Temple Visitors and Lessons Taught

Shannia's family and friends all came to visit us at the temple and learn more about this sacred building. We met Shannia and her daughter, Kenzie, back in May at Leopard Rock. We enjoyed visiting with her and she said we'd have to get together since they were living near us. After 6-7 months and busy schedules, we finally got to meet her lovely family. We thought Shannia and her kids were coming but 3 cars drove up with extended relatives from Wales, her mother, and 2 other friends. We gave them an explanation of each building, talked to them about the temple, and gave out temple magazines, stickers, and Books of Mormon to those who wanted one. Shannia invited us over to her veranda for drinks and snacks afterward. I brought some homemade chocolate chip cookies, and half of them crumbled in the bag! Shannia put on quite the feast and the most beautiful charcuterie board I've ever seen! We were instant kindred spirits. She's invited me to Kenzie's dance recital and to go shopping, etc. She is very sweet and kind. Her mother told us how they'd lost her farm during the takeover of all "white" Rhodesian farmland in 2001. The war veterans showed up and took all their farms and lands for not getting benefits for serving in the civil ward. Her family owned a farm out by Irmire Game Park. Jan Edgar, Shannia's mom, told us how they poisoned and killed her 28-year-old son. We've met many families who lost their farms by force during this period. Many just packed up and left all behind rather than succumb to the violence. Barbara Smith, Cornelia Rautenbach, Jill (Emerald Seedings), Shannia's aunt and uncle, and Myra's family (Shannia's friend) all lost family farms on hundreds of acres. It was interesting to meet these well-to-do families and how friendly and accepting of their plights and struggles; however, they were much more reluctant to accept the Book of Mormon as the humbler Shona people, who have embraced it fully.                 Shannia's family and friends at the temple site visit, 2023.11.10

Now that's a charcuterie board with the works!!!! 2023.11.10

        This week at the temple site we taught about 5 lessons. Calton Dzikiti, a Rio Douro worker, came by and we discussed the Word of Wisdom on Wednesday. Elder Anderson had given him a priesthood blessing to help him quit smoking last month. He reported it was going “good”. Sister Anderson went into detail about the revelation given to Joseph Smith and the principal with a promise. We are impressed Calton comes to our Welcome Center and asks to be taught about the gospel every week.   We give him a "thumbs up" daily to check on his progress. He's the man who came up to Bruce several months ago and said, "I'm interested in your church, but you won't want me because I smoke and drink." Now he is shining brightly with the knowledge of the restored gospel and the revelations given to us in our day. He is a good friend on-site with Talent, our newest baptized member. He is a father and young adult seeking gospel blessings in his life.

     Fungai Joshia also received a priesthood blessing from Elder Anderson to help him stop smoking. He ended up confessing he's been smoking a bit more than we thought. After, he had a co-worker go through all his bags and clothes and remove any smoking articles. He went down to his smoking corner with his friends the next day and exclaimed, "I'm never going to smoke again and you can't even tempt me because Elder Anderson gave me a blessing to stop!" Now we are worried we may have a line form at our Welcome Center for priesthood blessings! You never know around here! What wonderful faith this brother exemplifies! 

 Persuade also brought a new friend to our trailer and said, "This is Alan, he needs to be taught about the gospel." Since he only had a few moments, we opened up the Book of Mormon and explained its origin, promise, and Christ's visitation to His temple. We hope to continue to teach Alan. Elder Anderson is also teaching a Finance/Self Reliance Class every Tuesday during the workers' lunch break. We are on about week 3-4 learning how to budget, pay tithing, and use savings and investments to their benefit.

Every day at 0958 our mission prays for three things: 

1. Our mission will see miracles according to our obedience and faithfulness.

2. We will find fathers, families, and young adults to teach.

3. The members will be prepared to receive the blessings and ordinances of the temple.

Sister Anderson teaches Alan about the Book of Mormon, 2023.11.10, Rio Douro Corporate Office Temple tour, 2023.11.02, Bruce teaching self-reliance and finance class to workers, 2023.11.07         

     Last Thursday, Elder Anderson gave a tour to the Rio Douro corporate office employees. Ashleigh Pereira, the administrator, brought 5 employees for a temple tour. Ashleigh asked about the founding of the church, which opened up a discussion about the First Vision and the Plan of Salvation in the Endowment room. They seemed to understand the ordinance of baptism for the dead next to the baptismal font. When entering the Celestial room they understood the symbolism of heaven. The Sealing Room had the most powerful teaching of the Book of Mormon and the concept of eternal families. Upon leaving, at the entry of the temple, Elder Anderson taught about the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The audience was captivated and stunned. The tour ended with the Books of Mormon being accepted by all.

While the tour was going on, Sister Anderson was summoned outside the temple fence for an unconscious gentleman who had collapsed. The man was unresponsive but breathing. We found out he was a Type 1 Diabetic and in hypoglycemic shock. The EMT from the site came with some glucose gel. As Sister Anderson held the man’s head in her lap as we poured the sugar water into his throat. After about 5 minutes he came and we gave him some fruit. Elder Anderson came after things were stable and assisted in driving the man to the hospital clinic to get checked and fill his insulin. The man had no money for medical care, transportation, or the life-saving insulin he needed. We hope he can receive the help he needs and stay healthy. A  big day of action on the temple site!

Saturday, November 11th, we had the privilege of teaching the Chanyandura family in Glenview Extension 4. We enjoyed an early morning golf driving range and the Stable's market for some yummy food items and produce. We prayed that the Holy Spirit would be with us today as we taught this beautiful family so willing to accept the true gospel of Christ. Driving out to Glenview is always a nail-biting experience with all the people and Combi's in the CBD. As we approached Glenview, we texted Tinashe, and he offered to meet us at the "shops" so he could direct us to his home. We probably wouldn't have found it. The first time we went in the dark and Tinashe directed us there. We were relieved when Tinashe knocked on our truck's window easily spotting us, but we didn't easily spot him among the hustle and bustle of African life.

Naokatenda, Nyashe, and Moforro listen intently as we share the "Plan of Salvation" 2023.11.11

We hugged as we had a joyful reunion with Tatenda and Tinashe and their three beautiful daughters. The previous missionaries went home with the last transfer. Unfortunately, the Glenview 4 area doesn't have any missionaries currently to teach this family what they'd started. We arranged with the previous elders to finish the missionary lessons for the family. We explained the "Plan of Salvation" or "Plan of Happiness" to them in detail and simplified for the girls. We also showed a review video about the Plan on our laptop. I loved how well-behaved and attentive these little daughters of God were. Two of them will be baptized with their parents on the first Sunday in December. They would have been baptized at the end of October but their marriage license failed to be obtained at the court in time. Evidently, November is a bad month to get married or baptized, according to the Shona's superstition; so we've set a date for December 2nd for the wedding and Dec. 3rd for the baptism. The family is excited for this to happen.

 We also taught the family about the Book of Mormon and showed a beautiful video about a black bishop in London, who testified of his conversion to the Book of Mormon. We felt the Spirit and bore testimony to them. They are such a wonderful humble and meek family so ready to embrace the gospel. Afterward, we gave all the children including several cousins toy wooden cars we had in the back of our truck. They are always a big hit with the kids!

All these sweet kids are the Chanyandura's relatives. They waved us goodbye and thanked us for the toy wooden cars, donated from Tiny Tim's Foundation for toys in Utah. 2023.11.11