General Conference and the big "61", Elder Lewis's Accident

     Today is my 61st birthday, Oct. 1st. I also share my birthday with Bruce's sister, Audrey, who is one year older than I am. Our new friend, Gemma Gibson, also shares my birthday. I have lots of kindred spirits! I thank God for always having been blessed with such wonderful friends. I have so many "best" friends, whom I feel loved and supported by. They've been a remarkable blessing in my life. Of course, my very best friend, is my eternal companion, Bruce. He is my supreme blessing!

I love the cutest homemade birthday cards from my grandchildren. Below from Ruth and Isaac:

We stopped by the temple for a birthday photo. The contractor has just moved the subcontractor's containers to the north end so our view is no longer blocked. Here is the Harare Zimbabwe Temple and the Patron & Missionary Housing on the sides. We are helping build and photograph 8 buildings on site here in Zimbabwe. We love being on the temple site every day and teaching the gospel to the workers.

Highland Ward had three baptisms on Sunday. We went to support our amazing sisters, Sister Sibanda and Delamar who taught these newest members. The ward is renting a new place so the baptisms had to take place in the Mission Office's backyard in a tank of water. Baptism days are always rewarding!

We loved seeing the diversity in the Saturday morning sessions choir. Gladys Knight would be proud!

    General Conference holds a special place in our hearts. It was in April General Conference 1985, around Bruce's birthday and Spring, that I sat next to "Elder Anderson" and talked to him the whole way through at my parent's house; which ended up with an invitation to go out on a date the following weekend. It was the October General Conference 1985, my birthday and autumn, in which Bruce gave me an engagement ring and asked my hand in marriage. Today it's Springtime instead of Fall; strange to have a complete switch in seasons. After listening to three of the sessions of General Conference and feeling edified; we know we are in the right place at the right time. It was amazing to hear Elder Ronald Rasband's plea for senior missionaries! He had a need for 300 positions with only 10 couples to choose from on missionary applications. We are so blessed to be here even though it is hard to leave your children and grandchildren and standard of living. It's really not been a sacrifice at all but a blessing and an adventure! We love being in Africa and serving a mission. We've found such joy in sharing the gospel and having these sweet Shona young men call us "mom and dad" affectionately.  

We went on an early morning walk to see the Jacarandas. Our neighborhood has beautifully lined streets of these blooming purple blossoms. We met a young 23-year-old named Kuda while walking. He joined our walk and asked us why Americans seemed so successful compared to Africans. Bruce gave him a short lesson on democracy, free enterprise, and competition. Our government allows competition so people try to make their businesses successful. It drives the economy. We also talked to him about why we were on a mission and the temple construction site. He said he'd come by the visitor center so we could teach him.

We watched the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference at Pres. & Sister Judd's at 6:00 p.m. Sister Judd invited us over for a lasagne dinner with 14 other missionaries. I made breadsticks and cookies for dinner. Sister Peterson made peanut butter bars and salad. She made sure she had a pan for me so they could all sing Happy Birthday. Pres. Judd insisted on Bruce and I getting the best lounge chairs in the house to watch the conference. It was a very nice night. We finished after eight and we wanted to get home to call the kids. All the kids and many friends had texted me happy birthday, we were able to talk to all of them except Hunter. I'm grateful for all the dear friends who reached out to wish me a special day.

Talking to William on What's App, Elder Ricks and Maganda (A.P.s), our lounge chairs for General Conference. 2023.10.01

Tuesday, October 3rd, was Sister Bonnie Warne's birthday too. So all the senior sisters went out to lunch at Cafe Nush. Sister Turley and Salizar treated us for our birthday and also Sister Roz Peterson, who is leaving on October 14th. All these sisters are such examples of dedication and strength. I learn so much from them. We'll really miss the Petersons and their amazing humanitarian efforts. We also like to play them pickleball and hope to beat them just once before they leave!

Birthday girls, Lottie Anderson and Bonnie Warne, 2023.10.03

I am helping Sister Warne a little in the office with extra duties. She's the Family History specialist but has taken on the mission secretary role, as we are short senior missionaries. We are still waiting for our new "Fleets and Flats" couple to replace the Kings, who went home in June. Also, the mission secretary, Sister LaNae Poulter, went home a few months early with a heart condition. 

      Our neighbors, the Lewis, mission leadership couple, who arrived in May just left too. Eric Lewis was in a horrible car wreck and broke his pelvis. He was medically evacuated to Cape Town Africa last Saturday for surgery and stabilization. It was a miracle he survived the accident. Luckily, his airbag and God saved him. Another truck hit him right in the driver's seat side going 150 kilometers per hour. It was a big hassle for Lewis's to get their American medical insurance to pay and preapprove. They finally ended up transferring the hospital and Medevac flight money before they would admit him to care. I wonder what would happen if it was life-threatening. The doctors in Zimbabwe said it was the worst pelvis fracture they'd ever seen. Reeve Nield intervened and made sure Elder Lewis got the best care and physicians. We are thankful for her knowledge and networking in Zimbabwe for his treatment. He will be in South Africa for 6 weeks before he'll be able to fly home to America for a long recuperation. We will miss them and continue to fast and pray for them. I really liked Megan Lewis. She was full of talent (beautiful soprano voice) and they both really benefited the mission for the short 4 months they were here.

Goodbye Megan & Eric Lewis; we'll miss you and hope Eric has a speedy recovery! 2023.09.28