In Our Wildest Dreams

There are so many things here that are different, that we had never expected to be seeing or doing.  That might have to be its own blog post, but we'll share a few things this month.  We are always being blessed with wonderful adventures.


When you come into the lobby of the Zimbabwe Airport, you are greeted by a real (stuffed) rhinoceros.  You don't have to pay money to go to a game park.  You get to see African animals as soon as you arrive in the country.

Turn around and you find a Cape Buffalo.  These are two of the "Big Five" animals that are still hunted in Africa by people who pay money for permits (the others are Elephant, Lion, Leopard).

Speaking of wild animals. . . . . We had an amazing adventure at the Lion Park.  In America there is a lot of concern about safety.  In Africa, they have many other things to worry about -- thankfully in this particular case for us.  The Lion Park, a large animal reserve, is about a 45 minute drive from Harare.  This was our second adventure with seeing the African animals in the wild.

We first went into an enclosed area where the lions stay.  It was a large, natural habitat for the lions.  It even had the huge rocks like in "The Lion King".  You drive in.  They tell you not to get out of your car.  And then you're on your own.  We saw lions right next to our car!  Since we didn't want to be their lunch we stayed in the car but we were brave enough to roll down our windows enough to get some pictures.  In this large area there were only 5 females and 2 males, one of which was impossible for us to see/find.  They actually camouflage very well.   (These pictures are especially for the grandchildren, but maybe they will entice some of you to make your way to Africa?)

Ideally this one would have been roaring and perched on a rock.  Quite disappointing! 😒

But he did happen to be sleeping exactly next to the road.  That was a wonderful surprise!

 

After we left the enclosed area, we went to a huge open area, where we drove again, but this time we could get out of the car.  We were 15 feet away from some of the animals.  What joy we felt spending the day with some of God's most amazing creations!

    Warthogs don't appear to be afraid of anything.  They just prance around looking mean,      even as they prance right straight through a herd of wildebeest. 

 

These are blue wildebeest -- even though they look more gray and brown.  We were lucky, mostly because it was feeding time, that we could see them really close.  They are fast, running up to 50 miles per hour.  They have to run fast because lions love to eat them.  

Another time that we saw them with a guide he said that some people call them the ugliest animal in Africa.  Maybe we should just say unique.

 

This fine specimen was kind enough to give us a closer look.  

 

Apparently zebra and wildebeest hang out together.  They came in to feed after the wildebeest were finished, and they seemed quite comfortable with each other.  I guess if you're hungry enough, you also don't mind two-legged creatures with cameras getting close and taking your picture. 

 

These graceful animals are female Kudu. 

The Eland is another unique looking animal.   

 I have to believe that this one is female -- coming up to do a little African pose for us.

Lots of baboons!  Generally they don't stick around for pictures, but Bri tossed one of them a 79 cent bag of tasteless cookies that he didn't want to eat, so maybe they were waiting for more.

You've gotta love this face!

Impala are usually running or jumping. Elder Theurer managed to get a great shot.

The best for last!  We love the giraffes!  They also camouflage really well!

 

It was wonderful watching these quiet, gentle animals just eating and then watching us with curiosity.

We were able to give away 3 Books of Mormon at the Lion Park.  One to the Guard at the enclosed area.  He asked for a book.  Then two more at another area -- to a man and his brother.  They "felt something" when they were talking to Elder Selcho and were eager to learn more.

Moving now to some completely different experiences . . . . .

One day as we were getting out of our car in the mission office parking lot, we saw a group getting out of the mission van.  Elder Theurer yelled, "Hello Elders!"  And then one walked over to shake our hands.  "Hello, I'm Bishop Waddell"-- as in Bishop Waddell of the Presiding Bishopric, who spoke in October General Conference.  Definitely not one of the elders.  He looks a lot shorter on TV! (Far right very tall guy)

They were here to check out a site for the temple.  It looks like the temple in Harare might really happen.  Having a temple is the greatest hope of the members in Zimbabwe.  Johannesburg, South Africa is the closest temple for the people here.  That necessitates a 12+ hour bus ride (most people don't have access to a car) and then a 5-8 hour wait at the border while the police check for correct papers, and just generally make the whole trip unpleasant.  Most members can't even make the trip without financial assistance.

Having a temple will be an incredible blessing!  The members will often say, "As soon as a temple comes to Zimbabwe, everything will be better!"  They are putting all of their hopes and dreams into that thought, and there is a lot of discussion about preparing for that possibility. 

And then, the best news of all -- 
In April the Prophet is coming to Zimbabwe, along with Elder and Sister Holland.  Wow!  That is so exciting for the members here!  They are already talking about "preparing themselves"  to be ready for when he comes.  (Maybe President Nelson will be doing the ground-breaking for the temple?)

 

This quote from Elder Holland is on the wall of the mission office:
"Africa's one of those special places where you get to see the glory of the Lord, the wonder and the miracle of the Restoration [of the Gospel] just, quite literally, unfold before your eyes." 

One thing Elder Theurer and I have learned is to always have some ideas for a talk in our heads whenever we are invited to go somewhere.  The building below is one of the "church buildings" that we work with.  We were invited to speak at a "fireside" to invigorate the seminary and institute program.   The Institute teacher conducting the meeting announced the program-- "Elder and Sister Theurer will speak for 30 minutes each".  (About 20 more minutes than I had planned.)  Our messages always have to be very flexible, easily lengthened or substantially shortened.  Sometimes we may only get 5 minutes.
We first learned our lesson at a multi-stake YSA fireside our first month in the mission.  They had a visiting Area Seventy and so we thought that at the most we would bear our testimonies.  Again we heard-- "Elder and Sister Theurer will speak for 30 minutes." 😳 I managed about 5 minutes and Elder Theurer stretched to about 12. 
 

This will eventually be their chapel.  It has looked like this for over three months.  They haven't been able to get it finished because of the inflation here and the rising cost of materials.  Unfortunately it doesn't keep out the rain very well and we're in the rainy season.  But this is where they continue to meet.   

Here are just a few of the approximately 30 students in the Institute class that we teach.  We had their flag and they were making some short video clips, hoping to show up on a Face to Face -- and they DID (for all of about 2 seconds). They dressed up for the picture.  This is an incredible group of youth -- bright, articulate, educated, deeply spiritual, fun.  They deal with their multiple challenges with optimism and great faith.   We are quite sure that it is their faith in God that keeps them going!

I'm pretty sure we were holding the flag backwards.  But these sweet Zimbabwe citizens didn't notice.

We recently went to see The Great Zimbabwe, a national historic site in Masvingo.  We were assigned to speak there on a Sunday.  The drive there was a separate adventure.  The road is a two lane highway that is eroding on the sides (often big chunks are missing from the sides and the potholes are deep).  There is barely enough room for a car on each side of the road, but this is a route frequented by very BIG trucks.  Add pouring rain and it becomes a real adventure.  

But we did get to stay in a very unique place:

Our own African hut-- sort of. 

The inside.  Quite nice.  Definitely nicer than many of the homes in the area.  We were joined by 4 large lizards and a frog.  (The decorative lizards on the window don't count as visitors)  We learned that thatched roofs are good at keeping out rain, but unfortunately not bats.  

And now pictures of The Great Zimbabwe:

They believe it was constructed in the 11th century AD and expanded for about 300 years.  It is constructed of granite bricks, tightly compacted together without any mortar, in some places quite intricately.  The builders were probably the ancestors of the modern Shona people, and the rulers were powerful tribal kings.

Elder Theurer and our guide, Teach

There was a LOT of climbing up!

Nice views when you get up higher.  Imagine this roaming with animals.  You can see the home for the wives in the upper middle right.

The chief lived on top.  His 200+ wives lived below.

Note the intricate brick work at the top.

A view from the wives quarters at the bottom looking up.  It's a fascinating place!

We will end with Fungai.  He is a gardener for Grandi Lodges where we stay.  He is also paid by the mission to keep up our very tiny yards.  He was introduced to the Church just over a year ago by another mission couple.  He comes by to talk to Elder Theurer whenever he has a question about church or needs help with his callings.  He came by recently to talk to me because it was his daughter's 5 year old birthday and he wanted her to have a cake.  So I made one for him, but I made him frost it so he was part of it.  I even taught him to swirl the frosting.  He was so proud of his efforts!   We drove him home in our truck so the cake would survive his long travel (a 45 minute walk, a long combi ride, and then a 15 to 20 minute walk because of impassable roads).  I say we drove to his home but the road was more like the Moab Jeep Safari trail/climb.

 Fungai is so proud of the two room house that he has built himself.  He saved for two years to buy the property.  Next to him in the yellow is his wife Karen, and then two sisters that live with him.  Family values are very strong in Zimbabwe -- you take care of your family, whatever they need.  On the right is the bedroom.  On the left is the living room, where we think the sisters sleep.  He would be considered to be more successful than many of his neighbors.

This room is the dining area, sleeping quarters, and the family gathering place.  They don't have a table.  They are lucky to find these big overstuffed chairs, but there is not much room to move around.

 I loved the blue door.  It is actually the "toilet room" (they don't have running water).  Karen gave a classic African pose, but I think it reflects the pride and the joy that they have with their families, their homes, and whatever little bit of comfort they can acquire.  They have very little but they are happy, kind, welcoming, patient, and optimistic.  And in this family, like many Zimbabweans, they also have great faith in God.

And now the GEMS that we have collected over the last few weeks:

"Everyone must choose one of two pains:  the pain of discipline or the pain of regret."
                                   (From Sister Mkhabela teaching the missionaries at zone conference)


"Tithing is like a basket that goes back and forth between us and God.  We give Him our tenth and send it back.  God doesn't wait but sends blessings immediately.  If we haven't sent our tithing, there is no basket to send back the blessings."
                                                  (From Brother Harare, a member of the Zimbabwe Kadoma Branch)

"Olives are 'pressed' for oil; Fruits are 'squeezed' for juice; Flowers are 'crushed' for perfume.  These painful processes give value.  So when you feel 'crushed, squeezed, and pressed', you are getting more value.  So have strong faith in God, humble yourself and be the vessel He wants out of you.  He refines those He loves."

                (From Tawanda Jokoniya, one of our EM Seminary Teachers, posted on our S&I Group Site)

God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe.

 (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

"God does not see with comparing eyes. . . . God does not see us with discouraged, impatient, or anxious eyes."  
                                                                 (From S. Michael Wilcox)

"Difficulty is the one excuse history never accepts."
"Life has little regard for those who waste time."
                                                                                               (Jon Huntsman) 

"Discipleship requires all of us to translate doctrines, covenants, ordinances, and teachings into improved personal behavior.  Otherwise we may be doctrinally rich but end up developmentally poor."
                                 (From Neal A. Maxwell, but quoted by Sister Mkhabela at zone conference)


We are so very blessed to be serving among these faithful inspiring people.  Every day they teach us by their examples how to deal with difficulty.  We love you and thank you all for being wonderful examples to us as well.

Gratefully, 
Elder and Sister Theurer