This past Friday we went to Swaziland, a kingdom just northeast of South Africa and next to Mozambique. We were following another couple who helped us with the border crossing, having our passports in order, and all the other things that make it a smooth process. Just before the border, we saw 9 giraffes and a monkey but the Coxes did not see them and we were worried about losing them before the border crossing, so we did not stop and take pictures. We thought that we would see them on the way home--should have known that that never happens so, no pictures. The first town of any size that we came to was Manzini and Elder Cox in the car ahead of us thought that he could perhaps bypass all the auto and foot traffic. As you can see it did not work; we were stuck in this traffic for over 1/2 hour and the traffic got much worse during that time. The taxis (the vans you can see) are ruthless in cutting in and passing three wide! We finally did make it to Ezulwini, a very pretty location in a beautiful little valley. It was winter but still quite pretty with flowers and shrubbery even in the dry winter season. We went to Swaziland to meet with several prospective students in a little town-Ndlangano (pronounced Shlangano)--about 2 hours from Ezulwini where we had a hotel--we won't show you a picture of it because we want you to think that we have to sleep on a mat on the ground when we travel out. It was actually very nice.
Saturday we got an early start and drove to Ndlangano for our meeting. It is an amazing thing to drive in the rural areas. There are people and livestock cattle, goats, chickens and a few burros all along the roads and one has to be totally alert at all times. The cattle are mostly Zebu as pictured here on the right--these are actually behind a fence, about the only ones we saw that were. This particular area has large tracts of pulp plantations which, besides farming, is the only apparent industry in the area.
It is a very poor area. The main highway is paved but no side roads in the town are and I cannot imagine how they must be in the wet season.
These are some of the dwellings that the rural people live in. We saw many children, some 8-10 years old pushing wheelbarrows loaded with bags of rice or corn meal along the road sometimes up steep hills. Many also have fruit or some other things for sale and wave to get you to stop and buy from them. Saturday apparently is a big laundry day and many still do their washing in the rivers (see below). They then either hang them on a nearby fence or take them home wet to hang and dry. Again as in South Africa the people that we see are clean and neat and so friendly. There was never apartheid in Swaziland so there is no feelings of resentment against white people--not that I have ever felt it in South Africa for that matter. We had nine potential students in the little branch, three of whom are quite ready to get in school so we got them started. It is a big challenge as they have no access to computers or faxes making it so difficult to complete online applications and communicate. Even our cell phone does not work there without buying a special chip that works in Swaziland. We have our work cut out to make the loans happen.
This picture was taken on the way back to Ezulwini from a very shaky suspension bridge along the Mkhondvo River. The "mama" is using sand to get the clothes clean and will then rinse it out of them in a rocky area. We could see no fish in the pools. They river runs a lot more water in the summer (wet) months.
Gaye braved the suspension bridge--anything for a photo shoot :-) Shortly after this picture several teenage boys and a girl posed with her but the picture was back-lit and did not turn out. It is shaky but heavily used by the locals though as in the distance and up against the hills in the background, is a little group of probably 100 homes--denser that much of the area. Note the little boy just to the left of the bridge. He was swimming but very shy
The only reminder of winter here are these poinsettias in bloom. They grown to about 12 feet tall.
Sunday we attended Church in the Manzini Branch and met with one student there. One of the speakers spoke about gratitude and how much he enjoyed being where he could learn more and more about our Savior Jesus Christ and then he said:
I am grateful for feet and legs that let me walk to this place where I can learn by the Spirit. I had been feeling sorry that most have to walk and do not have cars. This young man certainly has his priorities right. They are so grateful for the things they have and do not seem to dwell on that which they do not have. That does not mean that they do not want to better themselves. They surely do so, and are quick to seize opportunities to get more education. We have not talked to a single elementary or high school student that indicates they do not like school, rather they are always enthusiastic about it and quick to tell you if they are good students. Gaye played the organ in Sacrament meeting which was a real treat for the branch as no one there knows how to play. One young girl about 15 came immediately to Gaye afterward and wanted to learn to play. To bad we cannot be there each week or so so Gaye could teach her.
In sacrament meeting, I sat next to a young boy, about ten, and whenever the speakers would quote a scripture he would turn to it. I was quite impressed. As the meeting ended, I closed my scriptures and my marker, that Loren Dewitt gave me before we left, fell on the floor. He picked it up and gave it to me with obvious interest in how pretty it was. I asked him if he had a scripture marker--of course he did not. So someone please tell Brother Dewitt that another person is now enjoying that book marker. I am sure he will be pleased to know a young boy in Swaziland is a little happier because of his gift to me.
This is the big bend of the Nhloya River. Hippos are sometimes seen here but not that day. There is a sugar refinery in the background. Acres and acres of sugar cane are grown in this area. The haze is from burning the fields as part of the harvesting.
This plant is partially why this area is called the thornveld. Very sharp spines. Doesn't the tree in the background look very African?
This sign is not a joke. We did not see warthogs, but apparently they go under the fences and get on the highways. The fences are to keep poachers out of the game reserves and keep the game in and away from the highway and poachers. We did see an ostrich and some springboks but again could not get pictures. Next trip- perhaps we will not be quite so rushed.
More Swazi huts taken along the road on the way home. One thing that we learned is that when you stop along the road, the children from these homes come tearing out to the road and want anything that you can give them.
As you can see we had about ten children all of a sudden and we gave away all our change and snacks and almost all of our pass-along-cards. They were very happy to get the picture of the Savior. This was a heartbreaking scene as this is the poor of the poor. Yet they were smiling and gracious in accepting what we could give them.
The tree below was just interesting.
No comments:
Post a Comment