We have been spared from COVID. The returning missionary who came to our office after he was exposed to COVID last week didn't contract it. But his mates and his Mission President caught it. Fortunately their cases weren't serious and they are expected to fully recover.
Having spent five days at home in isolation due to the possible exposure and unable to work in the office, we were happy to return to the office to catch up on our duties. The to-do list was long but by working long and hard, we are just about caught up.
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African children so enjoy life. This young lady in Ghana volunteered to carry the scriptures of our fellow Senior Missionary Elder Archibald. They learn the head-trick when very young.
Each Transfer period, the apartments throughout the Mission are inspected. This week we got to inspect the apartments along the coastal corridor from Richards Bay in the north to Amanzimtoti in the south. We inspected the two furthest north apartments by video and then we spent two days traveling to visit the remaining seven apartments. Here are photos of the Elders we visited.
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| Elders Hill, Bascom & Russell |
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| Elders Naisbitt & Lowder |
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| Elders Phipps, Kholobile, Barnes & Peterson |
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| Elders Lusuko & Tiyiwe |
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| Elders Pettijohn & Christensen |
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| Elders Lutkin & Bibbs |
Elders Pettijohn, Christensen, Tiyiwe & Lusuko live and serve here in the suburb of KwaMashu.
This week back in the USA, Ken's Uncle Ross Roundy Allen (age 93) passed away at home in Logan. He was the youngest brother of Ken's father Reed and the last of his generation, survived by Maurine (91) and a large loving family.
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| Maurine & Ross in Hawaii |
He served in the US Military in Japan immediately after World War II, then completed a PhD and was a founding faculty member of BYU-Hawaii in 1956. He was a professor of Mathematics Education at Utah State University when not living and teaching in the Pacific Islands, Laos, England, China and Japan. We visited them whenever we could. Ken even visited them in Kyushu, Japan, and we visited them at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu when they were serving a Senior Mission there. A remarkable man, he was an example of a Christ-like life.
On Saturday, we were able to attend his Celebration of Life via Zoom.
Saturday was also a day to explore. Near the Mission Home is the Bergtheil History Museum, housed in the residence of entrepreneur and German colonist Jonas Bergtheil.
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It was the first home in Westville, formerly called Wandsbeck. In 1848, Bergtheil led a group of 188 Germans to colonize this area, founding New Germany. They made an unsuccessful attempt to grow cotton commercially but were successful as farmers.
We toured this small but informative museum in the morning with President and Sister Lines. Afterwards we went to lunch with the Lines in the outdoor garden of the very friendly Cape Cafe just down the road from the Mission Home.
The left side of the V past the stop sign is the off ramp from the expressway. That part is one-way. It always feels a little strange to come up that short ramp, and then to have to cross over in the intersection to the left side of the street.
On Sunday both of us spoke in Church in the Molweni Branch, which is meeting temporarily at the Hillcrest Stake Center, some 20 km distant from the homes of the members. With proper social distancing and precautions, we are now allowed to meet in person, but attendance is light. Where once 80 folks showed up on Sunday, only 20 people came today. Our assigned topic: how to bring folks back to regular attendance.
The Gauntlet between the Mission Office and our apartment is coming along. The barriers are changed at least twice a day.
Here is the latest video clip from the eastbound offramp of M13 to Derby Downs Office Park on University Road.
This clip is the route from Derby Downs to our apartment at West Victoria.
The barriers are coming down as the road is paved and painted.
Our near-daily walks around our neighborhood bring us close to nature.
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| Storm clouds in the evening |
Yes, the flowers were lovely! Thanks for "sharing!"
ReplyDeleteA few things particularly caught my eye Ken this round. First your observation that African children so enjoy life. It's clear that their strong community ties make such a difference in their lives. I have a little granddaughter now and see how she just blooms when she's in community. Thank you for this simple reminder about having the ability to enjoy life. So many young folks miss out somehow.
ReplyDeleteAnd condolences regarding your uncle. How fortunate we are to have Zoom to bring people together when it's frankly impossible to be with one another some times, as much as we might.
Thanks for blogging!