December 15, 2009
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Merry Christmas from SA . Yes we are still here in case some of you wanted to know, our e-mail is just in cause some of you would like to say hello or you are always welcome to call.
We get so lonesome for each of you and don't hear from you very often. We know everyone is busy and especially at this time of the year.
Well last Monday (P-Day) it was heavily overcast in the morning, then started to sprinkle and then by noon until after dark we had a very heavy rain which was so needed. They are still predicting that we will be out of water in George by February. We need so much more even though it is still so beautiful and green here.
Sister O & I had to get up at 5:30 on(P-day) to take Elizabeth to town at a government office to get some paper work turned in. She is trying to get some disability income because of her bad back. Even thought we got her there by 7am there was still several hundred ahead of her in the waiting line-and it is first come first served. That meant a long wait.
Right after lunch we picked up Elizabeth and took her home to Pacltsdorp. Then we went with the Elders to Mossel Baai. They wanted to see some caves but didn't know exactly where they were and couldn't find them so. Sister O and I came back home instead of waiting there as Sister O needed to go with Sister Sonja our RS Pres. to get a lot of groceries etc for our Branch Christmas party on Saturday and it was also our Branch Conference on Saturday afternoon & Sunday with Pres. And Sister Probst being here. We ended up going to a large museum which surprisingly I think we all enjoyed. After this they wanted to see a Big lighthouse when we got to the lighthouse we also saw a sign about the caves there. It was raining so hard that sister O and I waited in the car. They hurried up the hill but still returned as thought they had jumped into a swimming pool. Sister O & I were really glad we stayed in the car. It was too late to go to the caves as we needed to get back and do some missionary work.
Well on Tuesday it turned out to be self improvement day or beautification day. Sister O got her hair cut and her nails done. That always makes her feel good just as a good game of golf makes me feel. She got her hair cut short and it is really "Cute." The best I think since we have met. I couldn't let her out do me so I went home and buzzed my hair off (that is my personalized hair style). It was still heavily overcast and we were hoping for more rain but it turned out a zero. We also had a great visit with Gerard and Desired. He is really changing as we teach him as he seems so happy when we come. They promised to be to church for our Branch conference. Also on Tuesday Sister O and I had to do inspections on the Elders flats etc. Overall they were pretty good, but we had a few things for them to correct. We always find something wrong :)
Our African son George came over on Wednesday all dressed in a suit and tie. He really wants to be able to move over in our area so that he can be close to the church. He wants to go on a mission so bad and he wants to be closer so that he can grow more in the church. He wants his family and girlfriend in Malawi to receive the lessons so we are working ON that. We let him go with 2 of our Elders to make missionary visits and he really seemed to enjoy that. He stayed overnight with us. On Thursday we had missionary transfers which is always a hectic time between running back and forth between the airport and bus terminal.
We lost Elder Maseko and Mwenda and got Elder Moyo and Bradshaw. Elder Bradshaw will be in Knysa with Elder Botes. Then sister O bought lunch and said "Elder Cooney is the greatest! Just the greatest! :) " I needed help with the computer and Elder Cooney came by and finished my sentence.! Ha!! and pizza for all the Elders before they parted ways and went back to work. We then went to visit Sonja & her son Urich who will be leaving for about 3 weeks to stay with his father for the Holiday.
After our district meeting on Friday morning, 4 of the Elders and I went to some Rugby games at George stadium. Their were teams from all over the world. America won it's first game but was beaten very bad in the 2nd game. I think it was about 50 to 0.
Saturday was a busy, very busy day and especially for Sister O who is having to do so much cooking for our Branch Christmas party. At the Christmas dinner I set by a lady that is not a member but a good friend of Sister Sonja's our RS Pres. I talked to her quite a bit and she wanted a Book of Mormon which I gave her. She also wants Sister O and I to tech her the lessons after the Holidays. This was so exciting for us. She was easy to visit with and seemed very nice. We hope this will happen. We also had a very good program with the dinner. The theme for our Conference was "Be Ready" it makes one wonder if any of us are ready and our lives are ready and prepared for the second coming of Christ when he will rain here on earth. It really makes one ponder if we are keeping all of God's Commandments and not just the ones we want to or the ones that are easy for us. Remember loved ones, that narrow is the gate and straight is the path that leads to eternal life. Hopefully we could answer, that we are ready and our lives are in order if our Savior comes today. I hope we don't wait until we think that it will be more convenient. I hope each of us will live our lives that we may always be Temple worthy. If so, then we are closer to being ready. We love and miss each of you so much. We want to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas. We know it will be hard without us " Joke Joke" But we really know it will be hard for us with our you LOVE ALWAYS!
Love to all you!
PS.
Our African son George is not very strong financially but is a GIANT spiritually. We are asking if any of you feel like you can afford a little each month? We would really like to set up a mission fund that will pay for his mission after we are home. Actually he will be able to go on his mission before we leave to come home. We know at this times it will be hard, but it will not only bless your lives but it will be such a blessing for him and his family. Let us know what you think and how you feel about this suggestion. We would really love to see this happen. Thanks for what you are do for us already and being the BEST Family Ever.
Merry Christmas to Everyone !
We Love you
Mom & Dad
Grandpa, Grandma,
Papa, Grandpa Woody, Linda
AND Elder & Sister O'Dell
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Merry Christmas from SA . Yes we are still here in case some of you wanted to know, our e-mail is just in cause some of you would like to say hello or you are always welcome to call.
We get so lonesome for each of you and don't hear from you very often. We know everyone is busy and especially at this time of the year.
Well last Monday (P-Day) it was heavily overcast in the morning, then started to sprinkle and then by noon until after dark we had a very heavy rain which was so needed. They are still predicting that we will be out of water in George by February. We need so much more even though it is still so beautiful and green here.
Sister O & I had to get up at 5:30 on(P-day) to take Elizabeth to town at a government office to get some paper work turned in. She is trying to get some disability income because of her bad back. Even thought we got her there by 7am there was still several hundred ahead of her in the waiting line-and it is first come first served. That meant a long wait.
Right after lunch we picked up Elizabeth and took her home to Pacltsdorp. Then we went with the Elders to Mossel Baai. They wanted to see some caves but didn't know exactly where they were and couldn't find them so. Sister O and I came back home instead of waiting there as Sister O needed to go with Sister Sonja our RS Pres. to get a lot of groceries etc for our Branch Christmas party on Saturday and it was also our Branch Conference on Saturday afternoon & Sunday with Pres. And Sister Probst being here. We ended up going to a large museum which surprisingly I think we all enjoyed. After this they wanted to see a Big lighthouse when we got to the lighthouse we also saw a sign about the caves there. It was raining so hard that sister O and I waited in the car. They hurried up the hill but still returned as thought they had jumped into a swimming pool. Sister O & I were really glad we stayed in the car. It was too late to go to the caves as we needed to get back and do some missionary work.
Well on Tuesday it turned out to be self improvement day or beautification day. Sister O got her hair cut and her nails done. That always makes her feel good just as a good game of golf makes me feel. She got her hair cut short and it is really "Cute." The best I think since we have met. I couldn't let her out do me so I went home and buzzed my hair off (that is my personalized hair style). It was still heavily overcast and we were hoping for more rain but it turned out a zero. We also had a great visit with Gerard and Desired. He is really changing as we teach him as he seems so happy when we come. They promised to be to church for our Branch conference. Also on Tuesday Sister O and I had to do inspections on the Elders flats etc. Overall they were pretty good, but we had a few things for them to correct. We always find something wrong :)
Our African son George came over on Wednesday all dressed in a suit and tie. He really wants to be able to move over in our area so that he can be close to the church. He wants to go on a mission so bad and he wants to be closer so that he can grow more in the church. He wants his family and girlfriend in Malawi to receive the lessons so we are working ON that. We let him go with 2 of our Elders to make missionary visits and he really seemed to enjoy that. He stayed overnight with us. On Thursday we had missionary transfers which is always a hectic time between running back and forth between the airport and bus terminal.
We lost Elder Maseko and Mwenda and got Elder Moyo and Bradshaw. Elder Bradshaw will be in Knysa with Elder Botes. Then sister O bought lunch and said "Elder Cooney is the greatest! Just the greatest! :) " I needed help with the computer and Elder Cooney came by and finished my sentence.! Ha!! and pizza for all the Elders before they parted ways and went back to work. We then went to visit Sonja & her son Urich who will be leaving for about 3 weeks to stay with his father for the Holiday.
After our district meeting on Friday morning, 4 of the Elders and I went to some Rugby games at George stadium. Their were teams from all over the world. America won it's first game but was beaten very bad in the 2nd game. I think it was about 50 to 0.
Saturday was a busy, very busy day and especially for Sister O who is having to do so much cooking for our Branch Christmas party. At the Christmas dinner I set by a lady that is not a member but a good friend of Sister Sonja's our RS Pres. I talked to her quite a bit and she wanted a Book of Mormon which I gave her. She also wants Sister O and I to tech her the lessons after the Holidays. This was so exciting for us. She was easy to visit with and seemed very nice. We hope this will happen. We also had a very good program with the dinner. The theme for our Conference was "Be Ready" it makes one wonder if any of us are ready and our lives are ready and prepared for the second coming of Christ when he will rain here on earth. It really makes one ponder if we are keeping all of God's Commandments and not just the ones we want to or the ones that are easy for us. Remember loved ones, that narrow is the gate and straight is the path that leads to eternal life. Hopefully we could answer, that we are ready and our lives are in order if our Savior comes today. I hope we don't wait until we think that it will be more convenient. I hope each of us will live our lives that we may always be Temple worthy. If so, then we are closer to being ready. We love and miss each of you so much. We want to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas. We know it will be hard without us " Joke Joke" But we really know it will be hard for us with our you LOVE ALWAYS!
Love to all you!
PS.
Our African son George is not very strong financially but is a GIANT spiritually. We are asking if any of you feel like you can afford a little each month? We would really like to set up a mission fund that will pay for his mission after we are home. Actually he will be able to go on his mission before we leave to come home. We know at this times it will be hard, but it will not only bless your lives but it will be such a blessing for him and his family. Let us know what you think and how you feel about this suggestion. We would really love to see this happen. Thanks for what you are do for us already and being the BEST Family Ever.
Merry Christmas to Everyone !
We Love you
Mom & Dad
Grandpa, Grandma,
Papa, Grandpa Woody, Linda
AND Elder & Sister O'Dell
