Street Contacting, Flooding the Site, Acres of temple plants, Young Women Conference and Primary

 It was another wonderful week in Africa! We've been flooding the temple site again with the Book of Mormon. We are so happy the workers on the site feel the special spirit in the temple, even during construction. We were able to meet with the HVAC team and Rio Douro Construction teams. Each time they all come forth and desire to take a book home with the promise to read. I've been taking team photos for the church temple history book. The workers love to have their photo taken; they come see them printed on a bulletin board we've posted by our office trailer. It's fun getting to know them and learn a few Shona phrases. I love how they smile and and cheer our pronunciation on! We've learned how to say good morning, good afternoon, I am fine, and thankyou! Ma moo kaa si, Mascati, Tom moo ka, Ta tenda! I'm not sure if they're laughing or pleased at our attempts at their language. 
Last Sunday, I enjoyed hearing the cute primary children sing. I took Joanna to primary so Agnes, her mother, could stay with the sisters in Relief Society. Sister Tondi King does an amazing job organizing the children and teaching them primary songs outside in a circle. She asked me to help with the choristering. We miss our grandkids; but have adopted a few here. Sister Reeve Nield, said you will be grandparents to so many less fortunate children that never had a grandparent before.  Our ward had two more baptisms last week and three next week. Our bishop, Bsp. Nicholls stated there were over 50 baptisms in the last 3-4 months in our area. It's great to witness the swimming pool baptisms.                                            

Bruce taught me how to do "street contacting" on our Sunday afternoon walk (2023.03.26). We gave out 10 Books of Mormon to people we met on the street. The African people are receiving additional Godly light and power by accepting this book and reading about another witness of Jesus Christ. We're near a park where the Apostalic worshippers meet. They dress in beautiful white robes. We love seeing them walking down the street or gathering in large circle congregations outside.  One night we were awoken by their constant chanting at 1:00 to 4:00 in the morning. There's a beautiful beat of drums and chant-like singing and clapping. It sounds joyful! Unfortunately it goes on all night sometimes!

Apostolic walking down street                                       Beautiful bougainvillea at the York Lodge

Our first attempt at cookies, no crisco or "Kitchen Aid" and "zesa" power for oven only comes on from 11 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Bruce got up and cooked the dough at 3:00 a.m. Here is chicken dinner take out!

Emerald Seedings, Nursery where temple plants and trees are being propagated and stored. There seems to be several acres of beautiful plants, flowers, and trees being grown for the landscaping. This is Lucas and Ryan (above photo), the main temple landscape architects. 2023.03.29

Rescued trees (below) the property was sold for development and the trees were given to the church to rescue rather than bulldoz them down. There are large palms being transplanted and stored here also. The plants want to be grown to maturity so the landscaping is ready for the open house when the temple is completed. Gill, the gracious nursery owner, showed us around.

Juanita is growing beautiful white roses for the temple site, 2023.03.29.

Stake Young Women Conference, theme was "Temples" so we were the guest speakers, 2023.04.01

Traveling to conference in African style!

Sister Reeve Nield helps with technology as we speak with our power point presentation last Saturday.

We love the sister missionaries, Sister Rodriquez and Louder.  We took them to lunch and they were so grateful. We are so grateful for their strong testimonies and for teaching our new friends, Agnes and David. (2023.04.01)

Horrah for Israel! Stake Young Women, Harare, Zimbabwe 2023.04.01, we talked about the temple, construction, and the light the temple offers.