District Conference in Tzaneen

"You can go fast, if you go alone. You can go far, if you go together."
~African Proverb

The leadership and saints in this area are working hard together to make a lasting impact in the Limpopo province. It takes time, but it is bringing everyone along.

Sunday February 1, 2015
Meet the New Branch Presidency in Lenyene. President Kacana with his Counselors.

The branch presidency change was precipitated by the call of the former Branch President to the District Presidency. Brother Molele on the left, transitioned to this new leadership role, preparing for the District Conference on Sunday February 8.

On Saturday and Sunday February 7-8, we participated in the Tzaneen District Conference.
Missionaries started to gather before the Conference. It was thrilling to see everyone start to gather.  The District Presidency took a chance and rented a large building for the Conference. If you build it...will they come? Yes...they did!

The program went from 10 am-12 pm. It was uplifting and worthwhile. The new District Presidency, with President Manzini leading,  did a great job organizing this conference.

A A men's choir performed on Saturday, "Elders of Israel."  We loved the chance to gather with members, newly called Leadership and of course, our Elders and Senior Couples. This was a historic event in Tzaneen.

Zoning In...North East Style!

President Dunn and I traveled North to spend time with our Elders serving in Polokwane, Mokopane, Tzaneen, Lenyene, Modjadje and Motupa. We were on our way to a District Conference and able to go a day early and "Zone In" with our NorthEast Elders! Our two zone leaders, Elder Olson and Johnson met us with the Elders in Polokwane on our first stop.

Elder Delahoy started off our day as the District Leader, conducting the Friday District Meeting. It is great to sit in on these meetings and hear all the announcements, companionship stats and a run down on their investigators. Elder Delahoy then gave a great lesson on guiding investigators and having the right spirit with you.

Packages from home and supplies from the office were received. This makes Elders happy!! After the Meeting, President Dunn went in the branch president's office :) and interviewed a couple for a temple recommend. It is always thrilling to see the quality of people that are joining the church and now becoming temple ready. This was a highlight to meet this darling family.

Sister Winward always has love to share and something to show. She has worked so hard on the Family History Library and made such a difference in people's lives by helping them do their genealogy.As we drove away I couldn't help but notice the three signs on the building. English, Afrikaans and Security! These go together in South Africa!!

Later we headed to Tzaneen and met up with the 8 Elders there and went contacting in the Central Business Distirct (CBD) of Tzaneen. It is always a way to make contact with people and find together

  Back Row- Elder Kalani, Stephens, Dzowa, Novotny,  Laminie                                                  Front Row: Elder Koyle, Bryner and Smith-Holley                                                                                           

It was Friday afternoon and everyone was headed home form work. It was also a hot afternoon in Tzaneen. But, we kept at it and made some contacts. It wasn't easy and so it made it rewarding that we all stuck with it and did our best. We did get some positive contacts out if it, but it shows why member referrals are so much more productive.

We enjoyed some pizza together and had a chance to spend some time with the Tzaneen Elders before we went to their District Meeting. Elder Novotny is the district leader and did a great job, with the help of his companion, Elder Laminie, in giving a lesson on humility. We started with companionship reports. Below are Elder Stephens and Dzowa, then Elder Koyle and Smith-Holley and finally Elder Novotny and Lamini. Not pictured: Elder Bryner and Elder Kalani.

The day was so enjoyable with our NE Elders. WE were able to be with each and every one of them and spend time with them, doing what they do.  We loved it and we love them!

Delightful surprises!

There are always missionary moments that stand out. Here are a few special events that will not be forgotten!

Having Elder Matos come in for a temple recommend and then pull a surprise gift out of a bag...was a moment not to be forgotten. His family from Venezuela had a special jersey personally embroidered for President Dunn....... and in case you didn't know, he loves jerseys and baseball!

Another delightful surprise was hearing that Elder Quigley was on his way back to the SAJM! We couldn't be more thrilled to get him back!! This is a dynamic missionary that we need and are so happy to have him on the roster once again. We loved picking him up at OR tambo on Tuesday February 3rd and having him spend the night at the mission home.

This young man, Ayanda Mdlambuza was set apart in Potchefstroom for his mission to England London South. His beautiful mother is so excited to have her son be prepared and called to serve!

This is a picture of the senior and junior missionaries serving in the Potchefstroom, Jouberton and Klerksdorp areas of the mission. Elder and Sister Dummer, President Dunn, Elder Olydroyd, Elder Taylor, Elder Rami, Elder Mcallister, Sister and Elder Pier, Elder Liera and Elder Di Ruscio.

They are all excited and supportive of Elder Mdlambuzi's call. 

Below, is another delightful surprise!
Sister Kgwetiane came to be set apart as she heads out on her way to the Zambia Lusaka Mission.  She is from our District in the Polokwane Branch and she will be such a fireball as a missionary. She is going to our friends, President and Sister Erickson and she will add so much to their efforts there. We are so excited to have the chance to connect with great missionaries before they go...and luckily we will be here when she returns in 18 months!

Because we don't have sisters in our mission, it is always so nice to be able to interact with them.  Sister Silenta from Limpopo (below) was at the District Conference in Tzaneen a few weeks ago. We were so excted for her mission call to Jamaica.  We took pictures with her and sister Butler as we celerated her call and her departure in the coming week.  What we didn't know was that she would have some visa ssdues when she tried to fly out to the Dominican Republic and we would get a panicked call to rescue her from the airport, unitl they could sort out her ticket and visa issues.  We picked her up and then had three glorious days with her in the mission home and the office with us.  It was so wonderful to work side by side and to have her in the mission home. She brought a great spirit and I loved  getting to know her and to love her. We are now sisters of the heart and I will write to her and look so forward to welcoming her home when she returns from her mission in 18 months.

The Zone with Tone

 On Wednesday February 4th, we spent time with the missionaries in the Johannesburg Zone. Elders Cazier and Leman helped plan out a great morning for us. We set out to visit Elder Lea'aetoa and Elder Nonumwar,  in their study hour and spent an hour with them in their flat in North Riding. 

Elder Lea'aetoa has been training Elder Nonumwar for the past 10 weeks.  Their training period ends in just 2 weeks. They are a good companionship and it was meaningful to study with them.

Look how clean their apartment is and even their patio and their bikes!

We made them some sweet rolls and were very impressed with these good missionaries.

We then drove over to Weltervreden Park and visited Elder Barton and Elder Nelson. They are in training mode, with Elder Nelson fresh from Australia only 5 weeks ago.

We had a great hour of companionship study and training topics. We read from Preach My Gospel and discussed all the ways to find investigators.

We then followed them to Abbeycare, a senior facility where the Elders in the Johannesburg Zone gather each week and sing to the residents.  This is  a "zone with tone". They sang beautifully as an  a'capella choir.  The seniors in the home obviously love this activity each week and it is nice for our Elders to give service. Hopefully they think about even more ways to give back and this opportunity can open doors to other service projects.

President Dunn, Elder Cazier, Peterson, Brown, Nelson, Barton, Leman,  Lea'aetoa and Nonumwar

We were even offered to join together for lunch after wards.

This was a great way to get a feel for the Joburg Zone.

We spent time with all of them, with the exception of 1 district that had a car repair today and unable to join us for the singing.

Stay tuned for the next Zoning In~ this coming Friday Feb. 6 in the NorthEast! 
(Polokwane and Tzaneen)