Today we went shopping!! We went through Malkerns to the candle factory, and some other small shops.  They have a lot of stuff for the tourists.  I must say I enjoyed being one!  We also went to a shop where they make silver and gold jewlery.  I picked a couple of charms for myself.  They have beautiful things, and I would have loved to buy more.

I have been looking for something for the grandchildren, but they do not make the things I have been looking for anymore.  So I had to find something different.  I am a little disappointed, but next time I come I will know what I have to do to get what I want.  Things have changed a lot in the 9 years since we last visited.

Milkshake with Oatmeal Biscuit

We visited Guava Gallery again and had “tea” there.  We ordered a mango milkshake for tea and they brought it with a “lovely” oatmeal biscuit (cookie).  It was a nice thick milkshake and tasted very nice.  It hit the spot on a hot day.

Vervet Monkeys--Can you find three?

On our way to Guava Gallery, we saw a troop of monkeys.  Hopefully my pictures turned out and you can see them.  They were having fun running across the road and up the trees.  I thought they might visit us for tea at the Guava Gallery, but they didn’t. Lorraine said she has seen them there before.

In the evening, we had a wonderful storm.  The wind came howling through and the trees were really swaying.  Lorraine rushed out and brought in her proteas that were in pots outside.  We also brought in the patio furniture because the wind was so bad we were afraid that it would blow them around in the screened in porch.  We could see the rain all around, so heavy we couldn’t see the hills.  There was lots and lots of lightening and the thunder rolled and rolled and rolled.  It was quite a storm.  It actually didn’t turn out to be as bad as it threatened in the beginning and brought the country some much needed rain.  Everyone was very thankful for that.

In the evening Larry and I were invited to the Pierces again.  More wonderful food.  Beef curry this time. They sang Happy Birthday to Larry. She had more relatives drop by so there was a houseful again.  It was nice to visit with her neices and nephews.  We had some interesting conversation from politics to chickens.

Monday, Lorraine and I went to the market and handed out tracts and talked to the people there.  Believe it or not, I was able to catch up on news of some of the people I knew and had not seen yet.  Unfortunately, I am not sure that I will have time to see them, but it was good to hear about them.  I also bought a lot of small things to bring home.  I think I will have a whole suitcase full!  I need to watch my spending now 🙂

Allan and Joyce will be glad to know that Lucy Nsthakala is still doing well.  I have not seen her, but was told that her husband passed away last year.  Her crippled daughter, Priscilla, is doing well.  Marco is also doing well.  She is still living on her farm toward Dr. Hynd’s place.

Monday afternoon, Lorraine and I went to a Korean’s house to help her practice English.  She gave us some Korean tea (I think it might have seaweed in it).  She is doing well with her English, but needs the practice. She and her husband are with Child Evangelism Fellowship.  They have three children, one who is severly handicapped.  It is very difficult for her.  The child (21 years old) has been depressed and crying a lot.  She cannot express what is troubling her.  It is so hard for her mother to watch her be so unhappy.  Pray for them.

Tuesday, Lorraine and I were going shopping.  I needed to get some money first.  I tried the ATM, but it would not accept my code.  I tried three different machines at different banks.  I tried one too many times and it kept my card!  Well, that meant a wait while they retrieved it.  After waiting about 45 minutes they had my card.  But..they would not give it to me unless I had my passport.  I had left it at the house, so had to go back and get it.  Finally after another 15 minutes of waiting, signing papers, photo copies of my passport.  I got my card.  Then came the trips to several banks to try to get money.  Finally at three in the afternoon, I had some money.  Since we were having company that night, we decided to save the shopping for another day.  Next time, I think I will try the Casino.  People say it is easier to get money there.  They might be right.  They do have ATM’s there.

That evening we enjoyed dinner with the Silvanos and the computer guy, Gottfried, from South Africa.  It is so nice to visit  and spend time with friends.  I have loved every minute of our busy time here.

Braiied Bananas (Grilled bananas)

Bananas with the skin on

Marshmellows.

chocolate bar broken into squares

Slit through the banana skin and banana lengthwise, not cutting completly through but making an opening for a marshmellow in the center and a piece of chocolate on each side.  Wrap each banana in foil. Cook on grill until chocolate is melted.  Open up and eat with spoon. Yumm!

Saturday was a slower day.  Larry and I stayed home and Larry worked on the hot water heater at our place.  It had not been working and our showers were on the cool side, but not bad.  He discovered that the thermostat was not working.  He went to town bought a new one and replaced it.  Now we have hot water!  When he took the cover off the thermostat, out fell 7 lizard eggs.  I don’t think they will hatch after being so close to the hot water heater.  [ Larry — they were hard boiled! ]

In the afternoon, Larry took pictures around while I went to a ladies meeting.  i caught a ride with someone who drove by.  It was nice to see all the ladies from church together.  It was wonderful to hear them sing. Mrs. Pierce player her accordian.  We had a Bible study given by Jullian Zwane. Then tea. Lots of cake and plenty of tea.

We were planning to go to the site in the evening to eat with the group from South Africa, but Larry was sick when I returned from the meeting, so we stayed home and he went to bed.  I brought some crackers into our cottage, in case he woke up during the night hungry.  He slept all night and felt much better in the morning.

Sunday we went to EBC church. It was good to see everyone again.  Neil Williams was over his flu and was able to preach.  He worked with the youth when we lived here and now he is the pastor.  He is doing a good job.  When he was with the youth, they all would come to our house, about 30 young people, cram into our living room and we’d watch a movie, eat pizza (which I made) and then end up with homemade ice cream.  Sometimes we would have so many kids that we would open the windows and some of them would sit outside on the porch to watch the movie.  We only had a small TV, but since there was no TV in Swaziland, the kids loved the videos we played and didn’t mind the crowded conditions. I made a lot of pizzas for those kids. Good memories! 

After church, Thelma Pierce invited us to eat with her family.  They have a family pot luck every Sunday at her farm.  This Sunday was a  small gathering.  The Chester Youngs were there, Thelma’s daughters and some other young relatives.  It was very enjoyable.  We enjoyed the breyani especially.  We also had lamb, chicken, and lots of things to go with it. Food in Swaziland is much tastier than in the US.

We were up early to get to the office to have tea ready for the farming seminar.  Since there were only a few of us to do the work, we were really busy.  On Thursday there were about 50 people who came to the meetings and on Friday there were 40.  Over 60 had signed up.  A couple of the other mission ladies had prepared chicken a la king for the noon meal on Friday and Lorraine and I had made cole slaw.

The people who came seemed to really enjoy the meetings.  Craig Deal, who led the seminar, was from Zimbabwe and had lost his farm during the war.    In his testimony he told how he used to be very hard on the people who worked for him.  Even after he became a Christian, he said he was just a Christian ‘streaker’ —  having the helment of salvation on, but nothing else, none of the armor.  He told how the Lord brought him to the point of loving his brothers even if their skin was a different color and how he learned to be forgiving. 

He also taught how important it was to be on time with planting and to keep the weeds out when they are small tying these teaching into the christian life.  Some of the persons who are not Christians could not stay for all the sessions, but have asked him to come to their place and teach them and their friends.  What a great tool to reach these unsaved farmers.

Craig said that the shops in Zimbabwe were empty, but he was lucky because he could come into South Africa to shop.  Most of the people don’t have that priviledge. 

He said that the torture, maiming and killing that people had to endure during and after the recent elections was unbelievable.  The youth were recruited to inflict the torture and killings.  No one was allowed to help those that were hurt.  Journalists were killed if they tried to take picture or report what was going on.  As a result, the outside world had no means of knowing what was happening, and most are still unaware.

Ruth Crowie, Daphne and Ernest Bailey

Thursday night, Larry and I had dinner with Mrs. Crowie, who invited the Baileys.  It was so good to see them.  They look much the same.  Mr. Bailey has had a stroke and is not quite over the effects of that, but seems to be doing well.  It  is so nice to see old friends again.  Many have passed away, but many are left and it is a blessing to visit with them. We also enjoyed a favorite food called Samoosas.  They are a curry wrapped in a very thin dough and deep fried.  Yumm!

Work Team cutting groove in floor for wiring

Friday night we had supper at the transmitter site with a work group that came from South Africa. It was very interesting to watch them unpack and prepare for the weekend at the site.  TWR has a building across the river from the transmitter building that has several sleeping rooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen area as well as a big room for eating and meetings. There are beds there and the people just bring their sleeping bags. 

Busy Work Team

These people did a lot of different work at the site.  They pulled wires, dug trenches, fixed roofs, knocked down walls, and more.  It is nice to have work groups come and do things that need to be done, especially those that come organized and equipped with tools, supplies, and expertise.  They accomplished a  lot!

Esther Stavropoulos ready to go into wiring trench under floor