Today, Sunday we headed out of town to attend our assigned branch, Cosmo City. The trip took about 45 minutes. Cosmo City is one of the numerous townships which surround Johannesburg. Its a very poor area but the Church is growing rapidly and has purchased a large piece of property in a nice location.  The above picture is of the entrance to the property. 

Sister Shupe with some of her new friends. I think Mom just found her calling on this mission. She got to lead the music in Primary. I was sitting in Priesthood Meeting and I could hear these children just singing so loud. I knew Mom (Grammy) was leading the music. It was amazing!

This picture will give you an idea of how the Church is building temporary chapels here in Africa. Five or six pre-fabricated units are connected together around a constructed and covered courtyard. Mom with her 3 new friends, in the previous picture, is standing in front of the courtyard. Eventually as the branch grows a permanent building will be constructed on this site. In the distance you can see part of Cosmo City.

Saturday, October 26th, we drove north to a twice monthly county fair at Irene. They had everything there. Including crepes.

Pineapples from Kwazulu, a providence of South Africa located on the Indian Ocean.

Lots of people and we got there early before the real crowd hit. Since arriving here about 9 days ago, I've heard very little Afrikaans being spoken, but out in the country it was a different story. Lots of Afrikaaners at this little fair.

Some music.

And even a camel with some Afrikaans children who looked a lot like our grandchildren. Grammy got a little teary. We miss all our grandchildren.

In August of 1968 I was a missionary serving in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. I baptized a young girl named Denise Milne. Today working in the Africa South East Area office meet Denise Butterfield. Yes, its the same young lady I baptized 45 years ago. It was a wonderful reunion. Denise and active member of the Church is the head of Human Resources for the Church in South Africa.

Susan is having a lot of fun in public relations. Today Public Relations entertained 5 students and their instructor from Witswaterrand University. The instructor, Rene Ferguson, is sitting next to Susan. I'm at the head of the table with 4 of the 5 students around me. The man standing is Elder Eggelston. He was a missionary with me in South Africa in the late 60's. Sister Belleston who works with Susan is on left. The students spent nearly 3 hours in the Area Office. They toured the employment center, the family history center, toured the temple grounds, the distribution store, met with a member of the Area Presidency and had a luncheon with us. While on the tour, one of the students turned to her fellow students and said, "This is more than a Church!" She is so right! And we are blessed to be part of this great work.

Saturday Mom and I along with Jeff Clayton,  Area Legal Counsel, drove an hour north to visit my old South African friends. Rex and Pat Lowe.

Taken in their living room, this picture is of Rex and Pat Lowe. Their daughter Collette, who was visiting from Cape Town is standing behind Rex.

45 years ago, as a 19 year old missionary, the Lowes repeatedly fed me and my companion. Almost every Sunday they opened their home to us. I still can taste Pat's wonderful potatoes and it was in her dining room I first tasted fruit in ice cream. Now retired, Rex has been an inventing engineer. He's an old time surfer and one of the founding members of the South African Life Saving Association. We spent a wonderful morning with them reminiscing about old times.

Our friends Marty and Liz Neil drove us to the San Diego International Airport on October 14, 2013. We made one stop at Hodad's in Ocean Beach for a last "great" hamburger before heading to the airport.

Our British Airways flight took us to London and then after a 4 hour lay over we headed to South Africa. At the Johannesburg International Airport we were met by Dave and Pam Larsen. I will be taking Dave's place as Associate Area Legal Counsel Africa South East Area.  Susan will be taking Pam's place on the Area Public Affairs Committee. It should add its now October 16th. They were long flights.

October 17, 2013 we visited the Area Offices. The office is located on the same grounds as the Johannesburg Temple and is about 1 mile from our 2 bedroom apartment.

The office building is behind and to the right of temple.

I can't begin to remember all the senior missionaries we met today at the Area Office. There are Humanitarian Missionaries, Perpetual Education Fund Missionaries, Family History Missionaries, Public Affairs Missionaries, etc. The office is a very busy place. The highlight of the day was meeting a Stake President from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, his wife, daughter and son-in-law. They had come to the temple for the daughter and son-in-law's sealing and marriage. The bus ride from Bulawayo to Johannesburg took 12 hours.

The Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Stake President is on left standing next to his wife. Their daughter and son-in-law are immediately to Susan's right. They were just getting ready for the 12 hour bus ride back to Bulawayo. As a young missionary, I served in Bulawayo in 1968. There was just one small branch there. Now there are three Stakes 

Today, October 14, 2013, Susan and I are heading to South Africa. She'll be working with Public Affairs and I'll be Associate Area Legal Counsel South East Africa Area.