I AM MINDFUL OF YOU ALWAYS October 21–November 3, 2013

Last weekend we were privileged to be in the presence of an apostle…to be taught and inspired by Elder Bednar.  Friday night all the Durban missionaries (except Swaziland, Lesotho and Bloemfontain elders) gathered at a chapel in Durban to hear the words of the Lord through an apostle.  All of a sudden, Elder Bednar stopped his instructions to the young elders and said that he wanted to address the senior couples.  He told us that we would be blessed for our service and that we will have more influence on our grandchildren by serving than by being at their soccer games, baptisms and blessings.  Then he proceeded to tell us that our families will be okay and would feel of our love for them and the powers of heaven will be upon them because we were serving and this is where the Lord wanted us to be.  That was it.  He then continued with what he was sharing with the elders

That little interruption was a “tender mercy” from our Heavenly Father to me – a comfort note from Him that he was “mindful of me” – Taunia Lee Allen Lombardi.  We had received news earlier in the week that my brother, Jeff, had been admitted into a hospital in Hawaii and had gone into a coma.  He was on life support and they were going to take him off at the exact time that Elder Bednar was inspired to stop talking to the elders and address the senior couples just for those few minutes.  I had been thinking what in the world was I doing here in Africa when I should be with my father and family at a time as this.  My brother was passing on and I was alone – so far away.  Those few words spoken by an apostle, reassured me that I was were the Lord wanted me to be and that the family would be okay.  Yes, the Lord is mindful of all of us - always.  How grateful I am for that knowledge, even though He has to remind me constantly.  How grateful I am for His love and for the “tender mercies” that he sends to me daily.  On thing I have learned on mission, is to recognize His presence not only in the big events that happen in my life, but also in the little, seemingly insignificant daily events.  How I love Him!

“I am mindful of you always in my prayers,continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.”  Moroni 8:3

My father and brothers

Bret, Me, Brad

Terry, Dad, Jeff

 

My father is a twin – this was their 80th birthday party.  His twin brother, Floyd, has since passed away but dad is going strong at 96.  Notice I am the only daughter between the two families

Jeff and Eileen with dad at his recent birthday

I have two weeks to write about, so I am going to just touch on some of the highlights and may just use pictures on some of the days…..

Tuesday we took Mac Shongwe out to lunch for his birthday.  His actual birthday was Thursday, the 24th, but we were going to be in Durban so wanted to make sure that we celebrated.  We always have a good time when we are with Mac.  He is one fine young man.

Later that day we took Sibusiso out for dinner to talk about where he will live when school is over.

This is a view of Mbabane from the government offices where Dennis and Nathi spend a lot of time getting the work permits for the elders.  On Tuesday, though, we were there for us – preparing to get our Swazi ID’s.

The next 6 days were spent in Durban preparing for Elder Bednar’s arrival and a South Africa Durban mission couples conference.  We were so excited to have the opportunity of actually meeting some of the couples that serve in our mission that we do not know.  Wednesday we spent almost 7 hours driving to Durban and checked in at the Huntley B & B.  We went to dinner with the Herringtons, Wildings, Holts and Kyles.  (Wednesday was also the 20 year anniversary of the passing of my mother – this day is always hard for me.  Again, 20 years and she is still always in my heart and mind)

Thursday, the Holts picked us up early and we drove to Teddy’s, who owns a body shop that takes care of all the mission fleet.  Our bakki had some dents that we had no idea how they got there – of course, Elder Holt does not believe us – and they were going to fix them.  On the way down to Durban, a guinea hen hit us and broke the grill – so that was going to be fixed also.  When we arrived, Kathy, who is Teddy’s wife, met us and we were chauffeured to an Indian section where we were looking for saris for me and Sister Holt.  Now, why do I want a sari when all we have in Swaziland are Africans?  I have no idea, other than they are beautiful and I have always thought it would be nice to have one.  There are many Indians living in Durban – so I could say that it would represent our mission, just in no area that we served.  We both found one, took measurements for our blouse and skirt, arranged to pick up on Monday and then hurried to an appointment for a much needed hair cut.  Then off to President and Sister Zackrison’s home for the beginning of our couples conference.  Dennis and I did a presentation on the Lobamba boys – everyone is learning to love them as we do – along with other couples that talked about their experiences.  Even though we are all serving in the Durban mission, we all have such different, wonderful stories to tell.  We loved hearing about all that is going on in South Africa.  Then, Teddy and Kathy had our braai ready and we ate like royalty with every kind of meat you can think of.  It was great.  The evening ended with Sister Kyle and Holt making presentations to every single person there highlighting something that was unique to them.  We had a great time laughing at all our experiences and getting to know each other so much better.

Our bakki minus the “grill”

Kathy and her daughter

Part of my sari

The waiting period….

Gugu produced some magic for the new do

Everyone starting to arrive for the conference

Getting ready for the presentations

Kathy making her specialty – not sure what it was called but was sure good

Teddy and his nephew braaing

Sister Carlile was robbed three times in the first few weeks of arriving on mission – look at what she got – “Bad Burglar”

Dennis getting his pouch of goodies

They made this chef’s hat out of African material

Crazy Sister Holt and Kyle

Teddy and Kathy – aren’t they sweet

Friday we gathered again in the president’s home while he instructed us with his vision for the mission.  Again couples shared some of what was going on in their areas.  We had lunch, then headed off the the Pinetown chapel to wait for Elder Bednar’s arrival.  He was late because he had an interview with some important Prime Minister or something and they were late.  But, I didn’t mind.  The time was spent talking with all our former Swazi elders.  It was so good to see them.  We decided that we are going to have a spot in heaven for a Swazi reunion where we can all gather.  What a sweet reunion that will be.  Then Elder Bednar entered and what everybody was waiting for began and it was worth the wait.  He immediately made all the elders feel at ease and then let them talk and ask questions.  Three hours went by very fast. Some of the highlights that I recorded:  what is an apostle?  one who bears witness of Jesus Christ;  those who are truly converted – never will, never do, never did fall away;  make sure that your investigators are truly converted before they enter the waters of baptism – missionaries , get out of the way and let the spirit convert;  equation for teaching – observe, listen to the spirit, discern for  action; at the end, he said, “based upon what we have observed, learned and felt today, what will we do?”  Great question.  If we do not act on what we learn, it will make for a wasted evening.   After, all the elders were allowed to shake his hand.  Of course, all but those elders watching by satellite.  Then we finished our couples conference at a French restaurant.

Senior couples of the South Africa Durban mission

Waiting for Elder Bednar

Some former Swazi elders

Whiting, Caldwell and right front – Weston

Elders Lime, Awalla, Wilson and back - Heki

Couples at the French Restaurant

Saturday morning training with Sister Susan Bednar – she told us that is she had known that David was going to be an apostle, she might have refused his hand in marriage.  We studied a talk by Sister Burton on the atonement.  We met while our husbands were having priesthood training by Elder Bednar.

Getting mail and supplies at the mission office after meetings.

Holts had us over for dinner after – the AP’s joined us later – I have no idea what Dennis is doing

Our room at the Huntley B & B

Sundays Stake Conference meeting with Elder Bednar

Elders Weston, Wilson and Zsembery – Elder Zsembery just got out of the hospital after he had his appendix removed

One of the Durban zones with Elder and Sister Bednar

After Sundays meetings, we joined the Sutherland’s for a wonderful traditional Sunday meal with homemade rolls and all

Later Sunday night, Dennis and the president had a short meeting while Sister Zackrison and Elders Zsembery and Kiyimba played games and then ate

The entrance to the mission office

Monday we bought cooking supplies at Bake-A-Ton, picked up an order that we had made at Tempe Game Reserve and my sari, bought a vacuum and Christmas supplies for our elders because we are figuring this will most likely be the last time we get to Durban and about 3:00 we headed for home arriving 7 hours later at 10:00.  We unloaded and immediately hit the bed.

Piling our bakki with mail and supplies – they made us declare at the Swazi border – such a pain

For our day on Tuesday, October 29th, I am just going to list this crazy day the way I did in my journal :  Dennis met Mbongseni at 6:45 to get his passport, I made brownies, Nathi dropped by, left for Gege to pick up Manqoba so he could obtain his international passport for his mission, took computer to Matrix because our desktop is doing crazy stuff, while Manqoba was getting his passport we went to pick up our Swazi IDs, had lunch at Nandos, went to the mall for buy some shoes for Manqoba, came home and baked another patch of brownies, Matrix fixed our computer quickly so we picked it up, made it to the airport at 4:50 to pick up a returning missionary from Kenya, Elder Muzi Vilakati – his gogo, aunt and Bro. Malinga was at the airport to join us, Dennis released him in the bakki, drove to Gege (1 1/2 hours) with Elder Vilakati, Manqoba and his gogo, when we arrived there were many relatives and neighbors there to greet him, I was standing with him when he got out of the bakki, he turned to me and said “I am nervous.  I don’t know what to do.”  All the people at the homestead were also just standing waiting for something to happen.  I turned to him and said “Just go for it.”  He immediately ran right to them and boy was it a glorious reunion.  This homestead as no electricity, so it was very dark but it sure did not stop all the hugs, loves and excitement of having Muzi home after two years.  We went inside one of the rooms, passed out our brownies and then quietly left them to catch up.  I need to share with you how the Lord takes care of his servants.  While driving to Gege with Muzi, it was dark and a little foggy.  All of a sudden there were 5 cows on the road with no time to stop to miss them….but with Heavenly Father on our side, we do not need time, we just need him to take the wheel which he did.  There was a little space between two of the cows and it was just big enough for the bakki to slide through missing both cows with just inches to spare.  There was no way that we should have missed those cows.  I am so grateful that Heavenly Father is mindful of us and protects us from danger that is around us.  A funny story:  When Elder Vilakati and his gogo got into the bakki, Muzi immediately started talking to her.  His gogo said, “siSwati”.  He started laughing and said I am not sure if I can remember it after two years of English.  But it didn’t take him long and he literally talked the entire 1 1/2 hours.  What a delightful, fun young man.  Dennis and I had no idea what he and the rest of them were saying, but they were sure laughing and enjoying every moment of his return.

  We are now officially Swazi’s

Lunch at Nandos

Mission shoes for Manqoba

Elder Vilakati  arriving on Swazi Air

…..coming off the plane

Reunion with his gogo – two years is a long time

Friends forever……Elder Vilakati baptized Manqoba who is now leaving for his mission to Uganda

Family and friends united

Muzi and his cousin

Our drive to Gege

Gogo, Muzi, Manqoba

Welcome home reaction

 

The elders came to meet and greet Elder Vilakati

Komakech, Mkude, Kakaire, Otigo and Manqoba

HAPPY HALLOWEEN – Thursday, October 31st… I can’t remember what we did on Wednesday because I didn’t write it down in my journal but I do know that our electricity went out in the afternoon, came on for a few minutes, then off, on and in the middle of talking to Cameo on skype, it went off again and was off the rest of the evening.  We woke up Thursday morning  to no electricity and it lasted all day.  We have sure learned to appreciate it and sympathize with how many of these people that live without it all the time.  We went to visit Elder Rowley who wasn’t feeling well and ended up taking him to the doctor.  They gave him some drink to rehydrate him and some medicine to help his headaches.  We visited members around Manzini and Ezulwini, got some speakers for S & I Graduation, our landlady, Joan, offered her freezer (which is running by generator) for our frozen meat, went to visit with Patricia and then the Ezulwini elders came over with their Halloween costumes.  We then played games by candlelight and ate munchies that I happen to have around.  It was a fun day and the elders always makes it delightful.

Halloween Costumes (their electricity has also been out)

Wilcox – Harry Potter; Manhanha – Elder Lombardi; Hansen – Sister Lombardi; Adale – Liverpool soccer player

Mormon Bridge by candlelight

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Trina!!!  Today is Trina’s birthday.  It is sure hard to be away during our children and grandchildren’s special days…..and birthday are extra special in our family.  Trina has been a joy in our life and it just about killed me to not be able to call her to personally wish her a great day because of our “no electricity”.  I had some good friends that emailed her and called her to let them know our situation.  But later in the evening our electricity came on and we were able to contact her.  Happy Birthday, sweetheart.  What a wonderful day it was 25 years ago!

She loves her family!

Friday, we left early with the elders to help President Malaza move from far away from his branch to a place much closer.  We loaded up the two bakkis and were on our way to help them relocate. After we came home, gathered all the elders meat that was thawed and cooked it on our braai and propane cooker.  We had lemon chicken, spaghettti with their mince meat and bratwurst.  We invited the Malaza’s to join us….it was a great feast.  We went and bought a foam bed for the Msibi family.  Last time I was there I noticed that the bed the boys were sleeping on was totally rotted away.  So we took them a new bed and soccer ball and the smiles tell it all.  After fetching some water, I was helping Masabendze clean and asked him what he was going to fix for dinner.  He said porridge and him….pointing to the chicken.  Poor chicken didn’t know he was going to be dinner that night.  A lot of responsibility for a young 16 year old.  We came home and cooked bacon outside and had cheese/bacon sandwiches.  Our day ended at the Mbabane elders for games and a good time.  This foursome gets along so well and have a great time together.  We enjoy being in their presence.  The drive to Mbabane is usually really foggy when it is overcast and tonight was no exception.  It is really scary to drive in.  We came home to electricity…..yea!!!!!

Moving President and Sister Malaza

View from their home – those are pineapple fields

Packed and ready to go

Their new place – just room for a single bed

Cooking our defrosted meats

Our feast

Masabendze and Simphiwe’s bed

New bed – thanks to people that have donated to help

Jump robe while waiting for water jugs to fill

Masabandze cleaning to start preparation for dinner

A quick game of soccer

One of these was dinner

The Mbabane elders showing off their strength and an old man with the biggest belly!!

Elders Lombardi, Daniel, Lowry, Ferrin, Macharia

As usual, Saturday started with brownie making and potato cooking and then off to Nhlangano for priesthood training and missionary fireside.  The training was suppose to start at 10:00 but didn’t until 11:30; fireside at 12:00 but started at 1:30.  We had to leave at 2:30 so we would be back in time to prepare food for Mac and a friend that was coming to dinner.

Dennis, Mac and Kele for dinner and games

It is Brian and Trinas’ anniversary today – three years later and a darling little boy, they are creating a sweet family.  It was a perfect day…….ceremony, the entire family in the temple together….nothing could have been better. 

 

And it was another perfect Sunday here in Swaziland.  We attended fast and testimony meeting at the Ezulwini branch.  Dennis had to do temple interviews for the young men that are going with us to the temple for their endowments on Tuesday.  After church Dennis had to drive to Manzini to do another temple interview, and then he went on some appointments with the Ezulwini elders.  The president called and said that he was transferring Elder Adale in the middle of his training….I have never seen two elders so disappointed to be separated.  It was a great companionship and they were very emotional.  We will truly miss Elder Adale.

Elder Adale – a great trainer (babe) and Hansen – his son

I received another testimony that Heavenly Father is mindful of me and the things going on in my life.  It was just one of those days and I declared it as my P-day.  Dennis had to help some elders but I stayed at home to try and handle some situations that had been created.  I was frustrated and tired.  Then Dennis arrived with a card from our Utah home – a card containing thoughts from the sisters back home telling me that they were thinking of us.  Thank you Father for the timing.  Thank you for being mindful of what I need and arranging your transfer board to have it arrive on just the right day!  You are amazing.