Fabulous Reunion Weekend in Durban

 

Egan SACTM Reunion at Durban Mission Home, Saturday, 27 February 2016
Back row (l to r): Siyabonga Gwala, Matthew Walsh and Saige, Pres. Egan, Sandile Mdanda, Sifiso Mkhize, Paul Kriel
Front row (l to r): Sister Egan, Anele Gwala, Rylee Walsh, Caitlin Walsh, Zamambo Mkhize and Irene Mkhize

Today, March 2nd, is our 13-month mark, meaning we have just 5 months left on our mission. We spent a lovely weekend in Durban from Friday through Sunday, 26-28 February, staying at the Protea Hotel Edward on the beach. The drive from Johannesburg, through the Drakensberg Mountains was spectacular and green, and the missionary reunion on Saturday at the mission home was an amazing evening. All five of Bob's former elders who live in the Durban area and served in the Cape Town Mission from 2005-08 were in attendance. The three married ones brought their beautiful wives, and their 3 daughters. It was a most fun and memorable time. Lots of laughter, love and reminiscing.



Scenery on the way to Durban

Our hotel, the Protea Edward, center, on the beach, from the pier

Soon after we arrived Friday night, we were met at our hotel by Paul Kriel, who volunteered to be our tour guide and show us Durban. He drove us north up the coast to the newly announced Durban LDS Temple Site (groundbreaking announced for 9 April) and showed us the sights along the way. The temple site is beautiful, at the crest of a hill, with a spectacular view of the surrounding rolling hills and valleys.

 

Bob's former missionary, Paul Kriel, now a Durban Stake high councilor,
shows us the site where the new Durban Temple will be built, starting with
the groundbreaking ceremony on the 9th of April

Durban LDS Temple site




The temple construction site has been fenced in with a locked gate

One of the amazing views from the Durban Temple site



 

A monkey sits in the driver's seat of a Caterpillar on the site

The upscale beach properties at Umhlanga Rocks, just below the temple site

The lighthouse at Umhlanga as the storm approaches

 

Dinner with Paul

Paul took us to the aquarium to see the sharks and, just as a major thunderstorm and torrential downpour hit us, he led us to a buffet dinner above the aquarium, with a live Salsa band.

Saturday, we spent the morning walking the Esplanade along the beach, watching the people and enjoying the warm sunshine and light ocean breeze. There was a surfing competition underway, right in front of our hotel. In the afternoon, we bought the refreshments and drinks and made our way to the mission home for the reunion, which went from 6 to 9 pm.

With the Gwala Family at the Reunion

With Paul Kriel at the Reunion



Laughing with Sandile Mdanda at the Reunion




Mkhize Family at the Reunion

With Matthew Walsh, his wife Caitlin and girls Rylee and Saige at the Reunion

 

Three generations - grandfather, father and son - Elder Gwala, left, trained Elder Walsh, center, who trained Elder Kriel

 

On Sunday, we were invited by President Sifiso Mkhize, branch president for just two weeks, to join his Mbhedula Branch for church and be the sacrament meeting speakers. We met in a pre-school in the township on the top of a hill overlooking Durban and, in the distance, the Indian Ocean. Then they invited us for dinner afterward in their humble 2-room cinderblock home, with a corrugated metal roof, where they have rented for 6 years as they save to buy their own home.

The Insizwakazi Pre-school where the Mbhedula Branch meets, near Pinetown



At 8:55 only the branch presidency were there, but by 9:10, there were over 100 in attendance!

Pres. Mkhize, center, and his counselors, get ready to start the sacrament meeting

Looking toward the front door of the
 Mkhize home from Zama's room.
 

Sister Egan and Zama, 6, in her bedroom at the Mkhize home.
  She showed Martha the family photo album and was so happy
to have us there!
 

Our dear friends, Elder Bob and Sister Sharon Berg from Utah/Texas, who were our host couple when we
arrived here, completed their Area Public Affairs mission yesterday, March 1st, and headed home to Houston