DON’T WAIT FOR PERFECT Sept. 18–24, 2012

  We were driving from Gege on Friday and listening to Joshua Creek – one of our favorite church groups.  A song came on that really caught my attention.

Don’t wait for perfect

Don’t wait for your moment to arrive.

Just take a leap of faith

Instead of praying for signs.

Don’t wait for perfect

Throw caution to the wind.

A lot of good things in your life might pass you by

While your waiting for perfect to arrive.

I thought of how often we want things to be perfect before we attempt them.  But really is anything ever really perfect?  Life is just not perfect. I can’t think of a time in my life when anything was the perfect time to do something.  When I got married it wasn’t the perfect time…..I wanted to serve a mission, travel, go to college, etc.  But I took that leap of faith at 19 and never regretted a moment since.  I don’t think a perfect time would have ever come to have our children.  We’ve never had a large savings, a huge home, a new car, a good paying job, but we would have waited forever for the perfect moment to arrive to have our wonderful eight children.  It was never “perfect” for our church callings, or my years of service in the PTA, or finding time to enjoy the tender moments of life with my children.  It was not a “perfect” time to serve our mission.  Dennis was still working.  We took a leap of faith and retired.  We threw caution to the wind and submitted our papers and told the Lord we would serve anywhere he wanted us to go.  It is not a “perfect” time for our family.  We are missing baptisms, births, ordinations to the priesthood, granddaughters performing in plays, recitals, games, learning to walk and talk…… the lives of our grandchildren.  We have children that are having their own personal struggles and we are not there to support them.  But life has its struggles and is never perfect.  A lot of good things in our life that we are discovering here in Swaziland, would have passed us by while we were waiting for perfect to arrive.  “Don’t wait for perfect” to enjoy what the Lord has in store for you.

Tuesday, Sept. 18 we had to say good-bye to the Basso’s.  We had breakfast with them at Summerfield, visited while they spent two hours trying to check out, enjoyed the talents of people at the Ngwenya Glass shop and then bid them farewell at the border.  It had been a great weekend.  We had lots of mission errands to run…getting electricity problems figured out, airtime, water bills, all the problems of just living that has to be part of missionary work.  I made brownies and then we left for our marriage class in Mbabane. 

Breakfast at Summerfields with the Bassos

They keep us entertained – you gotta love them! Boy we are going to miss them.

Wednesday, Sept. 19 began with loads of laundry.  Yes, the hum drum of every day life does exist in the mission field.  But luckily the rest of the day was filled with Manzini’s DTM and hosting the Khoza family for dinner.  Dennis had to go to Mbabane for a disciplinary council so I hosted the family and elders by myself.  We had dinner and then just enjoyed the evening visiting outside.  Dennis was able to visit a while before they left.  What a great family.  We love spending time with them.  If you remember we went to their home a few weeks ago.  The babe is a member but the rest are not.  They would make such a great addition to the branch and their life would be complete.  They are a religious family and the gospel would just make it “perfect”.

Manzini’s DTM – Me, Elders Ngwenya, Luddington, Dickerson, Guthrie

The Khoza Family

Vudane (Happiness), Nombuso Simelane (Kindgom), Gcnalsile (Fulfillment), Elders Mokoena, Maclean, Thabile (make), Elson Mphandlana (Babe), Ziphozenkosi (Gift from God), Sipheyena (Given to us)(Melissa)

Their “Gift from God” – I am sure it wasn’t “perfect time” to have him after 12 years, but well worth it!

These monkeys were outside our window and Den was feeding them bananas from the opening

That is a banana on the window sill

Thursday went from a “high” to a “low” for no apparent reason other than the fact that I am a woman!  It was a beautiful morning for a walk and making homemade bread.  I have become pretty efficient at bread making without my machine.  Then we had two young ladies, Bhekiwe and Nomvuyo, that are investigating the church over for lunch and watching the Joseph Smith DVD.  Bhekiwe was very responsive and bore a sweet testimony after.  I have talked of her on previous blogs.  She has a baptisimal date – October 28.  We took packing boxes to Portia and visited with the Shongwe family.  When we arrived home Dennis had to take a drive to Mbabane and I stayed at home and made brownies and no-bake cookies.  Throughout the day homesickness was escalating.  I don’t know why!  My thoughts kept drifting to home and the things that I was missing like opening night for three granddaughters performing in the play Aladdin at their local outside theater.  I had an upset stomach so I laid down and had a good cry.  I made some calls home and cried some more.  Poor Sabrina got off the phone and told her mother that grandma was crying.  Trista hurried and called back and I cried some more.  Leona and Norah sang me some of their songs from the play which brought a smile.   Dennis eventually came home and let me cry some more.  No, there is never a perfect time for what we do in this life, but we sure are lucky to have a support system around to buoy us up when we need it.

Nomvuyo, Bhekiwe, Elders Shipalane, Bangerter

Aladdin Stars – Sabrina, Leona, Norah

Gina and her family had their pictures taken

How I miss my grandkids---here is just a few

We drove to Gege on Friday to inform the Malinga’s, where the elders stay,  that after next week there will no longer be full time missionaries in Gege.  The Pres. is losing incoming missionaries and Gege is just not growing and there are very few priesthood holders.  So now the Nhlangano elders will come to Gege once a week to proselyte and the Sundays will be conducted by different priesthood leaders from the District, Branch, us and elders.  She said that there was pain in her heart but she understood.  I feel for those sweet members in Gege and pray the Lord will continue to bless them.  After our visit we had to take our bakki over the border so went to Piet Retief.  We found a restaurant in our GPS so had lunch at Mamma Mia.  Thank you Blackburns for finding such a wonderful Italian restaurant.  Dennis thought it was the best food he has had his entire time here.  I wasn’t quite sure how to take that.  But I agreed it was very good.  We drove home through Nhlangango and made it back with still some of the evening left because I had baking to do for tomorrow.  I made rolls, cakes and filling for the rolls.  Went to bed exhausted.

Sister Nomsa Malinga

Saturday, Sept. 22, was Portia and Lucky’s (twins) birthday.  (Just a reminder, their mother passed away 3 weeks after they were born.  They have been raised by their gogo.) The YSA’s had planned a hike and gathered after at the Shongwe’s for a birthday and going away party for Portia.  Around 40 showed up!  They are amazing young people – have you heard me say that before?  A fun morning and afternoon.  Later we went for a drive and find out where a road went that we had seen from the freeway.  Well, that road led us to the King’s palace!  There were no signs but it was huge and we figured it had to be so we took lots of pictures.  We got to the end of the road and there was a gate so we turned around.  Soon after a black car with darkened windows pulled to the side of us and stopped us.  They rolled down the window and there sat two non-friendly looking soldiers.  They got out and asked what we were doing.  We told them very innocently that we were taking pictures of this huge home and asked who lived there.  “The King” was their response and that this was his road.  We informed him that there were no signs that said that we couldn’t be there.  He asked to see our camera.  They must have been watching us because they knew exactly where we had taken pictures.  He told us we had to delete the pictures and stood over Dennis until he had deleted all of them.  The other man walked around our bakki.  A little unsettling.  Then we drove off.  I was so disappointed that we lost all of those pictures.  We just decided that we were going to make a plan as to how to get back unnoticed so we can have pictures of this wholly humongous home! 

Coming down from the hike

Portia, Nhlanhla (Lucky), and me

A cake for each of them

YSA’s from all over

This grocery bag turns into…….

this!  This is Portia’s gogo and she decided she had to make some money so gathered what she had – grocery bags – cuts them and then crochets until she has a rug.  Look how beautiful.  We have been bringing her bags so she is making us one.  Isn’t that ingenious.  Look how cute she is!

Dennis asked me the other day if I thought I would ever be so comfortable around black people.  I have never had the privilege to associate with them before so always was unsure of myself.  I remember many years ago visiting my brother, Brad, in Atlanta, Georgia and feeling a little uneasy because it was a new experience for me to be the minority.  Again, I find myself in the minority but not feeling that way.  I truly love these people and hugs are just part of their existence.  They have become part of me and I am a part of them.  There is no color.

Sunday, Sept. 23, we went to Manzini’s Branch Conference.  When we got there the electricity was out and remained that way the entire time….so no lights or mikes. But a great conference consisting of laughs, cries and wonderful spirit.  After the block there were two baptisms – Nokwanda and Nosipho.  Ezulwini had a baptism also today, Sibusiso Dlamini. There was a District Correlation meeting held after conference which I attended.  Dennis had to do some rescue work in Mbabane (elder went to medical clinic and they wouldn’t release him because he didn’t have enough money) so came to the meeting later.  We planned to go to bed early because we were pretty tired but the elders came over and spent a couple of hours.  It was well worth not getting to our bed early because we had some great discussion.

Elders Luddington, Nokwanda, Nosipho, Elder Guthrie

Elder Mokoena, Sibusiso Dlamini, Zwali, Elder Maclean

Today is Elder Bangerter’s birthday – Sept. 23.  The elders had a Zone activity which consisted of playing games and then having birthday cake – chocolate, of course.  But they were all here – all 16 for the last time.  Have you heard me say before that I hate transfers?  The hardest part of this mission experience.  One of our Zone Leaders, Elder Kanyembo, is going home to Zambia next week.  He has been in Swaziland for an unheard amount of time in one area – 9 months!  We presented him with a going away gift – a token of our appreciation for all the work he has done for us.  But before this we helped a couple in the Ezulwini Branch, Ned and Lydia Silavwe, move.  He is a teacher at the university and they decided to move into school housing.  They will now belong to the Manzini branch.  Ezulwini’s loss is Manzini’s gain.  I failed to mention that our electricity has been out most of the day and came on just as the elders were leaving.  So unpredictable.  Never a convenient time.

Swazi Zone Activity

The yard in front of the Elder’s boarding

Elder Bangerter’s birthday – he’s leaving us

There was no electricity so we were outside

Elder Kanyembo’s going away gift

These elders are all from Joburg

Elder Masaya is leaving us on transfer day

Elder Cauble will also be leaving the Swazi Zone

Moving the Silavwe’s

Elder Mokoena trying on my Reed Dance attire

Sizar from Manzini Market working on Den’s walking stick

We are off to the Joburg temple this week.  Can’t wait!!!

“As for God, his way is perfect.”  Psalms 18:30

THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE Sept. 10–17, 2012

“Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.  And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God,the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”  Moroni 10:3 - 5

Dennis and I just finished reading the Book of Mormon together.  I want to bear testimony of the truthfulness of this amazing book.  I have read and pondered the words written by prophets of old and I have felt their testimony.  I know the truthfulness of their words.  I know the love the Savior has for each of us.  His only desire is for us to return to live with Him and our Father.  He has done everything to make that possible..now the rest is up to us.  The path back to our Father and elder brother is written in this book.  The answers to our many questions here on earth are written in this book.  Finding true happiness is found in this book.  My desire is for all of us to read it again and again. 

Monday, Sept. 10th was a wonderful day!   I spent the morning as usual baking but then met Pres. and Sister Von Stetten at the Manzini Chapel for missionary interviews.  We got things set up, put out the banana bars that I made for them and then kidnapped Sister Von Stetten (Reenie) to introduce her to the wonderful people in Swaziland.  First we met the Lobamba Boys at their snak shack.  They were all there waiting.  Those who say that Africans are not on time do not know the people I know in Swaziland.  They continually amaze me.  Sister Von Stetten enjoyed meeting these wonderful young men.  Then off to the Msibi family we went.  She was a hit there.  They loved her immediately.  We brought them guacamole with the avocadoes that she gave us.  They had no idea what it was and once we showed them how to eat it with chips,  the entire family loved it.  We told them they could put it on anything but I doubt it lasted long enough to put it on anything.  We came home and the elders drifted over after interviews and they enjoyed the visit with their “mission mom”.  Around 7:00 Pres. showed up for dinner.  We had a great visit.  What good people we have the opportunity to be lead by.

Meeting the Lobamba Boys

Checking out a “Celestial” Boarding

“I Love You” greeting to Sister Von Stetten

Discovering the wonderful taste of guacamole

Half the elders with their “mission mom”

Good to have them in our home

September 11th will always be remembered as the day the “towers came down”.  The sights of that day will never be forgotten by me.  But now I have something else to replace some of those horrific memories – it is the day that Zwali was baptized in the year 2011!  I made him an anniversary cake and took it over to him.  He was excited.  I didn’t want to take my “red plate” so I made him his own plate that he hung on the outside his snak shack.  The elders said that the entire cake was gone by the time they got there.  We then rushed over to the Msibi family to take them some more chips and they gave us a lot more avocadoes so we can make them some more guacamole.  It was so cute – Sister Msibi sent Wendy inside to get some avocadoes and she came out with a bag.  Her mother sent her back because they were too small and she wanted her to get the big ones.  She said only the nice ones for us.  I felt bad taking her main source of food.  Then it was off to Portia’s to give her the last set of temple prep classes.  She has a large knowledge of the gospel and her testimony is on a strong foundation.  She will do well in the temple and with her marriage.  A few hours later we were on our way to our marriage class in Mbabane.  Just as we got off the freeway our brakes went out.  We coasted down until we could find a place to pull over.  Scary!!!  We called a friend, George Dlamini, and he gave us a name for a tow truck and also called the people to cancel class.  We waited for an hour for the truck because they could not find us.  It is hard to give directions when there are no names for streets.  They hooked the bakki up but there was no room for us.  So we were in the front of our bakki as they towed it away.  Very interesting to be in the front seat and seeing the lights of cars approaching you at a very fast pace.  It was a nervous ride for me – delightful for Dennis.  The young men at the garage were so cute and fun.  They enjoyed the apple cake that I had made for our marriage class!  The Mbabane elders picked us up and drove us home.  We were unable to drive to Nhlangano on Wednesday to help Bro. Hlope build his home.  Some couples from Durban were planning to join us.  We were sorely disappointed.

Smar and Zwali

Our poor bakki being towed

Enjoying the apple cake meant for the marriage class

 

Wednesday morning we had some unexpected visitors – some of the Shongwe family and friend.  They were on there way to the clinic (hospital) because Sister Shongwe had a bad stomach ache but stopped by to get some papers for a conference in Joburg that she is going to.  I offered some pancakes to them and they whole-heartedly agreed.  After they ate Sister Shongwe said that she didn’t need to go to the clinic anymore because she felt better.  The magical cure of pancakes.  For those at home, remember that.  It will cost you a lot less than a hospital visit.  Later, the elders came over, Pam and Ervin Zawacky arrived, we picked up our bakki (can you believe, less than a day.  If it had been Manzini Nissan motors it would have been a week), fixed dinner and than the elders came over to celebrate Elder Mokoena’s birthday (another cake!). A full but happy day!

Xolani Sithole, Sister Shongwe, Mac Shongwe

Elder Mokoena blowing out his candle – the elders do get to choose what kind of cake they want but it always seems to be “chocolate”!

Heavy, heavy hang over thy poor head….

Elders and the Zawacky’s

Elder Dickerson doing a “table dance” for Elder Mokoena

The birthday group

Thursday the troops arrived for our big career/self-employment workshop - the Gundersons from Durban and the Webb’s and Basso’s from Joburg.  We drove to the Manzini Market for sight-seeing and then to the Manzini chapel to set up for the events for the next two days.  We then took the Webb’s to visit the Msibi family and then met the others at Summerfield for dinner.  I was up most the night preparing lunch for the following day and had just gotten into bed when I heard this racket on the roof.  It was hail!  I went outside to watch this amazing storm and Pam Zawacky joined me.  The pictures I have do not do it justice.  They were pretty big stones and the ground appeared to be covered with snow – it was white and even deep!  When talking about the storm to others the following day, some told me that it was so bad that the hail killed some of their chickens.  Sad but too funny! 

A little girl we saw at the Manzini Market just sitting with her make who was selling her wares..isn’t she adorable!

Wendy carrying their water jug on her head.  She was returning from getting water.

Thandazile, Petunia and Sister Webb

They are tending two extra little ones – Petunia’s sisters children

The boys planted this garden.  They built a fence around it to try and keep the cows from destroying their work

Coming down from their home, we saw these children carrying wood on their heads

Dinner – Basso, Webb, Gunderson, Lombardi, Zawacky

Our first hail storm

 

The next two days were filled with wondrous people, great presenters, marvelous ideas and rain.  It rained and rained but the people still came – drenched but committed.  We were so excited that they came inspite of the weather.  Remember they do not have cars.  They came on kombi’s and foot from Mbabane, Ezulwini, Manzini and Nhlangano and they were on TIME!  The presenters were 1/2 hour late because they got lost but the people were prompt – even early.  I was so proud of them.  We had two workshops – Career with 10 and 15 participating and Self-employment with 32 and 35 attending.  On Saturday most of them returned still in the rain and we had even more that came.  For lunch on Friday I fixed barbecue chicken with rolls, coleslaw, chips and Texas sheet cake and on Saturday we had spaghetti, rolls, toss salad and banana bars.  It was a great event filled with so much information for the people.  They soaked it up and loved every moment.  Hopefully, they can go out and use this information to better their lives.  There were many who had plans for a business and just needed extra help to get those plans off the paper and into the real world.  Please pray for them.  They need all the extra help they can get!  Thanks to all that assisted in this wonderful weekend.

My new skirt and the sweet lady that sews for me from Manzini Market

Saturday night we drove to the Shongwe’s – a rutted, dirt road – in the pouring rain so we could attend institute class at the Shongwe’s.  Manqoba is the teacher and has wanted us to attend so we did with Elder Zawacky (Sister Zawacky was not feeling well).  What a spiritual ending to a wonderful weekend.  He gave a great lesson on Amos – gratitude for our Savior and following the prophet.  What spiritual giants these young people are.  The Lord has a plan for them and I feel badly that I will not be here to watch it all unfold.  I arrived dry with my polka-dot rain boots!

Portia leading the music

It rained for 5 straight days.  A lot of the homes are built with wood and mud so you can imagine what happens when there is so much rain.  We saw homes where the mud was literally washed away from the home. I thought of the song…”The wise man built his house upon the rocks” and”The foolish man built his house upon the sand” and when the rains came the house on the sand washed away.  I used to think why would anyone built his home on sand?  Why would anyone built his home with mud?  The answer – they are not foolish, they just use what they have to work with.  It is as simple as that.

Sinking outhouse

September 16th was Sunday and we attended church in Nhlangano with the Basso’s where they spoke and then did a fireside after about employment.  The Gege group of 32 came and with Nhlangano’s 45, it was a full house.   We arrived home late and had Basso’s and Webb’s over for dinner. 

Sister Basso and some wonderful saints

They served sandwiches between church and the fireside

Inside a kombi

Monday, Sept. 17 (my mother’s birthday) we picked up Manqoba early to take him to pick up a letter from his school with his accomplishments on it.  He has an interview for a job and needed this letter.  We then took him and picked up the Basso’s so they could give extra employment help to those who desired it.  There were 5 that showed up.  They were there for 4 hours.  Manqoba’s interview went well but they want him to work on Sunday and he said that was not negotiable.  The employer said that all the others said they go to church but when he mentions that they have to work on Sunday, they tell him that they could work that out.  He was impressed with Manqoba’s commitment.  He will find out on Wednesday if that materializes to a job.  We then took the Basso’s around to some of the sights – Swazi Candle, Baobab Batik, Gone Rural, Pineapple plant and then dinner.  We arrived home exhausted but grateful for a full day.

Sister Basso (Joy) “T” and me

We saw this peacock doing his mating dance.  You can’t see the female, but it was fascinating.

This is my tablecloth that I watched being made at Baobab Batik

This lady hemmed my tablecloth

Should I buy this jacket?????

What do you think?  It was used for a fashion show!

 

You have a heritage – honor it.

You possess a testimony – share it

You will face temptations – withstand it

You know the truth – live it.

          Pres. Thomas s. Monson