Back to Swaziland - Part 2

This picture is taken at the restaurant in the resort where we stayed. We are with the Blackburns and the Zuwackys. The Blackburns are missionaries serving in Swaziland.

They do everything and anything that is need to support the members of the church and the young Missionaries in this area. The Zuwackys are visiting from Durban where they serve as Seminary and Institute missionaries.

We would go to dinner about dusk, watch the sun set and as soon as the light was gone the night sounds began. The music from the 3 different kinds of fogs, and the nocturnal birds became so loud it was no longer back ground music, it was life around us. It reminded me of Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean ride that always sounds a bit phony. Well, those sounds are real, the difference is that the real things sounds more phony than the ride! It was truly an amazing experience.

We didn't even try the local restaurants because as soon as you leave the lagoon the music stops. These are water loving creatures.

This picture and the one above are our cabana again. We would have been content to spend the whole time reading right in this very spot, but that was not the real purpose of our visit. So off we went again.

We met these two fellows just outside the driveway of the retreat. It is hard to imagine such beauty can be surrounded by such poverty. The two young men were just laying beside the road. We stop the car to visit. They spoke little english and they do not go to school. What I did find out is the smaller of the two is 10 years of age and the older one is 14. They are both small for their ages. We gave them a few coins for a picture and left them smiling with fruit in hand. Later in the day we happened upon the younger of the two. He was herding cows across the road. He waved and enthusiastic wave when he saw us drive by.

Oneof the congregations we met with was a group in GeGe. It is a retirement valley filled with family homesteads. Most people leave the valley for the city so they can earn a living. The inhabitant that stay are the old and they very young. Grandparents are raising their grandchildren because the parents of the children must work else where. There is no industry in the valley except for family farming. The problem is most farms do not have access to water except that which the women carry to and from the river each day. It can be a difficult life.
The Malenge family is the strength of this community. They have a large property and took one of the buildings on their property and installed a toilet, small sink, shower, and a washing machine. This after they dug a well. They did this so they could get missionaries in the valley.
Brother Malenge is a retired police chief for one of the larger cities in Swazi. He and his wife joined the church in 1998. When he retired they moved back to his family homestead, which is where we find them here. They are doing wonderful missionary work but the Mission President is concerned because there are no adult men being baptized; there are few men in the valley. The young men are well mannered and hard working. They serious about the gospel of Jesus Christ and had a desire to go on missions. But, they will soon leave the valley for school, missions, and work. When they leave they take with them any prospect for future growth.
We were able to take a DVD of General Conference and after our Sacrament Meeting everyone made their way to the Malenge's home to watch the Video.

One of the pictures is of the Malenge home. Many church activities are held at this homestead which is about a mile and a half from the school building where church services are held. What was surprising to me is that many of these people did not speak English, yet they all wanted to watch the prophet speak. They were very attentive. Adults and children alike. These children are very well mannered and very polite.

We met for Sacrament Meeting in a school house that has no electricity. And So when the meeting was over many people as could climbed into the back of Brother Malenge's truck (as seen above). The rest walked to his home. We had two rather large women ride with us. One pointed off into the distance and told us that is where she lives. I asked her how long it took her to walk to church and was told it is and hour and a half each way. She the pointed to a home on the distant hill side and told us that belong to the other lady in the car. Brother Malenge is one of a very few men who live in the valley. Most of the women are widows raising their grandchildren.