Our Cup Runneth Over: November 2012

So it is official. Christmas has arrived. My tree is up, decorated and the music is playing. I love this time of the year. I could never imagine Christmas being any where but home. Now I know that I love it has much in Africa as I did back at home. No matter where we are, the spirit of Christmas follows us.

This picture was taken without the flash – can’t see the lights. I decorated the tree with pictures of our new special friends.

This is with the flash - crazy

Gina made this tablecloth for us---love it!

“God Bless Us Everyone….the good and the bad, the happy and sad…God Bless Us Everyone…..family and friends….it’s good to be here again.” Celine Dion was serenading me today with this song. That is my prayer this day…”May God bless us everyone..” This week a new friend buried her daughter; my nephew was married ; a new granddaughter is about to be born into our family; some young people are taking final exams today; four new people went to the Joburg temple for the first time; a young man has the chicken pox; a young couple was baptized today. May God bless us everyone no matter what is going on in our life. “…yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.” Helaman 12:1

If I may quote my daughter-in-law, “I am so so grateful tonight, that the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of Jesus Christ has come into my heart at this time…..I am thankful for the warmth and love that comes by simply turning my thoughts to His life.”

Thanksgiving arrived early in Swaziland – Monday, November 19th. It was the elders P-day so this was the day for turkey, dressing, potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie! I prepared for a couple of days because of limited oven space. Dennis and I were up early to put in the turkeys in – one in ours and one in the elders. We set the tables outside and at noon they started to arrive. Two elders did not make it until late because they were helping an investigating couple get their marriage license…a real chaotic experience here in Swaziland. Along with all the traditional items we also had carrots, coleslaw, chocolate and banana cream pies. We went around the group and they each gave a 1 minute synopsis of their life. Very interesting and funny. Then of course, the “what you are thankful for” portion. It was fun sharing our American tradition with young men from Uganda, England, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya and Botswana! Then it was off to work for them. Elders Lorimer and Kiwume had a Preach My Gospel gathering with the Lobamba boys at our home. They also enjoyed the pumpkin pie. Dennis and I went and met the Eggetts – senior couple over humanitarian projects from Joburg. The senior couples are the best. They never cease to amaze me.

Tuesday, November 20th we got up early because Dennis had to meet with the Eggetts at the St. Joseph School to see about our water project we are hoping to have there. I had to stay at home because I had a Women’s Forum Christmas luncheon at 11:00. So while I was waiting I made bread, got up on emails, did mission work and got ready to go. The luncheon lasted from 11:00 – 3:00! We had a lady come and talk about decorating for Christmas – good; did a trivia paper (Cassie, I felt like I was home) – fun; ate – wonderful; and visited. It really was fun. For dessert, they had individual trifle dishes with custard, cake, jello and fruit. It was yummy. But after I had finished it, a couple of the ladies said how good it was with “sherry” in it. Yikes…..I had no idea. How would I know what sherry tasted like. Who would put sherry in a trifle? Dennis asked if I felt a little tipsy. I still question it! When I got home, Dennis and I went visiting. We visited the Nkambule family – a rescue member. It was such a fun visit. The make was at home getting her hair done, the babe was so friendly and the kids loved the treats and us! They have banana trees on their land, so they went and cut down a whole bunch of bananas and gave them to us. Seriously, there must have been 50 bananas on that bunch. We tried to tell them that was too much but they were so excited to give us some that we accepted graciously. Such a wonderful family. Then we went to see the Dlamini family – another one we are visiting. They were both home and again, our visit was wonderful. Then we drove to the Khoza family. When Dennis opened his door to get out, about 4 dogs were there trying to get in. We tried calling Bro. Khoza to let him know we were there but didn’t get through, so we shut the door and left. On the way down their road, Sister Khoza was walking home from work and we visited with her and promised to come back. Later, Bro. Khoza called us expressing his disappointment. Next time, we will make an appointment. We finished the day with the Eggetts at dinner.

Our Christmas luncheon

Does it or doesn’t it? That is the question.

The Nkambule family – aren’t they adorable! It took her 6 hours to do her hair…what patience. Look at those bananas.

Eggetts

Pictures of the sunset taken from our driveway

Everybody that comes to visit Swaziland wants to go to the Silver Shop to get rings. This amazing shop will include anything you want on a ring – and most of us want CTR with animals and Africa shape. The Eggetts were no different, so I walked to meet them there at 8:00 in the morning. Dennis took the elders to get their bakki serviced. After we showed them Swazi Candles and Sheba Weaves. Xolani and Machawe came over to skype someone in America for their business while Dennis went to branch presidency meeting. While they were trying to skype the electricity went out because of an amazing lightning storm. They stuck around hoping that it would come back on but no luck. Dennis came home late and said that the rain, fog and lightning made it difficult to come down from Mbabane to reach home. The electricity did not come back on until around 5:00 a.m.

Sheba Weavers

This is the rug I bought and the young man that made it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING. It was difficult being so far away from our family. Knowing that they were gathering at home, celebrating all the blessings we have been given, without us, made my heart sad but the elders and visiting a lady that had lost her daughter, put things back into prospective. Thank you Father for always helping me stay on track.

There’s our family waving to us

On Thanksgiving morning it has become tradition for some of the family to run in a charity 5K . Here are the brave ones….

We had sent the grandkids Swaziland key chains – here they are showing us

The actual day came and went without much of a celebration. We had planned to go for a ride but one phone call in the morning totally changed our plans. We spent the morning with the Mbabane elders for their DTM. Their District leader made us milkshakes…yummy. Then Dennis went with Pres. Shongwe to visit some people for our dinner tomorrow night. In the late afternoon we joined 30 members of the Manzini branch at Sister Matsebula’s homestead to express our sympathy and share her grief for the lose of her daughter – born 1976. The sorrow that so many of these people have to experience breaks my heart. I do not know how they bare the pain. There were 29 of us that came and we all sat in this little room where Sister Matsebula was sitting on a mattress. She is such a frail, small lady. I pray that the Lord will “.. go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” D & C 84:88 We sang songs together, bore testimony of the Savior, sang more songs and prayed together. This is a wonderful tradition that I think those in America could in cooperate. To know that you are loved at this time would be so comforting. (I have pictures somewhere but I cannot find them. Shame.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN. Brian shared his birthday with Thanksgiving. Unfortunately he was not feeling well. It sucks to not only be sick on Thanksgiving but your birthday! But we want you to know how grateful we are to have you in the family.

Friday, November 23 was an incredible day. Dennis fulfilled his promise and took me to an area of Swaziland that we have never been –the city of Mhlambanyatsi. It is out of Mbabane, the capital, , and to get there you have to pass a dam and the largest man-made forest in the world…beautiful. There were men selling fish on the road, rivers flowing along huge rocks, trees, trees and more trees. Amazing. The actual city was beautiful, situated among the trees, really small and had a beautiful hotel called the Forest Arms. Then we proceeded home on a different route again through magnificent scenery to a place called Rosecraft – a place up in the mountains, in the middle of no where, that weaves scarfs, shawls, etc. from mohair, bamboo and cotton. It was so quaint and we loved the people. There were 15 ladies that work there and the one that took us around has been there for 23 years. Dennis wanted to buy me one, but fortunately for him, he did not bring any money – they were rather expensive. But when you see the work they put into it – all done by hand – I really do understand why. While headed home I realized that we haven’t even begun to experience this beautiful country of Swaziland. There is so much more to see and we only have 9 months left. We got home just in time to prepare for the important dinner tonight with influential people from Swaziland. The Murdocks – PA couple from Durban – and the Olsons – office couple – came up for the dinner. It was to start at 6:00 but no one got there until after 7:00. I will never understand this concept. And after everyone had been seated, Prince Masitsela, made his entrance. He is the senior prince of Swaziland, brother to the king. We also met him at the BYU Young Ambassador program. What a delightful man. Also there were people from the TV and radio media, members of parliament, chairman of the chiefs of Lobamba, council of churches representative, Assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister. We were able to sit with them and visit and it was a delightful evening. A short video about the church was shown and time for questions given. Many of those present requested a Book of Mormon so we will have to deliver them. About half-way through, the oldest daughter of the king, Princess Sikhanyiso, came and joined us. (Also, one of the sons,Prince Lindaninkosi, came for a minute) They were wearing their traditional attire. It was such a treat to talk to them. While talking to the princess, she asked where I was from. I responded,”I’m from America in a state called Utah”. She said, “I know where Utah is. I have many Mormon friends. They have polygamy like we do.” Wow! What to say to that. As I was beginning to respond, she was taken away for pictures. Too funny. Polygamy follows us wherever we go. But she was delightful and extremely cordial to us all. The Prince consented to say a few words. He talked about the beauty of Swaziland and the friendliness of it’s people. He also had high praise for our church; he admires our values and how we teach every age group of men and women. He wished that other churches would emulate us. He hopes that we can be partners in bettering life in Swaziland. Wish everyone here felt that way about the Church.

Look at that person on the edge – where could he be going

This lady was walking through all these crevices – I have no idea how they get through them

Each of these strings had to be hand attached

The bamboo dyed and ready to weave

The shawls

The pots where they dye the yarn or the finished products

This sweet lady is 50 years old – boy they have beautiful skin

Prince Masitsela – the one sitting next to him is a television newsman

Princess Sikhanyiso

The Priesthood and the Prince

The one in white is the assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister

Saturday, November 24th we were surrounded with the wonderful senior couples of our mission. The Clusters came over for a visit, then the Murdocks and Olsons. We went to the Silver Smith again – the happening place in Swaziland. Than we showed them around the township of Lobamba. We ended up walking around and enjoying the people. It was a beautiful day so many were out washing their clothes, singing while they worked, and the children happy to see our white faces. I think the Murdocks and Olsons fell in love with these people instantly. Then Dennis and I hurried to attend the memorial service of Sister Matsebula’s daughter (she does have a name and I need to find it out). As I came in, I was asked to play the piano. Of course, I accepted and the Lord truly blessed me. I was so nervous because we could not find a simplified hymnbook but he helped my fingers play the notes in actually a pleasing manner. It helped that their were only 1 flat or 1 sharp in the songs that they sang, but these people sing a lot. We sang 6 songs and I was able to play them…even with two hands. It was a lovely service. She was a member but not active but must have been a marvelous person. We hurried home because we had some YSA coming over for a dinner and movie night. A side note – on Friday 13 people from Manzini and Nhlangano went to the temple. Three of them were going through for the first time. One of them being Sister Shongwe – Kayise’s make. Another one was Futhi Dube and Sister Dlamini. Nathi, Futhi and Mpilo asked if they could stop by on their way home to watch 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. So we ended up with 5 of them and also Manqoba and Nombulelo. Nathi and Masisi came by and joined us. We had a great time – they were tired but enjoyed sharing their experiences at the temple and the movie. A great time. Made tie-dye cookies after for two Primary Presentations on Sunday.

This little Lobamba girl capturing the heart of Sister Olson

We got up at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday morning to attend the funeral at the homestead of Sister Matsebula. This funeral was more like the ones at home. Songs were sung, talks given and the casket was carried to the hearse instead of being carried to a local plot. We drove to the burial plot but did not stay. Dennis had to be in Nhlangano by 9:00 and was also attending Gege’s sacrament service. I did not go with him because I had two Primary presentations that I wanted to attend. Tilungila agreed to be my chauffeur –so appreciated it. We first went to Mbabane’s and when I walked in, guess what they asked? To play the piano. This time it was only one song. They did such a great job. So cute. After the presentation I rewarded them with their CTR zipper pulls and rainbow cookies. Then we hurried off to Ezulwini. I missed their presentation but when I arrived they lovingly said their parts for me. These children are the greatest. They to received zipper pulls and cookies. Tilungila brought me home and I caught up on emails, baked, etc. while I waited for Dennis to get home. After Gege’s church he was driving to his district presidency meetings in Manzini and had a blow out on the Gege dirt road. Infamous for blowouts! It was a good think Pres. Shongwe was with him because he wasn’t sure how to get the spare out from underneath. He did not get home until 7:00 We ate and then went and visited the Mthetwa’s and brought them some bananas. The Elders came over to make our Sabbath day complete.

Funeral – trying to be discreet with the pictures