24 November 2009 – Tuesday

A Funny Story – The chapel at Port Durnford is behind a member’s house. In the home are three small children who are always happy to see us -  probably because I give them hard candies. From early on we have greeted them with ‘Hello! How are you?’ and they reply the same. This is repeated almost each time we see them even if we are not just arriving.

Today Mary found out from some of the youth that the children think our name is “How are you.” How she found out was that while we were having youth one of the children was squeezing past where Mary was sitting and the other one said something in Zulu that made the youth laugh. When Mary asked what had been said, Ayanda told her that he had said: ‘Be careful, don’t step on ‘How are you.’ Out of the mouths of babes….

By 9:00 when we are getting ready to leave for the day, the clear sky and bright sun is heating up the world to a point where I know it is going to be a two handkerchief day.

We had time before ZDM to get a number of errands run – it is amazing how many things that need to be done almost everyday and how much time is eaten up while taking care of them. I finally approved the sign for Nseleni so this Sunday Elder Tsegula can hang it up.

ZDM was well done by the ZLs – I do wish the elders would come prepared to take notes and did not just listen and hope they remember everything. I think both ZDMs and DDMs would be more productive if this happened.

After ZDM we came back to our boarding so the Zone Leaders could get the activity charts off their e-mail and so Elder Maremela could finally replace the bible he gave away to a new convert. Then we loaded up the car with some material and yarn that we had inherited from the Hafens and took it up to Enseleni to give to Mama Zulu. Unfortunately we did not call to make sure she was at home – she wasn’t so we will try again tomorrow. We then took the N-2 to Esikhawini to get gas, air in one of the tires, and pick up KFC for Port Durnford.

Because of the promised KFC we expected that everyone would be there at 3:00 – Wrong! There were 3 young men on time and the rest straggled in over the next half hour. I guess there are times when even food is not enough motivation to be on time. I took the left-overs to a family we know who does not have much and the son is investigating the Church.

While Mary worked with the youth that were there on getting the banner designed and at least started, I took care of a couple of problems that we had been made aware of by the missionaries. I was able to run down some of the answers but others will take some time. We are always saddened when we find that some of the youth are led away by the ways of the world.

I had the opportunity to talk to Siya about going on a mission. I think that he would be an excellent missionary and want to work with him to build up his testimony and desire to serve. While we were talking he told about the young man whose funeral he attended on Sunday instead of coming to Church. He was 22 or 23 and was just finishing up his Master’s degree. He was at home working on his thesis when he heard a noise and went to investigate. It seems when he opened the door he was shot in the face and killed.  Another tragedy that probably came from the poverty and lack of hope that is so predominate throughout much of the country.

As we were finishing up Youth, I got a call from Elder Johnson that quickly changed our plans for the evening. Elder Barker, a missionary who has been in the country about 7 weeks, needs to go home because of health. He had left some important papers in our Zone Leader’s car and Elder Johnson asked if we could meet he and his wife in Stanger to hand over the folder. After making sure that the ZLs actually had the folder I said sure.

So after wrapping up Youth and delivering Bungomusa to his home, we went to Esikhawini and got the folder. We then drove to Stanger – about 45 minutes from Esikhawini – and waited for the Johnsons to arrive. The exchange was quickly made and we turned around and headed home. By that time it was dark and I was reminded how much I did not like driving after dark – never had and never will. It is especially hard here where the headlights on low are set too close to give a good view of the road ahead and the high beams blind people traveling the other way.  But we made it safely and ended up at the mall for dinner. Then it was home where we basically  collapsed and within the hour we were in bed.