Sunday, July 7th-Chatsworth Ward, services and appt with Bishop

Sunday we went to Chatsworth ward again (Indian ward), because we had an appointment with the Bishop after the bloc. There were not many people to begin with, but they started to file in late and ended up having a good group. Late is the Standard in Africa. They have such a nice building. The parking is under the building and it is tucked into a mountain. The grounds are very nice as well. It was fun seeing some of the same people we met before and we thoroughly enjoyed the testimonies that were given. There is always a sweet spirit here during testimonies and the Indian people seem more sure of themselves.

In Sunday School, we talked about not getting offended and forgiving others. The instructor was missing his front teeth, so that combined with his accent made him a little hard to understand. He was well versed in the scriptures and had gone on a mission when he was younger, so he gave a nice lesson. The participation was better in this ward. The people seemed more knowledgeable about the Gospel.

We separated for Relief Society and Priesthood. Elder Kyle was glad to be able to attend High Priest class (most ward here meet all together, because they don't have any high priests). Our teacher talked about self reliance. She wrote money on the blackboard in big letters and asked everyone to comment about the word. Most of the comments were negative and she said, "Wait, money is not a bad thing. Let's talk about what it provides us that is good." They then started naming items like housing, food, clothing, utilities, education, etc. and had to agree that we need money. Then she had the name things they want but don't need. As an example, she put 'Mercedes" on the board and talked about how it's okay to buy a nice car if you have the money, but you don't go into debt for it. She talked about why going in debt is bad and how it can cause you to feel worry and then guilt and then Satan steps in and makes you think you should stop doing the right things, because they make you feel guilty and before you know it, you have fallen away. She explained about how we cannot help other people when we are in trouble...that we don't have anything left to help buoy our spirits of someone else's...that we become not only temporally deprived, but spiritually deprived. She did a good job.

After the lesson, we met with Bishop Chetty about doing a helping hands project for the youth centre. He agreed that he would get people from his ward to come over the Saturday of the concert and clean bathrooms, windows and whatever else needs cleaned. We also talked about how to get people to attend and made plans to get the word out to the Chatsworth community and the Rising Sun newspaper. See the Mandela sign in this photo that they put up at the youth centre.




After church, we saw Rosie (a very nice, very older lady who always talks to everyone. She bore her testimony in sacrament and it was quite entertaining. She always greets everyone and tells them her name (in a loud voice). Sometimes she tells you several times. I don't know how old she is, but other people mentioned that she is REALLY OLD. She gets around with a cane really well and when we went to the parking lot she was sitting there on the steps and looked so cute, I asked if I could take her picture. She posed and then wanted to see the photo. When I showed her, she smiled and said, "Hah!" Don't we have the best times?