okay so where do i start?
traning camp::
we were camped out in Gainsville Georgia for five days to do training….possibly the most amazing expirience of all time (well besides now) just a side note for anyone and everyone reading VALUE YOUR BED! i stayed camped out in a small tent for those five days and although my roommie Kelsy is bella fabulous, short tent + Long loho doesnt mix well. The fire ants were not too thrilled with our stay, a black widow got a little jealous of our housing and decided to move right on in, and the other buggies seemed to be okay with the idea of a nice big suitcase as a home. hahah but seriously getting to know my team has been like getting to know my family…we each have our own little quirks that play off each other really well.
like Whitney and Edie (for everyone back home its like eeeeedie) those two are HILArious!
our first night in South Africa we stayed at a hotel, (i know right?!) whitney was videotaping to show her mom they run into the bathroom and edie hits a glass door face first. now i wasnt there but apparently it was pretty funny. So yeah i guess like that. =)
Swazi:: Getting here wasn’t easy i guess, we landed in Johannesburg, South africa (by the by I pretty much freaked at the place where they check your visa…and i could tell the lady wa sgetting frusterated because no matter how she said it i couldnt understand what she was asking me, my leader Theresa came to my rescue….thurns out they werent going to arrest me for helping people with HIV/AIDS ha ha?) okay so anyway we stayed at a guest house (i think thats what they call a hotel around here) the first night besides the owner telling me that all the mafia comes from chicago it was a pretty normal place. the next morning we were out by about 8am heading out on a 5 hour drive to Swaziland! we stoped at a mcdonalds to get some om noms before we hit the road, blew some kisses to some very sweet S.A kiddies and hit the road once again. everyone else was super hungry by the time we reached manzini…of course i had no idea what anyone was talking about because i had been munching on my box of cheese its the whole time (thanks mom! there all gone now) lol. We are staying in a house on the outskirts of manzini.
its super nice and very very large, we even have a guard for the night time. Although its dangerous to be a girl team here, we are very safe. sticking with a guy team leader was a nice idea too =)
the sunsets are beautiful and our house has a puppy (but she could never replace you luca)
God has really taught me the value of silence and obedience
without both i would probably be in big trouble.
Our team walked around downtown Mazini today…it was sickening the amount of cat calls our group got, all the “hey there pretty ladys” “pst pst pst” and”flabba jambba hottie blah blah blah”
really make me want to vomit. but there was a moment of worth, we passes a gogo sitting by a wall she watched us pass by gind of quietly almost a sad look on her face…i decided to practice my SISwati (that is the language they speak) when she heard me say hello in her native toung her eyes lit up…she asked me how i was, i responed with the i am well phrase. but it was in that little moment i noticed..by me noticing her…caring that she was there, that is one more peson than she had a few moments earlier.
Hi! I’m going to Swaziland in september…and its really awesome to hear about it from someone that is there now. Thanks for sharing!!
🙂
Brooke!
This is Edie’s mom (Tami). As I read this blog about Edie running into a glass window – I thought, “Yep, that’s my Edie!” I’m sure she fell down laughing that great laugh she has. Tomorrow (June 9) is Edie’s 20th birthday. While I know she is exactly where she wants to be on such a momentus occasion, I still feel a little sad that she’s not celebrating with us. Happy Birthday, Edie!
Hey, Lauren! It sounds like everything is going well for you…praise God! What a wonderful opportunity you have ahead of you. It’s awesome to hear of your experience with that gogo girl…you planted an important seed. Can’t wait to hear about more of your adventures!!
i love you to Jesus and back mama =)
Hi Lauren!!
It was so wonderful to hear your voice to hear your swwet voice just before leaving Georgoa for Swaziland!! I miss you so very much, but I know that you are shining for Christ and He is watching over you. I also know how much and how long missions work has been on your heart and that you are now fulfilling it.
Here’s a short family update: Daniel and Katie are sick with colds, Anna wiped out in her dance recital and twisted her ankle, Luca made her own in/out door on the screen buy scratching it so much (within less than 2 minutes), Red is still living, Steve made the front page news for saving a boy and his dad from the DesPlaines River, and me? Well, I’m still helping with Grandpa, starting a new History class on Tues, going to Board Meetings, cleaning, cooking, picking up after the dog, you know….same old same old.
We hope to hear from you soon! (being settled in now, I’m sure you’ll watch your spelling in your next blog) Yep, still got teaching on the brain…sorry LOL.
Love you up to the tree tops! Love you up to the stars! Love you up to the universe! Your turn 😉
Mom