SmithsAfricanAdventures

  We pass this Military Museum sometimes when we walk in the mornings.  To celebrate the USA Thanksgiving we went over to see what it was like.  Thursday, November 25th - Thanksgiving in the US, we visited the South African Military Museum.  It is in our neighborhood, we have walked in front of it many times.  Since we had the day off work we decided to see it.  Here is Elder Smith in from of a cannon! Some old airplanes - the one at the left - yellow with bent propellors! These is picture of the plane crashed!  and then taken to the museum. We knew some of our family would like to see this picture of shells.  There were many guns inside other building that said - Don't take any pictures.  So I didn't! It was interesting there were many German planes, guns, tanks, etc. Also Soviet, Italian, and US made! US - C 47 - had an interesting story of how they acquires it.  Came from the Sudan or something.  Same place that the Candy Boomer flew in Germany. This was a play ground for ch

  The Area Presidency sent a memo out to the senior missionaries yesterday - telling us to take the day off!  Several of the senior sisters had already arranged to visit a African Trade Bead shop.  The lady that owns it became a friend to the First Area President and his wife.  She is a wholesale shop and sells to the Smithsonian Museum and other places in the states - including Home Goods - a store I have never gone into.    It was really interesting to see all that they create - and purchase a few things for birthday presents next year!   Sister Golden is at the right of the picture, her husband is the Area President.  We met them in Russia when they came to a Zone Conference, he was a counselor to the Europe East Area. More senior sisters choosing wonderful items to purchase! One of the work shops where artists are making the goods. Another picture of women sewing - surging and being creative! On Tuesday morning, Elder Twitchell asked us it we wanted to travel with him up to Pretori

  We needed to have our tyres (how it is spelled here) looked at, I noticed these hubs - aptly named! The October Liahona here has a South African special report - you can get it online but it doesn't show the pictures!   The Twitchell's are our Area Communications missionaries, and Sister Irving is a Church History Missionary - along with their husbands, of course!  It was fun to read articles they had written!   These three are members of a Branch just outside of Johannesburg - he is a missionary now!   They had Spar Stores in Russia!  We went to it but it wasn't as large or nice as the one in Irkutsk!  Fun to see them advertise that they are around the world! We found this poster on the door of a Dance Studio - Russian School of Ballet - presents the Nutcracker!  Pretty sure we will not go - but it was fun to see!                                                     These three wonderful young missionaries are from Uganda - they came to the temple and I met them in the Di

  We try to walk a different way each morning - and we always see things that are new to us.  This home has succulents in the numbers of the address!  Also notice the high wall and the electric wires on top of the wall - just about every house has that for protection. We found this caterpillar on a leaf - I bent down to take a picture and Elder Smith said; Don't touch it! Cactus in bloom! Pretty purple flowers, they smelled good also. A white lilly plant - cute Elder Smith in the background! Look at the thorns on the stalks of these pretty pink flowers - yikes! A tall plant with pretty white flowers.  

  Isn't this a great apron?  I really like it - makes cooking dinner more fun!! We bought these six placemats at the same place as the apron - they are so cool!  Notice that the border around them is of the skin of the animal pictured! Bird was just standing near the corner - then as I took the picture it flew away!! Notice the purple/blue blossoms from the Jacaranda trees - some trees in the background above the cement wall. This is the back yard of the Area Presidency housing area...pretty red tree, patio, fountain, etc. Picture of a brown lion, and lioness - hanging in the hall of the main Area Office. One of the Office cats - there are three or four - this is the only one that is friendly to me!

  Brother Philip showing Elder Smith some of the places we have Pathway students.  He has traveled extensively all over the world. He is really a wonderful manager - his office is right next to ours.  This is a poster we have been working on - the senior couples will take it to their individual chapels this weekend and ask the Bishop/Branch President if they can post it on the bulletin board...hopefully! Elder Smith hard at work! Copy machine in the background - Display behind it...for projects. Sister Smith hardly working!!   Both of our desks - it is nice to be working on this mission together.