Our Savior, the Good Shepherd, goes in search of His lost sheep until He finds them. He is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9).
Let us follow His example and respond to the gentle impression, no matter how insignificant our efforts may seem to us. Let us ask our Father in Heaven what we might do, and for whom, and do it.
Our first ward visit to the Mayville Ward, May 5, 2024
Several patrons at the temple have asked us to please come visit their wards. They have expressed a void that they feel because they don’t have missionary couples in their ward. The Lord confirmed to us this was His will as He planned our first outing!!
Here’s how it happened : We only have one vehicle and it is also shared with the temple staff during the week. We in all ride together to church on Sundays in the van.
A visitor from the Salt Lake Temple Department had been out in Durban, meeting with President Baldwin and spending time in the temple with us. He was heading home and had to be at the airport early Sunday morning. To make the one vehicle work, we had to get dropped off at the church at 8:30am instead of our usual 10:30 for Sacrament meeting. Mayville Ward meets in our same building at 9:00am.
There’s no doubt it’s the will of Heavenly Father when He puts it on the calendar and delivers you where you need to be! We were amazed at all the familiar faces we saw. We enjoyed the powerful Spirit of the Mayville Ward. One visit done and only 20+ more to go! We’ll do our best and trust the Lord to guide us. The Gospel is true and beautiful wherever you attend!!
Phoenix Ward
Stake President Natasan and his two sisters are part of the Phoenix ward. They have been using a school auditorium for their meeting house for quite a while. The church has now purchased a property to remodel for their new chapel.
Cute Sister Rita Ndluvu works at the temple with us! We absolutely adore her! She is always styled so darling and exudes love and kindness.
Sister Patricia (in pink) and her 3 daughters are so beautiful! Sister Patricia is cross-trained in all the responsibilities of the temple and is a very integral person in the efficiencies that keep everything running smoothly in the Lord’s house. Big hugs and love each day we see her at the temple.
President Natasan, his wife Jolene and daughter Amy have invited us all several times for homemade Indian food, a family effort. Amy is in 10th grade and studying to write her finals this week. She is not sure if she is happy about the good education she is receiving—a typical teenager. Sister Jolene is an Afrikaans teacher at the high school. The children in South Africa all learn English and one other language.
Everyone uses these pot warmers, known as Wonder Bags, to keep their cooking warm and on-the-go! It’s amazing— the curry, soup, whatever — can sit all through the drive to church, all through the double block and still be hot when it’s time to eat!! I love creating amazing fruit platters with all the delicious fruit that is available here — papayas (popos) are amazing, the smallest and sweetest Queen pineapples, dates, pomegranates— all the best!💗
The Church has to have a guard watching the property 24/7 as the building has been stripped clean by vandals. It is hoped they will have the property refurbished and ready for the Saints within the next year.
A sister selling pine nuts along the way
Twice a year the merchants from India come to Durban with their many thousand dresses of various styles and beautiful colors. And the prices — Be still, my heart!! Nowhere have I seen such beautiful dresses at such amazing prices — R150 -250 which converts to USD$8-13 for some of the prettiest, most practical, stylish dresses I’ve seen. The Natasans took us to the event and taught us how to bargain properly, although its very difficult for me to haggle over a dollar or two when I have decided a dress is “the one”! We treated them to dinner at our favorite Swadisht Indian restaurant to return their kind hospitality. I ordered everything that looked good on the menu and we all shared family style. At home, Sandra Martinez, my neighbor, and I always go for Indian food together so I was so happy that she and Tony flew half way around the world to be here and meet Ravi and Jolene and share our amazing Indian meal.
I took Jenny Matthews back a week later after her son’s rugby fame and we had the best time helping each other find the prettiest dresses. So fun!
Hillcrest Ward
Brother Gavin VanZyl is a sealer at the Durban temple and a member of the Hillcrest Ward. He also is a retired horse jockey of 30 years and an amazing story teller! He now is training horses and his current passion is his winning race horse Flagman, the offspring of winning mare “Flying the Flag.”
One of my favorite South African expressions!! Anytime there is a struggle of any kind, the question is : Are we winning? 😂 The guys managed to fit into one of the jockey caps and select a matching jockey“silk”(jersey).
Sister Shannon VanZyl, Gavin’s wife, is a retired professional ballerina with the Joburg Ballet Company and is somewhat afraid of horses.
They invited us to lunch after attending the Hillcrest Ward and gave us a VIP tour of their horses.
The following Wednesday, May 29th, was Election Day. Since everyone would be lined up at the polls to vote and the possibility for disorder, riots, unrest in the election process, Mission President DeKock gathered all the missionaries together for a Braai, sports and skits.
Doug was the grill master along with President DeKock. They cooked 200 hamburger patties and every one of them got eaten. Some of the elders came back for fourths!
Elder Hutton made one pan of his Mom’s divine Malva Pudding recipe. Brother Nelson and I were honored to share a piece—lucky us!
The Philippine Connection
President DeCock was a serious rugby player in college and can be seen out on the field with boys. Apparently this has been the #1 cause of injuries in the past so now they play flag rugby.
Brother Basil Smith, also a member of the Hillcrest Ward and one of the sealers at the temple, and his wife Annmaree, invited us to their home for dinner. Basil is an amazing cook. He prepared two different types of curry for us. My favorite was a beautiful Moroccan curry we had not experienced before—deeper, darker, sweeter spices, so lovely! Brother Basil is a surfer, artist, night watchman for his community and his wife is the Stake Relief Society President.
Much to the guys’ delight, Basil has an amazing sound system and over 4,000 vinyls which he pulled out for a private concert of Beach Boys, Moody Blues, and many other special request favorites!
Braai at the Matthews
Wow, wow, wow!! A South African barbeque is called a braai and this was the epitome!!
Claire Clark made an amazing custard dessert for us. I need, need, need your recipe, Claire!
Larry and Jenny Matthews
