Happenings of the Week - 8 Feb

Happenings for 2 -8 February, 2009

Loan applications were approved to be sent to to the Loan Committee in SLC. It was a frustrating day trying to figure out expense sheets and petrol records that we were never informed had to be kept, writing letters of exception, and making preparations for our trip to Swaziland. The temperatures went very high, so we closed up the house, turned on the bedroom air con (people don't know what we mean when we say air conditioning) and the floor fan. Amazing how just having some dry air, instead of straight humidity, makes 84 degrees+95% humidity seem bearable!!

Tuesday, at the request of the branch president of Stanger Branch, we drove the 70 kilometers (40 milles) to visit the Stanger Career Workshop and met with four students. After talking with the them, there was only one really interested in the PEF program. Another young man wants to apply, but he is of age to be serving a mission and will wait until he returns in two years. The countryside was beautiful and lush as we traversed the rolling highway and many times we had peeks through the hillsides of the Indian Ocean, which was gray and choppy due to overcast skies.

Wednesday was laundry day again and the weather was cooperating – sunny and breezy. Sandy wonders what our Indian neighbors and their black househelp think of the white househelp hanging out the laundry at this house. As the women are scrubbing the clothes in the outdoor sinks, they usually wave and smile as Sandy walks to and from the laundry room.

Thursday, arose early to prepare to leave for Swaziland, drove into Durban to retrieve Elder and Sister Griesemer and begin the 6-7 hour journey. Even though it would be more comfortable to wear casual clothing to travel, we choose to wear our proselyting clothes. It proved beneficial as we came into the beautiful Ezulwini Valley and were pulled to the side by a police roadblock. Roadblocks are encountered throughout the cities, to check drivers licenses, vehicle registrations and drunk drivers. These cause us to be a little on edge because of our Utah licenses. As the husky officer came to our car, he peered through the driver's window and saw four smiling senior missionaries with name tags, looking very nice. The stern look was immediately removed from his face and replaced with a huge smile, a big thumbs up and we were waved on our way. As we move about on the roads, wearing our missionary clothes seems to give us a sense of additional protection. Arriving a few minutes later at the Timbali Lodge, we quickly joined our couples conference meeting. The other 5 senior couples had arrived Wednesday, but we needed to attend a stake meeting concerning the PEF program and employment. The Griesemer's are Welfare/Employment missionaries and also needed to attend the same meeting, Spent 3 hours going over mission goals and plans for 2009 and Arlo had a chance to give the couples an orientation in PEF, after which we had a little free time to change clothes and catch a short nap (bet you can't guess who took that!). Dinner was at the BOMA Restaurant, located on the grounds of the Lodge. There are 18 cottages, which 5 larger family units which are designated as being self-catering (meaning kitchen facilities included). Dinner was a fun experience, as the restaurant is a super large hut - thatched roof, support poles and the center is open to the sky. It sounds rustic but it really wasn't and the food was prepared and served beautifully.

Friday - The lodge serves a made to order breakfast, where you could have french toast, crumpets and strawberries smothered in fresh whipped cream, hot oats (oatmeal), omelets and any number of pastries and yogurt. The morning's agenda included literacy (English) training by a couple from the Johannesburg Mission. This is a fantastic program and is meeting with much success throughout the world. Our president wanted the couples to learn about it, and implement it in their various areas. The couples who will not be in the mission in 6 months time or the next couples conference, were asked to share reflections of their missionary experience. Each couple had similar thoughts about not wanting to leave the kind, loving people of South Africa, plus felt as if they had been changed forever. Lunch was served in the BOMA and it was a very, very large meal for a lunch! The two meal choices were kingklip (a white fish) or chicken. The portions seemed like dinner, the chicken being one half of a bird. So, at the end of eating, we asked for take-away boxes and loaded up chicken and fish portions not able to be consumed. These were then distributed among six hungry young elders serving in the area. Waddling to the cars, seven couples drove out to the Swazi Cultural Village and spent a delightful afternoon. Our tour guide was Albert, since we could pronounce that name and not his Swazi name. He welcomed all of us from Obamaland, not America, and took us on our own personal guided tour. This happened just because we were the only ones there at the time! A live performance of native music and dance, just made you smile and we were able to buy a CD of the music, which helps fund the center. The aim is to create cultural awareness and help preserve their heritage. The singing is done acapella, but drums play a large part in the program. There is a portion of the dancing where audience members are invited to take part and some of the seniors were good sports and joined in the dancing, giving them an experience not to be had again. At the conclusion of the program, one of our group asked if we could sing a song to thank the performers, so we missionaries stood in the arena stands and sang “I Am A Child of God.” Just a truly spiritual experience. We filed out of the arena and on to the tour of a native village, where we were assigned parts of a family. Elder Griesemer was the grandfather probably because of his white hair and he was the oldest in the group. He really took to the part and with his dry sense of humor, made the tour even more enjoyable. Then came 1st and 2nd wife assignments. His own wife was the 1st wife and Sandy was designated as the 2nd wife or the younger one! Others were eldest and youngest sons, a girlfriend of the tour guide and one elder became the “enemy”. We walked through the village past the girls hut and then the boys hut, onto the 1st wife's hut and kitchen, then to the 2nd wife's hut and kitchen. The guide lead us to the largest hut, asked all but grandfather to stay outside. Soon we were ushered into grandfather's dark hut, took a while for our eyes to adjust to the dark. The only light is from the fire in the middle of the room-smoke can get out through the roof, but no rain can come in. One of us walked past a few cow pies and wondered why they were sitting there. The answer, we use those to polish the dirt floors of our huts-hmmmmmmmmm!! Think we will stick with the stuff out of a bottle. Albert recommended that we travel a “short” distance out from the Cultural Center to see the waterfalls, largest in Swaziland. A bit of a drive and then some walking through tall grasses and muddy patches, some of us were worried about what might be lurking in the grasses. The falls were worth all the effort and a simiar comment was voiced by all, only thing better would be a rainbow to top the falls, since it had just rained, but no such luck. It was a hurry up trip back to the Lodge to change into official missionary attire and onto The Great Taipei restaurant and more food than we could possibly consume. So again, take away boxes were provided and the missionaries would have lunch the next day. Our day closed with a testimony meeting and appreciation for a great time together.

Saturday was devoted to orienting the branch presidents on the PEF program and meeting with most of the 16 students we had met two weeks ago. One was a beautiful little mother of a darling 1 year old boy, who wants to study accounting. Her husband was a prior PEF student and they are just a special family, planning to go to the Johannesburg Temple on March 5th. This weekend is the District Conference and we attended the Saturday Evening session (really 3:30 in the afternoon) since transport is a huge problem when it gets close to dark.

The Sunday session of District Conference, was like any session of Stake Conference held in the United States, even had native flower arrangements on the podium. The chapel and small cultural hall were full and we were told there were 336 in attendance. We sustained our prophet and local church leaders, heard spectacular music from a small choir, dressed in white shirts and blouses with dark skirts and slacks, singing acapella, listened to well prepared talks and a musical testimony (singing How Great Thou Art) from one of the elders. Elder Nare who is South African has a voice straight from heaven. President Mann asked him to share his talents with the congregation because he would likely be transferred before the next conference. The president wants to get his singing recorded somewhere before he leaves, because there is great potential for a career in music for Elder Nare. We loved sitting among our African brothers and sisters and have the small children look us over with their big brown eyes. It is our understanding that there are no white people in Swaziland, other than a few missionaries, so we are an unusual sight. After the meeting, there were a few more students to meet and then tie up some loose ends before heading back to Durban. Elder Nkele was our passenger for the return trip. He has knee surgery scheduled for Monday and we were a convenient transport for him. His native country is Botswana and he will finish serving in September-just a dedicated young man who doesn't want to give up six weeks of missionary service to recuperate from the surgery and a pleasant companion in the car. He laughed at us several times with words we used and as we tried to pronounce some names. Deposited him at the Mission Home and made our way back to our boading-ending a very good week!

President Mann asked the congregation to ponder on these words, “Are you closer to your Savior now than you were a year ago?” So we will pass this on to you for thoughtful consideration. Never has there been a time where a relationship with Jesus Christ is more needed, with all the turmoil and strife throughout the world. Please always remember how much we love and care for you.


Elder (Dad, Papa, Arlo) and Sister (Mom, Grandma, Sandy) Mickelsen