Egans in Johannesburg: A Grand Reunion with Sipho Mothiba

With former AP Sipho Mothiba at luch at JB's Corner near the Melrose Arch in Johannesburg

After over 2 years of trying (including 6 months since arriving in Africa), after completely losing touch, Bob was finally able to make contact with Sipho Mothiba, his former assistant in Cape Town and one of his all-time favorite missionaries (but aren't they all his favorites?), Sipho Mothiba. We met him for lunch on Wednesday and had a grand reunion! He was married to a wonderful woman in the temple and they have two beautiful daughters, but his wife was diagnosed as bi-polar and her erratic behavior strained their relationship until they separated and she died of an apparent suicide in 2013. It has been a real tragedy for him and his daughters. He was in the ward bishopric at the time.

He was his same cheerful optimistic self and has gone on with his life. He is an Audi brand specialist at a dealership in Sandton, Johannesburg and is very successful. He invited us to his mother's home in the Mamelodi township outside Pretoria for dinner on Saturday, and we were able to meet his wonderful mother, his two daughters, his niece, his girlfriend Gugu and her two daughters.

Sipho's mother

Sipho's mom and girlfriend Gugu with his niece, 8, his
daughetrs Afrika, 4, and Kapano, 6 in the front dressed
alike, and Gugu's daughters, who are ages 3 and 7

With Sipho and Gugu in Mamelodi

Today at the Protea Glen Branch in Soweto, we had a wonderful block of meetings. The sacrament meeting speakers were all members we adore, including Sister Busisi Ngcobo, a young single adult who just received her mission call to Zimbabwe this week and didn't even mention it in her talk, and Siphiwe Lushaba, who does a lot of handyman work at Dukes Court.

Martha congratulates Busisi on her mission call and her sacrament meeting talk. Her mother passed away several
years ago, and she considers Martha her "Mum." Her abusive non-member dad was at sacrament meeting to hear
her speak and is so proud of her, She tells him he is abusive (physically and emotionally) but he responds,
"You have been around too many white people. Abusive is not a word in any African's vocabulary" -
unfortunately a statement that is all too true, we're afraid!

Bob taught the Gospel Doctrine Sunday School lesson for the 12th week, as a new teacher has still not been called, and the branch loves the way he teaches. Then, in the third hour for the 5th Sunday of the month, we had a combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting outdoors in the shade, as it was 84 degrees today on the next-to-last day of the South African winter. It was a wonderful Sabbath day in every way, and we really feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful branch!