4th of July...A Braai...BBQ!

We celebrated our 2nd Fourth of July in South Africa today. We had to get out our Americana quilt and make some traditional American food...like chocolate cake with strawberries....and then invite over some really great people for a BBQ, I mean South African Braai!!

Chocolate cake and strawberries are always a hit...especially with President Dunn

Here is my co-host, getting the Braai food already to grill.

Gathering with our guests on the front porch of the house is so nice in this weather. Pretty nice when it is the heart of the winter here. When we first arrived a year ago, our first task was to get to know each of the 7 Stake Presidents and their wives. In the year we have been here, we have deepened each one of these friendships. We know know their families and have been with them many times in the past year. It has made such a difference in our work in the mission, plus made us feel so at home with such genuine friends.

President Holmes and Mandy-Benoni Stake
President Krause and Amy-Roodepoort Stake, President Eppel and Pam-Johannesburg Temple, President DeKock and Charnell- Johannesburg Stake

We are missing today a few of the group of Stake Presidents and wives. We are extending another invite to them and will gather soon with the other 3. (President and Sister Clive and Debbie Martin~Centurion Stake, President and Sister Thabo and Andronica Lebethoa,~Soweto Stake,and President and Sister Visimuzi and Lydia Msiza~ Bedfordview Stake.

As of last week, the Pretoria Stake with President and Sister Shawn Boshoff and the Mabopane Stake Presidency are part of a new Coordinating Council with the Botswana/Namibia area. We invited them all, but unable to attend this time.

President Dunn here with Elder Olson and Worton and also Liz and Chuck Walton. Our newest missionaries to the South Africa area. Just three weeks ago, Chuck and Liz Walton arrived to replace Ben and Jill Jones in the role of Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency. We were also excited to learn they were from Los Gatos, California and that we have mutual friends, Brent and Kathryn Knudsen.  We met them Friday and invited them to join with us for our 4th of July gathering. We were so glad they could come on such short notice.

Charnell DeKock and Pam Eppel getting time to visit

President Eppel with the Krause's

Mandy Holmes giving me updates about their family and about Glenn's brother Leon and his wife who just recently returned as mission president's in Ghana. We will get a chance to meet them soon.

Glenn Holmes~ The Holmes were the first couple we met almost exactly a year ago. We love them and their awesome family.

President Holmes and President Dunn making sure the meat on the Braai is cooked to perfection.

We have rump and bacon kabobs and of course Boerewors, a very South African staple anytime you Braai.

All the guests contributed to the meal. Here we have the pleasure of getting Elder Stan and Kathryn Ellis with us from the Area Presidency.

Our Assistant, Elder Worton visiting with President Krause. We were happy that they could accept our invite for dinner and share a little time with the Stake Presidents. We try to have missionaries with us at every gathering. It makes it better in every way!

We love our association with Andy and Charnell DeKock. We also have mutual friends in Bob and Kath Nilsen, who were also recent Mission Presidents in Ohio, close to where their daughter Sister DeKock is currently serving her mission. Both of the DeKock's children on mission will return before Christmas this year. We are excited to meet them and help welcome them home to South Africa.

The Krause's and the Eppel's

Kathryn (K.K.) and Stan Ellis with Elder Olson and Liz Walton

Mandy, Glenn Holmes with Andy DeKock

The DeKock's and the Holmes shared a few more minutes with us in the kitchen. They have all graced our mission home on this holiday day and left wonderful memories for us. Charnell brought us the beautiful Protea flowers she is holding and Mandy also brought the most beautiful flowers for us to enjoy. I love this symbol of South Africa so much. But, I mostly love the symbol of friends. Without a doubt in the first year we have been here, we have fallen in love with the people. We are honored to be able to serve with these fine, fine servants of the Lord and also all the other Stake Presidents. 
I captioned each picture this time, because someday I will be glad that got all the names for the mission history!