Our classroom above the dining room at the Courtyard Hotel

We spent the week in Johannesburg, South Africa.  We were invited to go to training.  This was the first time we had met our Area Welfare Manager, Phillip Moatlhodi.  We spent Tuesday thru Friday learning things we need to be successful in our mission. 

We had 9 couple of senior missionaries there.  Three of the couples will not be there the next year we meet for our annual training so they gave us their impressions of what they would have liked to know 18 months ago.  We learned lots of useful information.

We stayed at the Courtyard Hotel

We stayed at the Courtyard Hotel.  Our meetings were held there.  They fed us breakfast and lunch just below our classroom.  What wonderful people to study with.  What wonderful meals were served to us.  It was a wonderful stay for 5 days.

Resident tortoise and friends

I I found these wonderful creatures outside our hotel room.  The tortoise was visible every day we were there.  He must live there.  The birds I saw for two days.  I don't know what kind of birds they are but very interesting.  The tortoise was huge.  He was probably 24 inches long.  Very nice to see them there.

Airport elephant made of beads

This elephant was life size and made of beads.  This was seen at the airport when we flew in to Johannesburg.  Now that is talent!!!

Koi fish pond at the Mission Office

I just enjoyed the Koi Fish pond outside the Mission Office.  It was created following down a stream from off the hill the Office was built below.  I spent a lot of time here watching and thinking.  Beautiful!

This day, we went to the temple.  What an experience.  Although we did not get a picture of the temple, the session was so welcomed.  It has been a long time since we have gone to the temple.

Mall at Mandella Square

This was one of the views at the Madella Square Mall.  There were actually 4 malls that were built side by side that you can walk from one to the other without going outside.  Fancy!  We ate at Mug and Bean in this mall.  Great experience!

Spitada's restaurant

This was steak and prawns at a fancy restaurant our Area Welfare specialist, the Petersons, took us to.  We had so much food, the whole time we were there that we were never hungry.  MMMMM!

Giraffe at the airport

This giraffe is life size.  It is amazing just how big a giraffe really is.  We haven't seen any in real life but this just whets our appetites for some safaris.

It was a wonderful week.  We look forward to training next year at this time.