04 Dec 2011
Today is Fast and Testimony day, we went to Sacrament meeting in the Ezulwini Branch and were so welcomed there. We don't get there very often and the young people are really special. We gave Musa Mbuli the picture we took of him and Elder Khoza, then gave a picture to Sister Shongwe of her and Sister blackburn. Portia shared her testimony and expressed her love for Sister Blackburn and the support Sister Blackburn gives her in the notes she writes to her on Face Book. Brought a tear to Sister Blackburn's eyes. Elder Blackburn picked up 2 more prospective missionary applications today, one in Ezulwini and one in Manzini. We attended RS and Priesthood in Manzini, we got commitments from Branch Presidents in Ezulwini and Manzini to start the Eternal Marriage class in January and also to send women from RS and Young Women to a training on hygiene and sewing to be held on the 17th of December. Then we went to visit Sister Jill and pick up some of her handmade bags for the Sisters coming from Johannesburg tomorrow, hoping they will buy some of them from her. Still having a little difficulty with the Ezulwini missionaries, a lot of disobedience in that flat, Elder Blackburn will call the Assistants and make some recommendations for transfers that are to happen next week.
03 December 2011
4 Ezulwini Elders came today to help cut material and put sewing machines together for the Humanitarian project. They worked really well together and we are hoping that they will catch the vision of losing themselves in service to others. They do not work well together in their missionary endeavours. Elder Blackburn took them for Chinese food for lunch when they had finished. We had rain storms and Thunder and Lightening so we had to shut the computer down for the rest of the day.
Elder Brown and Elder Jenks cutting material and folding it.
We got our telephone working today, now our internet is stable and we can use the fax machine. Hooray, Hooray, we did not realize how difficult it would be to conduct Church affairs in a 3rd world country. Since most couple missionaries are asked to go to these 3rd world countries, we are very grateful our assignment was to this small Kingdom. The people are so peaceful and humble, we have come to really love them. We received our travel plans for going home and were able to get an upgrade and reserve the seats we wanted. Had to buy skype credit to call Zions Bank and the Church Travel Office. Zions had placed a block on our debit card and when we tried to pay for the seat assignment, the card was declined. We are also thankful for ths 21st Century technology that allowed us to talk to the right person at the bank and get the block removed.
1 Dec 2011
Elder Blackburn went to the Ezulwini flat and asked where the dog is and told Elder Tameilau he has to get rid of it today. There is a lot of disobedience there and the others just follow along and do not seek Counsel.
Then we had to go to Mbabane to pick up George Dlamini and then meet with Stella Luhkele and Sister Ntshalintshali to get the plans made for the training and handover ceremony on the sewing machine project. Tried to call the telephone company all afternoon and they kept promising the repair man would come today. Then we took George back to Mbabane, his truck was broken down and he did not have transportation to Lobamba to meet with us. When we got back, Manzini Elders were holding their District meeting on our veranda; Sister Blackburn hurried and made some muffins so they could have a treat when they left.
All these boxes are supplies for the Humanitarian sewing machine project; this is going to be a big project.
30 Nov 2011
This morning we woke up and decided not to go to Kruger and see animals, we decided to drive back to Swaziland and it was a good thing we did. The Elders in Ezulwini had a big disagreement last night and one of them left the companionship and the Zone Leaders could not find him, he finally showed back up at the flat, no one knows where he went. The Ezulwini missionaries are 4 self involved individuals, they have not learned how/ or will notwork as a team. One of them had bought a dog and is keeping it in the flat. He has been counseled by the District Leader and Zone Leaders to get rid of it and refuses, so now Elder Blackburn has to give counsel to him.
29 Nov 2011
We have to take the bakki to South Africa so we decided to go to the Piggs Peak border post and drive up to Kruger and see some of the animals. We will spend the night in Komatipoort which is about 5 minutes from the gate into Kruger. The B&B where we stayed and the Crocodile Bridge Gate where we entered Kruger.
We saw this woman as we were coming back from Kruger. You never know what you will see these women carrying on their heads.
28 Nov 2011
We wanted to take the bakki to South Africa today to get the visitors pass stamped for it and for ourselves, our passport stamp is almost expired and we cannot get arrested for not obeying the law. However, the telephone company did not show up in the morning and we decided to go the Ngwenya mine which is the oldest mine in the world, ochre was mined there and there was also a more recent mine which yielded iron ore.
The area where the iron ore was mined.
The area where Ochre was mined using stone implements
27 Nov 2011
Branch Conference in Ezulwini, the Chapel is looking so much like a church now. It is a pleasure to attend Church here now. Sister Smith and her family came over for dinner after Church, we had tacos and enjoyed the day together.
Thanks again for sharing. Would it be possible to post a series of pictures of the Ezulwini chapel so all of us who served in Swaziland could see where the wonderful saints there meet and share the gospel?
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