HAPPY 2016 EVERYONE!

Dearest Friends and Loved Ones:

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are looking forward to the best 2016 has to offer.  Wow, January  is almost spent and we will be returning to the States on February 16th.  Yes, hard to believe that we have been here 16 months already!  Christmas in South Africa was a little lonely without our family but we did have a beautiful, peaceful few days in the province of Limpopo.  We rented a small cottage in the gorgeous sub-tropical forest of Woodbush and it truly was a paradise. We were getting a little worried because you definitely needed a 4 x 4 to get into the forest. The cottage looked very quaint and charming, sort of in a Thomas Kinkaid motif but wow when you opened the front door it was just spectacular!  Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors in the lounge (living room), dining room, master bedroom, master bath all facing the jungle!  well sub-tropical forest.  Birds of every color  and wonderful Sobongo monkeys in the trees.  There was a wonderful deck with a small pool (endless) and not a soul around!  The large tub was all surrounded by glass and the shower was actually out doors! The owners checked on us once to make sure we had everything we needed but we didn't see them again until the last day.  They observed that our car never left the car port so they assumed we were enjoying the river walks, reading on the deck, soaking in the tubs and all in all just relaxing.....which we were. I asked the owner about the beautiful stain glass windows in the kitchen and front door and she invited us to her glass studio.  Beautiful!  Dragon flies in exquisite shades of blue, green and purple, jewelry, plates, frames and oh so much more.  It truly was beautiful and on top of all that the herb cottage sets in the middle of an avocado orchard....yes fresh, ripe avocados every day!Of course time was all too short and we had to be on our way but it certainly was a Christmas never to be forgotten.

 The temple opened on the 29th of Dec. and then we closed again on Dec. 31st and Jan. 1.  Now we should be open until the closure in February when the major cleaning and refurbishing work is done.  Of course we will be leaving on Feb. 15 and the other couples are leaving for Safari then so this is the last few days and weeks for many of us.

It has been an exciting time to be in the temple.  The workers have been able to contribute many of their own family names, supporting the temple work here. As you are aware we are now able to not only research and clear names for temple work on our PC but we can now print out the family cards too!

In early January we went to the Dinakeng game reserve.  It was quite the place where we were able to see tons of birds, giraffes, ostriches, kudu, wildebeest, springbok, and so many others.  We really enjoyed our day but since this was quite a new reserve we sort of got lost and couldn't find an exit.  Finally we saw a car coming in and went through while the gate was open on his side!  Another adventure!

South Africa has finally been blessed with some much needed RAIN! It has been wonderful to hear the thunder and see the lightning in the late afternoons.  Normally we are all in the temple and miss out on these amazing thunder and lightning storms but I have been ill for a few days and have actually enjoyed being at home and watching from my Flat windows! Heavenly Father has heard the prayers of these humble people and sent the beautiful rejuvinating rains to this country.  Feel so blessed!

The trees in South Africa are so beautiful.  Have I ever mentioned that this City supposedly has more tress that any other city in the world! Well that is what we are told.  And most of the trees  have gorgeous flowers!  It's amazing with the droughts how these trees continue to bloom and grow and make everything around them beautiful!

I noticed the other day in the temple some of the given names of our African brothers and sisters are so thought provoking.  Here are a few that I have picked up in the temple.  Many have an African name like, "Thembole" followed by a Christian name like " Incredible".  Here are a few I have heard:  "Relieved", "Poison", "Temptation", "Blessed", "Future", "Precious", "Priceless", "God Knows".  I don't think I will ever hear some of these words again without thinking of the beautiful black, smiling face that goes with it.

Well dear friends and family it has been quite the journey here.  It is with bittersweet feelings that we look towards home and all of you who are so very dear to us.  We can't wait to see you and hug and visit and laugh together again but we will never forget these beautiful people we have come to love and who have changed our lives forever!

God be with you 'till we meet again!

Love,
Elder and Sister Jarvis
jkjarvis@gmail.com
6306 No. 5600 East
Preston, Idaho 83263

435-327-0415