Stingray

      Today Sister S. rescued a beached baby stingray stranded upon the sand at the mouth of the Gonubie river where it flows into the sea.  Each morning we get our daily exercise by walking along the beach then up the river at low tide.  When the tide is out there’s a wide expanse of sand for about 200 yards upstream.  The river mouth is a blend of sea, river and sand.  At low tide, with the recession of the sea, there are small shallow pools of water scattered across the sand.  It was between two pools that she discovered the stranded stingray.  The helpless creature was trying to reach water but just couldn’t make it.  We looked at it for a few minutes, its nostrils flaring as it breathed, eyes opening and closing with tail flipping as it tried to move.  It was apparent unless it got into water it could perish.

      Sister S. said, “Why don’t you grab its tail and carry it into the water?”  Remembering Steve, the Australian animal dare devil who died from a sting ray wound inflicted by its tail into his heart, I was hesitant.  Sister S. ever the brave soul, daring, uninhibited, and missionary rescue minded, took off her sweater and wrapping it around her hand, grabbed the stingray’s tail,  carried it to a pool of water and like a discus thrower, chucked it in.  Now she can say,” I’ve done one good deed for the day.”

     We talked to an I.T. instructor on the beach who said that South Africa has a huge problem with infastructure.  Not a big surprise as I was able to pick up KSL's broadcast of the BYU-Utah football game over the internet but could not get the BYU-Utah State game here in Gonubie.

      This afternoon we are heading out to Umtata, one of the western frontier outposts.  We are going with Brother Gary human.  It’s a 3 & 1/2 hour drive.  It should be an interesting place to visit.

Elder S.

   

      

Are You A Nun?

We enjoy walking along the beach each morning in Goubie, East London.  A long board walk fronting the Indian Ocean  takes us to the Boating Club and then we walk beyond, along a wide river which flows into the lagoon.  If we continue on up river, we feel as if we are walking along into the jungle.  We usually walk  the Board Walk.  However, if we go in the opposite direction we will arrive at the place where two tides meet and an undertow throws up high waves.  This is the beginning of Shell Beach where we spent a morning last week collecting sea shells.  We went to breakfast at “Heavenly Pancake,” a beech front café were the “sweet pancakes” are more like our American crepes.

As we finished eating, a woman at the next table asked if we had enjoyed our breakfast?  Then she engaged us in conversation.  Noticing my badge she asked, “Are you a Nun?”

“No, I said.  I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  In our church “Sister” is a title given to a female  missionary.  Male missionaries are called “Elders.”  We are missionaries--volunteers here in South Africa.  We are here to promote higher education for our youth.    The woman said she is a member of the Anglican Church and that she and her daughter had just been  discussing religion.  They had decided that all Christian churches are pretty much the same.

I disagreed.  I said that while all church believe in giving service and doing good, only our church has the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ.  That the Catholic church lost it’s  authority during the dark ages.  And since all the protestant churches are dissenters from the Catholic church, none of them can claim the divine authority needed to act in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Our church was restored by a prophet in 1830, and has the same authority as the church Christ established on the earth.  She was interested.  So I opened my purse and gave her a “pass along” card. I told her to call the number on the back to get a free DVD and some more information.

Understanding finally dawned.  Her face lit up, “Why you are the Mormons!” she said as she gave her daughter a high five. “But are you Mormons really Christians?”

I pointed to the picture of Christ emerging from the tomb on the front of the card and then to my missionary badge.  “Of course we are,” I said.   Mitt Romney, one of our members, is a candidate for President of the United States.  Our church believes in service and it’s love and service that can make a difference in the world.”


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Inlinge Branch

     Yesterday we went to Inlinge with brother Gary Human to present a PEF Fireside to members of the Inlinge branch. After a three hour drive into the rural inner-country, passing miles of rolling hills and barren landscape, we turned onto a dirt road and traveling fifteen minutes arrived at our destination.

      I would describe Inlinge as an outpost on the western frontier. Having seen western movies you get the picture, except there is no hitching post, store, saloon or barn, just an isolated bowl embedded between surrounding hills. Upon the hillsides north, south, east and west are scattered houses comprising four villages. A few dwellings exist in the central flat land.

      We pulled up to a fenced property with a padlocked gate in which were located five portables, the kind you see behind a school that has insufficient classrooms. “Where’s the chapel?” Sister S. asked.. “This is it.” replied Brother Human. “We’ll wait here until the institute teacher arrives with the key.” I looked to the right of the property and observed seven men constructing a road with spade, pick and sledge hammer. A truckload of rocks and large boulders had been dumped nearby and the men were hand carrying them to the road and spreading them out. The sledgehammer was used to break the larger rocks into smaller pieces, the pick to form craters to implant the boulders, and the spade to even out the dirt and rocks. A very tedious way to construct a road but perhaps typical for isolated villages off the beaten path.

      The institute teacher arrived and after greeting and handshakes, she unlocked the gate and we drove in. The chapel in one of the portables was quite nice. Brother Human commented the branch membership was large enough to warrant ward status. We were expecting around 25 people to show up so I set up my power point presentation. When no one had shown by 3:30 p.m., the appointed hour to begin, I wandered outside exploring the compound.

      We commenced the presentation with two in the audience. By the time we finished there were twenty-four. Time is not of the essence in Africa and as long as you show up before “The End” flashes on the movie screen, you’re ok. It was good to see an audience interested in education and employment, and to answer their questions. We enjoyed our time with them.

      A drawback facing the people of Inlinge is the lack of post high school, educational institutions. Another, there are no sources of employment. It’s sort of a dead end unless the young adults leave and seek greener pastures elsewhere. Ilinge survives on government dole. And so the people tend their goats and sheep, cultivate a garden, and live the only life they know.

      Just as the wind blows across the prairie and spreads dust through a western frontier town, so did a breeze fan the dust bowl of Ilinge as we bade farewell to the branch members and headed down the dirt road. At least there is hope for a few through the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church.  Just how many will take advantage in Ilinge, remains to be seen.    Elder Stokoe

Zone Conference

Missionary Moments

 Silverdale School, Sept 17th & Zone Conference on Sept. 14th.

    Yesterday was special.  Elder McDonald’s parents arrived from the U.S. bearing gifts for a rural school out in the bush.  Silverdale Public is in what used to be the pineapple fields.  But  the Pineapple plant closed and everyone lost their jobs.  Ninety percent of the parents in that area are unemployed.  They survive by growing gardens and receiving small grants from the government.  This school reminded me of a school we visited when we took gifts to a school in the highlands of Peru.  The children were lined up in front of the school when we arrived.  They began singing when they saw us.  One of the songs was a prayer to God which they sing each morning before school begins. They sang with their eyes closed. 

     The McDonald family handed out school supplies which members of their ward had helped to provide.  The children also received eight soccer balls.  The kids were delighted and smiled their thanks.  Sister Fowers met Principal Mpinimc when she was at Phakamile Elementary exploring the possibility of setting up a computer lab.  He had asked if there was something the mission could do for his school as well.  Sister Luci mentioned this in an e-mail to the McDonald's.  When they came to pick up their son they brought four suitcases full of supplies.  We donated additional items for the teachers.  It felt so good.  Everyone at the school was so appreciative. I wish all of you could have been there. I  visited with Mveliswa Lungani, the administrative clerk.  He said “You are God’s hands.  You have blessed our lives.”  Mveliswa was raised in this community, attended school here and loves working with these children.  Although a Methodist, Principal Mpinimcis has taken some of our missionary lessons and has a Book of Mormon.  It was such a blessing to participate in this activity.  Elder McDonald is making a video and I took pictures for him.

     Friday we enjoyed Zone Conference at the Stake Center with the young missionaries last Friday.  They really strengthen our testimonies.  It’s such a blessing to be among them.  Many are new, only a week or two in the field.   But we know some of the others who were transferred from the Port Elizabeth area.  Singing the mission anthem with them is always such  a thrill.  

    Today we got a text message from our missionaries inviting us to go to Adoo Elephant Reserve with them on October 1st.  But alas, we are already scheduled to join the other seniors for a whale watching activity in Port Alfred. We missed the PEF Conference Call today as the Fowers land line was down.  Tonight our Telkom 3 G drive is working so I’m able to write this e-mail. Non functioning happens a lot here in Africa.  

    We will leave with Gary Human at 1:30 p.m. Sep. 26 for a PEF Fireside in Umtata. It’s a 3 hour drive.  

Lucky Cape Town approved our buying 4 new tires today. We’ve had two flats in the last few days and will need to cover many more miles so it’s good to be safe.  Love and Blessings,  Sister S.

Schools & PEF in East London

Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2012 10:09:39 AM

     Bernie, the caretaker here, does not work on Saturdays, so no Zumba this morning for me.  We went for a stroll along the Board Walk which fronts the Ocean and collected shells along the beach.  Genobie is a retirement town located at the end of a peninsula.  The main road ends at the beach front.  We haven't done this since we were in Mazatlan.  When it started to rain we went shopping and bought papaya for breakfast.  After breakfast I had my hair done as we are presenting a PEF fireside for six wards before the world- wide young adult fireside tomorrow.    It's a blessing to be able to cover all East London's wards and branches before the end of the month.  

     I'm able to access the Internet today because Tom purchased yet another 3G card which seems to working.  He's delighted as we need the internet to do our PEF work and he hopes to catch the BYU/Utah game at 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.  The Fowers took us to a government primary school yesterday.  Sister Luci is a gifted administrator who set up three Charter schools in California before she retired.  Now she is helping Phakamile School in NU 18 set up a computer lap.  There are over 600 students in the school and at least 45 children in every class.  The kids are so starved for affection that they just mob you when you show them any attention.  The teachers here are underpaid and overwhelmed.  In some schools they have not been paid since January.  Textbooks often do not arrive until months after school has started and supplies are practically non existent. 

      Brother and Sister Fowers volunteered and taught English at Phakamile when they first arrived in East London.  They believed they could help the teachers by modeling good teaching practices.  But the teachers just disappeared when they took over the classes so the Fowers became discouraged and looked for other ways to help schools.  Now they spend most of their time here doing missionary support and helping people in the townships upgrade homes. 

     Visiting an elementary school was quite an experience. What we found was that this is not education, it's warehousing kids.  There is probably 3 hours a day of instruction, if that.   

There are so many kids in every class that not much learning can take place.  Yet the children are expected to pass state tests in order to Matric.  Most white kids attend private schools and do fine but the Blacks often drop out before they graduate.  This prevents them from getting a good job.  The youth here feel hopeless and helpless and many turn to crime.

     We met a a 33-year old returned missionary when we presented a fireside in Sada who qualifies for a PEF loan to get a driver's license which he can get in a few weeks. But instead he returned to this rural community and has since been unemployed.  Gary Human feels that PEF can be a blessing.  But the young adults here must understand the program, explore their options and apply for a loan.  That's our job -- actually it's our only job.  We are busy on weekends but  Monday through Friday there is lots of down time.  Still we have come to realize that nothing happens here in Africa until the PEF couple arrives, conducts firesides, prompts leaders to call the work shop teachers, and help the students to apply.  Most of priesthood leaders, like Everett Young,  are so busy with their many responsibilities, they put PEF on the back burner.  

     On a more positive note we love supporting  the young missionaries by inspecting their flats, and attending their Zone and District Conferences. Which is why Kevin Frere in Port Elizabeth Ward, said that the LaPray's served two "Golf Missions."   It's a good thing I like to read and usually finish one book each week.  Meanwhile I've come to realize that nothing would happen in Africa without a senior couple specifically assigned to PEF.  When we finally have a student apply it takes a lot of time and effort just to get their paper work in so their loan can be approved.

      In an effort to find things to do we have found Hemmingway's Mall, a very upscale mall here in East London where we have seen a couple of good movies.  Tom is able to keep up with high school football with our on again, off again, internet service.  The weather changes every day.  It was very hot a couple of days ago, then it started to rain and there has been lots of wind.  I keep thinking that spring is around the corner and the weather will clear up but that's not the case.

     Meanwhile we have gone to the East London Museum twice and seen a museum with farm equipment which reminded me of what dad used to use.  There was also a gypsy caravan, some old buggies and oxen drawn wagons there.  We drove to King Edward Town to see a Missionary Museum which was advertised as being open.  However it was locked up tight.  The gate was padlocked and no one answered when we called the number posted on the gate. 

You cannot function in South Africa without a cell phone as you must call to access homes and businesses in gated communities

    Saturday night we attended Sterling High School's Vocal Celebration at the Guild Theater. This production restored my faith in public education here in South Africa.  I sat by a Black math teacher whose daughter was in the performance.  She said that Sterling is a public high school that has achieved high marks in both academics and athletics.  Black, White and Colored students attend without cost and many participated in this production.  The choirs were led by a young White African woman. The white male drama teacher sang a number from Les Miserables.  This is the third high school production we have seen and all of them were very good.

Mobbed

                                                                 Today I was Mobbed

     I do not claim to be a rock star, a movie star, or a star of any kind, but the moment I raised my camera to take a photo of half a dozen little 1st graders on the playground of Phakamile Primary School N.U. (Native Unit 1) in East London, I became the dazzling idol of over fifty screaming school children rushing toward me to be in the photo.  I was like a magnet drawing iron filings, the object of a swarm of  angry bees, and a cornfield to a host of invading locusts - I was mobbed.
 
     Yes, I was mobbed, totally mobbed like I have never been mobbed before in my life.  Swarmed over like an army of ants attacking an invading trespasser. Rushed upon like a huge tidal wave or a charging herd of wild buffalo pounding across the prairie. I was enveloped by a horde of screaming, laughing, hysterical 1st graders all anxious to be included in the magic eye of the camera.  

       I only intended taking a photo of a few kids playing in the dirt, but my camera triggered an onslaught of rushing little people that grew in seconds to a monstrous tsunami. The impact of this charge by 50-70 little Black children knocked me backwards several steps and in seconds I was surrounded by a sea of bubbling humanity. Little Black hands tugging, pushing, pulling, reaching, caressing white arms they may have never seen nor felt before. Smiling faces, voices ringing with laughter, the innocence of youth pitched with excitement, in awe of a Whiteman and his camera taking their picture.

      The onrush of these delightful, enthusiastic little Black children screaming, smiling, giggling, was amazing. So obligingly I clicked away with the camera accommodating their insatiable appetite for being in a photo, ‘til time for class called them away.

        I have been on stage and received the applause for actors in a cast, and experienced  compliments from members of an appreciative audience. But never have I been afforded the luxury of screaming, frenzied fans rushing at me on the stage of their playground, playing the role of a Whiteman holding a camera. Thus is was on a sunny day in Africa, I became a star.

Elder T. Stokoe