The creche where we painted – one of the rooms before and after painting.

Mary and Sister Kumhalo painting. The missionaries (Elder Babeeyo) and young men (Sazi) worked hard. This is the kitchen after those two had painted and the sisters had cleaned the floor.

 

The sisters really know how to mop and clean. President Nyawo was in charge and worked hard. He was tall enough to get the top of the walls.

22 August 2009 – Saturday

Up early so we could get ready to go to Esikhawini to work on the Helping Hands project. We were of course the first to arrive. The staff had done a pretty good job getting things to the middle of the rooms and they continued to work until it was fairly easy for us to paint. The members arrived in little groups and when president Nyawo arrived we had prayer and got to work. I was kind of the organizer as to where to start but once they got going they did not really need me. They had all painted before and in less than 2 ½ hours we had painted the two class rooms, the kitchen and even the toilets which were not on the plans.

Sister Mathe arrived a little late but once she was there she was a powerhouse. She and sister Kumhalo mopped the floors and got rid of all the spilled paint and drops. They gathered up all the trash and by the time the last wall was painted and the tools somewhat cleaned they were done.

It turned out that the braai was not really organized. I suggested that they postpone it until next Saturday but president Nyawo and sister Kumhalo decided it would be better today. The one problem was no one had enough cash except me so I took president Nyawo to the grocery store and the butchery so he could get what they needed. Sister Kumhalo got the braai and everyone met at the church.

While we were working we found that sister Malinga had gone into the Richards Bay hospital last night. We decided that we would skip the braai and head home so we could clean up the equipment and me and then go the hospital to see sister Malinga and sister B. I have to admit that I think I got more paint on me than I did on the wall I painted. I am not a neat painter.

I ended up cleaning most of the rollers, brushes and pans in the shower. It seemed like the best place and I could get clean at the same time. While I was doing that Mary took a nap. Then I took a nap while she did a baptismal program for tomorrow. By the time all this was done and we were ready to leave, there was not a lot of time left in the visiting hour – they are only 1 hour at a time and visitors are strictly restricted. Even elder B is kicked out of the room when the hour is up. If they want to talk more, they have to bring her out to the foyer.

Sister Malinga felt a lot better and hopes to go home tomorrow. The doctors have not found out what was wrong. Sister B is not improving and they also do not know what is causing her headaches. As we left the hospital I prayed to ask that sister B would get well so she could continue her mission. I kept getting the message that I had to trust the Lord and be patient. So I guess that is what I should be doing.

Our next stop was the grocery store when Mary picked up the last few things we will need for the Last Supper tomorrow night. We then went by the RB chapel and dropped off the programs so they will have them tomorrow. Sister Wilson was there alone cleaning the chapel. Her daughter was visiting somewhere. She had been wise enough to lock herself in. She said my arrival was fortuitous because she did not have a key to library and she needed to empty the trash basket. I told her the Lord doth provide even in small things.

While waiting for Mary to visit sister B and then get groceries I started to read through the Missionary Handbook and decided there are things we need to do better so to be more spiritually and physically prepared to serve our mission. We need to do more planning in advance – something we tend to not do and will really need to do if the Bs leave and no couple comes to replace them. I am not worried because I know we will handle it but we will need better organization than we now have. Also after reading some advice in the Handbook I went back and edited one of the recent pages on the blog.

We got the word tonight that our eldest granddaughter Taylor Pier is going to be married in the Salt Lake Temple to Spenser Taylor on December 3, 2009. So her name will be Taylor Taylor but she has decided that she will be Taylor Pier Taylor to kind of break it up. We of course will not be there but our hearts will be. Here is the happy couple showing off the ring and of course posting the news of their engagement on Facebook…at least that is my guess.