SmithsAfricanAdventures

 

  Cecil Rhodes did a lot of good in South Africa - his foundation funds the Rhodes Scholarships in England. He was born in England, educated at Oxford - hence the scholarships but his treatment of minorities have made him less admirable now. He had poor health and was sent to South Africa at the age of 17 to recover. With funding he bought up diamond minds and became very wealthy.  He never married and died in Cape Town, only 48 years old.  Students voted to remove his statue from the University of Cape Town.  Beautiful flowers at the National Botanical Gardens,  Bro. Bowrie worked as a scientist there for 28 years - he knows so much!   One of many varieties of Protea, the national flower of South Africa.  These signs are on trees that are over 100 years old!   Us with Castle Rock in the background.  Looking the other way toward the ocean. Interesting that the plant live from each continent has both common and different species. This tree is over 100 years old - still growing. White pl

  Pretty view form Cape Point beginning to climb up the hill to the cliffs.  At the top - along with many others!! Cape Point - far south on the east side...Cape Agulhas is a little bit further south on the west side. Cape Point is the furthest south on the east side of the country - Cape Agulhas is a little bit further south on the west side.  It is 90 miles away and we didn't have time to drive there.  There are at least 150 ship wrecks recorded between the two points!!  I wanted to wade in the ocean - Elder Smith did not!  It was pretty warm and sandy!  

 Our Africa South Area held a For the Strength of Youth camp from Dec. 12 - 17.  Our small ward in Kwa-Thema had 40 youth attend.  It was all paid for by the Church.  They had rented a camp about two hours away.  There were rain storms the day before - and they had to bucket brigade the lugguge from the buses to the dry ground! The bottom of the stairs used to be on dry ground - now there was about 20 feet of running water from the river - everyone of the counselors were good sports about moving all the luggage from the parking lot to the lodges.  Elder and Sister Fox, the Area Medical Advisors, were there all week - here Sister Fox is wading the river holding her shoes!  They are great people and fun to serve with.  The Foxes sent all the senior missionaries this picture of a wild animal walking near their cabin! It is Africa!! It might be an Eland, not sure.   There were 365 youth and 70 college aged counselors - yay for the Youth of Zion!!!  I asked a couple of the teenage boys at c

  On Saturday, December 24th, the senior missionaries had a nice brunch. Several couple were out of town but those in town had a delicious breakfast and a wonderful sing a long with Elder Goodson and Elder Fox playing guitars.   Elder Goodson made up a song - Combies (small buses) will wreck us - and Elder Fox sang another nonsense song - It's Christmas in the Trailer Park Again...we all laughed!  Nice spread for a senior potluck!  Thanks to Elder and Sister Perkins for organizing and providing plates, glasses, etc.  Getting food - it was 86 degrees outside and not too humid - not the usual Christmas Eve day weather we are used to!  This is the back patio of several of the ground floor apartments - the umbrellas come with the units.  My contribution to the pot luck was this yummy fruit plate - lots of red and green fruit! We all miss our families and so it is good to have events to enjoy each others company and celebrate the Birth of Our Savior. 

  Our next stop was at Boulders Penguin Sanctuary.  There were many trade shops set up and these girls were dancing for tips - they had bells around their ankles and it was pretty amazing.   It was a warm day and many people were at the beach.  This is 'winter break' - two months out of school.  It was fun to watch families enjoying the holiday.   Us with the penguins behind us.  There was a wooden walkway that was above some of the rocks, the penguins were about four feet beneath us!   It was funny to watch them waddle toward the water - and then dive in!  After Boulders we stopped on our way to Cape of Good Hope for lunch.  We had ostrich burgers at an ostrich farm!  They are funny big birds!!  and the burgers were delicious!