This means that the Temple Missionaries will be out of work for the 9 week period. Prior to the closing, the Area Office worked to find places where we might be useful. Because of the timing of the shutdown two couples, the Smiths and Giles opted to conclude their missions and return home. They were either scheduled to go home during the shutdown period or shortly thereafter so they were given the option to stay or leave a little early.
Brother and Sister Bird who had connections with Delta decided to return home for the shutdown since it would cost them little and they had matters at home to attend to. They will return on September 16th and will take a 3 month extension to their mission, fortunatey for us!
The Area Office scrambled to find something for each of the remaining couples to do during the shutdown. Elder and Sister Mincks were assigned to the Area Office to do IT training with Bro. and Sis. Howes (our friends from Silver Mesa days in Sandy, UT), since this was Bro. Minck's professional background. Elders and Sisters Brown, Ashcroft and Sagers were assigned to do membership support in some of the outlying wards. This has not turned out as successful as anticipated. The Ashcroft's made contact with their unit and have been out in the field 2-3 days a week working with inactive and part members families. The Brown's and Sager's have not been as fortunate. They have not been able to connect with their respective wards so most of their time has been spent sitting in their flats staring at the walls.
As for Jenee and I: I think we got the best deal out of the lot! We were assigned to work with the 5 Stakes within Johannesburg and Pretoria to meet with member Entrepreneurs who are struggling with their businesses. We have set up group meetings within the Wards and Stakes where selected individuals were invited to attend the Entrepreneur Focus Meetings. We started off with a bang the first week by meeting with the Ridgeway ward where 8 members attended. From that group meeting we have meet with four of them individually to help them improve their business operations and profitability.
Then things slowed down because we were not getting appointments. So I got on the phone and the internet and contacted every Stake President encouraging them to endorse this program and move forward. After a week of calls and encouragement things began to turn around. We have now held 5 group meetings with 3 more scheduled. From those group meetings we have met with 6 individuals at their homes or businesses to analyze their businesses and make recommendations.
At first I had no idea how I was going to present this concept but as each meeting progressed I fell into a groove; Jenee and I are having a fun time traveling about the country meeting with the members and engaging with them in this program. Successful? I guess that will come from how well they follow our recommendations or ideas. For sure, we have made an impact with some, the ideas we discussed gave them a new outlook and perspective as to how they might improve their Entrepreneur ventures.
We have had an experience of a lifetime: I have truly been enjoying myself talking about being self employed using my experiences as a springboard to our discussions. When I got this assignment I went right to work and developed a small work packet called "So you want to be an Entrepreneur" that each attendee completed before attending the group meetings. From that we were able to better analyze where they were and the issues or problems they were facing. They got a lot out of completing the packet while we were able to identify areas that needed real attention.
Because of the shutdown other opportunities have come our way as well. We were invited to travel with Elder Carl Cook (Seventy) of the Area Presidency. There is a real concern here in South Africa that the young people are NOT pursuing temple marriages. To better understand the issues at hand, Elder Cook requested to meet with each stake YSA council to talk about their YSA programs and to discuss the concerning issue. Previous to this Elder Cook and I discussed the concerns while in the temple so when he got invitations to attend the YSA meetings he called and invited us to join he and Sister Cook. This has been a spiritual experience for us to be with Elder Cook and watch him administer and minister among the saints. I would say that Jenee and I have grown from this once-in-a- lifetime opportunity.
We had another opportunity just the other day to join Elder and Sister Knudson. They have been called to gather and compile the history of the Church in the South East Africa Area. We traveled to Pretoria with them to meet with Brother Clive Nichols. Brother Nichols and I go back a long time. While I was serving my mission in 1965 I served in Cape Town. Clive and LaVern along with Keith and Vivian Hubert were the two young couples that did almost everything with the missionaries. I still have fond memories of my associations with them. When we first arrived here and started working at the temple two of the first people we came across were Brother and Sister Nichols. It was a great reunion and we vowed to visit with them often.
This was one of those opportunities. Clive has diligently been compiling the history of the church in South Africa from the very beginning. He has volumes and volumes of church history covering every historical event from 1860 that has taken place in South Africa; books covering the period of every Mission President, the building of the Temple, visits from every General Authority and so on. I believe he has over 80 volumes compiled of the most precious historical events. Clive is now 82 years old and has a remarkable memory. To listen to him bring events of years ago was amazing. The Knudsons have been meeting with Clive to index and correlate all his material for future publication.
Here is Jenee and I with Clive Nichols.
The book Clive is holding is the one he compiled covering President J. Golden Snow who was my Mission President between 1964 to 1967.
Two other notable events have taken place during the shutdown:
Just prior to the shutdown I received an e-mail from Glen Richardson. Glen was my first companion after I arrived on my mission back in 1964. We served together in Zambia for about 8 months.
After many years we finally hooked up with each other just prior to October Conference 2011 and they came to visit us at our home. We announced to them that we were returning to South Africa as Temple Missionaries and they were so excited. Glen had just retired and they were contemplating a mission as well, after he had hip surgery.
In the e-mail Glen announced that they had just received their mission call to Nigeria as PEF (Perpetual Education Fund) Missionaries. They were scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg September 21st for three days of training before reporting to Nigeria.
Sadly we were scheduled to be on vacation to Kruger Park that week but fortunately we were to be home on Thursday evening and had prearranged to pick up Glen and his wife after their training on Friday and take them out to dinner. They left Saturday morning for Nigeria.
Here is a picture of Elder & Sister Richardson.
The other notable even took place on August 7th. Winter officially arrived - IT SNOWED in South Africa. We got only a few inches here in Johannesburg but the mountain ranges going toward Durban got close to a foot, where local native residents and travelers had to be evacuated. The employees at the Area Office took the time to go out and have a snow fight - they were so excited about seeing snow. For some of the members, especially the blacks from up north they had never seen snow before.
We have had several days of real cold whether down to the low 30,s. We have had the heaters going day and night to keep our flat warm.
At church, in our old metal school building, everybody had to bundle up in hats, gloves, overcoats and blankets to keep somewhat warm during church.
Other than these few days of cold weather, winter here has been quite nice. The temperature has ranged between the low 50's to the low 70's.
Spring is just around the corner and we are looking forward to it with all the flowers and beauty that will come with it. We have enjoyed our first 5 weeks of shutdown being involved as we have been. Jenee has also volunteered and is teaching 5 of the missionaries here in Dukes Court either Conducting or Piano. It has also been such a treat to have a car and be able to get out and explore on our own. All of us have missed the temple and look forward to returning with enthusiasm.
OH, I better not forget our opportunity to serve in the MTC. President and Sister Reber, who we have known from our days living in Sandy Utah, and Jenee-Sis Reber from their early teen years in West Covina, CA called and asked if we had time to assist them in receiving and registering new arriving missionaries. So on the 9th of August we spent the day assisting 23 missionaries. On Aug. 23rd we will return to assist another 33 new missionaries.
This brought back memories of when I went into the MTC, even though this is quite different from what I encountered. It was good to be around these young men and women now entering the mission field. Most are black and have never been away from their homes and villages. Many have only been members for just over a year. They are little more than a "duck out of water" so it has been fun and a spiritual experience to help them get acclimated to the missionary experience. They are something to watch as they mingle with each other developing relationships with new friends. Jenee and I went home filled with the missionary spirit and remarked that we could certainly enjoy doing something like this if the opportunity ever came. Many tender mercies from the Lord!
