TIA...This. Is. Africa.

The above title has been our teams motto this past week...see anything unusual...the response just simply is... "This is Africa." 

So Ive been here in Africa for a little over a week now, and so much has happened.  I have no idea where on earth I can start, so I have decided that I will just be rewriting all my journal entrys from each day.  This way you can get a first on few view on all that has happened and all of my emotions and such.  Disclaimer--many sentence fragments and bad grammar ahead!! 

July 1st.
Wow each day is such an amazing growing experience.  This morning we went to church and it was SO COOL!  We met at the care point near the squadder camp to meet Tenele and a few other kids including Fana and a bus/van came by and picked us up and it was packerd like Rachael was sitting on my lap!  But the van was headed to the church. THis church had cement floor and it was in a white tent liike you would see at a grad party.  INside there was white lawn chairs and card board for the little kids to sit on.  It had a stage (really little) and a BIG speaker system.  They were so incredibly loving and so grateful for our presence.  We got FOUR shoutouts throughout the service.  To start off, the people were walking back and forth in lines praying out loud in the Siswati language, as time went on the praying intensified and grew even louder.  CHills were coverigng my entire body.  THe service was seriously awesome.  When people worshipped in song it wasnt like the typical singing, it was like they were little crying out to the Lord just as if it was their life anthem.  Then they started DANCING!  It was not like a performance by any means, but it was genuine in the sense that they were truly dancing for the Lord.  Soon enough even us white girls were getting our groove on ;p  THe sermon was about knowing the types of love.  INstead of giing food to the needy, first cry for the ones in need.  Not just loving to love, but to truly love someone is by feeling what they feel.  He also spoke about how Satan trys his hardest and the world will truly start to persecute you when you become an intentional Christian and follower of Christ.  This service lasted FOUR hours.  The amazing part of it all is that it didnt seem any where near that long.  The whole body of the church was up and moving and worshipping God with all they have without worrying about humiliating themselves.  It was very loud, filled with laughter, and consumed with passionate praise to the Lord.  Afterwards they all greeted us and told us again how happy they were to see us.  One lady gave us this DELICIOUS roll thing.  ANother man told us that we are welcomed to Swazi any time, and we are their people and that if anyone try to give us crap for being there to come talk to him ;p haha!  Also Johannes gave me a Swaziland name which is Lindiwe, which means, precious girl.  All the Swazis call me that now because apparently Lindsay is too difficult to pronounce!  After church we all prayed for Tenele and she began to cry :( But her tears were a huge step in her life.  Tenele has been Mary Kate's inspiration for starting Hosea's Heart.  She started off a prostitute at the age of twelve when they first met, now she has a baby (named Mary Kate) and is out of prostitution and beginning to go to church :) Out God is so powerful. 
I just realized that doing each day like this will take FOREVER! So I am just going to skim through the big things and write about those!

July 2nd
Today we headed over to the school right next door and played with the preschoolers and also met some teenage girls that were so incredibly sweet.  They told us that the King has 12 wives, and all of them have 2 moms.  Apparently its "not good" for the man to only have on wife.  They shared with us alot of info on Swazi culture.  I had to explain to them what a cookie is!! After the school, lunch, and a 5 minute power nap, we went over to the care point again :)  My got "beautified." Its amazing how fascinated they are with white people hair.  My highlight was when Ningwani randomly entered the care point and gave me a big hug :)  I dont know what it is about her but my heart just melts for her.  I want to take her home SO BADLY!  A girl had charcoal in her mouth when we were leaving and she told us that thats how she cleans her teeth!  Pretty interesting right? But if it works then thats great!!

July 3rd
If I was at home I wuold be looking forward to the Dubuque Mississippi river fireworks :(  This is my favorite holiday and Im kind of bummed I am missing it.  Yes, its sad but I know God has me here for a reason :)
Today we headed over to the MYC (Manzini Youth Care) office and met some workers.  We then got to have a tour of the facility training centers they have there.  Got to witness people making honey, and making jelwery out of mud which turns out to be so beautiful!  Then we went to the Hope House.  First we went into a nun's office and she asked us some questions and told us the whole low down of the organization.  Basically its for people who are about to die.  The first little home we went into, we prayed for this man, his wife, and their son.  The second I layed hands on this man, I was completely overwhelmed and the Holy Spirit just took over my heart.  I began to tear up and my knees began to feel weak.  I held back my tears because I didnt want to discourage this man and his infectious joy.  I think I began to cry because I was so shocked and humbled by his joy.  Even though this man is literally on his death bed, his wife and little boy were still there with hopes of a healthy future.  We went to many more houses and prayed and sang for all the patients.  Many of them were unable to speak English but we were still able to communicate through Christ and his power.  We knew just enough Siswati to get by, and God took over the rest.  Its amazing to see and witness how grateful the patients were just to have visitors.j  Some of them were SO HAPPY.  It really puts things into perspective.  To think I have EVER complained about anything in my life is truly a shame.  Swazi's, dont have as long as a lifespan as Americans.  Nor do they have the appropriate medicines or vaccines to be treated.  I felt really called to house E.  Turns out then when we arrived, the elderly woman was crawling on her hands and knees on the cement ground and brushing her hands on the grass saying "I am going home."  wow.  Her nurse told us that she has brain damage.  It was clear that she didnt want to adjust to this new location to die.  We said "Tandaza" which means "pray" and she got calm.  We started praying for her, and immediately she was a new person.  Afterwards we headed home and I sat outside for a while by myself just soaking in all the different sounds of Swaziland.  The dogs here are literally like nocternal.  They bark and howl non-stop here at night.

July 4th
Just had a wonderful American dinner made by MK and Rachael!  We had hamburgers, fried potatoes, and some chips!  We also went to the store and tried to find as much American food as we could!  To say the least, I went to bed super full.  This morning was amazingly random.  WE got up at about 7 to head over to the school and hear the morning assembly.  After the assembly we decided to break up in groups and go to different class rooms.  Kirsten and I teamed up and went into the 6th grade classroom expecting just to sit in..but no.  The teacher literally said, "Teach a little something, yeah?"  So he gave us a little lesson book and that it!  Within seconds Kirsten and I who are both 18 soon to be 19, are now in charge of teaching 6th grade for the entire morning.  It was AMAZING!  Seriously SO entertaining.  We taught synonyms and antonyms, and a math unit word problems (which I have ALWAYS had troubles with).  We also got to tell them a little bit about America.  Kirsten and I were just feeding off of eachother and pulling information and a form of organization out of our butts.  It was so cool!  Afterwards all the students had to work on their workbooks for math and they were all asking a million questions!  I kept hearing, "Teacha, teacha!"  It was really interesting to be in the opposite position than what I am used to.  I was no longer the clueless kid during the math unit with my hand up constantly in the desk, but I was in the teachers position running around trying to answer all the questions.  After teaching I watched some African dancing because Don Bosco a dead saint was in town.  Man can the men here shake their hips! TIA... haha...the men were literally wearing short cultural skirts!  After that we went to the grocery store and I got to bond with one of MKs old students, her name is Nobele (with a click on the N) and she is SO SO SO sweet.  After lunch and the grocery store we went to Manonani (the care point) again.  It was amazing as always.  They were teaching me some Swazi style jump roping.  While jump roping we kept getting closer and closer to the mud.  Eventually it ended up splashing up on me, and I just ignored it because I can wipe it off later, it was no big deal.  And the Swazi girls who are filthy themselves, literally dropped what they were doing, ran over to me, and started whiping off all the mud as soon as they could.  wow.  This is incredible.  They are SO compassionate, helpful, and willing to always help someone out.  My heart is just burning writing about this.  I LOVE the carepoint.  I strive to be more and more like the Swazi people.  Dirty, but yet SO beautiful.  I see Christ within their captivating brown eyes.  Johannes and Ayonda walked us home and they are so wonderful.  Hilarious, helpful, and very interesting people to be around.  As we were walking home some men were yelling at us who were building a fence and they were literally yelling at the top of their lungs, "One of you, PLEASE COME MARRY US!"   Johannes (who is a great protector) yelled something back at them in Siswati and we moved on.  Johannes hadnt eaten for days because his aunt is treating him badly, and yet when we offered him food, he was still said to Ayonda, "Ladies first."  An allowed her to eat first and was still hesitant to accept food from us.  This fourth of July has been one of my best, even without of the fireworks, mountain dew, and my family and friends.  It was filled with God revealing himself everywhere we went.

I am running out of time to write about the 5th and yesterday!!!! ;-/ But Ill tell you breifly about yesterday because we went to the waterfall and it was BEAUTIFUL. Saw monkies, climbed through the rocks, and even jumped into the freezing cold water!  It was literally so cold it made my bones ache.  But what a WONDERFUL experience and sight I will never forget.

Today we are going to an orphanage and I am so incredibly excited.  Lately God has been showing me my new found incredible love for young children.  Orphans have been on my heart like a dead bug is on a windsheild--stuck.

Love you all!!!
 Family. I miss you all so much.  Hope all is well.  Think about you every day!!! Also sorry for not calling yesterday,  I forgot I can only communicate on Saturdays.  Love you!  HAve a fantastic day!

Prayers still needed for the girls home and everyone we meet here!! and endurance for the team!

God bless you,

Lindsay