Some might be curious what the chapel looks like for the Libala and Woodlands branches, so here is a shot after church.
My granddaughters are curious about their counter-parts on the other side of the world. The teenagers don't seem much different in their worrying about boys or fashion but they do have different experiences concerning the daily realities of life. Economics is key of course. There are plenty here who are so happy to be able to not help around the house as much and to be able to go to school.
I am gathering photos of hair styles for my granddaughter Allyson who has started a blog about hair.
The young men have one style and only one. It is cropped short to about a quarter of an inch. Some older men have completely shaved heads and a few five year olds boys too.
These fellows are in front of the door to the church library. You will notice it is a vault. This would make all the librarians at home delighted if they had that sort of door.
This scene would make every librarian cry. Messy, trashed and very few materials for teaching.
The hymn books are kept here so they don't disappear. Kristi is itching to get in there and bring some order. Dutch folks just can't help but sweep, straighten, alphabetize, polish and make havoc for their husbands with cleanliness and anyone who gets in their way. Imagine Kristi in there for 30 minutes. It warms the heart of every Oma in the Netherlands.
I grabbed a photo after class while Kristi was talking to some women.
These guys are very happy about the church because there is a paved road out front.
My boys and grandsons will appreciate their skateboards and style in this far-off land.
I still have the skateboard I used when I was 14 or 15. It was such a step up from the metal skates we used and then separated and nailed to boards.
Below are two pieces of art we found interesting when we first went to the mission home.
The top one is the size of a bookmark.
On the back is written the scripture reference, Mosiah 18:11.
I think it should be framed and hung on the wall.
The one below is larger, probably 12 x 24 inches. It is hung in the mission president's office. I like it a lot. It is primitive, sort of like a Grandma Moses. As you can see it is of the prophet Lehi's dream with people holding to the "iron rod" and partaking of the fruit that is delicious above everything else. Notice the people mocking and pointing and some folks wandering off. I like the curtain being pulled back to reveal the vision and the mist of darkness the people are going through.
I am sure the Church Art Museum would love to have this.
I asked President Padovich what he knew about it on the day he left. He seemed a little embarrassed about the circumstances where it came from. When Elder Russell M. Nelson came to Malawi to dedicate the land for missionary work, this painting was created by Jose Banda who lives in Malawi. The assistants to the president tried to give it to Elder Nelson against instructions they had been given. Elder Nelson is unable to accept gifts and turned and asked President Padovich if he would take care of it - so now it hangs in the corner of a wall in the mission president's office.
The more I look at it, I appreciate the style, the color and composition.
If you want to know the story check out The Book of Mormon, in the first part is 1 Nephi, and this story is talked about in chapters 8 and 11.
