Tonight two young men expressed their frustration with the things going on in their life or the lack of. They are trying so hard to do everything that is asked of them by the Lord….. to live a righteous life, have served honorable missions and faithfully fulfilling callings in the church, and yet it seems that every other aspect in their life the Lord has closed the door to blessings. They asked me why? Why doesn’t the Lord bless them with a job, with an eternal companion, with just the necessities of life? How do I respond? Of course, I gave them the Sunday School answer….that the Lord is aware of them and loves them and just to stay faithful and eventually they will receive the blessings the Lord has in store for them. But, you know, when you are living in the “NOW”, it is so hard to be patient and understand the future.
I have had a lot of thoughts since our conversation. We all know that God opens doors – favors, good breaks, promotion, opportunities, progress – that is the hand of God opening the door. But the same God that opens doors will close doors – you prayed, but you didn’t get the job; the relationship didn’t work out; a great idea did not evolve. At these times we often get discouraged and we feel that God has let us down and we cry out, “O God, why hast thou forsaken me?” God has not forsaken you but can see the big picture for your life. God knows where every road is leading. He can see around the corner. He knows the future. To us it may look like the answer or solution. What we can’t see is there is danger, heartache or something better out there for us. A big part of faith is trusting God when you don’t understand it. On the surface it looks perfect – you can’t see any reason why it shouldn’t work out, but God can see a thousand things that we cannot see. God may close a door because it would limit what He wants to do in your life or it is not the right time, or He desires you to change directions, or so you can learn to pray more and be refined, or He is preparing you for the task ahead while you wait behind closed doors. God has your best interests at heart.
If your prayers are not answered the way you want and a door closes, instead of being discouraged, have a bigger perspective. The reason the door closed is because God has something better in store. Come to the place where you have such a trust in God, you’re so confident that He’s directing your steps, you say “God, my life is in your hands.” Learn to trust him. Thank Him for your open doors. Celebrate His goodness. But thank Him just as much for your closed doors knowing that He’s still directing your steps. He’s getting you in position for the amazing future he has in store.
So, to you amazing young men, I say – right now you can’t see it all clearly. But one day it will come into focus, and you’ll look back and say, “Wow, God you are amazing. You had it all figured out…all lined up. You closed the door on purpose so I would follow the path that you designed for me.”
Monday, September 30th, we left for Joburg. For some reason, it seemed like it took us a lot longer than usual but we are always grateful to arrive to be among our Joburg friends. We settled in at the Curtis’ and then had dinner with the Knudsens. They had asked us to do a presentation on our Lobamba boys at their senior couple FHE. We are always delighted to share the stories on them and Monday night was no exception. We hope that they felt just a measure of how special these young men are.
Happy October. The beginning of the holiday season!!! Wow, that has come fast. We started the day with joining President and Sister Reber of the MTC at the China Mall. She is always talking about it and I wanted to experience it myself. So they took their day off to show us around. Such a fun place – the Lord made sure that I did not spend too much money by loosing my source of income – Dennis. We were separated from our husbands and it took us most of the time we had to find them. Shame..I didn’t even get what I came for. Guess that means a return trip. We went back to the MTC where the Joburg Mission Office is also and got to witness how the Joburg mission does their transfers. They all come in to the office and there they meet their new companions. It was great to see so many elders – love these boys. Sister Reber fixed us lunch before we left for the temple. Have I told you lately how much I love the temple? Well, it is the ultimate place to find peace, joy and answers. After, the matrons found a room for Dennis to give Tami a blessing. She has not been feeling well and needed some extra help from above to be able to finish her trip. It was a spiritual experience. We returned to the Curtis’ rather late where she had dinner prepared for us. How blessed we are to know this great couple.
Joburg mission transfers
Our sweet clerk at the distribution center
DaBells – employment senior couple
Joburg temple
Wednesday, October 2nd, we left the Curtis’ to head for home. But before we left we wanted to try to find the China Mall again…failed! We found one but it had nothing like the other one. The night before one of the sisters in the branches in Swaziland, called us and asked if we would fast with her. Of course, we willingly agreed. When we arrived home, Dennis went to his meetings and I emailed, blogged and stayed up late to join the family back home at revealing of whether Gina’s baby was a boy or girl. It is a GIRL! She has broken the pattern for her and for our grandchildren. But we are truly happy for their family.
The Curtis’ presented these flowers to us….aren’t they beautiful
Joburg skyline
The wrong China Mall
On the way home, there is a rest stop that has a water hole for animals. Most of the time we have not seen much, but today there were many different animals enjoying the cool refreshment of the water.
The rhinos had their horns cut off to prevent poachers
Gina wrote “Last pregnancy Ben couldn't make it to the ultrasound with me so I thought it would be fun to keep the gender a secret until that night and then I surprised him and the kids together. I thought that was fun. So this time, I decided to have a gender reveal party with my family as well, but I was surprised too and found out with everyone else. My parents even woke up at 2:30 am their time to be there via Skype.
Those 6 hours between the ultrasound and the party were hard though. I just wanted to open that envelope. But, the wait was worth it. It was so fun to find out all together and be surprised that way (because I could NEVER wait until the baby was actually born to find out). You can't tell from the video, but the "blue" guesses outweighed the "pinks" quite a bit. We all expected a boy but some decided to wear pink just to be different. Watch to find out what we are having!!”
Thursday, October 3 Dennis started early by taking bikes in – a constant part of our routine, but a very necessary part of it. Then we visited the Ezukaleni Care Point to see what we can do to help them. Our Lobamba NCP is getting so much notoriety that we want to share the blessings with other very needy children. They were in their new classroom and welcomed us warmly. We just need to gain a relationship with them so when we bring people, there will be a response of joy and welcoming. I am not sure that makes sense to you……Then at 9:30 we met the Eggetts and their son and family from China at Pic N Pay to buy food for the care point in Lobamba and then introduced them to our children. The Eggett family sang “There is Beauty All Around” in Chinese. The children loved it. Then we played with them, gave them sweets and presented the food. Nonitu told us that they are enjoying the jump ropes and bubbles that were given on our last visit. We picked up Chosen and went to see the Msibi family. The children told us that their make was in Mbabane with a job and they hadn’t seen her for a few weeks. The children are doing all the work – cooking, washing, cleaning, providing food, just existing. I cannot imagine how desperate she must have felt to abandon her children and leave them to take care of themselves. I honestly do not know how they are surviving – I know that the branch president has helped, but it couldn’t be enough for 6 people. The babe is too sick to help. Chosen cleaned up the place and gathered all the dirty clothes while we went and fetched water. After, we regretted not taking the clothes to wash them. (The following week, we went back and brought the clothes home to wash and mend). That night Nathi and Masisi had us over for dinner. It was a FEAST! We enjoy this amazing couple.
Ezukaleni Care Point – we love their new classroom – much better than under a tree
Much needed food
Singing in Chinese
Elder and Sister Eggett
Nonitu showing off her African skills
Msibi children – look at those smiles
Masabendze – the oldest child that is taking care of everyone; he wants his mom to come home
Chosen cleaning up the clothes
Playing tag at the water hole
Dinner with Nathi and Masisi – it was quite a feast
Dennis passed on the first item which he thought was pap. Then Masisi put some on his plate and he was waving her off. Then she said – “It is potatoes!” The grin of delight was all over him and boy were they good potatoes.
Morning of Friday, October 4th was spent preparing food for the elders and Pres. and Sister Zackrison so they could have nourishment during their interviews with the president. We were at the Manzini chapel by 8:30 to prepare the building for everyone’s arrival. I love visiting with the elders during this time and we all enjoyed hearing the adventures of Sister Zackrison. We left midway through the interviews to meet the Holts who were coming up from Durban for a visit. They were ordering 24 rings from the Silver Smith. They go home the end of November so trying to purchase all their “treasures”. We also went to see Angel and her new baby to give her some baby items. Then headed back to Manzini chapel to join the Zackrisons and clean up the building and then off to dinner at Calabash. What fun to be surrounded by great people! It was even better to bring Holts back to our home where they spent the night.
Waiting for interviews with the president
It was Sister Z’s birthday on the 2nd, so we celebrated with a cake
Me, Angel and her baby (I forgot again what his name is), Barbara and Wayne Holt
On our way home, we say Nonitu just outside the Care Point, so picked her up and took her home – this is where she stays in that blue home. I love this woman!
Saturday, October 5th was a very busy day. We joined some members in Buka to continue the work on our Helping Hands project that we started in August. There were not as many which was good because there was not as much to do. When we got there they were moving a huge pipe down a steep road. If that pipe had broken loose, there would have been some major damage down to some people. We left the men there and Barbara and I went to pick up Sister Z to take her shopping. We went to Ezulwini market, the Silver Smith and then returned to pick up Dennis and Wayne. The president was meeting with the District presidency and visiting less actives. We took Sister Z back to her hotel, went home and Dennis and I went to Manzini to pick up Xolani and Futhi and brought them back to the Yebo Gallery in Ezulwini to order Futhi’s wedding ring. Returned and picked up the Holts and Sister Z, drove to Mbabane for a baptism of Nhlanhla Sihlongonyahe and Nathi Mdluli. What powerful new members. Nhlanhla said some things in his testimony that I would like to share…”I have been lost, but today I’m found.” and “I’m short, but the Lord can change my stature with wisdom and character.” I learn constantly from these amazing people. I am truly blessed. The president joined us at the baptism and then we went for Chinese. A really nice evening.
Our helping hands project – that pipe would have smooshed someone if it had broken loose
Xolani evaluating the situation
The bridge that we are replacing
Concelia Ntshalintshali
Introducing Sister Z to the Silver Smith
Making the cement to place the pipe on
After the rolled those huge pipes down manually, someone came along with a tractor – much safer
Of course, sweets for everyone
Putting wire mesh in the cement
Some young men enjoying suckers – I ran out of marshmallow treats
Elder Daniel, Ferrin, Nhlanhla, Nathi, Elders Macharia and Lowry
Elder Lowry, Nhlanhla, Elder Macharia
Elder Daniel, Nathi, Elder Ferrin
Chinese dinner with the Holts and Zackrisons
It was a glorious Fast and Testimony Sabbath day. We attended the Ezulwini branch. Angel and her new baby were there. The Primary is practicing their Sacrament Meeting Presentation and are so cute. The Holts left after Sacrament meeting. We loved having them stay with us. What a great couple. Dennis went to his meetings while I prepared dinner for President and Sister Zackrison. I want to share a conversation I had with Mbongiseni at church. We were talking about his mission call and when we could go to the temple. He told me that he had already informed his work that he was leaving on October 31st. I told him I thought that was brave of him to tell them so early. He responded with, “I have to be honest. I’m a latter day saint.” Wow….was I taught a lesson. Also, he told Dennis that he makes E1300/month which is $130 American dollars. He lays carpet and tile and works 10 hour days and sometimes on Saturday. But he is enjoying it because he is working. He will make a great missionary. Uganda, watch out for this powerful young man.
I am trying to get a picture of all our Lobamba boys together but there were only 7 at church today. Shame…..work gets in the way sometimes.
Sibusiso, Senzo, Majaha, Maxwell, Mbongiseni, Sifiso, Zweli
Angel and her sister
Zola directing her Primary children – I came in at the very last – wish I had more. How could you help but sing your heart out for someone as sweet as Zola!
Monday we were out of the home by 6:30 a.m. and drove to Gege (1 1/2 hour drive one way) to pick up Manqoba, brought him back to our home so Nathi could help him get his papers for his international passport for his mission. We went to the store to do some shopping for today’s zone activity and FHE. Dennis, Nathi and Manqoba went to Mbabane while I cooked (pasta salad, caramel popcorn, marinated chicken), laundered sheets and entertained elders. Most of the elders arrived at 1:00, played soccer, we had a braai and then watched “Forever Strong”. It was really a fun activity. They were suppose to play soccer with the orphanage on Saturday, but they bunked us again, so this was the alternative. I think they enjoyed it. Some words of wisdom from the show…”Listen to the spirit inside you”, “Be forever strong on the field so you’ll be forever strong off the field”, “Kia Kaha” – forever strong. I love the movie. It is one that you could watch over and over and still learn from it. The elders lingered so were still here when the Lobamba FHE group arrived. We had 18 tonight – Sbu and Machawe joined us. Our electricity kept going off, then on, off and on. Frustrating but we enjoyed the rolling thunder, lightning and rain bursts. The first ones of the season. They watched the Lobamba DVD that I made and they seemed to really enjoy it by the laughter. It was busy but I enjoyed sharing the day with these amazing YSA’s (which I put the elders in that category).
Playing soccer in this beautiful setting – love those jacaranda trees
This red bush is also in the elders yard
Manqoba and Elder Kakaire
President dropped by to say good-bye
Braai – chicken, hot dogs, pasta salad, chips, can’t think right now of what else..
Watching Forever Strong
Our amazing elders
Mbabane elders showed up with matching soccer shirts – don’t they look sharp
FHE
Electricity kept going off – candles are a necessity at these times. We kept blowing them out, lighting them again, etc.
Elder Manhanha and Sibusiso
Elder Ogutu and Machawe
I do realize how hard it is when we are living in this imperfect world to be able to see the “big” picture and not feel the pain and heartache that life presents to us. But at the end of the day, isn’t it wonderful to have a testimony that Heavenly Father and our Savior are in charge. Trust in Christ. He is the one who opens and closes doors in our life.
Jeremy and I were wondering if you know any details about the DaBells? Where they're from, kids? Jeremy had a roommate in college with that last name.
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