All those adapters just to plug in blow dryer and a curling iron.



17 Feb 2011
Today we took the Zone Leaders, a washer and a kitchen stove to GeGe to be placed in the little house the new Elders will be living in; Brother and Sister Malinga are trying so hard to come up with the money to put the plumbing and kitchen into the little house, they traded their dog to a neighbor for the neighbor to dig the septic tank and prepare it for the plumbing; we emailed pictures of the little house and of the Malinga home to President Von Stetten and after about 2 hours we received an email from President Von Stetten letting us know the 6 months rent has been paid in advance and should be in their bank account as of today, so we telephoned the Malinga' and let them know.  It will be over R10,000 and should be enough to do all most all the fixing up of the house.  President Von Stetten thought it was so funny that they would have a satellite dish on their home and not have plumbing or running water.  We really hope that the will find a way to put hot running water and a bathroom into their home.  We have had a very nice, unexpected rain storm that has cooled the weather off.  We have not had rain in about 3 weeks.

The first picture was taken when we were driving Elder and Sister Watson around on Friday, the next two were at District Conference.  The child is President Balunga's youngest, President Balunga is Branch President of Nhlangano Branch.  The other picture is of President von Stetten, Elder Watson, Elder Blackburn and wives at dinner on Saturday night after a full day of meetings.  Elder and Sister Watson left on Sunday right after District Conference with a sack lunch and special goodbyes with everyone.  We have taken advantage of a quiet week to get ready to take supplies and furniture to GeGe for the Missionary apartment.  We purchased appliances and bicycles.  Today Elder Blackburn worked with Brother Holder to get work started again on the Ezulwini Building while Sister Blackburn caught up on paperwork and got her computer fixed.

11 Feb 2011
This morning we picked up Charles Dlamini at the Swazi Post Office and took him with us to get the little Mbisi boy to take him to the Lobombo Clinic.  When we got to the Clinic we had to wait a little while for it to open and we were scheduled to be the first to see the Dentist.  After everyone was allowed into the Clinic the manager came up to Elder Blackburn and informed us that they always had "services" before they started their day and would Elder Blackburn  pray for them.  Elder Blackburn, of course agreed, then the manager asked someone to start singing a hymn and everyone sang a hym in SisWati, then Elder Blackburn gave a prayer in English, then a young man gave what appeared to be a short sermon.  We could not understand it because he spoke SisWati.  The Doctor had not come at 8:45 so we had to leave, we gave Charles enough money to pay for the Doctor (3 Rand) and enough to purchase medicine and get him and Mbisi home by Kombi.  We went to the Border Post to wait for Elder Watson and the 4 couples from the Johannesburg Temple came in so we took the time to help them get through customs and then led them to a Tourist area they really wanted to see.  We then went back to the Border Post and waited 1.5 hours for Elder Watson, we finally called President Von Stetten to get Watson's Cell number, we called Elder Watson and they were just arriving to leave the South African Border and enter Swaziland, so we helped them through Customs and they wanted to go to the Ngwenya Glass Factory where we had left the Temple Missionaries; when we got there the Temple Missionaries were still there.  So we just sat down and waited until everyone was ready to leave.  Explained the map to the Temple Missionaries and made arrangements to have dinner at the Chinese Restaurant at 6:00pm.  When Elder and Sister Watson was ready to leave they wanted to drive to a place called Pigg's Peak so we drove to the turnoff, parked our care and got into the Watson's car and went for a drive through the mountains, they were so happy and were able to get some great pictures; on the way back Elder Blackburn drove the car while Elder Watson took pictures;  when we got to our car and started back to Ezulwini, President Von Stetten telephoned us and wanted to know where the Watson's were and we explained that we would meet him in about 15 minutes; Elder Watson can explain to him where he was and why.  We got back to Ezulwini just in time to meet for a Chinese Dinner.  We had a busy productive day and are very tired and have to start at 7:00am tomorrow.  It is hard to take care of two groups of people who want your attention.  So goodnight everyone, we are off to bed.

10 Feb 2011

Elder Ng'Anda telephoned this morning and told us his eye was swollen, Sister Blackburn telephoned Sister Von Stetten and explained the situation and was instructed to take him to the Mbabane Clinic so we picked him up at the Missionary's house and took him to the Clinic where he was diagnosed with an infection "stye" and given antibiotic and pain meds.  His pain med was Percocet so Sister Blackburn instructed him to take only 1 since they are very strong; he has been obedient;  Elder Samai and Elder Masilele came by and we gave them lunch and sent Tylenol with them for Elder Ng'Anda with instructions that Sister Blackburn will pick up the Percocet.  Sister Blackburn telephoned Sister Von Stetten and reported.  We got back to our house in time to go to Lobombo and pick up Brother Armstrong and take him to the Supermarket in Mbabane to purchase a food order for the family Elder Blackburn visited yesterday, their little boy had a swollen face and Sister Blackburn checked his teeth and both sides had infections, we discussed this with brother Armstrong and he made arrangements for his nephew to pick up the boy tomorrow and take him to the tooth Dokotela.  He showed us the Lobombo Clinic where the child will be taken and we inquired about the Doctor and was told the child had to be at the Clinic by 8:00am tomorrow, the 8 month old little girl was also sick and her chest rattled, Sister Blackburn asked about her and was told that she also has TB;  so Elder Blackburn and Sister Blackburn will pick up the little boy and Brother Armstrong's nephew and take them to the Clinic.  Elder Watson called during all this and made arrangements for us to meet him at the Ngwenya Border Post at 12:00 noon.  Which we will do.  We were ready to get home have dinner and relax.  Elder Blackburn talked with his brother Bill and learned that they will be going to Peru on their next mission, they will leave about March 14th.

The pictures are of the house where we delivered the food. This is the Msibi Family.

9 Feb 2011

We had to go to Mbabane to go to Traffic Court with Elder Samai; we picked up him and Elder Ng'Anda at the Missionary's house and went to the Police Station since we did not know where the Court House is.  When we got to the Police Station the Traffic Policeman told Elder Samai to get into the back of his patrol wagon, we were shocked then Elder Samai says "we have a car" the Policeman then instructed us to follow him to the Court House.  Sister Blackburn instructed Elder Samai not to plead guilty to anything he did not feel he had done.  It was a fender bender in a rain storm at night. The Judge asks Elder Samai if his name is Elder or if he is an Elder in the Church, Elder Samai tells him that the title Elder designates him as a missionary, then the Judge asks if it is the Church that teaches Joseph Smith, Elder Samai says yes and that as a missionary he teaches about the Restoration of the Church in the Last Days. The Judge then turned it over to the Prosecutor.   The Prosecutor read off 5 charges and Elder Samai says, "that is a lot of charges, I did not do all that.  I will plead guilty to one and pay a fine."  The Judge then consulted with the Prosecutor and they decided to charge him with negligence.  They judge asked Elder Samai how he was going to plead, Elder Samai says "guilty".  The Judge then says "What can you say to me that will convince me not to sentence you to 10 years in Prison."  Elder Samai then explains that he has served in South Africa and Swaziland for a period of 2 years and is scheduled to go home in 2 weeks.  The Judge wanted to know how long he had been in Swaziland, how long he had been driving and if he had tried to fix the other vehicle.  Elder Samai explained that he had tried to do all that he could, the Judge could see he was an honorable young man and then sentenced him to a fine of E500.00. ($75.00 American Dollars).  We were so grateful that Elder Samai showed what an honorable young man he is and how sincere he came across to the Judge.  the fine could have been double or triple that amount.  Elder Samai had so much remorse and agony anyway over the accident and that the Church Truck had been damaged, even though not very much.  We went back to the Police Station to pay the fine.

Elder Blackburn had an appointment with President Shongwe to visit two families at 5:00pm so he met him and had quite the experience witht the second family. "There was the husband, wife and 5 children - oldest 18, the youngest 8 months.  Both the husband and wife have tuberculosis (AIDS), both bedfast, the live in separate houses on the homestead.  His sister comes everyday to feed him but will not feed the wife or the children, if there is anything left over she throws it away.  The wife had not food in her house for herself or their children.  No electricity, no running water it is down the road, they cook outside over an open fire.  The house is built with sticks and stones with a dirt floor.  A mattress on the floor is the only piece of furniture they have.  This is the "sorriest"  LDS family I have ever seen.  The mother is considering putting the Children into an orphanage, but does not know how she will get water delivered to herself to drink and who will bring me food.  The house is about 5 miles up a dirt road and the Relief Society President does not have a car to go help.  What a Problem!!!!"  Elder Blackburn offered to take a member of the Branch Presidentcy to Purchase food for the mother and the children and will do that tomorrow.  Elder Blackburn writes, "I am so thankful I was born where I was; I will try never to complain again;  I am thankful for our mission call to Swaziland - wonderful people - the gospel is the only answer there is for these people.  The little girl who is 8 months old just started to screm when she saw me.  The first white person she had seen and one with white hair.  The children just stared and stared at me."



Ge Ge, High School students washing their lunch dishes

5 February 2011
The first ever District Relief Society Training Meeting for the District Branches.  There was a very good turn out.  Sister Blackburn gave a spiritual thought and the coordination of teaching subjects were very good.  I was very impressed with how the District Relief Society had put it together.  They did a great job.  I had a chance to talk with a couple of teachers from the rural areas and ask what their young high school girls did when they had their menstrual cycle each month.  They told me that the girls used whatever they could find, paper, leaves and sometimes when they could not find anything they either stayed at home or came to school and bled on their clothes.  I sent this report to Sister Neilsen and she will see what she can do to bring humanitarian to Swaziland to help these young women.

4 February 2011
Met the Neilsens at 7:30 to travel to the "Grand Canyon of South Africa"a place just north of Nelspruit;  we got through the border with no problems and came to what seemed our turn; we were both agreed to it.  Neilsens' were in one car and we were in ours.  So we drove and drove (the gps kept telling us to go back) we chose to read the map.  We drove some more and were on dirt roads, and ended up in a community of houses, there was a woman who came from her house to talk with us and she showed us on our map where we were and we were backtracking to Swaziland on dirt roads.  Took us an hour to get back to the main road and we decided to give up on the visit to the Canyon.  Elder and Sister Neilsen went back to Johannesburg and we decided to take a drive to Kruger and see some animals.  We did not see very many, it was the middle of the day and hot.  We got back to Swaziland at 7:30 pm.  12 hours in the car.  We were really tired.

3 February 2011
Met the Neilsens at 8:15 am and took them to the Ezulwini Town Board where they met with the CEO to discuss humanitarian needs the town of Ezulwini, good progress was made and an appointment will be made with the Chief the next time the Neilsens come to Swaziland; then we went to Manzini to meet with the place that is going to receive the wheel chairs and plans were put into place for ordering and receiving them.
We had a good discussion on what Humanitarian projects are available now and one of them is sewing classes to teach young women how to make sanitary pads, they use leafs in Uganda and the sewing project has been very successful.  Sister Blackburn will investigate what the rural girls use here in Swaziland.
2 February 2011
Elder and Sister Nielsen arrived today, we met them at the border post in Mbabane.  We tried to find the Save the Children Orphanage and could not, so we had lunch at Friar Tuck Restaurant in Mbane, Branch President Shongwe was too busy to come out and talk with us.  We then led them to Ezulwini to the Royal Casino and Spa where they had reservations.  Our lunch was late so we invited them for a dish of ice cream and hot fudge sauce, which they loved.

Week of 23 Jan 2011

1 Feb 2011
Elder Samai and Elder Cooley came by this morning to discuss a meeting the neighborhood had concerning security, some of the houses have been forcefully broken into and families assaulted.  Elder Blackburn and I decided the Ezulwini missionaries and us had better stay put since our security is really good.  Then we went to Ge Ge to meet with the Eric Rosenberg High School committee to determine if they will let us rent the school to hold Sunday Services, they were hesitant at first, Brother Malinga gave what appeared an eloquent sermon in SiSwati then Elder Blackburn and I answered questions and told them a little about the Church, we could see a softening in their attitude and at the end of the meeting they accepted the amount of rent we offered and gave Elder Blackburn and I a hug and one woman gave me a kiss on the cheek, even the men were giving hugs to Elder Blackburn.  We saw the Spirit actively soften their hearts toward the hurch.  A very profound meeting.  We saw the students carrying dishes and washing them at an outside faucet, they bring their own lunch dishes and then wash them.  I think the World Food Program probably provides the lunches for the students, for some it will be their only food for the day.

31 Jan 2011
Received email from Elder and Sister Neilson from Johannesburg, Humanitarian missionaries, they will be in Swaziland from the 2nd to 4th of Feb.  We were in the Ezulwini Town Board and saw they would like a wheelchair project so we made an appointment for the Neilsons with them.  We were looking for houses to rent for us and the missionaries, could not find anything.

30 Jan 2011
Went to Nhlangano for Church, Elder Blackburn needed to present Brother Malinga's name to be sustained as Group Leader for Ge Ge.  He also interviewed prospective Elder and Set apart the new Branch Clerk, Brother Motsa.  Brother Motsa is 26 years old and was so subdued because of his call, he will do a good job.  He has taken this call so seriously.  Very productive day for Branch President Bulunga, many calls extended for the Ge Ge Group and accepted.

29 Jan 2011
Went visiting members today, the worst dirt road ever, tall weeds and ruts.  Saw brother Malaza a member of the Ezulwini Branch Presidency.  We explained that we want to visit inactive and less active Priesthood holders and try to get them to come out again to strengthen the Branch.  Then we went to visit Sister Jill, several of the handbags she makes have been ordered by Sister Nuzman and Sister Hudson, she will get those made for when we go to Durban.

26 Jan 2011
Had pictures of GeGe wedding developed and will take to Brother and Sister Malinga to give to the bride and groom, we hope this will be a good PR effort.  Received a call from the Swaziland Internal Revenue Service, they have a check from the Church and the clerk, Nomsa does not know what to do with it.  So we went to the IRS and explained the check was to be broken down and the amounts are to be posted by the month for the last 4 months.  She really did not understand but was willing to do it the way we told her.

25 January 2011
In the car again today, had to go to Mbabane for small errands, picked up sweater at cleaners, had prints done of pictures taken at the wedding, will give them to the Sister Malinga on Sunday, we have to go back to Nhlangano to set apart the Group Leader for GeGe, Brother Malinga and get Aaronic Priesthood ordained. Had to buy a new mixer, the one Sister Blackburn had fell off the counter onto the cement floor and broke. Then we had to go to Manzini to see Elder Samai about a traffic accident he had, there were forms that did not get filled out and sent to the Mission Home.  Elder Samai was on exchanges with the Elders in Manzini, we went to the Manzini Market again and picked up a Nativity Set. Had to stop in Matsapha to give copies of the wire receipts showing all the apartment rents for the Elders had been paid.  Checked on the cost of two bicycles for GeGe; will get the answer on the cost tomorrow.   The new Noah's Ark is not finished yet, when we get it, we will send a box home.  All this running around will really cost us this month in gasoline.

24 January 2011
First thing a call from Elder and Sister Allen, they sent us the confirmation of funds for Sipiwe Songwe's school tuition; Sister Blackburn had told her mother to have Sipiwe at the school very early on Monday morning so we could convince them to allow her to start without money in hand.  Sister Blackburn telephoned Sister Shongwe and asked if Sipiwe was on her way and was informed that she would call Sipiwe and tell her to hurry;  Elder and Sister Blackburn went on to the school and met with the Head Teacher who agreed to let her start, we gave him the confirmation of money letters;  2.5 hours later Sipiwe telephoned us and said they would not let her into school, she was told to go to the Commercial Department and see the Head Teacher, he did let her start school, we hope she can get out of bed and get to school for the next 18 months.  Her mother called later and Asked for the money for Sipiwe to board at the school, Sister Blackburn informed her that PEF did not pay for room and board and that Sipiwe knew this, it had been discussed, if Sipiwe wanted to stay at school she would have to pay for it herself.  We went to the Manzini Market and picked up the drum for President and Sister Von Stetten, it was very well done.  All names carved and spelled correctly.  Long day, glad it ended.

23 Jan 2011
We got up early and started for Nhlangano, we picked up President Simelane and his Executive Secretary, brother Jabulani Motsa so by 7:30a.m. we were on the way from Manzini to Nhlangano, we arrived in time for Elder Blackburn, President and Brother Motsa to attend PEC meeting with President Balunga.  Had good meetings, everything in English and organized they way it was supposed to be except R.S., got to work on that.  After meetings, Sister Blackburn had packed a lunch, so we ate lunch on the way back to Manzini and Ezulwini.  It was President Simelane's birthday and he wondered if his wife would remember.  He and Brother Motsa ate all the brownies Sister Blakburn had made.  After meetings in Manzini, it was mentioned that Sister Simelane did not remember her husband's birthday.  We think he was probably really disappointed.  Long day!!!