A Collection of Reflections from Swaziland

(We leave for Kruger Park in the morning. We may not have new posts until Monday. Hopefully you will enjoy feasting on the following three blog posts until we continue sharing our story with you next week. Thank you for your prayers and support.)

This week I worked with the kids. It was very fun! My favorite moment of today was during storytime in the preschool. A little girl just grabbed my hand and held it the whole time. It was so precious. I have enjoyed being in Swaziland and can't wait to see how it impacts the rest of my life, because I know it will.
Erin

It is amazing to me that a place like Swaziland still exists, where culture, tradition, and family reign supreme. At the same time, there is a sense of awareness about the rest of the world, so that the desire for self growth and/or self education is very apparent. This lends the people an air of modernization that is a trifle confusing when paired dirt roads, wondering cattle, and rugged mountains for me, Swaziland has been one of the most beautiful, sacred, and baffling places I have ever seen. I feel like I have a second home here. Our short stay has left me with more questions, I have a lot to learn.
Hannah

Our week in Swaziland has been incredible! All of the youth worked so hard and accomplished more than anyone had expected could be done in a short time. More importantly, we have learned so much about another culture, about ourselves and about God's vision for this creation.
Chris

I have been blessed continually in my time in Swaziland. I will treasure the views of the beautiful hills and valleys near the Lomngeletjane church and school; the charming homesteads in the countryside; and most of all the people of Lomngeletjane who worshipped and worked with us all week. It was very special to be able to unite in love with our Swazi brothers and sisters in Christ.
Andy

This week consisted of a nervous beginning and a bittersweet end. I learned two valuable lessons that I will forever hold with me. The first is I have learned to be patient with myself and more importantly, others. The second lesson I have learned is that it is possible to be happy when one has virtually no material wealth. These children are so rich with love and joy. They appear to be much happier than many people I know back home, including myself, who have absolutely everything they could ever need, plus more. When I return home, I hope to look around me, at everything I have been provided with, and be content. I hope to look around me, at everything I have been provided with, and be content. I hope to refrain from continuously yearning for more. This week has been very rewarding for me, and I can confidently say the same for everyone on this trip:
"go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. do it in the name of heaven, justify it in the end. There won't be any trumpets blowing, come the judgement day, on the bloody morning after, one tin soldier rides away."
Claire

Swaziland is wonderful. Looking at a map and statistics, I had no idea about the complex traditions in Swaziland. The cultureabout which we learned in the Cultural Village is so very interesting, and it is remarkable that such a tiny country can have such an unique culture. The people were good to. :)
TJ

Swaziland is beautiful. The scenery is like nothing I've ever seen before. I can't wait to return to this heavenly place to see these friendly, hospitable, hardworking people again.
MC

Gary has a t-shirt that says, "Feel the fear and do it anyway"- that sums up this week to me. We arrived in Swaziland and sang in a siswah church service, mixed concrete, graded a huge area of soil by hand, planted trees, laid block, and taught children who spoke another language. We had never done any of these things before. When asked by someone if we could do these things, we likely would have said, "ugh..." So with a bit of fear, we took our first steps and at the end of the week, we were running. Shout outs to some of those still workng hard til the very last minute: Tiresa, Mary, Hannah, Keller, Chris and Mike and our fearless leader John, who believed in our success.

To MC and TJ: the alphabets that were awesome tree planters! To Sarah, Jamye, Avery and Erin sharing bubbles and smiles with masses of children. To Lanecia and Kathryn for their patience with translators and being overwhelmed with children. To Andy, Aren, Claire and Keller for patiently shoveling and raking to get the grades and drainage just right. To Ken and Steve who proved they can be more thank spiritual guides they are excellent weedeaters.
Kim

Home like here is an ever changing thing.
My home is here and there
but here is ever changing.
Peace and Love
sarah