PLEASE COME FIND ME May 25- June 9, 2013

On June 2, 2013 during Fast and Testimony meeting, a young man got up to bear his testimony.  He made a plea that really struck me.  He said, “If I ever go less active, please come find me.”  He is currently serving as their branches mission leader.  As mission leader he probably works with a lot of less actives – people that he knows and knew how strong their testimonies were.  Something that must be on his mind.  What a plea for any of us.  We do not know what the future holds for us.  We do not know how well we’ll do in a spiritual crisis.  Will we endure to the end?  Will we loose our faith and testimony?  Will we be able to hold on to the iron rod while the world around us is constantly bombarding us with sin and temptation?  Oh, there is so much that can go wrong.  I am sure that there are plenty that are less active that said that would never happen to them.  We hear statistics of only 20% activity in some wards and branches.  Where are those 80% who once had a testimony of our Savior and Heavenly Father and the truthfulness of the gospel? What went wrong?  If them, why not us?  We need to find them, remind them of what they once knew, and love them back. 

So, for all of you out there, please come find me if I ever go less active. I know that this gospel is what brings me happiness and joy.  I know that my Savior loves me and atoned for my sins and sorrows.  I know that I have a Heavenly Father and Mother that their utmost desire is for me to come back to live with them.  Please remind me of all this, if I ever go less active.

Monday, May 27 was the beginning of a busy but beautiful two weeks.  We began the day by shopping for the many people we were entertaining the next couple of weeks.  We always love it when Nathi comes over to begin a day.  We met the Nhlangano elders 1/2 way because we needed to get some of their passports to get work permits.  Then we drove to Summerfields to meet the Jaegers – the senior couple serving in Richards Bay.  We showed them some of our favorite sights and introduced them to some of our favorite people.  We invited them to dinner and to meet our “boys” but they graciously declined.  The elders had a special lesson for the Lobamba boys FHE.  They are experiencing some problems among them and they were inspired to share some stories from the scriptures that showed them how much they are loved.  It was Nhlanhla’s birthday on Saturday and Zweli’s on the following day – Tuesday, May 28.  So of course, we had birthday cake and ice cream and soup before.

Meeting Elders Wilson and Armstrong

Nhlanhla ‘s Birthday wish

We did “heavy, heavy hangover, thy poor head, what do you wish this person with a bump on the head” to Zweli and he gave Dennis and I the greatest wish……that we will come back to visit after our mission.  We hope that wish comes true.  We love these boys.  I really can’t imagine life without them.  They have become a part of us.

Tuesday, May 28th, we met MTC President and Sister Reber at the border and it was an instant friendship.  What an amazing couple.  They shared how they were called to their service by Elder Holland.  He has also served as a mission president.  We visited Nygwenya Glass Facotry, Manzini Market (I picked up my skirts), took some food to the Msibi family – makhe was not there but we saw Masabandze for the first time since Christmas – fetched water for them.  We came home had dinner then had the Manzini and Ezulwini elders over for dessert because they had all gone to the Joburg MTC with the Rebers before their missions.  This was the first time they had seen any of their elders after they left the MTC.  We all had such a good time.  After they left, we were enjoying a good conversation on the couch when we heard a huge POP and the electricty went out.  That was an abrupt ending to our evening.  It never came back on until midday the following day.  So that ruined my breakfast plans.  Shame.

Nygwenya Glass Factory with President and Sister Reber

Eish, look at that huge sandwich I had.

Meeting our friends in the Manzini Branch

Fetching water for the Msibi’s

Masabandze’s million dollar SMILE

All these elders were at the MTC with the Reber’s – how many lives have they influenced?

Our electricity was still out when we woke up Wednesday morning so our Breakfast casserole was put on hold and we had yogurt, granola and fruit for breakfast.  We visited with some of the elders, went to Ezulwini Market and then on to the Cultural Village.  It was quite an experience.  There was a “real” songoma – a healer – there and apparently he went into a trance and started dancing and singing.  The performers stopped and started singing with him and pounding the drum while he danced.  Then he just collapsed and when he woke, he claims he didn’t remember anything.  So, we got an added attraction.  They then finished their performance with Amazing Grace.  My camera’s battery went out so I did not get any pictures of this or the rest of the day.  We proceeded on to the waterfall, drove through Lobamba, Baobab Batik, Manzini Market, saw one of the palaces and then home for soup.  Their visit ended way too fast.  As MTC President, they can only be away between the missionaries leaving – Tuesday morning -  and the new ones coming – Thursday morning. So at 4:00 on Wednesday they were on their way back home with a promise to come back.  Dennis went to district presidency meeting.

Rebers and Elder Weston

Thursday, May 30th was filled with baking, errands, buying mattresses with Xolani for the family who was kicked out of where they stayed in Mbabane because they were baptized and then moved to Manzini.  They are sleeping on the cement floor so between a bunch of ours and some new ones we got enough for the 6 to have something.  The Manzini members collected some blankets and food.   It was good visiting with them again.  Sibusiso called and asked us to come by.  When we got there he showed us his passport that he just got and exclaimed, “Now I can go to the temple.”  He was excited.  While in Lobomba  some ladies that perform at the cultural village recognized us and had us stop.  They stay there……ummmmmm, we need some young women for all these young men!  Machawe came over to upload pictures that we had taken for the Swazi church history record.  While he was coming up the stairs outside, our big dog attacked him, tore his shirt and bit him on the chest.  We approached our landlord and he said, “Good.  He is doing what he is suppose to.”  Eish, you got to be kidding.  People are beginning to be afraid to come see us.  Dennis went home teaching.

Me, Makindo children and Xolani

Road to where they stay

Look, I’ve got my passport!  Temple here I come.

Friday, May 31st was quite an eventful day.  We went hiking with the Mbabane elders to a waterfall.  While Dennis was climbing down to take a picture of the elders, he fell and rolled a few times.  He was bleeding quite a bit and a lot of skin was missing on his arms.  He was pretty banged up but claimed he was okay.  We bought some bandages, went home to clean the wounds and doctored him up.  It is now over a week later and he still looks pretty bad.  We went to see Sibusiso to give him his patriarchal blessing and get his YSA Conventions application and took brownies and a note to Mpilo of the Manzini Branch whose mother passed away,  We came home exhausted and my wounded husband was having trouble keeping his white shirt “bloodless”.

Our Hike

Elder Holmes  and Elder Karabonyana – these young men go home this transfer

This was the picture Dennis was trying to take when he fell

…and this one.

I have no idea why I am smiling.

He was getting blood on everyone

The path to the waterfall that apparently is their garbage dump

This is after we washed it

Sbu was at our home early to clean our car because he didn’t want Elder Cook and his wife to drive in a dirty bakki.  We had breakfast and then off to Mountain Inn to pick up our guests for the next two days.  Elder Cook is a member of the 1st Quorum of Seventies and is serving as 1st Counselor to the Southeast Africa Area Presidency.  They made us feel comfortable from the very beginning.  Our first stop was the Cultural Village, then a drive through Lobamba, Swazi Candles and then Summerfield for lunch.   It was good to see Lalela.  We had a great lunner.  Elder Cook was so relaxed and shared so many stories and experiences that he and his wife have had.  They were mission president in New Zealand a few years ago.  He was bishop at 26, then counselor in Stake Presidency for 3 years, President for 8 years, called as an local area authority, mission president and home a year and just got settled with a new home when Elder Eyring called him as a general authority with Southeast Africa as his first assignment.  He told him not to plan on going back home until he was 70 – he is now 56.  We took them home and then went to visit Lungelo and his family to call him on a 6-week mini mission to New Castle, South Africa leaving June 11th – he enthusiastically said yes! We rushed home for a birthday party for Elder Stengile!  After everyone left, I cooked chicken, made rolls, brownies and guacamole dip for our travels tomorrow.  It is Fast Sunday but we are going to Nhlangano for a 5:00 fireside…will be driving home late and I am sure the Cooks will be hungry.  Brownies were for the Nhlangano members!

Dennis and Sister Cook dancing at the Cultural Village

Singing Amazing Grace

Dennis and Elder and Sister Cook

Calling Lungelo Nyoni to a 6-week mini mission

YES!

Elder Stengile’s birthday – someone is got to like another kind of cake besides chocolate!

I always think that Sabbath days could not get better but each week is another memorable Sunday.  What a privilege to be taught by a servant of our Heavenly Father and his faithful wife and to feel of their spirits.  As we drove together all day, we felt of their passion for missionary work and their love for their Heavenly Father and Savior.  We were truly blessed by them and the wonderful members we spent the day with. We attended the Manzini Branch and heard some amazing testimonies.  I told about one at the beginning of my blog.  There are so many that I could talk about but time does not allow.  I went to the Young Women’s class to present them with the gifts from the young women’s in America.  They loved them.  As we drove to Mbabane for a fireside, the Manzini elders drove with us so Elder Cook could talk to them.  Dennis drove their van.  He talked about being bold in preaching the gospel.  This is their salvation and they had better do there best to help them see it.  He talked about what it means to establish the church according to the PMG.  We arrived to soon.  We were all enjoying the instruction.  When we arrived in Mbabane the YSA’s were ready to be instructed by a servant of God and they were not disappointed.  It was a spiritual feast.  I was enjoying seeing everyone but I was rushed away because we had to be in Nhlangano for a 5:00 fireside but we didn’t make it until 5:30.  Some had been waiting since 1:00 when church let out.    That is really a long time but these people are patient.  Another wonderful presentation.  It was late and we still had a 1 1/2 hour drive home so they were in a hurry to get home.  It was so good to talk with them while driving.  He was thrilled that Dennis had read the book of the Area Mission Goals that him and the other presidency members compiled.  The two of them enjoyed sharing ideas.  Dennis has so many great ideas and thoughts on missionary work, that it was great to have someone listen and agree.  We broke our fast and enjoyed our chicken sandwiches, etc. on our way home.  We bid farewell at the end of an extremely busy Sabbath.  They were wonderful to be with and will always consider this weekend as a highlight of mission.  I realized as I was downloading my pictures that I did not have one of me during this weekend.  Shame!

Manzini Elders and Elder Cook

Entering the YSA fireside in Mbabane

Nhlangano Fireside

Monday, June 3rd – one of the 9 happiest days of my life – our 2nd son, Koy, was born.  What a joy he has been to us.  He is so thoughtful – always making sure that I and everyone that is around him is happy.  He is obedient and always looking for ways to serve.  The Lord blessed us with the “cream of the crop” when he sent us Koy.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Monday was a day to get ready for the next round of visitors.  I baked, mopped floors, cleaned bathrooms, washed sheets and towels.  A couple and their son, Shirleys, arrived from America to stay with us until Thursday.  Madzen, their son, was a mission companion with both Xolani and Machawe.  They have been touring his mission in Zimbabwe and wanted to come visit here.  They also are trying to start a business venture with Xolani.  It was fun to have them here along with Mac and Xolani. Fun times.  Later that night the Lobamba boys came and the Shirleys enjoyed the evening with us.  We presented them with their Young Men of Lobamba books that we wrote and bound for them.  They were thrilled – kept asking if they got to keep them.  We have two more young men that are writing their stories to be put inside.

The Shirleys with Xolani and Machawe

We were up early on Tuesday so that we could get everyone fed breakfast and then on our way to Nhlangano for their DDM.  Elder Preslar did a great job.  He talked about the stages of enthusiasm for missionaries at different times in their missions – average missionary goes through a curve: bump – hump – slump- dump.  But a superior missionary does not have a curve – it is upward the entire 2 years: bump – hump – pump – jump.  An awesome to remember to end your mission with a jump.  After we went to get chinese and then home.  We received a call from Lalela.  Her work, Summerfield, has not paid any of their employees their last month wages.  All they say is that they have no money but expect them to continue to work.  She doesn’t know what is going on and doesn’t know what to do.  Then what do we do?  We go to Summerfields to meet the Zweifel’s and their grandchildren.  We really should not support a business that treats their employees that way.   Bro. & Sister Zweifel served as a office couple in the mission and left a year ago.  It was so nice to see them again.  Came home and fixed brownies for everyone staying here – Shirleys and Xolani.

Zweifels, their grandchildren and their friends

Wednesday, June 5, we met the Zweifel’s at the Silver Smith Shop and then went to Mbabane’s DDM.  I love to be taught by these young men.  They say with age you get wisdom……these young men are wise beyond their years, then.  We joined that Zweifels again ( they went to the cultural village) and let them experience Ezulwini and Manzini Markets. We left them there so we could finish our errands.  We went to see Lalela – she is quite frightened of what is going to happen.  She had gone out looking for jobs.  Dennis attended Presidency meeting while I visited with our guests. 

Joburg was on the agenda for Thursday, June 6.  We woke up at 5:00 so we could pick Lungelo up at 6:00 so we could be at the border by 7:00 when it opened.  We arrived late at the MTC because our GPS took us through downtown Joburg then an industrial area to reach of destination.  Ugh! Patience is just not one of my attributes!  We received a phone call on our way from the Murdocks asking us to meet them and the Swazi delegation at 1:00.  That meant we only had about a half hour with the Rebers.  It is was rushed.  But we took a tour of the place and he was able to meet some of the missionaries and they are even going to Uganda.  He was so excited.  They had lunch ready for us but we were disappointed that we were not able to eat with the missionaries.  I left peanut butter bars with them – every missionary needs a sweet! We didn’t even get any pictures.  Shame! They directed us a better way to get to the area office and it took us less than 1/2 hour.  They directed us to the area presidency’s conference room where Pres. and Sister Renland (Area President) and Elder and Sister Cook (1st Counselor), the Murdocks, and the Swaziland delegation that was visiting for a few days, were gathered to learn more about the organization of the church.  They had us join them, gave us food and then asked questions to us and Lungelo.  Our timing was great because the area presidency thought it would be nice for the delegation to hear from a Swazi young man and why he chose to give up 2 years of his life, leave his country and go to a foreign place to serve the Lord.  Lungelo did a great job expressing himself.  It was a great experience for him.  After group pictures, we bought him some garments and then headed for the temple.  We attended the 5:00 session which was a lot later than we had hoped for.  He loved his experience.  He said his only regret was that we couldn’t stay over so he could go through a session again.  Did I tell you that we had to take him this week because he is serving a mini mission leaving on Tuesday and when he gets back the temple will be closed.  So this was his only opportunity t receive his endowments. We left immediately after the session because we had to make it to the border before midnight when it closes.  We had time to spare – it was 11:20 when we got there.  After taking Lungelo home we climbed into bed at 1:00 a.m.  A long but glorious day.  An unforgettable day for Lungelo!

Lungelo meeting the elders at the MTC – all but one is going to Uganda where he is serving

Rebers

Sister and Elder Cook, Pres. and Sister Renland, Murdocks, Machawe

Swazi Delegation – Englican pastor for the King, Jerome Shongwe, Pastor and Lobamba head chiefman

Dennis, Lungelo, Annette Curtis, Me

Lungelo in front of the temple….

…in back of the temple

Friday, June 7th we spent the morning recharging.  I did laundry – sheets, towels, etc while Dennis took the bakki in to get fixed.  Then we drove around Lobamba finding our young men that did not attend on Monday to give them their books.  Senzo 2 showed us where a number of them lived and we saw parts of Lobamba we had not seen before.  We found Maxwell, Marcose and then Nhlanhla and Sifiso.  Elder Holmes and Karabonyana are leaving their missions for home, so we took a going away present to them.  They will be missed!  Our evening was spent writing our talks for Sunday.

The wedding bells were ringing on Saturday.  Nathi and Masisi were married!  Pres. Mahlalela performed it.  It was his first marriage since he received his marriage officer license.  They had the ceremony at the Manzini Chapel and it was simple but nice.  Their big traditional wedding will be August 24th with all the family, friends and fanfare.  Before the marriage, Dennis spent the morning and early evening at a meeting for all the branch presidents and clerks with Philip from Joburg.  The new couple, Dlamini’s, and us went to Summerfield for dinner.

Masisi and Nathi before the ceremony

Masisi’s sister-in-law, her sister, Masisi and Nathi

The ceremony

Food after

Sweet memories at Summerfields

Sunday began extremely early – 3:00 a.m.  We attended the funeral of Mpilo and Kosikhona’s mother and Futhi’s aunt.  This time we did not go to the night vigil but was there for the final service.  We picked up Machawe, then Vuzi Mamba and followed Pres. Mthethwe to the funeral.  Seriously, we drove for ever on dirt road and at 4:00 a.m. you can’t see a thing it is so dark.  There were a lot of members that had come for the night vigil – 6:00 p.m. to burial time before dawn.  A strange way to mourn the loss of a loved one.  Mpilo talked but Kosikhona is on a mission in Joburg and decided not to come home.  That has to be a hard decision. They fed everyone after.  We were speaking in the Manzini Sacrament meeting so we just went there until it was time for church.  I had to clean my boots – they were filthy.  After the meeting we rushed to Ezulwini so I could be in Relief Society to support Patricia who was giving the lesson.  She did another great job.  Dennis attended meetings while I blogged and fixed dinner for 8 hungry elders who was coming over for transfer news.  We are only loosing 3 elders this time.  They will be missed.

Bad picture of the night vigil – I was trying to take it discreetly

Everyone leaves from the tent and walks to were the casket will be buried.  Then they sing while the casket is being placed in the hole and family members go up and throw dirt on the casket.  Then some appointed men shovel dirt until it is full.  Then they stomp the dirt down and place more on it.  All this time we are standing around chanting.  After that is done, a few words are spoken, a song and then a prayer and it is over.  Everyone heads back to the tent where they are fed.

Machawe and Sasi – she is getting married on August 10 by Pres. Mahlalela and then sealed in the London Temple.  Swaziland does not recognize temple marriage so they have to get married civilly first.

Xolani and Ned Slavwe

It has been a delightful two weeks.  Extremely busy but doing good things with wonderful people.  Missions provide the opportunity of meeting such wonderful people….young and older.  They have all blessed my life in some way.  I will be eternally grateful.  I pray that I can keep the joy that I have felt on mission when I get home.  I pray I will remember all these amazing feelings that I have had.  I pray that I will continue to see the Lord’s hand in everything that happens around me.  I know that he is the director in all this craziness that surrounds us.  What a comfort to know that he is in charge.  I love my Heavenly Father and savior.  I love my husband more with each passing day.  I love my family at home that is so supportive of what we are doing.  I love all my friends at home and on mission.  I love all the wonderful people here in Swaziland.  Eish, I am so blessed.  And if I ever, ever, ever forget all this, please come find me and remind me of all that I knew!