27 October 2017 Swaziland Interviews & Training
Mbabane Chapel
We needed to take an extra car to Swaziland because we have seven extra missionaries from Madagascar reassigned to our mission. But they don't have South African visas, so they will have to serve in Swaziland until the plague is over or they have finished their mission. So, Elder Wikaira drove Elder Adams in the AP car, Elder Wolfgramm drove President Leavitt in the extra car, and I drove our car--as the single missionaries need to be with a companion.
When we arrived, President Leavitt held interviews, and I did training on the Christmas Initiative, showing the missionaries the 30-minute training video the others saw at Zone Conferences. I also showed them the downloaded materials that were available, and we gave each missionary 75 #LighttheWorld pass-along cards. We talked about what they could do in their branches, zone, districts and companionships to invite others be ready to:
1. follow the example of and share the light of Jesus Christ with others during the Christmas holiday season using #LighttheWorld on social media postings, and
2. participate, beginning December 1, appropriately in daily service activities that coincide with the additional In '25 Ways, Over 25 Days' initiative. This secondary initiative will help reinforce the Saviour's supreme example of loving and serving others. Members, missionaries, investigators and others are invited to follow His example serving others during the days leading up to Christmas Day. A service-themed scripture is featured each day from December 1 through Christmas Day. Those who can are encouraged daily to go to Mormon.org and read the scripture for that day, watch a short example video clip, and view suggestions of service matching the scripture. They would pick a service activity to do that day. When completed and where appropriate, they could share with others their uplifting experiences, blessings and feelings on their social media using #LighttheWorld.
After we finished with the Christmas Initiatives, each group viewed a 14-minute cleaning video. Then I took a video of each missionary teaching us how to make a bed, clean a toilet or oven using props. We finished it all before President Leavitt finished his interviews.
The missionaries had requested food from McDonalds in South Africa for lunch. Elder Wikaira and Elder Adams took a cooler and stopped at McDonalds and bought the food and brought it with them to Swaziland. I don't think food from McDonalds has been enjoyed as much as today. Later we all enjoyed cookies, crackers, cheddar cheese sticks, Oros drink, and water.
