FAMILY March 4–17, 2013

With things that have happened the past two weeks and having Misti here visiting, my thoughts have been drawn to my amazing family so I want to dedicate this blog to my family.  You know you can kiss your family good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you every waking minute in your heart, your mind, your very soul.    My family is the bones to my spine keeping me straight and true.  They are the beating of my heart – what keeps me going.  We are connected and will be for eternity.  Thank you family for the strength and support and love that you give me.  I love you more with every passing minute. 

Our family picture taken in 2010 – we have added two more and two are on their way.  Oh, how I miss them!

Monday, March 4, 2013 was full of adventure, love and desire to help more than we were able.  We went with Jerome Shongwe to visit his mother’s pre-school that she started to help children ranging from the age of 2 to 6.  She raised the funds to build it and is trying desperately to be able to maintain it.  She asks a bare minimal for enrollment fee so mothers will be able to send their children.  But this fee does not even begin to provide their needs.  They have no books, writing essentials, learning items, play equipment – but what they do have is a lot of energy and love.  I wish that I could show you the video of them singing and dancing for us.  You would even recognize the song.  So cute.

61 children this day and two teachers

Gogo on the left – I have no idea what her name is,  she is just known lovingly has gogo at church – and her friend – 92 years old - at the pre-school

Then we took Jerome with us to the Msibi family to be our interpreter.  She needed help from us to get some papers for her younger children to get them into school.  What a great experience to be at the Elangeni Primary School.  We were able to sort things out, pay a small entrance fee and left with everyone happy.

Their welcome

They swarmed Dennis the minute we arrived.

It was lunch time for some – this is what they are served every day – pap (maize cooked in water) and they love it.  They eat with their hands.

Two very cute young men

Wendy, Jerome and Dennis trying to get the papers sorted out

Look at the hems of these young girls.  The one on the left has no hem – it looks like it has been let down to try and make it fit.  The other is hemmed with safety pins.  Oh, how I wish I could take them home, clean them and then sew them up.

Tuesday, March 5th, our bakki was in for service so we were on foot.  We went for a lovely walk, did laundry, worked on blog and had visitors – Nathi and Msisi, Mbabane Elders and Patricia came over to write a letter for a new job and had dinner with us. 

Wednesday, we spent the morning with Babe Khumalo whose mother passed away a few days earlier.  We had gone to see her in Hlatikulu when he couldn’t because of the distance.  We were sorry to hear of her passing. She had told her son that he had a dream where she saw two boys dressed in white kneeling and praying for her.  He told her that they were missionaries.  He had told the Elder Kuwanatsoka and Elder Kiwumi that his mother was really sick and had to go to the hospital.  They told him that they would go home and pray for her.  They did just that – went to their bedside and prayed for her.  At that same time, she had this dream.  The Lord’s way of comforting this sweet lady – not a member (maybe preparing her for her conversion on the other side). She recovered enough to come home for a little while but ended back in the hospital.  This time she did not make it back home.  We had gone to see her and Dennis gave her a blessing that things would be as it should.  Later that day we attended the Mbabane DDM and then went to see Sabelo Shongwe and his wife.  He was not there because he finally found a job but we enjoyed our talk with her.  (She is the one that tried to take her life).  She was doing well and seemed to appreciate our visit.  We brought them some food to help out until he gets a paycheck.  He was baptized on March 17th (more about that later) but she was not feeling well enough – or maybe just not ready? We went to Manzini Market to pick up some skirts for Sister Holt and Sister Miller and Swazi Candles to purchase some dolls for Sister Basso.  Swaziland is the souvenir capital of Africa!!

It has become tradition to sleep over at the Lombardi’s the night before you leave for your mission.  Thembeni Dlamini was set a part by Dennis at 5:30.  n the Manzini Chapel where we had ice cream sundaes and brownies after.  Then she came home with us.  We had not expected this but for some reason Pres. Mahlalela and his wife, Busi, wanted her to, so we were delighted to have her for the evening.  She shared her journal with me, we had dinner, watched the movie, Joseph, the elders came over and talked and then went to bed to prepare for her big day.

Her family

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAMEO.  March 7th, 1985 was a glorious day for us.  We loved welcoming our 7th child – Cameo.  She has grown into a beautiful lady, wonderful wife and fantastic mother – with another little girl on the way.  Happy Birthday Sweetheart – wish we could celebrate with you.

Our beautiful daughter

I was up at 5:30 to fix breakfast for Thembeni and make sure we were at the airport on time.  I was surprised how calm she was.  Remember, that she had never been far from home, never on a plane and will be away from her family for 18 months in the strange country of Uganda.  (Just a note about her – her parents died when she was 5 and her aunt, Busi Mahlalela, took her in and raised her as her own in their family. She now has  a very firm, steadfast testimony of the love of her Savior and Father in Heaven and the gospel.  She will make a marvelous missionary)  She left on time and her parents were so excited for her – maybe I should say her father was, mother was quite apprehensive about all this – they have never been on a plane – got to be a scary.  We then went and bought some fluorescent jackets for the walking elders to wear at night.  It is scary to have them out there because there are no street lights and you cannot see pedestrians.  Now if they will just wear them…what do you think are the chances?  We went to visit with Babe Khumalo again to express our sorrow for not being able to attend the funeral of his mother.  He is really stressed because he s the only left in the family so it is up to him to cover all the charges of the funeral which includes coffin, place, food for all those that come, the night vigil, etc.  So sad that funeral as such a burden on the family.  They are not allowed to grief.  He told us that there were 6 in the family, now there is only him.  We went to see Lalela at Summerfields to let her know that we are leaving to go out of town.  I baked 195 cookies for the school that we are visiting in Lesotho.  I finished just in time because an amazing lightning storm developed and our electricity went out.  Dennis was on the computer and we heard a huge pop and everything went out.  It wiped out our internet and the next day everyone told us how lucky we were that it did not burn our computer.  We knew that we should unplug our computer during a lightning storm, but he was just trying to finish an email.  We now will do it immediately.  We thanked our Heavenly Father for saving our computer.

Breakfast in our home

Babe Khumalo – by the way he is not a member yet -  and I not sure her title but she lives with him.  His wife died 3 years ago leaving him with 4 children.  I haven’t figured out what her role is but the missionaries are teaching her also.

Friday, March 8, we spent the morning preparing to leave for a week.  Boy there is a lot to do to make sue the elders have electricity, air time, supplies, etc.  At about 3:00 we headed for Joburg.  We received a phone call on our way that Elder Karabonyana’s father had passed away.  We were so sad that we were not there.  Dennis called Pres. Siko Ntshalintshali, district president, (Dennis had asked him if he would be willing to be available if the elders needed him in our absence.  He graciously agreed.)  and he immediately went over to talk to him and then invited them to dinner.  He then had the branch set up dinners every night for the elders for two weeks.  WOW.  What an awesome branch to take such good care of not only their members but their missionaries.   It was amazing that we received that phone call because after Den arranged for all that, our phones stopped working.  We couldn’t get hold of the people that we were suppose to stay with in Joburg or anyone.  So when we arrived we drove to the temple – we knew where that was and figured we would find someone there, which we did.  While in the parking lot, a lady approached us and asked if we were the Lombardi’s.  She told us where the key was to the Petersons who agreed to put us up.  Then I asked if they knew the Holmes – Elder Holmes is one of our Zone Leaders and had a suitcase that he wanted us to give to his family because he is leaving mission in June.  The Holmes just happened to be coming out of the temple and going to their car and heard us.  I am so grateful for the Lord always aware of our needs.  He takes such good care of us.  We had a super visit with Bro. and Sister Holmes in the parking lot.  We went to visit with the Basso’s while we were waiting for the Petersons.  I couldn’t believe that the Petersons consented to let us stay there because they are Area Humanitarian Leaders and they have a big conference this week with 11 couples coming in from all over Africa.  If I had known I would have made other plans.  They were very gracious.

Earlier picture of Elder Karabonyana

What a wonderful way to begin a day – at the temple.  I love going to the temple and feeling the love and peace there.  When I walked out of the dressing room, there were Tilungile, Constance, Mable and Thuli from the Mbabane branch.  I was thrilled and felt right at home.  We enjoyed the session together.  After we went the Distribution Center, drove with the Bassos to lunch, the African market and then to Soweto where we found the YSA Center and the senior couple there, the Jolleys.  We talked for a few hours and found out how they run the center.  I inquired about how to arrange for the YSA’s in Swaziland to be included in their regional YSA Conference.  Hope we can work it out.  We then went to dinner with the Petersons, Basso’s and a brand new couple serving in Zambia that was here attending the Humanitarian conference, Lyles.  Great evening.  What a great blessing these senior couples are to us.  We love spending time with them.

Mable, Me and Constance at the temple

Joburg skyline

Soweto YSA Center with Basso’s and Jolleys

Basso,  Jolley,  Lombardi

Dinner with the Lyle, Peterson, Basso and us

Where we ate – great food

Sunday, March 10th – what a fabulous day.  How many times have you heard me say that but Sundays just continues being the best days of the week.  We left early to the Dobsonville Ward house for fear of not being able to find it.  But we did so spent our extra time in the bakki reading scriptures.  When we walked in the church, it felt like home.  It looked like a chapel from home with pews in the chapel that were attached to the floor, a cultural hall, hallways with rooms…wow, we hadn’t seen one like this for over a year.  Patricia, Nontokozo and Siya sat by us and it was a great Fast and Testimony meeting.  They had stake conference the Sunday previous so we were fortunate to be there for testimony meeting.   There is never a moment where people are not bearing powerful testimonies here in Africa.  What strong people.  We attended the Gospel Principles class with Patricia and her daughters and then Relief Society.  The baptism of these two young people was a very spiritual experience for me.  Patricia gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and there was not a dry eye.  For being a member for less than two months, what a sweet testimony she has.  They had the Young Women sing “Walk Tall You’re a Daughter of God” – Siya is in YW – and it was beautiful.  After the baptism Nontokozo and Siya bore their testimonies – my heart just about could not handle the joy that I felt.  I pray for these girls and their mother.  I pray that things can work out that they can live together again.  They miss each other and the desire to be together seems to be stronger now that they are members.  They then took us to meet their families – the gogo and brother and his family.  Patricia’s sister-in-law was asking questions about the gospel and the Book of Mormon and Dennis was enjoying answering.  He is an amazing missionary.  Unlike me that still hesitates to open my mouth.  We left a Book of Mormon. 

Elders on each side, Nontokozo, Patricia, Siya

Mom so proud of her daughters

They are so ready

Siya was really nervous before

Patricia preparing for her talk on the Holy Ghost

YW singing Walk Tall You’re a Daughter of God

After the baptism – the young man served as a missionary in Mbabane and Dobsonville is his home ward

Patricia’s extended family

Siya

Patricia’s brothers home

Dennis and I with Patricia’s sister-in-law and daughter

Patricia and her mother where her daughters live

Me, Patricia’s brother, Patricia, Nontokozo, Siya, Patricia’s sister and her children and gogo

Where the girls live

Soweto, the largest township in Africa

Then we left to pick up Misti at the airport.  I was so excited to see her.  It seemed to take forever for her to come off the plane but it was worth the wait.  So good to see her.  A year is a long time to go without seeing someone you love so much.    After the joyous reunion and on our way to the bakki, a man stole Misti’s wallet.  He was helping us take her luggage to the bakki and unzipped her backpack and took her wallet without our knowledge.  Luckily her passport was not in it, but her money, credit cards, driver’s license and iPod were in it.  We went back to try and find him and tell the police.  We were unsuccessful in finding him and the police gave us little encouragement that it would be found.  It was a horrible way to introduce her to this country that we love.  After a couple of extra hours, we finally made it back to the Petersons who fed us a marvelous meal.  Thank you Don and Leslie.

This is the only picture I have at the airport.  I must have been distracted with the robbery.

 

March 11th – Dennis’ Birthday and we are spending it in Africa.  It is the best having Misti here celebrating with us.  We spent the morning visiting the temple grounds and then driving to Ladybrand near the border of Lesotho.  The drive was beautiful with fields of sunflowers!!!!  Never knew there could be so many.  The countryside had fields of corn and tabletop mountains.  Gorgeous.  We arrived at our B & B where we met Reta who owned it whom we had talked to on the phone.  She is so nice.  She just opened the B & B in  January and was asking for suggestions on how to improve.  The room was lovely, the grounds spectacular, the breakfasts were amazing – something different and yummy every morning.  We stayed for three nights.  Great place.  The Millers arrived and then we went to the Holt’s – the senior couple serving the area of Lesotho.  She had prepared a special meal and cake for Dennis’ birthday.  Dennis spent most of his birthday behind the wheel but it was beautiful and the evening was great company.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENNIS

The Johannesburg Temple

Sunflower fields

Polazza B & B

Celebrating Dennis’ birthday at the Holts – a lovely couple

Millers and  Holts

The candles wouldn’t blow out

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 is our son-in-laws birthday – JEREMY BELL.  What a joy he has been to our family.  What a wonderful husband, father, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle to the entire family.  Hope your day was a marvelous one.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Back in Africa, Tuesday started early with a amazing breakfast put on by our wonderful hostesses at our B & B – omelet, sausages, fruit, yogurt.  So good.  Then the Holts came over and we headed for the border of Lesotho – I got a new country stamp in my passport!  Yea!!!  We met some of the Lesotho elders, then headed to the Seanamarena Primary School where we were greeted by 250 children all anxious to talk, sing, dance, touch our white skin, feel our soft hair and just enjoy having us there.  The Holts have adopted this school which is located about 1 hour from Maseru down a dirt, rutted, narrow, behind a mountain road.  We enjoyed our day there.  Misti had brought some jump ropes from home and after their entertaining us and enjoying the 300 cookies and suckers that we brought, they showed off their skills of jump roping.  Have I mentioned lately how much I love the African children.  They are so accepting and loving of everyone.  When given something, they cup their hands after clapping and bow when it is given.  Siyabonga is always their response– thank you.  On our way out of the school we met a older gentleman on a donkey.  He was so delightful to talk to.  He told us he was so poor that was why he was riding the donkey.  Then he went on to say it was cheaper than petrol and that the stick in his hand was his accelerator as he showed us how it made his donkey move.  He left us in SMILES! It made me wonder why the Swazi’s do not use donkeys.  We see very few of them in the country.  Donkey’s may be slow but it has to be better than walking, don’t you think? We continued on to the weavers.  The Lesotho women weave wool into these beautiful wall hangings or table runners, etc.  On the pictures above at the Holts, you can see two wall hangings.  They are absolutely magnificent.  I ordered a smaller version of the single lady but carrying a pot.  The women sang and danced for us.  They are so willing to perform – why are the Americans so shy about doing things like that?  Shame.  We exited through another border which was beautiful.  A charming country.

Our breakfast

Reta and her daughter – the creator of our wonderful breakfast – and friend

Elder Sele – the elder standing next to me – was in Swaziland a few months ago

Maseru, Lesotho branch building

Arriving at the Seanamarena Primary School

Their lunch – pea soup and bread.  This is the first time I have seen something other than pap for lunch since we arrived.  They offered us some, but we graciously declined.

First the boys performed……

….then the girls

Under the main skirt, they have another skirt that is made of bottle caps which makes a loud noise when the girls “bump”

Their drums

Passing out 300 cookies and suckers

Then the jump ropes and soccer balls

A song from us….

…then the good-byes

Our friend on his donkey

The weavers

They all know their traditional songs and dances and did not hesitate to perform for us

A weaving store made from pop cans. They are so resourceful.  Do you like Sister Holt’s African skirt that my sweet girl in Manzini Market made for her?

I bought this hanging of the village.  It is beautiful

This weaving depicts a village.  The house in front has two blue sticks hanging from the roof.  This signifies that a new baby boy (pink for a girl) has just entered this home. I would love to start this tradition at home.  Since we are not going to be there for our new little grandson and granddaughter’s arrival, maybe someone else at home can start this new tradition.

There are herdsman all over Lesotho watching the cows and sheep.  They all wear the traditional wool blanket.  In Swaziland the cows and goats just roam the country with no one looking after them.  What a difference!

This sign warns of a hump in the road and you had better slow down – a picture is coming of the humped crosswalk

We continued with our tour of Lesotho on Wednesday, March 13th.  Our journey took us to a village of homes that are built in in an overhang of a mountain – kind of like Mesa Verde.  It was very interesting and the residents were there to show us their homes.    Each place was built with dirt and cow dung.  The inside floor are also polished with cow dung.  They grow their crops on the hills and were drying peaches when we were there.  It is peach season but they were nothing like our peaches at home – theirs were small and not so sweet where ours are huge and to die for.  I miss peach season back home.  They were also trying to get some form of electricity with a solar panel.  There were a lot of young ladies with babies on their back and they followed us to our bakki’s to get a treat that we had.  We traveled around to see the country and then headed back to Ladybrand for dinner.

More herders with their blankets

Misti, Sister Holt and myself as we were entering the small village

Drying peaches

Working on getting some electricity through a solar panel

Dinner at Living Life

Thursday, March 14 we got up early and said good-bye to Ladybrand, Lesotho and the Holts and headed for home through the Golden Gate Park, Drakensburg Mountains and the game park Spionekop.  On our way to the Drakensburg Sun we stopped at a darling shop called the Ugly Duckling and I bought the cutest zebras.  I had forgotten how beautiful the Drakensburg Mountains were.  We had gone there last May for our Senior Couple Retreat and it was just as beautiful as it was then.  Spionekop is a very small game park but boy do they have a lot of giraffes and zebras and it surrounds a lake which makes it very different..  You will love the pictures.  We stopped in to see the Wildings in Ladysmith and then continued to New Castle where the Miller’s live which was our destination for the night.  There it was like a Swaziland reunion with Elders Cauble, Ntombela, Zsembery and Wilcox – all former elders that served with us.  A great evening.

Golden Gate Park

Drakensburg Mountains

Spionekop Game Park

Can you see the rhino hidden in there?

Dennis, Elders Cauble and Zsembery and me

Our trip was coming to an end so Friday we had to leave the Millers’ home to continue to Swaziland.  We drove through Piet Retief and then to Nhlangano where we dropped off mail to the Nhlangano elders and visited with Pres. Bulunga.  We arrived home in the mid afternoon.  We enjoy traveling and but love coming home to Swaziland.   Masisi and Nathi came over to visit.  Nathi to leaving for Joburg on Monday for two weeks so he came by to say good-bye.

Saturday, we began the day with a 2-hour walk.  It was so refreshing and fun.  On our way we ran into Babe Khumalo.  He said that the funeral had gone well and he was doing okay. I came home and made brownies just in case we needed them and we surely did.  The Knudsens and Curtis’ from the area office in Joburg were in town so we took them up to Magugu Dam and introduced them to the Mcini family up there.  Today there were 17 children – the neighborhood kids are now watching for us.  The minute I got our of the bakki, one of the boys said “Where is our picture?”  Dang.  I did not have it but promised next time.  Again, they performed and enjoyed the sweets that we gave them.  We arrived home just in time to pick up Lalela to take her to dinner for her birthday – March 17th.  The Zawacky’s joined us and we had a great time.  She was happy.  I had no food in the house, so after dinner we rushed to the store before it closed, came home to the Zawackys and the elders visits.

Babe Khumalo

Magugu Dam

Don’t you love the sign!

Knudsens and Curtis’

Our little family at the Magugu Lake

Lalela’s Birthday dinner at Spurs

 

Sunday, March 17th – St. Patricks Day.  Hopefully, you all wore green.  We picked up Lalela for church at the Manzini Branch.  It was good to be with those members.  They always make us feel so welcomed and loved.  Misti and I attended Gospel Principles class with Lalela then we had to leave to rush to the Ezulwini Branch for two baptisms – Babe Shongwe and I did not get the name of the other young man. Then we set up for our YSA Fireside where the Knudsens were talking about church history in Africa which is their assignment at the Area Office.  It was suppose to be a district YSA fireside but we ended up with 20 Ezulwini YSAs – none of the other branches were represented.  They missed out on an amazing fireside.  We invited the Knudsens and Curtis’ over for dinner.  They are wonderful people.  The Sabbath ended with the elders coming over to hear the transfer news.  Have I told you lately how much I dislike transfers.  We are losing some great elders.

Pres. Mtethwa, Babe Shongwe, ?, Nhlanhla Khoza

Bro. Shongwe (notice the no white shirt – the elders came over on Monday to get him one so when he is confirmed on Sunday he will have a white shirt)  with Pres. Shongwe

YSA Fireside

 

So another two weeks have passed by in this glorious country and I was privileged to share a week of it with Misti.  FAMILY – why this title?  Well, three of our family members celebrated birthdays, Misti is here sharing our mission with us, we were able to enjoy the company of so many of our family of senior couples and the joy of being with our new acquired Swazi family.  Each day the importance of family is revealed to me.  As I live here and see how many of these people do not have families but long to have one, I realize how important their church families become to them. Why do people desire to belong to a ‘family’?   A family is a place where you can find love, acceptance, security, peace and happiness.  “It is not blood that makes a family---it is love”  One of the Lobamba boys in his testimony wrote:  “For you Elder and Sister Lombardi, I was an orphan -you have made my life know that I have a family – God, you and the prophet.” Yes, for so many of the members here, the church becomes their family – a place they can be loved.   So for you at home, cherish the family you have, embrace and appreciate your church family and look around to include others in God’s family. 

I love you all – my family that I miss so very much;  my ‘friend’ family who have been such a great example to me showing me the type of person I want to be – who I am is just bits and pieces of you all; and my Swazi family who will forever be imprinted in my heart.