4 May 2011
Home all day, it was a hard trip going to Johannesburg and back in  one day.  We had a Family Home Evening scheduled for this evening and it fell through... she will reschedule though.

3 May 2011
Got up early and drove to Johannesburg to get the new bakki, the Nielsens found us there and packed up the truck with Humanitarian hygiene kits and books to be used with the Sewing Machine project, we had lunch with them, bought new scripture bags at the book store - black ostrich skin and grey elephant skin.
Then we drove 5 hours back to Swaziland to fall into bed.

2 May 2011
Elder and Sister Nuzman left early to return to Richard's Bay she was not feeling very well.
Got the car washed preparatory to taking it to Johannesburg to trade for the new bakki;  Sibusiso Mbuli gave Sister Blackburn his resume to fix, she also gave him a Letter of Recommendation and a list of companies that may be looking for a driver.  Received a letter for him from the woman Sister Blackburn has been helping him put together a documentary for her on life in Swaziland, he will get paid about $150 dollars for this.  A lot of money for a young man who makes 7 dollars a week.

1 May 2011
Elders Blackburn and Nuzman left early for church in Nhlangano; Sisters Blackburn and Nuzman went to Church in Ezulwini; the young men wanted to know where Elder Blackburn is and who is driving the car.  They were surprised that Sister Blackburn could actually drive.  We had pork roast, potatoes and carrots with apple cake for dinner (very delicious).  We watched the DVD The Home Teachers and went to bed early.

30 April 2011
We left Komatipoort early to return to Swaziland;  We stopped at Piggs Peak tourist shops and they were so expensive that we did not buy anything.  When we got to Ezulwini and our house we just wanted to rest so we watched the DVD Passage to Zarahemla, the Nuzmans had never seen this movie and really enjoyed it.

29 April 2011
Got up at 5 to be at the Kruger main gate by 6 a.m.; we spent the whole day driving the park looking for animals, which we did see quite a few Buffalo, Elephants, Giraffs, we saw a lioness and a leopard, the leopard was very elusive, Sister Blackburn tried to get a picture and it just did not show the animal through the bush it blended very well.  We felt we had a successful day "hunting".  We had dinner at our B&B Trees Too they prepared a barbeque which was very good.  To bed early, we were tired.

28 April 2011
Elders from Manzini had their District Development Meeting at our house this morning, we were waiting for Elder and Sister Nuzman to arrive.  They got here at about 1:00p.m. and we immediately left for Komatipoort to go to Kruger National Park for 2 days.  We left the Nuzman's car in Swaziland.  We let the Mission Home know they had arrived and that we were going "exploring" and would be going to South Africa.

24 April 2011
Sister Blackburn did not get to go to Church today, Elder Blackburn had to take President Von Stetten to the Airport to fly back to Durban. The last couple of days have been really hectic.

23 April 2011
Sister Blackburn stayed home all day; Elder Blackburn picked up President Von Stetten at his B&B at 8:00a.m. to tour the mission in Swaziland; he had first time Temple Recommend Interviews to do and they did not finish until about 8:00 p.m.  Sister Blackburn had fixed a very light supper for them, then President went off to his B&B to bed.

22 April 2011
Left Durban early so we could get back to Swaziland and take care of any needs President Von Stetten may have; he took an airplane, the Zone Leaders will pick him up at the airport and he will then conduct missionary interviews the rest of the day.

21 April 2011
Mission Presidency Meeting today; went to Bake A Ton , met with Sister Von Stetten at 1:00 p.m. so she could show Sister Blackburn, Allred, Ward how to do beading, we all enjoyed that.  We met the Heningers at the mall for lunch before going to the mission home.  They had some papers for George Dlamini the District Public Affairs Chairman.  After the Mission Presidency Meeting all the Durban couples joined with us at Wilson's Warf for dinner and an evening of socializing.

20 April 2011
Drove to Durban from Richard's Bay and checked into our B&B. Picked up Elder and Sister Ward at the Mission Home, they brought one of the Mission Cars from New Castle that needed some repairs.  They will stay with us until Friday Morning when we will take them to the Mission Home to pick up the car.

19 April 2011
Drove to Richards Bay to spend the evening with Elder and Sister Nuzman, we went to dinner on the Wharf to celebrate Elder Blackburn's Birthday.  A nice end to a long day.

Banana Plantation

In Kruger

On the way home from Kruger