Visa Permit

We spent time in Mbabane yesterday trying to get our permit renewed. It expires tomorrow although we have 30 days renewed because we left Swaziland when we went to Cape Town. There have been 3 trips there this time for renewal and they keep telling us to come back again next week. Even though we are returning to the US in April we still need this paper work done. The first 6 months permit was faily easy, so it is hard for us to understand why all the trips to Mbabane is necessary this time. That is Government practices I guess. Anyway please pray that when we return to the Immigration Office next Wednesday that all is in order.

Today Will is spending the day in Mbabane working at the new Offices that the Partnership is setting up. There is a lot of outside clean up and inside touch up to be done. He has 2 Swazi men with him and they are hard workers so the job should be done by the end of the day.

I had another Physiotherapy treatment today and can tell my back is improving. Exercise is not a favorite of mine but I have exercises to do and will do them faithfully as I am tired of having a back ache. Guess God knows what it will take to get me to do them. Anyway I am trying.

We love you all and are praying for you.

Homes

What does your home look like? We have seen so many different types of homes from beautiful big 2 and 3 story homes to those made of sticks and stones. Yes, they actually have homes here built with sticks or stones with mud in between the sticks or the stones. Many of the places are just sheets of rusty old tin roofing that they use. Many people in the Bush use whatever they can find. Then you may see a nice cement block home just across the road. Many homes have thatched roofs. There are some nice places that have thatch that has been styled in fancy styles. We thought we had seen some rough looking homes before but they could be mansions for many that live here.

God cares for us no matter where we live. Have you thanked Him for the nice place you have. A roof over your head, carpet or nice flooring at your feet, electricity at the flip of the switch and water with just a turn of the faucet. Take time to Thank Him right now.

Last Day of Trip

Day 10 Final Day. We were ready to get back to our flat in Manzini. Drove through rain most of the day. There had been a lot of rain and there was even evidence of flooding along the way. We saw a lot more farm land and it looked a lot like the Mid West with a little more hills. As we approached Swaziland and the higher elevation it became quite foggy. We were very glad that we could follow the lights of a big truck for the last 50 km. Arrived home about 9 pm tired of being in the car but thanking God for the safe travels and for the beautiful we had seen.

Now that you have traveled with us for a few days, we hope you got just a glimps of what we experienced. It was a whirlwind once in a life time trip.

Cape Town # 8

Day 9 Feb. 11. This was a long day of 750 km which is almost 500 miles. The first part was desert. There gradually became more and more grazing of sheep and cattle. Later we came into the farming area of rolling hills. They grow sun flowers, corn(maze), soy beans, and hay. It looked a lot like the rolling farm areas in the Mid West.

We ended up in Bethlehem and crossed over the Jordan River. Yes, that is the name of the small river. We found a beautiful B & B in Bethlehem. Oh, by the way there was room in the Inn. This was a very clean town of about 50,000. It was higher elevation so was quite cool that evening and raining.

Cape Town # 7

Day 8 We started the day off by driving through a tunnel that was about 3 miles long. Not a comfortable time for Karis. Most of the day was traveling through the desert part of South Africa which was very different and interesting. We saw wind mills and a few sheep but hardly any buildings. The cactus were just starting to bloom. We had been told that this would be a very hot and dry area, but it was an overcast rainy day so we did not experience the heat until we returned back to Manzini.

We stayed in Beaufort West in a second rate motel by US standards. The city was a very poor city of about 50,000 people.

Cape Town # 6

Day 7 Feb. 9 By 9:30 am we were all packed and ready to check out of our hotel. Bob and Shirley had packed and unpacked and repacked to try to get their luggage within the weight limit for the airlines. We just put things in our luggage and forgot about it. That frustration will come later for us. It was about 50 km to the Cape of Good Hope. OH!!! What a view. We could see the currents changing as the Indian and Atlantic Oceans came together. We now understand whey there were so many ship wrecks in this area. This is also a very rocky area. The fog came in and left just as fast a couple of times while we were at the Cape.

After driving back to Cape Town we dropped our dear friends Bob & Shirley off at the airport. How sad to say good-bye to them even though we hope to see them again in the Fall. We drove to Paarl which is one of the oldest cities in South Africa. It reminded us of an old town in Virginia. There was a beautiful Dutch Reformed Church that was built in 1805 and is still a very active church. The 120,000 people looked to be mostly Africans.

There were also many vineyards along this drive. You would think you were in central California.

Cape Town # 5

Day 6, Feb 8 We attended the Immanuel Church of the Nazarene. It is in the poorer section of Cape Town. The Church is made up of many cultures and colors. What a beautiful service with a full Church. 150 in a room about the size of the Fireside room at BFC. There were probably 40 children sitting on the floor.

We went to a nice restaurant with the Associated Pastor and his wife. He is 73 years old and planted this Church in 1982. After retirement last year, he and his wife returned to do volunteer Ministry with the present Pastor. The present Pastor has been there 8 years. He is bi-vocational.

God has been in the services we have attended and we enjoy worshipping with all the different types of services here in Africa.