2 June 2010
District meeting in Mbabane, nothing new; Brother Ray Holder came to check on the new property in Ezulwini. Elder Blackburn opened the property and building for him. He called someone for a bid to clean up the outside; Elder Blackburn drew up footprint of building and emailed to Brother Holder. The footprint will be given to Church Architectural department for decision whether to remodel building or tear it down and build a new chapel.
3 June 2010
Elder Davis called us and adivsed us that all missionaries must go to border through immigration and come back into Swaziland to pay a $50 rand road tax otherwise the Swazi law requires a 14% tax on all cars not purchased in Swaziland. without the road tax receipt the mission vehicles are subject to impound by the Swazi govt. We have to go to the border and immigration every 7 days to stay within the Swazi law.
4 June 2010
We expected President Mann today, however, he called and rescheduled to Sunday. He had some emergencies to take care of in Durban. Free day today and tomorrow. Purchased sheets and blanket for extra bedroom, has been very cold at night. Do not want our Mission President to sleep cold.
6 June 2010
Attended Church in Mbabane at 10:00; President Mann came to Mbabane at 1:00pm for interviews with Mbabane District Elders; then drove to Manzini for District Business; Interviewed a young couple for temple recommend, we are going to try to go to the temple with them. President Mann spent the night with us. We got back to our boarding about 7:00 then had dinner and everyone was so tired we went to bed.
7 June 2010
Interviews with Manzini District Elders at 8:00 am. After interviews President left for Richards Bay to do Elder interviews. Elder Blackburn had appointment at 1:00 with the people to give bid on cleanup of Church property in Ezulwini.
9 June 2010
Went to Mbabane to pay telephone bill; then drove to northern border to pay road tax, took all day. We lose track of the days except for Sunday.
11 June 2010
FIFA started today, we purchased satellite for 3 months so the Elders could have a safe place to watch the games. President Mann gave permission for the Elders to watch the games so long as they were in a safe place. Swaziland is not as bad for revellers as South Africa.
Elder and Sister Harms arrived today from Cape Town, they are the Public Relations Couple for South Eastern Africa. They will be here until next Thursday. They took us and Brother George Dlamini to Summerfield for dinner. George is the Swaziland National Director for Public Relations for the Church. They are training us as to what the Public Relations program is.
12 June 2010
Went to Swazi Candle market and Manzini market with the Harms. The key chains we had ordered for the different buildings were ready to be picked up. At 2:30 there was a training meeting at the Manzini Chapel with Branch Presidents and District Auxiliaries with the Harms. The Branch Presidents were impressed with what they could do. Elder and Sister Harms truly had the art of team teaching down, their presentation was very professionally done. Went to dinner at Portugese restaurant, came back to the boarding for ice cream. A young woman came to the house and asked Elder Blackburn to pray for her, she was very sick and needed a job. She was invited in and Elder Blackburn and Elder Harms gave her a blessing. She was committed to pray herself to confirm her faith in the blessing.
13 June 2010
Went to Nhlangano for Church. The Nhl elder's car was broken so we picked them up in Manzini and took them home. Elder Blackburn had meeting with Pres. Balunga and feels that he needs lots of support and help from the District Presidency. Branch Presidents training meeting until 6:00pm. Elder and Sister Harms came for dinner, the same young woman came by with her sister and her sister's children and since we had company said she would come back tomorrow.
14 June 2010
District meeting in Manzini, held it outside the day was so beautiful. Picked up a carving at Manzini Market that Elder Blackburn had ordered. Monday is the Elders prep day, the Elders came over and we had a 'braai" for them. Sister Blackburn saw a snake scurring down the hill and said she would not do laundry at night again since the laundry room is in the garage and she has to walk along side the house to get to the garage and that was where the snake was.
Elder Lyon and Musi after they had cleaned the school for Sunday services.
Dirt road to GeGE
On the way to GeGe, all the schools have vegetable gardens and they are so green and lush; this is to teach children how to grow their food. We delivered mail and just wanted to check on the Elders to see how they are doing. When we got there, Sister Malinga informed us that Elder Lyon, Elder Herrity and Musi were at the school cleaning it up and setting the chairs for Church today. They are well and happy, anxious about transfers and if they will happen for them, we won't know until next week.
