Orange Farm Visit

One of the things we were looking forward to was bringing our children to Orange Farm. Orange Farm is the branch of the Church we attend every Sunday if we are not traveling. My soul is lifted each week when I attend the Orange Farm Branch.  The members  are special people. They have wonderful testimonies of the restored Gospel. They love the Lord and although many of them face difficult circumstances they are filled with gratitude for their Father in Heaven. My attendance at Orange Farm Branch renews my spirit and fills me with joy.

 

I have chosen to spend my time in Primary when I am at Orange Farm because I absolutely LOVE the children. From the first day I attended Primary at Orange Farm, I knew that was were I was supposed to be.  I miss my children and grandchildren terribly but when I enter the  Primary room in Orange Farm Branch, I am overcome with love for the amazing children in this little school room chapel. There is not a Sunday that I don't have children either sitting next to me or on my lap.

 

Primary has been a highlight of my week ever since we arrived in South Africa but I do miss the sisters in Relief Society. The Relief Society meeting is held the same time as primary so I have missed meeting with the ladies of Orange Farm. The sweet Relief Society Sisters have always made me feel loved and welcome. I could write and write about the members of Orange Farm Branch and someday I will, but that is for another day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post is about my children and my Orange Farm family.

 

The day we brought our children to church as we got out of the car one of the little primary girls ran up and put her arms around me and said, "Sister Kinghorn is this your FAMILY?" I had been telling all the Primary Children that my children would be arriving soon and it seemed as if she had been anxiously awaiting their arrival. 

 

Our family spent the first hour in Sacrament meeting. We sat towards the back. I noticed some of the children turning and catching quick glimpses of my family during the Sacrament service. I am sure they were fascinated by Daysha and Karrissa's nearly white hair and bright pink lips as well as my son-in-law Brad with his brilliant blue eyes and golden hair but I couldn't help but wonder what they thought of Nathan. Nathan had left the church as a young man and over the years he has accumulated many tattoos. The long sleeved dress shirt covered many of them but the tattoos on his hands, neck and face were still visible. After an hour of Sacrament Meeting we were headed to Sunday School when I got my answer. As I exited the meeting, I saw a small group of children gathered around Nathan. Each of his arms was raised in the air by a small child's hand that rotated his arm as the others carefully inspected each piece  etched on his hands and arms.  Nathan was smiling and laughing at their curiosity. I invited Nathan and Daysha to join us in Primary and Brad and Karrissa went with Bruce to Sunday School.       

There was no question about it, the children were fascinated by Nathan as I am sure he was with them. Nathan and Daysha took their seats and it wasn't long before children began to move closer. This particular Sunday the children were practicing for the Sacrament Meeting Program that would be held the next week. One by one each child walked to the front of the room and gave their carefully rehearsed lines. Then they all stood and sang the beautiful songs that testified of eternal families and the love our father in heaven has for us. The spirit was strong in that little room as I watched those sweet primary children deliver powerful testimonies of a Father in Heaven who loves us and of families that can be together forever. Shortly before the hour ended this little boy in the orange shirt inched his way closer and closer to Nathan until he finally climbed into his lap and fell fast asleep. 

 

 

The children were fascinated by Nathan, but it wasn't long before they stopped seeing the tattoos and what they saw was the sweet soul that dwells within my son. 

 

 I left the classroom that day feeling blessed for my eternal family and for my Orange Farm family. I had seen Christ like love as the children gathered around my son that day. I had witnessed the spirit touch the souls of both Nathan and Daysha as those dear children bore powerful testimonies through song and word.  It is a memory that will stay with me forever.

 

 Here is the chorus to one of the songs the children sang the day our family visited Orange Farm.

 

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

Mosetlha Bush Camp

 After our family had been in Johannesburg for two days we headed into the Bush for a few nights at Mosetlha Bush Camp in Madikwe Game Preserve. We were so excited to see so many of the Big 5. In Africa when they refer to the Big 5 they are  talking about Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Leopard, and  Cape Buffalo. After the first two game drives we had already seen lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, as well as a herd of wild dogs, wart hogs, wildebeest, zebra and lots of elands and gazelles. On the last day on the way out of the park we even saw a leopard sleeping in a tree.

Our camp was an eco lodge which basically meant that we went without electricity and running water for a few days. However, the camp was very comfortable.  It was well lit at night by solar and kerosene lanterns. The  toilets were VIP toilets (ventilated improved pit) and the showers were bucket showers. We heated our water for showers in a donkey broiler. We slept in canvas huts with twin beds. The picture above shows the donkey broiler that heats the water for showers and one of the huts. 

 This is where you pour the hot water for your shower.

 VIP toilet

Our sleeping quarters

we came so close to this pride of lions

a group of cheetahs laying under a tree

 A family of elephants crossed the road right in front of our vehicle

We watched as a pack of wild dogs were finishing off a fresh kill. They would go and eat a little then chase each other around our vehicle. We were so fascinated that we just sat there for about 15 minutes.

 



We had a wonderful time with the other guest and staff at the bush camp. So grateful for this amazing opportunity to share the wonders of Africa with our family.

 

Next Post

Sharing the best part of my week with my family

Orange Farm Branch of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

ADVENTURES WITH ELEPHANTS

While our children were in South Africa we decided to head to Adventures with Elephants for a few hours. It is just a few hours outside of Johannesburg. We started out with a very informative talk about the elephants. Then we had a chance to place some food into one of the elephants trunk and then he opened his rather large mouth and we placed the food directly on his tongue. 

 

Then one of the elephants laid down so that we could get even closer and have our photos taken while we were sitting on his leg.  They were so gentle with us.







And then......

 these amazing giants each knelt down so that we could climb up on their gigantic backs and we all went for a walk in the bush.

 

When we completed our ride into the Bush, Brad, Karrissa, Nate and Daysha each got their swim suits on and took a swim with the elephants. Well, it wasn't really a swim they actually rode on the elephants back as HE took a swim.

 

It looked like a wild ride but they all REALLY enjoyed it.  

It was an AMAZING day at Adventures with Elephants.

SOWETO

The second day in South Africa we hired a tour guide,

and headed for Soweto

We visited the famous Soweto Towers

 

 The Go Pro camera went everywhere with us

After we left the Towers our driver, Agnes, of Felling Tours, pointed out a roadside butcher. Of course, we had to stop. We all piled out of the van and quickly spotted a carcass laying on the ground.  As we approached the pile of skin and bones  we could make out the ears, snout and eye balls of a hog.

 

Brad approached a young man standing at a nearby grill  who was  stirring a large black kettle of pap, is a traditional porridge/polenta made from mielie-meal (ground maize).

 

 Brad chatted with the young man and
learned more about their small roadside business.

Karrissa was approached by a young man with bleached white hair who wanted to invite them all to a party the following Friday night. Karrissa learned that he had just gotten his hair cut at an open air Hair Salon across the street so she went over to check out the shop.


I think Agnes was getting a little worried that she may be losing control of her group.

We had so much fun the first five minutes in Soweto that we really didn't want to get back into the Van but Agnes had a schedule to keep so we had to say good-bye to our new friends

but not before we noticed  another young man approach the shop and order his lunch, which was a cow's mouth and brain.

 

We decided that this might be a good time to leave before the guys decided to sample some of the butchers fresh kill,  so we all jumped back into the Van and headed for Kliptown Youth Program, (KYP)

 
"KYP’s mission is to eradicate the poverty of mind, body, and soul and to fight against the disadvantages imposed on the children of Kliptown, by providing educational support and after school activities. It seeks to develop young and dynamic individuals who are willing to contribute effectively for the betterment of their community".

 We toured their computer lab and some of the classrooms. When we visited the kitchen we asked the cook what was for lunch and she showed us a huge pot of chicken feet. Our young guide took us into one of the humble homes where the residents of Kliptown live.

Then we home where Winnie and Nelson Mandela lived in the heart of Soweto.  The day ended with a tour of Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. We took a brief tour of the prison and then visited the courtroom.

 We went home a little overwhelmed and exhausted. In the first 24 hours of being in South Africa our children had seen some of the poorest communities and thanks to our wonderful tour guide, Agnes, learned a lot about the history of South Africa.

Brad and Karrissa had requested we go to the  Carnivore Restaurant. So that was where took the family for their first night out in South Africa.

Some of the menu items included: Game Meats,Crocodile, Eland, Zebra, Venison Sausage, Lamb and chicken livers.



Tomorrow.....off to Adventures with Elephants
 

Family Visit

One of the hardest things for me about serving a mission is

being away from family

 

That is why we were so excited to have

Brad and Karrissa

and

Nate and Daysha

 

COME TO SOUTH AFRICA

 

 

They were so excited to be here that even after traveling for over 24 hours they were ready for a visit to Timbisa Tots Orphanage

 The minute we stepped out of the car they were surrounded by children clamoring for their attention.

 

The boys were eager to teach Brad and Nate how to shake hands

and to show then some of their dance moves

The girls held hands with Karrissa and Daysha and before we left they lined up to have their nails painted

 IT WAS A WONDERFUL FIRST DAY IN SOUTH AFRICA

 

We couldn't have been happier to be with our children again.

 

The passing of time

We arrived in Provo on March 24th 2014 to enter the Missionary Training Center. November 24th will mark the eighth month of our mission. Each Sunday I find myself thinking "How can it be Sunday again so soon". Then again, there are days that can be long and challenging and when we return to our little apartment I find myself longing for home and it seems as if time is standing still.

Today after a beautiful Primary Program I found myself filled with gratitude for this amazing opportunity to be a part of the Orange Farm Branch. When we returned to the Primary room after the children had recited their lines perfectly, and sang like Angels I found myself studying their sweet faces as they laughed and played together. I hope they remember the tender feelings they felt today as they sang songs that testified of eternal families. I hope they know how much Heavenly Father loves them. I hope they can withstand the temptations of Satan and grow to be strong leaders in their church and the community.

Today was one of those days that I didn't want to end. It was the kind of day that left me feeling sad that we won't have more time here. I wanted to continue to feel the warm peaceful feeling in my heart that I felt as the children gathered after the Primary Program and began to bear their testimonies. One by one each child anxiously came to the front of the room and bore a tender heartfelt testimony. Then the leaders stood before them and bore their testimonies. The final testimony was given by the a Stake Primary leader. She said, through tears that she has been to many Primary Programs, some that were held in beautiful chapels with the children's singing accompanied by a beautiful organ, but she had not felt the spirit as strong as she did today in our little classroom in Orange Farm as the children sang without any accompaniment. I  bore my testimony and told the children how much I loved them. I told them how I prayed that they would stay strong and hold fast to the teachings they had been taught so that they could be part of an eternal family. When I concluded on testimony a sweet young man, whose baptism we attended a few months ago stood up and led the children in, " I'll seek the Lord Early."

" I'll seek the Lord early while in my youth, and he will help me to know the truth.
  I'll search the scriptures and find him there then go to our father in fervent prayer.
 I'll seek the Lord early and  I'll  obey his living Prophets in all they say,
 I'll keep his commandments his love will abound,, I will seek the Lord early and he will be found."

It was such a touching moment. The tears began to pour down my cheeks as I felt such a deep love for the children and their leaders of the Orange Farm Branch. One little girl brought me a tissue and a little boy crawled into my lap. There are no words to describe how I was feeling at that moment.

A few days ago our children returned to America after a 10 day visit to South Africa. We loved every minute of having them here. It was very difficult to see them go. As I held my daughter in my arms before they boarded the plane I could feel the tug at my heart. I wished we were walking down that runway with them and boarding the plane for America. The idea of spending 10 more months away from them was heartbreaking.

Attending the Primary Program today was a tender mercy. I  was reminded of the blessings of serving a mission. I know that our Heavenly Father is mindful of us. I know that he is aware of the challenges we face as we leave our homes and our children behind to serve him. Today I was reminded me of the blessings that follow obedience. Today as I sat in that tiny school room in Orange Farm surrounded by these sweet children who I have come to love with all my heart, I reflected on our first mission to Ukraine. I remembered how Heavenly Father filled my  heart with the love for the missionaries we served with, the love for our sweet interpreter, Olga and for sweet Anya, Marina, and Nastia and Masha and all the members of Donetsk Centrale Branch.

Today I was reminded that Heavenly Father is aware of the sacrifice we have made and that he has blessed us as we have come across the world to serve the people of South Africa. Today I was reminded that the time will pass quickly and before we know it we will be leaving all these amazing people we have come to know and love and our lives will forever be changed.