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."