2. Elder Far (going home to Utah) Elder Cooney & Elder Schamel
3. Out with the Old and in with the new Transfer Day (one stayed, one went to Cape Town, and one is new)
4. Sister O and her Elders
5. Elder O on the Bridge at Storms River Mouth
6. The pet giraffe with the Elders
7. All the Elders having Dinner at the O'Dells on Friday night
June 8, 2010
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Well it has been several weeks since we have written. Sometimes it is hard to find time to write as we should. A few weeks ago we had the Grahamstown Elders come to PA for P-DAY. We went to a small game preserve right here in PA on the edge of a township. It was only R 150.00 per car which is about $20.00 a car. They really had a lot of fun and an enjoyable time. There was one giraffe that was really tame and wherever we would stop, it would come over to us. He liked to be pet and he would lick the Elders. They spent a lot of time doing this and got some fantastic pictures. I saw one really great Nyala bull but I could never get a good picture of it. We did have some beautiful views of the Kowie River. That runs there in Port Alfred.
On Saturday we had a baptismal service for Constance Ruziwa. She is a really small girl and the wife of Charles Ruziwa who I am calling to be my 2nd counselor in the Branch Presidency. I believe Pres. Probst will be here next Sunday the 13th of June, and he will be set apart and sustained. He will be a great and strong man in the church here. We had 4 really great and strong melchizedek priesthood holders that I'm sure will be the backbone of the growth of the church here in PA. The 1st counselor will be Canny Nobebe.
On Monday we went with 3 other senior couples to a game reserve called Kwanto and it was kind of a going away get together for another senior couple that is finishing their mission and going home. He is the Branch President in Grahamstown and they are President & Sister Fullmer. The reserve is between PE and Grahamstown. There must be 30 to 40 more in the area that we went to. We met 2 of the other couples in Grahamstown for lunch before going to the reserve. It was really a beautiful place and if you stayed overnight the accommodations were very luxurious When we got thru we were allowed to pet and hold some lion cubs and I wanted to get some pictures of Sister O doing this but she wasn't feeling well.
On Tuesday we met with a brother in our branch and his sister and mother and found them in utter poverty. They had two pineapples in there "home" to eat that someone gave them. We spent most of the PM taking care of some welfare needs. He did have a job. I told him that if he would be prayerful, keep God's commandments and pay tithing that he would be blessed. I told him that God would bless him, but that he had to do his part. I was in tears as he called me last week and thanked me and to tell me he now has a good job. God does love and bless us. I was so excited at Sacrament Meeting when he paid tithing and also fast offerings. I was literally in tears. This calling has many challenges but is also so rewarding. I wish everyone could feel the blessings that we feel. What a wonderful blessing Sister O and I have to be able to serve our Heavenly Father.
Last week we had transfers and lost Elder McGregor who we loved dearly. But we were blessed with another GREAT missionary in Elder Marler from Idaho. This is only his 2nd six weeks and he is doing a great job. Of course Sister O is doing her best to spoil all the missionaries she can with her cooking and feeding them.
The kitchen in our flat is so bad and after 51/2 weeks of promises, Pres Probst gave us permission to find another flat. We did find a great place in a few days. It has 3 bedrooms, 21/2 baths, a garage and yard and a lot of storage and is fully carpeted. I think we will really enjoy it. It even has a TV in it. We will move in the last of June.
On Sunday we had 40 people out which is the second highest our Branch has had. The most is 42. On Sunday we had a great meeting showing the Saturday PM session of General Conference. Then I talked after for a bit. The spirit felt so strong and it is such a great opportunity when we can listen to our General Authorities.
On Monday the Robinsons and us are going to breakfast at Fish River Sun then back to PA for to play a round of golf at Royal Port Alfred Golf Course. It is a beautiful course that is like a game reserve as there is so much wild life on the course. You get a view of the ocean on every hole. I know that Sister O really enjoyed driving the golf cart around this beautiful area. While we were golfing Elder Hurbert called me from the Mission Office in Cape Town and needed help in George in finding a new flat for the elders there and helping the elders there as well. So when we got through golfing we came home, cleaned up, packed and left. We went as far as PE and stayed with the Robinsons that night. We left early the next AM and headed for George. Sister O has really been wanting to have a chance to return to George and this was her chance. We found a flat for the Elders in short order and then did a lot of visiting many of our friends there and worked with and helped the new Elders there as much as we could.
The next day Sister O was able to get her hair cut and her nails done. Also lunch and dinner with some of our convert friends. We were really busy the whole time we were there. We met the Plateros coming down from Namibia they are going to Grahamstown to be the new Branch Pres there. They are replace the Fullmers who are leaving to go home to Utah. They stayed the night with us in George at our old flat . They are Navajo from southern Utah. (They are the first American Indian senior couple to serve a mission for the Church.) We left early the next morning to come back home and showed them some of the sights and things to see on the way home. We stopped at the Bridge to see Elizabeth but she was not there. They really enjoyed the Bungy Jump area and we got to see 2 people jump. We stopped at Storms River Mouth and hiked to the 3 swinging bridges and really enjoyed this. We then stopped to visit our Africa Son George. He is doing so good and has such a strong testimony. He wants to go on a mission so bad and I hope it can happen. We couldn't get the volunteers we needed to help support him but he is trying so hard to save for this. We then went to PE where we both spent the night at the Stones' old flat and then home to PA the next morning. It was a long and hurried and busy trip. Sister O enjoyed it so much and I'm sure that Pres. Probst won't let us do it again.
After Sacrament Meeting Sister O'Dell asked me to give her a blessing. The elders assisted me and we felt such a strong spirit with us. It is amazing the wonderful blessings we have and receive here while we serve our Heavenly Father. We are really loving the people here and serving them and really appreciated the love they show us.
Well I guess I had a grandson get married recently, we feel kind of bad that we didn't get an announcement, a call or an e-mail. Congratulations Brennen! We love you but wish some of you would keep us up to date on what is happening. We do love you all and want to hear what is going on in your lives. Thanks Troy. We enjoyed hearing from you and your poem was really GREAT.
Well it is time to close please e-mail and keep in touch.
All our love: President O'Dell & Sister O
Mom & Dad Woody & Linda, Grandpa, Papa, Papa Woody & Grandma
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Well it has been several weeks since we have written. Sometimes it is hard to find time to write as we should. A few weeks ago we had the Grahamstown Elders come to PA for P-DAY. We went to a small game preserve right here in PA on the edge of a township. It was only R 150.00 per car which is about $20.00 a car. They really had a lot of fun and an enjoyable time. There was one giraffe that was really tame and wherever we would stop, it would come over to us. He liked to be pet and he would lick the Elders. They spent a lot of time doing this and got some fantastic pictures. I saw one really great Nyala bull but I could never get a good picture of it. We did have some beautiful views of the Kowie River. That runs there in Port Alfred.
On Saturday we had a baptismal service for Constance Ruziwa. She is a really small girl and the wife of Charles Ruziwa who I am calling to be my 2nd counselor in the Branch Presidency. I believe Pres. Probst will be here next Sunday the 13th of June, and he will be set apart and sustained. He will be a great and strong man in the church here. We had 4 really great and strong melchizedek priesthood holders that I'm sure will be the backbone of the growth of the church here in PA. The 1st counselor will be Canny Nobebe.
On Monday we went with 3 other senior couples to a game reserve called Kwanto and it was kind of a going away get together for another senior couple that is finishing their mission and going home. He is the Branch President in Grahamstown and they are President & Sister Fullmer. The reserve is between PE and Grahamstown. There must be 30 to 40 more in the area that we went to. We met 2 of the other couples in Grahamstown for lunch before going to the reserve. It was really a beautiful place and if you stayed overnight the accommodations were very luxurious When we got thru we were allowed to pet and hold some lion cubs and I wanted to get some pictures of Sister O doing this but she wasn't feeling well.
On Tuesday we met with a brother in our branch and his sister and mother and found them in utter poverty. They had two pineapples in there "home" to eat that someone gave them. We spent most of the PM taking care of some welfare needs. He did have a job. I told him that if he would be prayerful, keep God's commandments and pay tithing that he would be blessed. I told him that God would bless him, but that he had to do his part. I was in tears as he called me last week and thanked me and to tell me he now has a good job. God does love and bless us. I was so excited at Sacrament Meeting when he paid tithing and also fast offerings. I was literally in tears. This calling has many challenges but is also so rewarding. I wish everyone could feel the blessings that we feel. What a wonderful blessing Sister O and I have to be able to serve our Heavenly Father.
Last week we had transfers and lost Elder McGregor who we loved dearly. But we were blessed with another GREAT missionary in Elder Marler from Idaho. This is only his 2nd six weeks and he is doing a great job. Of course Sister O is doing her best to spoil all the missionaries she can with her cooking and feeding them.
The kitchen in our flat is so bad and after 51/2 weeks of promises, Pres Probst gave us permission to find another flat. We did find a great place in a few days. It has 3 bedrooms, 21/2 baths, a garage and yard and a lot of storage and is fully carpeted. I think we will really enjoy it. It even has a TV in it. We will move in the last of June.
On Sunday we had 40 people out which is the second highest our Branch has had. The most is 42. On Sunday we had a great meeting showing the Saturday PM session of General Conference. Then I talked after for a bit. The spirit felt so strong and it is such a great opportunity when we can listen to our General Authorities.
On Monday the Robinsons and us are going to breakfast at Fish River Sun then back to PA for to play a round of golf at Royal Port Alfred Golf Course. It is a beautiful course that is like a game reserve as there is so much wild life on the course. You get a view of the ocean on every hole. I know that Sister O really enjoyed driving the golf cart around this beautiful area. While we were golfing Elder Hurbert called me from the Mission Office in Cape Town and needed help in George in finding a new flat for the elders there and helping the elders there as well. So when we got through golfing we came home, cleaned up, packed and left. We went as far as PE and stayed with the Robinsons that night. We left early the next AM and headed for George. Sister O has really been wanting to have a chance to return to George and this was her chance. We found a flat for the Elders in short order and then did a lot of visiting many of our friends there and worked with and helped the new Elders there as much as we could.
The next day Sister O was able to get her hair cut and her nails done. Also lunch and dinner with some of our convert friends. We were really busy the whole time we were there. We met the Plateros coming down from Namibia they are going to Grahamstown to be the new Branch Pres there. They are replace the Fullmers who are leaving to go home to Utah. They stayed the night with us in George at our old flat . They are Navajo from southern Utah. (They are the first American Indian senior couple to serve a mission for the Church.) We left early the next morning to come back home and showed them some of the sights and things to see on the way home. We stopped at the Bridge to see Elizabeth but she was not there. They really enjoyed the Bungy Jump area and we got to see 2 people jump. We stopped at Storms River Mouth and hiked to the 3 swinging bridges and really enjoyed this. We then stopped to visit our Africa Son George. He is doing so good and has such a strong testimony. He wants to go on a mission so bad and I hope it can happen. We couldn't get the volunteers we needed to help support him but he is trying so hard to save for this. We then went to PE where we both spent the night at the Stones' old flat and then home to PA the next morning. It was a long and hurried and busy trip. Sister O enjoyed it so much and I'm sure that Pres. Probst won't let us do it again.
After Sacrament Meeting Sister O'Dell asked me to give her a blessing. The elders assisted me and we felt such a strong spirit with us. It is amazing the wonderful blessings we have and receive here while we serve our Heavenly Father. We are really loving the people here and serving them and really appreciated the love they show us.
Well I guess I had a grandson get married recently, we feel kind of bad that we didn't get an announcement, a call or an e-mail. Congratulations Brennen! We love you but wish some of you would keep us up to date on what is happening. We do love you all and want to hear what is going on in your lives. Thanks Troy. We enjoyed hearing from you and your poem was really GREAT.
Well it is time to close please e-mail and keep in touch.
All our love: President O'Dell & Sister O
Mom & Dad Woody & Linda, Grandpa, Papa, Papa Woody & Grandma
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