Last Thursday was Thanksgiving. It was a normal work day at the Area Office; but at lunch time, all the senior couples got together at the "white house" for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The white house is a former mansion which sat on this property when the Church purchased it. The mansion has now been divided into 4 apartments. The Area Presidency live in 3 of the apartments and Jeff and Marge Clayton live in the other. The white house is on the right of this photo. Directly ahead is the immaculate 3-car garage, which was used for the meal.

 Some of the senior couples preparing for the Thanksgiving meal.

 Looking toward camera with a red tie on the right is Elder Cook, 1st Counselor in the Area Presidency.

 A very nice looking garage prepared for the Thanksgiving meal.

 On right is Elder Renlund, Area President, and his wife, Ruth. On left is Billy Van Heerdan and his wife, Theda. I first met Billy when I was serving in East London. He was 11 years old. He and his wife are now serving a temple mission here in Johannesburg. It was his birthday this week so Mom and I took him to dinner. Before coming on his temple mission, Billy served as the East London Stake President, but I'll always remember him as that 11 year old boy.

Serving in the Area Office are Humanitarian Missionaries, Perpetual Education Fund Missionaries, Public Affairs Missionaries, Employment Missionaries, Church History Missionaries, Family History Missionaries, Finance and Audit Missionaries plus 2 attorneys. The Thanksgiving meal was great. I even got some pecan pie.