RECALCULATING Sept. 25–Oct. 1, 2012

We spent this week in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Many more cars, streets, freeways, buildings, congestion than we have been used to in our calm town of Ezulwini.  Luckily we had our little lady, the GPS.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times we took the wrong direction and our little lady would kindly and sweetly say “recalculating” and just like that we were again redirected into the right direction.  I have no idea how she can so quickly see that we made a wrong turn and be able to see ahead how we can get to our destination through a different direction.  Technology never ceases to amaze me.

While driving home I was thinking about our little lady and how grateful I was for her because we would have been so lost and never have made our appointments or gotten back home.  My thoughts directed me to the many “wrong turns” I have made in my life and how grateful I am for a built in GPS that would have to “recalculate” my direction and get me back on the right path.  Time and time again I would think I made the right decision but my own personal GPS would know it was wrong because it had a much larger vision of where I was suppose to be so would have to recalculate and get me headed back in the right direction.  How grateful I am for my personal GPS.

There have been a few recent converts that we have known that I wish would listen to their personal GPS and “recalculate” the direction they are going.  They are not making good choices and are beginning to lose their way back “home”.  How quickly a few wrong turns can redirect us into a totally different path and we end up far away from our destination.  I pray that they will soon let their GPS “recalculate” and set them back to church and the things they know are right.

Not always do we have to “recalculate” our direction because it is wrong.  Sometimes our direction is different because life changes and we have to just recalculate.  Some wonderful young people that I have learned to love have had to “recalculate” their life this weekend.  Portia Khoza was married in the Johannesburg Temple on Saturday to a wonderful young man, Sindisa Mabasa.  They have listened to their internal GPS and found their way together to the House of the Lord and sealed for time and all eternity.  Portia has had to “recalculate”  her way from Swaziland to South Africa.  She has left everyone and everything she has ever known for 23 years behind and her direction has now changed.  She will have to rely on her “little voice” to help her keep in the right direction. 

Her twin brother, Nhlanhla, has to “recalculate”.  For 23 years these two have been inseparable (except for his 2 year mission).  Their mother passed away right after they were born and it has been just the two of them.  At the reception, Dennis found himself in the toilet (restroom in American terms) with Nhlanhla (Lucky).  With tears in his eyes, he faced Dennis and said, “Elder Lombardi, she’s really gone.”  And after a long pause, he continued, “I have to start a new meaning in my life.  But I know its right for her.”  This recalculating in his life is going to be difficult.  Oh, how I pray for him that he will “feel His arms around him and His love surround him”.

Elder Kanyembo, our Swazi Zone Leader, has honorably finished his mission and is headed back home to Zambia.  He has to “recalculate” his direction when he gets home.  He is going back to no home, no family, no money just a small branch of the church.  For a lot of these elders here, their mission is the only time they have had money in their pockets, food to eat, roof over their head, a toilet, running water, electricity, a bed to sleep on and people who love them – and going home is hard.  I am sure for him today, recalculating will be hard but if he listens to his personal GPS he will find the road that Heavenly Father has mapped out for him.

I pray that all of us will listen to our internal GPS and when it “recalculates” for us, we listen.

Tuesday, September 25th was just a good, simple day.  Dennis woke up early to take our bakki to get it serviced.  Now if you remember correctly, last time we did this it took two days and some  brownies to get it back.  So I decided to shorten the time and take them brownies from the beginning.  Abracadabra - we had our bakki back in 2 1/2 hours.  I found the magical potion.  Elders Maclean and Mokoena came over to learn how to make the no-bake cookies.  He is leaving and wanted to take sweets around to say good-bye.  They did a great job at making them – with little help.  Then when Dennis got home we took a birthday cake to Patricia – a clerk at Pick N Pay that we have become friends with.  Elders Maclean and Mokoena are teaching her the gospel.  Needless to say, she was so surprised.  She took us to the back room so we could sing to her.  Her boss wouldn’t let us do it in front of the customers.  All enjoyed the cake and the next day she told me that “I was her mom yesterday” and thanked us.  The kindest compliment someone could give me.  Later, Nathi and his girlfriend, Masisi, came over and spent the afternoon with us.  How fun to have people just drop in.  They are coming over for dinner on October 5th and October 6th we are going to her college graduation.  Dennis had presidency meeting over Skype – kind of.  Our skype does not work so they could not hear anything Dennis said but he could hear perfectly.  Hopefully, Dennis had nothing important to say..hahaha.  Something funny happened in the evening.  Sbu came over to wash our car and after I was feeding him pancakes for dinner and we got talking.  I guess I was talking too much and he had studying to do because after awhile he told me I had to “mute” it because he had to go.  Now I have never had anyone tell me to mute it but they probably should have.  Too funny!  After he left, the Mbabane elders came over so Elder Kanyembo could call BYU Idaho about admission.  I fed them the leftover pancakes.  I just happened to have made a large bowl of batter.

Presenting our bribe – the brownies – to Tony at Nissan Motors

Elders Maclean and Mokoena making cookies

Patricia’s birthday surprise

She is just the best person

Elder Kanyembo and his new luggage

Pancakes was on the menu again Wednesday morning.  Manqoba, Branch President Shongwe and Elder Shipalane came over and hadn’t had breakfast so I fed them pancakes – fast and easy.  Elder Shipalane is going to be a trainer for the next 12 weeks, so Dennis had to train him.  After, we just ran a lot of errands and getting wedding stuff.  Then we drove to Portia’s and packed all her personal belongings and gifts for her soon to be in-laws to prepare for our drive to Johannesburg.  We decided we had better drive to the border to make sure that we could get the stuff over the boarder and how much it was going to cost.  So Manqoba went with us and we were so glad because we really would not have been able to understand all the details.  So we were ready for our Joburg trip.  The Murdocks from Durban were in town so we joined them,  Jerome and Thoko Shongwe and Concelia Ntshalintshali for dinner at Summerfields to plan an event in November for dignitaries of Swaziland. 

 

Our whirlwind trip to Johannesburg began on Thursday, September 27 and lasted until Sunday.  We left at 8:00 a.m. to perform some errands and then off we went.  The journey was enjoyable.  I think because we were headed for the temple.  I knew I was going to miss attending the temple but I didn’t realize how much.   It took us almost 4 hours when we arrived in Daveyton where Portia will be staying with her in-laws for a few weeks.  We dropped off her belongings and then drove to a home in Joburg where we stored her gifts (blankets) for her new in-laws.  Then we followed Sindisa and Portia to the temple and the patron housing where we were staying for the weekend.  They had us down for only one night but quickly rectified that for three.  We ran into the Bassos immediately (the employment couple) in the employment resource center.  So good to see familiar faces.  Then off to find the Knudsen’s – a couple that we became acquainted with at home because they had just returned from the Durban mission.  They helped us prepare for this mission and we will forever be in their debt.  Great people.  They are now the Area Church Historians – or something like that.  It was so good to see them.  We joined them, the Callahans (Area Physician), Thompsons (Senior Couple from Angola), and Petersons (Area Humanitarian Couple who also used to be in our ward at home) for dinner at Mike’s Place – I guess a well known eating establishment.  It was so fun to talk to other couples and discuss our missions – each so different.  I love this work and Heavenly Father’s plan for all his children.  Later we met some YSA’s from East London – down by Port Elizabeth/Capetown – that were here on a temple trip with their ward.  There was a group of young ladies that I would love to have meet our YSA young men in Swaziland.  In fact, they knew one of our return missionaries, Andrew Similane, because he served in their ward on his mission.  We also met a young man that had just returned from the Durban mission in July.  He knew a lot of the elders serving in Swaziland now.  Such a small world! Before we headed to bed, we wanted to see the temple.  We hadn’t had a chance to even see it so we walked up a beautiful pathway to the top.  We were outside the fence but could still see this beautiful magnificent temple.  Absolutely breath taking.

The road from the Shongwe’s home

Portia’s wedding cake that Branch Pres. Shongwe made for her

Can’t fit one more thing in this bakki

Bishop’s wife where we stored the gifts for the in-laws

The Southeast Africa Area Offices

Doors for the Temple Patron Housing and the Employment Resource Center

Elder Knudsen looking stylin’ in his red car

Callahans, Thomspons, Us, Knudsens (Petersons came later)

Young ladies from East London

Sitikile Mavuso,  Ayandiswa Jada, Spuxolo Tani, Siyamthanda Saja and Anga Solwandie in front

She was in the kitchen tending her nephew while her sister was in the temple

Lubabalo Skepu and Lwanile Mbatani (former Durban missionary)

Johannesburg from temple grounds

Look at this meteor shower or something that we captured – it was not raining

Perfect picture at the end of a perfect day

I woke up early on Friday because I had a feeling that we needed make sure at the temple that they were scheduled for Portia and Sindisa’s endowment and sealing.  We found out that my premonition was correct.  They did not have them on the schedule.  She found the email that I had sent but admitted that she had not done anything with it.  We also found out that Portia needed a police clearance from Swaziland to be married.  Of course, we did not have one because we did not know we needed one and we were in South Africa not Swaziland.  They told us that they could still be married but they could not send in the certificate  to Salt Lake until they had the clearance.  So they would hold on to it until she returns to Swaziland and gets her clearance.   So tell me, how could they really be married without it being entered into the system.  Good thing that she could because the plans were going on.  We called Nathi in Swaziland to see if there was anything he could do, but unfortunately, he said she needed to return to get fingerprints.  They were able to fit them into the Friday 5:00 endowment session and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday for sealing—just as we planned.  We then drove to the Johannesburg Mission Office to pick up Elder Mamba’s suitcase that he left there because it was too heavy.  We loved the couples in that office – Leavitts and Taylors that happen to be there that were usually in Botswana.  They knew our Elder King who is from Botswana and part of the “Band of Brothers” – explain another time.  We then met up with the Knudsens and had lunch in their apartment.  Then the reason for our trip began.  We met Portia and Sindisa at 3:15 at the distribution center to buy garments and then on to the temple.  It was beautiful inside and out.  I was Portia’s escort and Dennis was Sindisa’s.  There were six going through for the first time so it was crowded.  They had to split the session and the Zawacky’s were unable to make it through ours.  So there was us, the Webb’s and Sindisa’s branch president, Bro. Hugo, and wife in the session for them.  It was a lovely session and I enjoyed every moment.  We offered to take them to dinner after but they had to get back to the chapel to help with decorations for the reception.  So the Webb’s and us went out to dinner.

The Webb’s at their tables in the Area Office Complex

Sister Leavitt and Sister Taylor from the Joburg Mission

Randy and Barbara Knudsen in their home – sorry Barbara, it was the only picture I had of you two

Portia and Sindisa before they entered the temple

Portia had spent the day getting her hair and nails done for the big occasion

Sindisa is a graphic emgineer

Johannesburg Temple

After their endowment session

Saturday was a busy, tiring, exhausting but beautiful, wonderful, exhilarating day.  Some of the group from Swaziland arrived but not all.  It took the 12 hours to get there what took us 4.  Two and the four cars broke down and they literally pushed them some of the way.  Some of them had to be left behind in Daveyton because they did not have enough transportation for them.  There were 25 that came from Swaziland.  Amazing.  Sindisa only had a few.  Swaziland rocks!!  Remember the sealing session was suppose to begin at 9:30 but the bride and groom did not show up until 9:20.  Portia was not feeling well – couldn’t tell if nerves or not eating for two days could do that to you.  Finally, at 10:45 they led us into the sealing room.  She looked stunning and he handsome. One part of the sealing that I enjoyed was when the sealer compared the chandelier to “having a sparkle in your eyes when you see each other.”  Loved that comparison.  After the greetings and pictures outside the temple we took a few to get the blankets and gifts for the in-laws that we had delivered earlier, drove to Daveyton’s chapel and then waited an hour and 45 minutes for the “couple” to arrive.  But when they finally did, it was an incredible celebration with everyone singing and dancing as Portia was presented to her new husband.  They know how to do a marriage party.  American receptions are nothing compared to that afternoon.  I absolutely loved it.  I think we need to “recalculate” how we do receptions.  The program and music was fun and enjoyable and the food was scrumptious.  I am sure that Portia has never experienced such an event for her.  Coming from her humble background, this was a celebration fit for a Queen!  We left the chapel and drove to a place where they had set up a tent on the street for the Swazi tradition celebration.  Dennis and I dressed up with our attire and danced and sang with them as Portia presented her gifts to her new family the Swazi way – very simple but fun.  Both cameras died on us so we did not get any pictures of this part. We had someone take a few that we will have to get later. We left around 9:00 before it was over but we had an early start in the morning and a busy Sabbath day and we were tired. 

Waiting for the “couple”

Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Mabasa

Loading the gifts

Again waiting for the bride and groom

 

They  ARRIVE    The reception was put on by the groom’s sisters.  They wanted so much to please her and I think they succeeded.  This is something she had never experienced before.

Sunday we were in the car driving for 12 hours.  We left Joburg at 7:00, drove home, was there for an hour – long enough to make a batch of brownies, Elder Kanyembo came, drove to the border, had problems getting him across because his South Africa Visa had expired, had to call Joseph Mokoena at the Area Office to talk to the border police, finally got him over an hour later, met the Olsons at the Petro Port where we said good-bye to him, so sad, drove back home – 3 hour drive, the elders were there to hear transfer news, looked at my emails and finally found my bed where I laid my tired body.

Pathway at the Area Office grounds

Joburg from the temple

Saying good-bye to Elder Kanyembo

Saw these giraffes just along the road on our way to the border

And then again these giraffes coming back.  We had never before seen these kind of animals while we were just driving  Can anyone tell me what kind of bird that is?

It was so good to be home and have kind of a normal day on Monday, October 1st.  I realized I had not written our Swazi Big 5 and the day was P-day.  So I hurried and wrote them and sent them our love.  I made rice krispie treats for the journey of those elders leaving.  Elder Maclean, Zone Leader, was driving Elder Wilcox, Bangerter and Cauble to Piet Retief and picking up Elders Shumway and Gideme.  We were glad that we were not going.  I don’t think Dennis could have stayed awake.  Our good-byes were hard.  Wilcox and Cauble have been with us almost the entire time we have been here.  They have become our boys – our family and it is hard to see them move on to another location.  After they left we drove to the post office because we had a package!!!!!  We love packages from home.  I can even smell home in them.  Thanks so much Shelly – what treasures were inside.  Then we went to visit Musi Mamba to give him his suitcase that we had picked up.  He invited us in to meet his “mom”.  I am no sure who she was but she is the matriarch of where he is staying.  What a fun lady and family.  While we were sitting on the bed (it is a one room place), his two little nieces started dancing for us.  Pretty soon, the mom and sister were dancing.  Then we found ourselves outside watching them all dance and sing including Musa.  They all, even the kids, had sticks in their hands and had moves that you have never seen before.  So fun.  And we had NO camera with us so you will never see it.  So sad.  We told them we would have to come back and they promised to do it for us again.  They made a drink and sandwiches for us.   These are the most loving, accepting, friendly people I have had the privilege of knowing.  They have become instant friends and family.  I truly cannot get enough of them.  I do not know how the Lord chose Dennis and I to have the honor of being part of their lives.  But what a blessing.  I just hope that I can in some small way pay these wonderful people back and my Heavenly Father for the privilege of being here.

Elder Wilcox, me, Elder Bangerter, Dennis and Elder Maclean (leaving Tuesday)

“And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken (make a wrong turn),that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, (do not listen to your internal GPS), that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved—“

“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.  O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”    Mosiah 2: 36 & 41

May we all listen to our internal GPS that will guide us back home to the presence of God and live in a state of never-ending happiness.  These people do not have much but they have listened to the “voice”, recalculated their lives and have found peace and happiness in their situation.  May I continue to learn from them.