SmithsAfricanAdventures

  Kwa-Thema Second Ward had a wonderful baptism on Sunday, September 25t.  These five beautiful young ladies were baptized.  Here they are with one of the mothers. Wish I knew names!  Elder Riddle and Elder Pick with smiling girls!! The other mother of the girls.  The sister in yellow is the Ward Young Women President.  What a happy group - Elders, converts, mothers and YW President. The three young men in the back row are Priests in the ward.  Each of them baptized a young sister.  So many do not have Priesthood in their homes - the young men did great!   Saints waiting for the Baptism to begin - this is in the Primary Room - font at the front.  Special spirit there - as we were waiting to begin our RS President starting singing hymns, and all joined it!  We had to leave before it was over to get to our Mission Meeting.  

  September 24th is a National Holiday in South Africa - Heritage Day.  There are eleven official languages and many different cultures.  This pubic holiday is to recognize and celebrate all of them! The holiday was on Saturday this year and many of the citizens wore their traditional costumes to churc on Sunday, September 25.  Here are 6 of the Primary girls in costumes.  This is the Bishop's daughter and she wanted a picture with me!  Three wonderful Young Women before church began - aren't they beautiful?   Older sister in the ward - I can't remember her name or spell it or pronounce it but she wanted me to take her picture!  Love the humble, faithful saints here.  More wonderful sisters - they are wonderful and easy to love and serve, as our Savior would have us do. This is our great Front Desk receptionist - Two May.  She looked so good on Monday morning I asked to take her picture. Since our monthly Senior Dinner was on Herita...

It is wonderful to purchase these quilt tops - made by African women in Ghana.  They are sold by an African Art shop here.  I usually cut them in half and then border each so it makes a small quilt that is easier for the leaving senior couples to pack and take home!   Thanks Lindsey and Sister Dube for the jumbo rick rack trim - it makes it must easierto bind them. I also can bring the back fleece up to bind the top - when I don't have the rick rack! Elder Smith helping tie a quilt when the power is out!  Nice LED lanterns make enough light! Centipede we found out walking this morning - gross!  They were hugs in Jamaica!!   When I have to walk around the Area Office to conduct business - official or not - I find great pictures and take a picture of them to share with my blog.  These are two of them.  Beautiful family - it is amazing to see the happiness of most of the people here.  By our Western standards they don't have a lot of m...

  Elder Stuart and Sister Evelyn Candland - Church History specialists - leaving for their home in Northern California, on September 21, 2022. They also served in Spain and Argentina - they speak excellent Spanish!  He turned 80 years old just 6 days before Elder Smith!   Some of the senior elders helping to load the van for the trip to the airport.  The flight went to London for a seven hour layover!  The a non stop flight to San Francisco.  Love the willingness of the seniors to help each other!   Love the sisters wanting to chat just a few more minutes!! Wonderful senior missionaries,  Elder and Sister Candland in front, from left - the Smiths, the Goodsons, the Humberts, the Watsons, the Walters and Elder Richman. Heather gave us the link to the Edgemont Fourth Ward Sacrament meeting.  It was their annual Primary Program and we wanted to watch Briella do her part.  She got a cute new short hair cut - but we recognized her. ...

  Since the YSA members of our ward earned money for their YSA conference, the Young Women wanted to do the same!  They tied this small African quilt after church on Sunday September 18th. They were earning money for their YW Camp which was the same week - Friday to Saturday. Love the happy smiles!  they did a really good job of tying the quilt.  There are over 23 YW in our ward and it got a little bit crowded around the small quilt. They ended up taking turns - but everyone worked at least a little bit!  One dear beehive aged young women started to help me thread needles - we kept the other busy!  Such fun to teach and help them learn new skills and have a great product afterward!

  Priesthood Men preparing to confirm Sheffield...It was very special - great blessings and reverent feeling - even from half a world away!  This is the invitation - what a handsome grandson - just like all the others! Kurt and Sheffield heading for the house and some dry clothes! Christian being a big brother!  Another very handsome grandson! What an amazing sight - family gospel ordinances are the best!  Emily and her father - John Sheffield - he gave the talk about baptism. Her Mother Alana gave the closing prayer.  It was a lovely program.  Birthday cakes to celebrate Sheffield's 8th birthday!   Primary President welcoming Sheffield as the newest member of the Ward!   Our picture as we watched - thanks Sue for taking pictures for us ...we feel blessed to be included via long distance.  Blessings to Sheffield and all!  The Gospel is true and the only way to be happy!

Maddie and Dane came from Idaho Falls for Sheffield's baptism in Elbert, CO.   Clark was so good to hold the phone and let us see via facetime what was going on!  Love the technology that allows long distance participation in family special events! Faye being her darling self!  Aunt Sue took all these pictures for me . Beautiful Savanna!   Emma leading the singing - she did a great job! Kurt and Sheffield - when they told us they were going to use a stock tank at their family farm - I immediately thought - the Prophet Joseph Smith would approve of that!  Sheffield pretty much sat down and leaned back to be immersed!   Kurt looking handsome - wearing his birthday African Big Five animals tie!!   Sheffield in his coon skin hat at his birthday and baptism lunch.