11: Released December 1931

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Kimberley (A) had no sewer system. Outhouses were located behind the homes and a squad picked up the big buckets and hauled the sewage to a treatment plant.

At first Elder Smith and I lived behind a small chapel the elders had converted from a disused commercial property next to a fish and chips shop. Our shower bath winter and summer was outside in the rear, hidden from spectators. You really had to get up a sweat to stand showering in the cold water in cool months.

Srs. Maud & Sarah Grotique

Kimberley

About 1929

Later President Dalton decided to forego rent of the hall, because the landlady raised the rent. We met in homes with not too many stalwarts attending. Sister Sarah M. Z. Grotique and her daughter were stalwarts. The older Sister Grotique did not have any teeth and was about 65, and on relief. She worked hard doing beautiful sewing, shirts and so on. She was a marvelous cook and very generous to us elders who also tried to look out for her. Her daughter was retarded some, but was a beautiful singer.

We used to patronize the town market buying watermelons and citrus fruit rather cheaply from farmers.

We also would drive to Bloemfontein (B) occasionally and meet with the branch which had no elders working there. There were no paved roads outside downtown and it was a fairly rugged trip by motorcycle. After serving in Kimberley about six months as district president, with Elder Kenneth Sutherland as my companion, I was released to go home in late December, 1931.