19 Nov 2011

19 Nov 2011
Today there was a Primary Training Program, Elder Jackson Mkhabela and his wife came to Swaziland, he is a Seventy serving in the South East Africa Area.  The members who came were very humbled to have a General Authority.  The training was really good and on a level they could understand.  After the Training, Brother Smith interviewed him for one of his documentaries and then they followed us to our house where we hosted them for dinner.  Elder and Sister Mkhavela were so kind and easy to visit with.  Sister Mkhabela asked if I had a dishwasher and I said yes and pointed to Elder Blackburn, Sister Mkhabela just started laughing, she so enjoyed the fact that Elder Blackburn washed dishes.  She said that most African men do not work in the house.  I think her husband is an exception, you could tell that he supported her in all she did, even at home.  They offered to help wash the dishes, we of course, said we would do them. They were a delightful couple and we feel blessed to have the opportunity to know them. We feel very disappointed that we did not get a chance to get a picture with them.

20 Nov 2011
We went to church in Manzini today, Elder and Sister Mkhabela were the speakers, Elder Mkhabela related that they got to the Church very early and he went outside to enjoy the balmy breeze and while pondering the beautiful landscape the spirit whispered to him what message he would deliver in Sacrament.  He gave a powerful message on working hard, having goals and letting the Lord bless your efforts.  Don't be afraid to strive for excellence, you are a child of God and have that excellence within you.  You just need to put your fear away.  We had to leave after Sacrament meeting and on the way out Sister Matsabula, came to greet me and I mentioned that I had been thinking of the money her Relief Society had collected and that there were two young men in her Branch applying to serve and mission and they would need socks, ties, shirts, etc.and she should give her Sisters the option of using the money that way with the approval of her Branch President.  She really caught the vision of outfitting the prospective missionaries from her Branch.  I really hope that Branch President Mahalele supports her in this.