Johannesburg SACTM Reunion - More Goodbyes!

The month of July, our 18th and final month in the mission field, just flew by, as we were saying goodbyes almost daily for the last 3 weeks of our mission, topped off by our final temple shift, our final missionary reunion, and our final sacrament meeting in the Protea Glen Branch, our last weekend in South Africa. Our final goodbyes to Africa!

Group Photo at 16 July SACTM Reunion in Johannesburg - Back row (center), left to right: Lauren & Werner Heydenrych, Cieron Faerch, Wayne Muller and the Egans, 3rd Row (center), left to right: Andrea & Robert Nel, Xolani Lubisi, Musa Nzimande, Sandile Mdanda, Ian & Jacqui Evans, Hennie & Liezel Andrews. 2nd row (far left): Baldwin & Joyce Manda, Nokulunga & Thulani Nyoka, Sifiso & Irene Mkhize, Gugu Letsoalo, Goganamang Buthelezi, Tara Muller, Sipho Mothiba, Reneilwe Nzimandi, and Jennifer Molema, Front Row (children): Heydenrych girl, Zama Mkhize, Rogan Muller, McKenna & Bree Muller (holding SACTM sign), Lulu Buthelezi, Mbali Amahle Nzimande, and Tyrone Andrews with mother Liezel

Leading up to the reunion, Martha had a girls' lunch out with Tlhalefang, awe were invited to a "last supper" with the Wayne Muller family, another with Justin Greyling and all his wife's family, a surprise "thank you" lunch for Bob with the travel department, and we had a visit from Kari Kruger from Cape Town. We took her to the Salvation Army Orphanage where we held and hugged babies and toddlers and then enjoyed one last dinner at Mike's Kitchen.

Martha with good friend Tlhalefang Kgosiemange, who

was just promoted to secretary to the Area Presidency.

"Thank You" Cake

Gift portrait of the travel team

The Travel Team - Tebatso, Kwetsi, Portia, Kapu (taking photo),

Sandile (manager), Francois (MMS Director), Fezi and Pearl.

At Salvation Army Orphanage

Aloe in bloom at Mike's Kitchen in Parktown

Martha with Kari Kruger at Mike's

Bob with Kari Kruger at Mike's

K

Bob's favorite - Mike's BBQ pork ribs, 450 g portion

Kari ordered the Jawbreaker burger

There were a number of friends who showed up for the 3:00 endowment session at the Johannesburg Temple our last Friday, the last session we officiated, including Kari Kruger, Baldwin & Joyce Manda and Elder & Sister Ellis. And the Ellises treated us to dinner afterward.

There were about 50 at the Saturday reunion (not all pictured), and another dozen or so joined us via technology from the US, the UK and elsewhere, using the Google Hangout feature on our new SACTM.org website. Liezel and Martha provided the refreshments, Werner Heydenrych the technology, and the devotional room was decorated with SACTM banners and tablecloths.

Liezel Schwulst Andrews headed up the food

nd provided quite a spread of finger foods!

Sipho Mothiba and Xolani Lubisi sign in and get name tags

Baldwin Manda looks for his signature on the tablecloth

Sifiso Mkhize from Durban, his wife

Irene and his daughter Zama brought his

younger brother to the reunion, who just

received his mission call to Joburg

Mkhizes from Durban and Mandas from Bloemfontein drove

the greatest distances to get to the SACTM Reunion this time

With Futhi and Xolani Lubisi

With the Muller Family

Sipho Mothiba conducted the meeting part of the evening

Baldwin Manda led everyone in reciting D&C 4

and shared his feelings about how his mission

has affected everything in his life

President Egan presented his briefcase to the

lucky contest winner, Sipho Mothiba

Sipho Mothiba gladly accepts the coveted briefcase

Sipho and Gugu

The three finalists for the President's briefcase discuss

with Sipho how he was the one who deserved it most

Mbali Nzimande loved playing the

piano with Zama Mkhize after the

reunion was over

More reunion attendees

A look at the reunion attendees

Natalia and Marvin Mahlangu arrived too late for the group photo

but chose to linger longer afterward for visiting and a photo

Zoo Lake with Pearls and the 4th of July

On the 2nd of July, we spent a lovely day at the Zoo Lake Park, walking around the lake with former Cape Town AP Mark
Pearl and his family, who are emigrating to New Zeaalnd. Mark left the following Wednesday and the family will follow.

Martha with Genevere & Juliet
and Mark & Daniel

The Zoo Lake with the Joburg skyline and Telkom tower in the
background (left) and the Johannesburg Temple spires can be seen
if you look carefully or zoom in on the horizon right of center

Juliet

Daniel



Celebrating the 4th of July in South Africa

South Africans at an American 4th
of July barbecue in South Africa, our
Temple President & Matron, the Eppels

Get your buns over here with the burgers



More than 20 senior couples, Area and Temple, participated
in a 4th of July celebration in the Dukes Court garden

We had to keep moving the grill because the tenants\complained
about the smoke - finally the Chairman of the Dukes Court
Board of Trustees, Yogan Naidoo, who was getting the
complaints, said "Put the braii (grill) outside my window!"

Yogan Naidoo, Board Chairman, and Christo Rouhotas,
Building Manager were invited to join us for the barbecue

Fezi Maruping and her husband Tshepo, one of Bob's
Cape Town missionaries, had us over to the home for
dinner and a winter evening by their fireplace

One of the great joys of missionary working is welcoming new members into the Church via baptism and confirmation.
Elder Carr from Leeds, England (2nd from left) and Elder Wardle from Utah (right) seem to be baptizing almost every week in our Protea Glen Branch. The young man in the center was baptized on the 3rd of July, then he baptized his father, 3rd from right, the following Sunday, the 10th of July, and two others (the sister left and brother, second from right) were also
baptized, and we had three confirmations our final Sunday, on the 17th of July!



First Ever Women's Conference in Soweto Stake

Martha with Soweto Stake Relief Society President Grace Mbobo from the Protea Glen Branch - Martha gave her the idea
to do a stake women's conference on 11 June and helped her put together the agenda, speakers, publicity, program, etc.

Women's Conference posters in each building

Cover of the Women's Conference program

Stake President Thabo Lebethoa presided and spoke to the sisters



Sister Mbobo conducted the meeting

Spekaers included the Area Mental Health Advisor - Sister Marcia French,
Sister Mbobo's daughter -  Wenzile Radebe and Sister Linda Dunn,
wife of the Johannesburg Mission President

Stake Relief Society Choir



Sister Nonhlanhle Themane, Protea Glen Branch
RS President conducted the Stake RS Choir

Over 170 women attended the Conference