On the road to Swaziland.

The neighborhood grocery store--well maybe.  They do take the live chickens home and cook them.

The cows in the road always amaze us.  And it's tricky driving as well.

Along the hillside we found this friendly guy selling his wares.

He was so friendly and accommodating.  

First he took the stone figures and heated them by the fire.  He
lit the fire with a flintstone.

The clay figures before firing.

When the figures were hot, he applied shoe polish to bring out
the grain.

Finished product!

The performance in Swaziland had some famous guests.  This is  Ambassador Irving for the US in
Swaziland.

The center figure in the Prince of Swaziland, His Royal Highness Prince Masitsela  His older brother is
King Mswati III.  On his left is the Princess from Botswana, Reverend Pearl Kupe who is the United Nations Director for South Eastern African Labor.  On his right is his sister, Princess Dzelisa Dlamini and the Mayor of Parliament for Swaziland, Majahoduwa Khumalo.

The Tour arrives in Durban, South Africa

We arrive in Durban, South Africa

"I think I can, I think I can. . ."  Sometimes as one gets older, the brain thinks very differently
from the body.  

Grandpa was the instigator as we waited for the high school students to come into the
assembly.  Some of the YA's were incredibly limber.  This is the champion, Michele Ringer.

Clermont Hall, local private High School.  The students LOVED the Young Ambassadors.
Especially at the end when they would sing a favorite African Ballad.

And Elder Roberts making sure everyone is having a good time.

                                                                                                                                                         

That Afternoon, there was a wheelchair handover for some of the residents
in a Durban Township.  The church furnishes wheel chairs for the needy.

The YSA's (Young Single Adults) from the Durban Branch
organized a day at the beach complete with African Dancing
instruction.

The Durban skyline on the beach of the Indian Ocean.

Grandpa is deep in thought as he enjoys the warm air and water
of the Indian Ocean

We met at the Mission Home.  The BYU folks headed to the airport to fly to Port Elizabeth and we
headed for home.  The Hatches will meet them and finish the trip to Capetown.
Susan and Randy Booth, director, President Von Stetten of the Durban Mission, Eric and LeeAnn
Hansen, the band director, Shane Wright,  BYU tour director, and Wendy Osburn, South African Tour
Director.

Leaving Durban heading for Joburg

As we were leaving Durban, we stopped at a fun African Market.  This cute little lady is a
member of the church and so friendly and nice.  Dangerous--we bought too many things.

The sisters in the hills create these beautiful baskets.
We've been wanting to buy one and finally accomplished
our quest.  They are made by weaving colorful
telephone wire.

Elder Grandpa Roberts making the deal for today.

There is a large Indian Culture in Durban.  The spice markets are
very aromatic and colorful.  Just a side note.  As we were admiring the spice market, a young man approached and told this lady to smile for us.  As we looked at him he had blood all over his face.  Grandpa asked him what had happened and he said he had just come into the city on a Taxi Bus and he had been mugged.  They had taken everything he had.  Grandpa helped him out a little and the young man started to cry.  It was very touching and a reminder that Africa can be a dangerous place if you are not mindful of your surroundings.

This is a very unique way to repair the tar roads--pebble by pebble.

The Lesotho Area and finally home to Joburg

            We are finally drawing close to home.  It is very exciting to be at our Joburg home.

The Young Ambassador Experience was amazing and what a treat for us to be included. The 
impact these young people from BYU had on Africa is very hard to measure.  We really hope they return to Africa within the next few years.  Their service and message of the Savior was evident everywhere they went.

Lesotho is a small independent country just west of Durban.  We tried to get inside the border but we had to have a 4-wheel drive auto.  So we were just outside the border.  The countryside is very mountainous and the homes are primitive.  The people wear blankets wrapped around them.  Hopefully we can get into the country another time.

Zimbabwe to train the National Public Affairs Committee

The Public Affairs Council for Zimbabwe

US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray

Alexander carved this for us.  Grandpa is trying to look pleased but he has a hard time faking it. 

                     



     Alexander's home and family.  The chickens are everywhere and they raise them to eat them.  They don't eat the eggs because the chickens are far more valuable to them.

Zimbabwe is quite beautiful, but the
government of today has destroyed much of the land by its policies.

                                                     Three little friends grooming one another.

Like you've never seen a rooster, but I thought they were so pretty.

This is a common sight--a woman carrying a huge load on her head with a baby tied to her back.
I traded her an orange for her picture and then I got a huge smile as well.

It's so fascinating how the babies stay in place and don't fall.

Botswana

The border--always an adventure.  There were at least 30 trucks lined up, but fortunately 

for us, they were going the other way.  And of course, the cow always has the right of way.

As we went through the last check point, the guard wanted to look in the trunk.  She 

said, "You're missionaries?  Where is your Bible?"  Thank goodness we had a Book of Mormon 

so we gave it to her and she was really excited to have a 'new Bible.'

Orometswae is the Director of Arts of Culture for Botswana.  He helped us get the 

Licensing for The Young Ambassadors accomplished.  He is one of many Albinos in 

Africa.  Their life is not easy and they especially have a hard time with skin cancer.

This is Leonard Thebe and his family.  He is the Country Director of Public Affairs for 

Botswana.  He also works for the American Embassy which is probably quite helpful.

"Hello Number One!"  is what this parking attendant would say to Grandpa everyday. 

I don't think he could speak anymore English than that.  It really made us laugh--inside

joke.  Remember our Sunday afternoon drive through town yelling, "We're number 

one" out the window?   What a lame family activity but it usually involved ice cream

so I guess that made it all right.

A herd of goats right through the middle of town.  Rather picturesque.

A baptism at the branch we attended.  The great thing about this baptism is 

that it was a family.  They also had a cute little girl.