Yesterday we went to church at the Rabie Ridge Branch which is in rural area just south of Pretoria.   Although we were the only white faces in the chapel, we have never felt more welcome.  What wonderful people.  I know I’ve said that in previous posts,  but I just can’t get over how very special these people here in Africa are.  Those who are members of our Church live and express their faith in a way that we seldom see in the USA.  They completely immerse themselves in every way…… their knowledge of the scriptures, the way they participate in church meetings and services,  the way they sing which can be heard from the top of the mountain and the bottom of the valley, and especially the way they live their daily lives………….. and they do this with a smile that goes from ear to ear.   The young man who led the music asked us if we knew the Forsgrens, the couple we replaced here as Public Affairs Missionaries.   As it happens, the Forsgrens happen to be good friends, and Kaye Forsgren and Dian are life-long friends.   The young man was very excited to learn this and told us that Kaye had taught him everything he knows about music.  I should mention, she spent 20 years as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Well, from there,  things got a little emotional, but we took a couple of pictures and promises to send them to the Forsgren.  A great day!

Tomorrow we are off to Swaziland and later in the week to Botswana to finish the “Introduction To The Church” video we are producing for Africa.   We are excited to see Tom and Diana Blackburn from our Ward in St George, who are serving a mission in Swaziland.  They have offered to help us, and we are very grateful for that.  It will be great to see someone from home.