Greetings from beautiful South Africa! We hope this finds you all well and happy and enjoying this glorious season of the year! Christmas is very different here in Johannesburg with temperatures in the 90's and everyone talking about going to the beach while our family at home shivers in the 20's and 30's with snow all around. But one thing is the same!; Our testimony and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ is definitely something we share with these dear, dear people. It has been 15 months since we arrived in this beautiful land and began our service in the Temple. How we have grown in our love for each other, our fellow missionaries our temple presidency and these humble African Saints! We have learned so much from our temple service, our callings in the ward and the wonderful experiences we have shared in this land.
Our greatest blessing is our wonderful family and we were so blessed to welcome home two of our missionaries this year. Joseph (Jennifer and Jeff's eldest son) from the Alpine German Speaking mission in May and Nathan (Mary Kathryn and Leon's son) from the Canada Toronto Mission in October. We of course were not able to be at the Salt Lake City airport to welcome them in person but we were able to share the "joy" with our sweet family on FaceTime and phone calls. We continue to hear wonderful things from Elder Jarvis (Zachary), Jamon and Laura's son serving in Jamaica! He will return to us in August of 2016. Speaking of returning home, Elder Jarvis and I will be heading home in mid-February. Yes we will be released February 15th! Wow this has been the fastest year and half ever. We probably won't miss the "power shedding" or being without water on many occasions or the very warm temperatures but that said this has been a wonderful experience and it is definitely with mixed emotions that we leave this beautiful people and amazing Africa! Christmas in Africa is very different from all the bright lights and festivities at home but we are reminded "maybe Christmas indeed doesn't come from the store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more". we have been blessed to spend many joyful and happy times with our fellow temple workers and Presidency. We were invited to the Area Presidency's Christmas Family Home Evening earlier this month. Elder Carl Cook, Elder Ellis and Elder Hamilton, of the 70's, and their wives opened up their beautiful homes to us for a very special FHE. The messages were inspiring and helped us all to feel the miracle of our Savior's birth and his great love for each of us. We also shared a wonderful progressive dinner with our Temple Presidency and the Temple couples and workers. It was a tender evening for us as we anticipate leaving these special people that we have shared so much with the past 15 months The beautiful talks given in our Kagiso Ward by the humble members who have shared their feelings and love for the Savior have warmed our hearts and souls. We continue to welcome to the temple our brothers and sisters from all over Africa; Mozambique, Congo, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Reunion Island, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Madagascar and so many other places. They have changed our lives forever and we will never be the same. Their love and sacrifice for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is amazing and humbling. They have taught us so much.
It was announced last week that the groundbreaking for the new temple in DC Congo will take place in February. I can't begin to explain what that will mean to the people of that land. President Cook announced last week that another Stake has just been formed in the Congo. The work moves on! And not so slowly any more!
We are so blessed to have been here at this time. We thank the Lord for his goodness to us and to our loved ones. We bear our testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We love our Savior. He is our Redeemer, Lord and King. May you each feel His great Peace and Love during this beautiful time and throughout the days to come. We send you our love and best wishes for a very Happy Christmas and wonderful New Year!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
GESEENDE KERSFEES - Afrikaans
Joyeau Noel - French
Tratrin'ny Krismasy- Malagasy
Makorokoto christmas- Shona
Halala Christmas - Zulu
Iba Nokisimusi Omuhle - mixture of several African languages!
Love,
Elder and Sister Jarvis
Grandmother and PaPa Joe
Mom and Dad
Joe and Kathy
Photos include:
Elder and Sister Jarvis standing in the entrance to the beautiful Johannesburg Temple.
One of my beautiful piano students from the Kagiso Ward...Nora
Our fun "Shrimp Boil" with all the Senior Temple Couples.
A magnificent Kudu Bull taken on one of our many trips into the Bush to see some of Heavenly Father's amazing creations!
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