CHOO CHOO . . . ALL ABOARD . . . AFRICAN STYLE

Though on the other side of the world, this holiday train ride is reminiscent of a past photo journal assignment for http://www.trainweb.org/joy/2006c22a/
The same exciting anticipation accompanied it and the challenges of shooting photos from a wiggly, jiggly moving locomotive created similar photographic challenges.  Good thing Dr. Hoffman stuck a motion sickness patch behind my ear.  He said that the active ingredient in the product used to be used for truth serum.  Thus, some passengers were on the edge of their seats with “The National Enquirer” phone number in speed dial.  I assured them that few even read my tell-all BLOG so I was sure their hopes of a record-setting sell of my “ho-hum” life to the media would not make them rich.

The billowing black smoke for the nearly four-tons-of coal-per-hour steam engine would never have gotten the nod from the EPA in the US.  Our lungs could barely tolerate the spewing smoke.  Particles of coal may be imbedded in our eyelids clear into the next year.  But like many challenging rides in life, it was worth the adventure for the thrill of the ride on an antique steam engine train.

When the engine struggled up hill and pumped up the black smoke, Chuck and I chanted, “I think I can.  I think I can.”  Of course, that meant that on the rapid downhill race we concluded the chant with, “I knew I could.  I knew I could.”  It was not quite President Kimball’s counsel to “Just Do It,” a predecessor to Nike’s slogan, but close enough for our passenger purposes.
 
The senior missionaries occupied an entire rail car so that made for fun fellowship and snack sharing. I shot photos from the inside aisle, often through dirty windows, and tried to hit moving targets.  There were several noses arms and other objects running interference so I don’t suppose I’ll earn a Pulitzer Prize for photography.  Nonetheless, it proved to be a fun day to experience some new sights and sounds.  We had a brief mid-point stop and enjoyed a half-time lunch interlude in Magaliesburg.  We enjoyed a brief walk down a block they called “town.”

On the return trip we got an eye and ear-full of riding the rails African style with song and dance . . . and drunks.  Come along for the ride with us through the lens of my camera.

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

Take one measly missionary photographer and place in home of award-winning screenwriter and film maker to produce a delightful luncheon . . . Afrikaans style.  Today was a 5-star memory with Carl Theunissen framed in a picturesque setting with a backdrop of colorful flora.  Along with Elder Hatch and Thoba of Public Affairs, we were grateful guests in a unique home filled with memorabilia, art work, awards and antiques.  As we moved from one piece to another, the accompanying stories created greater fascination and insight to this amazingly brilliant man.

Lunch began at an artistically appointed table and was impeccably hosted.  We joined hands to bless the food and praised the God of heaven for the bounteous spread.   Carl’s Christian beliefs were apparent in appetizers of a few small sardine fish and fresh breads.  The miracles of Jesus came to mind when we partook of those graphic reminders of hungry followers of Christ.  Soon the vittles multiplied to include tasty, fresh tomatoes and “avos” resting beneath sprinkles of herbs and veggie salts.  Adding to that colorful array was a chicken-mushroom quiche, beef and rice.  For dessert, I consumed a product joked about being retired as a door stop.  However, the fruitcake was quite light and pliable, especially when smothered with custard sauce.  The food for thought around the table was even more palatable than the food on the table.  A gecko ascending the nearby curtain helped dissuade distraction of other critters.  Carl claims to love all living things and said that he can’t even kill a spider.  He merely carries such discoveries back out into nature and releases them.  He, thankfully, admits to making exceptions for mosquitoes!

Carl’s ancestors settled in South Africa in the 1600’s so he loves his country and feels like “kissing the ground” whenever he returns from his travels throughout the world.  We came in contact with Carl when he was a guest of the church at the media launch of the new church website for Africa, http://www.mormonnewsroom.co.za/  He has enjoyed an amicable relationship with the church since being engaged to produce a documentary film for the church in connection with SABC Television in South Africa.  He researched the material extensively on location, wrote the script and directed a fascinating portrayal of Mormonism entitled “Shoulder to the Wheel.”  The inspiration for the title came to him after viewing The Handcart Pioneer Monument on Temple Square.  The statue is a portrayal of the perseverance and gusto required to continue in the footsteps of faith impressed into American soil by courageous and obedient Saints crossing the plains with all of their earthly possessions in a handcart.  Throughout the 1300 mile trek from Missouri to the “barren desert waste” pioneers pressed on against adversity to etch out a haven for religious freedom in a “promised valley” where they could worship, serve, love and build an ensign to all nations.

When I asked Carl what his impression was about the church after his “Mormon” experience, he gave a response that he had obviously put some pondering into.  He said that he would describe it as “quiet confidence.”  He went into great detail to define his description and observed that with all the charitable and noble things the church does, there is no bell-ringing and shouting to gain attention.  They quietly go about doing their Christian duties just for the joy of doing them rather than to “grandstand” good deeds for approval.  He explained, in a more eloquent way than I can, that confidence is the assurance or certainty that you know who you are and where you are going and are not changed by worldly opinions as you seek to help the world.  He gave the example of the constant stream of goods that go from Welfare Square to provide relief to all parts of the globe without any fanfare or “noise.”

It was a most pleasant day and will be etched in our memories forever.  This is an amazing country with endless beauty in a variety of creations.  None come close to being as amazing as the interesting mix of people here.

Daily we are recording the moments of our life-stories viewed by a loving Heavenly Father who that wants all of us to have a “happily ever after.”  We would do well to put our shoulder to the wheel and see if we can capture some memorable footage for our own life-film even if we occasionally have to “cut” and “go back to one.”  Procrastination can’t be part of the script.  We never know when the great Director will say, “That’s a wrap!”