Hooks Send Greetings from South Africa

Elder Dean and Sister Margaret Hooks report from their mission field in Johannesburg, South Africa: "We have witnessed some wonderful changes just in the time we have spent in the area. More young people are going on missions and more are seeking an education. More stakes and branches are now self sustaining and leadership positions are held by the membership of the unit. Lessons taught on Sunday and talks in sacrament meetings are comparable to those heard in our home ward. Whereas before the parking lots of the chapels were nearly empty (except for missionary cars) there are now vehicles in the parking lot which belong to our people.

The Perpetual Education Fund is definitely an inspired program and will be a blessing to generations yet to come.

The Public Relations senior missionary couple (also serving their second time in Johannesburg) organized the "Mormon Helping Hands" initiative for the area. We participated by planting flowers and vegetables at a government orphanage housing about 175 children. It was a fun event. Some of the teen-age girls wanted to know what the girls in America like to do. As we talked, one of the girls finally got up enough nerve to touch my hair. They wanted to see what it felt like. But most of all they wanted to know if it was a wig (which is quite common here).

In the past the young elders were told to only teach families living within a 45-minute walk to a chapel. Now they are reaching out to outlying areas where people had been requesting to be taught the Gospel.

The Gospel is true! The work is great! Daniel’s stone is rolling - slowly in Africa - but it is rolling forward. We just need more couples to prepare the pathway as it rolls down the hill.