Hey everyone...so we’ve been here a week. WOW it feels like so much longer than that.  I got a haircut.
I’ve been eating a lot of oatmeal, PB&J, and pop (cornmeal) and beans.
I have mastered the squatty-potty.
I went on a hospice visit today. We prayed for a lot of sick people and God did a lot of physical and emotional healing. It was absolutely amazing.
I’m craving Chipotle and chocolate ALL THE TIME.
I went to a different care point yesterday and I got to help out in a pre-school class. It was very different from America, to say the least.
Drinking the water has been quite the adventure. We’ve been experimenting with ways to make it taste less like you’re drinking straight up vomit with things floating in it. But don’t worry, it’s sanitary.
I love wearing skirts all the time.
I have been sleeping extremely well at night.
We’ve been sharing our testimonies.
Africa church is one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. It’s so flexible and uplifting and people there are totally comfortable with talking about how amazing God is.  Most of the service is singing which isn’t even in English, but it is still the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.
I love staying in a place where you are living with the bare minimum and living among people who lean on nothing but Jesus. Lindsay was saying last night: God is not materialistic. His heart breaks for people who are far away from him and don’t know how much He loves them. As I’ve been here I have seen so many people who love God and put Him before everything. When I came here I thought the pain of the people of Swaziland was caused by the poverty and disease, but it’s actually caused by the fact that they don’t know how much God loves them. Almost everyone we have ministered to know who Jesus is, but have no concept of His love for them. God is doing so much even though we’ve only been here for a week. I know that our presence in the lives of these kids as well as adults is making a difference in the way they view God’s love. Yay!
I’ve been reading Colossians a lot lately and this has been on my mind...

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”       -Colossians 3:1-3
Love, Rachel Kreider


Hellllloooooooo America!
To think that it has only been two and a half weeks since we were dropped off at training camp is so strange. It feels like it has been 2 months, but at the same time, it feels like we have only been here for a few days. God is showing up and showing out, that’s for sure! Timbani is doing so great! I haven’t seen him over the past few days, but those who have said he is dancing, playing with the other kids, his drooling has gotten so much better and he is “singing”! It is a lot of gibberish right now, but Jacob and Cait said that he said “Hallelujah” the other day! Well, more of “ahh-ehhh-uhhh-ahhh”. :) I hope and pray that someone got a video. He is a totally different child from when we first met him. Can’t wait to see him tomorrow! Today we went to the Hope House, which is a hospice/long term care for those with HIV/Aids and TB. Once again, God blew us away! After praying for her, a woman was healed from horrible stomach pain and we were there to witness a man suffering from cancer, smile for the first time in a year. Our God is healer! He has been teaching me so much lately....

      “But what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves
      as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God who said, ‘Let your light shine out of       darkness,’ has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have treasure in jars of clay, to show      that the surpassing power belongs to God, and not to us.” - 2 Cor. 4:5-7

Like Rachel said, the water is an adventure and, by the grace of God, I have a love for PB&J, pop/beans, and oranges! Wearing pants is strange and I crave chocolate ALL THE TIME! No worries mom, I haven’t eaten too much. :) I miss all of ya’ll so much and praying for all of those who are back at home. Love and miss ya’ll so much!
- Chandler Robertson

Hello family&friends&all of the wonderful people who read this and leave comments!
So. I’m in Swaziland. I’m going to be completely honest. I’ve been blatantly homesick since the very first day we arrived in Atlanta, Georgia- which was weird for me considering I’ve left the continent before with people I didn’t know and didn’t miss my family at all. It was just a frustrating experience and I felt like I’ve been constantly battling my feelings between wanting to be home and wanting to be in Africa. I felt like I couldn’t fully give myself to the people here in Swazi because I was holding onto so much at home. However, to sum things up, God seriously broke my heart on Wednesday. I wanted to go to this carepoint in downtown Manzini but I was chosen to go to Timbutini which is a carepoint not even five minutes away from where we are staying and have been frequently attending. So I started off my day bitter and I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t living out God’s will for this trip and that I’m stuck in the same place- not even being able to share the good news with the nations but God showed me so much. I was sitting in a dirt pile with two girls in my lap and I was thinking about how I couldn’t wait to hug my mom when I got home, and then it hit me. That these girls probably don’t have a mom considering most of the children in this nation don’t have mothers. That the small things I take for granted like a loving family and hot water and food that sustains don’t matter. That these children don’t have clean clothes (in fact most of their clothes have holes in them) and they get maybe one meal a day when they come to these carepoints which feed them the same thing every day and that they are taking off their shoes to have “car races” with them. That something as simple as racing their shoes gave them the greatest pleasure. I’ve always know that only 1 in every 10 children will live to be 30, an age I’ve always thought I’d reach, and then you have 30 kids around you and I realized that only 3 of these kids will be able to be mothers or fathers. That only those 3 kids may get jobs or homes or change their country. But then God showed me so much more- it doesn’t matter about the material things. The food they eat and clothes they wear don’t matter at all, but rather where their hearts are. If all that happens on this trip is one child who understands the love of their Creator, then I know my job was done. All I want to do now is run across this country and let the people know how much Jesus loves them- and that’s all that matters. The material things I’ve been living for are nothing comparison to living for Jesus Christ! It’s something I’ve always said, but it’s different when you’re tested. When you eat oatmeal for breakfast everyday, PB&J for lunch everyday, and beans & pop (or rice) for dinner everyday and you start complaining that you want different food or chocolate (something I’ve been craving like crazy) and the thoughts of food consume you. Why does it matter what you eat as long as you’re fed? As long as Jesus Christ is a living God who is still moving through the nations- then nothing else matters.
I love love love you guys all so much and miss you bunchies! CANNOT wait to tell you everything that has happened to me and my team! AHAHAHHAHHH! Love you guys like crazy.
Miss you,
Kira Willimann(:


Hello everyone!!!! I hope things are great in America! Everything is AMAZING out here. It has been a little bit over a week since we got here and started ministry work. God has moved in so many ways. It is crazy seeing that we pray over EVERYTHING and God just constantly answering our prayers. He is showing us that he is a great healer. Sadly I am only going to be able to tell y’all stories that hit me the most. So, on Tuesday we went to the care points and afterwards we went on house visits. The first house we went to had this twenty-two year old boy who could not walk. A few years ago, he lost his mom and dad and then he lost the ability to walk. When we got to his house he was bathing so we had to wait a few minutes. We finally got into his room and he was on the floor with his sister. The lady who took care of him was his aunt. We all knelt down and prayed for him and just asked the Lord to heal him. Before we left we prayed one more time and then they thanked us. That same day we went to this house where a gogo’s son went missing and she worried herself so much she had a stroke. Now she cannot talk or move and her feet are so full of water that they are swollen. When we touched her to pray for her, she was so skinny I felt like I was going to hurt her. The gogo loved her son SO much she practically worried herself to death. I pray that her son will appear! Yesterday was a hard day; we really got to feel what it felt like to be a missionary. We woke up and it was raining so it was cold and I did not want to go play with kids all day. I wanted to lay in bed and do nothing. We went to the care point and there was Timboni! That was the first day I actually played with him and loved on him. I really fell in love with him. He has special needs and everyday, we are seeing the Lord healing him in many ways! Even though it was very difficult yesterday, I learned a lot. Lastly, today we went to the Hope House. The first house we went into was the house of this young women who was sick and the medicine she was taking took her vision away from her. She appreciated our prayers and that we were there so much. A little after we prayed for her, I saw her outside trying to walk to be with everyone else, but she could not see and kept acting like she was falling. So I went and grabbed her hand and walked with her. She told me she has HIV and TB! That just broke my heart! I just told her we are praying for her and that God is a God who heals. After her room, we went and prayed for this other man who has HIV but he is hopefully leaving the Hope House in a month. With him, was his brother and he encouraged me so much. He asked where we were from and after we told him America, he thanked us for coming out to Swaziland. He told us not to stop coming because we help out so much and he told us not to just go to Swaziland, but go to other countries and keep sharing
 I love you guys and cannot wait to see y’all!
Love y’all
Lindsay Hottendorf/Gill

I don’t think God has ever taught me so much in one week, I am falling in love with these children and the fact that their lives are made more difficult than I will ever know because of the diseases they inherited without a choice is really taking a tole on my mind. Today we did hospice visits and had a mixture of joyous conversations and ones that broke my heart; it really gave me an insight on what life looks like as an adult with an incurable disease or health defect in a third world country. But we serve and love a God of hope and promise. Zephaniah 3:19-20  “‘Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. at that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore  your fortunes before your eyes,’ says the Lord.” I am so grateful that I am able to take comfort in a God that will in his time of renewal make right all the things that are wrong here on this earth, and I am blessed to be able to share this hope with the people in this country.
Sala Kathway!

Hannah Priolo


Sani Bonani! (Hello Everyone)!
 So we have 2 weeks left which doesn’t seem right. It seems like we have been here for months but at the same time it feels like we have been here for a few days, its really strange. Yesterday we went to a hospice and prayed over a lot of people and we saw God do amazing things in some of them but I cant accurately describe it on a blog so just ask me about it when I get back. We decided that we are going on to Manzini Marketplace tomorrow so I can get everyone souvenirs there. I am having so much fun and am learning so much. It is weird that my 18th birthday is in 4 days but it seems so small in comparison to what I am doing. To my family, I miss you guys but don’t worry I am fine and safe, the leaders are great at feeding us and keeping us safe. Love you guys! I know I said I wont be able to email but ill try to once a week but don’t freak out if you don’t get anything!
Love, Josh Tedford
p.s.- Mom thanks for forcing me to take my heavier sweatshirt because sometimes there are cold days, so you were right.




I cant believe I’ve only been gone for two weeks because it seriously feels like months and months. And we don’t have a lot of time left. We only have a few more days of ministry left and a couple days off. On Sunday we went to a church down the road and even though you couldn’t understand anything they were saying, their praises were so genuine. On Monday we spent the day at the Timbutini care point and just hung out and loved on some kids. On Tuesday we spent the morning at Timbutini and the afternoon doing home visits. And that was extremely hard. The first house we went to was a 22 year old boy who couldn’t walk. Both of his parents had died and he was living with his Aunt. The second house was an old Gogo (Grandmother) whose son had disappeared and she’s literally worrying herself to death. She was so stressed and scared she had a stroke. It was mind blowing how much a parent can care for their child. The third house was a five year old girl who just sat in a car seat because she couldn’t walk, speak, or barely move. We prayed for them and read bible verses to them. After we left the last house, we had to climb over this mountain to get back to the homestead. and we were walking.. and walking and walking.. Every time we tried to take a different path the translator said Up Up. So we went up up. And when we got to it, it was like wow, the three people we’ve seen today haven’t been able to walk, and I just got to go over this mountain. Thank God. Wednesday was cold and raining and really gross but I spent the day at a pre school. And Thursday I did Hospice visits. The water here is kind of chunky, and has floating stuff in it, and smells like bananas. Its weird and has a gross after taste.       Beans and rice for dinner one night, and rice and beans the next night. Pb&Js for lunch, and oatmeal for breakfast. I miss home a lot, and can’t wait to be back. The Malaria pills   I’m taking are giving me insane dreams. Im really excited to see how God will move in the last two week. Love and Miss you guys a lot, a lot, a lot! :)
-Jessica Kinsey

Wow! It’s crazy to think that two weeks have already past, yet it’s strange to think that it’s only been two weeks. Our team has become so close I feel that we have known each other for years. God has been working nonstop and showing us all His power and allowing us to share it with the people of Swaziland. During our home visits on Tuesday God really broke my heart for the people of Swazi. One of the homes we went to we talked to a young man who had lots both of his parents and had been taken in by his aunt; a few years later he lost all his ability to walk and stand because his bones became weak. The last home we visited we met a six-year-old girl who was born with many mental disorders and couldn’t walk or even feel her feet. She was six and the size of a one-year-old. When we got to the home neither the mom or the Gogo were there to take care of her, she was with her sisters who had her in a car seat in the house and they were outside. It was devastating to see a child so in need of care and love but born in a place where children rarely have either. However these prayer walks were not all sad, our translator was also our guide and took us down these crazy paths and walked at the back of the group saying things like “Up up, go up.... no not that up, (points) that up” and we walked up and up and up until I thought we couldn’t go up anymore and saw the most amazing sunset. I am excited to see what God does in Swazi and in my team over the next two weeks of ministry! God bless.
-Emily Culmer

Hey everyone at home!!!!
Hope all is going well for all and that God is showing up as much there as He is here! He has totally been showing me how totally awesome and faithful He is! He has done marvelous works (that I am sure you are all aware of by reading others posts)!!!  Now our team’s job is to bless the people of Africa and to bring His message to them, we have done that, but God hasn’t stopped there. He is working in our team so much and hearts are being healed and pasts are being forgiven!! Teammates are being healed physically, emotionally, and spiritually!! The experiences on the field are life changing and we are stretched daily!!
The only struggle that makes this trip kinda interesting is being extremely constipated and eating PB&J, oatmeal, and rice with beans everyday. But God makes everyday a blessing to me and to the people here.  I have learned so much and God continues to stretch me! I love being here and the culture shock of coming back home and having real toilets will be interesting!!! (well, any running water will be exciting!!!)Many crazy stories to tell! Ya’ll better be pumped!!
Oh, fun note…fourth marriage proposal today. :)
Miss you all, but am loving it here!
Love, Hannah Buller
P.S. Shout out to whoever picks me up from the airport in MN…..you better arrive with a steak Chipotle in hand!!!! =)



Hello everyone!! I know God is moving in the states as much as He is here, and I can’t wait to hear all about it! But for now, I assume y’all would like to know what’s going on here in Swazi. :) Well, for the past week, God has done some marvelous things through our team and has blessed us in ways unimaginable! This past Sunday we had our first experience in a Swazi church setting. It was absolutely wonderful. As we walked in, I heard the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. The most brilliant voices were filling up the sanctuary-it was so wonderful. For almost two hours, I just sat in a seat listening to the people of the Timbutini church worship our almighty God. I realized then how powerful Christ is. It was unbelievable. Oh my goodness!!! How great is our God?!?!?!?! So, in all, Sunday was great. This week has been exhausting, but also truly a learning experience. Today (Thursday) was by far my favorite day. Part of our team visited a hospice center called Hope House. It was lovely. We walked around and visited several people and read scripture as well as prayed over them. There was one patient who truly affected me. It was a woman who had fallen down several times and had a lot of trouble walking. She spoke wonderful English, and had the sweetest spirit. She was a wonderful woman of God and was such a joy to talk to and pray over. God revealed so much to me just through her today. Thank you Jesus for Your wondrous power and amazing plans for us! I’m sorry this has been so long, but God is doing such amazing things here!!! I miss y’all so so much and can’t wait to tell you everything else! I love y’all!
In Him,
Kinsey Clearman

God has been teaching me so much in the past few days.  I haven’t felt very well this week, and some of the days I haven’t felt very productive.  But through the week God has really been showing me his plan and purpose in everything.  He has mapped out all my steps and he is working in my life and the lives of those around me, even when I don’t see it.  He’s showing me the importance of holding these kids and pouring love on them.  I also love helping the gogo’s (the African ladies who volunteer at the care points).  These ladies work so hard every day to feed and take care of the children at the care points.  It’s so great to help them and cook and serve food to the kids so the gogo’s can rest and know that all their work doesn’t go unnoticed.  I’m so thankful for everything God has been working on this trip, and I can’t wait to come home and tell y’all everything in person!  Thanks everyone so much for your prayers! 
In Him,
Lizzie Parrish


God has been working in incredible ways. We have seen a boy who couldn’t talk begin to speak. People have joy in their faces. I love holding all the kids. I love playing with them and holding them and hugging them and kissing them. We did home visits that was really hard. We prayed over a man who was only 22 and couldn’t walk because his bones were not firm enough. A Gogo (grandma) who had a stroke from stress because her son went missing years ago and hasn’t come back and her daughter is forced to take care of the family. We prayed over a child who cannot move or speak, People in Africa have to rely on God. It is very different. They have so much physical affliction here where in America it seems more like spiritual affliction where our mind is clouded by possessions. I do not know which is worse… I do know that God loves all of his people though. He doesn’t look at someone being better for having nice things or a big house. He loves everyone the same. I am realizing more and more each day what God’s love really means and how unconditional it is no matter what. He has been opening eyes and my heart in a whole new way. I love it in Swazi the people are beautiful and so is the scenery. I went to the top of a hill and saw the sunset. Swazi is surrounded by hills so it was the most beautiful view. I feel so close to my creator when I am apart of his creation like this. I am learning more and more to let go and let Him take over. I love you all back home. I have a lot to say but this is all for now, I miss you all. I kind of want to come home but honestly I love it here. Being on this team I really learned the importance of being in the now. So I am still in Africa and sorry Mom I do want to see you though hehe ;) Love all of you. Give Christina a big hug for me.
Love you all and God is the greatest, Jacob Jones

God has been doing some amazing things here in Swaziland.  I have seen my relationship in God just grow in these past couple weeks. God has just opened my eyes to see so many things and be affected in ways that I didn’t think I would be. In these past couple weeks one of the many amazing moments that has happened was when some people in my group prayed over this boy who was 6 years old and could not talk and drooled all over himself. The other kids would not play with him and he was just all alone. Some of the people in my group prayed over him and by the end of the day he had said yebo, which means yes in SiSwati. God is just continuing to heal his body and it is just amazing.  On Tuesday 5 people from my group, my leader, and I had the opportunity to do 3 home visits. It was really hard to see the pain that some of these people were going through, but when we read them the Bible and prayed over them they just had this happiness in their eyes and it was so inspiring to see people who are just helpless, but still have faith in God.
I am so thankful to be a part of this group. Everyone in my group agrees that God has handpicked each and everyone of us to be on this trip for a reason. We are able to all relate to each other and to help each other grow in Christ. My leaders are just absolutely amazing. They have God’s love just pouring out of them. Every time they talk about God or their experiences I learn something new.
I miss you all so much. I love it on Saturdays when we read comments from the blog and I am able to listen to everything that is going on back home. I can’t wait to tell you about Africa and everything I learned. I love you guys sooooooo much!  Tell everyone hi for me!
See you soon,
Makayla Williams

This week was kind of crazy, but what sticks out was what happened yesterday at Ntabish care point. We were playing a game that is called the Flying Dutchmen, it’s like duck, duck, goose, but with partners and a little more rough. And of course while we were playing a little girl fell down and started crying. So I picked her up and went to sit down with her.  It was amazing to just sit with her and having no idea how to make her feel better. Then I remembered what my dad use to do with me when I had fallen. He would take each limb starting with the toes and ask if they hurt in a very joking manner. So that is what I started to do. I took her foot and asked, “Does this hurt?” And at first she said “No” in a very small shaky voice. So then I took her ankle and asked, “ Does this hurt?” and I kind of tickled it. This time she smiled and giggled.  We continued this until she was smiling and we had gone to each finger and nothing hurt.  This was like the first time that I felt like I had truly affected a child on this trip. It made my heart warm to see a little girl who had once crying and now is smiling.
Also this past week I am really hearing God talk to me in his Word. It is amazing to read through Psalm and see and hear God speaking to me. I am also seeing God’s character as I am reading more. I feel like I am growing more and more in my relationship with My Heavenly Daddy. It is wonderful. Love you all.
Megan Stoneman 

Swaziland has been an overwhelmingly beautiful blessing. I can see Christ all around me. I see Him in the faces of the people we meet. I see Him in our team’s laughter and tears, as we grow closer. I can feel Him in my life at work in the strength He continues to give me breath by breath. Our Lord has brought healing to many and continues to make His presence known. Thank you so much for all your prayers keep sending them our way there is a lot of hurt but O ever so much more Love.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
Taylor<3

For the first time today on July 7, 2011 our team went to a care point. It was a very fun experience. We got to play and laugh with kids. Kids would just run up to you and want to be held. They would want to feel all your hair. It was awesome however it was very draining. I am very excited to see more kids! On July 8, 2011 we did our second day of ministry to the kids. Africa is so awesome. It is very beautiful and has great sunsets and stars! The second day was really good. I would be surrounded by kids and they would literally climb on me and all of them would want to be held so badly. I would pick up one child and all the others would yell “AND ME! AND ME!” It was so crazy but a great experience. God really showed me how much love these kids need. Being a male in Africa that is white with light hair and light eyes is crazy, you get a lot of attention (there are only 3 guys including Caleb) They love touching all your hair. Your arm hair, leg hair and head hair. It is so fascinating for them. I got really dirty from all the kids touching me. It is very fun though!! I love it here. I miss everyone at home. Love all you guys.
- Jacob Jones

Today, July 8, was our second day of ministry at a care point. It was a very wonderful experience, loving the kids and singing songs with them, although it was painful, having them braid our hair. They just wanted to be held and be loved on. You can just see the changes in their attitudes as soon as you say hello to them. By the time they leave, they are just smiling ear to ear and you just don’t want to leave by the time it is 4 o’clock. This past couple of days have been just a blessing and I still can’t believe I am here in Africa with these beautiful children and my awesome leaders and team. Just want to let my parents and my brothers that I love them and miss them dearly! And to give my little Gracie some puppy lovin’s and let Sadie know that I miss her and can’t wait to tell her all about this! Much love to everyone.
-Riley Speidel

Hey, EVERYONE. Africa is absolutely amazing. I want to live here. 

We’re staying at a homestead in Timbutini which is outside of Manzini, Swaziland. I’m sleeping in a hut...there’s no running water...and there are dogs and chickens and goats running around. It’s REALLY fun. The chickens actually tried coming into the kitchen last night during team meeting. Also, I haven’t actually showered since I left. And I got a cold this week. But it’s better now. Anyways, Swaziland is BEAUTIFUL. Anywhere you look there are mountains in the distance and there are never any clouds. The stars at night are unbelievable and it’s just the right temperature to wear sweaters. Yesss. 

The ministry we are doing is incredible. I get to hang out with adorable little African children all day and give them food. We’re working at care points which are run by Gogos (Grandmas) where kids come in the afternoon. I have never, ever seen children like these. All they want is to be held and feel love. They will hang on to you for hours and not let go. The majority of them are infected with HIV and come from homes where their parents are only disciplinary, abusive or they have no parents at all. So when they come to these care points it’s often the only meal they will eat that day and the only place they ever feel affection. It is a feeling I cannot describe to be a child’s definition of love. A boy fell asleep in my lap today and I just prayed over him for an hour while he took a nap. It was the best thing...I almost fell asleep too. Even though it is heart-breaking work, it is not hard to see that God is doing amazing work in the people of Swaziland. I really appreciate your continuing prayers (we have had so much answered prayer already) and I hope you all are doing well! 

P.S. I’m not going to get on my e-mail/blog or anything besides this....cause the internet here is literally the slowest in the world and it’s expensive. 

- Rachel Kreider

Hey everyone we are having an amazing time here in Swaziland! The landscape of Swazi. is just as beautiful as it’s people. As a team we’re growing so close in relationship with one another and with God. We have been able to love on some kids so in need of love. The smilies the children get when we hold them and talk to them are so bright that they could blind you. Everywhere we go they flock to us and fight over who gets to be held next and it’s such a beautiful thing to be able to be showing them the God has for them and the love they don’t receive from their parents. 

- Emily Culmer

Oh my this has been amazing and mind-blowing, and utterly WOW!! Today was so awesome for several reasons. We went to a small care point where children go after school to hang out and get a warm meal. So I held a lot of little children, which was wonderful, but what really stuck out to me was playing a game with four girls that are about 11-13 years oldish. We played a game called tennis where we bounce a ball past each other while dancing, and you would lose if you didn’t catch the ball or if you hit it with your foot. The girls laughed at me because I totally stunk and I was also in a full length skirt that always caught the ball. But what really made this experience special was that they were so willing to teach this silly white girl who totally couldn’t play this game, and that they were smiling and laughing with me. They wanted me to know them and to spend time with them. When I thought about going on a mission trip to orphans I thought about babies to five year olds. And I am so thankful that God changed my view of working at these Care Points to include these older girls, because they need love just as much as the little ones, they need Jesus just as much as the little ones. 
- Megan Stoneman

“Love God, Love people” I don’t think I knew what that truly meant until I arrived at Swaziland. Today we had to walk through a field to get to one of the care points and all you can see is little kids running toward you with arms wide open. Their faces are so beautiful and their smiles look like they could just explode off their faces. Their innocence is so gorgeous, and my heart has been broken in pieces for them. They’re just so lovely. Im definitely missing home, but I’m so glad to be here. My team, who were strangers only seven days ago, now know more about me than my friends back home. Its awesome. I know Im a couple days off but Happy Birthday Ellen. I didn’t forget. Thanks for the prayers that I know are happening, and I miss everyone! 
- Jessica Kinsey

Hello family, friends, Mommy, Mikey, MaryJane, Joey, Alli, Hannah, and my second families (Swazi family) friends and family! I am having an amazing time here! God has done many things since June 30th! When we arrived at training camp, I was very homesick and really was tempted to just blow the whole mission trip behind me and go home, but there was something inside of me that would not let me leave; I believe that feeling was God. As soon as I got to the airport Taylor mentioned something about my dogs and I just cried and then as my friends aka Alli and Hannah know I laugh because I get embarrassed haha.... Well I cried a few more times on the way to training camp about missing my family, but as soon as I got to training camp that feeling left! It came back a few more times, but not so strong as before. As training camp went on, I began to get out of my shell and be myself and I just clicked with these people like I have known them my whole life. I knew then that I loved these people like my own family and I could not imagine going home. After it feeling like a month of training camp we finally get to leave and go to Swaziland! YAY!!!! I was sad because I could not call home, but I was happy because I was able to write a postcard to them and that made me smile =D After a 16 hour flight to Johannesburg we stayed at a hotel type thing and I was a able to take a HOT bath (which is my last bath till I get home)! The next day we drove 7 hours to Swaziland and got to see Rhinos roaming around with Buffalos at a restaurant! It was so cool!!! So now that we are in Swaziland and have been doing mission work for two days, I can really say that God is AMAZING!!! God is working in all of us in so many different and amazing ways. I am coming to see that God is truly a God of love. It is so hard to come out to this country and see the love of God, but when you look at these wonderful people, you just can see the love of Jesus shining through them! I am so amazed with how happy they can be yet they have NOTHING. Yesterday we were walking home from the Carepoint and we walked about four miles, and we were complaining and then I thought wow, we are walking this once and here we are complaining, but these people have to walk this multiple times a day barefoot to get food, water, or go to church! And then it was really sad today because after we went and hung out at the Carepoints, and afterwards we were able to walk around the neighborhood, and we saw the houses these kids live in, and to give y’all a picture, just imagine square walls of concrete with one room and dirt on the ground. Our homestead we stay in is nicer than their homes! The streets they walk on is full of trash and most of them do not even have shoes! It breaks my heart! Oh and last night, I fell asleep at like eleven, but woke up because I had to use the bathroom. I went outside to the squaty and used the bathroom and came back inside and tried to go back to sleep. I was laying in bed and just started coughing for thirty minutes straight! I was beginning to not be able to breath and so I took my inhaler and took a cough drop but that did not help. Taylor came to me and prayed for me and a few seconds later I had stopped coughing! It was so amazing to see how strong the power of prayer is. After she prayed for me I was sad because I missed my mom because normally she would have came to my room and made sure I was ok!!! Miss you momma!!!! That is pretty much all I have to say! I love all of y’all and I can’t wait to talk to y’all soon!!!!! Love you mom and Mikey!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. Be praying for me because I am still all congested and it has been going on since before I even left for training camp, and it really is affecting my asthma!! Oh, and give my doggies a hug and a kiss from me!! And mom, I am still a vegetarian! I have done really really good at not eating meat! Oh, and the dog here ate one of the baby chickens =( Everyone laughed, but I was really sad. I am also not the only animal freak here, Riley is just like me =) It makes me really happy.

- Lindsay aka Lulu Hottendorf/Gill

Hey everyone! I’ve been thinking a lot about all of y’all back home! So far my favorite part of the children’s ministry has been to see the kids’ faces light up when they see us! Yesterday when we were walking to a Carepoint, a huge group of kids just came running out to us and jumped in our arms! It was so sweet! At times I get doubtful and wonder how much I‘m really impacting people, but then I see the excitement and joy in the children’s faces when we spend time with them, and I’m reminded that God has a huge plan for these children, and the love we show means so much more than we can ever imagine. These kids are so eager for love, and they will just sit in your lap for hours and hours. They are so hungry for every bit of love you can show. I pray that God fills me up each and every day so I can continually pour out his love on these children while I’m here. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me! It mean so very much, and I’m so encouraged to know that everyone back home is supporting me in prayer, and I truly draw so much strength from it. Can’t wait to see everyone again. :)

In Him, Lizzie Parrish

HELLOOO family and friends! Just to give you comfort and information, I’ve been having an absolute blast since Day 1! Training camp was so much more different than I’d ever imagine it to be. God seriously challenged me the entire time just to surrender every negative feeling about this trip and all of the worries I have because believe it or not, I tend to constantly be worrying about the future and this amazing trip to Swazi! But after I just gave it up to God, I feel so much better. This is seriously where He wants me to be right now and I know that every single person here on my team is  meant to be here as well. God has already used all of our strengths and weaknesses every day and we really are a family. I could call on any one of these beautiful people and I know they’d be there for me, so stop worrying for me at home! It has been only the second day of ministry, but I’ve already seen our AMAZING LORD work like crazy. Today I was picked to be in the smaller group that traveled down town into Manzini, whereas we’re staying in a homestead (in a hut!) in Timbutini where the majority of our people went to a Carepoint near by. When we’re in Manzini our small group of 9 split into a group of 5 and a group of 4, and I was put in the group of 4 consisting of Cait, Jacob, Emily, and I. We were taken to this Carepoint (which is basically a place where children come every week day to receive clothes/food/necessities) that happen to also be a pre-school, so we split up into two different classrooms. I was just awe-struck to see these children who are ages 6 and under pray to God at the top of their lungs; so encouraging. Anywho, during this time in the class room I started getting the most intense stomach pains and nausea with nothing to take or even a place to lay down. I went from standing to sitting to laying in the dirt in a fetal position. Through out this time my three team mates were constantly praying over me for God to heal me and they called all of my other team mates and they prayed over me for ages and at one point Cait prayed that God would just put so much Holy Spirit in me that there wouldn’t be enough room for anything else. Immediately I threw up and I was grinning afterwards. God literally healed me instantly. PRAISE THE LORD! The rest of the afternoon consisted of just loving on children who aren’t usually loved on. Swazi culture is very unaffectionate. Men and women are never seen touching and parents do not nurture their children like we do in America, so these kids will literally fight each other just to be held for a minute. God is just breaking my heart over these children, but I feel like it’s necessary. This one girl sat in my lap for at least an hour today- not even talking to me in Siswati or English and she just fell asleep smiling. She understood the language of love. It’s the best feeling in the whole world when you can hold a children of God’s image and creation and just speak beautiful words over them and pray over them- even if they can’t understand you. Oh my goodness gracious I’m having a blast. Every thing here is just outstanding and I can not wait to see all of you and share all of the stories that have already happened! Caleb cut my hair today (extremely short) and I totally have peed all over my skirt once already, and even though these things are random and silly, it’s completely apart of God’s plan for us. I love and miss all of you! Please don’t forget that I’m praying and thinking of everyone back home. I hope all is well!

Love, Kira Willimann

Hey everyone! I’m having an absolutely amazing time here in Swaziland! God is just working so much in all of our lives already. It’s awesome to see how much His Spirit just pours out all over and covers over everything. I mean God’s love is just crazy I’m finding. It’s so exciting as God works in the Swazi’s lives while we get to love on them. Today part of my team went to a Carepoint in Timbutini (the town we’re in I think? haha) and we got to just love on all the kiddies there. We got to walk there, which was a blessing because on the way a bunch of children met us on the road from a preschool and came running to us with open arms. We all went running towards them of course and swooped them up. I held this little cute boy who was just drooling buckets. We had to put them down, but told them we’d be at the Carepoint and said that they should come and see us. Once we got to the Carepoint, we were there for a while kind of just standing around and waiting for all of the kids to get there, when randomly the boy that I scooped up on the road came wandering in the gate. He came in and just plopped down on my lap, drool and food dripping all over. The weird thing though was that he didn’t make any noise. He didn’t laugh or speak even in SiSwati. The group I was with kind of figured he needed to be back in school though since he had wandered off, so me and two others walked him back over to the preschool we found him at on the road. We talked to his teacher and she said that he doesn’t go to school because he is mute but told me that his name is Tibani. He hasn’t ever made noise other than a little grunt deep in his throat, he hasn’t laughed or anything. That just broke my heart. I held him as we walked back over to the Carepoint and when we got there, we all just started praying for him and singing songs over him. He fell asleep in my arms pretty soon afterwards and just layed there and slept for a while. Kids here just soak up your love and want to just be held and touched all the time. Once he woke up, he was laughing! Praise Jesus! A little while later he started making little sounds, which built up to screaming and laughing hysterically. It was wonderful. We just kept praying and praying for him to form words and for his tongue to be released. He hadn’t been playing with any of the other kids, but after he started making sounds and things he headed over to the other kids and was playing, making noise and laughing with them also. Throughout the whole day we were just in prayer for him. I went over by him as he was playing and was just telling him “Jesus loves you Tibani” and then saying yeeebo to him (“yes” in SiSwati) and he was trying so hard to form the word yebo. His tongue has something wrong with it’s shape though so I think it’s a bit hard. That’s nothing for Jesus though. He almost got it a few times and while he was with Chandler she said that he screamed it in here face. Right before we left me and Chandler were sitting by him and a few other kids and he said words that we think were in SiSwati that have clicks in it! Oh goodness, that was just so amazing. Jesus is just so amazing! If y’all could just be in prayer for him that would be wonderful. I hope to update you soon that he’s talking in full sentences :) Anyways, I love and miss you guys and am praying for you over here. I hope Jesus is doing wonderful things in your lives also. Lots and lots of love from Africa, Marissa Schley

Hellooooo Mississippi! :) Swaziland is absolutely beautiful... and a lot colder. :) I hope you have read about all of the incredible things God is doing in Swazi. I feel like it would be monotonous to repeat everything, so make sure to read all the posts above. I could go on and on with how He is working, but let me tell you that I am absolutely speechless and in awe at the mighty power of our God! He is provider and healer in every way shape and form! His love never fails! I feel like we have been gone forever, not just eight days. We got to go to the Timbutini carepoint today (friday) to love on some kids and help serve a warm meal. Not only was that awesome, but God brought speech to a 7 year old special needs boy who was mute! (Marissa has the full story above!) I just keep thinking, “Did God really just do that?” Just to let you know, God is a miracle worker. He was, is and is to come! He never changes! He is showing me so much in my walk with Christ. Timbani might not be speaking full sentences yet, but he was speaking with clicks before we left! Can’t wait until I can update you on how much he is talking! On another note, our team is so wonderful. It is so wonderful to live in community with 20 other people who are seeking God with everything in them. We are all different, but one in the Holy Spirit! What a blessing! Praise Jesus! I still cannot believe that this is only our second day of ministry. I cannot wait to see what God has prepared for these people and for us over the next 20 days. I miss you all so much. Like, SO MUCH! Praying for you all and cant wait to hear about how God is working back home! With much much much love, - Chandler Robertson

Hi everyone!! Oh my goodness. Swaziland is wonderful. We have perfect weather-much much cooler than Texas :)-and a beautiful scenery. I hope yall have been able to read everyone else’s posts about the truly amazing things God is doing here in Swazi. I don’t want to be repetitive, but God is just so awesome!! Today was our second day of ministry, and a few of us went to a carepoint in Manzini. The children we encountered there were...to say the least, quite infatuated with us. It was absolutely wonderful. We were asked to teach “Bible club” today, so Hannah Priolo and I read the story of “The Good Shepard” to the younger children. Although they understood very little of what we were saying, they hung on every word we read. They love to teach us games and songs, and their most favorite thing-besides doing our hair...-is being held. “Take me, take me”, we heard constantly today. They’re such blessings. We also got a mini-tour of a village very close to the carepoint. It was humbling to see how these families live, but also wonderful to experience their community. We had a great day!! Oh, and our team is amazing. They are a wonderful group to live with-it’s so great to spend all this time with others that are constantly yearning for the Lord in all that they do. Each of us are all so unique, but one body in Christ! Thank you Jesus!! I can’t wait to see what God has planned for us in the next 19 days. He has already changed me and showed me so much-He has much in store for us as well as the people we are sharing His love with. YAY! I miss each and every one of you so so so much. Really. I am praying for y’all. God is good! So much love, Kinsey Clearman

Hey Everyone!  I don’t have a lot of time so I’ll keep it short. Swaziland is AMAZING! The work we are doing here is the best thing I’ve done in my life. My faith in God has grown so much. It looks like we will only get internet once a week but we will all be able to read your comments on the blog so please comment. I miss everyone but I’m so glad I’m here. I forgot all the people I was supposed to give a shout-out too but hi everyone. Mom, give ellie thumper and mollie a hug for me and I hope florida was great! 

Love, Josh Tedford

Sawubona!

I wish i had more time to write because I really could go on and on, but I’ll stick to what God has really been putting on my heart. The children of Swaziland have really taken hold of my spirit. I have never been begged for love before and in everything these children say and do they are constantly begging for our love. I literally had up to 5 children pulling and climbing up my arms and legs every second I was at the care point. Up to three girls pushing each other away to get a turn at braiding/pulling/basically ripping out my hair. They were fighting each other to sit on my lap and I just had to try to balance them all and my heart was grieved to see how little love they must feel to think they have to fight for it. Little do they know that the Lord fills my heart with a constant overflow of love and care for them. I had the privilege of walking through one of their neighborhoods that the translator told me is full of broken families, parents who are alcoholics and are responsible for the scars and bruises that cover these children’s backs, legs, arms and some of their faces. Despite all the hurt that I know goes on at home these children never fail to laugh and run and play and show joy, that I know is a blessing from the Lord. I trust that He has so much more to show me while I’m here and I am so excited to emerge deeper into swazi culture.

Love, Hannah Priolo

If there is any place that captivated my heart it’s Africa.  After waiting weeks and weeks in anticipation, now that I’m finally here I feel so excited and totally at home.  Everything about this place is amazing, and I know that God is going to do some amazing things.  We’ve only been here for a few days but as a team we are already starting to see God work in us and in the people here.  Somewhere between the shock of being thrust into a group of strangers and making our way into a foreign country, we have all grown together into a team.  It is really beautiful.

Love, Desthany Venter