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.