SMALL and SIMPLE THINGS July 9 - 15

“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass…And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls”  Alma 37: 6 –7   This week I have witnessed how “small and simple things” have blessed the lives of myself and others.  So many times we look past the simple things that are done for us and think of them as just happenings that occur without realizing that they are literally blessings from the Lord that he provides to bring about his eternal purposes.  The Lord is good and mindful of each of us.  How grateful I am for that knowledge and eternally thankful for His bounteous blessings to me and to those around me.  I love Him more each day as I see His purposes fulfilled in the lives that surround me.  He loves us all and is mindful of everything that goes on in our lives.  How thankful we all should be for the continual blessings that He pours down on us!

One of those “small and simple things” that the Lord sent us was delivered at our doorstep on Monday morning, July 9th, by some “angels”.  Bro. and Sister Webb brought in sacks and sacks of food for the Msibi family…people they do not know, have never met but heard of their need and acted on it.  Remember Bro. Rasband’s talk in conference when he said “if you come upon a person who is drowning, would you ask if they need help—or would it be better to just jump in and save them from the deepening waters?”  The Webb’s jumped in.  Thank you so much for your kindness and your kind words.

Monday and Tuesday were transfer days.  Dennis and I were looking forward to a smooth transfer but it was not to be.  We left at 11:30 went to pick up Elder Roberts going to Bloemfontein, drove to Nhlangano to get Elder Paulo being transferred to Lesotho, proceeded to Piet Retrief where we met Elder Miller and 3 of our new Swazi elders:  Elder Shipalane, Apuna and Luddington.  We said our good-byes to our elders and then drove to the border.  Dennis had his passport stamped and then as mine was being stamped, I heard behind me someone say, “Are we suppose to have our passports?”  My heart sank.  It couldn’t be one of our elders saying that, could it?  I turned around and yes, it was two of our elders.  Elder Apuna had his because he had served in Lesotho and had never given it back to the office.  We couldn’t believe it.  We called the office and discovered that they had the passports there.  Apparently they had forgotten to send them to us or the Millers.  A phone call was made to Elder Miller to stop, turn around and come back to Piet Retrief.  We met up with them again, put our new elders back in the car (5 men in that small car was quite a sight) and proceeded back to the border with Elder Apuna where we entered into Swaziland without a hitch.  We made a stop at the Nhlangano elders boarding and then on to Ezulwini where Elder Kanyembo met his new companion.  The Zone Leaders were then driven to their boarding and we returned home late, exhausted and retired to our beds.

Elder Roberts waving good-bye

Elders Cauble, Masaya, Paulo, Roberts, Wilcox

Do we have to leave?????

How many large boys can we fit into a car?  Elders Paulo, Luddington, Roberts

Elder Shipalane

Elder Apuna –the lone survivor- made it safe into Swaziland

Monday caused a ripple effect with what happened on Tuesday,  How do we get the passports to the elders, get them back to Swaziland and get the 3 others to their new home?  A plan was made by the President and Dennis.  Elder Miller would drive to Dundee to get the passports that were brought by another elder, pick up the two new elders and then drive to Piet Retrief where we would meet them with the other 3 new elders coming from Durban, continue to the border and home.  (Because of the mix up on Monday, the president insisted that the Millers and us have a two day vacation in Swaziland.  So the Millers were to drive to our boarding and spend the time with us.  A “small and simple thing”.  I am not sure what eternal purpose it had, but it meant a great deal to us.)  Sounds like a good plan, right?  Didn’t run that smoothly.  While we were on our way to the Lavumiso border – a two-hour drive- we received a phone call asking us if we had already left.  Those words can only mean that something is wrong.  We were an hour from meeting the new elders at the border but they had not left Durban yet – a four-hour drive.  They were having problems with the bakki and would not make it.  So we turned back, waited a few hours and then drove part way to meet up with the Millers to escort them to Manzini.  By the time we united the new elders with their companions it was 11:30.  We had dinner, talked and crawled into bed around 1:30 am.

Wednesday, July 11th, we drove to the airport to pick up an elder returning from his mission – Elder Phila Ntshangase.  To see the family reunion brought back many memories of my boys returning.  What a feeling.  We then introduced the Millers to Manzini Market and Swazi Candles where we had lunch.  Sister Miller loved all the choices and was lured in to buying some African souvenirs.

Aunt and mother welcoming Elder Ntshangase home

.

Manzini Market

Sewing the dresses

Swazi Candles

When we returned home we loaded our car with the food that the Webb’s had bought and drove to the Misibi’s homestead.  Apparently, since we were not around on Monday to help get Sister Msibi home from the hospital, she had to take a kombi and then walk to her homestead.  I can’t believe how hard it is for people around here.  They are survivors.  It was so good to find Sister Msibi smiling and sitting up.  She was still on her mattress but was looking so much better.  They were so grateful for the food and delighted over the chocolate cake we brought.  These people have blessed my life.  They are part of “the small and simple things” that I have grown to love here in Swaziland.  They ask for little – just food to exist, a roof over their head, friendships and the love of their Heavenly Father.  We all could learn from them.  After our visit we bought some papayas from a street vendor, had dinner at home, the elders came over for caramel popcorn and then to bed.

 

Tasting the frosting on the cake – hmmmm good

This young 15-year old has the weight of the world on her, but look at the smiles on those children. She must be doing a great job!

Making dinner

Buying papayas

I’ll never tire seeing this

or this!

Sister Miller making caramel popcorn

Swaziland has  so much to offer that it is hard to decide where to take people and what to leave for another time.  So the day’s plans were made.  We started by taking a beautiful brisk walk through the beauty that surrounds us near our home.  We found a lovely pond and then continued to the Silver Smith Shop where the Miller’s ordered rings, had breakfast and then on to Baobab Batik, Gone Rural and back to Manzini Market where Sister Miller picked up a nativity scene she had ordered.  While at the market we saw a group of men gathered playing a game that looked like checkers but found out it is called Draft.  While watching questions began to be asked of who we were because of our name tags.  As we talked more and more men gathered asking questions and Book of Mormons were requested.  We only had one in the car so we gave that out .  We received 4 referrals and promised to return with Books of Mormon.  We left there and was driving to have an early dinner at Summerfields when we saw a lot of police gathered along the road.  We stopped to ask what was going on and found out that hundreds of women were gathering to march down the street in preparation for the Women’s Reed Dance.  So we pulled over and watched as women marched down the road singing, dancing and waving their reeds.  They high-fived us, danced with us and loved that we were there enjoying their celebration.  Our husbands were on the other side of the road and failed to get us celebrating with them.  Oh, it was so fun!  What a happy, delightsome people.  Then on to Summerfiend for dinner – a beautiful spot to end a wonderful day!

Baobab Batik

Pineapple fields

Playing the game Draft at Manzini Market

Women’s Reed Dance Parade

Summerfield

We got home just in time to call Trista and Terry to find out if they were having a boy or girl.  I have always been with them at the doctors when they have found out the sex of their baby, so they were kind enough to include me again.  They had their phone ready when the doctor announced they were having a GIRL.  Another “small and simple thing” that has eternal blessings.  These children coming into our family to such wonderful parents are bringing so much joy and happiness into our live.  They are definitely Saturday Warriors coming to enrich the world.  How lucky I am to be a part of their lives.

Friday was the last day of our “vacation” and the Millers were headed for home.  We drove to the Ngwenya Glass Factory which was near the border they were leaving from.  It never ceases to amaze me how these people can manufacture such beautiful things from recycled glass.  We had lunch there and then bid the Millers farewell after a wonderful few days.  It is so nice having company and sharing this beautiful country that I love with others.  Dennis and I went to meet one of our new elders fresh from the MTC – Elder King.  He needs glasses so we took him to be fitted for glasses.  What a delightful young man.  He is full of life and ready to get going.  We have a huge District YSA gathering on Saturday, so I came home and made posters to put in each chapel.  I quiet evening – just what we needed.

Elders Wilcox (Utah) and King (Botswana)

We woke early on Saturday, went for a walk and then delivered the posters for the party.  We had invited Branch President Mahlalela and his family to dinner, so I spent most of the day preparing.  They arrived at 3:00 and we had a delightful next three hours.  They have 6 children and they were so cute, good, and fun.  We had a great time.  We ate spaghetti, breadsticks, salad, drink and chocolate cake and ice cream.  Then we played dad’s stick game which they thoroughly enjoyed as you will see with the pictures.  All the hassle it was to bring that game with us, was sure worth it.  The elders have entitled it the Swazi game. It is a game enjoyed by all ages!

 

Sunday we attended the Mbabane branch for Sacrament Meeting because Elder Ntshalingase was speaking.  While I was sitting waiting for the meeting to begin, I noticed a young girl by herself and motioned for her to sit with me.  I found out that she was just baptized last Saturday.  I gave her a Christ bookmark and a CTR ring that I give those who are baptized.  She was so excited for the ring.  She did not know what CTR stood for but when I told her, she put it on and said I will always remember to choose the right.  Then later I found out from the elders, that she had gone around all day showing members her ring and telling them what it stood for.  Such a “small and simple thing” but meant a lot to her.  Then we hurried to Ezulwini because Dennis had an interview and I wanted to see the Msibi family.  We missed hearing the oldest son, Masebenza, give a talk in Sacrament meeting.  I was so disappointed but everyone said he did a fabulous job.  We ended up taking the children home – there was Masebenza, Simphiwe and Venus.  Later, I asked why Thandazile did not come and she said because she did not have a skirt or dress.  We need to remedy that.  It could also be why Wendy did not come.  Dennis and I have our work cut out for us.  Dennis hurried and dropped me off so he could attend his District meeting.  I made homemade tortillas for our dinner, I worked on our marriage lesson, the elders came over and we went to bed.  Lately, I have been so tired and going to bed early which is so foreign for me.  This mission thing is exhausting work!! 

Lenhle Mcina – baptized July 7th

I want to take the time to thank all of you for all the “small and simple things” you have done for me.  My life is full of those small services that have enriched and blessed my life.  There is someone out there that is serving me beyond my ability to express how grateful I am.  She saw a concern of mine, jumped in and is doing a service that is so unbelievable.  I cannot begin to express my gratitude.  Thank you to all of you!!  My hope is that I can take your examples and continue to do “small and simple things” so the Lord’s purpose can be brought to pass.

(This is my second attempt of this blog.  I had it all done a few days ago, was saving it and somehow it got lost.  That is an awful feeling to lose hours of your work.  But then, what a “small and simple thing” in the scheme of things.)