South Africa-The Harms Way

June 30, 2009
Hello All! We have a few minutes break while Elder Jackson is orienting the Pucketts on the particulars of their Kenya assignment. We are (again) using the Heap's computer (Kris Heap's parents) because we have no hook-up at our flat. Last night when we returned to Duke's Court (our flat) the power was out. This occurred after we had been briefed on security and safety so we were doubly concerned as we began walking up dark flights of stairs to our flat on the fifth floor. There was one man with us and he seemed nice so we took some comfort in being with him. Luckily, we had each packed a flashlight. We crawled into bed because it was the only way to stay (or get) warm. Remember, it's winter here, and it is cold to us Arizonans. We think it froze last night.
Stephen is doing a good job driving. We don't even have anyone in the car with us anymore. We can find our way from Duke's Court to the Mission Home all by ourselves! We have been briefed on security, Perpetual Education Fund (This is an amazing program that helps people literally go from rags to riches.), legal implications for the church in SA, more computer training, and LOTS of training on just what we are supposed to be doing.
The most exciting news we have is just exactly where we will be serving! If you look on a map of Africa and find Cape Town (one stake) at the bottom - that is where we will be based. The areas we will be working in are Namibia, mostly Windhoek (two branches), which is North of Cape Town. Then, we will be traveling up the coast of SA to the East and working in the towns of Port Elizabeth (one stake), East London (one stake), and Durban (two stakes). We have also been assigned the country of Mozambique! We will be flying to Mozambique and Namibia when it's time to visit those places. We are scheduled to fly to Namibia on July 9th (Happy Birthday Lorin) to some kind of Parliamentary gathering. We still have a lot to learn. Today we got two water filter bottles from Dr. Heap because we have been instructed that we are absolutely not supposed to drink the water in Mozambique!
We are learning that we will be traveling a lot! One project we need to check on is the Pan-African Helping Hands Day which is August 22nd. Hopefully, all the stakes have already identified projects and have arranged for advertising and media, but that is something we will need to check up on and offer our help. We are supposed to see if local radio stations will join with us in giving wheelchairs away on a regular basis. This not only helps people but will give the church recognition.
The Forsgrens (Kathryn Cook's parents) are based here in the Johannesburg Area Office. They have been helping us learn to drive, buying food for our flat, cluing us in, and feeding us a nice Sunday dinner. We take our lunch, but have been out to eat every night we have been here - except Sunday. On Saturday we went to a couple of parks and saw lions, rhinos, warthogs, zebras, and other African animals. We have some good pictures we will send when we get a chance.
Thursday and Friday (July 2nd and 3rd) Public Affairs is hosting a training seminar for the country Public Affairs Directors (church callings). At that time we will be meeting the directors from Namibia and Mozambique. The church will be flying them in and putting them in a motel for that time. On Friday we will all go to the Temple. Incidentally, the temple is right next to the Area Mission Home where we are being trained.
Saturday afternoon (July 4th), we will fly down to Cape Town. The flat originally intended for us is not available now so the Cape Town Mission Office has located another for us that is currently being remodeled. It is unfurnished so we will be staying in a Bed and Breakfast that will be arranged by the mission home. When our flat is ready we will have to furnish it ourselves. Elder Jackson said to be sure and buy a GOOD BED! We didn't argue.
Well better go back to work now. We are healthy and happy. We are missing all of you and are anxious to finally land someplace where we can do justice to this blog, and in corresponding with you on a regular basis.
Love,
Elder and Sister Harms