With Summer comes the rainy season. A family in the Cosmo City Branch gave Mom an umbrella for a birthday present.

A week ago I flew down to East London to meet with a lawyer about a property dispute. The lawyer's office was in Queenstown a small city about 100 miles west of East London.  This is a photograph of the main street into Queenstown. The city was established in 1853 and named for Queen Victoria.

Attorney Jaxa's office was up three flights of stairs but you could also get a loan or tax refunds. I've visited some pretty poor attorney offices while here in Africa. This was not the worst.

This is the LDS chapel in Queenstown.

In the rural township of Illinge about 30 miles outside of Queenstown, is this LDS chapel. Because the Church is growing so rapidly in this area the Church has purchased adjacent property in order to build a much larger chapel.

The Cathcart public library located near Queenstown.  The small village of Cathcart was named after Sir George Cathcart who founded Queenstown. He was the aide-de-camp to Wellington and was the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope Colony between 1852 and 1853.  There is a lot of Afrikaans spoken in this area.

This is an English war memorial in downtown Cathcart. The British and the Xhosa fought many a battle in and around this village.

There are many townships around East London. During the Apartheid era the South African government declared two areas East and West of East London, Native Homelands, the Ciskei and Transkei. Nelson Mandela was born in the Transkei. The idea was that all natives would have citizenship in a specific homeland. They would not be considered a citizen of South Africa. They would be allowed to work in South Africa but would have to return to their homeland at the end of their one year work contracts.

The landscape around East London is very hilly. I served about 6 months as a young missionary (1968) and remember well trying to ride my bicycle up these hills.

This is the East London chapel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I attended many meetings in this chapel.

East London is located on the Indian Ocean and has a population of approximately 280,000 people. This picture was taken early in the morning as I flew into town.  The city was founded by the British Royal Navy in 1836 and is the only river mouth port in South Africa.

Part of the boardwalk of East London looking towards the harbor.

Mom celebrated her birthday last Tuesday. Public Affairs baked a cake for her. Mom with Sisters Kyle and Berg.

It was a party all day for Mom. Everyone in the office came by her desk to sing and bring presents.

Tuesday evening some of the senior missionary couples took Mom to dinner.

The Institute Class continues to grow. Around table left to right: Andrew, Nobantu, Thulane, Amanda. Next to Mom: Jessica, Johanna, Robert.  The missionaries left to right: Elders Holloway, Barton, Wittison and Van Heerdan.

In  the parking garage at our flat. Mom is thinking about 117 Eaton Street. We miss that place.

Last Friday Dorcus Marumo, my secretary, celebrated her birthday so the entire office went to Tortellini D'Oro for a great Italian lunch with gelato.

Every week in Sacrament Meeting little Siviwe comes and sits with Mom. She refers to Mom as her Auntie. It's very precious.

Me and Roger. He's one of my buddies at the Area Office. 

I've been doing a little water-color painting. Do you recognize Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa?

Mom's favorite animal is the zebra. I guess she just found her favorite car.

Today, Saturday September 6th, we held our Institute Class at the Area Office and then went for a walk around the Johannesburg Temple. From left to right we have Tshepiso, Khanya, Robert, Nobantu, Johanna and Joseph.  Tshepiso and Khanya will be married in 100 days in this temple. Khanya is counting the days.

After the lesson and visit to the temple, we all headed to Nandos for a late lunch. Nandos is a Pollo Loco knock-off.

Johannesburg is the largest city in Gauteng Provence so all the local cars have a large "GP" at the end of their license plates. I had to take a picture of this Audi's plates. GP is what my grandchildren call me.

Mom has now found a perfect gelato place next to Mandela Square. We'll be going there more often now.

South Africa does have some wonderful desserts.