Longest day of the year, and probably the hottest. We went to Manzini first thing this morning, not so hot in the morning, we bought 3 blankets to ship home, shipped two boxes at the Matsapha post office and picked up key rings with the new Elder's name carved on them. We have just stayed at home the rest of the day. No energy to try to find something to do. During the last half of December and the first half of January everyone seems to leave the area and go home to their parental homestead. So all is quiet right now, our Elders have been very quiet, they seem to have setteled in and are working well together. There was a post on our Face Book from Elder Denis Samai; he is home in Sierra Leone and has just been called as the Branch President of his newly organized Branch. We knew he was destined for Church Leadership in his home Country and his mission prepared him for it.
20 Dec 211
Sister Blackburn did laundry all day then we just stayed home all day. Very hot today. Brother and Sister Smith came over and left a roster of the GeGe saints, which we had asked the Missionaries for several weeks ago so we were happy to get it. We had a very nice visit with them with much laughter about their experiences with the electricity and internet. We had a message on Face Book from Elder Victor Nadimo NgAnda that he and his new wife will be in Johannesburg on the 27th to be sealed. We will try to get permission for us and for the Nuzmans to go since they will be visiting us the day after Christmas.
19 Dec 2011
We got up early and went to the Ngwenya glass factory, we had breakfast at the cafe there and it was really good and very inexpensive. Glass is recycled into works of art and glasses. The glass is heated and blown into the objects. Tourists are allowed to watch this being done. Jr Verde called and we met him at the Mbabane Mall to pick up some of his missionary papers, then the Mbabane Missionaries called and their fleet card would not buy a battery for their truck so we had to go meet them too. Elder and Sister Zawacky left to return to Durban this afternoon, then We went to Manzini to try and find some fabric for Sister Ward and were not able to find what she wanted. Electricity has been off and on for about a week, especially in the afternoon and evenings.
18 Dec 2011
Sunday morning, Elder and Sister Zawacky went to the Mbabane Branch for Church this morning, we had to deliver a case of the Eternal Marriage lesson manuals and explain to Branch President Seiko that the District President really wanted to implement these lessons on Saturdays with the Institute program. He was willing to do this since he had attended the classes with Elder and Sister Wilson as the teachers. After Sacrament we had to go to the Ezulwini Branch for Elder Blackburn to do a Temple Recommend Interview. Then we came home and Elder Blackburn and Elder Zawacky went to the District Meetings. Sisters Zawacky and Blackburn made Christmas fudge which did not set up, but no one minded. We had good visits all day.
17 Dec 2011
Today was the first training for the Humanitarian Sewing Project. The Manzini Elders carried everything into the Relief Society Room and set it up for us. We had about 15 women, young and older, there to learn the machines and how to make hygiene products and then go back to their Branches and teach all the women of the District. 3 women from Khulisa were there also, one from Lobamba, Steki and Manzini. We served lunch and had a really good productive day. Sister Smith taught how to teach principles of hygiene and did a really great job. After this training, we had to go to Ezulwini to deliver brownies for their Christmas party and when we got there it was over, however enough people were still there that not one brownie was left. Elder and Sister Zawacky went to Nhlangano to do some Seminary and Institute training.
16 Dec 2011
Gundersons left today, we did not see them. Elder and Sister Zawacky arrived in the afternoon, we had gotten the truck loaded and ready to go for tomorrow. Just after Elder and Sister Zawacky arrived, Sister Jill called and exclaimed, "my car has a flame"!!! As Elder Blackburn spoke with her he found that she had been organizing all the food for the Ezulwini party and had the food in the car. Someone was coming from the Branch to get the food and she would be left with the car as she would not leave it on the road, "it will not be here tomorrow if I leave it". So Elders Blackburn and Zawacky set off to find her, they never did, she tried to give directions and they never found her. Branch President Shongwe found her got the food and by then evidently she had gotten someone to fix her car enough so she could get home. What an afternoon of midadventures, have to keep a good attitude and find the humor in it all, which we all did. It will be a fond memory for the Zawackys and us. We were going to fix dinner for the Zawackys, but the electricity went out so we went to dinner at Calabash.
14 Dec 2011
Elder Blackburn had a dentist appointment today at 11:30, so the dentist fixed a filling, before we could get there though, we took 3 applications for Elders Adams, Ssenyonga and Christenson to Immigration, we won't be able to get the passports stamped until 3 weeks from today. Since Elder Ssenyonga is in GeGe, Elder Musau pretended to be him for the Swazi doctor who does the mental evaluation and certifies that they are not a lunatic, what an experience. Elder Musau had a great time. In the afternoon we bought food. Then home, Elder Blackburn's mouth was hurting and he was not a happy camper.
13 Dec 2011
We had transfers today, so we left early to drive to South Africa and were almost there when the Assistants called and informed us that we only had to go to Nhlangano to pick up the Elders at 8:00 p.m.; Since we were already in South Africa we went to Ilala Weavers and bought 5 more nativity sets to send home and some other small items, then we went looking for a zulu shield and masks and could not find them. We got back to Nhlangano on time; then the traveling Elders called and they were stopped at the Border Post and the new Elders were not allowed to enter the country, they had told them they intended to stay 6 months; so Elder Blakburn told them to go back to the counter and declare that they will stay only 7 days, they got their passports stamped, but did not arrive in Nhlangano until 10:00 pm. Mission office was concerned and there were a lot of phone calls back and forth. We finally got 2 Elders delivered to Ezulwini at midnight. All problems solved.
12 Dec 2011
Today Sister Carol Nhlengethwa returned from her mission in Kenya. Elder Blackburn released her from her mission at the Manzini Chapel. She is a beautiful young woman, her mother is Sister Mabuza from GeGe, who we went to the Temple with. She was welcomed by family and friends and had a party with her neighborhood, which we were invited to attend, which we did and while we were there the GeGe Elders called us and were stuck at the taxi stop in Makayane. They had been given permission to come to Manzini to buy shoes for Elder Tennent. Elder Tennent had burned his shoes trying to dry them after a rain storm, anyway they were stuck there that is as far as the taxi would go that time of day. So we left the party, they gave us food to go, and Elder Blackburn and Brother Mbuli took Sister Blackburn home and went to the rescue and took the Elders home to GeGe. They got back about11:00pm. Good day.
As always thanks for sharing these Swaziland experiences. It sounds like you could really use another couple up there to help with some of the many problems that come up. We were especially happy to read about the RM who was called as Branch President. We do not know him but there are many like him who will be going back to their branches and wards to be leaders as the Church continues to grow in Africa...we are winning.
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