Sanibonani is Hello in siSwati. I am in Swaziland which is possibly the most beautiful place on earth. There are a lot of hills and it's green. Imagine the foothills of Colorado only green. I have some cool pictures to post but I have to wait until I am back in South Africa to post them so sorry again for the delay. Wow what to write about Swaziland. I guess I'll just go day by day.

We arrived last Saturday night, went to church on Sunday, which is much more of a longer thing than in the states. Monday after morning sessions, my group visited a local hospital. If you know me, which is likely because you're reading this then you know that I tend to talk a lot. But what do you say when you are sitting at the bedside of a lady who can not breathe without literally using every bone in her body and you are sitting next to her sister, Nora, who knows that time is limited. Honestly, you just pray. I sat with her for probably ten plus minutes, no words just praying over her. I tried to put myself in her place, imagine looking at someone that I love so deeply dying in front of me. There is no possible way from me to understand, or even comprehend, which seems obvious, but we all try to understand and fix a problem, that's what I do. But the Lord kind of just let me know that I can't "fix" anything, I just have to give it up to Him. I also visited the children's ward in the hospital and I can't really describe it but that it's one of those things you'll never forget.

Tuesday: AIM and another ministry partner up to set up and finance "care points." It's a spot where local children can come and get a meal, sometimes the only meal they'll have that day. That day we painted a church and spent time with the kids at the care point. I got a siSwati name! "Gugu Nomphile" I really hope I spelled that right. Gugu is precious and Nomphile (Nom-pee-lee) is breath of life. Is that not the sweetest name ever! On of the pastor's daughters gave it to me and she also taught me some songs.

Wed: Sorry I know this is getting long. I stayed back from going out with my team and served by helping Mugalo (an amazingly cool girl that some kids hired to wash clothes. my clothes: still dirtyJ) handwash all the laundry. Yes, my arms hurt and really she washed and I pretended to help although she would wash five shirts in the time it took me to wash one.

Thursday: In the morning I came to the downtown part of the city and did some outreach. I did have one crazy moment where this random guy came up and started yelling at me in half siSwati and half English about the problems with American politics and the Iraqi war. Ya, that was fun. That afternoon we went to a squatter camp and partnered with a local church for a feeding. We bought a cow and slaughtered it and yes I have pictures. Well WE didn't slaughter it, we wanted the children to be able to eat eventually, but I did see the aftermath and am going to look at Taco Bell in a whole new way.

At this squatter camp there is a place called Treeline. Now for everyone in Colorado you're wondering how the elevation is so high that trees stop growing. This treeline is a little different. The young girls and by young I don't mean teenagers I mean  3 years and older, are sent there as prostitutes to provide food for their families. Pray for the ministry in Swaziland, and that the local churches can bring a light to these little girls.  

Today is Friday, so that's that. The Lord has been working like crazy. This week we've been talking about who we are in Christ and every day He's revealing something different to me. We have also been talking about spiritual gifts and what that looks like for each of us.

I am having a wonderful time and thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers and thoughts. My team is still awesome. Right now we have about 60 people in a house here including my team, the FYM Jeffrey's Bay team, leaders and Swazi staff. It's a bit crowded. I'm sleeping in a tent with six other girls out in the front yard and then all the boys are in two tents as well. I love living in community and this whole idea of what's mine is your and what is yours is mine, except for chocolate J.

Prayer Requests:

-For the people of Swaziland. It was reported that if the HIV/AIDS rate continues that by 2050 the Swazi people will no longer exist. But we serve a God that is bigger than any statistic or rate. Pray for Pastor Walter, Pastor Gift and all the local churches that are bringing hope to a hopeless generation.

-For my team. At the end of this month we will be divided into our three separate teams going to the different locations. Pray that we will just continue to bond and just go deeper in our relationships with each other.

-For health, one of the girls is sick and we don't want the devil to get a foothold anywhere on this team. Please pray with expectancy for healing on her.

-For my leaders. They are some of the coolest, funniest, craziest most Godly people I've ever met. Their names are Allie, Angel, Cassie, Wilson, Marissa, Heather (she is my discipleship leader), Davy, Rice and Katie.

-For me personally, that God never stops showing me new things, or more that I never stop listening. Pray for endurance and strength that I go into everything giving it my full heart.

I love and miss all of you guys. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures next week, but for now just imagine me standing next to some of the coolest people ever! We leave to go back to South Africa on Monday, so if you could pray for safe travel as well. Don't forget to e-mail me! I love to hear about what is going on and would love to pray for anything and everything.

Chelsea- whose in love with Africa!