Progress

     It rained hard all day Saturday while we inspected two more apartments.  Both were in much better condition than the flat on Diggery.   Monday we finished the inspections.  The last four flats are in fairly condition. Tom gave them each an "A."  He particularly enjoyed comparing notes with Elder Rakotoarivelo, from Madagascar, who is going home tomorrow.  The climate, food, style of house and culture in Madagascar is very much like that of Western Samoa.  Rakotoarivelo is a fine musician.  He played the guitar and sang for us.  Then Tom  played and sang the "Ballad of Joseph Smith" in Samoan for the elders.  The other three, all from the U.S., were very interested in how he joined the church and ended up living in Utah.  We made a list of the items needed--  light bulbs, a shower curtain, a toaster, 2 can openers and flee power --  we will pick them up and deliver to them later.  Looks like Diggery is the biggest problem.  Evidently with the heavy rain that ceiling leaked badly over the weekend.  Not a big surprise as the zone leaders can hear the termites chomping away at it during the night.  We are making inquiries and hope to find the Zone Leaders better lodgings. Transfers are every seven weeks.  Tom and I have been assigned to inspect these apartments just before transfers to be sure they are in good condition for new occupants.

     Sunday we attend Kwa Nobuhie 1st and 2nd Wards Sacrament Meetings and then met with Bishop Mahaluba.  The two bishops have agreed to co-sponsor at PEF fireside on Sunday, April 29th at 4:00 p.m. Then we will hold "Plan for Success" workshops on the four following Thursdays after school.  There are many young black youths in these two wards and so more are interest in PEF than in the Lorraine/Port Elizabeth wards which included older white families.  Evidently, after Apartheid, many of the white people moved from the more affluent Lorraine area to England, New Zealand and Holland, leaving the stake center devoid of members.  Lorraine Ward has only 150 members now--mostly white--compared to Kwa Nobuhie 1st, an all back ward, which has 698 members.  Our missionaries have been advised that they cannot baptize anyone who does not live within a 45 minute walking distance from the church as most live in the townships, do not have a car and must walk to church.  Tom's been talking to people he meets in shops or on the street.  He has taken referrals from several blacks but so far, only one white person has shown an interest in being contacted by the elders.

     Another plus, Elder Rinchins called from George.   They are setting up a fireside on Sunday, April 22nd at 4;00 p.m. to introduce the junior high and high school age members to PEF.  Kathyrn is co-ordinating the program.  She will have to translate because the youth there can only understand 30% of the English spoken.  Tom bought cables for our Eiki projector today to do his PEF power point presentation.  I'm thinking it might be a good idea to have someone translate some of the slides so he can present in both English and Afrikksn.