DOORWAY TO THE TRUTH January 7–13, 2013

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!….Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.”   D & C 18: 15 & 17

What a magnificent day Sunday was.   One of our dear, Swazi friends entered into the waters of baptism and Dennis had the honor of performing the ordinance.  Being part of helping her find the “doorway to the truth” brought us the kind of “joy” spoken of in the scripture.  It is a feeling that I cannot express.  We opened the door to the truth, she walked in and is now part of the church “family”.    As she bore her testimony about how she came to find the church and then discovered the truthfulness of it, the hearts of everyone in attendance was touched.  She is truly a special spirit.  One that I think Heavenly Father sent us to find.  We have been “bosom buddies” since we met.

I know that God’s work is to bring about the immortality of man, and I know that this is being accomplished in the Church.  I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, I know that the Book of Mormon is true and know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that the prophets alive today possess divine authority from our Heavenly Father.  I do not know what the rest of our lives or Patricia’s life will be like, but I do know that if we have the church, our families, our friends, and our testimonies, nothing can keep us from returning to live with our Heavenly Father.  Life is tough for Patricia and in fact, for all of us, but if we all remember to build our foundation upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, we cannot fail and we can make it through anything that is put in our path.  The “doorway to the truth” was given to Patricia and is given to all of us, and it is up to all of us to enter the doorway, accept the truthfulness and then gain our own testimonies.  That Patricia has done.  We were just the ones that directed her to it. 

Patricia Mbuyisa’s special day – January 13, 2013

Practicing just moments before

Her only regret was that her daughters could not be there.  But she received a tender mercy.  Just before her baptism, she received a text from her daughter, Nonthokozo (means ‘happiness’), wishing her well on her baptism.  Then her daughter proceeded to say that she was loving reading “her” Book of Mormon.  I know that the “doorway to the truth” has been opened to others in Patricia’s family and she will have her family join her in this gospel.

Monday, January 7th, started early with emailing our Swazi elders and friends.  Then we went on a walk.  We decided to walk down the main road but then took a detour down a new dirt road.  Boy, what an experience.  About half way up the road we were suddenly mobbed by 8 children.  They saw us coming, rushed down the road and literally attacked us.  They were hugging us, grapping our hands and jibbering but we had no idea what they were saying.  And smiles that is the universal language – they were happy to see us.  We were trying to walk but with all of them trying to touch, hug us and take our hands it made it very difficult.  They followed us all the way to the paved road.  It was quite a sight and I had no camera.  I do not know how to express to all of you how every day, every moment here is an adventure and new experience.  Ones that I want never to forget.  These children were dirty, wore torn clothes (one little boy had pants on but they were torn in the back and you could see his bare bottom), had no shoes on but were happy –giggling and finding joy in being with a new friend.  After coming home and cleaning up, we went visiting.  We visited the Dlamini family and she was so excited to tell us that her husband had found a temporary job.  Such good news for them.  Then off to see Bhekiwe.  It was so good to see her.  Later, Dennis took Elder Awalla to the doctor – he has had a cough for a few weeks. He was diagnosed with bronchitis.   We all then went to watch some elders play pool (it is P-day and I think that is an approved activity).  After, we went to see the new home that the Mbabane branch is building which I showed you pictures last blog.  The Lobamba boys came over and after they left, we went over to the Manzini District to play card games – Mormon Bridge of course!  A full and glorious day.

P-day activity

Playing Mormon Bridge with the Manzini District

Tuesday, the 8th of January, was Zone Training Meeting which always begins with breakfast.  We had some time before the meeting started so the elders and Dennis played our stick game.  Oh what a great choice to bring that game with us.  You could here there laughter all around.  ZTM went really well.  It is always a good time when you are with the elders.  We then went to see how Patricia was.  Her children left to go back to Soweto, South Africa,  the largest township in Africa, on Monday.  We know that she was dreading the day.  All she said was “I have to be okay.  I have no choice.”  My heart goes out to her.  We baked some cookies and then went with Nathi to visit some members in the Mbabane branch.  We visited Sister Anderson – her husband died many years ago and is alone; Sister Mamba –a recent convert whose leg was amputated in November and she has been learning how to cope with that trial; Sister Constance – her husband died a year ago and her daughter left yesterday to attend school in South Africa.  They were superb visits and a grand evening.  We arrived home late and received a call from Manqoba – he got a new job.  We are so happy for him!  Jobs around here are scarce and when you are offered one – it is a day to celebrate!

Time to ponder before Zone meeting

Sister Mamba and some grandchildren

He loves basketball and says he is a ‘star’.

Where she lives

Sister Constance Dlamini and her son

Wednesday was a stinkin’ hot day (that is how I wrote it in my journal.  Then I said, it was really hot. Boy, it was hot!).  Dennis ran errands – paid bills, met with Tip Top, met with some elders – while I stayed home in the extremely hot home and baked.  The Millers and Wildings from New Castle area were coming for a vacation in Swaziland.  We had dinner over here but it really was too hot to have people over and the food really did not taste very good.  We ate outside but that didn’t even help.  (It was over 100 with ? humidity).  It is so hot that the frig didn’t even work – my jello or dessert did not set up, the milk and water was warm, etc.  We played games after and when Elder Miller stood up from his chair, his ‘bottom’ was soaked.  How embarrassing for us to have people over and have them be so miserable.  We investigated an air conditioner, but it would costs us too much to buy.  We will have to make it work for a few more months.  The people here do it—so can we.  We will just make sure next time to check the weather before we invite people over.  It was so hot I even forgot to take any pictures.

Thursday, January 10th, the home was ‘smoldering hot’ – so my journal says.  So it was a good thing that we did not spend much time there.  We took the Miller’s and Wildings to the Silver Smith shop, Gone Rural, Baobab Batik, Swazi Candles and the Cultural Village (a lot of time in our air conditioned bakki).  These shops love to see us come because they know that they will have good business that day.  This was no exception for them.  We enjoyed our dinner at Summerfield and it was much cooler. It was so hot this night that I could not sleep and could not find relieve anywhere and of course, the electricity went out so even our fans did not work.  Not complaining, just making an observation.

Wildings and Millers

Friday, the senior couples went to Hlane on a game drive and Dennis and I stayed at home to get things done.  We took a walk to Ezulwini Market and enjoyed the vendors there.  We have a few that are members and one that is an investigator – Thondo.  It was her birthday yesterday and the elders and I made a cake for her.  I came home and baked brownies and rolls.  We then went to visit Sister Dlamini – you may ask yourself which Sister Dlamini – there are a lot of them.  At first I was not sure but then a “light” went on – it was the mother with the newborn little girl that got sick and we visited them in the hospital.  She teaches in Nhlangano but is home for the holidays.  She was not home but her two young boys and her little girl (growing) were and we visited with them.  Then Nombulelo came over for her very first missionary discussion with the elders.  Hallelujah!  We were so excited that she finally consented to take to the elders.  They asked her why now and she replied with “I want to learn more!”  Waiting on the Lord sometimes can be hard but worth it in the end.  The discussion was amazing.  The elders, Elders Lorimer and Kiwumi, asked just the right questions – ones that we knew she was concerned about – and her responses were thought provoking.  We were able to bear testimony to her of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the truthfulness of the gospel.  Another “doorway to the truth” was opened.  Now we just pray that she walks through it. I served a light dinner to her and the elders.  Then off again to Summerfields, where the couples are staying, for dinner.  Another “doorway to the truth” story….Dennis is so good at approaching everyone about the gospel.  We visit Summerfields often with the couples that come to visit, so Dennis knows most of the waiters and waitresses.  Lalela, a waitress, helped us when we were there with the Prince.  Dennis talked with her about why we were there and she asked for a Book of Mormon.  We came back later with one.  So Friday night, she came up to us and said that she was enjoying the book.  She then continued with how much she  liked Alma and Helaman and enjoyed the scripture in Alma 34:17 about “cry unto the Lord”.  We were shocked.  I cannot begin to tell you how many Book of Mormons we give out and they usually do not mount to much success, but the seed is planted – correct.  But to have her approach us and start quoting scriptures was amazing.  She is reading on her own and the spirit is witnessing to her that it is true.  The problem with all these people is that they have to work on Sunday.  Lalela, works 6 days – Thursday off – from 7:00 – 4:00 or 1:00 – 10:00 and has to take public transport to get there.  How do they get to church which is a requirement for baptism?  The dilemna which we have no idea how to solve.  There is another man that is a security guard at Summerfields that has a Book of Mormon and tells everyone that comes there that wears a missionary name tag, that Elder Lombardi gave him a Book of Mormon and he is reading it.  He works every night from 6:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. – 12 days on and 2 days off.  He takes time to read while he is at work.  The Book of Mormon is the key to conversion  The truth comes from the ground (Moses 7:62) and witnesses to those who read.  My husband is an amazing missionary.  He has opened so many “doorways to the truth”.

Nombulela’s first discussion – I missed taking a picture of the elders

Saturday, January 12th, was a day of variety.  We joined the couples for breakfast at Summerfields – what a spread.  Then home to fix taco soup for tonight; off to Ezulwini Market with the Millers and Wildings and then they took off for home.  When we arrived back to our place, there was Bro. Shongwe with a couple that wanted to talk to Dennis.  They are having marital problems and just needed someone to talk to.  They were together for a couple of hours.  I filled my time by typing the Lobamba boys stories.  After they left, we picked up Sister Shongwe, who is the country’s church historian, to find all the meeting houses that the church has had here in Swaziland since it was founded in 1987.  It was so fun.  The church began in Mbabane, so that is where we started and took pictures of the growth in that city.  We will do Manzini, Ezulwini and Nhlangano’s growth other days. The pictures will follow of our adventures.  They joined us for dinner and the watching of ‘Saints in Swaziland” which they have never seen.  It was a good day. After they left, I made three cakes for tomorrow’s YSA fireside – a chocolate, lemon and carrot.

They first met in a bar.  They had to sweep away all the beer bottles before they could start.

When they grew, they moved to this high school.  After almost five years they were driven from here because of the rumors that they were drinking blood and devil worshippers.

The Primary met outside on this grass because there were no other rooms available.

They next met at this pre-school.

And then in the home of a couple here on business, the Jones’.

When the church purchased land to build a chapel, they put trailers on this back hill of the land until their chapel was built.  During this time, the Manzini branch was developing.

They are very proud of their beautiful chapel.

This is where Neal A. Maxwell dedicated the country for missionary service.  It is on top of a mountain looking over Mbabane.  Beautiful.  It is the Swazi television station and they wouldn’t let us get out and take pictures.  It really would be gorgeous if we could have gotten beyond those fences.

The saints sacrificed a lot to build up the church.  Bro. and Sister Shongwe and the others walked, took kombi and walked some more to get to church every Sunday.  Our observation -  it is the early saints that are still strong here in Swaziland.  Maybe all that sacrifice help them be truly converted.

Jerome and Thoko Shongwe

Sunday, January 13th - I had a restless Saturday night.  I was worried I did not have enough cakes so I got up early Sunday morning and baked another chocolate cake.  We took the cakes to the Ezulwini branch because there would be no time between the baptism and getting to the Mbabane chapel for the fireside.  At the beginning of the blog I expressed my joy at the baptism.  Then we picked up our cakes to hurry to the fireside.  Sometime during the meetings, someone found the cakes in the frig and had enjoyed some of the frosting and cake.  There were finger and hand prints.  Oh well….we are flexible.  Our speakers, the Eggetts, and the Merkleys were there.  We prepared everything and then the YSA’s arrived.  We had over 80 – I stopped counting because I was nervous about the refreshments.  I decided to put it in the Lord’s hands.  The speakers were wonderful, we had enough food – we ran out of ice cream – , the youth had a great time and Dennis and I arrived home tired but full of joy!

Our speakers – Elder and Sister Eggett

Our Swazi YSA’s

“And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me.” D & C 18:16

As I was reading these scriptures, I came across D & C 20:37 which talks about those who are desirous to be baptized.  One phrase caught my attention…”having a determination to serve him to the end,”.  I have never noticed that phrase before….”determination to serve him to the end”.  WOW.  I think that is where some of us fall short….do we have the determination, the don’t let anything get in our way of serving Him attitude and do it until we die.  Even when we get older, tired, full of aches and pains, we need to continue to serve with all our heart, might, mind and strength.  I also think that is what we need to instill in these wonderful people.  The early saints in Swaziland had and still have that attitude. But many of the ones that have joined later have fallen because they lack that “determination to serve him to the end.”  They have been given the “doorway to the truth”, walked in but fell along the way.

The gospel is true, the Book of Mormon is the word of God and we need to provide the “doorway to the truth” to all those we meet.