SAVIORS UPON MOUNT ZION July 9–14, 2013

Just when I thought mission couldn’t get better, it does.  Thursday, July 11th was a day that is implanted in my heart forever.  To watch young men become “Saviors upon Mount Zion” as they perform baptisms for their deceased relatives, brought indescribable joy to me.  I really do not know why I am so blessed to be given such opportunities to witness miracles.  But I am so much thankful for them.

Talking of the redemption of the dead, Wilford Woodruff said: “This is a work that rests upon the Latter-day Saints.  Do what you can in this respect, so that when you pass to the other side of the veil your fathers, mothers, relatives and friends will bless you for what you have done, and inasmuch as you have been instruments in the hands of God in procuring their redemption, you will be recognized as Saviors upon Mount Zion in fulfillment of prophecy (Obadiah 1:21)”

Thursday, we took 6 of our Lobamba boys to the Johannesburg temple so they could perform baptisms for the dead…Zweli, Mbongiseni, Senzo, Charles, Sibusiso and Majaha.  It was a glorious day.  Machawe and Manqoba Shongwe and Nhlanhla Khoza also joined us.  We rented a van which Machawe drove and we followed.  We were at the border when it opened at 7:00 a.m. and then on to Johannesburg arriving around 11:30.  Upon arrival, Elder and Sister Curtis had arranged for lunch at patron housing where they served us a delicious meal.  Then off to the employment center where the Basso’s informed them of some of the opportunities in that area.  But one of the highlights of the day was the Family History Center.  They greeted us warmly, instructed them as to what the center can do and then took each of them to a computer and helped each of them find a family member that they could perform their ordinances.

Then, it was time for the reason we came…entering into the temple to do baptisms.  I can’t begin to describe the excitement these young men had when we entered. Sibusiso told us that he started to shake when he first saw the temple because he couldn’t believe that he was going to be able to enter into the House of the Lord.  I was worried at first because it was kind of chaotic in the chapel.  Some of the other people – young and old – were extremely irreverent and took away from the spirit.  It seemed a little disorganized also which added to the confusion.  But once the clothing was collected and we entered the font area, the spirit had returned.  Zweli was baptized for his father and then others, followed by Mbongseni and Sibusiso who also did the work for their fathers,  and the rest baptized their grandfathers.  Zweli also had the privilege to watch as his mother’s baptismal ordinance was performed.  Tears where shed by many in the temple and I am sure in heaven during that hour of baptisms and confirmations. 

 

After, we went to the home of the Curtis’ where she had prepared pulled pork sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, salad, dessert for all of us.  Again, I have been blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful, kind, thoughtful people.  The boys sang for them and then bore testimonies of their experiences of the day.  Sometimes, I feel so unworthy to be in the presence of these young men that have such a close relationship to their Heavenly Father and Savior.  We headed for home on a high and arrived safely about midnight.  Today, these Lobamba young men were Saviors upon Mount Zion for their families in heaven.  The work has just begun for them.

Bright and early start

At the border – the first time crossing the border for some of these young men

Arriving at the Area Office – right next to the temple

Waiting for our lunch

Dennis recruited some young women for these young men

Vivian and Elder Basso talking to them about PEF

Family History Library

Sibusiso in front of the temple just before he entered

The papers in their hands are their family members whom they did their work for

After their temple experience

The Curtis’ home

THANK YOU Elder and Sister Curtis – We love you

Sister Curtis fell the day before and really should not have been up, let alone helping us.  She is truly an “angel”

Senzo, Mbongiseni, Machawe, Sibusiso, Manqoba, Nhlanhla, Zweli, Charles, Majaha

Tuesday, July 9th was filled with the visiting that I felt we were neglecting.  I cooked a pasta stew and baked breadsticks and of course brownies.  We visited Sebelo Shongwe who was home all last week because of illness but of course we missed him because he was back at work.  We visited with his wife, Grace.  Sebelo is a member but Grace is not.  She has returned to work and I asked who was tending her little 4 year old all day.  She said no one. She just wanders around the homestead but she had found her quite a ways from home one day with 6 other children.  What does she eat while her mother is gone?  So many things could happen.  Shame, I wish I could help with that.  Then we went to see Patricia.  She has been home from work for two days also.  She sounded horrible but said that she was going back to work tomorrow.  She gets bored there all by herself.  Our last stop was with the elders to another Dlamini family.  Again, Elias is a member but she is not.  He had not been to church for a long while and just moved in the area.  He has attended a couple of times now so they are teaching his wife, Winile, and 11-year-old daughter, Nonsipho.  Winile asked why our church does not sing loud and raise hands and make a lot of noise like her church.  Dennis shared with her when Christ came to the Americas and he came with a still, small voice that pierced the souls of the people.  That is the way the Lord truly converts.  It was a spiritual moment.

Sebelo’s wife, Grace, and their daughter

Winile, Nonsipho and Elias Dlamini

Wednesday, July 10th we attended the Ezulwini/Mbabane DDM and then took Elder Shumway out to lunch for his birthday with His companion, Elder Caldwell.  His cake request was a lemon instead of chocolate!!! We had a great visit.  I love these one-on-one times with the elders.  Much more productive and personal than when they are all together.  We found out that Elder Shumway was an amazing quarterback in high school (not from him but from his companion).  It was fun.  We then ran some errands – store, chapel, picked up the van with Machawe for the temple trip.  Dennis then went to his District Presidency meeting while I baked, blogged and talked to some of our children.

Elder Shumway’s birthday

Our darling daughters at home are having a three-day “summer camp” for their children.  They divided up in teams then tie-dyed shirts, had science experiments, had cooking classes, all sorts of classes, had a lip sync, outdoor cooking, sleep-over in tents and then letters from grandma and grandpa.  I couldn’t be prouder or more pleased with how our children are teaching and loving our grandchildren.  I feel unworthy to be called “mother” or “grandmother” to such amazing children of God.

Started the camp with the Pledge of Allegiance

The TEAMS and their leaders

Science projects

Games

Seed spitting contest

Their tie-dyed shirts that they made

There can’t be a camp without a hike

A taffy-pull

And of course, swimming was included

Just a great time…..

Friday, July 12th was a recuperating day after the spiritual draining day at the temple.   We had to be in Mbabane to return the van by 7:30 but came home after to rest some more.  It is Elder Goodwin’s birthday and he requested Oreo dessert for his birthday “cake”, so I made that.  Nathi and Masisi came over to ask if I would host her wedding shower on August 3rd.  A hardy “yes” was given.  A wedding shower in our home will be the greatest!  We went to the Mbabane elders boarding to celebrate with the “birthday boy”.  Again, enjoying the elders in smaller groups.  They are great young men.

Elder Goodwin with his birthday request

 

Back to a busy day on Saturday.  We had to go to the Silver Smith to put in some orders for people from Joburg, visited with the sister at the care point to see how she is doing after the death of her sister.  She says it is still bad.  Her sister left 3 children – 14, 12 and 7 years old – who are now on their own because they have no one to look after them.  They live quite a distance from her and she worries about them.  I am not sure about her arrangements – she lives in a little building on the grounds of the care point with her 3 children, so not sure how she could add 3 more children.  Such heavy burdens these people carry.  Manzini Market was on the list of things to do to pick up Sister Holt’s 13 skirts and shepherds from Sizar.  Then off to Manzini chapel were Dennis and I did a presentation on Family History for their Elders Quorum.  Xolani and Futhi came over later for pizza and games.  A great Saturday spent with wonderful Swazi saints!

Manzini’s Elders Quorum Activity

Futhi and Xolani – will be sealed in the Joburg temple on October 18, 2013

Sunday we attended the Mbabane Branch were we had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  We also found out that Sister Hlatswayo, the couple that were baptized soon after we arrived that we have become close friends, was called and sustained as Relief Society president.  We are so excited for her.  Her counselors are Carol and Tilungile Ntshalintshali.  What a powerful presidency.  It was good to be in their branch.  Dennis brought me home and then left for his District Presidency Meeting with the Branch Presidents that went from 2:30 – 8:00……..long time.  I cooked, emailed missionaries, read and worried if Dennis was okay – he failed to call me to let me know he was late.  Oh, how a woman worries.  Shame…..I wish I could get over that.  When he got home we ate homemade rolls and corn soup.

Constance Dlamini and her daughter

New Mbabane Relief Society Presidency

Carol Kunene, Ruth Hlatswayo – President, Tilungile Ntshalintshali

 

District Presidency

Jubulani Motsa, Lucky Maseko, Siko Nthsalintshali, Solomon Mahlalela, Velaphi Simelane

Branch Presidents

Bulunga (Nhlangano), Malinga (Mbabane), Malaza (Ezulwini), Mthethwe (Manzini)

Wilford Woodruff continues..”Many of our progenitors, now in the spirit world, never saw the face of an apostle, prophet or inspired man, and they are shut up in prison.  Joseph Smith, Heber Kimball, George A. Smith and thousands of the elders of Israel may preach to those spirits, and they may receive the testimonies which the elders bear; but the elders can not baptize believers there; there is no baptism in the spirit world…or any marrying and giving in marriage…I do not want to go into the spirit world and meet with my progenitors who never heard the Gospel in their day and generation, and have them tell me, “You held in your hand the power to go forth and redeem me, and you have not done it.”  I do not want to meet that.  I do not want any Latter-day Saint to meet it.  We are the Saviors upon Mount Zion!”  He then continues to compare our work for the dead to Christ’s atonement…”They are works which we do for others that they cannot do for themselves.  This is what Jesus Christ did when He laid down His life for our redemption, because we could not redeem ourselves.”  Just think, we have the privilege of saving someone that cannot do it themselves.  We need to hurry the work along and make sure not only we go often to the House  of  the Lord but make sure that we take others with us.  We all need to have the excitement of these young men when they entered….and as Sibusiso said, “I shook when I first saw the temple because I couldn’t believe that I was going to the House of the Lord.”