Back in February, when Jeff when back to Salt Lake for training, I casually mentioned to someone in our ward there that the Young Men in our ward here in Africa had a shortage of nice ties, white shirts and suits to wear to church. I suggested that if any of the neighborhood boys had outgrown these things and they had some extras to share, Jeff could pack them back to Africa when he returned. I was a bit disappointed when he came home with nothing but brown sugar, Crystal Light and Better Than Bouillon. Each week I noticed that the boys shirts were fraying just a little bit more and their ties were getting a wee bit shorter.
What a huge surprise to hear from dear Georgia Wilcox in the Bountiful Ward that Brenda Moore was organizing a clothing drive for us (miracle #1) - collecting white shirts, ties and used suits, jackets, slacks - things that the Young Men really needed. We were thrilled to learn what was going on at home and imagined that dozens of closets were being cleaned out!!!! The Mueller Park 10th Ward was "TIED TO AFRICA"!!!!!!
When piles of these clothing items were finally ready to ship to Africa, the dilemma finally struck that there was no way it could be shipped without significant expense. Every mode of transportation was explored - including checking with the Church's Humanitarian Center, which we thought might be able to pack the stuff into a shipment coming this way. Bottom line was that it would have cost a fortune to send it - probably way more than the clothing value. How disappointing after all the work and sacrifice of organizing, collecting and sorting. We were so crushed to learn that there was no possible way to get it here without huge costs.
And then (miracle #2) we learned that our next door neighbors (the Woolleys) daughter and extended family (six of them) were planning to make a trip to Africa for safari. They were traveling light (with just one bag each) and would be coming in a couple of weeks. Cost of the transport was $60.00 per bag and we were so touched to learn that the ward covered that cost in addition to all the other donations. At the time they were to arrive, I was traveling so Jeff arranged to meet the group late one night at the airport to pick up the bags.
At the last minute, Jeff was called to go to an emergency meeting in Gavarone and Francestown so he found an African man from the Area Office to meet the plane and pick up the bags. His name was Joseph. He laughed when he mentioned that he thought this group might be startled to see a black man meet them to "take" their bags.
Arrival Dinner at our flat for the messenger/travelers and brief walk to the Temple.
We are so grateful to these good people.
The bags found their way back to Joseph's office where they were locked in for a while because Joseph had to leave for another African country the next morning. It took some time to figure out where they were but finally all the bags ended up at our flat.
SIX BIG duffel bags, packed full were now waiting for distribution to some of our wonderful So. African friends!!!
TIES, TIES and
more TIES!!!!
Not wanting to make this activity seem like a handout, I tried and tried to find a way to distribute the clothing in a meaningful way. Then, for 4 consecutive weeks, the Young Women's Sunday lessons were about The Priesthood. There it was (miracle #3)...our Young Women are "TIED TO THE PRIESTHOOD"! They would be the ones to give the ties and clothing to the YM. They would learn the thrill of giving and serving others and strengthening their own commitments to be clean and pure.
Several lessons involved duties of the priesthood; others were about blessings from the priesthood. I put together a script and program based on these Sunday lessons. The Bishop could not make it to the activity so Jeff filled in and talked about the DUTIES of the priesthood.
Sandile and Nicole Makasi talked about the BLESSINGS of the priesthood.
The Young Women did a wonderful job telling the YM about ways they would sustain and support them personally and the YM were very moved by their comments.
The girls told them that they loved them and that they wanted them to go on missions and remain true and faithful. They told the Young Men that they would also keep themselves clean and unspotted by the world. They promised to obey their parents and to follow the prophet. They promised to dress modestly and to use good language, to watch clean movies and read their scriptures, to serve others, lift them and be good examples.
The YM were challenged to be "TIED to...the (1) TEMPLE, to a (2) MISSION and to (3) TEMPLE MARRIAGE" hence, they would each need 3 ties to remind them of those occasions.
We played the game where one YM chose a tie from the pile of ties or from another YM or leader. They had lots of fun with this game and the most popular tie seemed to be the red CTR tie.
After the tie game and it looked like things were wrapping up, we talked about wearing white shirts and proper clothing to show respect and purity.
Then I brought out the white shirts and they went nuts choosing a new shirt that fit them. Many of them also found a proper suit or jacket and slacks as well.
A member of the Bishopric, Brother Mclloyd Pise, was there and he said to Jeff that "this will probably be one of the most memorable days in the boys lives and they will remember this day forever." (miracle #4)
We loved this experience and are sooooo grateful to the many loving and giving people who made it all possible.
Next day....
lookin' good - feelin' good!
Some of the boy's names are: Junior, Prince, Wisdom, Gift, Valent, Simon, Solomon, Trymore, Boy-Boy, Agrippa, Israel, Rodrick, Gilbert, Derrick, Martin and Kenny.
To be continued - part 2 of "Ties" -
What a huge surprise to hear from dear Georgia Wilcox in the Bountiful Ward that Brenda Moore was organizing a clothing drive for us (miracle #1) - collecting white shirts, ties and used suits, jackets, slacks - things that the Young Men really needed. We were thrilled to learn what was going on at home and imagined that dozens of closets were being cleaned out!!!! The Mueller Park 10th Ward was "TIED TO AFRICA"!!!!!!
When piles of these clothing items were finally ready to ship to Africa, the dilemma finally struck that there was no way it could be shipped without significant expense. Every mode of transportation was explored - including checking with the Church's Humanitarian Center, which we thought might be able to pack the stuff into a shipment coming this way. Bottom line was that it would have cost a fortune to send it - probably way more than the clothing value. How disappointing after all the work and sacrifice of organizing, collecting and sorting. We were so crushed to learn that there was no possible way to get it here without huge costs.
And then (miracle #2) we learned that our next door neighbors (the Woolleys) daughter and extended family (six of them) were planning to make a trip to Africa for safari. They were traveling light (with just one bag each) and would be coming in a couple of weeks. Cost of the transport was $60.00 per bag and we were so touched to learn that the ward covered that cost in addition to all the other donations. At the time they were to arrive, I was traveling so Jeff arranged to meet the group late one night at the airport to pick up the bags.
At the last minute, Jeff was called to go to an emergency meeting in Gavarone and Francestown so he found an African man from the Area Office to meet the plane and pick up the bags. His name was Joseph. He laughed when he mentioned that he thought this group might be startled to see a black man meet them to "take" their bags.
We are so grateful to these good people.
The bags found their way back to Joseph's office where they were locked in for a while because Joseph had to leave for another African country the next morning. It took some time to figure out where they were but finally all the bags ended up at our flat.
SIX BIG duffel bags, packed full were now waiting for distribution to some of our wonderful So. African friends!!!
TIES, TIES and
more TIES!!!!
Not wanting to make this activity seem like a handout, I tried and tried to find a way to distribute the clothing in a meaningful way. Then, for 4 consecutive weeks, the Young Women's Sunday lessons were about The Priesthood. There it was (miracle #3)...our Young Women are "TIED TO THE PRIESTHOOD"! They would be the ones to give the ties and clothing to the YM. They would learn the thrill of giving and serving others and strengthening their own commitments to be clean and pure.
Several lessons involved duties of the priesthood; others were about blessings from the priesthood. I put together a script and program based on these Sunday lessons. The Bishop could not make it to the activity so Jeff filled in and talked about the DUTIES of the priesthood.
Sandile and Nicole Makasi talked about the BLESSINGS of the priesthood.
The Young Women did a wonderful job telling the YM about ways they would sustain and support them personally and the YM were very moved by their comments.
The girls told them that they loved them and that they wanted them to go on missions and remain true and faithful. They told the Young Men that they would also keep themselves clean and unspotted by the world. They promised to obey their parents and to follow the prophet. They promised to dress modestly and to use good language, to watch clean movies and read their scriptures, to serve others, lift them and be good examples.
The YM were challenged to be "TIED to...the (1) TEMPLE, to a (2) MISSION and to (3) TEMPLE MARRIAGE" hence, they would each need 3 ties to remind them of those occasions.
We played the game where one YM chose a tie from the pile of ties or from another YM or leader. They had lots of fun with this game and the most popular tie seemed to be the red CTR tie.
After the tie game and it looked like things were wrapping up, we talked about wearing white shirts and proper clothing to show respect and purity.
Then I brought out the white shirts and they went nuts choosing a new shirt that fit them. Many of them also found a proper suit or jacket and slacks as well.
We loved this experience and are sooooo grateful to the many loving and giving people who made it all possible.
Next day....
lookin' good - feelin' good!
The Young Men were so appreciative and so thrilled with their new clothing. They are the sweetest, nicest boys and we love each and every one of them. They did not stop thanking us and all our Mueller Park Ward in Bountiful, UTAH! MP10 - made a difference!
To be continued - part 2 of "Ties" -
- Distributing more ties to YM in Joburg Ward
- Giving the BAM (Be a Missionary) ties to the Johannesburg Stake YM for Youth Convention
- Taking clothing to the Johannesburg MTC for the missionaries
