June 2009 - Winter in South Africa

Exciting news in our family - two babies in two days!

Brian and Lucia's baby boy, Dylahn (on the left), arrived early on June 16, and Christa and Ryan's daughter Adrie was born on her Mother's birthday - June 17. Ellie (16 months) is pictured with her new baby sister and new cousin. We feel blessed to have these healthy new additions to our family.






The newest members of our branch - Mike and Mirriam Siambwezele - are shown with their son Lewis and the elders on their baptism day - June 6, 2009.

Previously we had four young elders working with us in Port Alfred, but now we have only two, Elder Coultas (on the left) and Elder Booth, both from England. They are counselors in the Branch Presidency and are great help in assisting Elder Godfrey in many ways. Also shown is the sign recently placed on the rented home that serves as our chapel. It took six months to get it - we are excited! One day after the sign went up, a couple on holiday from the Johannesburg area drove by and saw the sign. They didn't know there was a branch of the church in Port Alfred so they hadn't brought Sunday clothes with them. They quickly purchased a shirt and tie for the husband and a skirt for the wife and came to church Sunday morning. It was a nice suprise to have visitors - the sign worked!

Never having lived near the ocean, we are

continually surprised by what we see each day.

Coming home one evening, the sky was

particularly dark and we snapped this photo

of the beach where we walk mornings.

For two mornings we saw jellyfish on our morning walk. The largest one can be seen next to my flip-flop. After that they disappeared from the beach. We asked a fisherman what had brought them up on the beach and he thought the south winds were the cause. The winds normally are north westerly.

The aloe plants are in bloom everywhere we look.

We took these pictures off the roadside one day coming back from Grahamstown. My friend Priscilla and I stood next to a plant to show the size - quite large. Well, at least 5 feet tall!

Priscilla and her husband are from Zimbabwe. She is one of my keyboarding students and teaches Sunday School in the Branch.

We took this last photo to try to show the vastness of the countryside. It was taken from a hill top looking back toward Port Alfred from Grahamstown - about 50 kilometers away from our home. There are large pineapple farms in this area as well as dairy farms. It is a beautiful country. The days are still pleasant and warm. The lowest temperature we have experienced is 50 degrees. It does seem strange to have it dark by 5:30 pm in the evening in June though.

We are well and happy - keeping busy. We appreciate hearing from home. Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.

Go well,

the Godfreys