ZION – “And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was NO POOR among them.” Moses 7:18 I am looking forward to the day when Zion is established on earth!
The first few days of the week were spent handling the logistical part of a mission. The Nhlangano and Gege Elders came up Sunday night so they could have their bakki in the Nissan Manzini Motor shop by 7:30 in the morning. They have a wheel bearing that needs to be replaced so the shop ordered the part, after we paid for it, and we set up an appointment. They were there early so they would be first in line. Then Dennis took the new transfer elders to Mbabane to get their government papers completed with Nathi. The Nhlangano and Gege elders stayed around the house and ate and played basketball. It was fun having them around. That night we went with Elder Castleberry and Elder Kanyembo to the Thubani family again for FHE. What another great visit. We found out that they are very faithful Zionists. Her husband is out of work and she just found a job as a cook working 7 days a week from 7:00 – 4:00. Can you imagine never having a day off. She said that she was praying for a job as a educator because she has her degree but is still hopeful that something will happen. He is now Mr. Mom and expressed how difficult it is and how they don’t mind him like they mind their mother! He is looking for work in Johannesburg, South Africa but thinks that he will miss and worry about his family. She doesn’t see much difference between our religion and the Zionists. We bore our testimonies of the priesthood authority, the gift of the Holy Ghost and others. He is much more receptive than she. He committed to coming to church on Sunday with the children. Hope they come. When we came home the elders were here and we talked and ate.
Tuesday, the bakki was still not fixed. They really are crooks and tell all different stories. One time they said it was complete, then it wasn’t, then the part they ordered was the wrong one, and many more excuses. The elders spent the day playing board games, walking to the Silver Smith store and others. I cleaned and cooked for them. This little excursion is not in their budget and they didn’t know what to do with themselves. Dennis and I went to two appointments but they weren’t there. We had a taste of what the elders go through often. That night we taught our couples class at the Mbabane chapel. It was fun getting together with them and discussing a great subject – the joy of marriage.
We heard from Manzini Motor that the car would not be ready for a week because the part was wrong and they would have to re-order. So we drove the elders back to Nhlangano and Gege. About a five hour trip there and back. Dennis had a Manzini Branch Presidency meeting at 5:30 where he did some training. I stayed at home and did projects.
I wanted to go so Elder Cauble and Elder Fisher agreed to sit in the back
Africa Burning – this was in Nhlangano – along with the wind, this is causing havoc with my sinuses
Thursday Dennis and Ezulwini elders took their bakki in for service. Now you may ask yourself why in the world would we take another car in to a place that is dishonest? Well, the answer is it is the only Nissan certified dealer in Swaziland! We have no other choice. So now we have two sets of elders without their bakki’s. I made cookies and then we met Sizwe Shongwe in Mbabane to do some shopping for his missionary attire. He leaves in a few weeks. Then rushed to Manzini to meet with Andrew Similane who just returned from his mission and had lunch with him. Two delightful young men. Then Manzini Motors called the Nhlangano elders and told them that their bakki was complete. They also called the Ezulwini elders and said that their bakki was done. So the Nhlangano elders took a kombi up to Manzini and reached there just before quitting time (5:00) just to be told that it wasn’t their bakki that was fixed. You have never seen such deflated elders in your life. Elder Cauble wasn’t feeling well and they came all that way on local transport just to be told they couldn’t have their bakki. So they drove the other elders bakki back to our home and we drove to Nhlangano again to take them home leaving at 7:00.
This frustration was getting to Dennis. I could see Friday morning all the stress of the bakki’s, accounting for all the finances of bills, expenses, etc. for the Swaziland mission, was really affecting him. He was quiet and said he needed a break – a day off. We went for a walk in the morning and it was beautiful. I baked a cake and cookies. We went grocery shopping for tomorrow’s missionary training at our home. (Just a note, flour tortillas are $7.00 for a package 10! I was going to make homemade ones but ran out of time. Can you believe that cost?), mailed some letters and left to meet Sis. Chozen Dlamini, Ezulwini’s Relief Society president, to go visiting. She lives really far away (another blog has pictures of her homestead) and has no transportation so it is really hard for her to visit the sick in the branch. We agreed to help her every couple of weeks. We picked her up and started doing visiting teaching Swazi style.
Let me introduce you to a family that has forever changed my life! They are the Msibi family. We drove quite a ways up a mountain – remember all roads are rutted and dirt. Then had to walk to get to their homestead. The mother is extremely sick. She is HIV positive and can barely get out of bed. The children helped her outside to visit with us. Her husband has been in the hospital for months with TB – HIV caused. (Sis. Chozen told us that he was the one that gave it to his wife.) Last year they lost a little girl to AIDS. They have 5 children left. The oldest being 16, then 14, 12, 10 and 5. The children can’t afford schooling and they stay home to take care of their mother. They were the sweetest children and the mother was so humble and appreciative of our visit. Sis. Chozen had killed one of her chickens, cleaned it and brought it with pap – a staple for them. Of course, I brought cookies. Now, how nutritious is that! But they devoured them. The mother took a handful and mumbled, “I’m so hungry”. Dennis played soccer with the kids and I talked with them, took pictures of them which they loved looking at and then let them take pictures. Sis. Chozen would interpret for us because the mother didn’t speak English well. When talking with the 16 year old daughter, she said that she missed school. I asked her what she would like. She told me an English book. She wants to get better at English. The children walk to church every Sunday by themselves. It is really a long walk and they don’t have money for a kombi. The mother told us that the 5-year old can’t go because she has no shoes. As we were getting ready to leave, the mother asked Dennis to please give her a blessing. One thing that Dennis blessed her with was a good night’s sleep. She thanked him after because she said that she is in so much pain, she cannot sleep. Dennis and I helped her up to the house where we set her down on the bench outside. It was time for the children to start the fire outside to cook the meal that Sis. Chozen had brought. As we started to leave she had the children give us avocadoes. Two bags full! Here they live in poverty, and they are giving an offering to us. True example of the widow’s mite.
Mother’s name is Pertunia – one with the hat on; Sis. Chozen has blue vest
Three girls and two boys – Thandazile, Masebenza, Wendy, ?, Venus
You can see the chocolate from the cookies on Venus’ face. She asked if she could go with me. Oh, if I could take her home.
I witnessed true poverty, sickness, humbleness and happiness all in one afternoon in one home. My heart broke. As I sat and watched those little children play and laugh, I couldn’t help but wonder what is in store for them. They will be orphaned and then what will happen to them. Five children will have no parents, they have no extended family to offer a home, no one to love or take care of them. It was more than I could bare. “…For I pray continually for them by day,and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.” 2 Nephi 33:3 “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.” Alma 7:11 “Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.” Alma 26:37 The only comfort I get is from the scriptures and my knowledge of the gospel. The Lord is mindful of the Msibi family and maybe the Lord has brought them into our life so that we can be a part of His plan.
We continued our visiting teaching and went to the Mabuli family. This is Sbu’s family. Sis. Mabuli has been sick and Sis. Chozen had wanted to visit. We found her outside with her grandchildren. They brought out a bench for us and mats for them. I do not know how they sit that straight up for so long But all the gogos do it here. Amazing. We had a great visit. Dennis visited with Sbu who was hanging out the wash and I sat with the women. We found out that they are starting to dig for pipes to bring water into the homestead. Right now they have to walk down to a river to fetch water. Really, how lucky are we at home. Sis. Chozen had brought some vegetables for them and I had nothing to offer. I had planned on some of the cookies, but they were gone from the precious visit, so I promised them I would be back with treats.
On our way home, I asked Dennis how he felt now. The discouragement was gone. We had been spiritually and humbly fed by some amazing people. We are truly blessed to be here among them.
Later that evening, Elder Maclean and Elder Mokoena came over. They needed some things from Dennis. We started sharing our amazing afternoon and they shared theirs. They went to visit this young man that was recently baptized, and he had brought along all of his non-member friends! The elders had a wonderful discussion with them and they expressed how strong the spirit was in the room. This is the picture of the whole group. The newly baptized person (I will find out his name) is the one on the right side with his hand on the purple towel (?). Then we talked about all sorts of things. Homesickness, reason you serve missions, Elder Mokoena shared how he was converted three years ago and the callings he has had. Elder Mokoena is extremely funny. Remember, he is the greenie that we had forgotten his passport during transfers. I guess he has forgiven us because he is a joy to have around. He is making a great missionary. I wish I could write down that whole evening’s discussion with them. These are the times that fill your heart with joy and that remind us that life is good.
Saturday started very early. I was up by 6:00 preparing the food for our pre-mission training conference for all the young men leaving for their missions on June 21st. It is amazing that so many are leaving on the same day. How fun it will be for them to have each other to fly to Joburg and be at the MTC together. They are a fun, wholesome group and so excited to serve. Dennis met the two from Nhlangano, Thulani and Ayanda Mabuza, and two from Manzini, Musi Dube and Nkosikhona Sibandze, at a kombi rank and drove them to our home. Sizwe Shongwe came with his brothers (cousins, but they call each other brothers because they have raised him) Mac and Manqoba Shongwe who were presenting for us. Andrew Similane was also talking to them. I had homemade rolls and jam for them when they came and we started at 10:00. Dennis showed a video on Christ and talked to them about serving our Heavenly Father. Mac shared his mission experiences and talked about obedience. Through his mission experiences, Manqoba was able to emphasis the importance of living and teaching with the spirit. Andrew bore his testimony of the service of mission work and expressed how jealous he was of them because he wishes he was still on his mission. I just talked about writing home, keeping boarding clean, etc. It turned out really good. We gave each of them a packet with a notebook, pen, their flight info, a laminated card with a saying and scripture on it and a bookmark of Christ. They put their patriarchal blessing and mission calls in it. We ate enchilada burritos, rice, drink, cake and ice cream. Played games and had a wonderful day. Again, each of these boys have no parents and all of them except for Sizwe live on their own. Without extended family here in Swaziland, you may find yourself on your own. Sizwe is lucky to belong to the Shonwe group. They are taking care of so many of their relatives who have lost their parents. The Mabuza brothers are raising their 3 younger siblings and I hope the Lord will take care of them while the brothers are serving. Musi and Kkosikhona are kind of house jumping because they don’t have anyone. They asked if they could write us because they have no family. What an honor! They all come from humble backgrounds but oh so strong in their conviction of what they are doing. Oh, how blessed we are to know them. And, oh how blessed we are to have families.
Ayanda, Nkosikhona, Musi, Thulani, Sizwe
Look at my homemade guacamole dip – made from Msibi’s avocadoes
Manqoba, Andrew, Thulani, Musi, Ayanda, Nkosikhona, Mac
The Sabbath day actually comes around often. I cannot believe how fast the weeks are going. At times I don’t think so, but then when I start writing about it, there is a Sabbath day again! We have been here for 13 Sundays and I say they can’t get any better, but they do. We drove to Nhlangano again for their services. I played the piano which is always frightening for me but I enjoy it. There were 4 speakers and they were marvelous. It was centered around doing work for the dead. Then I went to the Primary, Sunday School, Young Womens and Relief Society. I made the rounds and had so much fun. The Primary was preparing for their Sacrament Presentation for next week (which we cannot go—dang) and I got them singing “I Am A Child of God” and “Follow the Prophet” on video. Wish I knew how to put it on the blog. They had planned a fireside for 2:00, an hour after church let out, so they prepared sandwiches and drinks for everyone while the men had their PEC meeting. Part of the fireside was a dramatization of the spirit world, finding your ancestors and then doing the work for them. So cute. Highly recommend doing it in all wards. After the fireside we went with the elders and Bro. Hlope, who was just baptized a few weeks ago, to an elderly couple’s home who can’t make it to church. He was the first Branch President of the Nhlangano branch back in 1991 and tries to come to church but doesn’t like to leave his wife who is too sick and in a wheelchair. The elders take them the sacrament when they can. This was Bro. Hlope’s first opportunity to pass the sacrament and he was so humbled by it and thrilled to be doing it. They asked us to return because they love to visit and so we will! We drove the elders to their next appointment (remember they don’t have a bakki) and then we took Bro. Hlope to his homestead – a way far away. We got home late, it was cold and our electricity was out. So we climbed into bed to get warm and all was well!
Kayise Hlatshwayo – talked in Sact. mtg. and is preparing mission papers
Primary and singing Sacrament Presentation songs
Young Women
Sis. Shongwe and daughter
The dramatization of Redeeming the Dead
Sister Nxumalo, Relief Society President, explaining the dramatization
Asleep during Primary
Sister Vilani’s, Primary President, little boy
Bro. and Sister DluDlu and granddaughter, Sisanda Malinga (10), who helps take care of them
Elder Cauble and Bro. Hlope
Pres. Bulunga and his son – his wife passed away almost two years ago
Everyone of these people has a story and my words do not describe them well enough. I wish that I could just talk to all of you face to face, express what is in my heart and tell you about each and everyone of these amazing people so you could love them as we do. But I will have to wait. Until we meet again, keep them and us in your prayers.
ZION – oh, how I wish we could establish it quickly. “And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into ZION” Moses 7:27 I pray that the angels will descend upon these families, these missionaries, these members that are so humble, loving and trying so hard to live the gospel and bring comfort and Zion to them – a place where there is no poor.
Take time to thank Heavenly Father for your parents, your children, your extended family. Go a step further and tell them yourself and give them a huge hug to let them know how blessed you are to have them in your life. Not everyone has that opportunity! Take advantage of it!
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