Settling in at Bluewater Bay

Hi All,

We completed our first week of missionary service and are loving South Africa and its people.  We have settled into a nice little condo in Bluewater Bay, a small community off the coast of the Indian Ocean about 20 minutes North of Port Elizabeth. Our assigned area is Motherwell, a nearby township of about 140,000 people.  It was established in the late 1980's and is comprised people who were previously squatters in two camps near Port Elizabeth. They are very poor but are happy and extremely friendly.  The unemployment rate is about 50% and those who do work only make about $10-15/day.  Xhosa is the native language and is a tonal language; that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said with a rising or falling or high or low intonation. Needless to say, we won't be speaking the native tongue anytime soon.  

One activity we have already done is teaching English to children.  One group is about 20-30 kids of preschool age. They are darling and very eager. Another group is at Bishop Jane's church.  She is a minister who has a church which meets in a very meager tin structure with benches (no backs to them).  When we pull up in our car about 40-70 kids from about 3 to 12 years of age come to meet us.  They quickly go into the church, take a seat, and are ready to be taught.  They are awesome and the experience is so great. We teach English and then finish by teaching some gospel principles.

We attended the Motherwell Branch yesterday and watched General Conference with them.  They were dressed in their finest and were super attentive to every talk which was given.  We already feel of their faith, love, and devotion.  It is a privilege to be associated with them. 

'Till next time, our love to all,

Elder and Sister Watson

This is our condo and the complex it is in.  Security is a big issue here as there are so many who are poor and hungry.

This is Bishop Jane (nearest) with here two assistants, along with the kids who showed up this week for class.

The Motherwell Branch meets in two classrooms at this school.  About 70 to 80 attend each week so it gets crowded when all are in one room.  The church has purchased land nearby and construction of a new building is hoped for soon.