Patriarch Courtney

18 Nov 2010

Blue Pumpkins but orange inside

Went to Manzini to try and find a Truck Driving School for Elder Mbuli, talked with Elder Allen of PEF and he will accept the application (finally), after we talked with Elder Blackburn's brother Bill to help us get this rolling for this young returned missionary.  It was great to get out of the house, still cloudy and may get rain today too.

13 Nov 2010
Elder Blackburn and Patriarch went to Nhlangano to conduct interviews and give Patriarchal Blessings - 7 blessings were given, each blessing takes 1 hour so he was very tired when he finished.  Sister Blackburn had dinner waiting when they got back to Ezulwini.  Sister Blackburn had several young adults over to learn how to Line Dance, she gave them lunch of Chicken Enchiladas and pumpkin pie, they thoroughly enjoyed their day. The had to show the Patriarch and Elder Blackburn, Elder and Sister Cox what they had learned. Patriarch wanted the recipes for Enchiladas and Pumpkin pie.

14 Nov 2010
Went to Manzini for Church, Patriarch Courtney did 4 more blessings there.  Sister Blackburn met with Sister Ntshalintshali and District President Simelane to discuss how the sewing machines destined for Swaziland will be taken care of and stored.  President Simelane wanted to know who would "own" the machines and Sister Blackburn stated "the women of Swaziland" "with the Relief Society protecting them."
He was much pleased with the project and gave us his ideas on how he would like them stored.  We then went to the District Seminary Graduation and about 150 seminary and young adults attended the graduation, Elder and Sister Cox had the Branch Presidents call forward the ones advancing and the ones graduating.  It was a really successful event.  Elder and Sister Cox, Patriarch Courtney then came to our house for dinner, we served pork roast, mashed potatoes and vegetables with brownies and ice cream for desert; again Patriarch Courtney wanted the recipes to take home.  He particularly liked the brownies.

15 Nov 2010
Patriarch and Cox' went back to Durban this morning; we met the Elders and went to the Ngwenya Glass Factory where they use recycled glass to make glasses, statuary, etc.  They blow the glass there and allow visitors to watch.  Then we took the Elders to Friar Tucks for a buffet luch.  Then home to rest.

16 Nov 2010
Went to the Dentist today, one tooth has really been bothering Sister Blackburn; good Dentist, nothing wrong with tooth, just the bite off and hitting the opposing tooth  too hard, so he ground it  down and we will see. 
Met with Sister Wendy Anderson about the Elders boarding in Mbabane to discuss when she will scrape the mould and get the house painted and get the sliding door fixed.  She "has been in a mental hospital because she is bipolar and is now on meds and doing much better."  Zone Leader and District Leaders left for New Castle for training for 2 days.  We picked up 2 pumpkins to cook for Thanksgiving and got one cooked, the electricity went out before the 2nd one got cooked, so we just turned the stove off.  It was the worst storm we have had to date. 

17 Nov 2010
We stayed home and finished fixing the pumpkin, enough for 6 pies, we will share with Nuzman and Ward Couples.  Rained all day and was chilly, we wore sweaters all day and did not go out.  Electricity and Internet was on sporadically all day.