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)
