01 November 2009 – Sunday
Because elders Wengert and Maremela were visiting Kosi Bay, we were up and out of the house by 6:30 so we had time to get to Empangeni and pick up elders Musemare and Dhijon. We dropped them at the chapel and picked up President Nyawo so we could hold PEC. After the PEC meeting we drove to Port Durnford for sacrament meeting.
It was a different from most Fast and Testimony meetings we have been to because after one of the brothers gave his testimony in Zulu a couple of other members did the same. When they share their testimony in English, they tend to keep them short. But in Zulu they speak for a long time. I asked one of the young men to translate some of what was being said and he did a good job – better than anyone we had in Indonesia. He gave the idea of what was said instead of a word for word translation.
After the meeting we hurried over to the Richards Bay chapel so that I could talk to Calwyn Baldwin but he was not there. However I was able to interview Steven Klicck as a counselor in the Elders Quorum and then sustain and set him apart. It was something that needed to be done but I did not expect to do it until next week.
From there we went to Enseleni and helped set up for their meeting. I was happy to find that President Vilane came prepared with the agenda and the meeting started just 5 minutes late instead of the usual 15 to 25 minutes. However since many of the members were use to it starting late, there were not a many there when the meeting started and they just kept coming until there was a fair number – 52 or so by the time the meeting was over.
I went attended the PH class and Mary visited the Primary and RS meetings. She felt that the Primary teachers needed some training and we are going to talk to sister de Klerk about perhaps spending some time with them.
I was happy to find out that on the first Sunday of each month they hold Branch Council meeting. I chose not to attend because I wanted President Vilane to do it without any outside help except from the Elders. I told him I would be happy to help him if he thought he needed help but that I was sure he was capable of doing it himself. I did suggest that he might want to plan a Christmas social for the branch and I think he will do that.
While they were holding that meeting I spent some time teaching a brother about the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood. He is working with President Vilane on clearing up something in his life so he can receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. We had a good discussion and I think he will make a good priesthood holder when he is ready.
We came home, ate a late lunch and took short naps. In the evening the Mickelsens came over and share dinner with us. Mary made chicken enchiladas using the green enchiladas sauce we bought on Wednesday. As usual we had a lovely time with our two friends. They filled us in on how things were going in Swaziland and we talked about some of the experiences we have had in our years in the church. I must confess that we were sorry to see them leave for Meernsee and then tomorrow for their home in Durban.