MONDAY IN SWAZILAND

Monday was paying the deposit on our Swazi home...

...prayer walking through our new neighborhood (that's our house across the way)...

...doing the finishing paperwork on our new built-for-African-roads vehicle (just pray for the money to come from our Stateside bank now) ...

...taking friends home to their rural home...

...passing out sweets to neighborhood children who are used to Dudley coming to visit...

...and then Mama Mac's Miracle Potato Soup for supper. It was a hit with both the Americans and the Swazis. I tell you, this stuff is amazing.

SUNDAY IN SWAZILAND

Today was definitely a highlight of our trip thus far. Not only did we get to attend worship service at a rural church, which is a great blessing in itself, but I got to hold one of my favorite five year olds almost the entire service. Little Programme definitely has snatched a chunk of my heart and getting to spend time with her and the family who takes care of her is a gift indeed.

 

The service lasted 3 to 4 hours but didn't feel that long at all. We were able to do a lot of visiting afterwards and walked to a nearby homestead afterward.

Here are photos from our Sunday:

Oh! And must include this last shot, a photo of our popcorn and movie night. A relaxing way to end the day.

SATURDAY IN SWAZILAND

A quick overview of what we did on Saturday. After going to see the potential house again on Friday morning as well as another one in Madonsa that afternoon, we went this morning to buy some furnishings for our future home. An American family, the Taylors, are leaving Swaziland so we were able to buy many practical items such as two twin beds, a kettle, silverware, an indoor clothesline, a gas cooker for when we don't have electricity, a crockpot, and even clothes hangers. We also bought some fun items such as two bikes for the kids.

In the afternoon, we accompanied Dudley Donaldson to go to the Pick-N-Pay where he bought food for some families needing food. While there, Jim and I continued to price items that our family regularly uses and looked over options available here. Many things are cheaper (such as fruit and veggies), some are the same (meat seems to run about the same), and some things are more (such as cheese).

Afterwards, we were able to spend time with the Swazi pastor that Jim will be teaching with at the Zion Bible College and his wife.

For supper, one of the Swazi girls living with the Donaldsons helped me make a cabbage and beef dish that a Swazi had taught me how to make when I lived here back in the 80's. It was fun spending time with her. She was a pro with the knife and cut the cabbage a lot better than I did.

My favorite times in Swaziland definitely involve spending time with beautiful friends, each one precious gifts from the Lord.

NEED YOUR PRAYERS

Dear praying friends,

Jim and I need you!  As you know, we are in Swaziland to lease a house and buy a vehicle since we are moving here next month.  We are hitting major obstacles with getting the money from our account in America to the bank and car dealership here.  Please pray for this to be taken care of.  But even more than that, pray that we won't worry or stress out but instead trust The Lord.

It adds to the difficulty because we are without our own transportation here.  We did not rent a car this time because our vehicle was waiting on us, deposit already paid, and just waiting on the balance.  We are dependent on our friends to drive us places and they already have very busy schedules.  We do not want to add to that.

Thank you!

Elysa

LET THE RECORD SHOW

Let the record show that though we left Mississippi on Monday, spent all of Tuesday walking around Frankfurt, flew overnight to Johannesburg, arrived Wednesday morning with only about 6 or 7 hours of sleep in total since Monday, and then we had about a 4 hour drive to Manzini, I have experienced no jet lag.  I have been, in fact, bright eyed and bushy-tailed today, going to sleep last night at the proper time and getting a wonderful night's rest.

Let it also show for the record that this happens every time I come to Swaziland.

And thirdly, let it also show for the record, that the reverse does NOT hold true.  When I return TO the States, it often takes DAYS before I readjust and sometimes I am even downright physically ill.

Obviously, I am created for Swaziland. And if that dissertation isn't enough to prove my point, here are photos from the last day and a half.

And even Jim has known to get bubbly in Africa so you KNOW it is a God thing for sure.

TODAY WE FLY!

In just a few minutes, Jim and I will be heading to the airport. We've got 4 suitcases and extra carry-ons filled up with clothes, graduation caps, balloons, Mardi Gras bead necklaces, chocolate chips, Twizzlers, and even a tiara. Some of the stuff is for us, some is for missionaries, a lot of it is for precious, beloved, Swazi children. The children that God has called us to serve and love.

I had written out a whole list of prayer requests for our trip and they have just disappeared.  We are literally going out the door now so let me just make it really simple....

PRAY!

Just whatever comes to mind, whenever, pray! 

Thanks! 

WE'RE STILL HERE

Even though we move to Swaziland in less than two months and will actually be going there tomorrow to lease a house, buy a vehicle, and make other plans, we are still living here in downtown Jackson.  We still have neighbors who knock on our door needing food, we still have people who come and volunteer to help, we still prayer walk in our community, we still help cold homeless folks get a blanket or coat, we still live here.  We still love here.  We still serve here.

Please pray for us over the next two months that we will be able to balance both preparing for our move and also still loving the people here that God has called us to be with.  We want to finish our season in Jackson well. 

One of our fellow missionaries, Levi Gill, recently made this video (with the help of our son David).  It explains what we do at We Will Go.  I hope you enjoy it and I hope it will help you better know how you can pray, not just for us, but for the whole We Will Go family....the missionaries and volunteers who serve here as well as the folks who come here every day needing a variety of things, but ultimately, needing to experience the love of our Father.

SATURDAY CELEBRATION

On Tuesday, our oldest daughter turns twenty.  Since Jim and I will be in Frankfurt that day en route to Africa and Anna will be in New Orleans, we are celebrating her a few days early.

Tonight, with the help of our missionary neighbors, we threw a birthday party complete with a yummy supper, some dancing, lots of laughter, several gifts, a time to do "give 20 adjectives to describe Anna" as we'll as "20 favorite memories about Anna", and a Star Wars movie to complete the evening.

It wasn't the fanciest of parties, but it was definitely one of the nicest of Saturdays.  But then, how could it be anything less with such a high-quality young woman to honor.

THE GIRLS ARE HOME!

Woo-Hoo! Big THANKSGIVING celebrating going on at the MacFaith House tonight. Betsie and Anna are both home for the weekend. Anna is home to celebrate her 2oth birthday a few days early and Betsie is here, as a surprise, to help us celebrate her sister.
 

Supper with the three oldest and their very proud daddy.

Bersie reunited with her brother-of-another-mother.

Tonight it was supper at a new Asian buffet in Richland followed by grocery shopping at Kroger.  Lots of birthday food needed plus food for the kids and my mom while Jim and I are in Swaziland.  Now its back home for a superhero movie with all the teenagers before this happy and thankful mama gets some much needed sleepy. This weekend is going to be good and full.