We had a SWAZILAND INVASION for a couple of weeks. Can't begin to express how much I enjoy when they come visit. It is like a "burst of sunshine" entering my soul and it re-energizes me. When we are with our Swazi family, happiness surrounds me.
But I think I will talk about the weeks in consecutive order of the days.
Monday, 18 April we had a movie under the stars with the senior couples. We received permission from the area presidency to turn their courtyard into a "DRIVE-IN MOVIE" theater. We hung a sheet around their pillars, set up the sound system and computer, borrowed Sister Vissini's popcorn machine, had hot chocolate and wassil, set up chairs and showed the movie Courageous. We had such a great time. But around 3:00 we weren't sure if it was going to happen. We had a down pour! It was not on the forecast and surprised us all. What to do? We decided that we might have to move it to the devotional room. But to our delight, a couple of hours later, the sun came out and it turned out to be a beautiful evening. There is nothing like being out under the stars!
Setting up the "movie snacks"
The popcorn machine
The venue
The spectators
The movie - Courageous
A great evening - had such a good time.
Tuesday, 19 April, 2016 Sister Claudia Hamilton hosted a lady that had grown up in the White House - the home that now houses the area presidency. Her parents had built it and she wanted to bring her daughter-in-law to see it. Her mother was a botanist and designed the grounds with waterfalls, ponds and walkways through trees. Sister Hamilton asked us to join them and we video taped the tour and captured her remembrances of growing up in the home. It was a special time for us.
Leonae Blecher is greeted by Sister Claudia Hamilton
What we call the White House is really the Endulini.
Sister KK Ellis joined us
In 1950, her mother received a city award for her design of the grounds
The staircase
We took her inside where she talked about what the different rooms were used for
Leonae with her daughter-in-law and Sister Hamilton
There is a historical marker on the home
Me with Leonae Blecher - a most sweet lady
This young man, Sanele Zondi, greets us every morning. He volunteers in the Self-Reliance Center
Liz Vizzini greets patrons coming to the temple
Zimbabwe invades the Johannesburg temple
A child of God
This cute family stopped me and asked me to take a picture. Recently...A Forever Family
Thursday, 21 April SWAZILAND INVADES. Around 30 people from the two Manzini branches arrived at the temple. My heart was overjoyed. They have three families that are being sealed and brought with them a great supporting cast. Xolani and Futhi and their little boy, Sivuse are staying with us along with Mac Shongwe who seems to belong to every branch in Swaziland. We enjoyed the visits with Solomon Mahlalela (Busi could not get off work to come), Tip Top, Concelia Ntshalintshali, the Mantinito family, President Mthethwa and his wife, Mpilo Nkambule, Nkhosikona Sibandze, Pierre family, Andrew and Thembeni Simelane, Siko and Phindile Ntshalintshali and others that we met that have joined since we left. New and old friends united. So great. A little bit of Heaven....
Swaziland arrives.....
Andrew and Thembani Similane
Solomon and Portia
My favorite Swazi - Tip Top
The group....
Futhi and Xolani Sithole
Of course, suckers for the children and brownies for the rest..
Sivuse making himself at home...
I think every father in every nation does this with their children..
At the temple waiting.....
Thembani and Nkosikona
Three families are now sealed for time and all eternity..
Mantinto family
This couple was sealed...she is expecting. Now the child will be born in the covenant.
This family was sealed also. Their father had passed recently.
A happy day....aren't they magnificent
Xolani and Sivuse
It was Futhi's birthday on Monday, 18 April so we celebrated it together on Friday.
A surprise for Futhi
Enjoyed by all
Friday night, Manqoba and his fiance, Ponthso Mokoena from Lesotho joined us. It was a full house and I loved it!
We found room for everyone
Saturday, we had to say good-bye
President Mthethwe and his wife..
Solomon, Futhi and Mac in the center
The distribution center
Futhi is having a GIRL!!! Showing her small bump
Manqoba Shongwe and Ponthso Mokoena - lebola negotiations on 21 May 2016
It was really hard for me to say good-bye to these amazing people that have so blessed my life. My Saturday afternoon was spent feeling a little sorry for myself. But that night brightened my spirits.....I spent it with some of our great senior couples at an International party given by the Powells. We had a good time eating and playing Jeopardy.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my adorable little LIAM. Liam turned 3 years old on Thursday, 21 April. This little one was born while we were in Swaziland and was a real handful for our daughter, Trina. Liam still has a lot of energy and a mind of his own but is just so darn adorable, you can't help but love him. Happy Birthday Liam. I know you enjoyed your dinosaur party!
Sunday, 24 April 2016 we attended the Pimville Ward. Thoba invited us to her Sacrament meeting where she was speaking and then asked me to take single pictures of each of the sisters in the ward. She is the Relief Society president and is doing some project that needs individual pictures. So, of course, we attended...she did a great job on her talk and Dennis and I loved taking the pictures. I placed the pictures on a memory stick and gave them to her. After we took a drive and saw some places we had never gone before. I seriously cannot get enough of sights of Africa.
PIMVILLE WARD
Thomas Masapi and his family (I wrote about him in the post called Visionary People)
Our drive
Monday 25 April 2016 was a busy day. The devotional speakers were Elder Rion and Sister Charlotte Needs who are leaving on Saturday for their new calling as office couple of the new Mbuji Mayi mission in the DRC. They were superb talks about trials and tribulations and charity. These Monday morning devotionals is a plus for serving in the area office. I made a birthday cake for those who have birthdays - Rion Need, Paul Graf and Janet Jubber. In the afternoon Nathi and Masisi Dlamini showed up in the center. They had mentioned a while ago that they were trying to come but we had not heard. How thrilling it was to see them!!!! We had a few plans for the evening, so we gave them our keys so they could make themselves comfortable in our flat. It was Rion Needs birthday so the Beckstrands and us took them out for birthday and farewell dinner. Eish, we will miss them. Home again and visited with Nathi and Masisi before we had to leave for the airport to pick up Aduma Stengile and his soon to be bride, Analisa and their families from the airport. So excited for them.
Birthday celebration for three pretty special people
Tuesday, 26 April 2016 we spent at the center while Nathi and Masisi shopped in the city. Aduma came in and talked with us for a while in the center. He was a marvelous missionary and will make an amazing husband. We attended the 5:00 session at the temple with Nathi and Masisi and Aduma and Analisa who was going for the first time. There is no where in the world that can compare to the spirit felt in the temple. We went home, ate and played games.
Wednesday 27 April was a South African holiday so it was a great time to have Nathi and Masisi visit. We got up early and drove to Hartbeesport where they had never been. They also had never been on a cable car, so up the mountain we went. They enjoyed very much the ride and view. Masisi had never experienced being up the high before. She has never been on a plane, so this was a complete joy for her. We drove through the tunnel, had lunch and then hurried home so they could get back to Swaziland. Again hard to say good-bye but I have learned to "smile" and enjoy the time we have with them and not "cry" because it has to end.
Getting ready to load on the cable car
Thursday, 28 April we went to the center early and worked. At noon we went and picked up the wedding cake for the celebration after Aduma and Analisa's sealing. 3:00 was the magical hour and it was so nice to be with them and their friends and family. Their eyes were fixed upon each other and you could feel their love. I pray that their eyes continue to be fixed upon each other and the Lord and it will continue to be a match made in Heaven. We went back to the center and worked until they came down to the canteen for the wedding dinner that Liz had prepared for them. Analisa is the Mandalay (Cape Town Stake) Relief Society President and her entourage was only her aunt, her bishop, his wife and the 1st counselor and his wife. What a sacrifice for these brethren to fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg to be with her during this special occasion in her life. That is going beyond the call of duty. What a pleasure it was to sit with them during the dinner and gleam from their stories and feel of their love for the gospel. Again, I love the people here in Africa.
While we were waiting for the bride and groom to come out, we visited with the MTC missionaries that had just come out of the temple. Representation from all over the world preparing to serve in Africa.
Elder Lukhele from Swaziland was part of the MTC missionaries. He just entered on Saturday. It was so good to see him.
This is Mandalay Ward's Bishop - Imani Jimmy Mwaipopo and his wife. They flew from Cape Town just to be here with Analisa
Aduma and Analisa's friends and family
Dennis found a friend. He wouldn't let go of his finger. How cute is this.
Presenting the new Mr. and Mrs. Stengile
Dennis and Bishop Mwaipopo - we were so impressed with the "aura" that surrounded this man. As bishop of the Mandalay Ward, he has had to overcome a major obstacle that no bishop should ever have to handle. A great man.
The new couple surrounded with their influential church leaders
Bishop Mwaipopo and Bishop Aduma's bishop (didn't get his name)
Their biggest fans!!
The canteen transposed into a wedding venue
Liz and her husband, Andrea
Mandalay's 1st Counselor - Luthando Christopher Matsaluka - we have made arrangements to capture his oral history. A story of a lifetime of dedicated service. I would love to attend one of their bishopric meetings - they both have quite a sense of humor. So fun to sit with them.
Sandile Makasi, works in travel in the area office, knew both of these men. In fact, Bro. Matsaluka was staying with him for the night.
Friday morning we picked up Aduma and Analisa and their families at 6:00 to take them to the airport. Elder Jubber assisted us with his car.
Another good-bye
From left to right
Aduma's sister and mother, Analisa and her aunt and Aduma
On our way home from the airport we saw this kombi turned over on its side. These kombi drivers are crazy taking such risks as they transport the people. These kombis has 14 - 20 people jammed into them. I have no idea if anyone got hurt.
Friday during lunch we had a going away party for Rion and Char Needs. Everyone turned out.
Every transfer a group of elders come to the temple. This was a district that decided to have lunch and their district meeting in the canteen. The third one on the right is Elder Sifiso Ndwandwe from Swaziland. He goes home the end of May. Swazi's surround us!!!! We are so lucky to be here.
Also on Friday, a large group from Botswana arrived. In November I talked about a group of young men called the Band of Brothers. Some of them came back and it was so good to see them. They came into the center and surprised us. My heart is full.
The Band of Brothers and now sisters with President and Sister Cook
Friday evening we had the Needs and Jubbers over for dinner and games.
Saturday we rose early and went to Irene Market with Weeks and joined Sean Donnelly and his wife, the Gattens and a couple from America
Saturday night we picked up Sister Tembi Zulu (another Swazi) who is working as a nanny, and took her to the BYU Young Ambassadors program in the Wits University Theater. It was a magnificent program - such high energy entertainment. Just what Sister Zulu needed....she oohed and awed through the whole thing. Loved the program but loved sitting next to Sister Zulu more.
Sister Zulu and Sister Sutherland
The program also higlighted a famous South African choir - not sure of their name but they were excellent
PACE'S BIRTHDAY
29 April was Pace's birthday. This young man has been such a joy to us. With his puppy-dog eyes, he could get away with anything. His care-free look at life endears him to me. We love you Pace and can't wait until your little boy comes in July! HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
What a good sport....
After church on Sunday, 1 May we left for Swaziland. Monday is another holiday for South Africa and Swaziland and they invited us to their couples activity. Of course, we headed back to our Swazi home to join them in the festivities. We are so glad we did - they had between 70 - 80 in attendance!
We stayed at the Mountain Inn in Mbabane. It was beautiful.
Cabins in the reserve
Dennis, Sphiwe and Sifiso' mom (Sphiwe was baptized right after we left and Sifiso's mom after Sifiso left on mission) They both are preparing to go to the temple in June. Sphiwe has asked me to be her escort - I am honored.
Zama, Sphiwe, Sifiso's mom, Dennis
We finally made it home around 10:30...tired but worth every moment to have been with our Swazi's.
Now we will just have to wait until we have another SWAZILAND INVASION. Hope it is soon.
THE MEMORIES OF SO MANY FUN-FILLED DAYS TOGETHER WILL LAST FOREVER
THE MEMORIES OF SO MANY FUN-FILLED DAYS TOGETHER WILL LAST FOREVER
You guys look SO happy in these pictures. I love it. Miss you guys so much.
ReplyDeleteMom, Katie and I watched the TV series Roots (they made a new one) and a main theme of it was when the father raises their child to the sky and says something specific. I thought of that when you I saw the picture of that on here. We need a tradition like that. Thanks for the birthday shout out. My puppy dog brown eyes have gotten me so far.
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