24 Jan 2011
Today was transfers, we did not start until 3.00 pm. Sister Smith called this morning and their electricity has been out for 3 days and she needed to put food in our extra refrigerator and do some cooking for our trip to Durban tomorrow, so they came about 2:00pm and she started a batch of cookies and boiled some eggs. We had to leave them here when we left for the Lavumisa border to meet the Elders from Nhlangano and the ones coming from Durban, we just felt we needed to be at the border post this time. Just before we arrived there the Assistants, Elder Mahsilele called and said there was a problem The immigration officer would not let our 4 Elders enter without a work permit. Elder Blackburn had a nice, calm conversation with the immigration officer, the one who always gives us a difficult time and he finally stamped the passports, we will have to discuss this with President Von Stetten on Thursday and make better arrangements, he called us on our way home and questioned what happened, so decisions will have to be made for the future procedures. We got home at 10:30 pm, not too bad a day for us.
22 Jan 2011
We went to Church in Mbabane since Patriarch Courtney had a couple more Blessings to perform. After Sacrament meeting he and Elder and Sister Zawacky left to go back to Durban. They made arrangements to come back in February so the people in Nhlangano can get their Patriarchal Blessings. Elder Blackburn went to his District Meetings, Sister Blackburn had a long nap and stayed home the rest of the day.
21 Jan 2011
We went in different directions today; Elder Blackburn and Patriarch Courtney to Manzini and Ezulwini; Zawackys and Sister Blackburn to Mbabane. Sister Blackburn was to supervise sewing classes for Enrichment Meeting; the Zawackys giving inservice lesson for Seminary and Institute; None of the Relief Society showed up when they were supposed to, they finally arrived at 2:30 in the afternoon when we were leaving the Chapel. We all met at the Chinese Restaurant at 6:00 for dinner, Brother and Sister Smith joined us. We had a really good time together.
20 Jan 2011
Elder and Sister Zawacky arrived with Patriarch Courtney at 3:00 pm. Everyone then went their own way. with plans to meet tomorrow at 9:00 am.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Elder Musau called and Sister Blackburn offered the board games, he says, What? "board games" What? you know games to play tonight" and very happily replied "Oh, ok that would be good, we will come and get them." We forget that the African youth have never played board games, or even seen them. Simple things to remind us to be grateful for everything. It was good to have those games with the weather so bad the Elders could not work.
13 Jan 2012
17 January 2012
It has rained and rained all day long, started middle of the night last night and has not stopped all day. I am sure there will be major flooding somewhere in Swaziland after this storm passes; We stayed in most of the day. Elder Blackburn met with one of the landlords about a disputed water bill; they will pay most of it, however the Church will still have to pay some. The Ezulwini Elders came by tonight, they cannot go out in this weather, they will definitely get stuck in some mud hole or river. We offered some board games for them to play.
16 January 2012
Laundry day today, Elders had Zone activity and came over for barbeque after the hike. Sister Blackburn had a very long afternoon nap. Rain off and on all day. We watched the movie The Bucket List then went to bed early.
15 Jan 2012
We went to Church in Nhlangano and delivered their 5 sewing machines to them. The Branch President wanted to know if we should take 2 of them to GeGe and Sister Blackburn said that they belonged to the Branch and if President Balunga wanted to take two that would probably help his relationship with the Malinga family. We will see what he will do. Elder Blackburn had District meetings in the afternoon and brother Jabulani Motsa said he saw the Sewing Machine Handover on Swazi TV and it was shown in its entirety and was a really good presentation and that the TV Station was going to show it again today.
14 Jan 2012
Today is the Sewing Machine Handover ceremony, it should go very well. Sister Nielsen and Sister Blackburn left early to pick up the food for refreshments; the Elders will prepare sandwiches and serve them to the attendees. We hope 100 people will come. Sister Ntshalintshali is MC, Sister Mtetwa spoke on the purpose of Relief Society, she covered "Charity Never Faileth", some of the history of Relief Society; it was all in SiSwati so we did not understand it. Stella Lukhele spoke in English and was very appreciative to the Church for this project. At the end of the Ceremony, Stella lead the women in singing,"Thank you, Thank you o' God." in SiSwati. This was very moving and brought tears to the American's eyes.
Elder and Sister Nielsen, Blackburn, Heninger. We worked hard to make this a special day and it seemed to pay off.
13 Jan 2012
Friday the 13th, good thing we are not superstitious!! Elder and Sister Nielsen came today about 1:30, then Elder and Sister Heninger showed up about 4:00pm. They had called George and wanted to meet with him, Sister Blackburn had not planned a meeting for tonight with everyone. The Heningers then planned dinner for everyone at Spur Restaurant across the road so George, Sister Ntshalintshali came and then everyone came back to our house for cake and to plan the program for the Sewing machine handover ceremony tomorrow. It was determined that Sister Ntshalintshali would be MC and she would assign another Sister to talk and that would be Sister Mtetwa. Stella has invited the media and others. She has been in charge of all invitations.
It has rained and rained all day long, started middle of the night last night and has not stopped all day. I am sure there will be major flooding somewhere in Swaziland after this storm passes; We stayed in most of the day. Elder Blackburn met with one of the landlords about a disputed water bill; they will pay most of it, however the Church will still have to pay some. The Ezulwini Elders came by tonight, they cannot go out in this weather, they will definitely get stuck in some mud hole or river. We offered some board games for them to play.
16 January 2012
Laundry day today, Elders had Zone activity and came over for barbeque after the hike. Sister Blackburn had a very long afternoon nap. Rain off and on all day. We watched the movie The Bucket List then went to bed early.
15 Jan 2012
We went to Church in Nhlangano and delivered their 5 sewing machines to them. The Branch President wanted to know if we should take 2 of them to GeGe and Sister Blackburn said that they belonged to the Branch and if President Balunga wanted to take two that would probably help his relationship with the Malinga family. We will see what he will do. Elder Blackburn had District meetings in the afternoon and brother Jabulani Motsa said he saw the Sewing Machine Handover on Swazi TV and it was shown in its entirety and was a really good presentation and that the TV Station was going to show it again today.
14 Jan 2012
Today is the Sewing Machine Handover ceremony, it should go very well. Sister Nielsen and Sister Blackburn left early to pick up the food for refreshments; the Elders will prepare sandwiches and serve them to the attendees. We hope 100 people will come. Sister Ntshalintshali is MC, Sister Mtetwa spoke on the purpose of Relief Society, she covered "Charity Never Faileth", some of the history of Relief Society; it was all in SiSwati so we did not understand it. Stella Lukhele spoke in English and was very appreciative to the Church for this project. At the end of the Ceremony, Stella lead the women in singing,"Thank you, Thank you o' God." in SiSwati. This was very moving and brought tears to the American's eyes.
Elder and Sister Nielsen, Blackburn, Heninger. We worked hard to make this a special day and it seemed to pay off.
13 Jan 2012
Friday the 13th, good thing we are not superstitious!! Elder and Sister Nielsen came today about 1:30, then Elder and Sister Heninger showed up about 4:00pm. They had called George and wanted to meet with him, Sister Blackburn had not planned a meeting for tonight with everyone. The Heningers then planned dinner for everyone at Spur Restaurant across the road so George, Sister Ntshalintshali came and then everyone came back to our house for cake and to plan the program for the Sewing machine handover ceremony tomorrow. It was determined that Sister Ntshalintshali would be MC and she would assign another Sister to talk and that would be Sister Mtetwa. Stella has invited the media and others. She has been in charge of all invitations.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
12 Jan 2012
12 Jan 2012
Today we had training set up for Inkhundla in Lobamba. Brother Smith called and said he was tied up at the University of Swaziland and would be late. Stella called and said she was stranded and needed help. So we drove to Khulisa Umntfwana to help Stella and her truck had just arrived so 3 machines were loaded with a few sewing supplies, one of her staff rode with us and we drove to Lobamba so she could start their training, there was nothing we could do so we went to lunch at Spur, then Brother Smith called and he was at the Lobamba Post Office, we hurried and met him there and took him to the Inkhundla Center and he started filming the training; the girls were in the middle of learning to use the machines; it was great footage, perfect timing for Brother Smith.
Stella told us about a young woman she talked with yesterday who had tried to put weeds and flowers in her underwear to take care of her monthly flow. The women at the Center were so dedicated to teaching the young girls and young adults how to sew the maturation pads. They have taken this project to their hearts. Some of the machines needed tightening and adjusting and Elder Blackburn took care of that. Later in the day we took care of young Michael Khoza's PEF application so that he can start school next week. PEF is such a blessing in the lives of these young people; it will truly lift them out of poverty. We picked up a care package from our family and it lifted our spirits a lot, especially the M&Ms and Hickory Farms sausage. We truly enjoyed the taste of home. Small things always lift the spirit.
11 Jan 2012
Today Brother Smith took 4 of the Young Single Adult returned missionaries to Johannesburg to attend the Temple. He had to bring them by our house because two of the young men had let their Temple Recommend expire; Elder Blackburn cautioned them to not do that again, "you may never know when these opportunities come, so be prepared," After they had gone, we received a telephone call from Sister Ntshalintshali that Stella has set up training in Lobamba for Brother Smith to film, we will have to call him tomorrow to inform him. We took our Bakki through the border post for the 30 day stamp (so it can stay in Swaziland another 30 days). Our passport was still good, we seem to go through a Border Post several times in a month. We check the post office and we have a package from home, we will pick it up tomorrow; we have had some really hot, humid days. Not as much rain as last year.
Today we had training set up for Inkhundla in Lobamba. Brother Smith called and said he was tied up at the University of Swaziland and would be late. Stella called and said she was stranded and needed help. So we drove to Khulisa Umntfwana to help Stella and her truck had just arrived so 3 machines were loaded with a few sewing supplies, one of her staff rode with us and we drove to Lobamba so she could start their training, there was nothing we could do so we went to lunch at Spur, then Brother Smith called and he was at the Lobamba Post Office, we hurried and met him there and took him to the Inkhundla Center and he started filming the training; the girls were in the middle of learning to use the machines; it was great footage, perfect timing for Brother Smith.
11 Jan 2012
Today Brother Smith took 4 of the Young Single Adult returned missionaries to Johannesburg to attend the Temple. He had to bring them by our house because two of the young men had let their Temple Recommend expire; Elder Blackburn cautioned them to not do that again, "you may never know when these opportunities come, so be prepared," After they had gone, we received a telephone call from Sister Ntshalintshali that Stella has set up training in Lobamba for Brother Smith to film, we will have to call him tomorrow to inform him. We took our Bakki through the border post for the 30 day stamp (so it can stay in Swaziland another 30 days). Our passport was still good, we seem to go through a Border Post several times in a month. We check the post office and we have a package from home, we will pick it up tomorrow; we have had some really hot, humid days. Not as much rain as last year.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Demolishing Sister Jill's home.
10 Jan 2012
Had a meeting today with Khulisa Unmtfawna, the NGO that is receiving 50 of the sewing machines and we made the plans for the formal ceremony presenting the machines to the Tinkhundla Centers, Brother George Dlamini, Sister Concelia Ntshalintshali, Stella Lukhele and Sister Blackburn discussed set the program. George thinks at least 100 people will be in attendance. This afternoon we finally got a big thunderstorm with rain and cooled the temperature so we do not feel the humidity so much. Elder Tameilau reported that his thumb is not broken, just very tender. We saw Sister Shongwe at the market while we were buying food for Saturday and she told us, "the goats are a big problem. They will disappear one at a time and Sister Jill will blame us." So Elder Blackburn telephone Sister Jill and she said she has the goats placed in a place in Malkearns. What a problem she has to deal with. Selling the goats should not be a big problem for her. Lots of people here would like to buy them, just not at her asking price. We had a nice chat with Elder and Sister Nuzman on skype tonight and they will be going to Durban for the couples dinner on the 28th of January.
09 Jan2012
Our training for the sewing machines fell through, Sister Blackburn made a pan of brownies for the Elders, they will be by later today to pick up a cabinet for Nhlangano to store their electronic equipment in. We took the invitations to Stella at Khulisa Umntfawna so that she can get her people invited for the handover ceremony. Elder Tameilau and Adams came by after playing soccer to see if Elder Tameilau's thumb was broken, it was not swollen so we put ice pack on it and informed him he could not get a doctor this late at night so he would have to wait until tomorrow. Today was P-day and we did laundry. President Von Stetten left for interviews in New Castle.
08 Jan 2012
Church in Manzini, Fast and Testimony Meeting, Sister Blackburn gave the lesson in Relief Society to show the Branch how to give lessons and Testimony on Fast Sunday. Sister Von Stetten was there also and they wanted to make a good impression for her so the Branch Relief Society President really tried to start on time and keep everything on track. Time will tell if the R.S. President really understood the lesson. Elder Blackburn brought Sister Von Stetten and Sister Blackburn back to the house to rest and prepare dinner. He went back to Manzini for District Council Meeting -They determined that Elder Blackburn and President Jerome Shongwe would go visit Sister Jill - who is staying with Sister Chozen Dlamini, after her house got torn down. The Shongwe family had taken the goats to their homestead temporarily (53 goats). About 50% will have kids in April. Sister Jill did not salvage her food storage so the women did not have anything to eat and wanted a food order. Brother George Lukhele offered to take the goats, if Sister Jill would give him some of the new kids. He has a homestead in the southern part of the country. Jill just does not want to accept that she is homeless and needs to make plans for her future. She has a sister in Manzini and a sister in Richards Bay, a daughter in Michigan, USA and a daughter in Manzini. President Jerome Shongwe told Elder Blackburn, that the Country is taking back all the old concession farms and tearing down the houses so that the concessions can be sold again. So all Swazi people who live on homesteads are subject to their farms being taken from them and sold to someone else.
President Von Stetten interviewed 16 missionaries and 6 prospective missionaries. President then came to our house for a nice dinner which we served on the veranda since the house was way too hot. The wall plug for the airconditioner had stopped working and Sister Blackburn could not find an extension cord to use another outlet. Outside was really nice though.
Friday, January 6, 2012
January 2012
06 Jan 2012
We have both been sick this week, both taking antibiotics. Hopefully we will be a lot better tomorrow, President Von Stetten is coming for quarterly interviews with the missionaries and to interview 6 prospective missionaries. The new couple will have the blessing of seeing them off to their respective missions. Brother Smith came for dinner and showed us the video documentary on the Wheel Chair project and it was so well done, as Elder Blackburn said, "That was professional". After all, Brother Smith has his doctorate and teaches communications at USU in Cedar City. We saw in the newspaper today that Sister Jill lost her battle to save her home; the man who supposedly bought the land from the chief came early morning yesterday and moved her, her furniture and all her animals and then demolished her house, we called her and she said she is still going to go to court to fight what he has done, he denied even summoning her to Court on Christmas Day. We have seen other times when the Chiefs have sold homesteads where widows were living in their parental homes or deceased husbands homes.
This house is no longer there.
05 Jan 2012
We had the privilege of speaking with Brother and Sister Lombardi on SKYPE today. They are going to be such vibrant good missionaries here. We were so happy to be able to tell them that they are in for a wonderful adventure, they viewed our pictures on Face Book and as they said, "We were on a high all day", we were so excited. We took the Manzini Bakki to South Africa to get the Swazi stamp so it is legal for another month. We also, bought an upgrade for our internet, we had to pay extra for the month of November - the first time since we have been here and we don't want to have to do that again so we upgraded. We received a beautiful Christmas Card from Edward and Annie today, those pictures are so well done. We went to the Airport to bid Elder Verde goodby and all his family and frieds were there, that was so good to see. We picked up a steel cabinet in Matsapha to store all the electronics in Nhlangano, to try to keep them safe from theft; when we got back to the house the Manzini Elders were on our veranda having their District meeting. Good day. We saw this lady going through customs with her wheelbarrow.
It is amazing how many people use this method for carrying their water and food and other items.
04 Jan 2012
We took the Ezulwini Bakki to the Ngwenya Border Post and into South Africa, did a U turn and came back so we could get the stamp allowing it to be here for 30 days.. In another month will have to do the same. Nhlangano Elders will take their Bakki through the Mahamba Border Post so we won't have to go all the way down there. We went to Mbabane this evening to set apart Junior Verde as a missionary, he is going to Johannesburg, South Africa Mission. His parents and Aunti and cousins were there, it was a very nice meeting with them. Sister Verde is the Mbabane Relief Society President.
03 Jan 2012
Went with the Missionaries to teach Josephine and her daughter one of the lessons on Polygamy and explain to her that if she did not know it was wrong she could still be baptised; her husband has died. Her daughter has been very faithful in walking many miles every Sunday to Church and that has made a difference in Josephine's attitude, she was more open to being taught. Elders picked up English lesson books so GeGe can institute an English class.
01 Jan 2012
Both of us sick today; Elder Blackburn went to Mbabane to do Temple Recommend Interviews. There was only Sacrament Meeting today, which was fine with both of us. We are on our last Rx of antibiotics - good thing home is just around the corner.
We have both been sick this week, both taking antibiotics. Hopefully we will be a lot better tomorrow, President Von Stetten is coming for quarterly interviews with the missionaries and to interview 6 prospective missionaries. The new couple will have the blessing of seeing them off to their respective missions. Brother Smith came for dinner and showed us the video documentary on the Wheel Chair project and it was so well done, as Elder Blackburn said, "That was professional". After all, Brother Smith has his doctorate and teaches communications at USU in Cedar City. We saw in the newspaper today that Sister Jill lost her battle to save her home; the man who supposedly bought the land from the chief came early morning yesterday and moved her, her furniture and all her animals and then demolished her house, we called her and she said she is still going to go to court to fight what he has done, he denied even summoning her to Court on Christmas Day. We have seen other times when the Chiefs have sold homesteads where widows were living in their parental homes or deceased husbands homes.
05 Jan 2012
We had the privilege of speaking with Brother and Sister Lombardi on SKYPE today. They are going to be such vibrant good missionaries here. We were so happy to be able to tell them that they are in for a wonderful adventure, they viewed our pictures on Face Book and as they said, "We were on a high all day", we were so excited. We took the Manzini Bakki to South Africa to get the Swazi stamp so it is legal for another month. We also, bought an upgrade for our internet, we had to pay extra for the month of November - the first time since we have been here and we don't want to have to do that again so we upgraded. We received a beautiful Christmas Card from Edward and Annie today, those pictures are so well done. We went to the Airport to bid Elder Verde goodby and all his family and frieds were there, that was so good to see. We picked up a steel cabinet in Matsapha to store all the electronics in Nhlangano, to try to keep them safe from theft; when we got back to the house the Manzini Elders were on our veranda having their District meeting. Good day. We saw this lady going through customs with her wheelbarrow.
It is amazing how many people use this method for carrying their water and food and other items.
04 Jan 2012
We took the Ezulwini Bakki to the Ngwenya Border Post and into South Africa, did a U turn and came back so we could get the stamp allowing it to be here for 30 days.. In another month will have to do the same. Nhlangano Elders will take their Bakki through the Mahamba Border Post so we won't have to go all the way down there. We went to Mbabane this evening to set apart Junior Verde as a missionary, he is going to Johannesburg, South Africa Mission. His parents and Aunti and cousins were there, it was a very nice meeting with them. Sister Verde is the Mbabane Relief Society President.
03 Jan 2012
Went with the Missionaries to teach Josephine and her daughter one of the lessons on Polygamy and explain to her that if she did not know it was wrong she could still be baptised; her husband has died. Her daughter has been very faithful in walking many miles every Sunday to Church and that has made a difference in Josephine's attitude, she was more open to being taught. Elders picked up English lesson books so GeGe can institute an English class.
01 Jan 2012
Both of us sick today; Elder Blackburn went to Mbabane to do Temple Recommend Interviews. There was only Sacrament Meeting today, which was fine with both of us. We are on our last Rx of antibiotics - good thing home is just around the corner.
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