"DON'T ASK - DON'T TELL"

Just FYI this post is named "Don't Ask = Don't Tell" because we just found out we cannot email or talk on the phone or on Skype anything political - because I guess they monitor our emails etc.  So you'll just have to read between the lines!
Well this has been quite a week.  We moved into our flat - moved into our new office - got our car.  As we were pulling out of the driveway of the area office we forgot we were supposed to look right instead of left and we nearly had our first accident!  We did make it the rest of the way home safely.  I am going to learn to navigate a couple of weeks before I start driving.

This is an African Therapist bed...my favorite find on our shopping trip.  Perfect for Taylor's office.

A few little facts about Africa - there are 52 million people that live in Johannesburg - to the best they can count - it is considered the most dangerous city in the world!  We have to be careful and always lock everything in the trunk even when you are driving since they have a lot of "smash and grab" - where they use a spark plug - come up to you at a traffic light (called a robot) and smash your car window and grab whatever is in your car.  This happens quite regularly - it is sad because they are not bad people - just so very poor.  


The church is growing here at an unbelievable pace.  This weekend President Kollicker (the area president} is going to the DRCongo to form a stake.  He is taking 2 flights (about 10 hours) and then drives about 80 miles on a bumpy, dirt road, with speeds of not over 10 miles per hour!  It will take approx. 6 hours to drive the 80 miles - that is if the weather cooperates. He will be gone 9 days.  There is no water, food or toilets.  They have toilets but have to "bucket flush" them.  There are 5 toilets for 2000 people! - they have to take their own food and water - and they get a generator turned on for 1 hour each day to heat water or whatever. The area they are going to is extremely remote and has never had missionaries there - but has 2,200 members that have all taught each other - they have sent out 70 young missionaries!!  And they have a retention rate of 85%!


Another interesting thing here is what is called "Lbolo" or "bride price".  The groom has to pay between $10,000 - $20,000 in cash, cows, land or whatever.  Needless to say many don't marry but live together.(This is even in the church)  The church is trying to talk to parents and convince them to forgo the lbolo - that we are a family church and their children will take care of them - but it is very difficult to convince them since the money goes to them and their relatives for their retirement.  Most people only live until about 40. 
The most exciting thing we did this week was go shopping - but this is not just any ordinary shopping - this was in a warehouse where the man goes all over the continent and buys of antiques and crafts and sells them for about 3 months of the year.  It as indeed a treasure find.  I am enclosing pictures of some of the rooms and some of the items we bought.  

Today we attended the church we will be attending in a township that was created during apparteid.  We were the only white faces in the congregation. 

As you can see the church is very modern and beautiful - however the places surrounding the where they come leaves a lot to be desired.  You would never want to be their after dark!

 Our congregation has many young mothers.  Notice how they all carry their children on their backs - usually wrapped with a towel or blanket.

We had another incredible week here.  We have been able to keep in close contact with all the kids and grand kids which helps with the "homesickness."  We are so blessed to be here serving amongst such great people.  As soon as Taylor can figure out how to stop hanging up on the missionaries that call him, and learn how to get his computer up and running we will be all set.  In the mean time I am loving all my new treasures and decorating our flat.