HIS Hands

Often when I create a post for the blog I try to focus on a specific theme or event, but today's post is a rambling sample of the many aspects of our work and activities here in South Africa.  We try to minister wherever needed as the Lord directs.  We have come to love the members of our wards, the young missionaries we serve with and have built strong bonds of friendship within our African community.  Enjoy our photo gallery of events that have taken place in the last two weeks...

Relaxing with the Senior Couples on our P-day activity.

 Elder Fowers at Tsitsikamma Falls Zipline

Magnificent Views....Kruis River Gorge

Young at Heart--GRAY PRIDE

We focus a lot of our time and energy on what we term "Elder Care" as we take care of the physical needs of our young Elder missionaries. We inspect their apartments (flats), keep their cars running and take them to the doctor when needed.

 The Miracle of feeding the 50. 

Queenstown Zone conference at lunchtime

Not a morsel left.

        Luci's traveling  Barbershop

    Nine haircuts this week--laying on of the hands 

We were blessed with the opportunity to participate in a mission tour with Elder Carl B. Cook and his sweet wife. Elder Cook is the member of the first Quorum of the Seventy, currently serving as the second counselor in the Area Presidency which supervises all the church in 34 countries in Southeast Africa.

Elder and Sister Cook

Instructing Elders

We grieved deeply with our friends in the Mdantsane 1st Ward at the passing of Bro. Magibisela as we participated in their Xhosa funeral traditions.

Sad Day--Burial of Bro. Magibisela

Sister Fowers and Mama Magibisela at graveside.

"Lifting the hands that hang down..."

We continue to serve the impoverished who need a helping hand or a quick fix-up. Recently Sister Fowers advised a group of young carpenters on how to improve their furniture to make it more marketable. That afternoon we replaced a front door for Sister Woko, so she could finally secure her home against theft.

A bit of advise to carpentry interns.

Developing their skills to become self-reliant.

New door for a new member--Safe at last!

The richness of our experience has changed our lives and our hearts.  As we quietly respond to the whisperings of the spirit, we know we have become instruments in His hands.  We bless the day that we decided to service a mission!

Service Projects in Mdantsane

We have found that oppressive poverty often prevents our friends in the gospel from focusing on the things of the spirit.  We have found that we bring great joy and strength to them by meeting their physical needs and thus opening their hearts to the spirit in their lives.  Here a couple of our recent service projects:

Sister Lishwa's  outhouse before repairs.

Sister Lishwa is the sole income provider for 13 people who live in her small township home.  They have survived with a broken outhouse and no wash sink to wash their clothes for about 8 years. There is no money for such repairs so we decided to solve this problem.  We enlisted the young missionaries to tear out the old cement sink and broken sewer line. We installed a new sewer line, then prepared a pad for cement and pillars for the sink.  Sister Fowers worked on the inside to rehang the door, coat rack, leaky pipes, repaired shower and even installed a new toilet seat.

Elders Sutherland, Palelei and Fowers down and dirty.

It took five men to carry the cement sink up the hill.

Tata Mkwando, a new member, served as our expert mason.

Sister Lishwa and her grandchild celebrate their new wash sink.

Sister Asanda, an unemployed, single mom decided she was going to take control of her life by starting her own "creche" (preschool).  With courage and resourceful determination, she found a small space behind butchery and opened her door to seven little children.  

Team Work !

With a team of our awesome missionaries we were able to clean garbage and debris from behind the building to create a little outdoor play place for the kids.  

A little makeshift fence completed the project for a very happy Sister Asanda.

Sisters Fowers and Asanda...Sisters in Zion.

*Special request:  If you have any used toys, puzzles, books, puppets, dolls or balls (collapsed) that you could contribute to Asanda's kids, please mail them to:

Elder and Sister Fowers

54 Hazy Ridge, 9 Swallow Lane

Gonubie, 5257

East London

SOUTH AFRICA

Hints:

International Flat Rate boxes are the cheapest way to mail. 

List contents as "Missionary Supplies" on shipping label.

We will make sure that they are delivered to her school.  

This is your chance to make a bit of a difference!

South Africa Cape Town Mission Presidency

Mission Presidency and Wives, July 2012

July 18 2012, we attended our SACTM mission presidency meeting in Cape Town.  Mark I. Wood, Mission President and his wife Kathy. J. Clarke Fowers, first counselor and Steven R. Smith, second counselor.   The Smiths cover the entire country of Namibia as the only senior couple with only 6 missionaries.  We (Fowers) cover the Eastern Cape Province which is about half the size of California with 44 missionaries and three Zones.

President Wood and President Fowers

While there, we took a p-day and hiked to the top of Lion's head mountain with the mission presidency. The hike was 2 miles   going from sea level to about 2,800 feet to the top.  Ascending upward, the narrow trail wraps around the small but steep mountain affording breathtaking views of  Cape Town, Table Mountain to the east and the Atlantic ocean.

Winter flowers overlook empty beaches.

Smiles amid the pain of unused muscles.

On the top of Lion's Head...Victory Dance.

Far Away... Missionary Grandparents

Mazie Lorraine Molen, our 13th grandchild was born July 16 at 9:38 a.m. weighing in at 9 lbs. 4 oz., 22 inches long and so cute!  Being long distant grandparents has been made easier through the miracle of skype, but Grandma is itching to cuddle her, so she does the next best thing and holds every little African baby she can find.

Meet Mazie...

Next best thing, holding sweet African newborn.

Surrogate baby.

If the US postal service comes through, a little bit of Grandma will be there when Mazie is blessed. Here is her special blessing dress made with love in South Africa.

Handmade with lots of love.

 Imported!

South African Express Train

Boarding...

Up for an exciting new adventure!

On June 17 we boarded the Shosholoza Meyl African Express train, along with 21 of our dear friends from the Mdantsane 1^st Ward to attend the Johannesburg, South Africa Temple.   

The distance from East London is about 950 kilometers (590 miles) which translates into a 22 hour train ride.  The members opted for train travel over bus/taxi because it is much less expensive and it is all they could afford.  Most of them had been saving money for nearly a year to pay the 440 rand ($60) fare. 

All Aboard...

Preparing for a long night.

The members settled in for a long, cold night in the economy class with non-reclining seats and no heat. But there was a wonderful, happy energy of dedication and unity among all the members. 

Sleeper car...still cold, but at least we could sleep a bit.

We opted for a sleeper car along with several others of our group that were pensioners (retirees).

After a long, cold, sleepless night.

We finally arrived in Johannesburg!

When we finally saw the spires of the temple through the trees all the challenges of the long train trip faded away.    

Johannesburg, South Africa Temple

We were excited and prepared ourselves to enter the temple and partake of the sweet spirit.  Once inside this beautiful edifice we remembered our promises to our Heavenly Father. We are all filled with the spirit!  

Mdantsane Saints in front of the Johannesburg Temple.

We are certain the faithful saints will be blessed for their sacrifices. Our lives were touched as we shared this experience with our ward family.

Holiness to the Lord!

Finding "HIS" Lost Sheep

We spend much of our time trying to find our Savior's lost sheep.  Individuals who were once warm in the faith and had centered their lives on Jesus Christ who have since quietly wandered away.  They are lost somewhere in the web of houses and shanties of the Mdantsane township.  Often the worries of the world such as illness, unemployment, poverty, family conflict or lack of transportation draw them into the day to day crazies of living and they soon forget.  But, we know that the Savior has not forgotten them.  He still numbers them as His.  It is impossible to express the joy we feel once we locate and engage them.  We do all we can to lift their burdens and rekindle their faith.  
Several weeks ago we decided that the task was just too big for us to do ourselves so we organized a "Finding the Lost Sheep" activity with other members of our congregation. Weeks of planning, creating visit lists, preparing lunches for 60 and decorating a special cake all proceeded the event. On a Saturday morning, May 12th, 60 members joined us and they went out in teams to invite them back to church.  We shared an incredible feelings of rejoicing as we visited 165 homes in just one day and found dozens of persons we can now serve, help and lift and invite back to the fellowship of the church. An amazing day as we served as His "under-shepherds" to help care for the children he loves.

Preparing cakes the night before.

Setting up the teams.

Unit Leader, Lihle, organizes and trains his teams.

SISTERS!

 Reviewing the details of the visit list.

 Excited to go.

Lunches for 60... to go.

REJOICING TOGETHER!

"The worth of souls is great in the sight of God."  D&C 18: 10  We can testify that there is no greater joy than to bring even one soul back to our Savior Jesus Christ.