August Letter from South Africa

August 12, 2009


Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,

Well it has been several weeks since out last letter so we decided it was that time again. We are so busy it seems like you don't make the time like we should.

We have been doing a lot of teaching lessons with the young Elders. A lot of people they are teaching want us to come, that makes us feel really good. It is great to help people better understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. It can be so rewarding but can be frustrating at times also. It seems the more we get involved with the people and the more you can do to help them & teach them the greater is our joy and happiness to be here in SA and to serve our Heavenly Father. It is wonderful but at the same time it is sad to be away from everyone. We love the people and we know that they truly love us but we miss friends, family and loved ones at home. We pray for each of you every day and we feel of your prayers and ask of your continued prayers for us. We can feel the love of each of you and of our Savior & Heavenly Father with us. Being here has really strengthened our love for the gospel, for each of you and for each other.

Sister O is such a wonderful sweetheart and missionary and everyone loves her dearly.
She works so hard for the people and the missionaries. The Young Elders think because Elder O was a Dentist that he know everything about medicine. But they do love to ask him questions about what they should do in life. He is really good with the Elders and they can learn a lot from him. He studies hard all the time and is getting good at talking to others about the Gospel. He enjoys it and is learning a lot. He really seems to love it.

A few weeks ago Elder O got to go golfing for the first time in ages. The course was absolutely beautiful. It was really fun for him. They have a number of pro tournaments there. He played with an Elder Tenny who stopped by from Cape Town on his way to PE and spent Sunday night with us. They played golf on our P-Day. Sister O and I went to Victor is Bay and Harold's Bay(Baa) as they are very close by and they are breath taking beautiful. Also a place called Wilderness that is absolutely beautiful. We saw a whale swimming although we were on a mountain at a place called “ Map of Africa” It is a place formed by some canyons and rivers that have formed a place that looks like the African continent.

Last Monday on our P-Day Sister O and I went to a place about an hour away called Outdshoorn. It is probably the Ostrich capital of the world. We probly sew 200.000 to 300,000 Ostrich while we were just driving. It is on the other side of the Outeniqua mountains where we went one time before. It is beautiful. We saw some beautiful caves called “Cango Caves” We went to and Ostrich farm where Sister O rode and Ostrich. Ha! It was so funny! It was a lot of fun and she did a great job and didn't fall off. In fact they had to pull her off as she wasn't going to let go. I got a good video of this. We have another senior couple coming by in a few weeks and they want to go again with us. We also went to a place where they have some crocodiles, with lions, leopards & cheetahs etc. It is so fun to do things together.

We have to go to PE tomorrow (Thursday)for Zone Conference and will have to leave early Saturday morning about AM ( it is a 4 hour drive) as we have an open house at the church from 11:00am to 1:00pm Then we have 2 baptisms at 2:00pm. It will be busy but a very good weekend.

Well we had better be closing as Sister O has to type this. Buy the way, we have a vonage phone that Sister O's Family sent to us and anyone can call us at no charge. It is a local number. The number is 480-626-XXXX [e-mail the O'Dells for the number] It comes through the computer. Just remember that we are 9 hours a head of you if you live in AZ we are sleeping when you are awake and when we are awake you are a sleep. HA!

We want you to know that we love the gospel and hope that your love of the gospel will be strong as well. Prayer often and love one another be forgiving of each others weaknesses as we all have weaknesses.

We Love you always
Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad Grandma & Papa Woody
And Friends