'Only a Stonecutter'

On Tuesdays the mission office holds it's weekly staff meeting. This week President Dunn shared as the  spiritual thought the video, 'Only a Stonecutter'. He  wrote the screenplay so that made the video more meaningful. I want you all to see this video!! Very powerful! I have included the link at the bottom.

Most of you have heard the inspiring story of John Rowe Moyle who walked from his home in Alpine UT to the Salt Lake Temple to carve the stone on the exterior of the temple.
During the first part of the video, it told how he was in the first handcart company - The Ellsworth Handcart company. When I heard this I whispered to the AP's that my third - great- grandfather on my mother's side, Henry Walker, was in that same handcart company. And there, in this video, in a few short sentences, It. Told. His. Story!!!

July 26, 1856 my grandfather was struck by lightning as he held on to his handcart. He had stated a few days before, at prayer meeting, "I would rather die with my hands ahold to my cart, with my face toward Zion, than to falter and turn out by the wayside."

I want to be like Henry Walker, having my face toward Zion and holding fast to the Iron Rod!!

My challenge for you all: look at where you are in your lives and re-examine how committed you are to your Savior. Note where your focus is. Even with the day to day grind, we can focus time to study the scriptures, say our prayers, give service to our family members and others, and make sure our face is pointing towards Zion and not to Babylon.

Each of us has a rich heritage of people who have come before us, looking for a better life for them and their families. Find out who your ancestors are and find out their stories. Familysearch.org is the place to start!
I want to be like my third great-grandfather...with my hands doing His work and facing towards Him!


The story of John Rowe Moyle is an inspiring one, and the short life of my Grandfather is a great legacy to my family and I hope our children and family members will retell this story often! Enjoy! XO

Copy and paste this link in the address bar and watch this great video.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-140-only-a-stonecutter?lang=eng

Some of the goings on at the office today. We had a lot of elders here milling around today. Zone leaders were picking up missionary supplies and other elders like to drop in on Thursdays, so it is always a fun day. Today, being the day before Halloween, some were really in the Halloween spirit with masks and spooking. I was away from my desk and one of the elders said that Elder Allred needed to talk to me. I go around the corner to his desk and out from under my desk jumps one of the elders with this mask on, growling. Yup they got a huge scream out of me. They video taped it, but the camera shut off just before I screamed. He tried it with Sister Hansen and used my camera. Scared her too but the camera didn't pick it up.  

A face only a mother could love!

Super Sister Hansen brought Apple juice (no cider in South Africa) and she made....

Donuts!! We were reminiscing about  Halloween as a child and we both had mothers who made spudnuts on Halloween! Such a great memory! Thanks be to my own sweet mother for my life filled with such great memories! I love you Mom and this picture's for you!

Elder Xalabile and his awesome tie! You pronounce his name using a click for the X. Hopefully by the time our mission is over I will be able to use the clicks in the Xhosa words!

This beautiful Jacaranda tree is on the grounds at the Randfontein ward meetinghouse. The Cluster and ward met to watch General Conference on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, we met at 8 am and the sisters watched the General Women's Meeting in the relief society room while the brothers watched General Priesthood in the chapel at the same time. Then we all went into the chapel and viewed the morning and afternoon sessions, with a 10-minute break in between. By the time the last session got underway, there were only around 20 people remaining. We were glad we were able to participate. It is very different waiting to view conference a couple of weeks after, but for tons of members around the world, this is the norm. 

Guess what we found in South Africa? Cinnabon! Surprised us! This one's for the Brackens back in Lindon! 

Dinner was feta burgers and see the squash?

We've noticed these little guys in the markets and finally picked some up. I asked a South African what they were and she looked at me, then looked at my name tag, and lit up and said, "oh, you wouldn't know what they are." She proceeded to tell me how to cook them. Cut in half, scoop out the seeds, and boil in salt water till soft. Eat with salt, pepper and butter. Some South Africans sprinkle a little sugar on top. They are a lot like acorn squash with greenish flesh. We really liked them. For a bag of six, they cost R9.99 or about 90 cents. Not bad! I scooped mine out of the shell and Kent ate it from the shell.

Senior Couples FHE, Elders' Relocation

We senior couples have a monthly family home evening together. It is always a good time to be together. There is always lots of yummy food, good conversation, and just generally, a wonderful time!
This month, being October, we had a Halloween party! Elder and Sister Hansen were in charge and the rest of the office people helped do odds and ends. Look at the great Halloween decorations she created! 

This is the cute litte bat trees that Sister Hansen made. AWESOME!

Bats were everywhere!

After eating, we gathered in a circle and told scary ghost stories

Dinner included homemade chili made by Sister Hansen and Sister Thompson, wonderful homemade bread by Sister Dunn, baked potatoes and toppings from the Clowards. Elder and Sister Davie brought fruit salad (being almost summer, fruit is plentiful and sweet. MTC President and Sister Collins brought quesadillas made on cool cookers used by the MTC elders. We brought the drinks. There are fantastic cooks in the mission field.

President Collins and Sister Davie.
President Dunn and the Clowards are in the back.

Today we, along with the Hansens, helped four of our elders move to a new flat. Their flat had been broken into twice and we wanted them out of there. We drove two bakkies pulling trailers out to the old flat about 50 minutes away from us.

We arrived thinking Sister Hansen and I would need to assist in the clean up of the flat but...This is what we found!!!! These four elders told us they had spent the last week cleaning the whole flat. They showed us photos of the before and after. We are so proud of therm! 

They even mopped their way out of the flat!

The flat contents

All of the missionaries learn to roll up their bedding to make moving and transfer day easier.

Each elder carrying their mattress

And Sister Hansen keeping them all in line

Elder Pulley from CA

The moving crew, L-R,  Allreds, Elder Pederson ZL, Elder Wambua, Elder Pulley, (can't remember this elder's name. I'll update when I get it), Elder Watenga, Sister Hansen, Elder Tukia from Tonga, and Elder Hansen. The zone leaders were awesome coming and helping with the move.  

This mother and her little boy were headed to a picnic and the little boy was so curious about what we were doing. I had to take a photo.

The overflowing trailers! Two of everything for the furniture and four twin beds, along with kitchen, washer, four study desks, bookcase for missionary supplies, and personal items.

The drive to Hartbeespoort

One of the heavy loads

Awesome tire sale!

The elders told us that hijackers pour oil on the road and when your car spins out of control, they attack. So They said you just watch for shiny roads and try to avoid. Mostly happens at night.

The new flat and the happy elders. This flat is only 20 minutes away from their areas. 

As a reward, we all went to a late lunch at an Italian restaurant. 

The food was very good

South Africa has been decorating and marketing Christmas since October 1

Merry Christmas!

NECSA - one of South Africa's nuclear power plants

little shack beside the road

Beautiful South Africa countryside

My favorite South African driver! Kent does awesome driving the bakkie and trailer! It's tricky shifting with the left hand but he had no problem.

Shanty town.

Carrying a load down the middle of the road.

Johannesburg far off in the distance

All in all, it was a perfect day. The forecast had 90% thunder showers for today. We prayed hard last night for the rain to hold off so we could keep the furniture dry. This morning it was sunny and beautiful with the temps in the high 80's. Guess what it is doing right now??!! Thunder and heavy rain! So heavy that out the door of our bedroom it sounds like someone turned on the hose full blast, on top of the roof, and it is pouring buckets. Yup! We again have seen how much Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. Even a simple thing like asking for the  rain to wait, and He granted our request! We are humbled by His tender mercy for a few of His children.

Remember, He loves us, He values us and our simple desires and requests. He hears us as we plead for mercy. Sometimes the answer is no. We did have the tarps, and it would have been messy if the rain had come, but this time He blessed little old us!

Trust in the power of prayer and then have faith that help and answers will be given. As we pray, we have to keep working and doing. "Faith without works is dead".

Sending love, joy, and happiness to you all! Stay strong and carry on doing good, and keep the line of communication open to your Heavenly Father.