South Africa Johannesburg Mission: 7 January 2018 Departing Interviews, Dinner & FHE

7 January 2018 Departing Interviews, Dinner & FHE

After President Leavitt and I returned from attending church in the Orange Farm Branch, Elders Schnepf, Wride and Phiri came for their departing interview from 2:30-6:00 pm. At 6:30 our Assistants, Elders Wolfgramm and Cox (and Elder Pratt) joined us for a departing dinner and Family Home Evening. Elder Phiri and Elder Schnepf slept at the mission home.

8 January 2018, Monday

Elder Pratt and Elder Wride, our Office Elders, arrived at 6 am on Monday morning to pack up Elder Phiri and take him to the airport to fly home. They worked the rest of the day finishing the Cumorah Crest, and packing, cleaning and moving to a new flat. We had three companionships trade flats to be closer to their areas. They have been working on developing a new online map that shows all the flats and chapels and areas. This first three-way move will bring all those missionaries closer to their areas.

9 January 2018, Tuesday Transfer Day

All the missionaries who were coming on this transfer have been delayed due to visa issues. So, we had no incoming missionaries.

We have a new Office Elder--Elder Marsden, who will serve with Elder Pratt. And Elder Powell, our Zone Leader in Swaziland with Elder Pulley (from the Madagascar Mission), is now our new Assistant to the President with Elder Wolfgramm. Elder Cox (former AP) is now taking Elder Powell's place as a Zone Leader in Swaziland. We have 16 missionaries now serving in Swaziland. Elder Myeni is from Swaziland and is serving with our missionaries while waiting for his South African visa to serve in Cape Town. We have seven missionaries from the Madagascar Mission and seven missionaries who were in Swaziland while it was part of the Mozambique Mission until July 13, 2017. They do not have South African visas. We have 90 Elders serving in South Africa. So, we are looking forward to all those missionaries who are coming in February and April to bolster our numbers in South Africa.

Elder Schnepf and Elder Wride flew home Tuesday evening.