grounds in pristine order and make this a beautiful, beautiful, place to live. Besides that I really love these guys. They pick branches and things when I need to decorate for some event. They laugh and tease me. They carry groceries up the stairs for me and they just help whenever I need them. They work 5 days a week so I see them all the time.
The other day my doorbell rang and Timbani had some news to share. He was a father. I insisted on seeing the new baby so a week later I took the two home from work so he could show his new baby. I was startled when he had me pull over to the side of the road in a non-residential area. He said his wife would bring the baby to me to see. We waited and finally we could see her walking down the hill carrying a pink bundle. Mother was shy and the baby was beautiful, clean and irresistible. I couldn't figure out for a while why she had walked to me. I wouldn't let her walk home so we all piled in the car and they directed me to where they live. This is a terrible part of the city. It is congested with people, the slums, dangerous for me to go into, and quite a sight. There were many twists and turns and I couldn't possibly have made it there alone nor could I make it home alone. It was like going in a maze. She had walked about 4 miles to show off her baby. After hugging and kissing that beautiful baby goodbye and giving my gift to mother and baby, Freedom rode back with me to a place where I could go home alone. He told me that they didn't want me to go into that neighborhood. They knew I would get lost and I know they were afraid for my safety.
I felt badly that she walked, but then,I guess I have to remember that they always walk as they don't have cars and transportation is expensive. I hope my generous gifts will compensate for that walk. I loved holding that baby.
These boys are amazing. They are both 23 years old. They are cousins and are from Zimbabwe. They are sooooo blessed to have work.They each support their families in Zimbabwe.....15 to 20 members each. Every 2 weeks, one of them takes money to both families. He will leave Friday night after work and drive 15-18 hours in a crowded combi (van that holds up to 20 people) and delivers most of their paycheck. Then they spend Saturday with family and then drive back on Sunday and go to work on Monday. Then 2 weeks later the other cousin or gardener goes on the combi with a big bag of mealie meal. Remember, people in Zimbabwe are starving and can't get food. This bag looks like a big bag of fertilizer. They have 2 meals a day of this ground up corn mixed in water (looks like Cream of Wheat). That bag will serve all of them for one month. These boys never complain that everything they make goes to the family. They feel it is their duty as sons. You can see they are happy, great guys. They are blessed to have work....really blessed. I am blessed to know them.
The other day my doorbell rang and Timbani had some news to share. He was a father. I insisted on seeing the new baby so a week later I took the two home from work so he could show his new baby. I was startled when he had me pull over to the side of the road in a non-residential area. He said his wife would bring the baby to me to see. We waited and finally we could see her walking down the hill carrying a pink bundle. Mother was shy and the baby was beautiful, clean and irresistible. I couldn't figure out for a while why she had walked to me. I wouldn't let her walk home so we all piled in the car and they directed me to where they live. This is a terrible part of the city. It is congested with people, the slums, dangerous for me to go into, and quite a sight. There were many twists and turns and I couldn't possibly have made it there alone nor could I make it home alone. It was like going in a maze. She had walked about 4 miles to show off her baby. After hugging and kissing that beautiful baby goodbye and giving my gift to mother and baby, Freedom rode back with me to a place where I could go home alone. He told me that they didn't want me to go into that neighborhood. They knew I would get lost and I know they were afraid for my safety.
I felt badly that she walked, but then,I guess I have to remember that they always walk as they don't have cars and transportation is expensive. I hope my generous gifts will compensate for that walk. I loved holding that baby.
These boys are amazing. They are both 23 years old. They are cousins and are from Zimbabwe. They are sooooo blessed to have work.They each support their families in Zimbabwe.....15 to 20 members each. Every 2 weeks, one of them takes money to both families. He will leave Friday night after work and drive 15-18 hours in a crowded combi (van that holds up to 20 people) and delivers most of their paycheck. Then they spend Saturday with family and then drive back on Sunday and go to work on Monday. Then 2 weeks later the other cousin or gardener goes on the combi with a big bag of mealie meal. Remember, people in Zimbabwe are starving and can't get food. This bag looks like a big bag of fertilizer. They have 2 meals a day of this ground up corn mixed in water (looks like Cream of Wheat). That bag will serve all of them for one month. These boys never complain that everything they make goes to the family. They feel it is their duty as sons. You can see they are happy, great guys. They are blessed to have work....really blessed. I am blessed to know them.
Katha Day Care Center
Going to the Katha Day Care Center is a life changing experience. This is a refuge for children from infancy to 6 years of age where these children come from 7 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. They walk from long distances for short little legs and they come because here they are loved and cared for. These are aids orphans who are in foster care at night and on the week-end. They are taken care of by "Grannies" who receive a pittance to have them sleep in their homes. They often have nothing to eat in these homes as poverty is so severe. The norm is to come Monday morning with ailments that come from not eating anything. The day I visited, there were 75 orphans there and 58 are HIV positive. Many will not live to See their 6th birthday.
These are the cutest, most beautiful children you have ever seen. They are polite, really somewhat reserved and curious. But when you smile and sing to them they express joy in small smiles and a little sparkle in their eyes.
This Center is a miracle in their little lives. The women who work there (mostly for nothing but food in return) LOVE these children. They cuddle and laugh and clean and change them and feed them. Another miracle in their lives from this is that they have 2 meals a day and an insulated place to be....a place of protection from predators, from weather and it is just a happy place. They always are touching each other and holding hands and putting their arms around each other.
We took toys and blankets and hygiene kits from the Humanitarian Warehouse. They patiently stood in line as they came to get toys to play with....but they didn't know how to throw the balls, or run the cars on the floor. We had to teach them and then they came alive. Actually, we were also teaching the teachers how to use the stuff.
They had as much fun as the children racing cars, throwing balls, rolling balls, and actually playing with 2 very large cranes that some wonderful person had constructed and sent. The children could sit on those and manipulate it and they will be treasures for a very long time. Sister O'Frieo and I (the stake president's wife) have arranged to do some workshops out there for the teachers to help them know how to help children
They are sooo excited. They just hugged us when we told them we would come and teach them some games and how to act out stores, etc. We both have been teachers so I know we can help. Actually, any Primary teacher could help immensely. The director is going to arrange to have the teachers from some other similar daycares in the neighborhood come and learn too. We will start in August. I must say though, they do know how to teach the children to sing!!!!
The director is am amazing woman. She is in her 50's and really loves these children....She has been serving for 20 years. The place is spotless, inside and out. It is located out of Joburg about 30 minutes so there is some property around it.
She has gardens for fresh vegetables that are tended precisely. My favorite is the room with all the herbs. She goes out into the veld and gathers these herbs....brings them back and pounds into powder as needed. Each shelf is labeled according to the ailment. For example: heart problems, indigestion problems, open wounds, sore throat, skin rashes, for immune system etc. Everyday, these children drink a concoction she has brewed and it is remarkable how healthy they are in spite of their problems. She comes from a line of African doctors (sangomas) who have treated the people in their villages for years and she was taught by her mother and grandmother. I don't know what good it does, but I think it does something, if nothing more than show tremendous love, but she pointed out that their weren't any coughs (except me) and no runny noses. That is amazing in the cold winter. She said that every Monday morning when they come back they all have diarrhea from not eating or from eating things to harsh for little ones, and she says by Wednesday she has them in order and keeps them that way until the week-end and then they start all over again. She is happy and loving and amazing. I think of Mother Teresa when I see her.
There is a choice when we see places like this. You can go home and cry and fret and worry and wonder or you can be thankful that for a few hours each day these precious children are looked after by angels on earth. They have food. a roof and loving arms around them. I know Heavenly Father is aware of these children and loves them and is grateful to anyone who makes their life a little easier. I went home a little more humble again.
These are the cutest, most beautiful children you have ever seen. They are polite, really somewhat reserved and curious. But when you smile and sing to them they express joy in small smiles and a little sparkle in their eyes.
This Center is a miracle in their little lives. The women who work there (mostly for nothing but food in return) LOVE these children. They cuddle and laugh and clean and change them and feed them. Another miracle in their lives from this is that they have 2 meals a day and an insulated place to be....a place of protection from predators, from weather and it is just a happy place. They always are touching each other and holding hands and putting their arms around each other.
We took toys and blankets and hygiene kits from the Humanitarian Warehouse. They patiently stood in line as they came to get toys to play with....but they didn't know how to throw the balls, or run the cars on the floor. We had to teach them and then they came alive. Actually, we were also teaching the teachers how to use the stuff.
They had as much fun as the children racing cars, throwing balls, rolling balls, and actually playing with 2 very large cranes that some wonderful person had constructed and sent. The children could sit on those and manipulate it and they will be treasures for a very long time. Sister O'Frieo and I (the stake president's wife) have arranged to do some workshops out there for the teachers to help them know how to help children
They are sooo excited. They just hugged us when we told them we would come and teach them some games and how to act out stores, etc. We both have been teachers so I know we can help. Actually, any Primary teacher could help immensely. The director is going to arrange to have the teachers from some other similar daycares in the neighborhood come and learn too. We will start in August. I must say though, they do know how to teach the children to sing!!!!
The director is am amazing woman. She is in her 50's and really loves these children....She has been serving for 20 years. The place is spotless, inside and out. It is located out of Joburg about 30 minutes so there is some property around it.
She has gardens for fresh vegetables that are tended precisely. My favorite is the room with all the herbs. She goes out into the veld and gathers these herbs....brings them back and pounds into powder as needed. Each shelf is labeled according to the ailment. For example: heart problems, indigestion problems, open wounds, sore throat, skin rashes, for immune system etc. Everyday, these children drink a concoction she has brewed and it is remarkable how healthy they are in spite of their problems. She comes from a line of African doctors (sangomas) who have treated the people in their villages for years and she was taught by her mother and grandmother. I don't know what good it does, but I think it does something, if nothing more than show tremendous love, but she pointed out that their weren't any coughs (except me) and no runny noses. That is amazing in the cold winter. She said that every Monday morning when they come back they all have diarrhea from not eating or from eating things to harsh for little ones, and she says by Wednesday she has them in order and keeps them that way until the week-end and then they start all over again. She is happy and loving and amazing. I think of Mother Teresa when I see her.
There is a choice when we see places like this. You can go home and cry and fret and worry and wonder or you can be thankful that for a few hours each day these precious children are looked after by angels on earth. They have food. a roof and loving arms around them. I know Heavenly Father is aware of these children and loves them and is grateful to anyone who makes their life a little easier. I went home a little more humble again.
The Missionary Suitcase
Harriet is a beautiful Congolese woman who has moved with family from the Congo to Johannesburg. After they joined the church they were disowned by most of their family. Unemployment in Congo is 90% and here it is only 40% so they were hoping to better provide for their 4 children plus about 4 extended family member who live with them She is a beautiful seamstress and she helps support her family by sewing gorgeous African clothes. She is RS President in on of the wards. A while ago she came to me and asked if I could help her with Visiting Teaching. Their %'s are very low and she wanted to have her sisters understand the need to watch over each other. We talked for a long time and she reiterated what I already knew the problems were. Nobody has cars so they have to walk. The distances are long. Women often are very busy just helping ether families survive. They don't really have the vision of reaching out to sisters other than their own families. Because many are new converts it is a new concept to even serve others. I suggested she have a meeting ( VT Conference) to teach why and how. She loved the idea so I gathered materials to help. I went to her very humble home to teach and help her.
Her home is one of the nicest in the ward with carpet pads for carpet, a very old and used couch and one chair in a tiny living room A table for the family to eat on was a board on some kind of supported wood. It was spotless as all African homes are that I have been in. Her darling girls danced around me with beautiful hair with extensions and beads and bows that the Mother had spent hours styling. One is 8 and the other 3 years old. and she has 2 sons ages 11 and 15.
She took me into her tiny sewing room which did have 2 sewing machines and an ironing board made from a board she had padded and it rested on a cardboard box. We talked about VT and used the ironing board as a table. This was also her 15 year old son's bedroom and there was a tiny cot for him to sleep on. Right next to his bed wedged between his bed and her sewing machine was a very large suitcase. Harriet saw me look at the suitcase . She said, " Sister Parmley, that is my son's missionary suitcase." All he wanted for Christmas was a missionary suitcase and that is it. Isn't it beautiful?" We had to search hard to find it." When my little girls come in here and play with the zippers on the case, he gets very upset and tells them this will be his only missionary suitcase and they should not touch it. He is 15. As he turns over in his bed for the next 4 years, he will have the suitcase in his face to remind him of his desire to serve the Lord. As I was in that humble home, I felt the Spirit whisper AGAIN how privileged I am to rub shoulders with such righteous, humble women such as my friend, who are striving to serve the best way they can and mostly are devoted to having the Spirit in their homes so their children will grow up in the Gospel. I will never be the same as I am constantly touched by these remarkable people.
_
Her home is one of the nicest in the ward with carpet pads for carpet, a very old and used couch and one chair in a tiny living room A table for the family to eat on was a board on some kind of supported wood. It was spotless as all African homes are that I have been in. Her darling girls danced around me with beautiful hair with extensions and beads and bows that the Mother had spent hours styling. One is 8 and the other 3 years old. and she has 2 sons ages 11 and 15.
She took me into her tiny sewing room which did have 2 sewing machines and an ironing board made from a board she had padded and it rested on a cardboard box. We talked about VT and used the ironing board as a table. This was also her 15 year old son's bedroom and there was a tiny cot for him to sleep on. Right next to his bed wedged between his bed and her sewing machine was a very large suitcase. Harriet saw me look at the suitcase . She said, " Sister Parmley, that is my son's missionary suitcase." All he wanted for Christmas was a missionary suitcase and that is it. Isn't it beautiful?" We had to search hard to find it." When my little girls come in here and play with the zippers on the case, he gets very upset and tells them this will be his only missionary suitcase and they should not touch it. He is 15. As he turns over in his bed for the next 4 years, he will have the suitcase in his face to remind him of his desire to serve the Lord. As I was in that humble home, I felt the Spirit whisper AGAIN how privileged I am to rub shoulders with such righteous, humble women such as my friend, who are striving to serve the best way they can and mostly are devoted to having the Spirit in their homes so their children will grow up in the Gospel. I will never be the same as I am constantly touched by these remarkable people.
_
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The White House
As I sit at my computer on the second floor of the building where we live, I have a perfect view across the drive way of the area offices where 80 people are employed by the church and where our 15 area couple missionaries have offices. It is a beautiful complex with a fish pond full of koi and lovely surrounding vegetation. Included in the complex is the Distribution Center which has only the very basic materials, but my favorite is the Temple Patron Housing Complex. Everyday I see Saints who have come to go to the temple. Remember we have 26 countries included in our area, so they come from Kenya (5 hour flight), Zimbabwe, Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, etc. These are people who will most likely only be able to come to the temple once in a lifetime because it is so far and so expensive. There is a fund that is available for those taking out their own endowments and after they make a "meaningful sacrifice" and contribute what they can, then the church makes up the difference. We try very hard to see that leaders such as bishops, stake presidents, counselors, etc. are able to come. As I look out my window I see these beautiful women often in their native dress with wild, wonderful African fabrics and with fabulous headpieces that most often match. The women's hair is often fixed in the most glamorous ways that take many many hours to "do". Their children who are being sealed to them are drssed perfectly also. It is quite a sight. There is a communal kitchen when they prepare their own food as it is the only inexpensive way and they all have their ethnic foods. It is fun to go to that dining room and talk to them....even if they speak French or Portuguese, it is fun to communicate and that we can do. One day I heard music and went in and they were all singing (about 15 people) in the most gorgeous voices, "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet." It truly was glorious. Their lives are blessed as they come and they just radiate the Gospel through this event. They often go to every session they can and they can usually stay about 4 or 5 days. Many travel 30 to 80 hours by bus to get here, carrying their food and a bag of meager belongings. They are a happy, beautiful people who have almost no material belongings but my oh my, do they radiate the Spirit and they do know the Gospel backwards and forwards as the scriptures are their most cherished possessions. We ALWAYS learn from them as we travel and teach.
Recently I heard in a prayer someone say, "help us find the blindness in our lives".
I wish you could all see out my window. It strengthens my testimony almost daily.
Recently I heard in a prayer someone say, "help us find the blindness in our lives".
I wish you could all see out my window. It strengthens my testimony almost daily.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Ethiopia
We loved our first trip into Ethiopia. It is a country that is truly different from any other African country we have been in. One difference was the complexion of the people. They are a friendly, open people who smile easily at anyone who smiles at them. They are lighter skinned than most Africans and their facial features are more delicate and soft. They are beautiful. Most of the women wear a scarf around their head that drapes gracefully over their entire body. They are reminiscent of the Muslim women but a large percentage are Christian. The scarves are almost always white. Someone told me the scarves were to keep their clothes clean and another told me it was worn for warmth and another told me it was simply tradition. Who knows, but it is a beautiful sight to see these draped women framed by the most humble circumstances. Walking on dirt roads or roads of stone weaving in and out of the market place is lovely to see.
The other thing that struck us forcibly with a wonderful visual was the darling little burros that were frequently on the streets. There were all loaded to maximum capacity with water, sacks of meal, sticks, vegetables, chickens or whatever. They were always being driven from behind by a man with a stick. The one sight we will never forget is the little burro who finally said, "enough is enough.!" He simply sat down in the middle of the road with cars passing on either side and his master pushing and pulling to get him up. His load had been too much for him. We kept thinking there was a wonderful talk in all of this, but couldn't quite put our finger on it.
A touching experience we had was with a young missionary who was faithfully completing his mission and was preparing to return home to Zimbabwe. To describe him, he is tall, very black, handsome and he exudes love and kindness and gentleness. He bore his testimony in farewell in a sweet, deliberate and forceful way. As I talked to him after wards I found that his mother had died when he was very young. His father died one month after he was on his mission. None of he remaining family are members and he had been rejected by all for joining the church. He hadn't had one bit of communication from anyone in 2 years. Yet, he was happy, full of faith and determined to go home and succeed. This is not an uncommon scenario with our young African missionaries, but they serve with dedication and testimony.
Another sweet experience was with the District RS president. I trained with her for about 2 1/2 hours. She is beautiful, articulate, a member for about 4 years. She is a single mother supporting her own 3 children, plus her deceased brothers 3 children.
We laughed together and learned together and bonded in a sweet way. At the end of the meeting she told me she had something for me. IT was a beautiful malachite (green) necklace that she had put in an envelope to give to me. She gave it to me and said,"I love you." She had on a green dress and in retrospect I realized she had been wearing the necklace and then she gave it to me. My heart is touched knowing she has so very little.....probably no electricity, no indoor plumbing, water available at the well a few miles away which she or her children would have to carry, yet she gave that to me. I have wondered if it was her only adornment. Needless to say, I was so touched......to my very toes.
We visited a leper hospital which was also very touching. We met an angel there...a man who has been a member of the church for 10 years and who has worked at this hospital for 30 years. He has been a nurse, a detective, an administrator and man who loves these wounded people. He used to walk miles to the various villages looking for lepers to help get them treatment. Now he stays at the hospital and screens patients for the doctors. He introduced to a 19 year old boy who had walked from a village that day to see about a spot on his arm. He had had the discolored skin for about a year. He was the beginnings of leprosy. He will be treated everyday with 3 medicines donated by a pharmaceutical company for one year and if he is faithful to his medicine, he will be cured. I asked the doctor to ask the boy in his language how he knew to come and he said an older person in his village told him to come and he promised he would take that medicine. We saw many without fingers and toes and with noses and other appendages missing. It was very touching, but very heartening to know that the disease is close to becoming eradicated. People are being educated about sanitary conditions, and of course the signs of the illness. It was a very humbling day. This man will always be in my heart as I think of the service he has given to mankind.
The other thing that struck us forcibly with a wonderful visual was the darling little burros that were frequently on the streets. There were all loaded to maximum capacity with water, sacks of meal, sticks, vegetables, chickens or whatever. They were always being driven from behind by a man with a stick. The one sight we will never forget is the little burro who finally said, "enough is enough.!" He simply sat down in the middle of the road with cars passing on either side and his master pushing and pulling to get him up. His load had been too much for him. We kept thinking there was a wonderful talk in all of this, but couldn't quite put our finger on it.
A touching experience we had was with a young missionary who was faithfully completing his mission and was preparing to return home to Zimbabwe. To describe him, he is tall, very black, handsome and he exudes love and kindness and gentleness. He bore his testimony in farewell in a sweet, deliberate and forceful way. As I talked to him after wards I found that his mother had died when he was very young. His father died one month after he was on his mission. None of he remaining family are members and he had been rejected by all for joining the church. He hadn't had one bit of communication from anyone in 2 years. Yet, he was happy, full of faith and determined to go home and succeed. This is not an uncommon scenario with our young African missionaries, but they serve with dedication and testimony.
Another sweet experience was with the District RS president. I trained with her for about 2 1/2 hours. She is beautiful, articulate, a member for about 4 years. She is a single mother supporting her own 3 children, plus her deceased brothers 3 children.
We laughed together and learned together and bonded in a sweet way. At the end of the meeting she told me she had something for me. IT was a beautiful malachite (green) necklace that she had put in an envelope to give to me. She gave it to me and said,"I love you." She had on a green dress and in retrospect I realized she had been wearing the necklace and then she gave it to me. My heart is touched knowing she has so very little.....probably no electricity, no indoor plumbing, water available at the well a few miles away which she or her children would have to carry, yet she gave that to me. I have wondered if it was her only adornment. Needless to say, I was so touched......to my very toes.
We visited a leper hospital which was also very touching. We met an angel there...a man who has been a member of the church for 10 years and who has worked at this hospital for 30 years. He has been a nurse, a detective, an administrator and man who loves these wounded people. He used to walk miles to the various villages looking for lepers to help get them treatment. Now he stays at the hospital and screens patients for the doctors. He introduced to a 19 year old boy who had walked from a village that day to see about a spot on his arm. He had had the discolored skin for about a year. He was the beginnings of leprosy. He will be treated everyday with 3 medicines donated by a pharmaceutical company for one year and if he is faithful to his medicine, he will be cured. I asked the doctor to ask the boy in his language how he knew to come and he said an older person in his village told him to come and he promised he would take that medicine. We saw many without fingers and toes and with noses and other appendages missing. It was very touching, but very heartening to know that the disease is close to becoming eradicated. People are being educated about sanitary conditions, and of course the signs of the illness. It was a very humbling day. This man will always be in my heart as I think of the service he has given to mankind.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
The Baboon Experience!!!
Yesterday I had a jounal entry experience. I promise that everything I say is TRUE and not exaggerated. We had a retreat for the Area Presidency and their wives for one day at a hotel about one hour away. It was to plan and work on our objectives for the next year. The wives were in one area for the morning working on auxiliary training and then we combined our efforts for the afternoon. This hotel is reached from a main highway where we turned onto a dirt road for about five miles to reach the place. Itis beautiful country. It is a hotel that has game drives and just a beautiful peaceful place. We saw zebras as we entered the grounds of the hotel. It is in a remore area.
The conference room that the women were in was lovely. It was a large room (twice the size of our living room at home) and it had windows all the way around. We could see the mountains and green bush and the zebras that kept going by. It was a dream. The 2 baby zebras were to die for. I couldn't believe that we were sitting there working and talking and zebras would just appear. All of a sudden we saw a large male baboon coming out of the bush loping towards our conference room. Diane Golden jumped up to close the sliding door, but didn't make it before that large baboon came quickly into the room. Maurine Young stood up and started yelling at him and shooing him away. He kept coming. He came right up and put his front feet on the table where I was the closest. Maurine kept yelling and motioning at him. He put his feet on my scriptures and I want you to know he was 10 inches from me. It happened so fast I was frozen and Diane was frozen and Maurine was carrying on. He didn't like her at all and the more she yelled and screamed and waved her arms, then the angrier he got. Right next to me he looked at her and reared up tall on his hind feet and opened his mouth and bared his teeth and growled a very mean growl. His teeth were long and pointed and sharp and I thought I was a goner.....I mean he was literally 10 inches away from me. She stopped moving and yelling. He got up on the table with all fours for a few seconds and then just got off and walked out the door. We called into the hotel and a security guard came running with a long metal pole and he went looking for that baboon. We don't know if he ever encountered him. We just sat down in shock and unbelief. We found out later that he comes around every once in a while and is very mean and agressive. I think it was my scriptures that perhaps saved us. Maybe when he put his foot on them he felt the admonition to "go in peace". Who knows!! Only in Africa!!!!
The conference room that the women were in was lovely. It was a large room (twice the size of our living room at home) and it had windows all the way around. We could see the mountains and green bush and the zebras that kept going by. It was a dream. The 2 baby zebras were to die for. I couldn't believe that we were sitting there working and talking and zebras would just appear. All of a sudden we saw a large male baboon coming out of the bush loping towards our conference room. Diane Golden jumped up to close the sliding door, but didn't make it before that large baboon came quickly into the room. Maurine Young stood up and started yelling at him and shooing him away. He kept coming. He came right up and put his front feet on the table where I was the closest. Maurine kept yelling and motioning at him. He put his feet on my scriptures and I want you to know he was 10 inches from me. It happened so fast I was frozen and Diane was frozen and Maurine was carrying on. He didn't like her at all and the more she yelled and screamed and waved her arms, then the angrier he got. Right next to me he looked at her and reared up tall on his hind feet and opened his mouth and bared his teeth and growled a very mean growl. His teeth were long and pointed and sharp and I thought I was a goner.....I mean he was literally 10 inches away from me. She stopped moving and yelling. He got up on the table with all fours for a few seconds and then just got off and walked out the door. We called into the hotel and a security guard came running with a long metal pole and he went looking for that baboon. We don't know if he ever encountered him. We just sat down in shock and unbelief. We found out later that he comes around every once in a while and is very mean and agressive. I think it was my scriptures that perhaps saved us. Maybe when he put his foot on them he felt the admonition to "go in peace". Who knows!! Only in Africa!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)