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![]() I got this from the internet but look how fun it would be to experience this – this is the view of what we see daily – this is our Africa HOME Next to our parked bakki, were these beautiful girls all dressed up and ready for the big event – shame, so young to be exposed It is hard to capture the sight, but on the bottom is our bakki and that is us trying to get through the street. We were returning from Siteki and these girls were waiting to be picked up to return to Lobamba after the cutting of the reeds Seriously, we saw hundreds of Boy Scouts also gathering to do who knows what….I am sure there is no protection going on, just getting an eye full! These are just a few of the girls….I was hesitant to take pictures of them – but look at their bags on their heads…still love that sight This is our exit to our home– the one that we take numerous times a day….the arrow to Lobamba This is just one of the many trucks that transport the girls from all over the country. I think I would really enjoy attending the actual Umhlanga if they would just be dressed appropriately. The other days they wander and enjoy being away from the restriction of home. The previous Thursday they left to a far away place where they cut down reeds and then they bring them back on Friday in a massive parade to the palace of the Queen Mother. Monday, September 2 was the actual celebration. I really thought that Dennis should be removed also…not good for his eyes but we had no where to go. ![]() We had to remove our Ezulwini elders for a few days because when that many girls gather in one small town where they have little facilities, it is not good for the innocence of our elders. Not only do the girls gather, all 60,000 of them, but people come from all over Africa and the world to be part of the Umhlanga. UMHLANGA, commonly known as the REED DANCE, 2013 – for the past week, the Swazi maidens have been gathering for the annual Reed Dance where they parade and dance in front of the king with a colorful costume, of which there is very little. The cost is high for us, but the reward is magnificent – eternal life with our Father in Heaven. Both feet are not firmly planted in the gospel, so they return to their former religion which only requires going to church one day a week, singing praises to the Lord, and then they can return home to live the life they desire for the rest of the week. But they find that they are not willing to put their whole soul on the sacrificial altar for the Lord– the gospel asks a lot of its members. Here, as in places all over the world, we find people who feel the spirit bear witness of the truthfulness of the gospel, gain a testimony and enter the waters of baptism. That is the price we must pay, and when we do, we then become instruments in the hands of God.”Īren’t those humbling words? What is the cost for us to be members of the church? Do we have one foot in the world and one foot in the gospel? Do we put everything that we have on the altar of sacrifice? Are we willing to give our whole soul to the Lord so that we can become his instrument in changing the world? The Lord demands our whole soul on the sacrificial altar. You cannot have one foot at home and one foot in the mission field. When you came to the mission field you burned the bridges behind you, you burned the ships in the harbor. It costs everything that you have on the altar of sacrifice – your fears, your pride, your laziness, your disobedience, your weaknesses, we cannot hold anything back. Did you think there would be no cost?” You young missionaries came out here to change the world, to change lives but there is a cost. Then in a stirring moment, Luther grasps his arm and asks, “You wanted me to change the world. ![]() At one point the monk reprimanded Luther for having turned the world upside down, leading the world in revolt – Protestants against Catholics. Shortly before he was to meet with the Court of Inquisition, his spiritual mentor (a monk who had trained him and loved him) was cutting his hair with a razor. “What is the cost to become a consecrated missionary (member)? Some time ago I saw a movie on the life of Martin Luther. I would like to share one area that he talked about, “What does it cost to become a consecrated missionary? But as you read it, please substitute member for missionary. Callister entitled “Becoming a Consecrated Missionary”. In our early morning studies, Dennis and I are reading and discussing a talk written by Elder Tad R.
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