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.
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