2012 Christmas in South Africa

Staying in our flat for Christmas was not an option for some of us who serve in the Temple.  A couple of months ago while traveling in the Nelspruit area we saw signs indicating that fly fishing was available throughout the area, so some of us decided that for our Christmas break we would look into going on a fly fishing vacation.  I was given the assignment to research into what kind of places were available and what was offered as far as activities for both the men and the women.  After some research I sent out an email to everybody to see who might be interested in going on such an outing over Christmas.  The  Mincks, Birds and Garretts all responded in the affirmative.

Mincks - Uzelacs - Birds - Garretts

After some (lots of, you know Gail) negotiating Gail arranged a good package deal to stay at the Bergwatgers Eco Spa and Lodge  located about 2 1/2 hours north of Johannesburg and just 30 minutes outside Nelspruit.

After church on the 23rd we all met at the van, loaded up and set out for our adventure.  We all enjoy these kinds of adventure,s not knowing what we will actually encounter when we get there.  However, in this instance the actual place looked just like the pictures on the Internet, a pleasant surprise for all.

                                                                Here is Bergwaters Lodge.

Our Individual Lodge

Typical Lodges

Grounds

Grounds

Grounds & Swimming Pool

Each couple had a separate cabin to stay in.

The more we travel throughout South Africa the more amazed we are at the beauty of the landscape and how richly blessed this country is with natural beauty. The location of the Bergwaters Lodge, nestled in the mountains was no different.  As you can see, mother nature certainly blessed this part of  the country with mountains, trees, flowers and wildlife.

A variety of African Peacock

Weaver

Brillenweaver

Manco sunbird

After getting settled into our lodges we all took a walk about the grounds before it was time for dinner.  We had made arrangements to eat in the 5 Owl's Restaurant which was part of the Bergwaters Lodge. It was billed as a "4 Star" restaurant and to our pleasant surprise the food was delicious and well prepared.  We also had breakfast here as it was included in our package. Dinner and lunch we paid for individually.

Monday morning we were up bright and early. One of the reasons for our trip was for the men to fly fish so as soon as breakfast was over the men set out to go fly fishing while some of the ladies took advantage of the Spa activities and the others just relaxed reading and whatever.  We were to fish on the stream next to the lodge but it had not been stocked due to Otter problems so they arranged for us to visit another fishing lodge down the road to fish on their local stream.

     This is me on the stream

Fishing was slow with nobody catching a thing.  It was getting hot out in the sun so we called it a day at 12 PM and returned to the lodge to have lunch with the ladies.

On Christmas Eve we were treated to a 3 Course Gourmet Dinner.  With Christmas music in the background to inhance the evening we sat back and enjoyed a delcious meal (salad, Chicken schnitzel & veggies, granadilla icebox dessert) with service to match the occasion.  Once again I think everybody's expectations were exceeded.  After dinner we moved out to the veranda where Brother Garrett presented a Christmas message and we sang Christmas carols before retiring for the evening.  It had been a long, hot and tiring day so everybody was ready to call it an evening at that time.

Christmas morning we packed up, had breakfast and got ready to check out.  After settling up with the lodge we got ready to load up the van to head back to Joberg, only to discover that we had a flat tire - how did that happen?  One of the locals and Kyle, the son of the owners assisted us in changing the tire.

After getting the tire changed and cleaning up we went to say our final thanks, good-byes and Merry Christmas to our host family who had shown us a great time and treated us royally during our entire stay. Thank you to the Godsill-Stouff family, owners of Bergwaters.

Annual Malgalisburg Train Ride

Each year a group of Area and Temple Missionaries get together and take the Magaliesburg Train Ride.  It is so fun because the trip (2 hours) is on an old Steam Engine. For Elder Garrett and I this was a day of remembrance because both of us took similar train trips during our missions back in the 60"s.  Elder Garrett took the train (5 days) from Cape Town to Johannesburg his first assignment.  I took the train  3 days) from Johannesburg to Kitwe Zambia my first assignment.  So, for the both of us this was exciting times to remisce about our earlier adventures as missionaries.

We gathered at the van at 7:15AM thinking that we needed to leave early due to the heavy traffic in and around the train station with all the combies.  However, today was a national holiday and almost everything was closed and the combie traffic was at a sparse minimum.  We arrived at the station at about 7:40, plenty early since our trip did not begin until 9AM.  In fact, the train had not even arrived at the station at that time.

Our group consisted of 50 so we consumed an entire rail car which was nice in that it kept us together and away from the fun and partying of the local natives.  From past experiences they knew that those on the train are there for a party (drinking, singing and dancing) all of which becomes out of control if you know what I mean.

At about 8:50 the train arrived at the station and everybody (hundreds of people) started boarding.  There were singles, couples, families with children all scraping for a place to sit before we started out.

                                                             Here is what we rode on:











                                                And here we are all together in our rail car.

Off we went,  heading for our first stop which was at the Krugersdoorp Station where we spent about 30 minutes in which everybody got off and took pictures and mingled.

Krugersdoorp Train Station

From here we set out for Magaliesburg where we would get off for lunch and some local shopping. Along the way we experienced the countryside of South Africa.

Gold Mine tailings along countryside

Train and rail sight

Ostriche Farm

Typical Farm - Corn

Typical Farm - Cabbage

Typical Farm House

Typical Farm Worker Shack

Farm Worker Shack - with Satellite

Farm Foreman's Home

We arrived at Magaliesburg and the Hotel at about 11 AM but lunch was not to be served until 12 noon so we had some time to walk about the city - which was small and not much to see.

Parking lot and entrance to the Hotel (always vendors everywhere)

Garden at the Hotel

Water fall and Garden at hotel

                             Finally at noon the buffet was ready for our consumption and delight.

Buffet, which was delicious

 After lunch and sitting around for an hour resting and talking the train finally showed up at 2:30 PM for our return to Johannesburg.

After a 1/2 day of drinking and partying the natives became restless and the fun and games began.  They would stroll up and down the cars singing, dancing and at times making a nuisance of themselves with other travelers.

For some reason one native gal became attached to Sister Rose of the Area Office at the Krugersdoorp Station. She and her friends came into our car specifically look for "MRS ROSE."  Well it did not take long before she pinpointed the whereabouts of Sister Rose and started hugging her and spouting off about how much she loved "Sister Rose" the great lady and President - of whatever organization, we could never figure out.

This inebriated native gal and her friends kept coming back about every 15 minutes until it started to bother Sister Rose so we devised a plan to discuise her appearance and hide here whenever we saw them coming.

Sister Rose and I changed hats 

We would move her from seat to seat so that our local friendlies could not find her.  We would tell them that she was in the toilet or gone to another car just to throw them off.  One other Sister Missionaries changed name tags with Sister Rose to throw them off the tract as well.  Finally after about an hour or so they finally gave up trying to find Sister Rose. After that we were able to relax and enjoy the ride home.  (Elder & Sister Rose are in Boyd & June's stake and know them well.)

We sat and enjoyed the ride home looking at the natural beauty of South Africa.  Sadly there is an ugly side to South Africa which is depicted by the "Shanty Towns" that are located all over South Africa.  This is the poorest of the poor black communities where approximately 40% of all the blacks live.  These shanty towns are so deplorable one wonders how they survive.  Tin roofs with blocks or old tires on top to hold the roof on. Walls of corrugated tin with no windows  and one opening as a door. Dirt floors with nothing one would call livable conditions. Electricity in many townships is unavailable and water comes from local streams if they are close enough to one. There is not sanitation except a communal out-house or two in the township. It is hard to describe what one sees so I will let pictures paint for you a thousand indescribable words or indescribable poverty.

Tin Shack Township

Township of Tin

Shacked so close there is at time no individual sides.

Dotting the countryside - a sight to sadly behold

For a country like South Africa that is so wealthy in natural precious minerals (gold, diamonds, and platinum) it is difficult to understand why such living conditions even exist.  A first world country with living standards greater than most still treats the blacks with disdain and failed promises. The new black government has forgotten their native heritage and treat the poor and struggling blacks as almost non human. If you speak to the black Africans they will tell you that the majority of the local Africans are worse off today that when they were under white Apartheid rule, which in and of itself left a lot to be desired even back then.  It is suggested that many or most of the residents are refugees, or illegal aliens who cannot qualify for jobs or government homes.

Well, we arrived home at about 5 PM tired but still filled with a sense of enjoymen,t having had the opportunity to be together and enjoy some time away from our labors. It is so good to rub shoulders with the other missionaries whom we seldom see because of our different work schedules.  To hear of their experiences out in the field in their diverse assignments and to share with them of our spiritual experiences within the temple makes this whole experience so worthwhile. The consensus is that we not waste a moment's time to be together to feel of each others' spirit and to come to know each other much better.   A giant thanks to Mary Mincks and Dennis for organizing such a wonderful day!