2. 3 African women making money ( we had to pay to take this picture)
3. Aunt Bonnie & Uncle Bob at Cango Caves Fun Fun !
4. Guess what we found in SA 'ARIZONA'
5. Elephants we saw.
6. Hippos - we were so close.
7. Branch Christmas play
8. Our new missionaries
November 21, 2010
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Well we are really late in writing our letter, but we have been so busy it has been hard to find time. We left to go to Capetown on November 1st to pick up Sister O's sister Bonnie and her husband Bob. It was a long drive . We picked them up at the airport about 11:30pm and stayed at a hotel at the airport. Bob & Bonnie were going to be here for 2 weeks and we were really looking forward to spending time with them and have family from home here. We spent the next day in Capetown doing fun things. We went to the top of Table Mountain and enjoyed the views plus some popular shopping areas in and around Capetown. I think Bob had a hard time adjusting to driving on the wrong side of the road, (after 2 weeks I don't think he ever really did adjust) Sister O made him ride in the front with me and her sister and her set in the back.
We then went to our favorite place, George (rained all the way) we spent 2 nights there and enjoyed George again. We showed them the beautiful Outeniqua Pass. We went to an Ostrich farm where Bonnie got to ride an Ostrich and then feed them with their heads wrapped around yours. We got to help with a missionary lesson at Gerard & Desirees with the new Senior Couple the Ladles. Desiree & Gerard are GREAT people and treated us so wonderful. We were glad Bob & Bonnie got to meet them. On the way back we visited many beautiful places, Victory Bay, Dolphins point, the bungy jump area at Tsitsikamma. We stopped to see out Africa Son George and got some wood carvings etc. He wasn't there but we got to visit his partner Charles. They both want to go on a mission really bad. We stopped in P.E. and had dinner with our great friends the La Prays and then home to Port Alfred. We got home about 7:15pm Friday How fast time goes when you are having fun!
We had a really good fast and testimony meeting on Sunday, I think Bob and Bonnie enjoyed it and enjoyed the African people. We have so many wonderful people here that we love so much. We had a change in our missionary status on Friday, the day we got home. Elder Dodoo went to Queen Williamstown and we got Elder Rigby from Idaho.
On Monday we took Bob & Bonnie to our favorite breakfast place at Fish River Sun. We met another Senior couple from Arizona, the Jones there. They had their son and his wife visiting. Than Bob & I took our Elders golfing. I think Bob enjoyed this. I know the Elders did. Sister O and Bonnie also went to ride around the course in a golf cart. It is such a beautiful place, we have told you about it before. On Tuesday we went to Addo Elephant Park where we meet the La Parys. We had a great time. We must have seen 4-500 elephants, a lot of herds, one lion and a black backed jackle. We than went to another game farm called Schotia where we saw a large variety of game. We were about 10 feet from 2 large rhino's and this was exciting. We got home about 9:30pm that night.
On Thursday we had to go to P.E. for our transfers. Instead of Sister O going with me, I took Bob with me. This is always fun as we get to visit with a lot of our Elders that we know. The wind was so strong that it was hard to keep the car on the road. We took Elder Rapitse and got Elder Aphone who will be our new District Leader and a Greenie by the name of Elder LaBala from Botswana. Elder Aphone is on his last transfer. Elder LaBala is a large guy (but not fat) He seems like a very happy person. He is one of 38 children of his Father. His Father has 5 wife's and lives as to old trible traditions. He is the only one of his family that is a member of the church, but feels many more will join in time. They were not happy at first when he joined the church but are very supportive after the change they have seen in his life. We now have 4 elders the other two are Elder Rigby from Idaho & Elder Grobler from South Africa.
When we took Bonnie & Bob to the airport on Monday to start their homeward journey we left early to go to a game form called Kragga Kamma in the P.E. area where you drive yourself around in your own car, we all enjoyed it very much. They had a pen with 3 Cheetahs that you can pet. Sister O & Bonnie petted them and they seemed very relaxed. Well when I tried to pet this one his attitude chaged as it growled at me and snapped at me 3 times, so I decided that 3 times was enough. I was afraid the 4th time might be serious and I would be bit. The La Prays went with us to the airport for lunch. The Robinsons also joined us a little later . We surely enjoyed having Bonnie & Bob visit us and share SA with us. It was so good to see and have family here from home.
I was really busy all last week trying to get our new chapel ready & moving from the old to the new. I usually was there at about 6:30am to 7pm every day. It was a long week and I was extremely tired & worn out but we are really excited about the move. It won't be completely finished but it is still really nice. We will have to wait for some things after a new budget comes in as the funds are pretty well gone for this year.
We had our Branch Christmas party on Saturday (Nov 20th) . We have it early because so many people will be gone in December for the Holidays. We were also told that after Christmas we will have a lot of people here in PA for Holiday. We had a great dinner from everyone and Sister O really did a lot of work. We played some fun games and we all had a good time.
I had a girl come up to me after the party and asked me if I would be her father as she doesn't have a father. She was baptized about 4 months ago. I told her I would be happy to be her father. She then went to Sister O & told her and then asked Sister O to be her mother, also even though she has a mother. I really appreciate Sister O as we need each other and we couldn't do this with out each other.
Last week we had our largest attendance ever of 59. We had a great turnout (Sunday) also we had a stake conference by vido all across Africa. Our speakers were Elder Dallon Oakes of the Q of the 12, Sister Beck of the general Young Women's (President Monson daughter) Elder Golden of the 70 who is from SA and then Pres Boyd K Packer of the 12. We have really been blessed with a lot of talks from our general authorities on video broadcast and in person. It makes it so special. Tonight we are having our 4 Elders over for a braii.
During the week we had one of the 70's here. He goes all around the mission and talks with all our missionaries personally. He is a Psychologist. Since we couldn't meet in our new building or the old one he came to our home. They are Elder & Sister Scott, we really enjoyed meeting them and visiting with them. Earlier in the week Sister O & I had the opportunity to go with Elder Rigby and Grobler on a teaching visit and we surely enjoyed it.
Well it is time to close but not before we tell all of you how much we love & miss you. You will never know how great it was to see family from home. Thanks Bonnie & Bob for your time in coming to see us in SA. We truly felt special and loved every minute of the time together.
Thanks Mandy for your e-mail & pictures, they were great, also Kaytlin for your sweet message you left us! We really love hearing from everyone and most of all the Grandchildren. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!
Love to all
Sister & Elder O'Dell
Mom & Dad (Linda & Woody)
Grandma & Papa Wood
PS: Mandy we have some fireballs for you from SA that I think you will enjoy
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