Our weather has been a mixture of rain, warm sunshine and just plain gray skies with no rain. The temperatures are in the upper 70's with lots of humidity, but nothing unbearable! The fans do a pretty good job of keeping us comfortable with help occasionally from the bedroom air con unit. Monday morning, we started our journey back to South Africa, after being in Swaziland do finish up PEF loans there. The border crossing was jammed with people waiting in line and our normal short 20 or so minutes, required more than 45 minutes to get finished with the entire process. As we stood in line, Sandy started to talk with a woman standing next to us and she told us that many people return to their homesteads during the holidays and were now returning to South Africa where they have employment. Stopped in Ngwelezane to stretch our legs and to give a PEF orientation to President Mnagdi's daughter and visit with him about the branch. He seems very understanding of our situation when we apologized for not being able to get back to the branch because we are so busy right now with PEF and the new school year. Wednesday was Zone Conference with the Pietermaritzburg and Hillcrest Zones at the Hillcrest Chapel. President Mann commented on the strength of the brotherhood, “We Are One” and that they are a hardworking and obedient group of missionaries. He gave some statistics about the missionaries – they represent 16 countries throughout the world, ten states from America, just from the country of Kenya we have four different ethnic groups and now the mission is composed of 60% African elders. President and Sister Mann came in July, 2007 and there were 9 African elders serving at that time. It is a great feeling to be in the same room with the elders and to hear and feel of their love of the gospel, of each other and the people whom they serve. Each day we have traveled somewhere to meet with our students and sign their loan papers and collect the necessary supporting paperwork from them. Panic time is here for many of them as school starts in two weeks. Saturday was a two-fold experience – see two students and meet Patriarch Courtney so that we could transfer printed patriarchal blessings and download a new one. Sunday, we attended Sacrament Meeting in Kwadabeka, signed loan papers with a returned missionary and then went up to Mpumalanga Branch. Here we signed two loans, then gave orientations to two new students and did follow-up work with one other. As we look back over the week, we feel like we have accomplished a great deal, and know these kids are going to do great things because of their education and be tremendous assets to the Church!
This is one of the border crossings between South Africa and Swaziland and the one we use most of the time. To fill out the required paperwork and have you passport checked and stamped by both the South African and Swazi authorities, takes from 20 minutes to an hour depending on how many people are ahead of you in line and if they want to search your vehicle.
This high school name catches our attention each time we drive through Swaziland.
The flowering trees are beautiful in this part of the world. This photo was taken in Swaziland.
This photo was taken just a little ways down the road from the one above. The crop behind the trees is sugar cane.
This is one of the border crossings between South Africa and Swaziland and the one we use most of the time. To fill out the required paperwork and have you passport checked and stamped by both the South African and Swazi authorities, takes from 20 minutes to an hour depending on how many people are ahead of you in line and if they want to search your vehicle.
This photo was taken just a little ways down the road from the one above. The crop behind the trees is sugar cane.
1 comment:
I agree - the trees are beautiful! It sounds like the mission is progressing wonderfully.
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