29 Aug 2011
Elder and Sister Ward and us went to the national Reed Dance that is put on each year in Swaziland by the Queen Mother.

The girl with the red feathers is a Swazi Princess, royalty wear the red feathers in their hair, both men and women and girls.  Sister Blackburn asked the girl with the brown feathers if they were symbolic or if they were for beauty, She replied, "they are for beauty".  Approximately 80,000 girls participated.

The youngest was about 6 months old.

And, of course, the King was there!!.

27 August 2011
Helping Hands day in Swaziland.  We visited Ezulwini and took pictures then went to GeGe to give them support and to visit the Malinga family, we were invited to see the practice dancing for their son's traditional Swazi wedding.  The day got so late, that we did not get to see the dancing, we had to get home before dark and we did not make it, however we were in and safe before 9:00pm.

These last two pictures are the finished project. A morning to put up a fence and pull weeds and till the ground and plant a garden.  A lot of work finished.  And, young people who feel very good about what they did and how they spent their day.  President Shongwe's new wife was working right along side everyone.
26 Aug 2011
Today is Sister Blackburn's birthday, Elder Blackburn bought her a new ring from Swaziland, silver with designs of giraffe hair and a lion on it.  The Manzini Elders, Elder Peirce, Jonga, Sakpaku, Signorelli brough her a special gift, a swazi drum carved with their names.  It was truly a special gift and touched our hearts.  We love these young men we serve with.