Waiting today for Elder and Sister Zweifel to arrive from Durban - a get a way from the office for them. Went to the market, had District Meeting with Elders at our house. All in all a very good day.
25 May 2011
Made an appointment with Stella Lukhele at an NGO to finalize terms to bring Sewing Machines project to Swaziland; then went to Mbabane to check on customs exemption for the Wheel Chair project - still not finished. Should be finished this week.
Patriarch Courtney with us
Elder and Sister Cox - CES Missionaries
Received a telephone call from Ezulwini Elders they have been detained at the Ngwyene Border Post because their visas are expired. We took some money and went to bail them out of their predicament. The Customs Officials just wanted a bribe, which we paid to keep them from being arrested. This problem was caused by our Mission making the decision not to pay the money to get visas for the Missionaries without any of us knowing they had to leave the country every 30 days to stay legal. So now we pay the price of time and money for this oversight. We got back just in time to pick up the Mbabane Missionaries and go to the meeting at the US Embassy. We met Ambassador Irving, a very gracious host, and he insisted that we meet his Security Chief and asked that we form a personal relationship with US Security so that they can watch over us and our missionaries. We were very impressed with Ambassador Irving. The meeting was very candid about the financial situation in Swaziland and the fact the country is close to an economic collapse. It is a wait and see situation. What will the King do? Will he take the advice of the International Monetary Fund? Elder Diseko was warmly welcomed, even though he is from South Africa, one of the guards was one of their investigators, Elder Cooley, Elder Shelton and Elder Munger accompanied us. The Ambassador and his staff were great with the missionaries.
23 May 2011
A few days alone again before company comes. Time to do laundry, etc. Elder Blackburn took money to Elder Ssesanga to pay for his dentist bill. Elder and Sister Howell called and took us to dinner at the Chinese restaurant. Mostly a day of rest.
22 May 2011
Picked up Elder and Sister Howell at Timbali Lodge and drove to Nhlangano for Church and Area Audit of the NHL records. Elder Howell felt the Branch President is a good ecclesiastical leader but a poor bookkeeper. The Branch has no computer, therefore all reports have to be done by hand. We got home at about 6:00pm. Too tired to feed anyone so we had a light supper and off to bed. While in Nhl we helped Brother Motsa and Sister Hlope with their PEF paperwork, they want to enter school in Big Bend at the ITT College in July. Called Elder Allen and explained some of the circumstances and he will take care of it.
21 May 2011
Elder and Sister Howell arrived today to spend time in Nhlangano to train the leaders in keeping the books. Elder Blackburn left Patriarch Courtney in Mbabane and Elder and Sister Cox will take care of him and deliver him back to our house after he finishes tonight. We met Howells at Timbali Lodge and took them to Manzini to do some shopping, they had some stuff to pick up for people in Johannesburg. Brought them back about 5:00pm so they could rest for an hour, then all of us went to Calabash to have dinner together, Cox, Courtney, Howells and Blackburns. We had a great dinner then came back to our house for Coconut cream pie for desert. Busy, Busy day.
20 May 2011
Elder and Sister Cox made their monthy trip to Swaziland and brought Patriarch Courtney with them so he could give 11 blessings. He went to Ezulwini on Friday afternoon as soon as he arrived. Elder Blackburn does interviews and signs the blessings so the brother or sister can get their blessing. He did not finish until about 8:30pm.
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