Elder Reed and Zone Leaders (I believe) out and about in S.A. at what looks to be a mall ... all ready for Christmas in S.A. too!!!

Email Update 11-12-12 "This week we have 2 people on date to be baptised. And 4 more that are showing a lot of potential. Selcourt area has had like 1-2 baptisms the past 2 years. And now all of a sudden we are having very good statistics. We are working hard and Heavenly Father is blessing us. The Zone Leaders are even trying to get our Mission President to give us a car because they think we've earned it. Haha! But basically I don't feel at all like I am doing something that no one else could. The Members are really key - and Members can do so much more than any "full time missionary"." Elder Reed really appreciates any letters and dearelder.com letters that are sent!!! Thanks and Hello to all of you from him!!!

Last week Elder Reed posted that Elder Holland visited and shook each of the Elder's hands. He stated that through that hand shake he was personally interviewing each one. Elder Holland has sent home 25 missionaries from different missions just through a hand shake! But he said their group was a fine bunch of missionaries! Elder Reed really respects Elder Holland and his bold speech and loved his visit! Hopefully tomorrow morning he'll have a photo to share. Says he doesn't take his camera out much due to roberies.

Elder Reed has graduated from the MTC and is out and about with his new comp in Joburg!....................................................................................................................................................................... FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY: Go to dearelder.com to send Elder Reed a letter for Free to the South Africa Mission!

AT the airport waiting to leave. (Sorry just found my camera cord and so am slow on the first missionary pix!)

SOUTH AFRICA: The most common languages: Zulu (23.8% 9.98 million), Xhosa (17.6% 7.79 million), Afrikaans (13.3% 4.74 million), Southern Sotho (4.24 million), Northern Sotho (4.09 million), English (8.2% 3.67 million), Tswana (3.41 million), Tsonga (1.94 million), Portuguese (1.5 million), Swati (1.01 million), Sepedi(9.4%), Sesotho (7.9%), Setswana (8.2%), Tsonga (4.4%) I'm not really sure these numbers and percentages add up but, the point is, wow! That is a lot of languages! I'm sure not gonna be only English speaking for long. Population: 49,052,489 (July 2009) with Black African (79%), White (9.6%), Colored (8.9%), Indian/Asian (2.5%) Faiths: Christian (79.7%), Muslim (1.5%), Other (2.3%), Unspecified (1.4%), None (15.1%) South Africa was dedicated for missionary work in May 1853. LDS Membership: 48,112 Wards: 114 Branches: 47 Stakes:11? South Africa experiences some of the highest retention among countries with church membership over 20,000. Johannesburg Temple was dedicated on 24 August 1985 by President Gordon B. Hinckley BOTSWANA Population: 1,990,876 (July 2009) with Tswana (79%), Kalanga (11%), Basawara (3%), Other (7%) There are 29 languages in Botswana but the national language is Setswana (78.2%) and the official language is English (2.1%) Faiths: Christian (71.6%), Badimo (6%), Other (1.4%), Unspecified (0,4%), None (20.6%) LDS Membership: 1,305 First members moved to Botswana from America in 1983. Dedicated for missionary work in 1992 (My birth year! I was meant to go here for sure) Wards: 3 Branches: 3 Stakes: 0 Gaborone West 2nd ward became the first YSA(Young Single Adult) ward in Africa in Fall 2009

HAPPY BDAY ELDER G!!! The MTC Pres And Wife have been so good to keep us informed and send us pix:

Johannesburg Temple Trip

Just got word that Elder Reed's 1st Comp is 6'5"! Can't wait for a photo of that! Workin' on some Family History here:

Elder Garrett Reed Just arrived at the MTC at about 4 am this morning after 36 hours in the air and at London Heathrow ... Very happy to arrive!!!

Go to dearelder.com to send Elder Reed a letter for Free to the South Africa Mission!