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Elder and Sister Olson with President and Sister Von Stetten |
We have already been here in Durban 7 weeks and things are
going great. We have been learning so many things that need to be done here in
the office. Here are some things that we do while serving here. I have been
doing double duty here for several weeks, doing all the recording of baptisms
and conformations, managing the medical needs for the missionaries and filing
the claims for the Elders insurance. Overseeing all the missionary flats
(apartments) and making sure that the Elders have the necessary items in their
flats so they can function. Taking care of the leases, oh man what a JOB!! This
sure does entail a lot of phone calling and organization. Definitely one thing
I am not too good at but I am sure I will learn to be a little more patient and
organized in this area. I thought it was
hard enough to keep up on just my place let alone 75 other places. But oh well
I just have to remember who I am working for and whose help I am receiving. I
plan the couple’s conferences and help with the Elders Zone and District
conferences, providing them with snacks and lunches. Help with the new incoming
Elders in orientation meetings and then help get them to their first new area.
This job is called the recorders responsibilities. I am doing this for a few
more weeks and then a new senior couple will arrive and I will train them to do
this job. I am also training for the general secretary’s position, so when I
get the new couple trained for the recorders position I will then take over as
the general secretary for the mission. AWE!! This has been a little challenging
to say the least, but it is all good and I am learning a lot but most of all I
am learning to be patient with myself. I am also teaching Rory patience (as if
I haven’t already taught him enough over the past 35 yearsJ). He has had to put me
back together way to many times, and I am so glad that we DO NOT change companions every 6 weeks because I am so sure that he
would jump all over that idea in a heartbeat J.
He is so amazing and I am so glad that he is my companion. I won’t speak for
him on that topic. He would probably say something different. But I love him to
death he is the BEST!
The general secretary’s position is very demanding and at
times quite overwhelming to say the least. I know I am going to need the Lord’s
help a lot to make my job function like it is designed to function for sure. It
still just impresses me every day how much it takes to run a mission and the
time that goes into planning everything and what leaders do to take care of 155
missionaries and move the church forward at lightning speed. But that is
exactly what missions do they move forward with lightning speed. Africa is so
ready for the gospel and they are so prepared for the truth. They have amazing
testimonies here and it makes me so grateful that we are able to serve here
among some of the greatest people on the earth.
Rory takes care of all the cars in the field, making
arrangements to have the repairs done and here on the coast he gives the new
drivers, (Elders) the driving TEST! After his first training run with a new
Elder driver he came back to the office and said, “I wish I had a driver’s
education car that had a break and controls on the passenger’s side like they
do there in the States.” He said it was a little stressful and he was glad to
be back in control of the car. The Elders are not allowed to drive without
having a driving course with a senior missionary. The Elders have to be cleared to be able to
drive according to the mission rules for this area. J He is also a head of all the
phones and keeping the Elders stocked up on minutes. Here in South Africa you
pay ahead for all your minutes. The Elders have a certain allotment of minutes
given to them each month. When they have used up their allotment they have to
call him and he OK’s for them to have more time, and he will load more minutes
on their phones for them. This happens
quite often. He really likes what he does, he gets to associate with the Elders
quite a bit of the time, and that is the fun part. He is also quite involved in
the flats as well. The flats really take a lot of time and it is difficult for
one person to do that task alone.
We are keeping very
busy and everyday it still just amazes us how much work and time is put into
running a mission. We love being on this
side of the fence and being a part of the greatest work that will ever be done
on earth. The Lords work is the greatest and we have been so blessed to have
given the opportunity to come and serve here in South Africa. We love the
people here they are the most amazing people ever. Our testimonies have truly
been strengthened in the short time we have been here serving. We wish every
one of you could see what we see and experience what we have experienced. We are so blessed to have the gospel in our
lives and to know how much our Heavenly Father loves us. To KNOW where we came from and to KNOW of a grand and glorious
eternity that we all have the potential of having in the life to come. We need to share that knowledge with everyone
that does not have that knowledge. The gospel will change not only individual’s
lives and families, but it will change countries. South Africa is so ready for the gospel and
there is just not enough priesthood authority here to keep up with the growth. It
is so sad to see how desperately they want the truth and the sacrifices they
make to come to church. Their circumstances are very humble and for them to
come to church on Sundays they either walk, take a taxi, sometimes two separate
taxis to get to the church. They do not have the money to pay for the taxi’s
and therefore they just don’t make it most of the time. The members can live
quite a distance from the church or from the meeting place and it is just too
difficult for them to get there. In
order to get more buildings for them they have to have high activation. To get
the activation up they need buildings that are closer to their townships. This
is a real problem and the only way to solve it is to overload the places that
they are meeting in and then it can be divided into two branches. Then the
church will build another building closer to more of the members. But it is way
too hard to make it to the meetings due to the transportation issues.
Nonetheless they are so amazing and strong. Someday in the future they will
have numerous buildings and they will all be able to go to church every Sunday
without troubles.
A beautiful foggy day in Africa |
"We may be relatively small in number, but as members of this Church we can reach across these widening gaps. We know the power of Christ-centered service that brings together God's children regardless of thier spiritual or their economic statue."
Elder M Russell Ballard, May 2012 Ensign
St. Mathew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.