"Smoking the Book of Mormon!": Our 3 African Shona Chi-Town Temple Sons, Baptisms, Wedding and Testimonies

   

 Saturday morning we were blessed to see our third "African Chi-town son" enter the waters of baptism. Talent Nyamande was glowing in white! Chitungwiza is where Persuade, Richwell, and Talent live. All three have joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, live in Chitungwiza, and work for Rio Douro on the temple site. These men feel the Spirit of Elijah as the temple has drawn them to the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a blessed day to be all together! Bruce had given Talent a priesthood blessing last month to help him to quit smoking. When we see him on the temple site, we give him a thumbs up to see how he's doing. Sister Kitchen, an amazing sister missionary teaching Talent in Chitungwiza, asked him last week how he's been doing with stopping his smoking habit. Although he had a few slips with his peers previously, he commented he'd gone a whole week without a cigarette. Then he exclaimed, "These days I SMOKE THE BOOK OF MORMON!" Wow, what a high the true gospel of Jesus Christ can give us. What wisdom in this humble testimony of Talent. Every time we taught and testified the truthfulness of the gospel to Talent on the temple site in our trailer, we felt the Spirit and had tears fill our eyes. Elder Anderson had the privilege of confirming Talent and I was able to speak about the Holy Ghost during the baptism meeting. Another young adult taught by Sisters Kitchen, Agiza, and Musami named Ryan, was also baptized and Bruce did the honors. What a marvelous day in white!

Our three African Chi-Town Temple Site "SONS", Persuade, Talent, and Richwell, 2023.10.28

All three sons were baptized by Elder Anderson in Chitungwiza Seke 2 Ward: Persuade, Talent, and Richwell.

Sister Agiza, Anderson, Talent Nyamande, Elder Anderson, Persuade Arimoni, Sisters Kitchen and Musami with Ryan at Chitungwiza baptism on Saturday, 2023.10.28

                                        Persuade and Richwell helped to fellowship these two new members. Elder Anderson congratulates Talent after confirmation and receiving the

Gift of the Holy Ghost, 2023.10.2

Exhuberant JOY!!! Bruce congratulates Talent after immersion of baptism, 2023.10.28
8 Talent texted Sister Anderson that night, "Thank you so much! You've made my day to be great and I'll never forget it in my life.
    Afterward, we rushed off to Kuwadzana to attend Mario Malenga and Michell's wedding. We stopped at Nando's for lunch to treat our three boys (men). The service was slow and it took over 45 min. to be fed. Running late arrived shortly after the ceremony, going to the wrong chapel at first. The bride and groom shone with happiness. We had many of our temple site workers there celebrating the event. Mario, being a returned missionary, has been very instrumental in helping us teach the workers on site. He served in Ghana and can speak and explain things in Shona. After the wedding, he plans on baptizing Michelle, his new bride. Lolly and Reeve were able to loan this beautiful wedding dress to her for their special day. It fit wonderfully and she was gorgeous.

    Bruce was asked to speak at the wedding by Mario, this is what we texted to all our young adult friends and the bride and groom,

"My young friends, remember that marriage is essential to eternal life and that a good marriage and family life is crafted, not found. Strong marriages emerge out of helping each other obtain your education, struggling financially, dealing with sickness, and coping with the shock produced by the birth of your first child. Life changes and moves ahead in many unanticipated ways. Changing jobs, moving to a different city, raising teenagers, caring for an aged parent, retirement, and similar activities and events are what produce eternal marriages. Overcoming these problems as a team—helping and supporting each other along the way—are what produce a happy marriage." Bruce Chadwick

Mario and a mission companion, both served in Ghana with Elder Mark McGregor, my nurse friend, Laura's son (from Thatcher, Idaho)

We all volunteer and work on the Harare, Zimbabwe Temple Site. Wonderful workers!

The Kuwadzana full time elders serving in Harare, Zimbabwe Mission.

Persuade makes friends with all the cute little children. This is Rumi

Next, we ran to Mbare, Saturday's Stake Conference, where Persuade was asked to share his testimony. He spoke in Shona, but we could understand the Spirit. It was a wonderful way to top off the day!

South Stake Conference at Mbare Chapel. Persuade was asked to share his testimony by the Stake President. He bore it in Shona, but we knew what he was saying and the Spirit was felt by the audience and us. Our three Shona Sons, 2023.10.18

We welcomed a new senior couple, the Stuki's from Alpine, Utah, who just arrived that afternoon. They will be over "Fleets and Flats." Although full of jetlag, Wendy and Grant were a delight to visit with. All the seniors went out to dinner at Organikks restaurant. Bruce and I ate at this restaurant twice this week. We enjoyed the setting and food last Wednesday night after a game of pickleball with the Gibsons.

Temple Milestone: Water-tight Braai Party on HZT

     The Harare Zimbabwe Temple (HZT) site has reached another milestone: the temple is water-tight. The temple is finally sealed as far as windows, temporary doors, and waterproofing of the roof. This calls for a celebration! We, the church, fed all the temple site workers on Thursday, Oct. 26th with a traditional African braai. A braai is like a barbecue, but it's grilling on an open-fire grill with several choices of meat: chicken, pork, and beef. We hired our friend Alistair Gibson to cater the meal for over 250+ workers. He served more meat than the workers had ever seen in one sitting. We also got permission to have the area missionaries come help serve. This was also a great missionary effort. Many of the workers are meeting with the missionaries in their areas or with us at our Welcome Center.

        Harare, Zimbabwe Temple Site workers on Water-Tight Braai Party, 2023.10.26 

    Bruce and I decided to hand out a "Temple" magazine to every worker. We had a lot of trouble initially ordering the magazines and getting them to Zimbabwe for our Welcome Center. Sister Judd ordered 2,000 so we'd have plenty when the temple open house commences. We've been giving them out to members, who visit, and our sincere investigators, who want to know more about the temple. Since all the workers are working on the temple site; we thought it was a great opportunity to let them know what and why they are building "The House of the Lord." Many workers tell us they feel a special spirit in the temple they don't feel in the other buildings on the site. We've given most of the subcontractor groups, ie. masons, plumbers, electricians, HVAC, painters, cleaners, and Rio Douro contractors a tour of the temple and explained what each room was for and some of the sacred ordinances performed therein. 

We placed notes in temple magazines, Roger Platt and Lauren Haiden from Payton Taylor Architects, 2023.10.26

     Our Mendon 3rd Ward's primary children and Young Women had made sweet little thank-you notes, so we placed one in each magazine for the workers. It was fun to see our main architect, Lauren Haiden, get the biggest kick out of the children's drawings and cards. Lauren loves kids, without her own, is a single professional woman. She was taking photos of the little notes saying, "Look they drew the temple or they drew the angel Moroni! How sweet!" Being a non-member of our church; she has drawn the plans for several temples in construction in Africa. She drew the plans for the Harare, Kenya, and DRC (Lubumbashi) Temples, and assisted with the Durban Temple. She loves planning the architecture of the temples and would love to do more.

We recruited full-time missionaries in our Highland area to come and 

help serve at the temple braai. Here is Sister Waltman, Delamar, Sibanda, and Rahitriniana, 2023.10.26

Some of our favorite elders helped too, Elder Delacruz, Kopi, Ricks, and Magunga

We had a lot of meat!!!!

We had lots of meat! Pork, Steak, and Chicken for a real African braai. Bruce and I cooked the pork sausage, called Boerwors, like brats.

Richard and David Pierra, owners of Rio Douro the main contractors for the HZT site

We got very hot turning meat over on the grill, we cooked 300 boerwors (South African pork sausage) today. It was nice we started cooking at about 1030; so we were ready to serve by 1230, lunch hour. The workers really appreciated the food and gratitude for their hard work on our Holy Temple.

Alistair and Gemma Gibson, the church hired Alistair to cater the braai. They did a wonderful job feeding the masses and making sure everything went smoothly. We love this couple. They've become great friends. They play pickleball every Wednesday afternoon with us. They've taken us horseback riding, ordered meat for us (Gemma works for Koala Butchery), and given us great vacation tips since they were both born and raised in Zimbabwe.

Alistair & Gemma Gibson, our dear friends, catered the braai, 2023.10.26

Employees of the different trades all enjoy each other's company eating good food and visiting on the temple site.

Elder Kopi and Magunga pass out temple magazines to all the workers

Niamiaha comes to discuss the gospel and life with us weekly in our office; Elder Anderson teaches Sandra Pierra, owner's wife and Rio Douro Administrator about the temple, 2023.10.26

Many temple site workers eat lunch in our picnic bowery, where they take their breaks.

Persuade Arimoni visits with Elders Magunga and Kopi, 2023.10.26

It was a busy and successful day with our project manager, Anton Fourie, and the South African directors in attendance. We also played pickleball early this morning with Anton, Sister Turley, and Reeve at 0530 a.m. It's good and hot here, it is the summer season. I'm getting a tan, or somewhat sunburned line, from being outside so much. We're drinking lots of water for hydration. Bruce and I went home around 3:00 p.m. and took an hour nap; we were so exhausted!

Mutare is a new STAKE!

Sister Julene and Pres. Gary Judd with Elder Danelson Silva, and Elder Siyabonga Mhkiza, 2023.10.22

   The making of a stake in Mutare happened on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023. What a momentous historical occasion! You could feel the exuberant joy and excitement of the members as they arrived at their first "Stake" conference. Elder Denelson Silva, our South Africa Area General Authority presided and Elder Mhkiza conducted the meeting. The stake had a wonderful choir and I was asked to take photos, even a few during the meeting.  All the Mutare missionaries arrived 30 minutes early to meet and greet all the members as they arrived. We also made it to Saturday's session for the last speaker, Elder Silva at the Mutare Chapel. Sister Judd booked us all a room and a nice buffet dinner at the Holiday Inn, on Saturday night.

This cute Sister Theresa Mpofu in the middle was the first convert in Mutare back in the 1980's. Petunia Chadambuka, the wife of a area authority (in red), wanted to make sure I got a photo of this "pioneer" in Zimbabwe. 2023.10.22

 Sister Theresa Mpofu was the first convert to be baptized in Mutare on 18th November 1982. Although a certain brother requested a branch in Mutare; it was responded by a British Rhodesian couple named Swawells.  She told me there were only 6 members: Jack and Carol Swawel, Granny Swawel, their two children: Johanthan and Lorraine, and Sister Mpofu. Sister Carole Swalwell was the former computer operator at the Southern Rhodesia Dept. of Treasury.  It was an honor to meet this pioneer, Sister or "Mother" Theresa of Mutare! She was the first African Shona member with the 5 Swawel family members in the small first branch.

Saturday afternoon, we drove into the Holiday Inn after driving from Nyanga Valley for a few hours. We were excited to clean up, shower, and try to make the end of the first Saturday Stake Session. I loved driving into the LDS Mutare Chapel and seeing some beautiful Apostolic children dressed in white in front of the gate. I had to sneak a photo!

We made it Saturday just in time to hear Elder Silva speak. Afterwards, he gave Bruce a big friendly hug. We enjoyed visiting with the members in anticipation of Mutare becoming a stake on Sunday. Pres. Judd had challenged the Mutare members to share 5,000 Books of Mormon and set a goal to become a stake by Dec. 2023. They surpassed the goal of 2,000 members and 150 Melchezidek priesthood holders to form a stake. Mutare met the criteria of 2361 members and 156 Melchezidek priesthood holders. Pres. Judd shared how the members could continue to share the gospel normally and naturally every day of the week in the way they talked to people. Instead of saying, "My weekend was good." say, "I had a wonderful weekend, teaching my Primary lesson." or " I went to church and partook of our Saviour's holy Sacrament and renewed my baptismal covenants" or "I enjoyed a fun young woman's activity at my church." These things get normal conversations going about the church. 

Pamella Guveya and children, her husband is a counselor in the mission presidency to Pres. Judd. The East Stake President Maziofa and his lovely wife, visited since he grew up in Mutare, 203.10.21

Andersons with Elder Mapundo, recently returned missionary from Harare, Zimbabwe!

After Saturday's Stake Conference meeting, you could feel the anticipated excitement of the members. All the seniors came to celebrate the historic occasion. Pres. and Sister Judd spoke. Pres. Judd looked so relieved as the mantle of being the District president left him and fell on the new Stake President.  Elder Silva greets members after the Saturday afternoon session, 2023.10.21

Elder Silva is always fun to listen to especially because English is not his first language, being from Brazil. I love his accent. He is very genuine and friendly. He urged the members to "be recommended to the Lord" and prepare for the new temple, which will be completed in less than 1.5 years.

Saturday night we had a buffet dinner at the Holiday Inn, where we all were staying. We enjoyed the Orrs and Pres. & Sister Maziofa. and wife's company at our table. I made a blooper as we discussed "seeds" and replanting. Sister Maziofa has a major in agriculture and was explaining the more the seeds reproduce the plants get much smaller in size; that's why you need to replant them after a few years. I blurted out, "Oh that's why I'm so small; I'm the tenth child of my parents!" I went red and we all laughed at my embarrassing comment. Maybe not quite "missionary" appropriate.

Elder Silva seems to always have a milkshake with every meal. Bruce suggested he order one again and they obliged. I told him he was my kind of guy, "having your dessert first; especially if ice cream!"

Sunday morning we arrived at the Dunganvura Chapel for the making of a stake in Mutare. It was a historic occasion. I had been asked by Sister Judd per Elder Silva to take photos for the history book; even during the meeting. It was fun, especially because I find the Shona people just love their photo taken. They asked me to take their photos both then and on the temple site whenever they see me with my camera. The missionaries formed a line and greeted each member as they arrived. Many came in combi vans by the bus load. The chapel was filled to the brim!

We love the sister missionaries, Sister Jarvis and Sister Agoya.

Pres. Sawman & Mary Machakahiri, of our Harare Stake. Sawman grew up in Mutare.

Assistants, Elders Mangano and Ricks, they're both wonderful missionaries!

All the Mutare elders ready to listen to the Stake Conference.

Oh what joy to become a stake at last!

New Mutare Stake Presidency (with Pres. Pritori new stake president) formed with area authority, Pres. Mhkiza conducting and sustaining, 2023.10.21

A packed chapel and overflow!

We listened to the inspiring words of the South African area presidency. Pres. Silva always gives an inspiring message of what the members need to hear. He talked about the importance of serving a mission and quoted D&C 4. He told us, "If you want to stand blameless before God in the last days, then serve a mission." He gives us that eternal promise, if we "thrust in our sickle with all our might" we will perish not, but bring salvation to our soul." He invited us to "Think Celestial" and quoted our prophet, Pres. Russell M. Nelson's beautiful conference talk. D&C 14:7 gives us the criteria to achieve Celestial glory. We need to keep the commandments and endure to the end. The greatest of God's commandments is to love God and our fellow men. What the world has to give us is just leftovers; God can give us eternal blessings. I definitely want those promised blessings.

We were so excited to see Thomas, Reeve's gardener, and his family attend. Thomas was invited to church in Mutare last May to hear us speak about the temple and he came. He lives in Harare part-time for work at the Nields. His family lives in Mutare and enjoys coming to church. He told us he wanted to get baptized!

Cute little future missionaries! Pres. and Sister Chadambuka

This entrepreneur knew just when to come to sell ice cream on the street when the stake conference got out! Combis full of members going back home after the conference; packed full! 2023.10.21

On the road again for a 4-hour drive home! We enjoyed the conference and were edified by the messages.