OFF TO THE TEMPLE

Primary Program in Walukuba

One of the biggest jobs I have here is to help returned missionaries apply for PEF loans so they can complete school and get a good education and job to support their families.  I meet with several students each week.  These two men are exceptional leaders in the church.  Sekumuli (L) just returned from the temple where he was sealed to his wife and two children.  Ivan (R) carries his recommend with him all the time although he will not be able to get his passport for a few more months when he and his wife and baby will go to the temple to be sealed.  I got both of them registered for their PEF loans.

Yes I know you shouldn't take pictures in church, I just couldn't resist.  It was kind of weird that the kids in front did the whole program and all the other kids watched.  She didn't include all the children.  But the speaking parts were amazing and quite well done.

Our second Temple group left on Sunday for JoBerg Temple in South Africa.  They were so excited to go, this will be the first time in an airplane for most of them.  (L to R - back row) Sister Amenia , President  Mbiro - (the District President going as interpreter),  Sister Rose (who is my new cleaning lady), Brother Benjamin,  Brother Ibengo, Sister Aidah, and Sister Mary.  On the front Row are the 5 children of Aidah and Ibengo.  The two youngest are twins named after the missionaries that baptized them, Huskinson and Anderson.

Sister Christine is the Primary President in Walukuba and this was at the primary program.  I  slyly took pictures because I just had to.

Sister Rose.  She is my new cleaning lady.  On the day she left for the temple.  She went alone, she is a widow with 3 grown children and 4 young children she is raising that belong to her sister who died.  She is a very hard worker, but struggles with understanding English.

Sister Emily is the Primary President for the District.  I take her with me every Sunday when I visit all the branches so she can better train all the branch Primary leaders.  She is wearing a typical African dress  - they wear this style a lot here.  One thing I have found is that they love to wear golds and oranges in their clothing.  They think of themselves as having purple skin and the gold/orange colors really look beautiful on them.  (The way I found out that they think they're a purple tone is because I had some purple nail polish on my toenails and one of the girls told me that it was exactly the shade of her skin.)

Sister Mary in the District RS president.  She is married, but her husband is not a member and doesn't live with her most of the year because he works in a different city. She supports herself in spite of having a husband. She is a very faithful woman and understands the gospel very well.  She is a grandmother and is often responsible for her grandkids.  This is the day she left for the temple.

Brother Ben is not married, but is excited to go to the temple by himself anyway

Sister Aidah is the RS president in the Mpumede branch and she is a really tiny thing - We guess she probably weighs less than 80 pounds.  Her husband is a very good man, and they have 5 children.  They took all 5 kids to the temple with them and they were very excited.  This is  probably the biggest thing that will ever happen in their lifetime.

Another shot

Primary Program in Walukuba.  Even in the church some people dress in Arab styles. cute how the two boys were wearing missionary badges.

Christine's son Smith.  He is a very smart boy

On an appointment with the Sister Missionaries, Sister M and Sister L.  We are teaching at Henry and Harriet's home

Harriet

before the Primary program in the chapel.  The balloons were a bit of the red-handbook" violation, but heck, we're on a learning curve here in Africa.  Not to mention that the chapel doubles as the Rec room sometimes anyway.

Another Shot of Henry and Harriet

Henry with their daughter.  Harriet had a stillborn baby just about 3 months ago. They are now working on getting ready to go to the temple.