Waiting for the rainbow

As we approach the last few months of our mission I have been reflecting on having an attitude of gratitude.

I have loved being in Africa.

We have had so many amazing experiences here.

We have met some wonderful people that I will never forget.

However, there have been days that I haven't had the best attitude.

There have been days that I have longed for home.

Days when I all I wanted to do was sit and watch my grandsons play baseball,

or my granddaughter perform in the school play.

I remember that same feeling when we were serving our mission in Ukraine.

 

I have found myself contemplating what it is that keeps me from enjoying life in the moment.

I don't think I am alone, I think many of us chase happiness.

We find ourselves thinking, "If only........"  or When ................. then I will be happy".

When I was a little girl, I thought "if only I had a pony"......

I remember every time I made a wish I wished for a pony.

I truly believed that if I had a pony I would be happy and I would never wish for anything else again.

 

Thinking about the quote above,

 

"how much of life do we miss waiting to see the rainbow,

before thanking God for the rain" 

 

I have always thought of Sunday at Orange Farm as my rainbow.

No matter how difficult the week has been, I am always happy when I arrive at Orange Farm

 

 

 I love Sunday's at Orange Farm.

I can simply be happy in the moment. Just pulling into the parking lot makes me smile.

I can't wait to see whose standing outside the building as we approach.

 These are the sweet faces that greet me each week.

From the moment I get out of the car, I am happy.

I watch our branch members as they file into the chapel and find their seats.

 I watch as the sisters greet one another with warm hugs and pure joy on their faces.

 I marvel at the reverence of the 12 year old boys who pass the sacrament in their clean white shirts and black slacks. 

I am touched by the single moms who faithfully bring their children to church each week.

I am touched by the small groups of children who come to church without their parents.

Today as we were singing I looked back to see 5 little boys, who haven't been coming to our branch very long, all gathered around one hymnal singing the sacrament song.

 

I love to stay awhile after church and just watch the interactions of our branch members.

.  

 

Today I was touched by this tender moment when little Providence was loving on this baby while the baby was wrapped snuggly on her momma's back.

 

 I love to see the smile on this little guys face.

 

I love how these kids want to carry my church bag, or wear my watch.

Today I let them use my phone to take photos.

It made me laugh to find this one.

 

Today the members of Orange Farm branch gathered after church to celebrate the baptism of Owen,

who just turned 8 years old.

 

I was happy to see Owen's mother for the first time today when she came to see her son baptized.

Owen was baptized by his uncle Daniel.

 

It made me happy to see how happy Owen's Go Go (grandmother) was to have 3 of her children, and Owen's cousin's there to witness his baptism.

I was happy to learn that Sister Princess, Owen's auntie, will be delivering her third baby in a few days.

 

I love to watch as little Musa (our branch baby) gets passed around all day on Sunday.

Everybody loves Musa. Musa just celebrated his first birthday.

We remember when his mommy first brought him to church.

 

 Now we have a new little one in our branch.

Today was the first day for this little guy to join us.

Already the Sisters are passing him around.

Look at the face of his proud mommy in the background.

 

Some weeks serving a mission in the Area Office can be challenging.

 

Some weeks it feels like all it does is rain.

 

However, there is ALWAYS Sunday at Orange Farm

 

Sunday is my RAINBOW!

 

However, we would not have Sunday's at Orange Farm if we haven't accepted the call to serve as Area Welfare Specialist in the Africa Southeast Area.

 

I remember how excited we were to receive our mission call to Africa,

 

How excited we were to go to the MTC,

 

and how exciting it was to get off the plane in AFRICA

 

TODAY I REALIZED THAT I HAVE BEEN FOCUSING TOO MUCH

 

ON WAITING FOR THE RAINBOW

 



This week we met Elder and Sister Ferguson who were called to serve in Uganda.

They had been in Uganda for two months when Elder Ferguson had a heart attack.

Sister Ferguson has been staying here in Duke's court while her husband is in the hospital.

A few days ago Sister Ferguson and I went to the Temple together.

We met these sweet young people walking the temple grounds.

We stopped to ask if we could take their picture.

They said yes, but they wanted a picture with us.

Sister Ferguson and I were so touched by how happy they were to be at the Temple.

 

I have taken Sister Ferguson back and forth to the hospital a few times this week and 

Sister Ferguson went to church with us today.

I have spent some time with Elder Ferguson as well.

I know the greatest desire of their hearts is to go back to Uganda. They loved their mission. They felt certain they were right where the Lord wanted them to be.

The mission doctor has informed them that they will have to return to the States as soon as Elder Ferguson is healthy enough to travel.

 

This time I have spent with Elder and Sister Ferguson has helped me to remember

to enjoy the rain.

 

It has helped me to be grateful for all the rich blessings we have received as we have served a mission in Africa.

 

Yes, we have missed baptism's and birthday's,

we have missed baseball games and school talent shows

 

but Heavenly Father has blessed us with RAINBOWS not only on Sunday's at Orange Farm but everyday of our mission.

Even on the days when it felt like the rain would never end,

we have been blessed

All we have to do is stay in the moment,

The rainbow never was the pony,

the happiness could be found in the everyday moments

 

The happiness was there all along.

,

It has been there everyday since the first day we stepped of the plane and found ourselves serving as missionaries in South Africa

I am so grateful to have shared this amazing journey with this man by my side



Maverick Owen Bailey turns 8

 On Saturday our Maverick turned 8

I won't lie one of the hardest things about serving a mission for me

is not being there for these special days in my grandchildren's lives.

This is Maverick on his baptism day with his new scriptures Nana and Papa sent from Africa.

However, I know that our Heavenly Father knows it is difficult for us to not be with our family on these special days.

I know that he will bless the lives of our family while we are serving his children in Africa

 

I love this little boy so much.

He has the perfect name

He truly is a Maverick. Webster's Dictionary defines a Maverick as: an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party

Maverick is the third child in his family but he has always been very independent. He is definitely not a follower.  He is creative, artistic, free thinking and very athletic. He even dresses like a free thinker. I love that he is so confident and independent.

He can do anything he puts his mind to.

. Maverick and his cousins, Kennedy and Bailey got  baptized on the same day

 



Leaving Johannesburg

I remember when we first arrived in Johannesburg I couldn't wait to leave the city. I was surprised how much Johannesburg felt like home. I wanted to see "Africa". I don't know what I expected, but I really didn't think Johannesburg would have shopping malls, nice restaurants, and so many of the comforts of home.

Since we have been here in South Africa,  we have been able to travel to so many places . My favorite place has been the bush. I absolutely love being out in nature. I love the sights, the sounds, and the smells of the bush.

This weekend Bruce and I decided to leave Johannesburg for a few days. We traveled south to Drakensberg. We had been to Drakensberg once before with some of the other missionary couples and it was stunning.

This time we decided to try a new place. We weren't sure what to expect but hoped it would be every bit as quaint as the photos.

 It was a beautiful day

 

 and very relaxing drive

We drove South toward Durban for about 4 hours and then turned into the drive leading to

The Lords of the Manor

 

 As we turned into the drive we saw this beautiful manor

 

It was absolutely perfect

Not a soul around

It didn't take long for Bruce to begin to unwind

 

You give this man a book, a warm fire, and a comfortable chair and he is one happy camper

 

 I couldn't wait to go exploring

 

The first thing the next morning I headed out for a long walk

 

 

It was so peaceful

You give me the smell of fresh grass, cows mooing, and birds chirping, and I am one happy camper

 



 It was a perfect start to a beautiful day

Later in the day Bruce and I went exploring in the car

 

 

We found this old Anglican Church and cemetery

 Beautiful rolling hills and ponds

And these cows by the roadside. Bruce teased me for taking this picture of a cow

 

 

After driving awhile we began to enter a small township

We passed women pushing wheelbarrows with large Geri cans of water.

If you look closely you can see two women at the well collecting their water 

 Once we passed through the township, we were surrounded by the beautiful Drakensberg mountains

 We hadn't intended to be in the car so long, but it was such a beautiful day and we were enjoying the sights so much that we drove until the sun began to set.

 

I was absolutely thrilled to be able to see a beautiful African Sunset.

The perfect end to a perfect day 



Neighborhood Walk

Six days a week I get up at 5:45 am to walk with a small group of senior missionaries. I had started walking shortly after we arrived in South Africa but once we started traveling, I got out of the habit. However, I have missed it. I love walking just as the sun is rising. Everything is so beautiful. When we  walk with in the morning, we always go down the same street.

We walk about a mile and a half one way and then turn around and walk the mile and a half back.

 

 Some days if we get home from the office early enough Jill Jones and I walk in the afternoon.

I like our afternoon walk because Jill doesn't mind trying different routes.

Jill was recently traveling so I went out alone. I decided to bring my camera along.  

 I like this street because it doesn't have as many solid walls

 and every once in awhile you can catch a glimpse of the beautiful home

 on the other side of the fence. I love the architecture of this home

 We are so lucky to be able to walk in this neighborhood.

 

These trees get covered with Jacaranda blooms in the fall and it is gorgeous.

(this was taken last fall)

 

 Even South Africa has graffiti and interesting stickers on the street poles

 When we walk in the morning we just walk down the middle of the street.

There aren't many cars out at 6 am.

We have to be extra careful on this route, because there is more traffic in the afternoon.

 We walk on the sidewalk but have to be careful not to trip,

 because the sidewalks are very uneven.

Some streets have NO SIDEWALK

 

 Look at the sign on the gate, NO HOOTING,

 

That means NO HONKING!!!!

 Behind this tree is a little guard shack. They are all along the streets we walk.

 The guards work 12 hour shifts. I would hate to sit in there for 12 hours.

 

 

 

 

Ths apartment building is around the block from our apartment.

It reminds me of something you would see in Mexico

 

There are always a few interesting characters out! This guy hangs out around the block from our apartment building.

Back to Duke's court

 Exiting the elevator

 

 

Almost there

Finally home to flat 516