Daily Archives: June 27, 2010

26 June 2010

26 June 2010 – Saturday

Up early so we can get to Esikhawini and pick up three members to take to get their patriarchal blessings. First we picked up Stimbesio, then sister Nzuza, then sister Tembe. Sister Nzuza is blind and sister Tembe was badly crippled by a beating but both have strong testimonies and strong spirits. Sister Tembe was told that she would never walk again but now walks with a cane and can even walk short distances without one.

The trip went quickly and was different from other trips we have made to patriarch Jabbas. Normally our passengers occasionally carry on a little quiet conversation at first and then either sit quietly or fall asleep for the rest of the journey. But this group carried on a spirited conversation almost the whole way. It also might have been spiritual but since they talked in Zulu we had no idea what was being said. However that was OK because it was good to hear them enjoy each other’s company.

While they got their blessings Mary and I did some shopping and then found a quiet place to sit and read. On one of our trips we found this very nice park like area where that gives us a view of the ocean. However that was not true today because the sky was full of smoke from the burning of cane fields. This was true all the way down and back. I can not imagine what this does to people with breathing problems…it reminded me of LA when we had smog alerts.

When we went back to pick them up I mentioned to the patriarch that he was going to have a busy day since the Griesimers were bringing a couple later in the afternoon from Engwelzane. The patriarch said that he did not have any appointments for later in the day so I got on the phone and called Elder Griesimer to find out who made the appointment. To make a long story short, the patriarch agreed to have them come at 3:00 as they had planned. It was a tender mercy that I mentioned them to the patriarch as I think they might have been gone when the Griesimers pulled up at 3:00.

Mary had three hours of piano lessons at Esikhawini when we got back. I talked to Percy Zibani, the elders, and others. I also read and took a short nap. I am sure I could have done something more construction but sister Malinga would not let me help her clean the church. She did let us drive her home when she and Mary finished at the same time.

So we had a good day and managed to be of service to some of the wonderful members here in Richards Bay.