Johannesburg Temple

 

March 22, 2014 (Sat):  We were able to attend “our” temple in Johannesburg.  It was an ordeal to get there, but well worth it.  For much of the past 3 years we have seen African members plan their lives around the goal to get to this temple.  We were the witness couple and it was great to bask in the feeling that we were able to make it a priority.  As we walked around the gorgeous grounds, we felt the spirit of the church in Africa… and were humbled to have this plan of our Father-in-Heaven be such a big part of this chapter of our lives.  

 

 

We started our drive to Kruger Park (The large animal reserve national park in South Africa.)  It wasn’t on our original itinerary, but we had heard enough about it from other missionaries and people on the plane to Johannesburg, that we decided to add it.  It was about a 6 hour drive.  We were tired and stopped at a hotel in the middle of who-knows-where. 

March 23, 2014 (Sun):  We spent the morning looking for the only church in that area of the country.   We had a tough time finding it, but arrived just a few minutes late and enjoyed being part of their sacrament meeting.  After church we finished our drive to Kruger Park.  I had read in my Fodor’s Guide Book on African Safaris that the best place to stay was Lower Sabie, a camp in the park.  They usually book up 11 months in advance.  However, when I asked at the gate if there was any chance there was a vacancy, the ranger looked it up and said there was a cancelation, and we could have a bungalow for the night.   We call it a missionary blessing.