I TOLD THE WITCH DOCTOR

My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to say
My friend the witch doctor, he taught me what to do
I know that you'll be fixed-up when I try this on you...

Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang...
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang

It is true, I am practicing my own medicine here.  Two weeks ago we had two interesting experiences.  We have an older sister in the branch....I love her. But, she was under great duress because she kept having accidents. We got her some medication from the pharmacy and she says she is like  "16 years old" again.  Amazing if I say so myself... With the same medication I also cured her sugar problem and her heart problem and a whole bunch of stuff and she knows I was sent to her from God.  She loved Sister Moss (the former Senior Sister Missionary) and when she went home she cried and cried, But now she know it was so I could come.  And, "She knowd I was smart, yes sir, she knowd I was smart"....so how is that!

The same week we went to visit an old "Go-Go" (grandma).  She is 85 years old, does not see well, she doesn't really have any shoes, speaks little English, and lives in extreme poverty.  She takes care of a few kids that come to the branch.  They are her grand children.  Where the mother is no one knows.  It is a pervasive problem here....Grandmas are rearing all the kids. And she is a member converted in Zimbabwe.

Anyway, we were visiting her and there was this yellow, gooshy stuff coming out of her toes on one foot and lots of  flies all over the foot (I was sure laying larva in her wound that I could not see).  I told her she needed to go the to doctor and I did understand when she said no money, no money.   So I came home and drag Bob with me to the drug store and buy all these wound care supplies and antibiotic cream.  I even bought a box of gloves because there was no way I was going to touch it.  Bob bought me a plastic paint pan she could soak her foot in and we take off with some Epsom Salts.
She was in her room, 10' x 10' full of everything she owns.  In the middle of the cement floor there is a big hole, but her foot was cured.  I am thinking what the heck!  Then Bob mentioned that she probably has just walked in some food that attracted the flies.  Yowzie!  Well, I had her soak her feet anyway in the warm water Bob had carried for me from Nelspruit, and she loved it.

But I am going into the Witch Doctor Business.   The witch doctors hang a white flag on their house, that is how people know where they are.

 
The Witch Doctor thing is alive and well here in South Africa.  They call them Sangomas.  There appears to be two types.  There are some more into the witch craft stuff (evil ones), but most think of themselves as healers. The second type thinks they get in touch with your ancestors and they direct him or her on how to treat you and what is wrong.  The treatments are usually herbal remedy. 

For either type they go through some gruesome type training. Involving blood of animals, and they have to be called by the ancestors to be chosen to become one. 

 I am thinking of hanging out my own flag.   When I get home, I will treat you all for far less than American medicine will. 

SOME INTERESTING HAPPENINGS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

FIRST:
Two weeks ago we were going to church and came to a spot on the dirt road that was full of people.  It was ladies dressed in their Sunday Costumes going up and down the street singing, chanting, laughing, and dancing. It was neat.  They were joyful and I was loving it.  I was waving to them and giving them a thumbs up, suddenly Bob said this is a funeral.  I put my hand down fast, but they were waving back.  There was the funeral car and about 30 cars behind the dancers so we waited for them. And I behaved myself. 
The next week there was a group of ladies in the red attire standing on a street corner doing the same thing.   I was told that they start Friday night, sing and dance all night and then go to the funeral the next morning.  

Ladies and men from many of the churches here wear this type of attire.  It is many different colors and the colors indicate which faith you belong to.  I asked one of the branch ladies why they wear this and she said it was for modesty.   I will tell you it looks like it would be hotter than H_ _ _ _, especially in the summer.    Many people have a problem with our church because they want to go to church and sing and clap and dance.  I will tell you they really rock.

SECOND:

 

We went on a little outing to a town called Barberton.  It is about 30 miles away.  We decided to go check it out on a day off (not many of those).  It was interesting.  The drive was beautiful.  There are many vistas here where you look out on big valleys.
The winding road way down there is the road to Barberton.



The town use to be a gold mining hub, and there is not much there.  In the town we didn't see much that was impressive, but it was a nice little town.

These town markers were impressive.

The rocks are hand painted.  They were really pretty neat.  They appeared to be painted with colors and designs that are similar to Zulu Art. 










 I was a great two hour drive. And as everything here, interesting.

 THIRD:

 Last Saturday and Sunday we watched General  Conference.  I will tell you I missed watching it home on my comfy couch and with a special breakfast.   Here they receive the DVD from Salt Lake about two weeks after conference (We had watched it in the middle of the night on the computer during the real conference time, but most here do not have that luxury).  So we had 5 to 6 hours of church on some very hard chairs.  We had a two hour session, then a lunch break for an hour, then another two hour session, then clean up.  For the lunch break they had red viennas.  You have not lived until you have eaten a red Vienna.  It is a hot dog that looks like red play dough and tastes like it too.  Bob is always a good sport, it was just too much for me.

 This kid is one of my faves.  His name is Thabang (tabong).  He is the only member in his family, but he is always there.  He loves my chocolate chip cookies (Rian really yours). 




These two really kept the place rocking.  This is the most darling little boy.  He has a flake for a mom, so he stays with his great aunt in our branch sometimes.   He is the happiest, most pleasant little thing and it makes me sad.  FuFu with the little pig tails lives with the same great aunt and I will tell you she is FULL of it.

 Ward members watching Conference in the school room.  There were about 40 + there and it was interesting that most of them were the youth.  This was on Saturday.  On Sunday there were larger numbers, but the youth really are the strong ones in the branch.

Cute Elder Parrish (Meridian, Idaho) below,  and Elder Moyo (Johannesburg SA) slouching behind him take the responsibility to make sure it happens.  It is always amazing that these kids keep so much together out here in this mission field and mission fields around the world.  The are amazing! (Even if Elder Parrish picked up my brand new refrigerator in the bakkie, and knocked it out of the bakkie getting it here.  Even though it has 3 big dents, I love him and I put his picture of the dents saying that I still loved him!

This continues to be an amazing experience.  It is an up hill battle trying to teach people how to raise above poverty and enjoy the blessings of our Heavenly Father.  But, there will be another day tomorrow!

This week's most magnificent sunset!