Tzaneen

Tzaneen is a spectacularly beautiful and prosperous community located in the northern Province of Limpopo.  It is nestled in a valley in the Drakensburg Mountain range, and is surrounded by lush fruit and vegetable plantations of every sort…….. bananas, mangos, avocados, macadamia nuts, etc.  The Church has been having problems for some time with many of the outlying villagers believing that we are “devil worshipers” and that we “drink baby’s blood”. 

We decided to drive up there to learn more about the problem and to see what we could do to help.  Elder Taylor Mortensen and his wife have been missionaries in Tzaneen for the past two years and have been working hard to show the villagers that we just want to be friends and to help in any way we can.  Recently he distributed over 800 school kits supplied by the Church to children at a school in Motupo.  These contained a notebook, pencils, scissors,  and a ruler in a small canvas carrying bag.  Without a doubt, this has helped to change the Church’s reputation in that particular community.

One our first day there, Elder Mortensen wanted to take us up to a small school located high on a mountain between Mutopo and Majajie to help him hand out more school kits to the 25 or so children there.  But before our trip up the mountain, he first took us to the school in Mutopo to introduce us to the Principal, and to meet the children that had already received school kits.  It was an amazing experience.  We were greeted with great enthusiasm.  The children just wanted to get close to us and even touch us if possible.  I think I must have given out two or three hundred “high fives”.  I was indeed humbled.  It was a moment that I don’t think I will ever forget.

It was then time to head up the mountain to hand out kits at the other smaller school.  In an effort to hopefully get a little recognition, Elder Mortensen asked a reporter from the local newspaper to come along with us to cover the hand.  Our trip wound up a narrow and rutted dirt road.  The school itself was nothing more than a 15 by 15 hut with boards tacked up on the sides, a thatched roof, and a dirt floor.  The children came from the small homes on the surrounding hillsides.  The teacher, Teacher Jane as we called her, walked 4 miles up the mountain every day to teach the children.  The word “dedication” took on a whole new meaning when I learned of her amazing effort every day.  Once again, another very special experience.

As we traveled home, we learned that the reporter that had accompanied us, was actually a member of our Church, but has been inactive for the past several years.  The experience of that day has prompted him to become active again.  The following Monday, there was wonderful front page article telling how the Church is helping the community, and was accompanied by a color picture.  Its amazing how things come together sometimes.

We loved Tzaneen and plan to return in a couple of weeks to help to hand out more school kits at another school.  Perhaps there will be another special story that will come from our ongoing adventure in that beautiful community.  Stay tuned!