Inspired Leadership

          Dear All, 

Big changes are coming for the South Africa Cape Town Mission. July first marks the change of presidents in many missions throughout the world, including ours. President Steven Jay Merrill and his wife will be returning home after three years of faithful and inspired leadership. We have always had great respect for those who are called to lead missions, but that respect has been heightened greatly as we have had a closer view of all that the calling entails. It is a tremendously demanding, 24/7, job. No question that the Lord knows which of his children are capable of fulfilling this tremendous task, and He then gives them the seemingly super powers to do the job. We so appreciate having the opportunity to observe the Merrills in action and benefit directly from their wise counsel. They will be greatly missed by all in the SACTM!

Our new mission president will be Thabo Kula James Lebethoa. He is 41 years old (same age as our youngest child) and from the largest township in South Africa, Soweto, where he has been serving as a stake president. He joined the church as a young adult and will have the distinction of being the first black mission president in South Africa (there are three missions). He and his wife have four children, so life in the mission home will be a bit different than in the past. We are very excited to meet the Lebethoas, enjoy our association with them, and benefit from their inspired leadership.

As mentioned before, one of the great things about serving as a senior couple is enjoying the association with other senior couples. Our mission is very large, taking about 20 hours if you were to drive from one end to the other. The closest couple to us, the Petersons, is about 1 1/2 hours away. Therefore, it is a special treat when we can spend time with one another. Such was the case several days ago when Elder and Sister Andrews came from Cape Town to spend four days with us. He is the financial secretary for the mission and she handles all travel arrangements for transfers and arriving and departing missionaries, along with several other responsibilities. We had a great time together and enjoyed becoming better acquainted. Highlights of their visit included: Hiking to the draw bridge at Storms River Mouth (Google it), walking with the Cheetahs at Tenikwa Wildlife Centre, Visiting Monkeyland, attending an awesome party with members of Motherwell Branch, attending Sacrament meeting and singing hymns with our Motherwell brothers and sisters, and enjoying a great burger and chocolate shake at RocoMomas. So, you can see it's not all work and no play, especially for senior missionaries. 😊   

We testify that missionary work is the Lord's work and we are richly rewarded for being involved in it. When performing missionary work we are fulfilling the Lord's direction to "feed my sheep" and, by so doing, we demonstrate our love for Him in a very real way.

All our love,
Elder and Sister Watson

Picture Above:   At Storms River Mouth (where the river flows into the Indian Ocean) with Elder and Sister Andrews.

We had the pleasure of being with President and Sister Merrill for her birthday recently.
(Nobody complains about the food in South Africa!)

Coming to South Africa Cape Town Mission on 1 July 2017, President and Sister Lebethoa and family. Can't wait to meet them!

Party at the church (tent) with Elder and Sister Andrews, and with Sister Vena, our beloved Relief Society President.