Friday, April 12 - shopping and wheelchair give-away

Native African Clothing in Victoria Market

Today the Murdocks took us to Victoria Market downtown. It is full of handmade African wares at great prices. I stocked up on some African necklaces that everyone here seems to wear (at least all the Senior Sisters) and watched Sister Murdock make some purchases. I was introduced to a member of the church that has a shop there and bought a necklace from her. I bought a beaded eyeglass chain, but it broke when I tried to put it on my eyeglasses. Since it only cost $2 and probably took six hours to make, I did not complain. There are many African Zulu dresses here. Sister Murdock had already purchased a complete outfit. I admired a dress that a lady in Lesotho was wearing and she offered to make me one in any color that I like. I decided to wait until I have a better idea of what I want. Elder Kyle bought a shirt that is very African. When I get my dress, we will take a picture.

Wheelchairs made by local business 

We then went to an appointment with TJ, who has a store that makes wheelchairs. We have a project coming up with Lotus FM radio station. For their 30th anniversary they want to give away 30 wheelchairs to people who need them, but cannot afford them. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is paying for the chairs, which have the church's name on them, and Lotus is advertising the contest. We will have a part in choosing the finalists. We talked with TJ about the need of 30 wheelchairs and he told us that he also manufactures the chairs and will want the people we choose to come and get measured for their chair as soon as they are chosen. We took TJ to lunch and learned a bit more about him and his family. He is of Dutch descent and has lived here most of his life. He is a very nice man and we will enjoy working with him on this project. He ordered coffee and lunch and then apologized for it. Of course, we told him he could order whatever he liked, which started a conversation about what is healthy and what is not as most of us proceeded to order the unhealthy...ha