SmithsAfricanAdventures

  I sure don't like that they computer puts my last chosen picture up first!  Oh well - here is Eli's graduating class leaving the program! Eli waving to the world!   Waiting for his name to be called. Lots of honor cords!!! Playing the bassoon in the orchestra for graduation. Walking in to Pomp and Circumstance!  May 21, 2022 - Yea for Eli!!

  One of our neighbors down the hall had her daughter get married last weekend.  They partied for a whole week!  This is the backdrop her sister-in-law made in front of two empty apartment doors. She actually knocked on our door and told us what they were doing and that it might get noisy until about 10:00 pm.  It was fun to observe from a distance! Their front door!  They brought in tables and chairs and ate dinner three nights in a row in front of the backdrop - happy family times! Pretty Olivia speaking in their ward - great talk and she did it very well! Members came from Madagascar to attend the temple!  This little girl was darling! This is a grandma and her granddaughter with their neighbor.  The grandma made the white dresses for their baptism at our ward in Kwa-Thema.  With Elder Graves - the elders have baptisms scheduled for the next two weeks!!

  As we ended our day at Lesedi the sun came out and it warmed up just a little.  Here we are at the entrance.  It is fun to go out and explore with other couples.  This country is amazing! Sister Humbert finishing lunch.  They had a buffet and many salads and rice and meat: lamb, beef, chicken and crocodile!  All were delicious.  A dessert bar with milk tarts and fresh fruit, also good. My salad plate and dinner plate - I had eaten some before I decided to take a picture!  Dance with both men and women - each holding the end of a stick - so much energy and skill.  I'm pretty sure that BYU Folkdancers won't add this to their program!!  At least not with these costumes! Men in a war dance - with sticks instead of spears! I think this was a victory dance - with shields and feathered sticks - very skilled and fast! More of the victory dance. The women in a harvest dance - they kicked so high!

  This is the gate to the Zulu village - see the 'warrior' standing guard on the tower?  They always kept their gates locked and you had to ask permission to enter the village.  The guard would alert the others that someone was coming.  The Zulu's are the most aggressive tribe - killed many others, including British and Boer forces.  They fought a battle against the British with just their spears and won! Elder and Sister Humbert - great missionary's - they serve in Church Communications.  They write articles for the Liahona and promote Public Relations for the Church in the whole area.  Zulu have low doors to their houses - a couple of reasons.  You have to bend over to enter - bowing as a sign of respect to those in the house... and you enter with your head and if you are an enemy -you get your head cut off!  This is the outfit of a single girl - and yes, they carry loads on their heads! When you are married you wear this beaded hat - all the time! You could take it o

On Saturday, May 21, we accompanied Elder and Sister Humbert to an African Cultural Village.  It was only about an hour northwest of Johannesburg and very interesting.  Most of the other senior couples are scheduled to come next Saturday, but both of us have mission work then.  Here is the entrance to the National Heritage Site.  Lesedi means Place of Light.  They have replicas of the five major tribes in South Africa - the Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho, Ndebele and Pedi. Here is a map of the Cultural village and each of the five tribal areas.  Our guide was very knowledgeable - he was Zulu!  We walked on rock paths between the different villages - felt very authentic as we were out in the 'bush'! They had several vender stalls that were closed - it is winter here.  The temperature was cold - 55 degrees and all the Africans were wrapped in blankets!  This was the only souvenir shop that was open. This is how the staff greeted us!  with a fire and their colorful blankets as they tried to

May 8, 2022 - Mother's Day.  We are blessed with great children, grandchildren and awesome mothers and grandmothers!!  Elder Smith gave me new pants and a sweater, yellow rose and dinner out!  Polly and Chris sent a gift bag with candy, scarf, scented candle, caramel popcorn, etc. Lindsey sent me rick rack for making quilts... and best of all were calls and chats with everyone! This was in the gift package - delicious fudge!!! Elder and Sister Schmeil are leaving the Area Presidency to be Mission Presidents in Orlando, Florida.  The Area Office manager asked that each employee and missionary take a picture for them, with a sign saying farewell in their native language!  Here are our office co-workers who speak Isowato; Philip, Kayapele, Bishop Temba, and Given.  Zodwa speaks Zulu.  Elder and Sister Smith Elder and Sister Walston Elder and Sister Candland On Friday, May 13th, we had a Senior Missionary Zone Conference.  The MTC President and his wife spoke - Elder and Sister Foote.