O'Dell Family Letter for February

1. Elders & President playing Golf

2. Members in the church yard getting ready for the Baptism

3. Elders & members having fun cleaning & working in the yard

Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,

Greetings again from beautiful South Africa. Yes, we really do love it here BUT
we are really getting anxious to be home to see our family and friends. We love you all so much! We are so grateful that we have been able to serve and the most wonderful experiences we have had and are still having. Many times its been trying at times but the rewards are worth every minute.

A few weeks ago our branch did a service project where we did our "Mormon Helping Hands" service project at a home for homeless children. We did a lot of work but it is fun when you do it all together. We cleaned up the large yard, cleaned and prepared a number of flower beds, trimmed and pruned a number of trees and shrubbery, weeded the yard, cut and raked the yard, cleaned and swept 4 patios. They were having and open house there a few days later. The children are really lucky to have such a nice place.

Sister O and I have been busy making a number of visits. Sister O has visited a number of Young Women in her class to help them understand their personal progress projects etc. so that they can qualify for this. Also for the Young Men to work on their, Duty to God Awards. We have some great youth in our branch and Sister O is really doing a great job in the Young Women's program.

We had the zone leaders come from East London and spent 2 nights with us. They had some baptismal interviews to do plus doing exchanges with our elders. They also were here for our district meeting. On Monday for P-Day which was also valentines day we took our Elders to Bathurst to see the Big Pineapple and to get some pictures of them at the big pineapple. We sent some pictures with the last letter.

On Saturday the 19th we had President & Sister Probst here for a district training meeting and then interviews. It was a good meeting and Sister O prepared a nice lunch for all of us. (8 in all) I then had a few interviews set up for President Probst which he needed to do. They then went to Grahamstown but were back with us for Sacrament meeting on Sunday Morning. Everyone always wants to hear from President & Sister Probst. We had a very large turn our for church with a large number of investigators. We have really had way above average attendance for January & February. We have really been pleased and excited about the progress in our branch.

After church President Probst had a few a few more interviews to so and then we had a disciplinary counsel to do with a Sister in our branch. This is not much fun but I know that she will be okay and strong in the church. It was a long-day as we were at the church from 8am until almost 4pm.

On Monday P-Day the Elders and I went to the driving range and Sister O went shopping. Two of the elders had never swung a golf club but they really seemed to enjoy it. The other 2 elders, Lebala & Bangerter have golfed here a few times and really love it. After this Sister O and I made 5 visits to people in our branch. We try to visit as much as we can and when we feel we should.

On Wednesday evening we had a steak braai with Patrick & Hazel and Elder Bangerter & Rako. Patrick & Hazel are investigators and are wonderful people. They remind us of The Dangine Family in George except in George it was the wife that was interested, with Pat & Hazel it is the husband that is interested. They both told us it was the most fun and enjoyable night that they can remember in a very long time. We are so glad and wish that they could be to church this week but they will be out of town.

I am speaking in church Sunday and there are some things I wanted them to hear and I prepared my talk with them somewhat in mind, but a talk that I feel we all need. I am speaking on commandments.

We spent Thursday February 24 with Elder & Sister Platero. We found out it was their 44th wedding anniversary. The girls went shopping and just visited and Elder Platero and I went golfing here in Port Alfred. The people at the golf
course have been really good to me. We get a senior discount and a reciprical membership discount plus now they are giving me a clergy discount. We played 18 holes and it cost us R85 apiece. This is about $12.00 a round. I wish I could do that in America. I doubt that I will be able to play very often back home as it is so much more expensive.

Well Friday morning we had district meeting again and then we took the Elders out for Chinese food as that is what they wanted for our big meal of the week. Elder Austin our district leader only allows us one dinner a week with the Elders.

On Saturday afternoon we had 2 baptisms at the church in our new portable baptismal font. They were 2 sisters by the names of Zoleka Hans-Nokonya (baptized by Elder Labala) and Nontombi Dosi (baptized by Elder Austin) It was a beautiful service. We had a talk on baptism by Elder Rakotoarivelo and on receiving the Holy Ghost by Elder Austin. Sister O made 10 doz cookies again and I think they were all gone. We have such a lovely back yard at our church for things like this.

On Sunday we had a wonderful service with the confirmation of these 2 wonderful sisters. Elder Lebala confirmed Nontombi and I confirmed Zoleka. I then had them bear their testimonies and it was so wonderful to hear them. I gave a talk on commandments which was about 20 minutes. I liked the talk but I need to try and shorten it. I want to give one more talk that I prepared last week on "Preparing for the 2nd coming"

Last week Sister O and I received an e-mail from a member of my family. It was a most wonderful and heart warming message that was so special to Sister O & I. They will never know how much it meant to both of us and touched our heart and feelings. Thank You! We only wish all of you could know the feelings in our heart of how much we love and appreciate each one of you and how special you all are. Sister O and I both love you with all our hearts. We love each others families with all our hearts. Thank you for being so wonderful.

In closing I would like to say one thing to my family. I'm sure you each know what a wonderful mother you had and have. There is nothing that would bring more joy and happiness to her as she looks down on us than to have each of us love each other as our Heavenly Father has commanded us to do.

I also want Sister O's family to know how much I love their mother and how lucky I was to find another such wonderful person to share my life with and to share her life and her family.

We both love All of you and can't wait to see you!

"Only 48 more days but who is counting!"
All our Love
President & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad (Linda & woody)
Grandpa & Grandma

Hello From Africa !

1. Mother & Baby Caroline

2. Elders at Care Center with Sister Kenny

3. Baptism Font

4. Elder Lebala sign

5. Elder Lebala & Siphokazi

6. Elders  at the top of the Big Pineapple on P=Day

7. Elders & Pres O having fun on P-Day

8. Elephant at Game Park 

9. Giraffe with President O' Dell & Elders

February 15, 2011

Dear Family Friends & Loved Ones

Greetings again from South Africa. It is past time again to write our letter home. My how the time is flying for us. Sometimes it is hard to find time to do all we need to do and want to do.

Well on Monday for P Day (2 weeks ago) I took all our Elders golfing. They really enjoy it and they have really given us a great rate. It is R58 for 13 holes  which is only about $ 8.00. I wish we could do that at home. On Tuesday we got transfer news. We will be keeping Elder Bangerter & Lebala, We are getting Elder Austin as our District Leader  who is fro Texas. He has been an AP (assistant to the President). We are also getting and Elder from Madagascar so it will be a long name ad one hard to pronounce. Sister O & I took our Elders to Fish River Sun for breakfast. Elder Moorcroft has finished his mission and is going home to Jo Burg  and is going to engineering school. Elder Rigby is going to Capetown South. We understand that Elder Austin is a very by the book person so our elders won't be having as much fun but the missionary work will or should go great. We really like our new Elders we have met Elder Austin before. The other new elder is Elder  Rakoloarivelo. We will call him Elder Rako. We took Elder Bangerter & Rako to Kenton-on-the sea to visit a senior citizen community and had lunch there. A sister in our branch fixes meals for them each day. We then visited and older couple  from our branch in Alexandria, the Barris's  about 50 K away. Then back to Kenton to teach a couple we met at our Spur restaurant. Their son is the owner. He used to be the heavyweight wrestling champion of SA for many years. He is 71 and they really seems like a nice couple.  Then back to Port Alfred as we had a number of visits we needed to make.

We had District Meeting at 10:30 on Friday and then we had our audit at 2:00pm. I needed then to meet with Brother Jubber from East London to go over some details on our church that we are trying to get finished. We then took elder Plehn & his wife out to eat Chinese food. Elder Plehn is the one that did the audit.

We got the go ahead yesterday to finish our church building. We are supposed to get 3 AC units, outside security gates, folding dividers for classrooms, bookcases, filing cabinets, door for my office & clerks office, raised floor in front, microphone, new stove in kitchen & etc. This will be exciting to have completed. Plus replace a few broken windows & gravel the front to help keep our building cleaner.  I have been really busy on getting bids on this as I have to have 2 bids on everything.

Sister O & I then had to go grocery shopping for a dinner party at the church for our YW & YM  to present and work on the Duty to God program and the YW Personal progress.

Sunday was and always is a GREAT day at church. It was fast & testimony meeting, I always really enjoy this as my testimony is strengthened as I listen to members bear their testimonies. We also had a baby blessing. Her name is Caroline Siambwezele. She is really a cute baby. She gave her father the cutest smile during the blessing.

On Monday we met 3 other senior couples ( La Prays, Taylors, & Robinson's  and their son & his wife)  at the Addo Elephant Park. We didn't see as much as usual but being with the other senior couples is always fun. We then went to Schotia Game Reserve and had a great time.  We really saw a lot and I think I got some great videos of lions & rhinos. We didn't get home until well after 10pm We then realized that Sister O left her camera in the safari vehicle and that the spare battery and a couple of full memory cards form my movie camera came out of my case while in the vehicle. So Tuesday morning we were back on the road (105 K) to get them but we were really glad to get them back.

We had a couple of teaching appointments with the Elders on Wednesday & Thursday. The people seem to really be wonderful and golden contacts. The man has a daughter in  England and she wants missionaries to contact her so I arranged for that. I spent more time on Wednesday getting more bids for our church building.

We got a small above ground pool to use as a baptismal font. It was a lot of work putting it together. We have a baptism tomorrow (Saturday) and we will be using it. Since Elder Lebala will be the first Elder to use it to baptize someone. I named it the Lebala's Font. He was quite excited about that . Sister O made 7 doz. Cookies and the R.S. Sisters had a work meeting before the Baptism and made 2 chocolate cakes that we enjoyed eating after the baptism. We really had a large turn out at the baptism. The Sister being baptized was Siphokazi Dayile. A great  lady with a strong testimony and was so excited wanting to be baptized.

On Thursday I met with our RS president for about and hour.  Then later that afternoon Elder Taylor and his wife came from PE for a 4:30 meeting and training of our seminary teacher by the name of Patience Mgadi. We then visited the Cockbain's and then we all went and had chinese food. The La Prays came by about 9:15pm from East London area as they were doing a PEF program. We brought home some chinese food for them. They all  stayed the night with us and then the Taylor's left to go home about 7am while we went to play golf with the La Prays. It was really quite sad. I lost my first game of golf since coming to Africa. "Oh well"

We went on a teaching appointment Friday night and it was great. It is so good to see people accept the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives. Sometimes it is hard to understand people. They supposedly  believe in God & the Bible but still most people don't follow the doctrine of Christ as taught in the Bible. So many have followed a simple way because of the convenience or that it is easier. So many people believe in the commandments of God but only choose to obey those that they want or easier for them. That is why it is so exciting to see people accept  His Gospel and keep His commandments.

We had a really great Sacrament meeting Sunday (Feb.13) I confirmed our new member  and then asked her to bear her testimony. It was so good and powerful. Durning Priesthood meeting we conferred the Aaronic Priesthood  upon Brother Hola and ordained him to the office of a priest. I asked Elder Bangerter to do this and he did a good job with a wonderful blessing. We have a number of great investigators and in time I think we will have a number of baptisms.

For P-Day today (Feb 14) we took the Elders to a game park just outside of town and we  think they really enjoyed it. There is one giraffe that is really tame. You can walk right up to it and pet it. He is really a big giraffe. We braii'd some steak on sunday night for the Elders and had left overs for lunch before we went to the game reserve.

Well it is time to close. We love you all so much and can't wait to see you. We haven't heard any thing more on our departure plans, but we will let you know as soon as we know.  "We hope everyone had a Wonderful Valentines Day"

Love President & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad
Linda & Woody
Grandma & Grandpa

Last Letter of January

1. Elder Lebala making us Pop for dinner

2. All the children sitting so quiet waiting for cookies

3. Elder Onen with the O'Dells

4. Elder Rigby doing his first Baptism

January 30, 2011


Dear Family,Friends & Loved Ones,

Greetings again from beautiful South Africa, It seems like time is really flying by fast. We are often told that this is a sign of old age, but we know that can't be true Ha! Ha!. Time is getting short as we have only 21/2 months before we head for home. Sister Herbert called about a week ago and talked to us about going home so she could begin arranging our schedule. EXCITING

Sunday a few weeks ago I asked Sister O to talk in church. She really hates to do this but she really does a fantastic job, after church I had 3 people to set apart 2 for SS teachers and 1 for seminary teacher. We have a really great group of young men & women of seminary age this year. I think we will have 7 in seminary. That is really good for our small branch and we really have some really great youth in our branch.

Sister O & I have had a number of opportunities to go on teaching visits with our Elders. It seems as though they are teaching some great people. We would really be blessed if the gospel would grow in this area both in number and strength. We love the gospel so much and are really excited at what is starting to happen here. We know it will take time but we are really encouraged.

On Monday Sister O and I had to go to East London fairly early as Elder Onen was having some ear surgery and we wanted to be there for him. The surgery went well. Elder Onen was quite out of it all day on Monday. We had a family night with 4 of our Elders from East London at the Jones's empty flat where we stayed and had a good time with them. On Tuesday at 7am we were back at the Hospital and picking up Elder Onen to bring him home to our flat in Port Alfred. He was with us for 10 days. He is really a great Elder but it still was good to take him back to East London. Sister O & I love the Elders so much but it is also nice to have time to or for ourselves. Elder Onen is the one we wrote to you earlier about having his family killed in front of him etc. He has had some real adversity in his life and struggles but I'm sure the Lord will bless him deeply in his life for giving of his service under such circumstances. After his final Doctor appointment on February 7, he will fly home to Uganda on February 8th. He is struggling somewhat with fears as I'm sure we can all understand. If he keeps strong with his faith we told him he would be blessed. President & Sister Probst came by Friday afternoon and visited Elder Owen and ourselves for about hour and then to the church to have a meeting (training) with our Elders for about 2 hours.

On Wednesday I had a lot to do and I got most of it done and then we had the Platero's over from Grahamstown as it was Pres Platero's birthday. We had KFC Chicken (because that is Pres. Platero's best food he likes to eat) Then Pres. Platero wanted to go Golfing for his birthday so we went for 13 holes along with Elder Moorcroft & Bangerter as they didn't have any appointments at that time.

When we finished we had the Zone leaders at our flat. They came to do splits with our Elders and they stayed with us for 2 nights. Elder Onen was still here so we had quite a house full.

I've been trying to visit a Brother Tsitsi from our branch. He hasn't been out for over a year. He received the Melchezidek Priesthood and since he had the priesthood he thought (I guess) that he could start his own church. I haven't been able to contact him yet but we know that his wife really wants to come back to the church. I will keep trying but I think he has been avoiding me.


President Probst & his wife were here Last Sunday and we had a really good sacrament service. Afterwords we both had some interviews and didn't get home until about 2:30pm a long day as we were there at 8am. Then at 4 pm we went with Elder Moorcroft & Bangerter to teach a new investigator. He is such a great person and really wants to hear more but his wife believes in God but doesn't believe in religion and leaves the room when we begin teaching.

This last week we have been able to do a few service projects which we always like to be able to do. We had 7 investigators out to church last Sunday which is always exciting. Yesterday at church we really had a good turnout. One of our speakers didn't show up so I had to talk for the last 15min. Then since it was the 5th Sunday we had a combined RS & PH meeting and I was in charge of this and we really had a good meeting (I think) We talked about. Family, Love and Family Home Evening.

On Saturday we had a baptismal service for a man that has been attending for several months. His name is Ncebazakhe Hola ( try and say this one) He wanted me to baptize him but I talked him into having Elder Rigby baptize him as he did most of the teaching and it meant so much to Elder Rigby. We had a good turn out to the baptismal service and Sister O made 10 doz cookies. Everyone over here really likes treats and you can never make too many. Elder Lebala did the confirmation and really did a great job with a beautiful blessing. It is so wonderful to see these young men grow and mature in the gospel. I had one of our YW ask me to give her a blessing during SS as she wasn't feeling well. This is always such a wonderful privilege. Her name is Olewethu Ngcibi and seems to have about the strongest testimony of any young women you would ever see. I wish we had many more like her.

After the baptism when we went back to the church for refreshments it was so neat to see. There were 6 or 7 young primary children sitting in the small primary chairs. They all had their arms folded and was patiently waiting for their cookies.

Last night we Braai'd steaks and Elder Lebala fixed pop. (This is one thing we have heard a lot about but we have never eaten any) The people in SA always tell us they like meat and pop. We had never had the pop. It is a thick corn meal like poi or a masa with not much flavor. He made a big pan of meat, spicy chili etc. which was really good that you eat the pop with. We all enjoyed it very much.

Well it is about time to close again. We love you very much and miss everyone. We have been gone so long you will all probably forget who we are and what we look like. (except for Jenna Gale she knows that I am bald & Grandma is short) But we hope not. We can't wait to come home.

Love you all so much
President O'Dell & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad (Woody & Linda)
Grandpa Woody & Grandma

January 21,2011

1. A cute sign we saw on the road

2. Elder & Sister O'Dell with the Elders at Zone Training

3. The La Prays and all the Elders Eating at the O'Dells Home

4. The Zone with President Watson

Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,

Greetings again from beautiful South Africa. It is a beautiful country but we are still missing everyone and anxious to get home. I think Sister O is really nervous for some reason and she can't really explain except that she is somewhat afraid. I think that will disappear quite rapidly when she puts her feet back on America soil three months from now :) I think we are planning on going to the Jo burg temple on the way home.

For Christmas I gave a round of golf to our 4 Elders. We teed off at 7:45am on New Years Day. We had a lot of fun but the weather was absolutely miserable . We had a light drizzly rain the entire round. I wished for the Elders sake that we could have had a good weather for them to enjoy this very beautiful course. I didn't play as I was trying to save some R's. I walked the 18 holes and let the Elders ride in the carts.

On Sunday we had a great fast and testimony meeting which I always really enjoy. We had 4 investigators present which always makes it nice. On Monday for P-Day we took the Elders to ride some Zip line about 35 K's past Grahamstown toward East London. It was rather cool with an occasional sprinkle but we found it was closed when we got there which was just as well as it was too expensive for the Elders. We didn't have much time left so we went to see a place on the Kowie River that is a beautiful view. It is called "Waters Meeting" We have really had a lot of overcast skies with a lot of sprinkle rain and a few good rains. The country is unbelievable green.

Sister O and I have been making a lot of visits to members of our Branch. We have a lot of members with so many needs that it is hard to keep up with it all. On Wednesday we went to East London for Zone Training Conference which was going to be on Thursday. We met the Plateros there as the wife's wanted to go shopping on Wednesday. We stayed at the Jones flat (they have already gone home to America) Elder Platero & I thought we might get in a round of golf in the afternoon But it didn't work out. It rained all the day. The course is a pretty nice and long course and only cost R 40 for 18 holes which is about $5 or 6. I wished we could play in America for that price. The Zone leaders car was in for service so we let them use our car all afternoon. We had a great Zone Conference on Thursday and got home to PA at about 5:30pm that afternoon.

The Jones have gone home and there is quite a number of elders in East London so President Probst asked us if we would be willing to go there to make sure they have supplies etc. and to do flat inspections and we said that we would and also to do any repairs that the flats may need.

We have been quite busy since we got home. I am in the process of doing some changes in our branch. I think it will give us more strength in some positions and some better teachers. I have really been busy this last week meeting and counseling with some members of our branch that have been having marital problems. Right now they seem to be happier then ever. Now we just hope that it will last but it is so great to see. Also a couple that is having morality problems. I think they are really doing good. I've visited with them a number of times. President Probst visited with them also last Saturday in the evening. The Brother rides a bike to church every week and has never missed. It is over 20k's one way with a lot of hills. I think he will be moving back to town shortly and it will be so much easier for him. I have also been plagued with a rash of welfare problems. But it looks like things are looking better. When you live in an area like this that has so much poverty, you get a lot of this.

On Saturday afternoon Elder & Sister Herbert from the mission office came and stayed with us for 2 nights. It was really nice to get acquainted with them. We have met them before several times. They are really a fun couple to be with. We took them to Fish River Sun for their fabulous breakfast where we also met the Platero's. On Tuesday we met the Herbets, the La Prays and the Robinson's at Addo Elephant Park and had a great time. This will probably be the Herbets only time to get out of the office and see parts of SA. I think they are really enjoying their time away from the office.

Today is Thursday January 13 and Sister O seems to feel better today for the first time in months. I hope so. I love her so much and appreciate all her hard work. She is not happy right now though because she has to talk in church on Sunday. She does hate to talk in Church!

Well it is time to close another chapter in our time in SA. The saga is coming to and end in 3 months. Please everyone don't for get how much we love and miss all of you. You are so special to us and give so much meaning to our lives.

All Our love to everyone
President O'Dell & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad (Linda & Woody)
Grandma & Papa (Grandpa & Grandpa Woody)