This week has been full of God's blessings. He has been meeting all of us here in new ways and creating in our hearts a greater faith and love of Himself. Every night this past week, the team has been attending revival prayer meetings taking place at our host church. These meetings have been a refreshing time with much singing, teaching, and fellowship in the Spirit. Quite a few of the students have offered to share some testimonies, or short God stories from their lives at these meetings. It is such a blessing to see how God has used them to bless the people here as well as our team.
We are getting ready and excited for our time at debrief where we can relax and reflect. It is our prayer however, that we stay strong in our last days of ministry- it is often easy to "check out" spiritually and in ministry in the last week. Please pray for perseverance as we finish things up!
Since the trip is coming to a close, communication will be more sparse, but please continue to pray diligently for us however the LORD leads you to pray!
And thank you all again and again and again for all your prayers and support!
We received a call and the team has safely arrived in South Africa. They will be staying overnight in a safe hotel and then be driving in to Swaziland in the morning. The flight was a smooth one, everyone's bags made it, and they are all excited about starting ministry in Swazi. Thank you for your prayers.
We have some last minute things to clear up for all of you as you are packing and getting ready to head on out. Some things might be different from what has been in the past and what might have been communicated to you earlier.
1. BAGGAGE REGULATIONS FOR YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Airlines are constantly changing their regulations and sometimes it's tough to keep up on what airline charges and what airlines don't for their baggage. We checked with the airline for your international travel and the following is allowed:
Peru and Guatemala Teams
ONLY ONE CHECKED BAG NOT EXCEEDING 50LBS!
Swaziland, Dominican and Ireland Teams
2 Checked bags allowed, not exceeding 50 lbs each.
2. PACKING LIST
Many of you have been asking about a packing list. It's all listed out in your handbook on pages 19-21. Please refer to it for everything you need to bring with you.
3. PACKING
We are asking you to pack in either one or two suitcases. Your domestic flight may only allow you one suitcase. Space is limited during training camp and any bags you don't need during training camp can be stored away until you leave, but there will be limited access to it. It would be good if you only had one bag or backpack during camp. Clothes will get dirty and sweaty, so don't wear things to camp which you won't mind getting dirty (if it rains, Georgia red mud doesn't like to come out of clothes).
Pack as light as you can but bring as many supplies as you can. You don't need to have a personal bag and a ministry bag, they can be mixed into one. We want you to bring ministry supplies, but don't want you to spend extra money to get the bag here or there. (If you can't get a jar of peanut butter in you won't go hungry).
well its only like four days until we all meet in gainesville and start our work for swaziland! i am extremely excited, but i also am starting to realize....wow i am really leaving soon haha...and im not going to lie it is hitting me pretty hard! i guess that the one thing i really need from the team as a prayer request for me is to just be more trusting in God and his plan for me in Swaziland. dont get me wrong, i know its going to be incredible because God's in control, but for me its just like the trip is a big unknown to me...i have never done mission trip this long, or half way around the world somewhere completely different and i just need to really need to trust more in God that everything will be fine and that his will will be done while we are there. i need to just let go and know it will be the best month of my life because he is in control! i do plan on God moving in ways we never imagine, i think all of us will grow so much closer to him! also, i think God will move us through the people of Swaziland and just interacting with them and growing relationships with them will be life changing! and i know that God will work through us, and use us in amazing ways!
i will see all of yall soon and will be praying for all of you!!!!
Starting out on this trip I don't have a lot of overwhelming expectations. I guess part of me is afraid of being disappointed but, for the most part, I just want to go there with a servant's heart and be wowed by God and the ways in which He uses us to glorify Him.
I expect some things to change:
• --how I view the world and the simple luxuries that are basic in our society,
• --how I see myself
• -- my understanding of God,
I also expect:
• --To have a crazy mix of emotions- not knowing exactly what to feel.
• --I expect and want to be so altered by this experience that every view I have will change and be better educated.
• --In addition to affecting my own life I expect to help positively change the lives of the Swazi people
I am so excited to be going on this trip and whatever is waiting there for us I know that our experiences will be awesome!
We were asked to write a blog about how we were called to this mission trip. Here is my story...
My obsession for southern Africa started when I was about nine years-old and I have no idea why or how this fascination started but once it did there was no calming my incessant urge to go there. Africa was subtly being thrown my way again and again preparing and setting up the idea in my heart until God decided that it was time for me to go. It's crazy to look back and know that certain events that have taken place in my life that I thought would weaken me, actually made me stronger and ready for this awesome adventure we are about to experience, and it was all planned- this was all part of God's plan-crazy.
I always knew I would end up in Africa; the timing was all up to God. The only thing I can really recall that made me type the words into the Google search box that would get me on this trip was the feeling of uselessness I had. I felt like I was just wasting my time. I've always had a servant's heart and I just wasn't using it. That feeling was definitely not a pleasant one, and I had to do something about it. I thought that if I searched for mission trips to take maybe God would lead me to pursue one and that is exactly what happened-give or take a few doubts and/or minor setbacks that felt awesome once overcome.
I had already been on a mission trip to New Orleans with Aim so the familiar name caught my attention and from there God guided me through everything to get to the point where I am certain that this is exactly what He wants me to do.
So I have read the instructions and have messed around with the site for a good thirty minutes and still don't think I am doing this properly. But here it goes!
My name is Camille Driver I am 16 and from Dallas Texas! I have three siblings, Melissa (14), Angela (18) and Wynn (20). I am so blessed to have them as siblings and they are seriously the funniest people I know. I am also incredibly lucky to have three wonderful best friends who are strong Christians and encourage me so much, John, Kate and Emily. I am pretty close with my parents but I am the closest to my grandma, she pretty much is the one who keeps me in line and made this trip a possibility for me. She was running around Dallas helping me get stuff together before I even knew I needed it!
I really love to learn (grades not so much though). I play field hockey and lacrosse. I like to longboard (even though it's incredibly hot in Dallas right now), and play guitar poorly. I have an awesome group of friends as I have previously mentioned and that goes the same for my church. I am pretty much obsessed with my small group!
I love having fun and just being goofy! I am definitely not one to get stressed out, I just think it's unnecessary. I enjoy good conversation and really like hearing different opinions, although I can be pretty stubborn concerning a few things.
I became a Christian the summer after second grade. This had no affect on me until the summer before freshman year (I am a rising junior). My parents were getting a divorce and I was so incredibly mad. I definitely pushed everyone out of my life until I was left with just myself and God. Only then did I get the bright idea to follow Him! I am basically obsessed with learning about the Lord. This sounds nerdy BUT I really like theological and philosophical conversations. Most of the time I keep my mouth shut and just listen and try to learn, and decipher my own opinions with support from the Bible. I think the most amazing thing is the love Jesus has for everyone. That sounds cliche but only this year did I realize that God doesn't love me more than anyone else and it's not about me (which was a hard concept for me to grasp)
anyway, I am just so excited to meet y'all!!!! and to have an awesome time in Swaziland!!!
The dress code is pretty similar to what it says in the handbook but here are just a few specifics.
Ministry Dress Code
Girls need to have long skirts with a non revealing shirt.
Guys need to have nice khaki pants or nice jeans (no holes, rips, or ragged edges) with a nice polo shirt or a button down shirt. For Church services you are NOT ALLOWED to wear jeans and you MUST wear a button down shirt.
Swazis are very clean people and they take pride in their appearance, especially for Sunday church. We have had many teams in the past who come looking very tourist, wearing t-shirts and torn jeans and we are trying to stay away from that look. We have even had some Swazis in the past ask if Americans wash themselves regularly. So please bring nice clothes and look presentable while ministering to the Swazis, we don't want them thinking we are dirty.
**You can wear knee length shorts and t-shirts on your off days and while around the house.
