17 Sep 2013

We are so much grateful for.....

(An expression we frequently hear in prayers)

Our adventures with Ryan and Kyoung and family continue...........

18 August  We attended church in Orange Farm Branch, Bedfordview Stake.  They meet in a school.  We attended our very first Sunday meeting there a year ago.

President Nyama invited us to speak in Sacrament meeting, teach the youth / YSA in Sunday School, which included Regan and Robbie, and teach a combined Relief Society / Priesthood meeting on Self Reliance which included Kyoung. (Ryan went with Regan and Robbie, Josh and Grace were in Primary).


It was nice to share with our family the things we are doing here in South Africa. Regan and Robbie were invited to pass the Sacrament as they hold the Aaronic Priesthood. 

This is the Branch President, President Nyama

We received a warm welcome.  As per previous invitation, Ryan played How great Thou Art on the Violin in Sacrament Meeting.  There were tears streaming down  faces.  The Orange Farm children were fascinated.  You could tell many had never heard such an instrument.  It was inspiring!  (at the end, many applauded.  The Branch President taught that we do not applaud in Sacrament service,  except in our hearts)  

On the way home, we stopped by the temple and took some family pictures.

19 Monday, we relaxed, did the wash and shopped at the African Market.  A real dealing experience.

Monday evening was the farewell for the Bassos.  They have been and will continue to be good friends and examples to us.  Ryan played How Great Thou Art as a tribute to them. They return to a new home in Arizona.

20 August Tuesday we were up bright and early and headed for Swaziland.  South Africa has two independent countries located within its boarders, Lesotho and Swaziland.  Since Swazi is closer, we took our adventures in that direction.  Even though it is winter, the countryside is beautiful.

This is the Ezulwini Market Place. There were many, many stalls, friendly people and fun shopping. We definitely have an appreciation for the skills used to eke out a living.

The Mantenga Swazi Cultural Village was a fun stop. We learned about the village customs and the house and family set up As you can see, Regan and Robbie were recruited to dance. The program completed with some peaceful harmonious singing.

Near the village is a beautiful waterfall.

Our accommodations were at the Summerfield Botanical Gardens.  It is a beautiful quiet setting with a gorgeous sunrise!

21 August 9 am.

This is where Elder and Sister Lombardi live.They are member leader support missionaries for Swaziland.  They drive a Bakie, a small pickup, with 4 wheel drive. They need it!!!

The orphanage, Care Point Orphanage, or Lobamba, NCP, is run by this lady and staffed by volunteers.

Sister Lombardi is well known at the orphanage.  She previously taught the children to sign I LOVE YOU.  One little guy nearly got it right!

This orphanage has 72 to 79 children from 2 to 6 years old. They spend the day learning academics (like English) and life skills (like eating pap and washing hands) from volunteer teachers, administrators, cooks and others. 

All of these children are without parents and live with either an older sibling or a grandparent at night. They were very well behaved!

We were able to leave 4 large bags of clothes Ryan and Kyoung had collected from their ward, neighbourhood and community before making the trip.  The clothes were like new and very appreciated.  The children sang, danced and taught us games.  

The children would be told to sit down.  They would sit and then say "I am sitting, I am sitting."

They sang songs, and played games for us, including the alphabet song.

This cute little gal really had the dance moves! ( I think some of the children are maybe 10 years old, looking at their smiles)

This game was kind of like "I have a little doggie, and he won't bite you"

It was "My Teddy Bear, My Teddy Bear, I love my little Teddy Bear"

The facilities!

The school classrooms were painted by the LDS Church Branch on a "Helping Hands Day"

Livestock roams freely.........

The children went over to this hand pump while the teacher turned the handle.
As they rubbed their hands under the water, they said
"I am washing my hands with water, I am washing my hands with water."

Here are the four bags of clothing to fit children 2-6 years that we brought with us.  
Tear-felt gratitude was expressed!

The kitchen is here.  The cooking is done in large pots on a fire. The dishes are washed in a large dishpan.  The meal was pap, which is a white cornmeal kind of material that is cooked up like Cream of Wheat.  It is all they had.This little girl had an injured arm.  

She worked very hard to eat her food

After they ate, the children rinsed their dishes and returned them to the "kitchen."

Please, sir, could I have some more?

Grace really got involved and showed the children a new game.

 

Our next visit was to the Manzini Market Place

We enjoyed shopping and procured Christmas presents and other souvenirs.   

The Market place supplies everything from earrings to herbal remedies.

We stopped at the candle factory for more shopping.  As we were ready to leave, we noticed that the front van tire was slightly low.  

SO

The mended spot is the round glob that looks like used gum.

Thank you, and thank you again, and just one more time!

Lombardi’s led us to a tire “doctor” who repaired the tire for R20.  (about 2 dollars US)   We tipped him extra and then extra again. 

The process of fixing the tire was fascinating.  

1. Our Mechanic found the leak by pouring water over the tire, 
2. Changing the car position a little and pouring again.   
3. Then the car was jacked up, 
4. And the tire removed.                         (He had a jack about the size of a soda can.                                                                                     He used a hand lug wrench.) 
5. Our Mechanic used a cork screw inserted it into the tire at the spot of the hole.  
6. His “assistant” had a small strip of tire stuff he covered with a gooey cement.  
7. It was then poked into the spot where the cork screw had been with an awl type thing. 
8. It was hammered in soundly and then the rest was trimmed off.  PERFECT FIX!

The tire was filled up, put back onto the van and we were on our way.  (just a tire business by the side of the road) 

Our adventures continue next with the Tembe Elephant Park

Love, DaBells