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.