22 Jan 2011

We got up very early and started for Nhlangano and GeGe, made a stop in Manzini at the Elders apartment to pick up vacumn and iron, they had borrowed them from us.  We got to GeGe at 12:00 noon at Brother and Sister Malinga's house.  Elder Blackburn needed to call Brother Malinga as the new Group Leader for the GeGe Group and check the house the new Elders will stay in if President Von Stetten sends them to us at the next transfer.  What a rough road to travel to and from, however we did get to attend a wedding as we had to go find Brother Malinga to extend the call.  Brother Malinga is the assistant Chief or "Headman" of the area.  The little house was adequate, we took pictures to send to Pres. and took pictures of the school the saints will probably be meeting in.  Then we went to Nhlangano and met with Pres. Bulunga to inform of the changes that will be made tomorrow and to inform him that District President Simelane will be there tomorrow to make changes in his Branch and to be prepared for them.  Then to the Elder's apartment for their periodic inspection.  Everything looked good there.  Then home and dinner in the crockpot.

21 Jan 2011
Brother Mbuli came early to wash and clean our car, then the Allens came to do PEF papers; Portia was here too so I could type her an application cover letter to apply for a job.  Lots happening.  Mbuli finished the car, Elder Blackburn took him as a compantion to deliver Portia to her job interview, sure hope she gets it.  While they were gone Allens came, when Elder Blackburn and Mbuli came back, the Allens took him with them to Mbabane to find the Standard Bank and the Shongwe family so they could sign their PEF loan documents and get everything set up for them.  We then went to Mbabane to check the price of duvet covers and to get Sister Blackburn's passport stamped with her work permit (visa).  We got back home and rested for about an hour and then met Elder and Sister Allen at the Chinese Restaurant for dinner.  We were glad to find our bed tonight.

20 Jan 2011
We were home most of the day; Elder Blackburn had a Presidency Meeting on SKYPE and they had difficulty with reception because of the weather.  President Von Stetten suggested that the Sisters make duvet covers for the Elder's blankets so they will not have to carry them on transfers.  President approved calling a Group Leader in GeGe and will seriously consider sending missionaries to the area.  Elder Blackburn is to check out the school that has been recommended for them to meet in and check out the little house for the Elders to live in.

11 Jan 2011
Transfer Day!!!! We had to get up early and drive to the PetroPort in South Africa to pick up 2 Elders from Durban, Elder Munger and Elder Shelton. It has been a rainy day.  Made it to the PetroPort on time picked up our Elders and came back to Swaziland.  We took pictures, the Elder's cameras did not work.  We stopped at the Nisela Game Reserve for lunch.  They were really pleased to be out of the City and in the country.  We feel they will be good Elders here.  The Swaziland Elders got back from New Castle safe and sound and when we got to Mbabane everyone was out on investigator lessons; we were very pleased and reported good results to President Von Stetten.

10 Jan 2011
We had Zone Development Meeting at our house and everyone shared their testimony; there were many tears shed.  These Elders have been together from 4 to 6 plus months and have built a wonderful brotherhood with each other and with us.

04 Jan 2011
Elder and Sister Robinson (from St. George - our Ward) Public Relations met us at their boarding and followed us to Manzini and we picked up Brother Martin Mayabe on the road, he directed us to where his wife works, he did not want to do the film without her "she is my eternal companion and I don't want to leave her out of this opportunity", so we picked her up then proceeded to Brother Mayabe's home, 3 vehicles, the Cinematographer, Robinson's car and ours.  That was an experience the picture tells the story.  they filmed family home evening and Brother Mayabe playing with his young daughter.  Then we went to Mbabane to Brother George Dlamini's home for another Family Home Evening, he was so great, he said "I never thought when I joined the Church that I would have this many White Faces in my home at once".  The we went to Vusi Malinga family where they entertained the Lucky Maseko family.  It was a fun day.  We took the Robinsons to Summerfield for dinner and were they impressed.  Very fruitful day, good films.etc.

03 Jan 2011
Elder and Sister Robinson came to Swaziland, we met them at the Mbabane Boarder Post and escorted them to their Bed and Breakfast boarding; they got checked in and then we all went to the Chinese Restaurant for dinner, which was enjoyed by all.  They brought a cinematographer and his crew with them for the filming.  They are filming Family Home Evening segments in Black African Homes to be approved by the First Presidency for distribution in Africa, starting with Angola.  Exciting to be part of this.  Enjoyed reunion with the Robinsons.

First lesson taught to Gift, amazing how flexible the Elders can be when teaching a lesson .                                                                                      

Nhlangano Branch when Elder and Sister Wilson was leaving.

New Years Eve

31 Dec 2010
We received a telephone call in the morning from a young man by the name of Gift, he asked to be baptized, we contacted the Manzini Elders, since he lives in Ngwenya Park area and picked the Elders up at their boarding, then went to find Gift, after much searching and calls we picked up a young man to show us where Gift lives; Gift did not want to have the lessons with his parents, "they are sceptical" so the Elders found a place outside to teach him.  He will have a lesson tomorrow and probably Sunday.  His sister was invited to join him for the lessons, hopefully she will and relieve her parents anxiety concerning the Church.
Elders were invited for the evening; dinner was barbequed hamburgers, home made buns, potato salad, cilli beans and cookies.  Elder Shibambo needed to fill out an accident report on the broken tail light on his bakki after about 30 minutes of explanations, Elder Blackburn determined that they were driving too fast in a rain storm, the bakki was fishtailing all over the road and they hit an embankment.  They watched their slide show of themselves for the year 2010 and enjoyed it tremendously; then watched Harry and the Hendersons, the first time many of the African Elders had seen a movie made for the theaters.  Much laughter; then they wanted to know the history of "Hurrah for Israel", Sister Blackburn had printed a copy and had Elder Ng'Anda read it to everyone else, after that they were determined to give the best Hurrah for Israel they had ever given.  It made the house shake.  Now they will do that after every District and Zone Meeting.  They left at 8:30 after they had done the dishes for Sister Blackburn; they were "In and Safe" by 9:30p.m.

1 Jan 2011
Today has been a very slow day, we find we have been sleepy and sleeping almost all day.  Elder Blackburn was sleeping on the couch and the young man who tends the horses here at Twiggs Garden wanted to talk with him about having the missionary lessons, he is HIV positive and thought he would die 2 years ago and is expecting to die anytime. He told Elder Blackburn he is completely alone and wants to make changes in his life, he sees the companionship the Elders have with each other when they come here and wants something like that in his life before he dies. The Ezulwini missionaries were called and they came  and met with him and gave him the 1st discussion and made a follow up appointment.  Perhaps he can prepare himself to face death with his life in order.  Very sad.  So many of the same stories here in Swaziland.

2 Jan 2011
We drove to Nhlangano for Church today and such disorganization, it was pitiful; Meetings were at least started on time.  When Sister Blackburn went to Relief Society, the President asked her to teach, Sister Blackburn asked her, "don't you have a lesson prepared" she replied "no".  So it gave Sister Blackburn an opportunity to discuss how the Relief Society is supposed to be organized and staffed, who does what. Everything put on the chalkboard so they could see what organization they needed to put into place.   Sister Blackburn challenged them to accept their callings and to do them, she quoted to them, "we follow Christ, Christ served, so we MUST serve."  They have a challenge to get staffed and start to function.  Sister Blackburn then had a meeting with Branch President Bulunga and explained the challenges she had given the Relief Society and he must allow them to happen.  So, we shall see.  2 hour drive back to Ezulwini, then a cloud burst so the rest of the day at home.