Things have changed so much in just a year. A year ago conference weekend meant spending two very long days at the conference center, greeting and ushering all the wonderful people that came to listen to the Prophet’s voice and his servants. Now, a year later I was unable to be at or watch conference. How much I missed it. My Saturday and Sunday at home this weekend would have been spent in front of the television watching “words of wisdom” meant just for me coming through the voices of our Heavenly Father’s servants. Next to Christmas, Conference weekend is my favorite time of year.
This weekend was spent entirely different. Saturday we woke up to rain. We were suppose to go to Ezulwini Branch’s soccer game at 8:00 a.m. but it was cancelled. We were disappointed but there is always something else to do. Dad went and picked up some Elder’s bikes that were fixed while I baked some goodies. Then we went and spent a wonderful afternoon with the young single adults of the Ezulwini Branch. They had a talent show and practice for the Young Ambassadors. It was a lot of fun. They so wanted Den and I to do a talent but we could not think of anything!!!!! Next time we will be prepared. We then proceeded on to the Manzini Branches YSA dance practice. What a fun, large group of youth both of these branches have. I am so impressed with their enthusiasm, testimonies, and ability to thoroughly enjoy life. I have a lot to learn from them.
Sizwe Shongwe going on a mission in May to Zimbabwe
We then hurried home to try and get conference on our computer. It was successful but it kept going out but we listened. It was late here so Den went to bed during the second session but the night owl I am, I listened and worked on computer items. Can’t wait until the Liahona come out with the talks.
What can I say about Sunday? Sundays have become my most favorite day. I love being around these people who have amazing testimonies and desire to be part of the Lord’s kingdom. It was our Fast and Testmony meeting and we attended the Manzini Branch. WOW!! What testimonies. Just one I want to mention. She was a young single adult and her name is Banele Nyoni. Her testimony took my breathe away. She spoke with power and humbleness; with strength and conviction; with love and understanding. She spoke as an adult – one who had the gospel their entire lifetime. I was touched and so grateful to be there.
We then hurried and left so we could attend Ezulwini’s church. Den had some responsibilities there and I wanted to attend Primary. We all need to “becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble. patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him…” (Mosiah 3;19) and if we do the heavens will be opened unto us. “… and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. And when he had done this he wept again; And he spake unto the multitude , and said unto them: Behold your little ones. And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about; and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.” 3 Nephi 17: 21-24
That night we received a phone call from the Gege Elders saying that they were without electricity. So now, they have no frig, no washing machine, no heater, no electricity, not much of anything but they are a happy companionship, doing and enjoying the work of the Lord in Gege.
Monday, Stella, a lady that works for parliament and was working with Sister Blackburn on the sani-pad project, came and picked up the sewing machines and supplies that were in our garage. We helped put the supplies in our bakki and delivered them to their warehouse. We will help with the training that will be held in four different areas and from there they will go out to 55 different centers. This should happen after the Easter holiday. We spent the rest of the day driving George Dlamini, Public Affair Representative that is responsible for the BYU Young Ambassadors, around putting up posters for the event and talking to people about ticket sales. It was a good day.
I thought you might be interested in the price of gas here. We had to get gas on Monday, which we really have done a few times but never really looked at the price, and it cost us E698 (rands) for 62.685 liters which we figured out is $93. We drive a Nissan truck, so it doesn’t hold a lot of gas and it should get pretty good mileage, don’t you think. So if this was really the case, gas is extremely expensive here in Swaziland. If we figured wrong, someone please let us know. I asked George if this was a good place to get gas because at home I drive around for a good price, and he said that gas is government controlled – all the same!
Tuesday and Wednesday was spent buying electricity, air time, player piano fixed, trying to find a stationery store (never succeeded), getting photos made, buying meat for Sunday’s Easter dinner, etc. Today we had a wonderful opportunity to visit with an investigator, Sarah, whom the Elders found. She wanted to talk to someone about some past issues that she had, so the Elders set it up for us to visit with her. What a wonderful lady with a very hard life. She is alone. Her father had left the family when she was 3 months old, her mother was mean to her, so her grandmother raised her. When her grandmother died, she had no where to go and found herself pregnant. The father took that child from her. She is now married to a man who is drunk all the time and verbally abusive to her, and has two darling children. She has no friends, no hope for a future and prays to Jesus for help. She said that Jesus sent the missionaries to her and now us. She said that we were her first friends. She has committed to come to church on Sunday where we told her that she will find friends, love and acceptance. It was another good day!
That's about $5.40 a gallon. Less than it is in parts of Europe.
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