Watsons Serving in South Africa: Feeling at Home

Dear All,

We just past the one year mark of missionary service and, while we greatly miss our association with family and friends at home, we do feel quite at home in South Africa. People often ask us how we like living here and we say that we love it. Most of all, we love the people. We have become especially attached to the Xhosa people, the native Africans. They are some of the most loving and genuinely kind people you will ever meet. We love them, their traditions, and the many things which make them unique. There is a growing number of individuals who we feel very close to and with whom we hope to stay in communication forever.

Recently six of the seven senior couples (one will be going home soon so did not join us.) who are serving in our mission enjoyed a couples retreat. We stayed two nights at the beautiful St Frances Resort, in a coastal community about 1 1/2 hours west of our home. We met one couple for the first time and became much better acquainted with the others. It was interesting to share mission experiences and learn how varied they can be, even within the same mission. These are all wonderful people with strong faith in God and the Restored Gospel. Friendships were established and faith was increased during our time together. All this while enjoying many wonderful attractions in the beautiful Eastern Cape of South Africa. We're planning to meet for Thanksgiving next month and are really looking forward to that.

One of the responsibilities which I particularly enjoy is interviewing people prior to their baptism. It is amazing to see the strong faith which is clearly evident in each one, and which is demonstrated by the dramatic changes which they have made in their lives; all this due to the new-found sense of purpose and direction which only the gospel can provide. I admit that tears have filled my eyes during each one of these special conversations. Sister Watson has challenged me to get through one of the interviews without the waterworks but it hasn't happened yet.😉

We watched two sessions of General Conference yesterday in place of the regular Motherwell Branch meetings. Due to the 8 hour time difference with SLC, and lack of an internet connection at our chapel, the session must be downloaded and replayed. We watch the two sessions with only a 10 minute break. The chapel is extremely crowded and the chairs are not very comfortable; however, the faithful members love hearing the messages and music of conference. We hope you all at home will appreciate the ability you have to watch conference live and in the comfort of your homes...we certainly will in the future.

On a less positive note, our Motherwell missionaries and a branch member, Elders Smith and Brown and Mzolisa Mgqali, were confronted by three armed men this past Friday afternoon. They ordered them into the missionary's car and drove to a neighboring township where they were left by the road. They were not hurt and the car has been recovered but it was certainly a disturbing event for these faithful missionaries. It was especially traumatic for Elder Brown as it was just his tenth day in the mission field. However, he and the others are dealing with the matter very well. They now have an exciting story to tell their grandchildren.

All our love,

Elder and Sister Watson

Pictured Above: This is the newlywed couple, Mthetho and Siphokazi Ngweventsha, who were married in the Johannesburg Temple this past month. Last week they went to the home of Mthetho so Siphokazi could meet his family. She told us of some of the Xhosa traditions associated with a marriage. One is that she is given a new name by the elder women of the family by which they will now use in referring to her. She is given two new skirts (one is pictured), a shawl and a head wrap to wear until this December. In the meantime she must obtain a new wardrobe, as she is not allowed to wear any of the clothes she wore as a single woman. We love these kids!