GeGe, Swaziland

One last page of the book, one last look at the view, one last sip of soda and we are off again.

We headed for the small community of GeGe where we were to meet with a Group from the church. They are remote enough that they do not get General Conference when everyone else does. We were fortunate to have a supply of the Conference DVD's at the area office, so we pack one up special for GeGe.

These pictures were taken on the drive over. The Vistas are breath taking. It is not easy to capture the true drama of the landscape but I had to give you a little taste of this incredible majesty of this part of God's creations.
This is the road we traveled to get to GeGe. It was 4o Kilometers of bumpy wash board roads each way. It took us an hour and a half to get there.

We were later than we had expected to be. When we finally pulled up to the GeGe high school sigh (our only sign post along the way) we were an half hour late. We got out of our car and walked towards the school rooms. It was hard to tell where the church service was being held because all the doors were closed. We noticed a couple of young people approaching the building and we asked them if they knew where the meeting was

being held? They indicated a room but cautioned us that Sacrament was being passed. So we waited until the door opened which is the sign the Sacrament had concluded.

The Group leader came out into the yard to give us a proper greeting and then ushered us into the school room. I made a quick survey of the room and determined there were no seats left. Then the Group leader indicated we should sit in the seats at the front of the room.

These sweet people had waited to begin their meeting hoping we would arrive in time to join them for the service. We realized this when we were introduced as the speakers along with the group leaders wife and the young man who blessed the Sacrament.

They had choir which performed a special number. They were great. Half the congregation stood to sing when the group leader announced the special music number. They of course have no piano, but their voices were so wonderful no accompaniment was needed. There was a child of about 5 singing in the choir who knew every word of the song; singing with a love that shone in his face. I loved watching him.

We are learning to be prepared to share our Testimonies where ever we go. It is still a bit of a shock however when we hear our names announced as the featured speakers. We are humbled by the love and acceptance we feel from these beautiful people. They are so grateful to have someone visit them who has any connection to the Church that they treat visitors as spiritual leaders.

These are the sights we saw when we arrived at the school. There is no electricity in these building nor is there running water on the school property. There are out houses for personal relief.

Church was held in the building to the left. The two people in the picture were the youth who helped us know which building to go to.

English is not the first language spoken here. Our Testimonies were translated into Zulu and most of the service was given in that language. The group leader was kind enough to speak English when he introduced us so we knew what to expect.

These are the two young missionary wanna be's waiting to be ordained. They are so far away it is hard to get anyone to come to ordain men to their Priesthood advancements. These people have few cars amoung them to make the trip to the city.

After Sacrament Meeting was over, the group leader announced everyone was to go to his home to listen to the General Conference DVD's that Elder and Sister Webb had brought. So much of the congregation climbed into the back of Brother Malenge's truck, two sisters came with us and the rest of the congregation walked the the Malenge home.

Brother Malenge stands at the door of his truck. He is the father of this community. He is the literal heir (chief) of the valley. Most of the people that live in this valley are older women who are raising their grandchildren.

Brother Malenge has retired from his job as Police Chief in Manzini. He and his wife have moved back to their family homestead. This whole valley is filled with family homesteads. There is no industry, there are no stores, there are no gas stations. Finding work is impossible., yet they feel this is the best place to raise the children. It is safe.

The grandmothers and their grandchildren filled the truck and the over flow walked to the Malenge's home.
Look at the wonderful grandmothers with their beautiful grandchildren. They have lost their husbands, but caring for the grandchildren and raising them in the safety of the country is their purpose in life.

I was visiting with one of the sisters who pointed out her home across the valley on an adjacent hill side. I asked her how she got to church. She said she walked and that in only takes her an hour and a half each way. It is much easier to go to church than it is to fetch water. For that she must walk hours to the river where she fills the large container which she carries on her head.

This is the Malenge home. It has electricity which makes it possible for all to watch conference.The Malenge's also dug a well recently. They took one of their round house and made it into an apartment complete with toilet, shower, and a mini washing machine. They did this so they could get missionaries in the valley. The missionaries are the ones who have the toilet. No one else in the valley has an in house privy with running water. The main house at the Malenge's does not have these luxuries.

There are many buildings on the homesteads, and one can see how nicely kept the properties are.

Some of the children waiting for conference to start. Even though many of these people cannot understand English, they feel the Prophets voice is so special they will sit for hours just listening.

We hope to return to this little haven someday. The people are full of faith and they work so hard for what they have. Families are everything to them. The generations coming up is their hope.