In late July we received our letter assigning us to serve in Durban, South Africa, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We will be there for 23 months, beginning on 12 February 2020. Our assignment is as the Office Couple. That means Ken is the finance person and Sue is general secretary providing staff support to the Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Lines, and to the approximately 130 missionaries serving in Durban from all over the world.
We leave from San Francisco airport on 10 February and fly to Durban, arriving on 12 February. Durban is just about as far away from Palo Alto on the globe as you can get and still be on land. It is almost as far east as St. Petersburg, Russia (where we served from April 2017 to March 2019), but much further south. St. Petersburg is about 60 degrees north latitude, and Durban only 30 degrees south latitude. So, the weather is more like a humid San Diego. We can live with that. :o) Durban is an important port city, particularly for trade with India and China. It's also a big beach resort with well-known surfing spots. Europeans who like to escape winter snows will flock south for the warm summertime in Dec, Jan & Feb in Durban.
We've been reading a lot of South African history. Here's what we've liked, if you want to read along. They each were written during a different time in the history of South Africa, reflecting the changes in government and race relations.
Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (1948)
The Covenant by James Michener (1979)
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (1994)
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016)
So, we are looking forward to this new cultural experience. Neither of us has ever been to sub-Saharan Africa at all.
But, mostly we are excited to support the Saints in South Africa, and help share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with many more people in this part of the world.
We leave from San Francisco airport on 10 February and fly to Durban, arriving on 12 February. Durban is just about as far away from Palo Alto on the globe as you can get and still be on land. It is almost as far east as St. Petersburg, Russia (where we served from April 2017 to March 2019), but much further south. St. Petersburg is about 60 degrees north latitude, and Durban only 30 degrees south latitude. So, the weather is more like a humid San Diego. We can live with that. :o) Durban is an important port city, particularly for trade with India and China. It's also a big beach resort with well-known surfing spots. Europeans who like to escape winter snows will flock south for the warm summertime in Dec, Jan & Feb in Durban.
We've been reading a lot of South African history. Here's what we've liked, if you want to read along. They each were written during a different time in the history of South Africa, reflecting the changes in government and race relations.
Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (1948)
The Covenant by James Michener (1979)
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (1994)
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016)
So, we are looking forward to this new cultural experience. Neither of us has ever been to sub-Saharan Africa at all.
But, mostly we are excited to support the Saints in South Africa, and help share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with many more people in this part of the world.
