2. Sonja & family in George
3. Lunch with the Senior Couples
4. First Sunday in Port Alfred Branch
5.Sister O being funny at the farewell party
6. Elder O with the Young Elders having fun for the World Cup
7. Alvin this one is for you alone.
8. The Pineapple Farm we went to (Fun Fun! )
April 27, 2010
Hi from Port Alfred South Africa,
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Well it has been too long since we have written, but it seems like time is so busy that it often is hard to fine the time plus a lot has happened since our last letter. We won't try to catch up on everything but just in general. Before our leaving George we were quite busy with missionary work and also trying to say good by to so many people. On Sunday at General Conference Sister O and I said our goodbye to everyone that was there and we were both ask to bear our testimonies. We did get to listen to conference as usual because of the time difference. Our area Presidency though it best to receive DVD later so that we could show the conference to everyone a lot better and easier.
All of the last week was primarily spent visiting people and saying good-by. Sister O is really having a hard time with this as she has come to love so many people and they love her dearly and there were really a lot of tears shed. She really doesn't want to leave George but we also know that we need to serve where and how that our Father in heaven wants us too. She has touched so many lives and they have also really touched ours as well. I know that the Lord is sending us to Port Alfred for a reason. Hopefully we can be an influence and touch peoples lives.
On our last P-Day in George the Elders wanted to go golfing which we did. Also for dinner on Sunday the Elders felt and said "This is the last summer" It will be hard to leave them. After Golf Sonia Family fixed us and the 6 Elders a wonderful Braai. We also went by as we left and everyone was in tears. On the way to PE ( about a 6 hour drive from George) We stopped at Tsitsikamma to say good by to Georges cousin and her mom. Then we stopped at Storms River Village to visit George and his friend and we were excited to see how happy he was and how well he is doing. He is such a great young man and has such a strong testimony of the gospel and is doing really good. He is so excited to go On a mission to serve his Heavenly Father and we are so proud of him. We then went on to PE and had lunch with two senior couples the Robinsons & the R. Millers and said our good by to them and set of to Port Alfred where we met up with the Godfreys who we are replacing. We have met them several times before. On Saturday they took us around the town and help us get acquainted. On Sunday we went to church and there we 42 people there which is really good for here. There was no more room in the chapel part of the meeting house. We were very impressed with the Branch and especially the reverence that the small children showed. Sister O and I each gave a short talk and bore our testimonies. I know that we will love the people here. PA is a small town of 8,000 + . George had 203,000. Sister O is still struggling but I know she will come to love it and be a great influence. She relates so well with everyone.
The Godfrey's lift early Tuesday morning. One thing that has been so stressful for Sister O is getting inter net service, the Vonage Phone working, our land line to work etc. We were told we had service but it took almost a week before we received service. We went to Grahamstown and visited the Fullmers (a senior couple) and had lunch with them. Elder Fullmer is Branch Pres. There. There we got to meet 2 of our former George Missionaries Elder Schamel & Elder Rateolalahy and they was exciting. On Thursday we took Elder Mfaladi to East London and pick up our new Elder which is Elder Buthelezi. We not have him and Elder Mc Greggor from Sandy Utah. It took us several days to get moved into our new apartment. Sister O is really disappointed as it is much smaller. A very small kitchen with a dining and living area down stairs and two bedrooms and a bath upstairs. We have a very small bathroom downstairs with a toilet and sink but it is hard to get in and you can't close the door because out washing machine is in the door way. The Frig. doesn't keep things very cold, only one and a half burners on the stove work, the counter around the sink is rotten and likes, and you hold up the shelf under the sink with water bottles. Sister O is in LOVE with the Kitchen. I have talked with the rental agency about this and told them that we would not live there under those conditions and would move if the owners didn't fix it. They are trying to sell the place so we were not sure, but we got word that it would be taken care of in about 2 weeks.
The roads in PA are really bad with solid potholes on every road. It took me nearly a week to organize the paper work that Elder Godfrey left behind but I have it pretty well the way I need it. Now I need to learn more about all the reports I need to do and the welfare system for needy families.
On our last P-Day I took Sister O for a ride to a small town called Denton on the Sea. It is only clean and a very nice town on the beach. The Elders never get to do any thing exciting here so in the afternoon we took them to a place called Bathurst about 20 mines a way and sew some interesting and neat things. We went to a pineapple farm, then to a place called horseshoe bend or where waters meet. A place where a rive forms a large horseshoe (almost a complete circle). You view from a high look out pace and it is really a beautiful spot. We then went to an old Mill that was open in the early 1800. It is on a creek an was run by a large water paddle wheel. It burned down and then was re-built into a grain mill. It was 3 stories and really neat and interesting to see. There was a lot of other things to do but we ran out of time.
Everything here really rust and fast I'm sure it is because of the ocean air. You can wash the windows in your car in a day or so you can hardly see through the windows. On Wed. evening we left to go to East London to Zone Conference about hour and 45 min away. We stayed in a B&B. The conference was really great conference and very spiritual. Pres. Probst had Sister O and I bear our Testimonies. I guess it was because of our new calling. We were Elder to meet up with Elders Cooney, Wilson, Moyo, Schamel & Mwenda that we had in George and that was really a treat. We had a Baptism on Saturday the second since we have been here. Today for Church we had Sacrament, the conformation of the new member. We then had him bear his testimony, he did a great job and I was really impressed. We then showed the Saturday am session of General Conference and it was so good and I talked to our branch members for about 5 to 10 min. I know that we are going to love the people here and that they will touch our lives. I know that we will love our new calling and will be blessed. We can already feel the love of the people here.
Well I have rambled on long enough and it is time to close. We love all of you at home. Not only family but all our friends as well. We feel bad that we didn't leave from our Gilbert Ward as we hear from our friends there. We haven't heard any thing from the ward in Pinetop. We LOVE getting news from home. Please all of you keep sending your e-mails. We Love and miss you so!
PS. Desiree's daughter Elizabeth was baptized on April 17th we so much wanted to be there as she wanted Elder O'Dell to baptize and confirm her. We are so thrilled and excited for her an Desiree they are such wonderful people.
We Love you all. Please e-mail us
Elder & Sister O'Dell (Mom & Dad) Grandpa Woody & Linda & Grandma
