31 July 2011

31 July 2011
Today is the 50th anniversay of my baptism, I cannot believe how much I have learned and am still learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ; I am so grateful for my testimony and to be a member of this Church and to have the knowledge I have.  My hope is that my children and grandchildren, great grandchildrent, etc. will  continue in the faith and obtain all the blessings their Heavenly Father has for them.  We had good meetings in Church today, Branch Conference in Manzini and President and Sister Simelane were on better terms with each other and seem to be doing ok.  That was good to see.  The Elders had two baptisms, Elder Peirce baptised a 14 year old young man and Elder Sakpaku baptised an older woman.  They both shared really sweet testimonies.  The Elders then drove Sister Blackburn home while Elder Blackburn attended to his District Meetings and she had a delightful lunch with the Manzini Elders.

We are always surprised at what the women will/must carry and they put it on their heads.  This was in Manzini yesterday.

This woman could hardly carry her load. One heavy load on her head and the rest to carry with her hands.  This was in Manzini yesterday.

Letter from a Missionary who served in Swaziland

President Von Stetten came to Swaziland today, he is taking information to the department of immigration to get 7 Elders transferred here next transfer.  Elder Blackburn picked him up at the airport then they came to our house for a light dinner, cream of chicken soup and berry pie with ice cream, Yummy.  President brought the mail with this letter in it for us.  Could be any missionary who has served here with us and we think he wanted us to feel that way.  We always hope we are making a difference for these young men and that they know someone cares for them.

Wow, snow in South Africa, Elder and Sister Ward started back to New Castle from Johannesburg and had to turn around the roads were closed due to snow!! Glad we were not assigned over there.  Swaziland is chilly and we need heat in our house but no snow.  We have had rain  all day and all night.  The Nuzmans have had a terrible storm in Richards Bay.  Lots of wind blowing down trees and lots of rain.  Elder Ward will go back to Johannesburg on next Sunday for his surgery on Monday, he will have a stent placed in the abdominal aortic artery.  He is relieved it was not the invasive surgery.  We got Elder Sessonga delivered to Piet Retief yesterday and got to talk with Elder Ng'Anda and he has applied to BYU Idaho and is so excited about the possibility of being accepted there.  We don't know where his money is coming from.  Perhaps he has a sponsor from one of the missionary couples he met.  All is well with us.

Today we drove to Piet Retief in South Africa to take Elder Sessonga and Elder Ng'Anda drove up from New Castle to get him.  They are both going to Durban tomorrow to fly home to their respective countries.  Elder Ng'Anda was so excited to tell us that he has applied to BYU Idaho and is so hoping he will be accepted for the Spring term.

Elder Blackburn, Elder Ng"Anda, Elder Sessonga and Sister Blackburn,  Elder Ng'Anda was in pday clothes because they will be going back to New Castle and delivering clothing the Elders had collected to an orphanage and then do activities with the children.

Yesterday in Church at Ezulwini, Sister Elizabeth Shongwe (the grandmother of all the Shongwe family) came up to Sister Blackburn and said, "that was a good thing you did"; Sister Blackburn said, "what did I do" she then related that the orphanage we took the blankets to was the orphanage she looked after, she volunteers with the Red Cross of Swaziland.  She was so pleased that the Elders and I had taken those blankets to "her children".  This was her Church doing this and she was letting the neighborhood know.  Makes you realize that you should be about good things all the time, you never know who is seeing what you do.
The Ezulwini Elders went with me and played games with the children and helped give out the blankets, english books and hygiene kits.
Tomorrow we are supposed to leave for Richard's Bay and Durban, however Elder Ward will not know his schedule for medical treatment until about 2 PM so we will have to wait to know what our schedule will actually be.

Johannesburg trip to be with Elder and Sister Ward

Sister Ward called us on Wednesday and asked us to come to Johannesburg and be with her because Elder Ward has a large aneurysm on his Aortic Artery, the abdominal artery and the doctor was going to do emergency surgery on Friday.  So, of course we got everything done we had to get done and left for Johannesburg on Thursday.  Everyone is going to fast and pray for Elder Ward Thursday and Friday.

We were at South African Immigration and saw this lady with 10 pound of flour on her head, she walked across the border into South Africa, by the time we got through the line she was gone.

This is the time of year Africa burns, everything is so dry; they do not even try to put the fires out, mostly they set them to burn the brush;  This is all over Africa.

There is a small town on the way to Johannesburg by the name of Caroline and this 4 way stop was just too funny.

We got to Johannesburg, our South African telephone had been restricted because it needed to be registered, we did not know this so we did not have a telephone when we left Swaziland;  We could not call Elder and Sister Ward and no one could call us.  The Doctor Elder Ward saw decided to do more tests to confirm the size of the aneurysm and where it extended to on the artery.  The scan will be done Monday afternoon then on Tuesday the Doctor will decide on the type of surgery or if he will need surgery.  So we had a nice visit with them and met Elder and Sister Martineau from the Area Legal Department. Sister Martineau fixed us breakfast, then back to Swaziland today.  We were kind of glad they could not reach us to tell us not to come.

Ezulwini Orphanage

Today we finished off a project that we have been working on for about 2 months.  We delivered 30 blankets, 30 hygiene kits, writing paper, family home evening manual and 3 english lesson books -Thou Shalt Have My Word.  This helps the people who do not speak English learn enough to read the Scriptures.  We had 8 Elders go with us and they played games with the children.  We spent over an hour there and the women who run the establishment were so grateful and we offered to come back and teach English if they would set up an afternoon class with some adults.  A good time was had by all.

18 July 2011 Elders and Hlane

Today was "p-day" and all missionaries went to Hlane Big Game Park for a safari.  We drove ourselves through the park and we all had a good time.  Elder Munger's face tells it all.                                                            

The Elders were facinated with the Ostrich.  Elder Diseko, Cooley, Jonga, Shelton, Pierce.               

Wish we could have taken a Safari Truck, Our bakkis were just as good though.

Elder Shelton enjoying the Rhinos

Bakkis lined up ready to go exploring and finding the animals.

After the Safari the Manzini Elders followed us to Steki where we delivered a letter and picture to the Aunti of Elder Vusi Mamba who is serving in the Johannesburg Mission.  Aunti Mamba did not speak english so Elder Jonga translated the letter and helped us communicate with her.  He did a great job.

Elder Sapaku, Elder Pierce, Aunti Mamba and Elder Jonga.  Good service project for us all.

Church and Visiting Bishop and Sister Mamba

Bishop and Sister Mamba, Sister Blackburn, Ayanda and President Balunga, the other picture is of the Mamba Grandchildren  Elder Shelton and how happy he is to get his mail from home.  The Elders love getting letters and packages, something to open and hold, just like Christmas.

This week we have had Elder and Sister Gunderson, Elder and Sister Petersen here training the members in PEF (Perpetual Education Fund) and and work shop to help apply for and find work.  We were not very involved this time.  It was great for the members to really get to know these specialty missionaries.  Today we went to Nhlangano for church, Sister Blackburn gave the Relief Society lesson and there was much discussion on how to deal with husbands who hit their wives, a common occurance here in Swaziland and Africa.  Elder Blackburn was interviewing a couple who were ready to divorce, and they are trying to take steps to save their marriage.  She is going to the Temple in September and he has now made a commitment to change his life and be a better husband.  After Church we took Branch President Balunga and a young Elder, Ayanda with us to visit Bishop Mamba and his wife.  I believe we have finally driven to THE ENDS OF THE EARTH ON DIRT ROADS.  3 plus hours on dirt roads.  Their car has broken down and they have not had the funds to fix it.  They had not been to church in over 6 months.  They are an elderly couple, she can hardly walk, arthritis is so bad.  When we arrived he brought out 2 hymn books and asked us to pray with them.  So Elder Blackburn made it a very special meeting and offered them the Sacrament.  There was no bread, so he used biscuits (a package of cookies).  President Balunga was not so sure of doing this, so Elder Blackburn explained to him that this was not an uncommon thing to do.  When elderly people cannot get to Church, the Bishop will often send the Priests to their homes to give them the Sacrament. President Balunga offered the Sacrament prayers and Elder Blackburn passed the Sacrament to us all.   A few tears were wiped away by everyone there.  The Spirit of the Lord was so strong, Bishop Mamba shared his favorite scripture with us.  This experience is one of the reasons we love our mission, the Branch President was able to learn a new function of the Priesthood.  Elder Ayanda, as he prepares for his mission will take more knowledge with him on what the Priesthood can do for a family.

This is a letter from Elder Vusi Mamba to the Manzini Branch, TO: My supermangovious Brothers and Sisters Manzini Branch, L.D.S.  FROM: Your lonely brother, Vusi Mamba Bretheren and Sisters you are always in my prayers.  I still can remember each and everyone of you.  I know how much you love the church and its teachings.  I write this encouragement letter to you like Apostle Paul writing his letters to his bretheren.  Brothers and Sisters, the active weapon is the Book of Mormon, not just the Book but what is inside the Book.  Of course I have a strong testimony of this precious Book.  I promise you to be obedient for my sake, your sake and my family's sake.  Of course the spirit is the key, love is the motive, obedience is the price and Christ is the reason.  Brothers and sisters, I love you so much.  Thank you for your emails and your letters.  Don't be surprised that I am still handsome; its because of the confidence which is within me about myself and the Book of Mormon and the Church that I belong to.  I have lots of injuries of bicycle, I learned it here!!!  But through the thickness of all this, I know that I am doing the Lord's work.  Don't laugh!!!  Please take care of one another, including my family.  Joseph Smith was the Lord's prophet, the Book of Mormon is true, Elder Mamba is the true represesntative of Christ and of Manzini Branch.  I know that if you can email and send him letters he will be happy for all time and all eternity.  It's my sincere prayer and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ - - - - - Amen.

Anyone want to send Elder Mamba a letter, just mail it to the Johannesburg Mission Office and he will get it, or ask us and we will give you the address - our email is thblackburnsa@gmail.com

Now another Elder story,  Elder Sessonga and Elder Sapaku came by last night to visit and talk.  Elder Sessonga is going home to Uganda on the 27th, a month early because of his visa.  Elder Sessanga appeared anxious about something and had not had anything to eat all day, so we gave him a piece of chicken and fruit.  He appears to be hoarding his alotment (which is not much) so he could have money to take home.  He related that he would not have food there.  He is going home to: no mother, no father, no house, no money.  So he was going to ask us for money and we stopped him and told him to take that problem to his Heavenly Father, that Heavenly Father would soften someone's heart and he would get the help he needed.  Heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask. (we had already decided to give him some money).  The Mission President has gotten someone to pick him up at the airport and has arranged a place for him to stay and a small job for him.  We wanted him to experience all that he has been teaching for the last 2 years, trust in your Heavenly Father.  Do not worry so, Heavenly Father will help you!!  This is a lesson for us all to remember - when we love our Heavenly Father we do his will and when we give him crumbs he gives us a loaf.  

Swaziland Immigration

This is Swaziland Immigration Department, is it any wonder they can hardly find anything, as of today Elder Mutariswa has still not gotten his visa; we are hoping for Wednesday, otherwise he will have to go through the border and get his passport stamped again.  The Casino is where we have to go to the ATM to get our South African Rand.  We cannot spend Swazi money there, even though we can spend Rand in Swaziland.

Gate to Nambiti Game Reserve

We had such a good couple of days; lots of outdoor scenery, the weather was cold at night but we had an electric blanket and the tent was not so bad in the sunlight.  We enjoyed the lions and actually heard them catch a warthog for breakfast.  Elder Blackburn enjoyed that very much.  We had meetings on how to use the JPMorgan card, the new incentives for Senior Couples to serve a mission, how to teach Elders to use their car and us.  How to get Elders to keep a clean flat.  Good food, good company what else should we want.  It was a great Conference!!!

Catch up time

10 July 2011
Elder Tlkotsi, Elder Lyon, Elder Herrity

Elder Tlkotsi, Elder Henson, Elder Tualofu

Today was District Conference in Mbabane, President and Sister Von Stetten were here for 4 days; it was a very spiritual conference, the Saints just hung around after the meeting wanting to talk and visit with anyone who was there.  President had all 18 of us missionaries stand up and it was a very powerful statement to see that many missionaries in a conference.  He urged the Saints to give them their friends and families to teach and to pray that the District will grow and become a Stake.  Some of our Elders were just MIA when we took the pictures; probably talking with their investigators.  Sister Blackburn shared her testimony and there were a lot of tears; Elder Blackburn spoke in Conference at yesterday's meeting.  There was a lot of good fellowship as we spent the last 4 days with the Mission President and Sister Von Stetten.  We have been talking with Sister Ward everyday, Elder Ward is in the hospital in New Castle and they have not decided what is wrong with him.  Elder and Sister Hudson have been going up there from LadySmith everyday to give her support.  Otherwise, we would drive down there and stayed with her.  We, the Couple missionaries find ourselves quite alone in these circumstances, because we live and our assignments are so far from each other.

President Von Stetten related this incident to us last night;  there is a young man from Lesotho who is in the MTC in Johannesburg waiting for his police report so that his visa can be processed, he has been waiting a long time so Brother Mokoena drove to Lesotho, picked up Elder and Sister Dahle who are assigned there and they went to the Police Headquarters to get a copy of his police report (background search).  They were informed it would take at least 30 days to get the copy, after inquiring why they were told the copy machine could not be used, when asked why, they said there was no toner and no money to pay for some so it would take 30 days to get enough money to buy it;  Elder Dahle asked if another machine could be found in the building and use it, he was informed that this machine was the Police one and another one could not be used; Elder Dahle then offered to go buy toner and bring it back to them, he was told that they could not accept a gift of toner since that may be a bribe.  There was nothing they could do they would just have to wait the 30 days and hope there was money for toner.  So the Bretheren had to leave without the police report copy.  The missionary will have to be assigned somewhere else until all can be sorted out. Someone once said "there is no way these things can be made up"!!! One of those African Experiences.