September 14, 2009
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Well it is that time again! Greetings from BEAUTIFUL SA again. We have really been busy and time is flying by so fast. We had a baptism on Sept. 5 (Sat). We had it at the river again. It is such a beautiful setting but the water is really cold. We went back to the church for refreshments & for them to get warm.
We met with Pres. Matsaluka about a week ago trying to set goals and branch goals for our missionary program. It was really a good meeting, and we accomplished a lot. We then had the elders over for a braai on Saturday. We had hamburgers, sausage & hot dogs before we had workshops and interviews with Pres Probst. It was supposed to be from 7 to 8:30pm, but it lasted almost until 10:30pm.
The next morning Pres Probst was at church and we had the confirmation. We had one of the most spiritual testimony meetings that we can remember. We had nearly all the people at church that we have been helping to teach. We had one lady that couldn't be there because of the death of her father. She has invited all the missionaries to their farm (where they buried her father) for dinner. We are hoping that we can make it but we are not sure as it is 150 k's away.
We have been visiting and teaching this lady for sometime and she has a pink Bible. You know how Sister O'Dell loves the color pink. Sister O has commented on how much she likes her pink Bible. Well we were at the mall and we saw her there; her name is Desiree. She went to the mall to get Sister O a pink Bible and she gave it to her while we were there. Sister O was nearly in tears as she was so touched by her kind & loving act. She is a large lady and her heart is large & kind also.
Last Sunday we had a senior couple come by and stay the night with us and they had dinner on Sunday with the elders & us. Then on Monday (P-day) we all went to Oudtshoorn to go to the Cango Caves and an ostrich farm. We couldn't leave until after 11:00am. We took 3 elders with us and the Millers took 3 elders with them. We went straight to the caves. I was able to get a discount for the missionary group. They have a standard tour and an adventure tour. The elders went on the adventure tour (about 11/2 hr.)
You have to crawl through a lot of cracks and crevices and can see a lot more rooms. Sister O and Elder Maseko get very claustrophobic and the Millers couldn't do it so we did the adventure tour.
When we finished the caves it was too late in the day to do the ostrich farm so we did another farm closer by. A couple of the Elders rode camels, and so did Sister O. I got a good video of it all. Sister O is so much fun to be with and the elders really love her (me too). Then we rode a zip line across a little lake. I guess you know who the star of this was. RIGHT! Sister O. I got a good video of this as well.
Then the elders did some bumper boats, but they were so slow that there wasn't much to it. We all had hamburgers, chips (fries) and a drink and then we needed to get started back home. It is such a beautiful drive there and back through Outeniqua pass. Everyone enjoyed this day a lot.
We were really busy Tuesday & Wednesday with teaching lessons etc. On Wed. Pres. Probst called and asked if we would like to come to Cape Town on Thursday & Friday. There is an orientation at the office that we didn't get that he thought we may enjoy. We met with him for about an hour and 2 other couples and then he let us go.
He said he mainly wanted to give us a few days away and enjoy ourselves. We thought that was so nice of Pres. Probst.
One of the couples there (the wife) was from Franklin, AZ like I was. Her dad was my Bishop at one time. Small world. Their names are Elder and Sister Harms.
The next day we went to the top of Table Mount on a cable car. Talk about vertical. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! You don't always get good weather up there but it was a perfect day! After that we went to Cape Point which is the southernmost tip of Africa. On the way we stopped at one place and had lunch and then we went to see some penguins. The Cape Point is the point that separates the Atlantic & the Indian Oceans. Then on the way back we saw about 30 baboons with a lot of baby ones. They are quite cute when young. I guess they are like humans and then we grow up. We then had dinner with the other couples (3 couples in all).
We left to come home about 9am the next morning and Pres. Probst told us to go by Hermanus if we wanted and that we probably could see some whales and we did. It is probably about 100K round trip out of our way. We did see some whales, and I got some fair videos. About as good as possible. We also saw a few penguins. It was really a nice place to spend a little relaxing time. We got home about 6pm.
We had been told that we would have no power on Sunday from 6AM to 6PM. Sister O fixed a large potato salad & sandwiches for dinner and would've made cheese crisps if we had power- which we didn't. It wasn't her big Sunday dinner but it was still good.
Well it is getting long and Sister O has to type it and she doesn't like them this long. We want all of you to know of our love for you and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are really enjoying our time serving, even though it can get a little frustrating.
May you all be blessed in your lives and live as our Heavenly Father would have us do.
Love to All
Elder & Sister O'Dell
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
O'Dells Pictures from S.A.
September 2, 2009
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones;
Greetings again from beautiful South Africa. It has been an enjoyable but busy week. Tuesday was a great day. We met with a young sister, her mother and her 2 twin sisters and her boyfriend. It came about by this young sister (21yr) who had a dream about a book. The next day, 2 of our young elders knocked on her door. She saw the Book of Mormon in their hands and she told them that it was the book she saw in her dreams and knew immediately that she should invite them in and listen to their message. We went to see her 3 times last week. She has already read the introduction and the first 11 chapters in 1st Nephi. She wants to be taught everyday. She seems like such a great lady and family.
We also had a very good visit with the lady whose husband is in France. He will be home tomorrow. Last night we had a wonderful thing happen. We received an e-mail from our friend George form Tsitsikamma. It said “It was agreatiful time that i have neva had in my life u guyz u have really rocked my life i will alwez love u even in death u have printed amark in my heart i will alwez cherish u as my MAM & DAD .Linda-Elwood i will be ur true son of africa.i love u.”
We know it is a simple letter but it really touched our hearts. Things like this makes going on a mission worth your time and so fulfilling.
Well we e-mailed him later to see if he was planning on going to church in Knysna as it is so much closer to him. He said he was. We told him that we would come see him and go to church with him in Knysna. Then he e-mailed us back “Dear mam & dad.
It will b great 2cu again tomorol i cant wait 2see u, i just wish u a lovely drive,and 4mam pliz do not forgert 2b at left front sit 2give all the signs 2 dad! Joke! have alovely night ever love u.”
He said this because Sister O put him in the front seat to back seat drive for me.
Well Sister O couldn't make it to church. She had a tooth that had a root canal on it, maybe 30 years ago. Well it flared up on her just before we came on our mission, and again on Saturday. She was crying with pain most of the night. I gave her a blessing and I got a dentist to come to his office at 3am Sunday morning. It was so bad, we had no choice but to extract the tooth. I got her to bed about 4:30am. She didn't feel like getting up Sunday so I went to church in Knysna alone, about an hour away.
Monday on our P-day we had to meet with a clinical psychologist from 10am to 12 noon with the elders. Then we went to Victoria Baai with the elders for a few hours. Then we had to leave about 4pm to take some Primary children to Great Break River (about 30 kilometers away) for a surprise birthday party for their teacher. Well we got there and she wasn't home. The bad news is that we had 11 people in our small car in the back seat (never again!) Even worse news was that we had 2 little girls throw-up bad. Even worse was the smell. Brother O washed and shampooed the inside of the car the next day. Well it is about noon and we have a very busy afternoon so we are going to say goodbye for this week and sign off.
We finally got pictures from all our families. Thank you so much. We love you all so much and miss all of you, family & friends. We pray for all of you every day and ask the same of each of you. Thank you for your e-mails to us. Please keep them coming. We love to receive them and get news from home.
Here are pictures of
George Chancy, our one contact so far.
The Branch at Mormon Helping Hands Day
The elders having fun at the beach on P-Day
Love to All
Elder & Sister O'Dell
PS.
Chuck, have you been in contact with the lady renting our house in Trilogy. Has
she got anything yet for this winter? Let me know what you find out please
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones;
Greetings again from beautiful South Africa. It has been an enjoyable but busy week. Tuesday was a great day. We met with a young sister, her mother and her 2 twin sisters and her boyfriend. It came about by this young sister (21yr) who had a dream about a book. The next day, 2 of our young elders knocked on her door. She saw the Book of Mormon in their hands and she told them that it was the book she saw in her dreams and knew immediately that she should invite them in and listen to their message. We went to see her 3 times last week. She has already read the introduction and the first 11 chapters in 1st Nephi. She wants to be taught everyday. She seems like such a great lady and family.
We also had a very good visit with the lady whose husband is in France. He will be home tomorrow. Last night we had a wonderful thing happen. We received an e-mail from our friend George form Tsitsikamma. It said “It was agreatiful time that i have neva had in my life u guyz u have really rocked my life i will alwez love u even in death u have printed amark in my heart i will alwez cherish u as my MAM & DAD .Linda-Elwood i will be ur true son of africa.i love u.”
We know it is a simple letter but it really touched our hearts. Things like this makes going on a mission worth your time and so fulfilling.
Well we e-mailed him later to see if he was planning on going to church in Knysna as it is so much closer to him. He said he was. We told him that we would come see him and go to church with him in Knysna. Then he e-mailed us back “Dear mam & dad.
It will b great 2cu again tomorol i cant wait 2see u, i just wish u a lovely drive,and 4mam pliz do not forgert 2b at left front sit 2give all the signs 2 dad! Joke! have alovely night ever love u.”
He said this because Sister O put him in the front seat to back seat drive for me.
Well Sister O couldn't make it to church. She had a tooth that had a root canal on it, maybe 30 years ago. Well it flared up on her just before we came on our mission, and again on Saturday. She was crying with pain most of the night. I gave her a blessing and I got a dentist to come to his office at 3am Sunday morning. It was so bad, we had no choice but to extract the tooth. I got her to bed about 4:30am. She didn't feel like getting up Sunday so I went to church in Knysna alone, about an hour away.
Monday on our P-day we had to meet with a clinical psychologist from 10am to 12 noon with the elders. Then we went to Victoria Baai with the elders for a few hours. Then we had to leave about 4pm to take some Primary children to Great Break River (about 30 kilometers away) for a surprise birthday party for their teacher. Well we got there and she wasn't home. The bad news is that we had 11 people in our small car in the back seat (never again!) Even worse news was that we had 2 little girls throw-up bad. Even worse was the smell. Brother O washed and shampooed the inside of the car the next day. Well it is about noon and we have a very busy afternoon so we are going to say goodbye for this week and sign off.
We finally got pictures from all our families. Thank you so much. We love you all so much and miss all of you, family & friends. We pray for all of you every day and ask the same of each of you. Thank you for your e-mails to us. Please keep them coming. We love to receive them and get news from home.
Here are pictures of
George Chancy, our one contact so far.
The Branch at Mormon Helping Hands Day
The elders having fun at the beach on P-Day
Love to All
Elder & Sister O'Dell
PS.
Chuck, have you been in contact with the lady renting our house in Trilogy. Has
she got anything yet for this winter? Let me know what you find out please
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