After Johannesburg and Pretoria

31 Dec 2011
New Years Eve and we are exhaused today; Elder and Sister Nuzman left early this morning, we really wanted them to stay one day longer and just rest, but they wanted to get back home and rest in their own bed.  We did laundry, Elders from Ezulwini came to check on us and make sure we were back.  Elder Blackburn did a vehicle inspection while they were here.  We always try to let the Elders know when we are going to inspect their flats and cars so they will have them clean and presentable; we do this just before transfers so the new Elders will come to a clean flat.  We took down the Christmas tree and put everything away and wrote on the boxes "donated to the Swazi couples" so they will not be given away when the next couple goes home.  We have enjoyed our few Christmas novelties, especially the tree.

30 Dec 2011
Today we got up early and started for Pretoria, found all the right freeways and then found the correct road to Cullinan, we are going to visit the Cullinan Diamond Mine.

The Cullinan Mine is an extremely vast mining operation; they are beginning to remine all the tailings that DeBeers left from the beginning of mining, new procedures in mining show what minerals were left behing and how to extract what could not be seen with the grease belts.  The old town is a quaint tourist village.  All the workers are housed in a township outside the mining area. The tour guide did not give us all the tour and we did not realize it until we got back and read the brochure.  We did not get to see the sorting room and the sales room.  What a disappointment for Sister Blackburn and Sister Nuzman.  From there we drove back to Swaziland and got home about 6:30 pm.  Tom went to bed and the rest of us watched a movie and relaxed before heading to our beds.

29 Dec 2011
Up early to drive to the Ndebele Village, we missed our ramp to the correct freeway and drove many miles out of our way, when we got to Pretoria we saw the Union Building in the distance and decided to go exploring there, we happened on the Old Town Square, which Elder Blackburn remembered visiting.
 

Elder Blackburn remembered the flat where he and his companion lived 50 years ago; across the street from the Union Building (government offices) it is one of the most beautiful places we have ever visited in all the places in the world we have been, the grounds were spectacular.
      Elder Blackburn's flat:

The Ndebele Village, it was in a severe decline, the paint fading, the buildings crumbling; old women trying to sell the beaded items they had scrounged enough money to make.  A very sad state.  We found the head woman (the Sangoma) and she offered to show us around and told us how much - R 100 which is the equivalent of about $15.00 american dollars.  We bought a few trinkets in appreciation of the tour, they were disapointed we did not buy more, however there were only the 4 of us and what could we use the items for.  Beaded dolls and such;  Sister Nuzman and I bought a necklace each and I bought a doll. 

Elder Blackburn had visited this Ndebele village 50 years ago and it has really deteriorated and has fallen into severe decline, we did not think it would last very many more years, they have abandoned most of their culture, they still do some beadwork, samples are in the pictures.  It was truly in a sad state.  Tours have stopped going there because of the decline so they have lost that income to the village.

28 Dec 2011
We got up early and went to the China Market where we had breakfast:  We had so much fun with Elder and Sister Nuzman.

Sister Nuzmand and I bought some glass beads for the projects we are learning to make, Sister Blackburn bought two umbrellas, one for Josi and one for Brooklyn, they were only $3.00 each; one is pink polka dots and one is pink with flowers on it.  After this fun excursion we went to the Temple to find Elder Ng'Anda and his wife, we are going to the Endowment and sealing with them, we found that another couple with their children also came from Kenya to be sealed, so we made their acquaintance and found how faithful these returned African missionaries stay, he had married his wife 6 years ago after returning from his mission to Malawi and Zimbabwe and now had the opportunity to access the Temple Fund and bring his wife and children to the Temple to be sealed as a family.  It was really a spiritual afternoon, Elder Blackburn and Elder Nuzman acted as witnesses for each Couple:

This Temple trip was special to us because Sister Blackburn had become friends on Face Book with Elder Ng'Anda and when he announced his engagement to Lucy, Sister Blackburn encouraged him to contact his Bishop and enquire about the Temple Fund, whic allows a once in a lifetime trip for families to be sealed in the Temple when they live many miles and days from the Temple.  Because of this encouragement another couple with their children were able to also attend the Temple, Elder Silvester Ohanga and his wife Eunice with their two children.  So it was truly a special day. After the Temple, the Nuzmans and Blackburns invited the two African couples to a celebratory dinner at a highly recommended dining establishment called Mike's Kitchen:

Elder Ohanga and Elder Ng'Anda were so appreciative, they had wanted to be able to take their wives to a special celebration and would not have been able to do so.  One of Lucy's missionary companions went with us, her name is Bathobile Sithole and you could see the love she and Lucy shared, gained as missionary companions in Zimbabwe.

27 Dec 2011
This morning we got up early and left for Johannesburg and the Temple; we arrived early afternoon and decided to go to the African Craft Market, Sister Nuzman wanted to purchase some more beaded animals for their family at home and we wanted to look for a special kind of mask; we were both successful; we then checked into our Guest House (no breakfast provided this time) and had dinner next door at a very nice restaurant; then we were tired and decided to just relax, we watched a movie and went to sleep, we have a bit day tomorrow.

26 Dec 2011
We decided not to take the tree down today, first time we will have ever left the tree up for a week after Christmas, the Nuzmans arrive today and we saved Christmas dinner to share with them so we cooked and prepared our prime rib dinner, the Elders came by several times and we told them they could not stay that we were not going to feed them today.  Elder and Sister Nuzman enjoyed Christmas dinner with us as much as we enjoyed having dinner with them.  We had a good evening and Elder Nuzman insisted on washing the dished, Sister Blackburn dried them.  We had an early night since we leave early tomorrow.

25 Dec 2011
We woke up early to take Sister Jill to High Court today, she is losing her house, the Chief has sold her land to, as she says, "a very wealthy black man" and he is going to knock down her house on Decembe 31st.  She has tried to get the Courts to stop him and can't do it.   So she got a Court Summons to appear at Court on Christmas Day even though the Court will be closed.  We took Brother Malaza as a witness that she did go and got pictures of them in front of someone's car which was parked there.  We then took them to the Ezulwini chapel and Sister Jill wanted to go to Mbabane with us, so we asked if she was still in the Relief Society Presidency and she said she was so we told her she belonged in her Branch that she was needed there.  Then we drove to Mbabane for Sacrament and Elder Blackburn had Temple Recommends to sign:  We got a call from Elder Tameilau wanting to know where we were since he wanted to call home to Australia at 11:30 am.  so we told him he would have to wait we were involved in other things.  At 12:00 when we got home, Elder Tameilau and Elder Adams came and spend 2 hours on the phone with their families.  They were only supposed to spend 30 minutes; same story with all the Ezulwini Elders, none of them obeyed the rule from the Area Office.  We should never have let them call from our house.  We fixed sandwiches and juice then 12 Elders watched the movie It's a Wonderful Life.  The Nhlangano Elders did not come, Elder Khubeka was not feeling well so they stayed in their area.  The other Elder's really seemed to enjoy their Christmas Day.

Elders Adams and Tameilau then Elders Maring and Signorelli

Elders Maring and Signorelli are a very good companionship from the Manzini District.

24 Dec 2011
Elders came and cut fabric again and we fed them lunch.  Elder Blackburn went to Manzini and picked up our meat for Christmas dinner from the Butcher shop.  We fed the Elders burritos, the African Elders had never eaten burritos.

23 Dec 2011
The big thing today, Elder Blackburn went with the Mbabane Elders, Elder Thatcher and Elder Shannon to interview and talk with one of their investigators, the father was quite a womanizer and had several children by other women and did not want to tell his wife, so he asked Elder Blackburn who should be the head or boss of the family and Elder Blackburn told him his wife should be, so that he could make an issue of husband and wife working together in harmony to raise a family.  The wife really liked what was said and made a commitment to continue with the lessons, the husband was reluctant but willing to continue, he just did not want to confess to his wife all the things he had done to betray their marriage.

21 December 2011

21 Dec 2011
Longest day of the year, and probably the hottest.  We went to Manzini first thing this morning, not so hot in the morning, we bought 3 blankets to ship home, shipped two boxes at the Matsapha post office and picked up key rings with the new Elder's name carved on them.  We have just stayed at home the rest of the day.  No energy to try to find something to do.  During the last half of December and the first half of January everyone seems to leave the area and go home to their parental homestead.  So all is quiet right now, our Elders have been very quiet, they seem to have setteled in and are working well together.  There was a post on our Face Book from Elder Denis Samai; he is home in Sierra Leone and has just been called as the Branch President of his newly organized Branch.  We knew he was destined for Church Leadership in his home Country and his mission prepared him for it.

20 Dec 211
Sister Blackburn did laundry all day then we just stayed home all day.  Very hot today. Brother and Sister Smith came over and left a roster of the GeGe saints, which we had asked the Missionaries for several weeks ago so we were happy to get it.  We had a very nice visit with them with much laughter about their experiences with the electricity and internet.   We had a message on Face Book from Elder Victor Nadimo NgAnda that he and his new wife will be in Johannesburg on the 27th to be sealed.  We will try to get permission for us and for the Nuzmans to go since they will be visiting us the day after Christmas.

19 Dec 2011
We got up early and went to the Ngwenya glass factory, we had breakfast at the cafe there and it was really good and very inexpensive.  Glass is recycled into works of art and glasses.  The glass is heated and blown into the objects.  Tourists are allowed to watch this being done. Jr Verde called and we met him at the Mbabane Mall to pick up some of his missionary papers, then the Mbabane Missionaries called and their fleet card would not buy a battery for their truck so we had to go meet them too. Elder and Sister Zawacky left to return to Durban this afternoon, then We went to Manzini to try and find some fabric for Sister Ward and were not able to find what she wanted.  Electricity has been off and on for about a week, especially in the afternoon and evenings.

18 Dec 2011
Sunday morning, Elder and Sister Zawacky went to the Mbabane Branch for Church this morning, we had to deliver a case of the Eternal Marriage lesson manuals and explain to Branch President Seiko that the District President really wanted to implement these lessons on Saturdays with the Institute program.  He was willing to do this since he had attended the classes with Elder and Sister Wilson as the teachers.  After Sacrament we had to go to the Ezulwini Branch for Elder Blackburn to do a Temple Recommend Interview.  Then we came home and Elder Blackburn and Elder Zawacky went to the District Meetings.  Sisters Zawacky and Blackburn made Christmas fudge which did not set up, but no one minded.  We had good visits all day.

17 Dec 2011
Today was the first training for the Humanitarian Sewing Project.  The Manzini Elders carried everything into the Relief Society Room and set it up for us.  We had about 15 women, young and older, there to learn the machines and how to make hygiene products and then go back to their Branches and teach all the women of the District.  3 women from Khulisa were there also, one from Lobamba, Steki and Manzini.  We served lunch and had a really good productive day.  Sister Smith taught how to teach principles of hygiene and did a really great job.  After this training, we had to go to Ezulwini to deliver brownies for their Christmas party and when we got there it was over, however enough people were still there that not one brownie was left.  Elder and Sister Zawacky went to Nhlangano to do some Seminary and Institute training.

From GeGe

From Manzini

Zola Shongwe from Ezulwini

Rachel Hlope from Nhlangano

Sister Mtetwa from Mbabane and District

16 Dec 2011
Gundersons left today, we did not see them.  Elder and Sister Zawacky arrived in the afternoon, we had gotten the truck loaded and ready  to go for tomorrow.  Just after Elder and Sister Zawacky arrived, Sister Jill called and exclaimed, "my car has a flame"!!! As Elder Blackburn spoke with her he found that she had been organizing all the food for the Ezulwini party and had the food in the car.  Someone was coming from the Branch to get the food and she would be left with the car as she would not leave it on the road, "it will not be here tomorrow if I leave it".  So Elders Blackburn and Zawacky set off to find her, they never did, she tried to give directions and they never found her.  Branch President Shongwe found her got the food and by then evidently she had gotten someone to fix her car enough so she could get home.  What an afternoon of midadventures, have to keep a good attitude and find the humor in it all, which we all did.  It will be a fond memory for the Zawackys and us.  We were going to fix dinner for the Zawackys, but the electricity went out so we went to dinner at Calabash.

14 Dec 2011
Elder Blackburn had a dentist appointment today at 11:30, so the dentist fixed a filling, before we could get there though, we took 3 applications for Elders Adams, Ssenyonga and Christenson to Immigration, we won't be able to get the passports stamped until 3 weeks from today.  Since Elder Ssenyonga is in GeGe, Elder Musau pretended to be him for the Swazi doctor who does the mental evaluation and certifies that they are not a lunatic, what an experience.  Elder Musau had a great time.  In the afternoon we bought food.  Then home, Elder Blackburn's mouth was hurting and he was not a happy camper.

13 Dec 2011
We had transfers today, so we left early to drive to South Africa and were almost there when the Assistants called and informed us that we only had to go to Nhlangano to pick up the Elders at 8:00 p.m.; Since we were already in South Africa we went to Ilala Weavers and bought 5 more nativity sets to send home and some other small items, then we went looking for a zulu shield and masks and could not find them.  We got back to Nhlangano on time; then the traveling Elders called and they were stopped at the Border Post and the new Elders were not allowed to enter the country, they had told them they intended to stay 6 months; so Elder Blakburn told them to go back to the counter and declare that they will stay only 7 days, they got their passports stamped, but did not arrive in Nhlangano until 10:00 pm.  Mission office was concerned and there were a lot of phone calls back and forth.  We finally got 2 Elders delivered to Ezulwini at midnight.  All problems solved.

12 Dec 2011
Today Sister Carol Nhlengethwa returned from her mission in Kenya. Elder Blackburn released her from her mission at the Manzini Chapel.   She is a beautiful young woman, her mother is Sister Mabuza from GeGe, who we went to the Temple with.  She was welcomed by family and friends and had a party with her neighborhood, which we were invited to attend, which we did and while we were there the GeGe Elders called us and were stuck at the taxi stop in Makayane.  They had been given permission to come to Manzini to buy shoes for Elder Tennent.  Elder Tennent had burned his shoes trying to dry them after a rain storm, anyway they were stuck there that is as far as the taxi would go that time of day.  So we left the party, they gave us food to go, and Elder Blackburn and Brother Mbuli took Sister Blackburn home and went to the rescue and took the Elders home to GeGe.  They got back about11:00pm.  Good day.