1. One of the Elders Playing Golf
2. The Branch at a Saturday Party 
Zone Conference
November 23, 2009
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
We are sorry we are late in writing this time. It seems you get so busy at times that it is hard to make time to write. Please know that we love you and miss all of you so much, most of all at this time of the year, we wish we could see you but we are really enjoying our mission here in SA and know we are doing what we should – serving our Father in Heaven.
On Thursday the 12 of Nov. we went to Gerard & Desiree's home at 2 pm he wanted us to watch a movie called " Taking Chance" It was such a good story and brings a few tears. It was about a soldier killed in service and the love & care that our government showed in bringing him home for burial. Gerard was so impressed with this movie he wanted to share it with us, because it was an American Movie. He feels like this is the way that Gods Church & families should function. Desiree had great refreshments afterwards. This is a great Family and we love them so much.
On Friday, I did the usual, go to the Airport and get the post and then we had District Meeting, and then to Sedgefield to take post to the Knysna Elders and have lunch with them. They always enjoy us doing that with them. (of course some one to buy & have lunch with) We had a few visits to do when we got back to George & then finally back home.
Saturday the elders played soccer with the young men in the branch for a few hours. We try to spend a few hours with each with the young women & young men. Then we went to visit Clifton & Elizabeth, They are struggling with some problems right now. He is not divorced from his first wife and has a baby with Elizabeth and they both feel guilty. They are feeling better now and will be great members when they can be baptized and it will happen when it is corrected and is time. We will keep in touch with them and help them all we can. They want to be baptized so bad and they will be in a few months we are sure of it.
Sister O has really been struggling with allergies lately. I gave her one of my allergy pills and it helped her but really "zonked" her out. I was on the phone, she came and laid down by me and was out before she got her head on her pillow and was gone for the night. There was no waking her up at all.
We were suppose to start teaching our new class " Marriage & Family Relations" on Sunday but Pres. Motsaluke canceled it for another week as he didn't have the class filled out yet like he wanted. We had a great Sunday dinner with the Elders, the Knysna Elders also came over and spent the night as they wanted to climb George Peak for P-Day. We had a nice braai of steak, lamb chops and wors and all the trimming that Sister O makes It was as always very good. Elder Masesko didn't want to climb the peak as he said it takes 4 to 5 days to recuperate and I noticed that with several elders the last time they climbed the peak. He wanted me to take him golfing. Well come Monday morning, none of the Elders wanted to climb the peak. You can't guess what they wanted to do? OK you guessed it ! :) They all wanted to play golf. We played one of the short curses here. A par 60 course and we were able to play 18 holes. It only cost R45. That is only about $6.00 & I got lucky and shot a 68. Being a short course, it is good for your short game. After golf we finished off the left over sunday dinner then back to missionary work so we thought?
-2-
But no -- Sister Sonja Classen our RS Pres. Had just gotten to Port Elizabeth (PE a 4 hour drive from George) and called us to let us know that her daughter Sonika was in labor and wanted us to help take her to the hospital. Elder Cooney & Elder Caine went also. Sonja turned around and and started on her way back to George. Sonika had the baby at 10:15 pm and Sonja got back from PE at 10:30. She almost made it but not quite. She called us before she got home and asked me to give her a blessings a Priesthood blessing which I did with the help of the Elders. We got home at about 11:15pm. We still had the dinner mess to clean up before we could go to bed.
On Tuesday I had our car serviced which needed it bad. It hasn't been serviced since we have been here. Then Elder Cooney & Caine came over and went over some role playing for Zone Conference in case they were called on. All were asked to be prepared for this plus a 5 min. talk in case we were called on to give. We then had lunch of Sandwiches, cheese crisps and salad. The Elders always find a reason to be at our flat just before Lunch or Dinner. We Love them and enjoy them being with us. Sister O also really loves to feed them as well.
Tuesday night we had our meeting & lesson with Desiree & Gerard. We had a bad set back with them.
One of the Elders who has just completed his mission, asked them to borrow a very large sum of money so he could go to BYU in Utah. This is something that should NEVER happen and I think that Desiree feels like he is trying to take advantage of her kindness. I think after we left she felt much better, She ask Sister O what she should do, if she should give him the money or not. Sister O told her NO and that it was not something the church would have the Elders do at all. I think after we left she felt better because of talking with Sister O about it. She has been taken advantage of by people of SA because of their kind hearts and she didn't need this from a missionary. People here beg so much and you have to be very careful. Gerard & Desiree are the most wonderful people. They are working at selling their farm home and home here in George. They want to move to America to get away from this begging environment. They know the Church is true and will be baptized either here or in America at some point we are sure of it They are going on a 3 month vacation to tour the northwest part of america to try and decide. Sis. O & I went over to try and take them to lunch the next day but they couldn't go. We wanted to visit more with them and talk with them.
Sister O & I visited with Clifton and Elizabeth later and everything is fine with them and they are feeling good about most everything now. Elizabeth broke her back when she was younger and has some pins in her back that they think they are coming loose. (she will see about this next Monday)
We also had a good visit with Ben and Hester on Wed. afternoon. It is so hard to understand people at times. They know there was a great apostasy, they know the gospel was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith, they know the Book of Mormon is true, they know the priesthood was restored, they know that baptism by immersion was shown and commanded to us BUT they think that they are just fine with being sprinkled by water when they were babies. They know all the Truths, BUT they don't seem to recognize that these truths apply to them. They always want us there. They like to have another older couple come to see them every Wed at 3pm This has been and on going thing for 31/2 years now.
On Thursday we left at 7AM for PE to Zone Conference. We stopped at Tsitsikamma to visit George. We were really excited about Zone Conference because Elder Hinckley of the 70's was going to be there. It is always exciting to listen and be uplifted by the General Authorities. He is a lot like his father
Pres. Hinckley. I think Pres. Hinckley was such a Great & Wonderful Prophet. We returned home from Zone conference about 11:30pm. It was a very tiring day but also a very rewarding and enjoyable day!
-3-
Sister O told George that in a year he will be able to go on a mission, he is very excited about this and really wants to go. He has ask us to fined him a job in Knysna or George so he can be close to the church. He says that it is hard for him to grow in the gospel as long as he is so far away. This is true and we are going to see what we can do to help. I ask him re-read the Book of Mormon only this time don't just read it but study it with all the footnotes etc. so that he can really understand the gospel. He said he would. He has such a strong testimony of the Church and it really touches our hearts to see his growth.
Friday was airport and post day again, and back to take the Post to the Knysna Elders. Friday was a warm day. We have only had about 3 warm days so far so I got our A.C. out and ready to go, (it is called a floor fan) It is better then nothing but not much..
On Saturday we had 3 good visits. We visited Sister October with the Elders Maseko & Mathipa. She is about ready for baptism, but her husband is not there yet. She says he is stubborn. She wants to wait for him. It would be great to baptize them together as a family, as we know how important families are in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We then visited Brother Micheal's with Elders Coony & Caine. He is being baptized in December. He is so excited about this and seems to have such a strong conviction and testimony of the gospel. We visited with him earlier and he told us that when we were their before, that he knew the gospel was true. So many people like to have older missionaries visit them and it seems to make such a difference in their conversion. I think they have such a great respect for older people and they sincerely listen to them.
So to all our older "Friends" If you have the opportunity and can go on a mission, don't pass up this opportunity and blessings that can be yours and the people you teach. Sister O and I really feel blessed.
We then visited Clifton & Elizabeth as it was Clifton's Birthday. We took him a cake and sang Happy Birthday to him. Elder Cooney & Caine were there as were the Pangels from the Branch. Clifton said that this was the Happiest Birthday that he has ever had. Now that he has the True Church in his life and really good friends. He seemed happy.
Well it is past time to close. Again we love all of you so much. We have such wonderful families & Friends . We feel so blessed. Especially knowing that we can be and eternal family forever. It is our choice to make and our choice of how we live. I hope we all set our goals where they should be and work and strive to make these goals come true.
Love to all Always
Elder & Sister O'Dell
Dad,Woody,Linda,Mom
Grandma & Grandpa Woody
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