2018 Sept-Oct Interviews and Training

This interview and training cycle from 20 September through 11 October (Swaziland interviews held on 19 October will be separate post with their zone conference 18 October), we decided to hold our interviews in the Elders' flats. We also are holding them according to flat proximity to each other instead of in zones. We let them know the night before which flat we will come to. We also check the nearby flats for cleanliness while we are there.

I am training on the new 2018 Christmas Initiative, #LightTheWorld: Give As He Gave. There are several events connected to this initiative. 

First, instead of acts of service with a daily theme, the 2018 campaign is structured around four weekly service themes in December: Week 1: Light the World, Week 2: Light Your Community, Week 3: Light Your Family, Week 4: Light Your Faith. Plan to serve others within these spheres of influence.

To kick off the month of service, on Saturday, December 1, 2018, is the 'Worldwide Day of Service'. Each ward or branch or smaller group have the special opportunity to participate in a simple service project whereby missionaries, members and their invited friends can feel joy as they provide service to others. This is a great time to introduce those not of our faith to local missionaries as they work together in helping others.

Another worldwide event is "Come Worship with Us" on Sunday, 23 December--the Sunday before Christmas. This is a great opportunity for leaders to plan a wonderful sacrament service around our Savior Jesus Christ. Members are encouraged to bring their co-workers, family members, friends and neighbors to enjoy a service to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many members may be participants in this special Christmas sacrament meeting program, delivering parts of the Christmas story through words and music to the enjoyment and spiritual uplift of all present.

After this special sacrament meeting, all can participate in a well-planned activity which fosters the love of Jesus Christ by helping each feel loved and welcomed.

Church members are also encouraged to invite others, along with the missionaries, to their home for a special Christmas-themed family home evening lesson centered on inviting others to serve and experience the fruits of Christlike giving.

All of these activities, sacrament meeting program and lesson plan are outlined online (by 31 October) at:
africasoutheast.lds.org/light-the-world-2018.

Each zone (like last year) will also be given items to set up a table exhibit in a mall or other place where they may invite the public to participate in the joy of giving service with this year's initiative: Light the World: Give as He Gave. Zone members need to decide when and where, and initiate contact, arrangements and payment with the appropriate people this month.

These activities are all structured to help missionaries meet co-workers, friends, family and neighbors of members and help all experience the joy felt when giving service as our Savior did and open their hearts to the gospel message.

I also did some summer health training on how to prevent food poisoning, athlete's foot and ingrown toenails--all maladies that limit comfort and missionary work. 



Thursday, September 20--16 Elders

President Leavitt and I left the mission home at 7:15 am to drive to the Springs Flat. We held interviews in four flats (and checked others) and interviewed and trained 16 missionaries today. The electricity went out last night and luckily came on during the day so the painters could continue working on the mission home. 

We arrived home about 8 pm. The Groesbecks and Trumans staying here at the mission home came home from the office and we all ate dinner. 

We WhatsApped with our daughter, who was in labor in a hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 11:10 pm. We went to sleep. She had a 9 lb 6 oz baby boy at midnight our time (5 pm her time). They WhatsApped us at 7:30 am on Friday before we left to the Assistants' flat to begin interviews. So, we got to have a short visual visit with our 18th grandchild!

Meet Calvin (& Hobbes--which my other daughter bought online and shipped to them as all three of our sons have read and loved Calvin & Hobbes books all their lives!)

Springs, Secunda, Kwa Thema, Tsakane, Boksburg/Benoni, Daveyton 1, 2 & 3, Etwatwa

Elder Cox TR, Elder Harris ZL, Elder Harr, President Leavitt, Elder Spencer ZL

Elder Sommer, Elder Matayaunga DT, Elder Pop, Elder Kirby

Spring is here!

Elder Trammell DL, Elder Sande, Elder Brayden, Elder Dupaix

President Leavitt checking the fridge and freezer--SUPRIZE! A frozen pig head, heart and feed greeted him (left over from a pig roast).

Friday, 21 September--13 Elders

President Leavitt interviewed and I trained 13 Elders today at the Assistants' flat from 8:30 am to 3:15 pm. Dobsonville, Soweto, Florida 1 (APs & 3 Office), Roodepoort, Welteverden. (I only took one picture all day--sorry). We went across the street to the mission office to have our office staff meeting at 3:30 pm.

Elder Ott AP, Elder Jolley ZL, Elder Papenfuss DL,
Elder Robison, Elder Lopuliak ZL, Elder Bogosavac AP

Monday, 24 September--4 Elders & Elder & Sister Fugal

Elder Zimba, Elder Jangard, Elder Mercado, and Elder Flood arrived in the afternoon at the mission home (drove in from Nelspruit and KaNyamazane for zone conference tomorrow--about a four-hour drive.). While President Leavitt interviewed them, I trained with them.

The Fugals came in from Klerksdorp, about a two-hour drive, (will attend zone conference tomorrow) to stay at the mission home and visit with the Groesbecks about how they do their MLS mission. They visited in the kitchen while I was with the Elders in the front room. (The Groesbecks will follow the Elders back to Nelspruit after zone conference tomorrow and get settled in their flat (Jensens --who went home last week). I also trained the couples on this year's LightTheWorld Christmas initiative. I had 12 people for dinner. The Trumans came home after their day in the office to visit and eat dinner with us. The Trumans spent their first night in their flat (Wagners' flat across from the office--the carpets are clean and the shower is fixed). Yesterday late afternoon, the Todds drove in from Lenasia, about a 30-minute drive, to visit with the Groesbecks at the mission home.

Elder Zimba TR, Elder Jangard, Elder Mercado, Elder Flood DT

Elder Flood, Elder Mercado, Elder & Sister Truman,
Elder & Sister Fugal, Sister & Elder Groesbeck,
Elder Jangard, Elder Zimba, President Leavitt

Elder Flood taking charge of washing the dishes--although everyone helped.

A few hands of UNO--it is preparation day after all--Sister Groesbeck watches and gets to know her and Elder Groesbeck's new Mbombela district in Nelspruit and KaNyamazane!

Tuesday & Wednesday, 25-26 September--zone conferences

Thursday, 27 September--16 Elders

 We drove to Randfontein flat and met with six Elders, then drove to the Ridgeway flat and met with ten Elders. A big day. Returned home at 8 pm, with KFC Chicken Twisters for tomorrow--along with crackers & cheese and cookies.

Elder Simmons ZL, Elder Mbaki ZL, Elder Nielsen DT,
Elder Witts TR, Elder Kunjuzwa, Elder A. Smith

Sister Leavitt, Elder Avanitele DL, Elder Andrus, Elder C. Smith, Elder Blow TR

Sister Leavitt, Elder Bah, Elder Esele, Elder Lubwama DL,
Elder Gcwabe

Elder James and Elder Santos are not pictured. This is their Ridgeway flat, and they were out working during the other interviews and training. I didn't get their picture during training.

Friday, 28 September--12 Elders

We drove to the Kagiso flat and the Florida 2 Elders also came there.

Elder Molteno, Elder M. Lee, Elder Daniels, Elder Bete DL

We drove to the Randfontein flat and also met with the Krugersdorp, Phokeng, and Rustenburg elders. 

Elder Keya ZL, Elder Davey ZL

Plank contests with President Leavitt are always a challenge.

Elder Davey, President Leavitt, Elder Reidhead

President Leavitt quits at 3 minutes, Elder Davey at 3:04

Elder Treasure DL, Elder Neeley, Elder Garcia, Elder Sekholomi,
Elder Nalesoni

We returned in a rain storm to the mission office for our Friday staff meeting (4:45 pm). 

We ordered yellow slickers for our missionaries on bikes. It rains a lot in the spring and summer. Elder Bete and Elder Molteno model for us after our staff meeting. They were happy to receive them.

Tuesday, 2 October--10 Elders & Elder & Sister Todd

Painters came to our mission home at 7:45 am. We left at 8:10 am to drive to Lenasia to meet with the Todds, Ennerdale and Orange Farm missionaries.

Elder Lubelwana DT, Elder Maylett, Elder Flynn TR,
Elder Dakuiyau

After lunch with the Todds, we drove to Khutsong 2 flat and met with them and Khutsong 1, and Potchefstroom Elders.

Elder Kani, Elder Truman TR, Sister Leavitt, Elder Kressler,
Elder Blaauw DT

Elder Blaauw DT, Elder Kressler, Elder Kani, Elder Barnum, Elder Austin, Elder Truman TR, Sister Leavitt

Wednesday, 3 October--held MLC with the zone leaders at the Roodepoort/Florida chapel.

4 October, Thursday--14 Elders

We drove to the Bedfordview flat and also met with Alexandra, and Orange Grove elders.

Elder Zwane, Elder Nau, Elder Galbraith ZL, Elder Kisembo, Elder Samatanda ZL, Elder Leterme DL, Sister Leavitt

Then we drove to the Eastfield flat and also met with Germinston, Katlehong and Vosloorus elders.

Elder Hess, Elder Behunin DL, Elder Silva, Elder Ondricek TR, Elder Mendes, Elder J. Smith DL, Elder Bowen TR

Elder Reeves on left

Friday, 5 October

We drove to Vanderbijlpark/Vereeniging flat and also met with the Sebokeng and Sharpeville elders.

Elder Dmitri ZL, Elder Reneer ZL, Elder Rokotonindrina,
Elder Gibbs DT, Elder Willison, Elder Bird 

After we finished, we drove to the Vereeniging Chapel so President Leavitt could meet with his new 1st counselor of the Johannesburg Mission, President Jackson Mkabela, along with Vaal District President Gwebu for a planning meeting. They enjoyed the beautiful weather by sitting on the car floor mats. I also had KFC chicken twisters for them. I sat in the car and continued working on editing our mission manual. [We need more copies for the six new elders coming in on Tuesday mid-language transfer, so we are revising the one we did in May. I finished it after grocery shopping on Saturday morning, took the file to be printed while I waited at Post Net on Ondekkers, took them to the office and punched three holes (Elder Bogosavac pushed the handle while Elder Ott was on the computer--bonus help!) and put them in their binders.]

We returned to the office for our 3:10 pm staff meeting. We returned home. President worked on the transfer and I continued working on the manual until our assistants came at 8 pm. We didn't finish until Saturday late afternoon. President Leavitt made the leadership calls right after watching the morning session general conference (6-8 pm) from 8-8:30 pm. Then the assistants sent out the transfer SMSs. (We watched the afternoon session from 10-midnight.)

President Leavitt, President Gwebu, President Mkhabela

Monday, 8 October--Six departing elders come to the mission home for interviews, dinner, departing meeting, sleep.

Tuesday, 9 October--We picked up seven arriving elders at the MTC at 7 am with all the departing elders, except Elder Chikoore, who left at 5:30 am with the MTC departing elders (they used our vehicles to take their many elders to the airport). See separate posts.

Wednesday, 10 October--12 Elders

We left at 7:45 am to drive to the Rynfield and Mayfield flat.

We drove to the Kempton Park flat and also met with the Tembisa 1, Tembisa 2, and Hospital View elders.

Elder Bishop, Elder Rash ZL, Elder Siale, ZL, Elder Almeida

Elder Flynn (just got transferred here when Elder Kealer went home with five others on the mid-language transfer), Elder Gray

Elder Resek ZL, Elder van Thiel Berghuijs, Elder Tia ZL,
Elder Mlenze, Sister Leavitt 

Elder Ratshikhopha, Elder C. Lee

Thursday, 11 October - 6 elders

President Leavitt and I traveled to the Birch Acres flat and also met with Rabie Ridge and Centurion area elders.

Elder Campos, Elder Mpapa DT

Elder Steiner, Elder Ncwadi DL, Elder Campos, Elder Bindrup,
Elder Boshoff, Elder Mpapa DT

Had meetings with other additional elders the rest of the day and evening.