Amazing Plants and Amazing People

We had the Judds, Lewis's, and Elder D. Silva, from the quorum of the Seventy, over for dinner on Friday night. We had found this awesome taco truck, a Zimbabwean lady moved here from Dallas, Texas. It was the first authentic Mexican food we've found here in Africa. The Judds were so excited to try them. Elder Silva had interviews all day and into the evening. We ordered tacos and picked them up, then they all came to our apartment for a taco dinner. It was fun to get together and hear their words of wisdom in our conversations. Elder Silva is amazingly kind and friendly. Erik and Megan Lewis, are the new MLT senior couple, they live in the apartment door doors down so we get to see them often. Megan sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has a gorgeous soprano voice. She gets to teach piano music and how to lead to the wards, along with Missionary and Temple prep. The Lewis's spend their weekends in Mutare and serve 9 branches. Having senior missionaries is such an asset to the missions. The church is so new in Africa and it helps to have lifelong members be examples in leadership.

A frequented taco truck #tacocabana.  We bought this beautiful bouquet of "Protea florals" for our table. The protea looks unreal and feels waxy, but has a very unique blossom.

Saturday morning we had our amazing golf lessons with Laurette Mauritz (Lolly) and coach, Reeve Nield. Lolly did some amazing shots to show us "true" form with the driver, wood, lob wedge, and putter. I hadn't had "putting" lessons yet so they should us how and gave us some awesome tips. I don't expect to become a great golfer, but it's nice to apply a few tips and actually hit the ball!

Bruce and Elder Guy Peterson are at golf Saturday mornings. Reeve & Lolly teach us putting. 2023.08.12

    Saturdays we try to pack in a lot of things so we can try out all the amazing things Zimbabwe has to offer. We are on the temple site M-F from about 0830-4:00 p.m. I'm not allowed to post photos within the Harare Zimbabwe Temple site during construction. I take photos every two weeks of the progress and it's amazing to be on the temple site daily. The workers are a joy to be with and they are coaching us daily on our Shona pronunciations. Many workers have become our friends and come visit us in our trailer to ask gospel questions or get advice. We've adopted many as our own.

        Saturday afternoon, after golf and the market, we traveled about 45 minutes to a zoo and gardens. We walked around "Bally Vaughan Sanctuary" for about 1 hour after eating a slice of pizza for lunch. Not knowing what to expect, we couldn't find a guide after paying the $20.00 entry fee. It was a mediocre zoo with caged animals. After our own tour, we found someone to help, who told us it was another $25.00 to go on a guided safari. We felt like we already paid more than necessary for the small caged animal experience. We went on to our second stop "Ewanrigg Gardens" close by (about a 45-minute drive from our apartment in Harare.)

Ewanrigg was a much more pleasant surprise. This beautiful botanical garden was built back in the early 1900's then donated to the National Zimbabwe Parks and Recreation. Ewanrigg has the second-largest collection of aloes in the world. Since it's "winter" in Zimbabwe, some of the plants are dormant and have already blossomed. We'd like to see the gardens in the summertime when everything is more green. We were surprised and some of the enormity of the aloes and beautiful blossoms they do produce. Overall, it was a nice walk together. We met the nursery caregiver, Blessing. He told us about the gardens saying, "Exactly" after every sentence. It was fun to visit with him and share a Book of Mormon.

Our new friend, "Exactly a Blessing" 2023.08.12

Bruce always finds a tree to climb!

 After a few hours of visiting the gardens, it was time to head back home. We had seen a vegetable stand along the road with some African huts and their kamosha, which we wanted to snap a photo of. We had turned around twice to get a photo driving there but almost got hit by a truck and didn't get a close-up. We decided we'd buy some tomatoes and onions from the stand. When we pulled up the ladies were so excited to make a sale. I asked them if we could take a photo and how much we loved their beautiful kamosha. She invited us to come and see. After a tour of her home and kitchen, Bruce checked out the garden with the children. They had fresh peas growing and we asked if we could pick some. It was the highlight of our trip visiting with these amazing humble and friendly people. I told them I'd take her family photo with my fancy Cannon camera and send it to her on "What's App". She let me take photos and we gave her a good tip. 

I told her we'd go home and make cream potatoes and fresh peas and shared with her the recipe. The mother, Doreen, and her daughter, Hazel, accepted the Books of Mormon we shared with them. The thatched roof hut was remarkably clean and tidy. Doreen even offered to give me a road runner. I asked it I'd take it alive or have to cut off it's head. She said she'd prepare it for me but it would take 30 minutes; we passed on that one. What a delightful family!

New friends met along the roadside, Hazel and Doreen

Fresh vegetables they grow and sale, $1.00 for a bunch of onions 

The cutest family with their "Kamusha"

Fresh chicken dinner anyone?

Picking fresh peas with helpers "(it's Spring in August)

Inside Doreen's kitchen, she uses firewood in the middle and timbers to heat up the stove to make sudsa, 2023.08.12

I looked out the window and what did I see? Popcorn balls popping on this amazing tree!
Chorisia speciosa, a definite "wow" tree; the silk floss tree makes a statement in all aspects: spiky bark, blossoms, shape, and cotton balls. Silk Floss Tree / Kapokboom. The Zimbabweans told me it's called a "Kaypoc" tree.We found this amazing "Popcorn ball" tree in our neighborhood. It definitely has a "wow" factor. We sent a photo to Lucas Ulys, our HZT landscape architect in South Africa to find out its name. He picked a few for the temple site too.

One last amazing person is Sister LaNae Poulter from Menan/Rexburg, Idaho. The Highland's Ward children all surrounded her for a hug on Sunday, Aug. 13th. She is going home for medical reasons after serving faithfully for 14 months as our mission secretary. She has an amazing testimony despite her trials. She suffers from alopecia and wears a wig. I was surprised she showed our Relief Society sisters her "bald" head and taught them beauty comes from within and not to judge others.