Long, Satisfying Day

Elder Cinquini and I were up and out the door by 7:30 am with two PA directors to met the Area Humanitarians Ken and Phillip at the airport. We all drove North to met with a company involved with agriculture projects that help families and farmers to become self reliant. They wanted to show the farms they are working with.  We drove and drove and drove.  We didn't realize it was going to be such a long drive but we saw some beautiful countryside and lots of sugar cane.

Walking among the butternut squash 

The women sit and wash the squash before they put them into a bag.

Then a women carries the bag to the end of the road for pick up. 

This food is going to a local school. 

The women were friendly and even let me try to carry 

A bag on my head, but my iPad battery went low and 

We didn't get a picture. 

On our way back to Durban we had one more meeting

at Ukhozi FM regarding their trip to Salt Lake. We finally got home at 5:30 pm

We had a small miracle during our drive today. We had not anticipated driving so many kilometers and our gas was running very low.  Just as our gas light went on we found a rugged gas station. We were so happy, then the attendant said they did not have any unleaded gas. We were in the middle of nowhere. We kept driving, already late for our second meeting, but still several kilometers to the nearest town. My anxiety level was beginning to climb. We went up and down hills expecting the next corner to reveal a town, but instead it was nothing but farm land. Everyone in the car was getting very nervous. Every time Elder Cinquini went downhill he put the car in neutral. Now the gas tank says empty and Sipho says I don't think we're going to make it. Then we see a sign that said the nearest town is 30 kilometers!  Sipho said if this car makes it, I'm going to buy it!  That car went another 24 kilometers on an empty tank. We couldn't believe it. We all shouted for joy when we pulled up to the gas station. Then we all started laughing and joking.  

We were so thankful that the radio station kept our meeting even though were 1 1/2 hours late. Many things were worked out for the trip.  A woman named Yvonne saw us in the lobby and gave us a big hug. We thought maybe she was a member of the church, but she saw my name tag and said she knows our church. She was so happy to see us and we had a friendly chat. She was there to talk on the radio about heart health. As we came out of the meeting we saw her waiting to go on the air and she asked us to wait.  When she finished she said she was nervous to go on the air but when she saw us she knew everything would be ok. she loves the youth of the church and what they stand for. We didn't get to know her whole story so Sipho took her name and number and said he wanted to have lunch with her. Brother Sipho Duma asked her for a magazine that she had so he could read it, later he said I have a gift for you as well, and he gave her the My Family booklet and explained to her what it was.  Zanele asked her to speak at an Enrichment mtg about healthy cooking for children. She said she always wanted to know what was in that church building, she wanted to see for herself. Sister Zanele Hlongwane agreed to give her a tour of the building, including famly history, library, and employment. She agreed to all the meetings, they set a date, and that my friends is Public Affairs in action. You can make a new friend just that quick. 

My Family Booklet

The church has put out a booklet called "My Family".  It's to help people begin to record their family histories and encourage them to work on their geneology.  The missionaries in the Durban area are using it as a missionary tool and helping people discover their roots.  Today we interviewed two of our missionaries as they were showing some newly baptized young men how to use the familysearch.org website.  It is very difficult for black Africans to trace their family since it is usually an Elder in their village that keeps all the records in their head.  By getting them started on their family records they can begin to get this information written down.

 

Elder Faganello from Canada is showing an investigator the My Family booklet

Elder Faganello helping Sikhumbuzo who was baptized in August the familysearch.org website.
 

 

Elder Thale makes me laugh.  As he is posing for this picture he is actually saying all sorts of silly stuff, like someday you will have children and a beautiful wife .......

 

 

Elder Faganello who resides in Canada is serving a two year mission in the Durban area. “My family has been traced back to the 1600’s, said Faganello, “I am happy to pay it forward by helping others discover their ancestors.”  When asked how it made him feel to help people record their histories Elder Thali from Johannesburg says, “I am learning as well, it is awesome how people love to learn about their families. It is nice to see people of all ages doing this work.”

Ministry of Public Health Appointment

Left to Right: Jerome Shongwe ( Well know and respected man of his community), National Public Affairs Director, Elder & Sister Eggett, Humanitarian couple, Elder Cinquini, Public Affairs, and Dr. & Sister Madsen, Humanitarian Medical Specialists.

Church in Swaziland

We enjoyed our Sunday Service in Swaziland.  We were surprised how many young single adults attended church.  They've joined the church with an amazing love of God and a strong testimony that a Prophet lives today. Why arent they getting married I ask? They cannot afford the Labolla that is still a tradition throughout all of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Many church leaders try to talk persuade parents to disregard or lessen the Labolla, but too many hold on to this tradition. While in Swaziland Jerome Shongwe our National Public Affairs Director gave me my Swazi name which is "Lomalanga" which means person of the sun.  I arrived in Swaziland on a sunny day, but I like to think that is also means I am a sunny, cheerful person. 
We visited Scott hospital who seemed very anxious to accept the Church's program of Helping Babies Breathe, which should happen in early fall if all paperwork can get completed and equipment sent in to South Africa.

This is what we take with us when we travel in order to hook up all our electronic devices.

Ezulwini Branch in Swaziland

Sisters in Swaziland studying their scriptures

 

Jerome Shongwe and his daughter

 

 

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Richards Bay

  Richards Bay is located North of Durban.  A lovely, breezy little coastal town.  We met the senior couple at our hotel to drop off some missionary mail and packages and prepared for our dinner with Sister Vezi and her husband President Vezi to talk over Public Affair events in her area.  Our dinner was a success, and what was impressive was while we were eating dinner several people came to greet them at our table.  They said the church is well respected in Ricards Bay because of their Helping Hands activities, Round Table discussions, Family History Fairs and other activities that involve the community.

Sister Vezi is the Relief Society President of the Port Durnford Branch and Public Affairs director for the district.

The chairs and tables in the background are sitting in water.  Ohh, it felt so good on my feet.

 

 

View from our hotel room

As we were checking out the young man behind the desk asked us where the church was located.  I was embarrssed to say I wasn't sure because we only arrived yesterday were leaving today.  He said he'd seen the young missionaries and would find them again and go to church with them.  I learned a valuable lesson that whereever we go we need to be able to tell people how to find the church in their area.

 

 

Swaziland

Swaziland is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  I may have said that about several places in Africa, but truly the country of Swaziland is magnificant! I'll write more about our adventures at a later time, but I wanted to dedicate this post to my friend Glenda Wardell because she loves plants and nature in general.  This is a place that most church members stay when they are in Swazi. It is breath taking.  The cost is $106.00 a night in US  currency.   I had to add that because in the US it would cost,so, so, much more. They give church members a big discount because they said we are easy, and pleasant guest.  My photos can't begin to capture the beauty of this resort, but I will try.

 

 

 

All over the grounds they have these ponds with animal statues around them.

I still have more pictures!

 

 

 



This was our room #114



We are traveling with the humanitarian couple and Dr. Madsen and his wife. They are talking with the Minister of Health Dept. in Swazi and Lesotho about a program called Helping Babies Breathe.  So far the response has been very positive.  The Doctor and is wife will return in a few months to train mid-wives and hospital staff on assisting newborn who struggle at birth.  The mortality rate for infants is very high and the country is anxious to do what they can to lower that number.