Awesome Game Drive in Swaziland & Welcoming a New Stake in Beira Mozambique!

We've had a fantastic couple of weeks, & hope you will all enjoy following our adventures through Africa!

First off... a few weeks ago, I received a cute letter from my grandson, Malosi, with a "Flat Stanley AKA Flat Malosi" inside. I was instructed to take "Flat Malosi" around with us & take pictures of all the fun things he got to see & do. Well...I'm sure this little 1st-grader will be the only one in his class to have some pictures with wild African animals (rather than just at a zoo!). We wanted to share some of "Flat Malosi's" adventure with you, too:

As you can see, "Flat Malosi" had a great time checking out all the animals around Hlane Royal National Park in Swaziland! Never a dull moment over here...it was soooo much fun!

Here are some more highlights of our morning game drive that began at 5:30 a.m. & concluded at 8:30 a.m. We definitely got our money's worth, & had a fabulous time with our dear friends, Elder & Sister McEwen, who have been serving in Swazi for 18 months & are now back home in Idaho & ready to reconnect with their 10 kids & tons of grandkids!

This was our bungalow we stayed overnight in. Bob woke up during the night to a herd of impala munching
the grass right outside the bedroom window! Pretty cool!!!

Sunset in Swazliland

Impala

Kudu

Sunrise during our early morning game drive...spectacular, isn't it!!!

They call these 'skeleton trees'. The elephants have stripped all the bark off with their trunks.

Massive crocodile!

We came around a bend & caught this big bull elephant just a few yards away from us!

This one's for you, Kylie Lynn! I know how much you LOVE giraffes!!!

Elder & Sister McEwen, our amazing guide, Sister Berg & 'Crocodile Dundee' AKA Elder Berg

Morning at our bungalow

These are wire traps that were stacked up at the entrance of the game park.
People have left their packs to add to the decor :)

On our way home from the Park we saw these Swazi women carrying huge bundles of goods on their heads.
You see this all over Africa...I'm amazed they can keep their heads up under all that weight!

More of the beauty of Swaziland (on our way to the Cultural Center)

They call this "Execution Rock". Tradition was that if a man committed a crime, the
tribal elders would take them to the top & yes...push them off!!!

These next pictures are of the Center for Swazi Culture. It was fun to watch their native dances. The men would make crazy sounds that were like a bunch of wild birds. They would pound on their drums & really get into the beat. They all had amazing voices!

This was the narrator/guide to show us through the native Swazi village. Let's just say that Swazi traditions are a bit strange! First off...the men go one way to have their 'pow wow' & smoke marijuana while the women go to the 'kitchen' where they cook, clean, slave, etc etc etc... hummmm.

Swazi Cultural Village of traditional huts.

On Saturday, we met with our National Public Affairs Council for Swaziland to do some training. They are an amazing group of leaders & are so dedicated to 'bringing the Church out of obscurity' in their country, through building relationships with key government officials & community leaders. There is currently only one district in all of Swazi, with 4 branches, but they are hopeful that the membership will grow & the people of Swaziland will prosper, due to their faith in Jesus Christ.

Sister Simelane (Asst Director), Brother Simelane (National Director), Brother Shongwe (Asst Director)
And no...the Simelane's are not related. I guess it must be a popular name in Swazi!

We drove straight from Swaziland on Sunday to the beautiful home of our South Africa National PA Director, Robert O'Friel for our Council Meeting. The O'Friel's treated us all to a braii (which is African for BBQ) & trust me...they KNOW how to grill! It was delicious, & the O'Friel's were such darling hosts. We really love them!

Robert & Edith O'Friel

Darryn Baird & Given Masetle

Given's cute wife & handsome son

During the week, we visited a local center for abused children called "The Teddy Bear Clinic". The people there do such valuable work & are true angels. Located in Johannesburg, they have 4 different centers & it is such a needed service for these beautiful children of God.

Sean, Dalene & Sister Berg

Dr. Omar, the Director of The Teddy Bear Clinic

Next stop on our never-ending African adventure was Maputo, Mozambique. It's a beautiful city on the east coast of Africa, overlooking the Indian Ocean. We've found a beautiful hotel there that we love...can you see why? 

This was in the afternoon at low-tide

Same view later in the day after the tide had rolled in...beautiful!

This is Samo Goncalves, our National PA Director in Mozambique. He & Bob have alot in
common with their careers. Samo is the official over all the prison systems in the country!
He & Bob (through a translator, haha) will undoubtedly have some interesting things to share
with each other. He is a wonderful man. His family was one of the first families in the Church in
Mozambique & used to hold church services in their home (back in the 1990's).

Next stop was flying to Beira, Mozambique (about a 1 hour flight north of Maputo). It is also on the coast of the Indian Ocean. We were very glad AVIS rentals gave us a nice big truck, because the roads there were, let's say, a bit rough! Huge potholes that you had to dodge, & many roads were just dirt. Elder Berg was a great driver though!!!

We were there to cover the creation of the first Stake in Beira (the second Stake in that country in less than one month!). It was such an exciting time for the saints of that area, as they created a new Stake AND a new District. The Church is really growing & the members are strong & dedicated. This was evidenced by them arriving an hour early by the busload & waiting in 90+ degree humid heat to be part of this historical day. It was such a blessing to be there. If you'd like to read more about it & see more pix... go to www.mormonnewsroom.co.za 

Sister Kretly (the mission president's wife), with some of the darling children of Beira

Due to the crowd of over 1500 people, they set up huge tents outside for overflow, as well as 3 overflow rooms throughout the meetinghouse.

Outgoing District Presidency

Mission President, Paulo Kretly

Elder Stanley G. Ellis (part of our Area Presidency) presided over the event

President Kretly is making last-minute 'adjustments' of Elder Mdletshe's tie (haha).
Elder Mdletshe is one of our Area 70's.

One of the first 5 members of the Church in Mozambique

The first missionary to serve from Mozambiqu

New District Presidency & their families

New Stake Presidency

That's just what I always want to do to these precious children's little cheeks :):)")

New Stake President, Freeman Dickie, & his darling family

One of the beaches in Beira

In front of the Palmeiras Chapel where the Conference was held

This guy was NOT happy about me taking his picture, haha!

When I told my Mom & Dad that we were visiting Beira, my Dad said that was the port city where he left on the ship to come back to the United States, following his mission in the early 1950's to Africa! So, we were excited to take some pictures of where the shipyard was to see if he'd recognize anything from over 60 years ago!!! It seems so surreal to think that as a young missionary, he was at the very spot that I was now...wow! We couldn't get right up to the shipyard, but here are some pictures of the ship channel & the old part of town. I'm anxious to have him look at them & see if it looks familiar...

Downtown Beira

Well...that's the end of our travel-log for the past 3 weeks. As we've said before, "Never a dull moment in Public Affairs!" But, if we want to be a true part of 'Hastening the Lord's Work', that's what we need to do. We have dedicated these 18 months of our lives to serving the Lord with all our hearts, minds, spirits, & strength. We see the blessings every day & are so very grateful for the opportunity to be here in Africa & hopefully make a difference in people's lives. We have seen the hand of the Lord in the miraculous growth of the Church, as we have covered these various historic events. We are thrilled for the saints, & also for all people in Africa, that the Lord is mindful of each & every one of them. He knows them...He loves them...& He wants them to 'Come Unto Him'. We can each be an instrument in His hands to accomplish this. 

As we enter into the week of Easter & focus on the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray that each of you will take the time to study, pray & grow closer to Him. Come to KNOW Him, & what He has done for each of us. Share that testimony with others often. The Church has an amazing video that just came out, & if you have not had the chance to watch, we encourage you to go to HeLives.mormon.org. We watched it for the first time yesterday & it really touched our hearts. It is a powerful reminder of the Savior, of His life, & of His love for us. #BecauseHeLives

Love to all of you & Happy Easter,

Elder & Sister Berg