Gosh, so much has happened, today was Zone Meeting with all the Elders meeting at our house; we could not stay for it since Sister Blackburn had a meeting scheduled with Sister Ntshalintshali, the District Relief Society President. Sister Blackburn gave her 5 sewing machines purchased with the money donated by special women at home. The sisters have already started borrowing them for special projects. The Humanitarian project was discussed and Sister Ntshalintshali accepted the challenge to find 10 women to train as teachers in sewing Maturation pads, incontinence pads and personal hygiene. We are working with a non-government organization to teach these things in the Rural Areas although some of the women and girls who live in the urban areas will also benefit. When we finally got to Zone Meeting we were able to instruct the Elders that they must go to South Africa every 30 days to get their passports stamped and stay legal with immigration laws and customs. Cold rain this afternoon, we are certainly going into winter. Sister Nuzman sent a special combination of vitamins to ward off the flue for Sister Blackburn and it was timely since Elder Sapaku was coming down with a cold. What a blessing for him to understand that Heavenly Father knows our needs and will meet them when we are not expecting it and in unexpected ways. He was very happy to get the vitamins etc.
18 May 2011
Today is transfer day, the Mbabane Elders will take our Bakki and deliver Elder Moeta to Piet Retief to Elder and Sister Ward. At 11:30 am the Bakki came back to Elder and Sister Blackburn to deliver Elder Mashilele and Elder Mokouena to the Petro Port in South Africa. The other Bakkis registeration has expired and they cannot be taken into South Africa or they will be impounded in Customs. When we got to the Lavumisa Border Post the Customs Officer looked at the date stamps on the passports and the Elders were 4 days past their expiration date and we did not know this. He then insisted on arresting them and went so far as to go get the police and bring him to take them to jail for the night and then go to court the next day (today). The situation was getting very heated, and after a quick prayer Sister Blackburn stepped in front of Elder Blackburn, placed her hands on the Customs Officer's hands and quietly said, "is there some way we can get these young men to Durban tonight", I could feel the spirit move through e to him and calm his soul, he then took Sister Blackburn and the Police Officer to his office where Sister Blackburn explained that she would take full responsibility, but that 150 missionaries were moving through South Africa to assignments and these two young men needed to be in Durban tonight!!. This Customs Officer saw only a mother pleading for two young men and he then took the passports to the counter, stamped them and told Elder Blackburn, if this happens again, "I will arrest them". So grateful for young men who respected their mothers so much that he listened to Sister Blackburn. So the two Elders were delivered to the Petro Port to Elder Zweifel and Elder and Sister Blackburn picked up 3 new Elders and we came through the Lavumisa Border Post without any hitches at all. Everyone "in and safe" by 9"00p.m.
16 May 2011
Sister Blackburn tried to put pictures and write on them but it did not work too well. The pictures were of the Cottage Meeting on Sunday, the new Bakki we have to drive now, just hoping the gas mileage will be almost as good as the little car. We fed Elders all day, rained all day and they had not gotten their alotment yet so they watched movies all day. They were really glad to have free food since they had no money. Sister Blackburn called and told the other Elders to contact their Branch Presidents and get money from the Fast Offerings if they had no food, just enough to tide them over until their alotment was deposited.
15 May 2011
The Couples from Johannesburg went to Ezulwini for Sacrament Meeting; they then went back to Johannesburg and we went to Manzini to see how much damage was done to the bakki that went through the cement block wall. Then we went to Mbabane in time to speak at a Cottage Meeting on the Second Coming of Christ; Everyone had good questions and were very pleased with their understanding when it was over. We felt what a great tool for the Missionaries to use. We had not heard of Cottage Meetings in 30 years. We were happy to come home and relax by ourselves.
14 May 2011
We took the sewing machines to the Ezulwini Chapel and set them up for Sister Jill, she is teaching a sewing class, then we went to meet the Couples from Johannesburg, they were, Elder and Sister Scott, Callahan, Savage and Webb. We took them to the Swazi Candle for lunch and shopping while we picked up Sister Jill and took her back to the Ezulwini Chapel; when we got back to Swazi Candle they were ready to go to Manzini Market to shop so we went there. Got back to Ezulwini about 5:30 and left the couples and made arrangements to meet for dinner at the Chinese Restaurant. We then went back to the Chapel, picked up the sewing machines and locked up. Sister Jill had gotten a ride home with someone else.
13 May 2011
Friday the 13th - the Manzini Elders crashed their Bakki through a cement block wall; no one was hurt which was very much a blessing. When we talked with Elder Sapaku he was so distraught he wrote on his report, "I am so sorry for the inconvenience and the use of Church funds to correct my fault." We are always so amazed at the remorse these young men feel when they have accidents in the vehicles or cause the use of Church funds for their behalf. They even hesitate to go to the Doctor until it is absolutely necessary.
8 May 2011
We spoke in Sacrament meeting today or should I say Sister Blackburn spoke in Sacrament, she used all the time, however no one cared because the information was so interesting. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Elder Blackburn will speak on something else at a later day. He was going to speak on Mother's Day. The elders gave Sister Blackburn a nice plant and messages on a drawn hand; those are the pictures posted before this.
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