Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tomorrow we will go to immigration to get visa stamps and then Elder and Sister Blackburn will leave for South Africa. There is a Couples Conference to be held just south of Ladysmith. We will spend tomorrow night with Elder and Sister Hudson and then travel to Nambiti Resort together, all the Couples and President and Sister Von Stetten will be there until Saturday afternoon. We will spend Saturday night with Hudsons and Sunday travel back to Swaziland in time to attend Church in Nhlangano and go visit Bishop and Sister Mamba, they have not been to Church for many months because their car is broken down.
Transfer day 28 June, 2011
Today was Zone Meeting and Transfer Day. All Elders came to our house for their meeting and then lunch of sanwiches and chocolate muffins. Transfers were interdistrict because of the visa problems in South Africa and Swaziland and other African countries. All the Elders seemed content with their transfer, they were somewhat disappointed at not getting a big transfer. Elder Cooley has been here 71/2 months and he already had an interdistrict transfer when he was assigned to be Zone Leader with Elder Reeder so they stayed in Mbabane. Elder Shelton went to Nhlangano to work with Elder Smith, Elder Herrity to GeGe to work with Elder Lyon, Manzini did not change, Elder Munger went to Mbabane to work with Elder Diseko, Elder Tlkotsi is serving with Elder Hensen. They all look like it will be good companionships. They all understood the problems with visas and know that Elder Tualofo will most likely have to stay in Swaziland because his SA visa has expired and don't know if he will get an extension. Elder Sessonga will go home early because his SA visa will expire the end of July. We went over the Evacuation Plan of Missionaries from Swaziland in the case of emergency, however, we explained that this is ground work and they will not have to be evacuated since the govt is not ready to fail. Collected almost all passports to take to immigration tomorrow to get the 6 month visa stamp. Brother Mokoena drove over from Johannesburg and met Brother Dlamini at the Border Post in Nywenya and gave him the cash to pay for the visas. Elder Blackburn had to meet Elder Smith on the Nhlangano road to get the passports of the Elders who forgot to bring theirs or did not get the message. A really full day.
27 June 2011
Went to Immigration to get our passports stamped and they were not ready, were told to come back on Wednesday after all the paperwork is completed. Elder Blackburn picked up the washing machine for Manzini Elders and when he called to make arrangements to take it to them they offered to come and get it and asked if we could fix them dinner, they were hungry and had not bought food for a few days so of course he said yes. Sister Blackburn fixed penne pasta casserole and not a bite was left, they must have been really hungry. Then they played with the neighbors dog and wanted a picture taken with it. Our neighbors have 3 of those huge dogs. Imagine trying to feed them, worse than trying to feed missionaries.
Elder Pierce tried to put back all the music on Sister Blackburn's ipod that got erased when the computer crashed. He could not get it back and then downloaded all his MOTAB music for Sister Blackburn so she would have something to listen to. We feel that he has such a special spirit.
26 June 2011
We went to Church in Mbabane again today, we picked up Sister King at City Inn and Elder Blackburn had several Melchizedek Priesthood interviews to do. So we stayed for Sunday School and Relief Society. We don't often get to stay in a Branch for all 3 meetings since we have 5 units to visit and there are only 4 Sundays most months. It was a good day.
27 June 2011
Went to Immigration to get our passports stamped and they were not ready, were told to come back on Wednesday after all the paperwork is completed. Elder Blackburn picked up the washing machine for Manzini Elders and when he called to make arrangements to take it to them they offered to come and get it and asked if we could fix them dinner, they were hungry and had not bought food for a few days so of course he said yes. Sister Blackburn fixed penne pasta casserole and not a bite was left, they must have been really hungry. Then they played with the neighbors dog and wanted a picture taken with it. Our neighbors have 3 of those huge dogs. Imagine trying to feed them, worse than trying to feed missionaries.
26 June 2011
We went to Church in Mbabane again today, we picked up Sister King at City Inn and Elder Blackburn had several Melchizedek Priesthood interviews to do. So we stayed for Sunday School and Relief Society. We don't often get to stay in a Branch for all 3 meetings since we have 5 units to visit and there are only 4 Sundays most months. It was a good day.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Met the Ezulwini Missionaries in Manzini
We met with FODSWA today with George Dlamini so that George could set up an agenda for the handover ceremony on the wheelchairs. Then this afternoon at 4:30 we picked up the Manzini Elders and went to an orphanage to see if Humanitarian can do something to help them, the children need clothes, shoes, food, dishes. All we can do is ask Johannesburg if they can help. On the way back to drop the Manzini Elders at their next appointment one of them said, "there are the Ezulwini Elders" and so there they were, making a beeline to our truck, then the traffic light changed and we had to drive away. We went up the street and parked, Elder Sapaku got out and got their attention so here they come running to us. They had gotten instructions to park their truck today and walk to save their Ks, they had gotten a kombi and missed their stop, the kombi driver just did not stop for them so they ended up in Manzini and had been trying to call Elder Blackburn to come find them. Manzini is about 30 minutes away from Ezulwini by car. Elder Blackburn had left his telephone home to charge. They were so happy to see us, one of those little miracles that happen for Elders. We dropped the Manzini Elders at their appointment and took the Ezulwini Elders to Malkerns to their appointment and waited for them since it was way too far to walk and no kombis were running. Then we brought them home with us and fed them dinner. No two Elders have ever deserved a good dinner as much as these two did today. And now at 9:00 pm they are "in and safe" at their flat.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Week of Immigration problems
21 June 2011
Had communication from Nielsens and Heningers about the Wheelchair project and the Sewing Machine Project and informed both of them that everything is in place in preparation for delivery of the Chairs and nothing can be changed or should be changed!! Also sent President Von Stetten a message informing him of the status of both projects. The Sewing Machine Project will not be completed until probably August since we need Customs Tax Exemption and that takes almost a month. Not a lot of spiritually inspiring meetings right now, but when these projects are underway we will see the great result of helping those who cannot help themselves.
20 June 2011
We went to Mbabane to speak with the director of FODSWA, they will be receiving the wheelchairs from Humanitarian and have the Customs Tax Exemption, got a copy of that and faxxed it to the Nielsens so they can set a delivery date for us. Informed them about the conversation with George Dlamini and that this project HAS to be finished with the right people in the right places otherwise it won't happen. They must inform George that FODSWA will receive the chairs since they have the list of reciepients.
19 June 2011
We picked up Sister Joann King in front of City Inn and took her with us to Church in Mbabane, the meeting was really good. Brother George Luklele from the District Council spoke on family relations and resolving conflict, it was a very timely subject since the District Relief Society had asked Elder Blackburn and I for help, the Sisters in the Church are complaining about how their husbands treat them. Then George Dlamini needed to talk with Sister Blackburn and was informed that his plans for the Wheel chair project was not going to happen and other plans had been put into place, he was not very happy with the results, he will be happy when he sees how succesful the handover will be the way it is planned. Elder Blackburn took Sister King and Sister Blackburn to their respective places to stay while he spent the rest of the day in meetings.
18 June 2011
Today is Visiting Teaching Conference in Manzini; the luncheon was so successful, the sisters had never had baked potatoes or a salad bar and it was fun to watch them fill their plate, not a bite of food was left. Sister Blackburn showed items that could be made and sold and included quilts brought back from Johannesburg from the Humanitarian Missionaries. One of the Sisters wanted to know if the potatoes should be peeled and was taught how to bake potatores, just wash and put in oven! When the sisters filled their plate with the salad, instead of mixing it they put a small pile of each item in a different place on their plate. Very successful day. Sister Ntshalintshali had planned a skit on how to do Visiting Teaching and the Sisters did a wonderful job presenting it.
All us couple missionaries went to Summerfield for dinner tonight, we considered it our Anniversary dinner, we had a very good visit. Gundersons have some good plans to put into place for PEF; the Coxs plan on going home in August so they are winding down a little and putting things into place for their replacement. Things are going pretty smooth right now. We had a Sister call us who is staying at City Inn for two weeks, she is part of a Sister City group from somewhere in Texas and she wanted a ride to Church, so we will pick her up tomorrow.
17 June 2011
Elder and Sister Cox, Seminaries and Institute and Elder and Sister Gunderson, PEF came to town and dropped by our house for a little visit and get to know the Gundersons. PEF is really going to start being more effective in Swaziland with these new missionaries.
16 June 2011
Went to the Embassy this morning and the men there were so helpful, one went to Swazi Immigration to assure himself that he would be able to help us do what we need to do. He took our fingerprints on the cards the FBI will require and explained that we must go back to Immigration in 2 weeks to get a 3 month extension when we wait for the background check from the US; Also, we must go to Police Headquarters and get a Swazi Police Report since we have been here about a year. We got all papers together and took them to DHL to mail to FBI and it cost us 1,300. Rand which was about $170.00 American dollars for postage. At least it is done!!! And now we wait!!! At 2:00pm we had a meeting with Sister Ntshalintshali in planning the Relief Society program for Saturday. Sister Blackburn suggested something different for lunch, "a light luncheon"; they did not know what was meant by that so a list of food was prepared and was determined to fix everything at the Church.
15 June 2011
Today is our 48th Wedding Anniversary!! Our Swazi embassy rep. did not call, so we called her back and told her it has been 3 days and we need an appointment so then she gave us one for tomorrow at 8:30am. So now we don't have to send Senator Hatch a plea for help. We did a lot of errands and got home so late we did not feel like going out to eat, besides it has been cold in the evening.
14 June 2011
We called the Embassy today to get an appointment and the same receptionist says, "I will call you". So we will see, if she does not call today, we will get Rachel to send a request to Senator Hatch's office, this Swazi girl does not know how much influence our Senators have.
13 June 2011
We took all 16 Elders for a mental health checkup and the Dr. called each one up and looked at him and signed his certification. Easy Dr's appointment for them. Then we got all forms filled out and our young man who has been hired by the Area Office took all papers to Immigration for certification. When he came back it seems that Elder and Sister Blackburn needs finger prints and police report. So off we went to the Police Department and got fingerprinted, then we find out we need a report from home or FBI background clearance. We then went to the Embassy for help, the receptionist says she will call us with the appointment time. Took all day to get this done.
Had communication from Nielsens and Heningers about the Wheelchair project and the Sewing Machine Project and informed both of them that everything is in place in preparation for delivery of the Chairs and nothing can be changed or should be changed!! Also sent President Von Stetten a message informing him of the status of both projects. The Sewing Machine Project will not be completed until probably August since we need Customs Tax Exemption and that takes almost a month. Not a lot of spiritually inspiring meetings right now, but when these projects are underway we will see the great result of helping those who cannot help themselves.
20 June 2011
We went to Mbabane to speak with the director of FODSWA, they will be receiving the wheelchairs from Humanitarian and have the Customs Tax Exemption, got a copy of that and faxxed it to the Nielsens so they can set a delivery date for us. Informed them about the conversation with George Dlamini and that this project HAS to be finished with the right people in the right places otherwise it won't happen. They must inform George that FODSWA will receive the chairs since they have the list of reciepients.
19 June 2011
We picked up Sister Joann King in front of City Inn and took her with us to Church in Mbabane, the meeting was really good. Brother George Luklele from the District Council spoke on family relations and resolving conflict, it was a very timely subject since the District Relief Society had asked Elder Blackburn and I for help, the Sisters in the Church are complaining about how their husbands treat them. Then George Dlamini needed to talk with Sister Blackburn and was informed that his plans for the Wheel chair project was not going to happen and other plans had been put into place, he was not very happy with the results, he will be happy when he sees how succesful the handover will be the way it is planned. Elder Blackburn took Sister King and Sister Blackburn to their respective places to stay while he spent the rest of the day in meetings.
18 June 2011
Today is Visiting Teaching Conference in Manzini; the luncheon was so successful, the sisters had never had baked potatoes or a salad bar and it was fun to watch them fill their plate, not a bite of food was left. Sister Blackburn showed items that could be made and sold and included quilts brought back from Johannesburg from the Humanitarian Missionaries. One of the Sisters wanted to know if the potatoes should be peeled and was taught how to bake potatores, just wash and put in oven! When the sisters filled their plate with the salad, instead of mixing it they put a small pile of each item in a different place on their plate. Very successful day. Sister Ntshalintshali had planned a skit on how to do Visiting Teaching and the Sisters did a wonderful job presenting it.
All us couple missionaries went to Summerfield for dinner tonight, we considered it our Anniversary dinner, we had a very good visit. Gundersons have some good plans to put into place for PEF; the Coxs plan on going home in August so they are winding down a little and putting things into place for their replacement. Things are going pretty smooth right now. We had a Sister call us who is staying at City Inn for two weeks, she is part of a Sister City group from somewhere in Texas and she wanted a ride to Church, so we will pick her up tomorrow.
17 June 2011
Elder and Sister Cox, Seminaries and Institute and Elder and Sister Gunderson, PEF came to town and dropped by our house for a little visit and get to know the Gundersons. PEF is really going to start being more effective in Swaziland with these new missionaries.
16 June 2011
Went to the Embassy this morning and the men there were so helpful, one went to Swazi Immigration to assure himself that he would be able to help us do what we need to do. He took our fingerprints on the cards the FBI will require and explained that we must go back to Immigration in 2 weeks to get a 3 month extension when we wait for the background check from the US; Also, we must go to Police Headquarters and get a Swazi Police Report since we have been here about a year. We got all papers together and took them to DHL to mail to FBI and it cost us 1,300. Rand which was about $170.00 American dollars for postage. At least it is done!!! And now we wait!!! At 2:00pm we had a meeting with Sister Ntshalintshali in planning the Relief Society program for Saturday. Sister Blackburn suggested something different for lunch, "a light luncheon"; they did not know what was meant by that so a list of food was prepared and was determined to fix everything at the Church.
15 June 2011
Today is our 48th Wedding Anniversary!! Our Swazi embassy rep. did not call, so we called her back and told her it has been 3 days and we need an appointment so then she gave us one for tomorrow at 8:30am. So now we don't have to send Senator Hatch a plea for help. We did a lot of errands and got home so late we did not feel like going out to eat, besides it has been cold in the evening.
14 June 2011
We called the Embassy today to get an appointment and the same receptionist says, "I will call you". So we will see, if she does not call today, we will get Rachel to send a request to Senator Hatch's office, this Swazi girl does not know how much influence our Senators have.
13 June 2011
We took all 16 Elders for a mental health checkup and the Dr. called each one up and looked at him and signed his certification. Easy Dr's appointment for them. Then we got all forms filled out and our young man who has been hired by the Area Office took all papers to Immigration for certification. When he came back it seems that Elder and Sister Blackburn needs finger prints and police report. So off we went to the Police Department and got fingerprinted, then we find out we need a report from home or FBI background clearance. We then went to the Embassy for help, the receptionist says she will call us with the appointment time. Took all day to get this done.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Week of 12 June 2011
12 June 2011
A couple of incidents we forgot to include in our blog last week. On Monday the Manzini Elders, Sapaku and Jonga called us, we were in the car driving home and they had found an infant along side the trail they were walking and wanted to know what to do. The baby was in a plastic bag and was crying, we told them to call the police which they had already done and while we were talking the Police got there, the child was about 2 days old. What an experience for them. On Sunday night we got a call from the District President's wife, she was hysterical and said he is getting violent so we got into the bakki and drove to their home in Manzini and they had a terrific argument and he had pushed her away and she took this as a hit. Anyway, we talked with both of them for awhile, Sister Blackburn with Sister Simelane and Elder Blackburn with President Simelane. We calmed the situation down and it is part of the African Culture for the husband to just sit down in front of the Television Set when there is a ballgame on (sound familiar) and she had just gotten fed up. So we told him she needed his attention since his work and Church took him away from home so much of the time. Today in Nhlangano another similar experience with Sister Shongwe, she does not like her husband at all, he is gone all week working and when he comes home all he does is watch TV, all night. So Elder Blackburn talked with both of them and Brother Shongwe promised to do something for his wife each day and to get his life in order so that he can go to the Temple in 6 months. Sister Shongwe is going in September, she got tired of waiting for her husband to prepare for the Temple. It is Swazi Culture for the Husband not to tell his wife how much money he makes and likewise for the wife who works not to tell her husband how much she makes. They do not share their money. What a lot of change has to take place in Africa for families to be truly united.
A couple of incidents we forgot to include in our blog last week. On Monday the Manzini Elders, Sapaku and Jonga called us, we were in the car driving home and they had found an infant along side the trail they were walking and wanted to know what to do. The baby was in a plastic bag and was crying, we told them to call the police which they had already done and while we were talking the Police got there, the child was about 2 days old. What an experience for them. On Sunday night we got a call from the District President's wife, she was hysterical and said he is getting violent so we got into the bakki and drove to their home in Manzini and they had a terrific argument and he had pushed her away and she took this as a hit. Anyway, we talked with both of them for awhile, Sister Blackburn with Sister Simelane and Elder Blackburn with President Simelane. We calmed the situation down and it is part of the African Culture for the husband to just sit down in front of the Television Set when there is a ballgame on (sound familiar) and she had just gotten fed up. So we told him she needed his attention since his work and Church took him away from home so much of the time. Today in Nhlangano another similar experience with Sister Shongwe, she does not like her husband at all, he is gone all week working and when he comes home all he does is watch TV, all night. So Elder Blackburn talked with both of them and Brother Shongwe promised to do something for his wife each day and to get his life in order so that he can go to the Temple in 6 months. Sister Shongwe is going in September, she got tired of waiting for her husband to prepare for the Temple. It is Swazi Culture for the Husband not to tell his wife how much money he makes and likewise for the wife who works not to tell her husband how much she makes. They do not share their money. What a lot of change has to take place in Africa for families to be truly united.
Friday, June 10, 2011
10 June 2011
Very, Very cold today and very, very windy - at least not cold enough to snow. We spend all morning with 12 Elders getting their passport pictures and papers filled out for Swazi Immigration, it took all morning. Our electricity was out almost all day, we had to eat out for breakfast and lunch. At least it is back on for the evening, we just need to get our house warm enough to live in. I really don't know how these African people just seem to get along with the cold, no heat, they cook outside over open fires, sleep on dirt floors and sit on a reed mat on a dirt floor. Today I really appreciate being born in the USA and all the conveniences we have, especially warm houses, good electric company and good gas company. This is a picture of our stormy, windy day.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Traveling to New Castle, South Africe, you never know what you will see on their heads; both have eggs.
The Bank in Wokkerstrom, South Africa, must have been built in early 20th Century
Wintertime in Africa and the Trip back from Zone Conference.
Coming back from Zone Conference we had to go through Immigration at South African and Swaziland Border Posts, South Africa did not want to let Elder Tualofo to leave because he had a temporary visa and the Immigration Officer just did not understand it. He got so confused he picked up a stamp and just stamped it without meaning to do so. It happened to be the exit stamp!! That was truly the Lord working to help us, we had been there 1.5 hours while trying to get 18 people through Immigration; what was great, no problems with Swaziland.
09 June 2011
We received a telephone call from Brother Mokoena from the Area Office and we have to get work permits for 18 people in place tomorrow!! Huge job to get done, all Elders will meet in Mbabane and we will have all the paper work for them to fill out and spend the rest of the day at Home Affairs getting the applications in place. If we cannot get this done, Legal Department of the Area Office in Johannesburg are threatening to pull all missionaries out of Swaziland. Almost all drama in the Durban Mission seems to come from Swaziland, sometimes we feel like we could use a week on a warm beach somewhere, especially now it is wintertime and cold.
Monday, June 6, 2011
06 June 2011
Sister Blackburn went with Elders Hensen and Herrity to deliver the blankets from Humanitarian to the children of the Msibi family on Sunday, their level of poverty is heartbreaking, the mom and dad are terminally ill with TB (AIDS); the children have to take care of themselves. This was an especially good experience for the young Elders.
Today we went to the American Embassy to meet with the Chief of Security, we had made arrangements for Joseph Mokoena from the Area Office to accompany us so that he could make a report to the Area Presidency. We have a good evacuation plan for Swaziland, however a few minor suggestions were made to make it better. Brother Mokoena will make those recommendations to the Area Presidency and we will give our Mission President the same suggestions. It has been a good day. Our Sewing machine project was given final approval and now we will work to get training done in 52 community centers plus 5 Branches of the Church; it is a fantastic project. Women will be taught how to make washable sanitary pads, pads for older women with incontinence and they will be taught how to use soap, toothbrushes and good nutrition.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Delivered blankets to young children living in abject poverty, mother and infant has been in hospital about 3 months for TB; father has been in bed about 6 month for TB; neither one is expected to survive, the 4 other children take care of themselves; when we arrived the 7 year old was washing his clothes in a washpan by hand. Cooked most of the day for Zone Conference on Wednesday, we leave on Tuesday morning and will provide cookies; Apple pie and dinner rolls for Presidency Dinner
04 June 2011
Elder and Sister Harm picked us up at the home of Elder and Sister Callahan, we went shopping in the China Market for glass beads, that had to be the best bead store ever opened and the cheapest. Sister Blackburn spend less than $30 and had about 10 large and med bags of the small glass beads. A woman in the Manzini Market is going to show her how to do the Zulu beading. We then went back to the Temple to pick up our Bakki and saw the Missionaries from Swaziland. Elder Dlamini and Elder Mamba, they were so happy to see us, especially Elder Mamba. He writes us every month to let us know how he is doing. We also saw some of the Ezulwini Saints and were able to visit for a little while before driving back to Swaziland. We got back to Swaziland about 5:00pm; that is a long drive over there. Saw the duplicate of Las Vegas sign in the China Mart area as we were leaving.
03 June 2011We arrived early to the Area Office of the Church in Johannesburg, one of the first people we say was Sister and Elder Nielsen and they asked if we could bring hygiene kits back to Swaziland and we said yes if we could have blankets too. It was agreed to give us blankets too. Elder and Sister Harms were there and went to the warehouse with us and helped load the bakki, it was so full we could barely get our luggage in when we started home. We did not have any trouble with the border check point; we declared the blankets and boxes as donations and they let us right into Swaziland with no problems. You just never know if there is going to be a problem with the border. We got back to the Temple about 5:00 and the Callahans will pick us up at about 8:15pm. The Ezulwini Branch was too late for the 6:00pm Session so we went ahead. When we got out there was a message for us that they had finally arrived and would go to the Temple on Friday morning.
02 June 2011
Today we drive to Johannesburg to go to the Temple with the Ezulwini Branch; it will be our first trip to the Temple in over a year. We took time to leave a bicycle in Mbabane for repair and got to Johannesburg Area Office about 3:00. We found Elder Howell and he took charge of us until Elder and Sister Callahan finished their assignment at the Missionary Training Center. When we all connected up we went to dinner at a small cafe across the street from the apartment complex where most of the Area Office Missioaries live. They all have really nice apartments, large and well furnished.
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