Lesotho and Swaziland, Etc.

This could be our last posting.  Tomorrow we have exactly one month until we fly home.  We, of course have very mixed feelings.  We are very anxious to be home with family, especially the two new grand-daughters that have been born since we have been here in Africa.  But, we are saddened to be leaving the people here that we have come to love so much.
Last week we made a trip to the Kingdom of Lesotho.  The missionary couple there are doing PEF and needed some training so we agreed to go!
To the left are school children on a field trip to a Basutho cultural center, and waiting for lunch.  These are some of those that actually go to a real school and have the mandatory uniforms.

This little girl is not so fortunate.  She lives in a very rural area and likely cannot afford school.  She and two other girls made a trip down to a river to fetch water.  Any of you little girls out there think that you have hard chores?  She had to take this bucket up a steep hill.  No shoes and very rocky!!

This boy, we guess about 13 was a cow herder.  There is a huge difference between Lesotho and South Africa.  In Lesotho, the cows and sheep are closely herded and not allowed to just wander.  Not so in South Africa or Swaziland.  They are all over the road there and if someone is watching them, they are usually far away.  Also, few sheep in South Africa, instead goats.  Check out the background in this picture?? It's amazing country.

These are restored cave dwellings (Ha Kome) that date back to 1824 when a Basutho chief fled the Voortrekers and hid his clan.  There are 4 families living in them and in turn for letting people come see their houses, get some of the receipts from what is like our National Park system. The houses  built into the cave overhang are made from a mixture of cow dung and clay and when dry, make a waterproof stucco that has absolutely no odor.

Donkey are still a major mode of transporting people and goods.  There are quite a few horses there as well and we saw many Basutho cowboys.  No saddle horns on their saddles and never saw a pair of spurs

These two boys are transporting samp, a ground corn meal that is a lot like grits.  It is a huge part of the diets of poor people all throughout Africa.   When cooked, they may add a few vegetables-then it is called pap (pronounced pup).  It is not bad.

We visited what is called a non-school in Lesotho.  The children here do not have money to attend a proper school.  So some teachers give of their time to teach them in schools when not in use by the regular schools.  The Head Lady told us  that 40% are orphans and live with others that will take them in.  AIDs is a huge problem here, as it is in all of southern Africa.  School was getting out when we got there about 11:00 am and they all were headed up the trail that you can see in the background.  When they saw us, they came running back and swarmed us.  They wanted high 5s and just to talk to us.  Some spoke pretty good English and were so proud to show us that they did.  It is hard to describe our emotions in those circumstances.  They are so cute and so loving and have so little.  Some are dressed quite well but not sure where they get the clothes from.  They sang and danced for us.  I have video but it is impossible to download, so will have to wait to show it at home.

This boy was in a very rural area near Ha Kome.  He has a metal hoop (over his shoulder) and a stick and was earlier rolling the hoop along with the stick.  It reminded me of pictures of the 1800s where boys did the same thing.

This is the school where the non-school being held.  The children were once again headed up the trail and home. No grass, no playground equipment, no water fountains, no shade.  The missionary couple that we were with, the Holts, had brought soccer balls and material for uniforms but had to leave them with the area Chief so he could have the credit of giving them to the children.  Pretty sad.

Sheep and wool are major sources of income in Lesotho.  We stopped by a weavers shop and watched them at work.  This woman is spinning wool from the box beside her into yarn.  It is then dyed and woven by others into wall hangings and rugs.  They do beautiful work.

A Lesotho landscape.  The part of the country that we saw is very mountainous and very open.  It is all either farmed or grazed.  It snows here and a little farther north from here, it snows enough that there is a ski area.  The Drakensburg Mountains form most of the country's borders.

This is out of order but it is rock art from the Ha Kome caves.  The San people are a very ancient race that most believe gave rise to the Bushmen who left such art work in many places in Lesotho

Sister Missionaries with Proteas, the National Flower of South Africa.  This was a Saturday craft festival held near Pietermaritzburg.  Protea flowers will last three months if cut and kept in a vase with water.

The craft fair had a booth selling these wooden sailboats and even had a pond in which to sail them.

Another picture out of sequence.  A beautiful garden in Lesotho near where the Elders stay in the Capital city of Maseru.  It is spring there and because of the elevation a little later than most of South Africa

Halloween is coming.  A street hawker (vendor) in Durban.

Two little school girls in Manzini, Swaziland.  We just love seeing the little kids in their school uniforms. Sister Gunderson gave them candy for "posing"!!

This man, I believe is a Sangoma (witch doctor) in Swaziland.  I think that he may have either blessed me or put a hex on me.  He approached me on the street and at first I thought that he was a beggar.  But he wasn't looking for money, as near as I could tell.  He had a little pouch with a few coins and some stones and bones, plus a cigarette butt.  He took them in his hand and arranged them on the sidewalk and pushed them around a bit.  Then got up and gave me one of the stones.  He also tried to give me a half of an Emalangeni coin, which I gave back to him.  He then left and went up the street.  Not sure what it was all about, but it was colorful!

August 2012

Well, a little better at posting.  Not even a month between this and last.  On the way to Swaziland there are places where road construction stops you for some time.  These women sell local produce to travelers.  Pineapples oranges, avocados.  We bought 4 pineapples for 40 Rand - less than $5.00.  They were as good as those in Hawaii.   Note the orange and chalky stuff on their faces.  It keeps them from tanning and purportedly keeps the skin looking younger.  Anyone want us to bring some home?

More produce sellers.  They call them Hawkers here.

Downtown Nhlangano, Swaziland.  So many little vending shacks like this one.  We cannot see how so many, selling basically the same thing, possibly make it nor what determines where a shopper buys.  The man with the red vest struck a warrior pose and then waved and laughed.





Swazi woman at Manzini Market

No-bake cookies for two of our Swazi students.  We did a loan interview with Lungelo Matse in the middle and waited about an hour to see the Principle of Limkokwing University so that we could assure him that Phila Ntshangase was approved for a PEF loan and that as soon as we got the paperwork from the school, the funds would be coming.  It worked!  Phila just returned from a mission and barely made it in school this semester.

It does snow in South Africa.  We had to go to Phutaditjhaba and over a pass that had snow.  This is three days after the big snowstorm.  It was very windy and almost 70F.  People were stopped along the way building snowmen and throwing snowballs.  It was crazy and of course we stopped too.

A snow-capped formation near Harrismith.  So unusual to see snow this low.

A old umkhulu (grandfather) in Swaziland.  He is quite decked out in traditional attire.  Spear and all.  He was very interesting and spoke perfect English.  I am not sure that the gumboots are original Swazi garb.

Not sure what this costume is all about.  He was sitting at a place where there is a taxi pick-up.  He is dressed in some kind of rope-like material that has been woven into a dress like costume.  At first we thought it was a woman,but got close enough to notice a small mustache.

We were asked to take Sazi Mthalane to the airport when he left for his mission to Ghana.  We know his older brother who served, also, in Ghana.  He just missed, by one week, seeing his just a little older brother who is returning from his mission in Kenya.  He also has a sister who teaches at Dixie College in St George, Utah.  He is a very nice young man.  His mother is the lady in the red blouse on the far left back row in the picture below. She raised her very nice and faithful family as a single mom!

Helping Hands Across Africa in Esikaweni near Richards Bay.  We helped clean up the area around a shopping mall.  Lots of positive exposure for the Church.  We got a few curious looks.  A sight previously unseen--white people picking up trash.






Mamma and baby.  Who needs baby carriers?  Just a blanket and the know-how to tie a knot.  

Departing Elders-Can you tell?  Elder Rasimandro went back to Madagascar and Elder Rose with the Lesotho hat to Southern California.
Going home is always a bittersweet experience.  We are already  feeling that, 2 months out.

Miscellaneous Photos

It is hard to believe that it has been almost three months since I posted on this blog.  Half of the rest of our mission is gone.  We have been busy, but the real reason is that we find it hard to take photos of new things that we think would be of interest to you, our readers.
With that in mind, here are some random photos.

This was a baptism of two girls that absolutely love Gaye.  We thought that we missed it on the Sunday that it was scheduled and were disappointed.  By chance we went there the next Sunday and they were so excited because we were there and the baptism was right after church.  We made it!

The young women of the KwaDabeka Ward.

The KwaDabeka District Elders.  From left to right: Elder Brazee (US) Elder Stengelie (Capetown) Elder Maclean (England) Elder Manning (USA) Elder Caldwell (USA) and kneeling Elder Sele (Johannesburg).  They actually had t-shirts made that had them, in caricatures, in this pose.

The Majonis, Gordon, Pamela, and baby.  This young couple are examples of how tough it is here for some people.  He is working at a grocery store, she is a hairdresser and they make so little money that they live in a house with at least 4 other tenants, share a cooking area, and bathroom and stay in a 10x12 ft room.  Baby sleeps with them as there is no room for a crib because they have to have a refrigerator in the room.  Grandparents in Zimbabwe have never seen the baby.  They are just delightful.  He is using PEF to become a chartered accountant,  the equivalent of a CPA.

Umhlanga Lighthouse just north of downtown Durban.

Richards Bay Primary.  We went to their District Conference and because of transportation problems they have leadership meetings in the morning before the conference session.  Many of the leaders have children that had nothing to do, so Gaye took all of them and with some help from Young Women had a great time.  Of course they loved having their picture taken.

Molweni children.  The first Sunday here in South Africa we went to the Molweni unit (not even a branch).  This is just over a year later.  The kids are a little taller but it was great to see them.  They are now attending the KwaDabeka Ward as they are getting a building in Molweni but will not be ready for about 6 months.

We had a family home evening with these young adults.  It was one of the funnest times that we have had here.  Girls are Thembe and Sinegugu.  Boys are Sifundo, Patrick, and Thummi.  We were laughing so much that our upstairs neighbors pounded on the floor about 10 PM.  Had to put a lid on things.  Sine is now a nanny in Cleveland Heights Ohio.  Hope that she will be able to come to Oregon next year.

Just three high school students in Pinetown.  All students here wear uniforms and take great pride in looking nice.  It carries over to college as well.  We go sometimes where there are several thousand college students at registration or some event and 99% are dressed very nice.

For the cultural experience we took a ride in a taxi or combi.  It is the means of transportation for probably over 90% of the black population.  We turned a few heads when we boarded.  We just had to experience it.  How could we be in Africa a year and a half and not ride in a taxi.  The driver was making change and navigating at the same time.  I found later that that is the job of the person riding alongside the driver--me, but I did not know the taxi etiquette.

A new couple, the Holts, came in July so we had the tough duty to show them around a little before they headed to their home and place of service in Lesoto.


Taken at Ushaka Marine World.

At the open market in Pinetown.  Gaye bought the tam from these two ladies.

Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill in Swaziland

Swazi children.  There were many children along the roads on our way to Nhlangano because the teachers are on strike.  These boys were as happy to get the pictures of the Savior as they were to get the candy that we gave them.

We are always amazed at the young boys pushing wheelbarrows along the road carrying either their water in jugs or bags of maize meal, a staple for poor families.  We are even more amazed at the big smiles we always get as we pass by--let alone when we stop.

Dinner at a traditional African restaurant.  We were invited to go to Sibanes where the food is cooked in potjie pots (sort of like dutch ovens) or over an open grill.  We liked all of it okay except the tripe:-( They absolutely love tripe here!
On the left is Sifiso Madela and his wife Neo and daughter Kuthula  On the right Bishop Mthembu and his wife.  Great memories.

The baptismal font at Ezikaweni Branch near Richard's Bay.  They had three baptisms when we were there and it was very cold because of a strong wind.

Going away pizza party for Sinegugu Gasa just before she went to the US to be a nanny.  Three of the Elders here taught her in our apartment before she was baptized.  Elder Maclean, Elder Caldwell, and Elder Condie.  Elder Mkuusi transferred in later.

Got a picture of this beautiful Collard Sunbird.  I was shocked that it did not fly away.

A Purple Roller in Swaziland.  I always have to add some photos of the animals that we see.