2nd March Letter from SA

1. Elder & Sister O'Dell at Storms River

2. The Elders at Storms River

3. Elder & Sister Miller

4. The O'Dells Flat on Sunday Night

March 21, 2010

Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,

Well we are 2 weeks into the new transfers.  We lost Elder Caine, he went the Cape Town area. His Grandmother lives in the stake that he will be serving in, and he was quite happy to go so he could see her. The Bishop of the ward he will be in is a good friend of his parents, he was really happy about leaving.  Elder Hansen who is our new District Leader transferred from Windhoek, Namibia. It took him several days to get here as flights were changed or canceled.

We had the Millers (a senior couple) come on Friday from PE on there way to Cape Town and spend the night with us. Saturday morning Sister O & Sister Miller HAD to go shopping before they left for Cape Town. I don't understand why women like to shop so much. I'm like most men, I know what I want, and go buy it then go home. It is done, so done. Ha!

We have been visiting a family ( the Meyers) in Great Brok River about 25 miles away. They are trying to be active again the best they can. They have the same problem as most people here----NO transportation and they live far away(25 miles) from the church. They are really showing interest in the Temple and wanting to be sealed to each other. We then visited Gary & John O, they are doing so good and she loves being in Primary and working with the little children.  She really loves little babies!

We had a great fast and testimony meeting on the first Sunday of March.  The testimonies seem so spiritual here. I had the opportunity to bless the Meyers baby girl in Sacrament meeting,  they named her Electra  and there 4 year old little boy. I have really been blessed with many opportunities to give blessings to people while here in Africa.  Our SS class still seems to be going good. We have one or two more classes then it will be over. 

For Sunday Dinner the Elders wanted to try lasagna. Sister O didn't want to make it from scratch,  so we went to the store to get frozen lasagna to fix and they don't have Big ones so we bought 11 single serving and combined them into 2 pans.  It was OK but not my or Sister O favorite. But we did have a good pineapple up side down cake, salad and garlic bread.

We really haven't had to much HOT weather BUT Sunday & Monday of that week it was really HOT, about 38' and not one ounce of a breeze. All we have for cooling is a floor fan. In PE it was in the low 40' and 44' in Oudtshoorn. It is always hot there. It is supposed to cool down to about 28' & 22' for then next week or so.  The Millers came back by on Monday when it was so HOT. They were on there way back to PE and you guessed it the Girls went shopping again.

We had a great meeting with Desiree & her daughter Elizabeth on Tuesday evening. Gerard was still in France.  The Elders committed Elizabeth to baptism, but I'm not sure she is quite ready so we have to give her a few extra weeks. Desiree is so strong in the gospel, she will really be a big help to both her daughter and husband Gerard.

On Wednesday we went to Zone Conference in PE, we left about 10:30 in the morning. We will have Elder Koellicker of the 70's speaking to us. It was a combined Zone Conference with 2 Zones. Elder Koellicker is also the area president and it is always a privilege to have a general authority here and give us instructions.  On the way we stopped at Tsitsikamma to see the bungy jump bridge as all Elders haven't seen it. While there we taught Elizabeth (Georges cousin) a lesson. I'm sure  it is only a matter of time before she is baptized. We also said hello to his Aunt.
                                                                                -2-

We then stopped at Storms River Mouth to see and walk over the 3 swinging suspension bridges. It is a rather long hike and very steep in a lot of places but it is a wood planked walkway all the way. I was worried about Sister O making it but she did really well. The Elders really enjoyed it.

Our African Son George has moved and is now living in Storms River Village and it was getting late so we didn't get to visit him. We felt bad about this as we like to visit him and I know he likes us to visit him also. When we got to PE we went to dinner with 2 other senior couples. The Millers & the Spears who replaced the Stones. We spent the night with the Spears. Conference started at 9:45am and went to 1:30pm with no breaks except to stand for a minute a couple of times. The Senior couples provide lunch ( after conference is over) and only have R 60 to spend which isn't a lot so the couples furnish salads & deserts. We got home to George at 9pm that night.

On Friday morning and after District Meeting we met the Tenney's who stopped by on there way home from Cape Town to PE and we had lunch with them. They will be going home from their mission in about 9 days. They live in Denver Co. So we just wanted to say Good By.

We had a great Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.  We will be through with our SS class and Pres Matsaluka wants to start a genealogy class that is needed. We also need a Temple prep class which will start shortly. Either  Brother Hogben or I will be teaching this class I'm sure. Brother Hogben has been on a 71/2 month vacation and tour of the U.S. And will be home next week. He taught the last Temple prep class. He served in the Temple Presidency in Jo Burg a few years earlier.

Well on March 15th  I called my Brother Wayne to visit with him as it was his Birthday. On Tuesday Sister O and I visited with the Elders, a man named George (seems to be a very popular name in SA) He has been coming out for about a month. He has been reading, studying & praying about the gospel and is committed to baptism in a few weeks. We then visited a strong member of our branch named Deanna with the Elders. Her husband is a member but has not been to church since we have been here. She also has a son about 19 who is inactive as well. We had a great visit with them and her husband seemed to really like us as he talked a lot. He seems like a great person. I hope we can get them coming out more and become active.

We continue to visit John O and Gary regularly to continue teaching them and fellow shipping them. We had a great visit with Elizabeth (Desiree's daughter) and she is really progressing. After our lesson, Desiree had a wonderful dinner for us. We had filet mignon steak, potato pie, vege dish, calamari, and a really good mussel soup, fruit plate and 2 good deserts. We really enjoyed this and she really went to a lot of work fixing the dinner. She gave Sister O a present to open. It was a really nice jacket that Sister O had seen with Desiree at a favorite store at the mall. Sister O  told her that she loved the jacket and really wanted it. So Desiree bought it for her.  It is a very nice jacket and looks nice on Sister O. That is the kind of person she is. Her husband Gerard is now home from France.

Well I guess I have rambled on enough and time to close. We just had our 10 mo. Day on the 18th. Time seems to be flying by. We want all of you to know how much we love and miss you. Our grand kids will be so grown up we won't recognize them. Yes we are homesick to see all of you. Above all we want both our families to know how proud we are of you. We have been blessed to have such wonderful children and grandchildren.


Please know that we love all of you so much and miss you more!

Always Yours
Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad (Linda & Woody)
Grandma (Linda) & Grandpa Woody

First March Letter from SA 2010

1. Baptisms at the River Elder Maja, Yolanda, Desiree, Elder O'Dell Elder Caine & Niko

2. Our Train Ride through the Pass with the Millers

3. We have the baptisms at the Beach. Everyone that was there.

4. The Pass with the Millers

March 4th, 2010

Dear family, Friends & Loved Ones,

Well it is pass time to write again.  Week before last we had Elder & Sister Tenney here with us for 3 days as they were doing a career work shop in our Branch. There was a total of 10 hours of classroom work. We had a great time enjoying their company and classes. We played a little golf, went out to eat, played some cards etc.  They were here Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They went with us to sing Happy Birthday to Desiree on Friday the 19th. She really enjoyed this and actually shed a few tears. We took her a nice bouquet of  flowers and she had a lot of great delicious treats for us.

Saturday February 20th was a GREAT DAY! For us. We had 3 baptisms that day.  Being baptized was Desiree Danjean (the people with the farm from France), Yolanda and Niko (her son) Addendorf. Sister O gave the BEST talk on the Holy Ghost I have heard for a baptismal service. Making and giving beautiful pillows as a comfort to them as is the Holy Ghost a comfort to each of us when we live righteously and let the Holy Ghost into our lives.

I was privileged to baptize Yolanda and Desiree. This is always such a wonderful experience and especially to see the joy and happiness that comes into the lives of these wonderful people and their families.  Desiree had a family friend come with his family, he is studying to be a minister  and wanted to see how our church did this. He and his family also came to the conformation on Sunday.  Elder Maja baptized Niko. We had our Baptisms at the river in the regular place and there was plenty of water. The Baptisms went a lot easier there than in the ocean.  The Tenney's stayed for the baptisms before going home to P.E.

On Sunday we had a wonderful service. I confirmed Yolando, and was going to confirm Desiree also  but Pres. Matsaluka wanted to and did so that was great. Elder Caine confirmed Niko. Sister O had tacos, burritos & spanish rice for Sunday Dinner. It is a real treat to have spanish food as you don't find it here.  It started a light rain on Sunday morning and rained all day and night. Monday all day and night and even some on Tuesday. I feel we are being blessed for the special fast and prayers we had for rain. It was a slow rain that soaked in and had some good run off. Now we need some hard rain to get a good run off. We did get some heavy rain at times on Tuesday & Wednesday. I believe that the rain brought up the water supply by about 2% so you can see we need much more.

We met with Desiree and her husband Gerard on Wednesday as he couldn't be here on Tuesday. He is leaving on Thursday to go to France for 3 weeks. We feel he will be baptized but it will take a little more time. Sister O and I tried to order him a quad in French BUT couldn't get one, so we had to  ordered a triple combo in French.  This will help him if he has his own scriptures in French, he will understand better than English.

On Friday the 26th of February we met another senior couple (the Spears) they came by to visit and go to dinner with us. They live in PE and had a presentation for the Seminary & Institute teachers in our branch in George on Saturday morning. They are from SA but have lived a lot of there lives in Ireland. Also the Millers came on Saturday morning and stayed with us on Saturday, Sunday and went home on Monday. We went on a 2 car train ride up through the Outenique Mountain Pass and back. It was called the Outenique Power Van. We tried to get reservations for the Spears but it was filled. Both the Millers and the Spears had presentations to give in Knysna on Sunday.


It was another great week-end and a wonderful Sunday Our SS class went really good. The RS room was pretty well filled. We have about 4 weeks of this class left. For dinner we had a great roast beef and also a great roast lamb that Desiree fixed for us. I think I like lamb better than beef most of the time.

We got an e-mail from some friends in Jo Berg telling us that a senior couple they know, he was just made Mission President in Ghana told them that they need 50 senior couples here in the southern part of Africa. I hope many of you that are thinking about serving your Heavenly Father will seriously consider going on a mission and enjoy the blessings that can be given you and your family. Sister O and I are really enjoying our service here. Yes, it is hard being away from family & friends, but the rewards and blessings are worth it.

Well I guess I should close for now but we want you all to know that we truly love and miss you. It is such a treat when we can hear from our family and our friends from home. Please don't forget us while we are away.  We just talked to Scott & Suzanne on Ichat and we played with Tessa she is so cute and is walking. We got to see her walk she will be a year old next month. They are all growing up. Kim sent me pictures of Forest & Brayden and the Birthday party they are so cute.  It is great to see pictures so soon after the party it makes me feel as if I were there. Thanks for all you do for us!!! We are grateful for our Children and all the Grandchildren & the Great Grandchild Tessa (she is so cute and what a personality she has) Thanks for sharing take care. We will write again soon. 

Love Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom (Linda) & Dad (Papa Woody)
Grandma & Grandpa
Linda & Woody

February 20,Letter from South Africa

1. Pres. & Sister Probst  at the Beach for the Baptism

2. Sister Probst & Desiree at the Baptism at the Beach

3. Sister O Desiree & Sonja in the BMW

4. Family Home Evening with the Kibido

February 22, 2010

Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones

On Monday Feb. 1 we had the Millers, another Senior Couple here to visit with us and go to dinner, which is always nice and so enjoyable to spend time with another senior couple.  Sister O. usually fixes them a large breakfast before they leave.  This time we didn't have time for breakfast.  We had to leave at 7:50 AM to go to a wedding.  Brother and sister Bongo, who we had gotten close to from our class, called us to be to the wedding of her brother Thando and Khongelies Kibido.  He forgot his ID papers so we had to wait about an hour for him to get them.  It was a justice of the peace wedding and it is so lacking in feeling as a church or temple wedding.

    After the wedding they wanted to go to the church for me to give them both a blessing.  I was happy for the opportunity and thought what a wonderful way to start a marriage and they were both really grateful and in tears.  We then made Sister O. happy as she had time to make her hair and nail appointment.  Then after lunch, Sister O. and I went to Great Braak River to visit the Meyer family.  Sister Meyer is struggling a little with faith but seems much better.  I asked her to read Moroni 7 to help her better understand faith.  I also wanted to give them a framed "The Family: a Proclamation to the World."  We will visit them again on Saturday with Elders Caine and Maja.

    We then visited John O for a few hours.  Helping her to get information and started on trying to get a loan for school.  Sister O and I go home at 7:15 and very tired.  We laid down for a rest and woke up at 10, just in time for bed.

    The couple that Sister O and I gave the blessing to wants to teach them but we probably can't do all of it as it isn't a safe area to got to.  The elders will have to do most of it for safety reasons.  Elder Whiting was stabbed in the arm in that area, but he made a bad mistake of allowing several young men into their car to find an area for them.  No. No. No.

    Last night (Tues) was a wonderful night.  Desiree committed to baptism and her daughter, but her daughter is not quite ready, nor is Gerard.  I suggested that we wait for Gerard to be baptized and let him receive the priesthood so that he could baptize his daughter Elizabeth.  Also Douglas' wife, Yolanda, and their son Niko, committed to baptism.  What a wonderful day.

    On Friday after our district meeting, we had lunch with the elders at a chicken place called Nandos.  Then Sister O and I needed to go grocery shopping, and a lot of reading and studying as we had Sunday school lessons, a priesthood lesson, and a young women's lesson to give.  I have had the opportunity to read and study a lot since being in Africa and my testimony has really grown and been strengthened. 

    On Saturday February 6 at 12 noon, to Sunday noon we had a special fast and prayer for rain.  Hopefully if we are humble and sincere enough we will be blessed.  I have seen much power in fasting and prayer while on our mission and we have also been commanded to do so.  We visited and taught Douglas' family and his dad Hein and finalized their baptism date on February 20.  Then we went to Great Braak River  to visit the Meyer's family.  They are a great young family and seem so interested to have the gospel back in their lives. 

   

We really had a great and spiritual fast and testimony meeting on fast Sunday.  President Mason was here.  He is first counselor to President Probst.  We received an email from the Chamberlains serving in Joburg, and they told us they had received 13 inches of rain in January.  I wish we had part of it here in George. 

    Our African son, George, hitch hiked from Tsitsikamma (two and a half hours by car) to George.  He came to church and visited us.  We were so busy with our lessons that we didn't have time to visit with him and he was able to ride clear back to Plettenburg bay with President Mason.  He is such and amazing young man I wish we could have received some support to help him go on a mission but I'm sure the lord will bless him and make it happen.

    For Sunday dinner we had a real treat.  Sister O fixed tacos and burritos.  She was planning a Spanish rice but forgot about it until the next morning.  You're not going to believe this one, Elder Maja wanted Mayonnaise on his tacos and burritos.  Can you even imagine it?  Yuk!  On February 8, P-day, we were busy until about three thirty and then went golfing for nine holes.  We had family home evening with the mother of Sister Bongo and Bro. Kibido.  They are a big family and a very close and loving family, which is wonderful to see.  We had 22 people in all with five missionaries.  In 1980, the mother had a dream.  She was sick and in a coma.  She dreamed that Christ's church was brought back to earth in America by a young white boy.  Do we recognize this?  Wow, how exciting is that?  She has looked for this event since but has never been able to find it until now.

    We visited with Desiree on Tuesday.  I was going to teach the law of chastity to her daughter, but she couldn't be there, so we went over the word of wisdom and her baptismal plans.  Before the meeting with Sister Desiree, she took Sister O and Sonja in a ride in her BMW convertible.  Sister O is now spoiled.  We did get some good pictures.  We'll try to email them to you.

    On Friday after our district meeting, we went to Tsitsikamma with the Knysna elders to teach George and his cousin Elizabeth.  When we got home, we went with the Thembalethu elders to teach the family that we had family home evening with.  It was great. 

    On Saturday February 13, we had two baptisms.  I had a feeling that we needed to check out where we usually baptize people.  I did and it was nearly out of water.  So the search began for another area.  We found a place in the ocean below Pacalsdorp.  This was a different experience of baptizing in the ocean for me.  We had a large turnout.  I baptized Stefaans Pieterse and Elder Caine baptized Dominic.  It took me three times to get him under the water before we got a wave deep enough for complete immersion.  Well the wave kind of baptized me also, as I went under as well.  Desiree came as she is getting baptized the following Saturday. 

    We then went to Great Braak to teach the Meyers.  This time we took the Pangels with us.  We taught them about the temple and the three degrees of glory.  They were very, very interested and I told them to read D&C 76 and we would talk more about it the next time we saw them. 

    President and Sister Probst were at the baptism on Saturday, and also at church on Sunday.  I missed the opportunity to be with Gary when he received the priesthood.  I really wanted to be there and he wanted us there, but we were in a meeting with President and Sister Probst.  He was so excited to receive the priesthood and we were excited also.  What a wonderful blessing. 

   

Well, it is time to close as we have a lot to do today.  Please know that we love and miss you all so much, but we feel that we are doing what we need to do.  We are enjoying the experience that we have been given and blessed with and we know that our lives have and will be blessed.  We really love the grandchildren and are anxious and excited to see them all again. 
 
Love to all from Elder & Sister O'Dell Mom & Dad
                          Grandpa & Linda Grandma & Grandpa Woody



PS The big family that we had the family home evening with got robbed the other night, and one of the sons got stabbed but was OK.  I'm glad Sister O and I were not there alone teaching.  Satan really works hard to keep people from the gospel.  I feel this is how he works sometimes.

First Letter for February 2010

February 4, 2010,

Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,

Well week before last was rather a hard week as are all transfer weeks. You really get attached to the young elders that are here and it is hard to have them leave. We lost 3 of our elders, Elder Botes went to Queenstown, Elder Cooney went to East London (about a 7 hr. drive away) and Elder Mathipa went to an area around PE we are not sure what the area is called? We got 3 new Elders who seem really GREAT and fun to be around. They also seem like very good missionaries. It is so amazing to see these young men and the dedication they have in serving the Lord and to bring people to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They all have such strong testimonies and it is such a joy to be able to serve with them.

The new Elders didn't arrive until 11pm by car so we didn't get to meet them until Thursday AM. We have Elder Maja with Elder Cane in George Elder Wilson is with elder Moyo in George, and elder Owour is with Elder Bradshaw in Knysna. We have to do apartment inspections before the transfers so we did that to make sure they are taking care of the apartments and especially that they are clean. It seems so strange that Elder Cooney who is a germ freak always has the dirtiest apartment with the most cleaning to do. Sister O is really excited about having elder Wilson (who is from Utah) because he plays the piano very well and we really need him as man times we don't have anyone to play and when Sister O leading the music it makes it so much easier for her and especially since she doesn't have to try to hum thru the song first.

On the Tuesday before the Elders arrived, I told Sister O that I would like to see the ear doctor our pharmacy referred us too. I am having so much trouble hearing and understanding people talk. The Dr.  told  me that hearing aids would probably help, but not entirely as my hearing is so bad. They are going  to make one for my left ear (experimental) to see how it works. She is going to let me wear it for a month as a free trial to see how much it will help me and how much I like it.  It is hard to imagine how expensive they are but there is a big range in the price and I tried to get one that was less expensive and that will work.

On Friday, after our district meeting we took the post to the Knysna Elders and then we all went on to Plettenberg Bay so that we could teach George a lesson. He is such a great young man and really wants to go on a mission and hopefully we can fine a way for this to happen. We are sure that the Lord will provide a way. When we got back to George we visited Clifton & Elizabeth then Gary & John O Lene.

On Saturday am I spent most of the morning making repairs to the Elders flats. We had 2 baptisms on Saturday afternoon and that is always exciting.  Except there is bad news. They are moving to PE as he has a good job there and you can't turn that down. He had a nice car for transportation also. There are so few people here that have cars. We also hate to see them leave as I'm sure he would grow into a great P.H. Leadership position.  We need good men to serve) Then at 4pm another senior couple (the Stones) were here for a teacher training seminar.

On Sunday at Sacrament I confirmed the husband and conferred the Gift of the Holey Ghost. This is always such a privilege. We had a great SS Class and a really large one and was fun to teach as we are getting a lot of class participation. As usual Sister O had a large and delicious dinner of roast beef and about everything else you could think of with it. She really enjoys cooking for and taking care of the Elders.


Well on P-day the Elders twisted my arm to take them golfing. We always have fun together. Our new Elders wanted to play and really enjoyed it. They said they had played a "little" before, but it really didn't show. On Tuesday I got my hearing aid. It is hard getting used to BUT I think it is really going to help a lot. On Wednesday we were busy with a lot of appointments. We had Hein, Dougles (Hein's Son) Yolanda, Ben & Hester, Clifton & Elizabeth and Gary & John O. On yes I forgot on Tuesday we visited with Desiree as they are back from France and it was really great to see them again. Gerard was at the farm but will be back for next Tuesday. We will see them again next week.

On Thursday Sister O cut Elder Wilson's Hair before we left to go to PE for Zone Conference. When we got to Tsitsikamma, the bridge, we visited George and gave his cousin, Elizabeth a lesson. Three of the elders had never seen the bridge and the bungy jump and they really enjoyed it and thought it was awesome. (It is)  There were people jumping and that is so neat to watch. We stayed with the Stones again another senior couple and we were responsible for feeding everyone at Zone Conference.  For a morning snack we had cinnamon rolls (they make them very large over here) and call them Chelsea Buns. With a punch drink. For lunch we had pizza, a tossed salad, brownies and ice cream. We had to leave for home after conference and got home at about 9:30 that night.

On Saturday we had a busy day with 5 appointments. One was a new family called the Mayors and they live in Great Braak River which is about 25k away. They have a cute little boy almost 4 and he really took to Sister O. also a 2 month old baby girl. They were baptized 7 or 8 years ago, moved away and have been inactive and now want to learn about the church again and get active. They seem like a great couple, but again transportation may be a problem!

Sunday was a very good day. We had a lot of our investigator there and the new couple the Mayor's were there. We had a large and good SS class and Brother Mayor's participated a lot in class. The last hour was a joint RS & PH meeting and President Matsaluka gave a wonderful presentation, I have wanted this to happen for quite sometime.  He talked on fasting, prayer and faith. We are having a special fast and prayer for rain next Sunday. Our Mission President and Stake President have given us full support on this and other units in the area are also fasting and praying for rain. We all know that there is great power in fasting and prayer if done with faith and deep humility. The fast will go from Saturday noon to Sunday noon. We just hope we have the proper faith and humility to make it happen. For Sunday dinner we had a simple dinner but Sister O made it fabulous. We were just doing hamburgers & hot dogs. We also ended up with potato salad, fruit salad, tossed salad, corn on the cob, chocolate cake & ice cream. Sister O just can ever make it simple or leave well enough a lone. I guess that is just part of why she is such a great lady.

Well I think I better close because Sister O doesn't like the letters to long as she has to type them.

Family please know that we love you all with all our hearts. Also know that we love the gospel of Jesus Christ with all our hearts and are so grateful for the opportunity that we  have of serving our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. We need and appreciate all your prayers that we will be blessed that we may serve as we desire. The hardest thing for us is not being able to see family for such a long period. We pray daily that each of you will be blessed and given thanks for the love and happiness you bring into our lives and especially for you our Grandchildren.

We Love you and Miss you always
Elder & Sister O'Dell, Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Linda & Grandpa Woody

January Letter

January 21, 2010


Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones.

On our P-Day  Sister O and I went to a large train museum with our RS Pres. Sonja and her daughter Sonika and her baby. It took about 3 hours and was really interesting. It was mainly all about the history of the steam engine etc. with a lot of old trains. They also had a lot of old antique cars and some old buggies and stage coaches. They also had a large display of small electric trains that you could run. That was really worth seeing.  Bonnie and Bob will love seeing the Train Museum.

I got sick with a flue bug and then Sister O got it but we are fine now. There are a lot of people around and some of the Elders don't and have not felt to well. Sister O couldn't get out of bed one morning her neck hurt so bad. It had been bothering her for some time. I finally talked her into going to a Chiropractor and after a couple of treatments she is doing good now.

We are seeing Clifton & Elizabeth again as they called us and want us to come and visit again. I think he has his problems worked out and they seem to be good now. We are so anxious for Clifton to get his divorce finalized so that he can marry Elizabeth and they can get baptized. I guess it is one step at a time and in the Lords Way. We are still making a lot of visits and fellow shipping but I won't go into all of that unless something special happens.

We have had a few fairly warm days but nothing very bad. There has been some really hot days in Cape Town, between 40 & 44' C. Our nights have always cooled off nice though.  It is good!  If only it would rain a LOT so we could have more water. I guess you can say we are in Africa and have only a little water. taking a bath is out of the question for a while I guess. Oh well we do what we have too.

Another Senior couple came by a stayed to night on the way to Cape Town and back It is always fun to have them as we can go out to dinner, and play some games with them. We played pollock rummy and a Golf cards game. We really enjoy that a LOT.  It is so nice to be able to do something fun once in a while.

We visited a new investigator last week referred by a new member friend the Olivier's. She seems very interested and I think she will be really good in time. She only has a 2 room house. The Kitchen, Living room and Bathroom combination. We had to sit on the corners of the bed and on a small chest of drawers. There was only one stool in the Kitchen and there wasn't room to bring it into the Bedroom.

On Saturday Jan 16 the Elders & I did a service project. We were going to help an investigator Sister move. We thought this would be very simple, she has a small place and not a lot of furnishings. We were moving it to her daughters place which was right behind the lot she was on and over one.  The corners of the lots connected. Well after that she wanted the whole house dissembled and moved. We took the roof off which was a tin roof. Then we took what paneling etc off that she had and room separators. Then we took down all the walls. We had to separate the walls in ½ and then carry the walls over to the other lot. We put everything on the ground as there was no cement slab, no footing or anything. That took us about 4 hr. Then this lady wanted us to assemble it all back together on bare ground. This is impossible with no foundation or any thing. No nails or anything. All we had was 2 hammers to work with. I think she was disappointed that we couldn't
>  do that all in one day.
Anyway that was quite an experience and we were really tired. (well I was any way) Ha!! She couldn't believe I was 72 :)

On Sunday we  had our YM Pres. by the name of Shephard to be confirmed to the Mel. PH and to be ordained to an Elder and he wanted me to do it from him I was happy for the opportunity to do this for him. I do this as Pres Matsaluka was there an is such a good man as was our Mission Pres. Pres. Probst. Shephard asked me about a month ago when he knew that he would receive the Mel. PH.  It took that long to get it done. Then Sister Day in our branch asked Sister O if I would come over on Sunday afternoon and give her a blessing and  I was grateful for this opportunity as well. We receive blessings in so many ways when we give them. I know there are many struggles on a mission but  it comes back two fold.

On one morning last week our RS Pres. Sister Sonja & Sister O asked me to take them to play Golf for 9 holes and let them try it. I was skeptical about this but it turned our OK and quite fun. They did much better then I thought and they had a lot of fun. Sister O asked me if she was to old to learn and I told her NO, so I think she wants to try some more. I will probably end up being a golf widower.

We also had a young couple that was recently baptized ask us Sunday after our SS class if  we could teach a couple that are friends of theirs about the gospel. We said we would be happy to.  They live in Oudtshoorn which is about an hour drive away. That is a little out of our area but being a senior couple we are allowed to do this. They want to contact them first and make sure they are interested in seeing us and hearing about the gospel and he will let us know. But he is sure they will want to hear about the gospel.

Well I guess it is time to close but first we want all of you to know how much Sister O and I LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings so much love into our lives and helps us to love each of you even more with the knowledge that we all can be an eternal family and that is so important. There is only 2 things in life that really matter, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ and ones family and the knowing that we can be sealed together for ever. This is so comforting and it makes one want to live life to be worthy of the blessings. We must be forgiving of each others and the weaknesses just as our Savior did and has are we will come up short. This is a commandment from our Heavenly Father. Sister O and I Love all of you so much and are so grateful for such a wonderful family. Thank you all for your LOVE and your prayers for us.

I wrote earlier if any of you would be willing and able to donate a little each month to be put into an account for our African Son George to go on a mission. We only receive one response from on person. "THANKS JACK" 
If you can please let me know so I can set up an account with someone in American to take care of this for us. I promise that your lives will be blessed and we all need the blessings of our Father in Heaven.

Remember we love hearing from you at any time. Don't for get us in Africa PLEASE let us hear from you often.

Love to all from the O'Dell

New Years Letter from SA 2010

January 8th 2010

Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones.

Well the holidays are over and we survived. They were great because we got to talk to all of our families.  That's what makes  Holidays so special.

On Saturday after Christmas, Sister O & I had Gary & John O over for a braai with the Elder Cane and Cooney. We had been wanting to do this for some time. Just as we set down to eat we received a call from Sonja Sister asking me to come and come right now they need us to come and help them sort something out. It sounded like we really needed to come right over. Sister O and Sonja (Branch RSP) are really good friends.  When we got there Sonja was having a serious depression, she was having a very hard time coping with all that had been going on with her ex husband.  So sister O talk her into coming home with us for the night so she could take care of her. Sister O stayed by her and talked to her for a long while.  Then neither of them went to church they stayed home and tried to help her get things sorted out.  She is fine now and doing well.  Hard times sometime really get to us.

Also on Saturday night  I was ask to talk in church plus I had my SS class to teach as well. I Believe my talk turned out very good, and I was happy  with it . About ½ the people there said how much they enjoy my talk. We had a lot of members missing because of the Holidays, but we had a lot of visitors there to take there place. They have a month Holiday here for Christmas time.

For Sunday dinner we had a braai, mostly what was left over from Christmas. Sister O had been so busy with Christmas and Sonja she didn't have much time and she needed some rest.

Well on Monday P-Day the Elders and I played golf at a small course near Knysna. It was a par 55 and I shot a 60 and I was very happy with that. Missionary work is slow right now as so many people are out of town on holiday.  We visited with Gary and john O on Tuesday and things are looking good that they will be married and baptized.  On Wednesday we spent a few more hours with them and they said they were going to be married and baptized. This is so thrilling to us to have them commit to having the gospel in there lives. They have wanted baptism but there smoking problem was hard to get through.

Sister O is sort of having a crisis at this time. The water problem is so bad that our landlord suggested doing our laundry at a laundry-mat and to save our bath and shower water to flush toilets with and to try and cut down on using so much water for baths.  This is really hard for sister O as she likes to go swimming when she takes a bath.

Well today is Thursday New Years Eve. We are going to pick up the Knysna Elders and go to Tsitsikamma to visit George and begin teaching his cousin Elizabeth. It is 233K to there from our home. We usually meet at Plettenberg Baai. But we didn't want him to hiking on New Years Eve as it is not safe with so many drunk drivers.  We taught from the Ensign on the talk by Elder Holland on the Book of Mormon. Elizabeth is a very intelligent person and a sweet lady and she really wants to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  She has a one and ½ month old baby boy and wants us to come to Knysna on Sunday to give her son a name and a blessing and I said I would.  So that means that I will have to get a substitute for our Sunday School Class.





We had all the Elders for New Years Eve. Then Knysna Elders came over to do a Baptismal interview with Gary & John O as the plans are that they will be married and baptized on Saturday.  About 9pm on  New Years Eve I went with the Elders to the Church and we watched he latest Harry Potter movie titled  "Half Blood Prince" It was over at 12 midnight. It seemed so strange that it is already 2010 time flies so fast.

Well today is Saturday January 2, 2010 and we survived the new year ( Boy was that hard) and it will be and exciting day.  Sister O and I are taking Gary and John O and Sonja for the Wedding at noon at the Knysna Chapel. It was a beautiful wedding. Pres. Atkinson and they both looked so nice. I think we are as excited as they are. We then went back to George for the baptismal service, but first we took them to the Botanical Gardens for a lot of wedding pictures. They look so happy together.

I gave a talk on baptism and being confirmed and receiving the Holy Ghost. Then we went to the river for the Baptisms. I baptized Gary and Elder Cooney baptized John O.  This was so exciting as we have been working with them a long time. John O told us that this was the Happiest Day of her Life. That was so great to her she really did look happy and excited and we were so happy for them. That evening Sister O and I took them and Sonja out to dinner for a wedding president.  Today is Sunday and the day of their confirmation. I really hated to miss this as they wanted me to confirm them, but I had already committed to give a blessing to Elizabeth's baby son in Knysna. We also heard that John O bore her testimony and that she did a beautiful job and almost every one was in tears. After the blessing of Elizabeth's son we gave her a lesson on the restoration.  She seems very excited and interested in learning about the gospel.  I'm sure she will embrace the gospel as did George and be very strong in the gospel.  There missionary experiences can be so wonderful and we again encourage more of you senior couples to think about going on a mission and enjoy these wonderful blessings.

We sew a movie for FHE at Sonja's last night with Gary and John O It was called "Mr. Bones" part one.  I hope all of you can find a copy of this and watch it. You can see the real Africa if you can survive all the laughing.  It is so funny.

Well it is time to close and to tell you how much we love and miss all of you. Sister O and  I are so lucky too have such wonderful families. You are all so Great and we are so proud of all of  you and we really do love and miss you.

                                                                                          Elder & Sister O'Dell
                                                                                      Mom, Dad Linda & Woody
                                                                          Grandpa Papa Grandpa Woody Linda Grandma

Christmas Letter from SA

Elder Cooney opening his gift in his grandmother's robe.

Elder O in his Africa shirt

Sister O in her Africa Dress

Sister O Opening her Gifts

Elder O in his new pointed toe shoes

Sister O in the trunk of the car; she can't stand to say good by to the Elders on Transfer Day!

All the Elders going to zone conference

All the Elders around the tree on Christmas Day

                                                                                       December 26, 2009 

Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,

Well it was the night before Christmas and now it is the morning after Christmas and we hope everyone  had a GREAT Christmas and survived. We are a little behind in writing so we can't get into as much detail as usual. Our Branch Conference on Dec. 12 & 13 was Great. We had a really large and enjoyable SS class.

On Monday, P-Day Elder Caine & Cooney had to work as they took an afternoon off last week to watch some rugby. There were teams here from all over the world and it was fun to watch. I took Elder Mathipa & Moyo golfing. It was Elder Moyos first time and he really did good.  I was happy as I was only 3 over and for an old man, I will settle for that.

We had a number of lessons and visits during the week and all seemed to go good and especially Gerard & Desiree. They left on Wed. to go to there farm and then to France for the Holidays. They gave presents to all of us and we thought that was so nice. We left at 7am on Friday to go to Zone Conference in PE. We stopped in Tsitsikamma to see George and to try and teach his Aunt. It was rainy and foggy and they were not there. We couldn't even see the bridge because of the fog. We the went to Storms River Mouth to see a large suspension bridge. It was about a 1k walk to get there and Sister O didn't go because she had no walking shoes. When we got there,  there were actually 3 swinging bridges.  It was really neat and see and walk over.

At Zone Conference we had lots of good pizza for dinner. Then we all watched a really good movie called  The Christmas Shoes. Then the Elders did a talent show it was very good and entertaining and we all enjoyed it and most of the Elders did something. On Saturday we had a Great conference from 8am until 3:30pm. They had a lunch of chicken and salads etc. We got home at 9:30pm. Well that night I got really sick (and I mean really sick) with food poisoning. I was up all night. I went to church as I needed to take care of my SS class but they sent me home after Church.

For Sunday Dinner we had a braai of Hamburgers and Corn on the Cob. I had the Elders do the cooking. We found out that about ½ of the people at Zone Conference got food poisoning. Pres. Probst got really sick with it as well. Well this coming week we don't have a lot of Missionary work planned. On P-Day (Monday) we went to a place called Jubilee Creek. Sonja our RR President has wanted to take us there for quite a long time.  It was close to Knysna there was a water-fall she wanted to take us to. It was about a ½ hour hike. Well the area is dry and short on water. They water fall was only a trickle. It was more like a garden hoes running. We will have to go when there is more water. There was a deep pool where a lot of people were swimming and jumping in. Where we parked the cars, there was a large grassy area with tables etc. The creek was running with more water there. We had a nice picnic when we got back there.

On the way home, Sister O and I stopped at an area called Buffel's Baai. It was beautiful we want to go back again when we can take pictures because it is so beautiful. That night we had FHE at the Pangel's house with Gary and John O Leen The Elders were there also. Sister O stopped and got some sweets for refreshments. Sister O essentially did everything.  She did most of the Christmas Story, helped the children sing and then led us all in some carols.  Then it was time to go home again, and I was really glad as I was getting sick again.


On Tuesday we went shopping for Christmas Dinner etc. We got a lot of toys and etc for stocking and things to wrap for the Elders.

We had 2 senior coupes by in the evening the Harms & Forsgren's. They wanted us to go and spend some time with them the next day.  We met them and had a nice breakfast. We then went to Oudtshoorn to the Cango Caves and then to and Ostrich farm. I got  nice bruise on my lip as the guide had 4 men hold a food in our mouths and the Ostrich would peck it off. Well she pecked it off really good, I guess I got a harder kiss then normal.  It was time for dinner when we got home. After dinner we went to Victoria Baai and set on some rocks and visited and enjoyed the gorgeous view. We enjoyed the gorgeous view for about an hour.

On Thursday we took some sweets and cookies (that sister O cooked) to some families that we have bee working with and it was a lot of fun. Christmas is very different here.  It is summer time, none of the homes we have been to decorate there homes, no trees up, no presents etc. They all talk about Christmas but you don't see much evidence of it.  They mall is so crowded with shoppers so I guess some of them at least give gifts.

Christmas eve was very special for Sister O and I as the Elders took us out to a nice restaurant and stake dinner and they payed for it. They picked us up, opened the doors for us and everything.  We thought that was wonderful on there part.  On Christmas AM Sister O family called us at 3am our time and we got to talk to everyone. That was fun and great. We called my family at 4:15am. It is so wonderful to talk and hear from family. I wished we had talked to the grandchildren but we didn't. All the Elders came over on Christmas Morning and went through their stockings we opened gifts and so forth. We drew names for a small gift of each other. Sister O and I fixed a nice breakfast of cantaloupe, cinnamon rolls, bacon and eggs and french toast.  We all ate too much.  We then did the dishes and the Elders and I went to play Golf.  After Golf we came home and had a Braai of stake, lamb chops, bor wors and sister O had potato salad, green salad and Vega's, fruit salad and all kind of sweets for desert. It turned out to be a wonderful day.  It made it so special that we had a wonderful prayer together offered by Sister O. I love her so much! Then the Elders made their calls to home which took several hours. We let the American Elders use the Vonage phone to call home. They all left about 10pm to go home.

I tried to call Connie and her family but didn't reach them. Then I called my Sister Norma and Russ, and my Brother Wayne was there so that saved me a call. Sister O Called her best Friend Pam, her brother Jack but couldn't reach her sister Bonnie. All in all it turned out to be a wonderful Christmas. As good as it could have been with out being with family. We thank you for all the wonderful gifts you sent, we love them all and our beautiful day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ! Talk with you next week We hope you miss us as we miss you!!

Love Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad Linda & Woody
Grandpa,  Papa, Grandpa Woody & Grandma