Kasane

Now we can show pictures of Kasane. Kasane is up on the very top of Botswana. It is on the Chobe River across from Namibia. (Just down the road a bit is the place where four countries touch each other, it's the only place in the world that this happens) Kasane is also the place where animals (elephants etc.) roam the streets and is 5 hours and on horrid roads from Francis Town. We have a group of 14 members there. After painting and prepping the house they used for a meeting house, they held an Open House for the community on Saturday, Mar. 9. Sunday, 47 people were in attendance (again FORTY-SEVEN people attended church that day) Amazing! We were able to take the picture of Christ up for them to have in the hallway. 

Abrahams, Taylors, Cornellia, Gublers (This was after a lovely game drive that did great things to our hair)

Cornellia is an amazing young woman. She is from Zimbabwe. Her family had a farm there but it was taken away. Her parents now live in Maun, Botswana (the very bottom of the Okevango Delta). Cornellia works putting tours together and such for people who come to town; she works for one of the hotels there. Cornellia flew back to Zimbabwe for a visit, was taught the gospel and was baptized there. For several years, she flew back several times a year so that she could attend church. Slowly, more people who were members came to Kasane and a "group" was formed. If they get one more priesthood holder, they can have a Branch! (We senior couples have all volunteered to go and open Kasane to missionaries, we'll see if there happens). Cornellia and several of her friends have come to the USA to visit and tour the temple there. I believe she received her endowments in Utah. Anyway, she is truly amazing and a really strong member of the church.

We did our part for the open house. We were leaving Saturday morning, after the game drive, we kind of got side tracked. After deciding we should have lunch, KFC, Elder Gubler thought we should eat on the KFC patio instead of the car. The Taylors and I were pretty surprised because we knew that Elder Gubler was concerned about the 10 hour drive home. While we were eating, a nice young man with an earring in one ear came up to us and asked us where the church building was. He wanted to go to church the next day. After many phone calls (most of them dropped because of the lousy cell service) we were able to get him to the church that Saturday for the open house. He is from Francis Town but is living with his uncle and looking for a job in Kasane. He even helped pass the Sacrament Sunday because he is a priest. Just think, he wouldn't have found the church if we hadn't taken time to eat where we could be seen.

Transfers

Transfers

Just so you don't think all we do is play, I'm updating our blog before we leave for the Senior Couples retreat in South Africa.

Sister Tu (new) Sister Banda, Sister Gillis (new)

March 5th was Transfer Day. We received 5 brand new sisters and 8 new elders. The Taylors, the Sisters already here and we picked up the new sister missionaries. Because there were so many people moving around and leaving Gaborone for Francis Town, the Senior Missionaries fed and housed them. March 6th we started the immigration process. When the new missionaries come in we have to do all the immigration stuff, get packets with the new missionaries' passport copies, birth certificates, pictures, physicals and a wide variety of things ready for immigration. Most of this can't be finished until the new missionaries arrive. The Elders and Sisters spent the entire day with us getting this process completed. The 2 of the USA Sisters have African companions and got to start driving without much guidance. They are doing well but were scared to death!

Sister Pierce (new) and Sister Wiscome

 March 7th, we left bright and early (about 1:00pm) with two cars of sisters and a kingcab bakki holding the Taylors and us (and supplies for Francis Town). About halfway up to Francis Town, we realized that none of us had thought about phone for the new sets of Sisters.Oops!. (We found this out when we tried to call one of the companionships in the car and got Sister Joseph in Gaborone). Anyway, we all arrived safe and sound after a 5 hour trip on questionable roads that turned out to be much better than the roads a bit further on towards Kasane.

Sister Vuki and Sister N

Sister Joseph and Sister Anderson

 We had a lovely dinner with the Senior Couples and the new to the area Sister missionaries. We now have 2 sets of Sisters and 4 sets of Elders in Francis Town. (In addition to the 3 sets of Senior Couples) The Woolfs are going home April 1st and a new couple is coming May 5th. We are so sad to be losing the Woolfs but look forward to meeting the new couple that will replace them. After a lovely dinner, we stayed at Elder and Sister Abraham's home. I'm very jealous of their over head fan in the bedroom. (The Abrahams are from St George.)

Elder Brown (new) Elder Hansen (Trainer)

Elder Balmforth and Elder Fraga (new to area)