16 August 2010
The starter on the bakki stopped working this morning, we went to Mbabane Isuzu dealer but they could not fix it for 2 days, we then went to the Auto Zone (even in Swaziland) to get a battery - we thought it was the battery but a new one did not start the vehicle.  After talking to Elder Black (he had trouble with his bakki recently) we bought a new starter then needed a mechanic, there just happened to be a young man at the gate looking for work - he had his own tools; so Elder Blackburn hired him to put the new starter on.  Elder and Sister Harms, the Public Relations couple from Cape Town was in town and we had planned on spending the day with them anyway, so they picked us up;  we went to the Ngwenya glass factory and some other tourist spots, I bought some necklaces to send home for 4 Rand each and that was a good buy.  After a couple of hours there we went back and got our bakki.  The picture is of the mechanic taking the starter apart.  He was sitting on the ground with his friends there and was pounding on a screwdriver.  At least the truck runs and starts good.  Elder Blackburn asked him how much he wanted to fix it and he replied "what do you want to pay me" Elder Blackburn offered him 3 or 4 hundred Rand and then he asked for 5 hundred Rand which came to less than $100.00 dollars - all in all a very good deal. Heavenly Father surely takes care of his missionaries.   We came back to Ezulwini to have lunch with the Harms and after lunch we went back to our vehicles and Elder Harms had a flat tire and then the Elders showed up just as Elder Harms took the spare out of the trunk - so they were happy to change the tire for them.  Again, someone when we needed them.
Elder Ellis called and wanted us the cut his hair, so we gave him a haircut and spiffed him up for the Zone Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Then we accompanied the Ezulwini Elders to the Zulu family for a lesson on eternal families; it did not go well, so today they came by and we did an evaluation on what went wrong and how we could improve.  They were very willing to try something new for their next visit.
17 Aug 2010
Left about 9:00 am for Mbabane, we had to pay our rent for this month, the mission is trying a new accounting office and our payments will come out of Johannesburg for now.  We found a food warehouse and walked around it for an hour, we bought some Nestle Crunch Bars, american foods are so rare to find so we bought 12 bars.  Then we went to the Elders house and met them for the trip to New Castle, the Manzini Elders had picked up Elder Mamba so he could get set apart for his mission and go to Durban with President Von Stetten, everyone was supposed to bring a lunch; we prepared a lunch for Elder Mamba.  We got to Ermelo and all at once Elder Ellis pulled off the road, we thought the police had pulled him over so we followed the other Elders they had gone up a side street and parked, so we told them that Elder Ellis could not see their cars and they should follow us and we would wait for Elder Ellis To catch up outside of town. We got to the intersection - we went one way the elders went another and they got so lost.  Elder Ellis was in front of us so we honked our horn to get his attention; he found a place to turn around and join us; it seems he just got hungry and there was KFC so he pulled over - no police at all -  The other Elders finally found us and we were across the street from McDonalds so we decided to regroup at McD's. McD's will definitely be on our future trips to New Castle, everyone enjoyed the hamburgers.   We got to the turnoff for New Castle and the Elders missed the turn, they got lost again; but they finally found their way to their boarding to find the doors locked and the local elders in meetings, so we sent them to dinner. We always have enough drama that we are worn out when we finally get to New Castle; this trip took 5.5 hours instead of 4. Everyone finally found their places and got a good nights sleep; we enjoyed our visit with Elder and Sister Ward.  They put us up.
18 Aug 2010
Zone conference was really good, new training program introduced; Elder and Sister Ward and us were sent out to do mission business at 1:00 p.m.  The Elders had to stay until 3:30p.m.  Elder and Sister Ward were to drive half way to Durban and meet the newest couple to arrive in Durban mission and lead them to Ladysmith where they were assigned to labor.  Elder and Sister Blackburn had to return to Swaziland to set apart a new missionary, from Swaziland, who would be traveling to the England Birmingham mission.  We got back to Swaziland at 5:00 pm had a nice rest and left for Mbabane at 6:15 to meet the sister of the new missionary; she and her husband took us to her mother's home where Elder Blackburn was to set apart her brother;  we did not expect it, but were invited to dinner, we could not turn it down so accepted the invitation.  The mother is not a member, but was so gracious to us and had prepared a very nice and delicious meal, baked chicken, potatos and noodles with green salad; and we did not get sick!!!!!
19 Aug 2010
Lazy day at home; needed to rest;