Last Monday, I drove to Bloemfontein, South Africa with Shawn Boshoff. Shawn is a South African lawyer and also the Pretoria, South Africa Stake President for the LDS Church. He and I had legal matters to attend to in Lesotho early on Tuesday morning. South of Johannesburg the country becomes farm land with gentle rolling hills. 

A picture of downtown Bloemfontein, South Africa. Presently a city of nearly 500,000 people. It is strongly Afrikaans.  It is the judicial capital of South Africa. You may remember that South Africa has three governmental capitals. Pretoria is administrative capital, Cape Town the legislative and Bloemfontein the judicial capital. It is in Bloemfontein that the Supreme Court of South Africa sits.

It was over 90 degrees F. thus many were covering up with umbrellas.

Many South Africans have small farms from which they harvest various crops and then sell their produce on the streets.

Shawn attended high school in Bloemfontein at Grey College. He gave me a tour of the campus.

We watched some middle school races and then he taught me the finer points of cricket.

Shawn came to Grey College on a cricket scholarship. There are 2 batsmen on the field at the same time and eleven opposing players trying either to catch the ball, or knock over the wickets.

A picture of the Bloemfontein Stake Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Early Tuesday morning we headed into the hills of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Border crossing at Maseru, Lesotho.  The Kingdom of Lesotho is landlocked with a population of 

2 million people. Technically, the country is a constitutional monarchy. 

City of Maseru the capital of Lesotho in background.

Maseru, Lesotho.

There is lots of unemployment and it is estimated that 1/3 of the population is HIV positive.

An LDS church in Maseru.

Presently, in Africa the LDS Church is using "speed space" for many of its chapels. The membership of the Church is growing so fast in Africa that it has become necessary to erect temporary structures for meeting houses.

Shawn and I looking for a "new" ride home. I think that rusted hulk behind us was a 1943 Hudson.

Lots of growing sunflowers along the way back to Johannesburg.

This past Sunday, Mom taught the children about the importance of "holding to the iron rod" so they would be safe and happy in this life. Each of them received their own iron rod to take home.  The missionaries couldn't resist getting in the picture, too.

Zimbabwe uses US dollars for its currency. Zimbabwe's inflation was so high, something like 1,000% a year or more, it couldn't print currency with enough zeros. People were literally walking around with suit cases loaded with money just to buy groceries. So it adopted the US dollar as its currency. It's kind of ironic that a country which is always preaching against America and neocolonialism had to turn to the US dollar to stabilize its monetary system.  But only the United States prints US currency. Zimbabwe can't. So the money that circulates in Zimbabwe is used over and over again and it gets very, very dirty. Note the $5 bill above I got when we were up in Zimbabwe.

Saturday, January 18th, we visited the Apartheid Museum. It's located near Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg.

There are still many Mandela tributes all over South Africa. The Museum had a special exhibit just for him.

Apartheid was in full swing when I was a young missionary here in the late 60's. I remember signs like this in lots of places. 

Skyline of Johannesburg.

Johannesburg it literally built on gold mines. Gold was discovered here in the 1880's. Johannesburg, with population of over 5 million people, is the largest city in sub-saharan Africa. Mom and I have been lost in this city on more than one occasion. Sometimes it gets a little scary.

While in southern Africa we've been able to attend a couple of baptismal services. The first was in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The service was at the Highland chapel. There are 2 sister missionaries on the right.

Last Sunday, we attended the baptismal service for one of Mom's Primary girls. Her name is Nladi. She and her brother Neo, in grey tie, are remarkable children. They know the Gospel and love the Lord.  Mom and I often remark how amazing it is that the Saints of Africa know the Gospel so well. Of material things they have very little, but they know what is most important. They love their families and Jesus Christ. 

We take 2 senior missionaries, Elder Gerald and Sister Donita Christiansen from Boise, Idaho, with us when we attend the Cosmo City Branch. Sister Christiansen, after the church services, teaches piano to the members who are interested. 

How could the New Year begin without a New Year's Eve party? The party was held in our flat, which I festively decorated with balloons. It was potluck and we had some great food and desserts. Elder Bob Rose, a retired lawyer doing real estate work for the Church, is on extreme left, Elder Hoffman, in white shirt, is the area doctor. Mom is sitting on arm of chair next to Sister Midge Nielsen. Sister Nielsen taught college English back in Ohio. She works with Mom in Public Affairs.

We did the white elephant (how appropriate for Africa) gift exchange. Sister DaBell is getting her present. Her husband, Elder Bob DaBell, is in the dark blue shirt to her right. They are from Bozeman, Montana. Others in the picture, standing Sister Cathy Barnes (Church History); in front of her you can just see Sister Rose (from Bountiful, Utah); in yellow shirt, Elder Lonny Adams (Church Employment); in lighter blue shirt, Elder Gary Heaton, former Mexico mission president, now responsible for interfacing with all African Mission Presidents in the Southeast Area. Sister Heaton in dark blouse, is responsible for inputting all missionary applications from the Africa Southeast Area. All the senior couples serving missions here in the Southeast Area Office are faithful people.

O.K. Harry, Cannon, do you think you can walk across this little pond on those stones?  Well, you better look again. Those stones are crocodiles just waiting for their next meal. In Africa you've always got to be careful where you walk.

No two zebras are alike. Each has its own unique skin pattern.

About a mile from our flat is this Anglo-Boer War Memorial. Formally known as the Rand Regiments Memorial, it was erected to commemorate the men of the Army Regiments of the Rand who lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).  The Rand (Afrikaans for "ridge") is the area around Johannesburg where gold was first discovered in South Africa. In 2002, the Memorial was rededicated to the men, women and children of all nations who lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War.

Last Wednesday, the receptionist advised me that I had a visitor, Elder Ray Carlyle.  He and his wife are doing Member Support in Bloemfontain, South Africa about 4 hours south of Johannesburg. He's a retired FBI agent who knows Afrikaans pretty well. You see, he was in the 2nd Afrikaans MTC class in 1969.  His instructor was me. How fun to meet up with him again after all these years.

The day after Christmas, Mom, Marge and Jeff Clayton and I drove out to Pretoria for a Braai (That's Afrikaans for barbeque) with Shawn and Debie Boshoff. Shawn is a lawyer here in South Africa and he is also the LDS Stake President for the Pretoria Stake.

On December 27, 2013, Mom and I flew up to Harare, Zimbabwe. We were greeted with a warm summer rain storm. The above picture shows the Harare skyline in the distance. 46 years ago I served here as a missionary. This short 4 day trip brought back some wonderful memories.

Forty six years ago I baptized Kelly Nield. She and her husband Alex have 3 sons. The youngest Jonathan has just returned from a mission in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He will attend BYU this winter and play rugby. The oldest Brent lives in Encinitas, California with his wife Candi.  Brent will possibly play rugby for the USA national team in the next Olympics.

Reg and Iris Nield fed me countless times while I was a missionary in Salisbury (now Harare). We were invited to stay with them on this trip. That's Reg at the end of table with Iris on his left. On the right side of the table are Reeve Nield, Lolly Maritz and Sharon Nield Spencer. Next to mom is CC Lundgren. Both CC and Lolly are professional golfers on the European tour. Reeve is their coach. 

Saturday morning we got a golf lesson from Lolly, CC and Reeve. Even after the lesson, mom is not too interested in golf.

After hitting a couple of balls, mom and Iris sat out and watched us duffers. The umbrella was for the hot sun.

We were joined by LDS Zimbabwe Mission President Bryson Cook and four of his missionaries. The young man in blue on left is Robby Spencer, Sharon's son. Rob Spencer Sr., Sharon's husband, is the LDS bishop for the Highland Ward in Harare.

When I was here 46 years ago, this was the Highland Branch. Now there are 2 Stakes in Harare. Yes, that spire is very high. It was said that the contractor for the chapel just kept building the spire until he could see it from his home. He obviously lived a long ways away from the chapel.

Inside of the Highland Ward chapel. I spent many Sundays here in 1967-68.

This is a picture of the government buildings in downtown Harare. On November 11, 1967 at this corner, I stood and watched Ian Smith the then Prime Minister of Rhodesia celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Rhodesian independance from England.

Downtown Harare, Zimbabwe. Originally, Fort Salisbury it was founded in 1890 by Cecil John Rhodes, the man who started the Rhodes Scholarships. The fort and subsequent city was named after the Prime Minister of England. The Economist magazine said in 2009 and 2011, Harare, Zimbabwe was the toughest city to live in, in the world. In the last 2 years, I think it has gotten better but Zimbabwe is still going through some very difficult times. Their entire financial system may collapse before the end of 2014.  46 years ago it seemed like paradise. Today it is rather sad.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has numerous chapels in Zimbabwe. This one built about 7 years ago is on the outskirts of town.

Sometimes the electricity doesn't work in Zimbabwe. When that happens and you're on the road, you have to be careful to watch for non-functioning signal lights. This picture shows what happens as everyone tries to get across an intersection, with no functioning signals, at the same time. We sat here for about 10 minutes until people started to back up and take turns.

This is the Nield home in Harare, Zimbabwe. We spent 4 very enjoyable days here with the extended Nield family.

Lolly and Reeve started a charity called "Eyes4Zimbabwe". CC and the entire Nield family now help with charity and humanitarian work through out Zimbabwe. Sunday afternoon after attending the Highland Ward, we all drove out to a nearby squatters' camp. That is Bishop Spencer in white shirt on extreme right. When we drove up to the camp, everyone came out because they knew the Nields were bringing them needed clothes, supplies, toys and even reading glasses. 

In order to keep from having a chaotic event, the women were told to line up on one side and the men and boys on the other side. Reg and his daughter Sharon in the middle.

Mom handing out wooden toy cars to the children. Iris Nield behind Mom and Rachel Nield is on left.

Clothing which had been packed at the LDS Church distribution center in Salt Lake City, Utah was distributed to all.

Mom making sure these young men knew what to do with a new toothbrush and soup. It was amazing how orderly everyone was.

Always happy. This visit was a belated Christmas present to many.

Sharon Nield Spencer on extreme right helping older lady determine what strength of reading glasses she needs.

After all the supplies were exhausted, the women wanted to dance. Not an easy feat with a large bundle on your head.

Mom and Lolly with Lolly's 7 Jack Russell Terriers. (5 girls and 2 boys). Mom was ready to bring one back to Johannesburg. What do you think Harry, Cannon, Margaux, Beatrix, Paisley, Dresden, Emsley, Chelsea, George, Sennett, Stevie, Adelaide and Leslie, should Grammy bring a puppy home from Africa?

I hated to say good-bye to my dear friends, Reg and Iris Nield. Reg has served twice as Harare District President for the LDS Church and is now the Patriarch for the Harare Stake.