Senior Safari Adventure

The day after Thanksgiving, while the rest of the United States was at the Black Friday sales, the Fowers were on the most amazing Safari Adventure. Along with three other senior missionary couples we toured Addo Elephant National Park and the Schotia Private Game Reserve.  We had amazing "close-up" encounters with animals in the their natural habitat.  We were so close to these beautiful creatures that we were able to see their markings and watch their behaviors.  A day to remember!

Take a picture tour with us...

Seniors' Safari Adventure

Elephant...up close and personal!

Brothers Wrestling

Big Bull Elephant wandering out of the bush.

Zebras

Dazzle of Zebras

Female Lion 

Grandma and Mama with 3-Week Old Cubs

Big Daddy Lion

Impalas

Giraffe at Sunset

Rhinos...Bonnie and Clyde

Mama Monkey with baby clinging to under belly.

Wildebeests

Tortoise

Warthog...the face only a mother could love.

Amazing Tender Mercies in SA

Mdantsane is a very large township near East London in which we do most of our work.  We spend a great deal of time there visiting new members or looking those who have lost the flame of their faith.  We have learned to be comfortable in the web of streets (none have street signs) and often walk into unexpected surprises.  Recently, we were looking for a less active member and opened the gate to a pre-school (they call them a "creche" here).  The children came running and swarmed around me.  It made me feel so much at home to spend a few minutes with these children, but it grieves me to see the conditions in which they play.

Mdantsane Neighborhood Creche

Last week we were able to craft a handrail out of an old broke bed for Brother and Sister Magibisela.  They recently joined the church and are rather frail so they needed support getting up and down the stairs in their home.  It was tons of fun to get our hands dirty with a bit of sawdust and some woodworking.  Keep in mind that these people lived with the tyranny of apartheid and yet we have become sweet friends within the frame of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Handrail for the Magibisela's

Occasionally we have the opportunity to participate with a group of Young Single Adults who meet for a family home evening.  We had challenged them to a game of scripture trivia and they certainly held their own. We had a wonderful evening filled with laughter and fellowship.  Several of these young people join us during our evening visits and are always willing support our efforts.  Since they are about the age of our kids, we treat them like they were one of our own.

Family Home Evening with our adopted Kids

The most amazing thing happened to Elder Fowers this past week.  He had gone on an errand to King William's Town (about 45k) to deliver some furniture and I had stayed home recovering from a procedure on my shoulder.  While there, he decided to drop by an old, unkept cemetery located near the center of town.  The center piece of this cemetery was a large monument to the soldiers who had died in the Frontier Wars.  As he was casually looking down the list of names, out jumped the name..."J. Fowers" who had died in battle 23 March 1852.  Now, in Utah Fowers is a pretty common name, but no other place that we have lived have we ever run into another Fowers. He took a double take and couldn't believe what he was seeing.  Could it be that we are not the first Fowers to set foot on the soil of South Africa?  He has been earnestly researching trying to figure out how that "J. Fowers" links with our J. (Clarke) Fowers. 

Elder J. Fowers finds long, lost relative...J. Fowers

First Fowers in South Africa?

This is how we often end our day--viewing another beautiful sunset out of our patio window in Gonubie, South Africa.

Anxiously Engaged

One of our joyful duties here in South Africa, is to something we call “Elder Care”…no, not that kind of Elder, but rather the young missionaries who serve in our area who all have the title of Elder.  We provide a variety of support services to keep them going;  such as inspecting their flats (apartments) and teaching them how to kill the black mold that is growing in their showers,  giving haircuts, providing an occasional home-cooked breakfast, keeping their cars running, attend District Meetings or sometimes just giving a bit of emotional support or encouragement.  We have responsibility for 48 Elders in the East London area and we have grown to love and admire these valiant young men.

East London Zone Breakfast at our Gonubie Flat

Mdantsane District Meeting

As a member of the missionary Presidency, Elder Fowers has the responsibility to watch over small branches that are in the far reaches of the mission.  Last week we visited King William's Town to check on the Elders. We recently drove to the beautiful beach community of Knysna (525 kilometers or about a seven hour drive for our home) to provide training and support for that branch. The blessing of these road trips is that we get to see even more of the natural wonders of South Africa and meet the faithful and determined Saints in these outposts.

Visit to King Williams Town Chapel 

Suspension Bridge over Storm River Gorge
(The highest bungee jump in the world!)

Knysna, overlooking "The Heads" at Sunset

The South Africa Cape Town Mission is far flung and so is the SACTM Presidency.  We serve in East London (eastern edge of the mission), President Ladle and his wife serve in Namibia (northwestern end of the mission) and President Wood and his wife serve in Cape Town which is somewhere in the middle.  With about 1,600 kilometers in between, the leadership of the mission seldom meet together.  Recently we all gathered in Cape Town for a three-day Presidency meeting to define the vision and goals of the mission.  After our extensive meetings, we took a p-day together and visited Robbens Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 of his 27 years in prison.  It was sobering to consider his sacrifice and nobility that lead to the abolishment of apartheid.

SACTM Mission Presidency

Nelson Mandela's Cell on Robbens Island

View of Table Mountain from Robbens Island

There is so much more to share and tell, but this will have to do for now.  Until next time... love from South Africa!

Beautiful African People

One of the most heart wrenching things we see here in South Africa is the poverty.  Each time we drive by or through a township, we think of the mothers taking care of their children’s basis needs in such tiny little shanties, knowing that they often carry water and have no indoor plumbing.  Last week we had the opportunity to visit several wonderful new members of the church in their humble homes.  Each home we visited was immaculately clean and orderly and they were wearing their best clothing.  They were so honored that we would come to visit them and treated us with generous hospitality.  Their joy and fulfillment in life is not based on the things of this world, but rather in the peace that comes through their faith in accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is so much to learn from these humble people.

Wash day in the the township.

We are so drawn to the children with their beautiful, shining faces.  Most of them are deathly afraid of Sister Fowers and her shining white hair, but every now and then she can entice a little one into her arms. 

Terrified in the arms of this white haired grandma!

Sisters in the Gospel

Last Sunday we attended the Mdantsane 1^st Ward (congregation), which is located in a large township about 15 kilometers outside of East London.  Most of the services were conducted in Xhosa (the native language of this area which has many clicking and popping sounds in it).  Though we could not understand the spoken language we did understand the language of the spirit.  We were pulled in by the fellowship and faith of these saints.  That day, Sister Fowers was able to attend Relief Society, the adult women’s organization, and felt the kinship of sisterhood among a “standing-room only” crowd of 70 sisters.

After Sabbath meetings, a baptismal service was held for five new converts as they took upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ. Words do not do justice to the overwhelming feelings of peace and rejoicing that permeated the meeting.  It made us stop and consider how blessed we have been to have this guiding light in our lives since childhood and what a profound difference in has made to our family.

Mdantsane Baptisms

We still have the head-turning experiences of seeing exotic animals and birds.  We often watch monkeys playing in the trees outside our flat and peacocks strutting around our complex.  This last week we visited animal rescue farm and had some up close and personal encounters with some injured birds.

Petting Frankie

Whoa...back off!

Nearly every morning we are able to beginning our day with a vigorous walk/run on our local Gonubie Boardwalk and beach.  Our gratitude for this opportunity to serve in South Africa grows each day and we pray that we are making a tiny difference through our service.

Gonubie Beach/Boardwalk

Our new Home in East London

East London, South Africa is our new home.   As of September 3^rd, we have been assigned to one of the far outreaches of the mission, which is about 1075 kilometers (670 miles) up the eastern coast of Africa.  The geographic distance of the mission makes it very challenging for President Wood to support and monitor the Elders in distant areas, so Elder Fowers has been called as the 2^nd Counselor in the mission presidency to watch over the Elders in this area. 

Elder and Sister Fowers, Sister and Pres. Wood in front of Mission Home

We had a beautiful drive, which took several days and we continue to be in awe of the beauty and majesty of South Africa.  We were able to visit two small mission branches at George and Kynsna and four other senior missionary couples along the way.  Each couple is committed to lift and love the saints in the area they have been assigned.

On the Road to East London

We have now settled into a beautiful flat overlooking the Gonubie River valley.  Along with our many other supervisory responsibilities, we will be working in the Mdantsane township to help support the new ward leaders and find the “lost sheep” in that area.

View from our Back Window...Gonubie River Valley

We love working with the young Elders! (There are no young Sister missionaries here due to safety concerns).  They are full of righteous energy and are working hard to serve and teach the happy message of Jesus Christ and the restoration of truth to the earth.  We are blessed everyday to interact with these young men who have given two years of their lives.

Queenstown Zone Elders

Just last weekend we attended a Stake Conference in East London.  It is difficult to put into words the power of the spirit we felt as we sat among these humble members.  Their words were profound and the music stirring.  They love music and you can feel their love for their Savior through their singing.  Their Stake choir, of about 25 voices, raised the rafters with their hymns that rivaled the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We couldn’t help but be moved.   

Cape of Good Hope

Namibia, which is part of our Cape Town mission, is similar to the state Nevada, a big barren desert, with few people.  Our church has only two small congregations in the entire country.  We would like to send more missionaries into Namibia but the government has denied visas, leaving only one Senior Couple in Namibia.   They want us to hire local Namibians as missionaries that would help solve the country’s high unemployment rate, not realizing that our missionaries are unpaid clergy that pay their own expenses. They think we are a business.  After much fasting and prayer on the part of many members, the customs officials changed there earlier decision and have now granted four missionaries visas.  We believe this unexplainable change is a direct answer to our prayers.

On August 20 our church sponsored a Mormon Helping Hands across the whole African continent.  Our part in this community out reach service was to clean a Senior Care Center doing yard work and washing windows. We had a fun time with the local members this day.

Paarl Members Serving at the Beaconvale Frail Care Center

 Yesterday we took an all day excursion to the Cape of Good Hope.  It was the most beautiful sight we have ever seen.  Beyond going to the “bottom” of the world and seeing the bluest ocean, we encountered Jackass penguins, baboons, ostriches, dassies (little rodent like creatures about the size of a cat) and lots of other human tourists.  We visited Hout Bay climbing an old stone fort built in 1670s.  We stopped at Miller’s Point (where the penguins live), and the Cape of Good Hope.  This is the furthest southwest point on the African continent. 

Oldhams, Mahlers and Fowers at the "Bottom" of Africa

Oceans meet at the Cape of Good Hope

As missionaries here we have begun to understand the hope and determination of this great country.

Cape Point Light House   1860

Loving the People

As with any Fowers Family adventure there are so many adjustments.  For example it is winter down here and there is no central heating in any home, so I am always cold.  I go to bed with a heating pad and eat breakfast in my warmest coat.  Because it has been so cold, we leave the windows and doors closed so then everything is moldy and musty.  Cooking is an adventure as well.  I baked cookies the other day and I couldn't find shortening or brown sugar and it took me three stores to find chocolate chips. Even the flour is different, so it took several tries before Luci's famous cookies even resembled the kind I baked on Sunday nights.  We are finally adjusting to driving on the wrong side of the road but are constantly fighting 40 years of muscle memory so we both have to concentrate intensely while driving.   I was a terrible back seat driver when we were driving in San Diego...you should hear me now!

Check out the steering wheel on the right side of the car!

South African peoples are beautifully diverse.  We are constantly rubbing shoulders with individuals from different, fascinating cultures, races, ethic backgrounds and social economic levels.  They are a friendly and happy people for the most part and they are working their way into our hearts.  On Clarke's birthday last week we celebrated with a group of Young Single Adults that we have been helping.  They were so delighted to be part of his celebration. We have been working with them to bring focus and direction to their lives and help reconnect them to their faith in Jesus Christ.

Chocolate Birthday Cake

Poverty and unemployment are a crushing problem here.  We have had our large municipal garbage cans (here they call them the rubbish bins) stolen twice in the last month.  We were quite irritated by it until we realized that people were stealing them to live in...it keeps them warm and dry during this rainy season.  There are massive townships (slums) here that we have not ventured into because they are simply too dangerous, but we see the shanties from the freeways and it is heart wrenching.

Miles and miles of shanty homes without runny water or sewer lines.

We continue to be in awe of the landscape and vistas.  Last Saturday we took an enclosed cable car to the top of the famous Table Mountain which is located in the heart of Cape Town.  We went from sea level to 3550 feet in elevation in about 2 minutes.  We felt like we were on the top of the world and we could see for 50 miles in every direction.  We took dozens of pictures and they simply did not do justice to majesty of the view that was spread before us.  It is impossible to comprehend the beauty and magnitude of God's creations and His love.

Top of the World!

View of Robben's Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.