Here I am again.... in NOVEMBER! I feel like I just updated this blog but that was a whole month ago. Yes this is supposedly Springtime here but it's more unpredictable than Spring in Utah or Idaho. I do remember snow in May on occasion in both Utah and Idaho and last week there was actually snow in the mountains near Cape Town. The weather here has been glorious. Only in the 70's again and the nights are quite cool but I fear that is on its way out as 90's are predicted for next week. I'm sad to say that the jacaranda trees are about through blooming but there are still blossoms covering the walkways and I will definitely miss this incredible sight next year. Hope some of you saw the pictures I shared on FB.
The work at the temple moves forward. We have another new South African couple who have joined us for 6 months and we are so pleased. They are a lovely couple originally from England and I am enjoying their wonderful accent. Yesterday I was able to help a beautiful young sister preparing for her mission to England. I was so excited for her and know she will love, love the UK. We had a fun farewell brai (bar-b-que) for two young missionaries who have finished their service mission. We held it in the garden here at Duke's Court. They have been on a special assignment because of Elder Nyandoro's blindness and Elder Molema's severe Asperger's. They have done amazing service at the temple because Elder Nyandoro was able to memorize all the ordinances so quickly and even though Elder Molema's condition would not allow him to watch a regular movie because he would get agitated and restless he could sit through the whole 2 hour temple session with calm and peace because of the spirit. We will all miss them.
I mentioned in last month's blog about our Primary Children practicing for the Sacrament Meeting Presentation. Well we had it on the 27th of October and it was absolutely wonderful! The Primary President had asked each of the children to wear a white shirt or white top for the program. Well Sunday morning they arrived in beautiful white lace dresses (for the girls) and the boys in long sleeved white shirts and bow ties. They looked exactly like a choir of angels and when they sang 'I know He Lives" it was incredible...not a dry eye in the chapel! They each did their parts totally memorized and spoke right up! After the program the Bishop got up to say a few words and he was so emotional that he just thanked them and sat down. After the closing prayer I started to play "I Know that My Savior Loves Me" for postlude and as the children left the stand they all started singing again as they walked out....it was such a beautiful day and I know the Savior was pleased.
Excitement in our family last month!. Our grandson, Nathan Erasmus, returned from his mission to Toronto and gives his report tomorrow in Draper. How we will miss being there. We are so proud of our grandchildren. We have had three serve missions already and a 4th is currently serving in Jamaica. Exciting times for the old grandparents!
On our PDay last week we went with another couple out to a bird refuge, Marievale. Not too far from Joburg and yet you feel like you are in another country. Not only did we see amazing birds: widow birds with their long,long tails, avocets, herons, egrets, snipe, ducks, geese, red winged starlings, etc. etc. but we also saw 3 baby jackals! They were so cute jumping and playing with each other. On an earlier trip we had seen an adult jackal and thought that was amazing but to see these cute little guys up close was pretty fun! w
Lest you think we do a lot of playing I must hasten to say we have had a wonderful group of members from
Zimbabwe this week at the temple. They are so humble and so appreciative and happy to be in the temple...it makes everyone feels good. Its amazing how far people in this temple district have to travel and yet they arrive happy and so excited and grateful to be there. Elder Bednar told the Africans to stop wishing they were more like the Saints in the US and that the Saints in the US are the ones who need to be more like the Africans, simple and spiritual!
Well, I didn't mean to write an epistle! Better close for now. I am attaching a few pictures and hope they come through. Thank you for your prayers and your emails..we love hearing from you.
We had the wonderful opportunity of having Sister Bednar and Sister Hallstrom at the temple last week. Elder Bednar and Elder Hallstrom were here reviewing the Africa SouthEast Area and the Area Presidency wives brought the sisters to the temple. Such beautiful, kind women. I had a particularly sweet experience with them. Elder Hallstrom spoke to all the temple missionaries at a Devotional at the temple and Elder Bednar spoke to the area missionaries. We were blessed to also hear Elder and Sister Cook and Sister Hallstrom. It was a beautiful day and I will always remember it. My piano students in the Kagiso /ward are really doing well. I have hopes for one of them to take over as the ward organist when we leave here in just 4 months! Can it really be? There will be three couples leaving in March and the President indicated they will have two new couples coming then so that will be good but they are so short handed I can't imagine how they can manage with any less than what we have now.
We are so very grateful for this wonderful opportunity. We have been blessed in so many ways.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
We will be seeing you in 2016!
Love,
Elder and Sister Jarvis
Mom and Dad
Grandmother and PaPa Joe
Joe and Kathy
