SAJM SUMMIT

On Wednesday November 11th, 2015, we gathered all the missionaries of the SAJM together for a first ever "Summit"- held in the Walter Sisulu Botannical Garden.  The purpose of the Summit: to move our mission to unimagined heights, while inspiring and uplifting our Elders to push their limits and aspire higher!

We want to thank all of the senior couples, mission presidency and missionaries for making this day possible. Also, a big thanks to the garden staff for making Strelitzia Hall venue available to us for a nominal charge. In addition, our dear friends, Lynne and Theo van der Hover made the day possible by arranging for our very special lunch time speaker, Lee den Hond! 

Walter Sisulu Botannical Garden

This special place was made possible for public use by the Krugersdorp and Roodepoort City Councils in 1992. It is part of 9 Botannical Gardens across South Africa.

It was named after  the late Walter Sisulu, who along with OR Tambo and Nelson Mandela  are known as the stalwarts who led the struggle for a democratic South Africa. We celebrate being here today and we hope all the missionaries enjoyed the time spent in this beautiful space, getting filled with inspiration and motivation.

Elder Olson conducted the day and announced the Agenda. We had a great line-up!

Wednesday November 11, 2015

SAJM Summit

8:30 -8:45      Arrive/Welcome Game 

9:00                Welcome

                    

9:10                Theme and purpose of the day

                        President Dunn

9:20                President Klintworth-

                        Workshop:

10:00              Musical Number

Thanks to Elder Quigley, McCartney and Carter for organizing this amazing musical number called "Rise Up" It is an original song that Elder Quigley wrote and composed. We wanted to take a moment right here to make an announcement of another upcoming event.

Remember last year at Christmas time there was a postal strike and thanks to members and senior couples all the missionaries received a special wrapped gift. It was a special circumstance and we  told that this next year would be different.

Now, we have a chance instead to give something back. After polling many missionaries and discussing with our mission leadership council, we are announcing a talent show to be held on Christmas morning, December 25^th. SAJM’s got Talent!

We invite everyone to participate through their zone in one way or another. We will have categories for music, poetry, dance, art, photography and what ever else Elders can imagine.

To add to the intrigue, we will have 4 special guest judges for the first ever "SAJM’s Got Talent." More to be announced at a later date.

Again, thanks to Elder Quigley, McCartney and Carter for giving us a fun sample of what is to come.

10:10              President Msane

                        Workshop:

Pictures below are of all the missionaries throughout the day.  Sorry I can not begin to caption all the pictures because there are just too many candids taken today!

10:55              Zone Meeting- snacks

                        Team Building         

Zone Meetings: 

Before lunch, all the zones leaders took their zones to a separate place on the grounds and conducted their individual zone meetings. They each got to decide what would work best for their zones. Some did activities, while others had meetings and discussions.

President Msane was the first person to arrive and one of the last to leave. He was out watching the zone activities in this picture. We love having such great men and their wives serving in the mission presidency. 

11:50              Box Lunches Distributed

Lunch Preparations: 

We had a great group of Senior Couples and Mission Presidency helping us to pull off all of the details. The Lombardys, the Larsen's and the Allred's were there to get lunch organized, as well as the Klintworths and the Msane's and Lynne Dallender.

Liz Vizzini with her catering business helped us plan and prepare 150 lunches for our Elders with homemade sandwiches, cookies, apples, chips, pasta salad and even popcorn!

Klintworth's in the garden!

2:15              Special Lunch Guest- Lee den Hond                   

Our lunch time speaker was Lee den Hond, the 3rd South African woman to successfully summit Mount Everest. She is one of 4000 people to ever summit and 1 of only 500 women. Her speech was so motivational. We were so honored to get her with us. 
She shared that all challenges are possible if you have a higher purpose.


She provided the speech pro bono and thanks to our friends and members of the Centurion Stake, Lynne and Theo Van der Hover for making all the arrangements. Lee is also the owner and founder of her own company, Platinum Blue, an event management company that puts on large scale events. She also did her climb in honor of a non profit children's center near Harbeesport Dam, raising funds for this project when she returns back home.  As a way to thank her we gave her a crate full of new toys for her December drive for the kids and the center. 


1:30                Change clothes for hike/Hike in 2 groups

Hike for all!

After the speakers and lunch, we had everyone change into hiking clothes. We split into 2 groups and met in the middle of the loop hike. We really had a fun bonding adventure, where everyone participated. Below are lots of candids we took along the trail.  Enjoy!

Hiking shoes? Really??

The Roodepoort Zone under the direction of Elder Adjei and Elder Hentunen had these great T-shirts made just in time to wear to the Summit. So impressive!

It is so fun to have one sister missionary with us today:)
Our daughter Emi Dunn Rigby adds so much to any occasion.

3:30

Wrap up remarks: President Dunn

4:00 Depart

This was a phenomenal day to have all our missionaries together and getting motivated and inspired. We will have articles in our next Cumorah Crest sharing some highlights from the day. Every single session and activity had substance and application to the mission. What a memorable opportunity for all of us.