Climb Every Mountain!!

I want to regress now to the Saturday before Christmas. I have been busy over the "holiday" but this day was a true test of my unfittness. (Rajni & I @ the start)Daran Rehmeyer, our fearless leader in Swaziland, wanted to go hiking for his birthday! Not a "hike around the block" mind you but a hike up to the top of Execution Rock, a place where many a wedding proposal takes place. Can't be too hard! Ha!!
The start was beautiful. There were the Rehmeyers (Daran & Teresa, Gabby, Danielle, Nathaniel and Joelle), Jacci (does discipleship with the cooks), Christy (oversees CarePoint education), Rajni (visiting doctor from Phoenix) and me. Please note here that even though Daran was the birthday boy and is old, I was still the oldest one attempting this daring adventure. It is in Mlilwane, a wildlife preserve and we walked by impalas, warthogs & zebras. It was warm and the incline started right away. I could see the rock they were talking about. They expected me to make it up to there? Christy and Rajni stayed back with Teresa and I for awhile. Christy said she had read to just take "little" steps when going up inclines. Christy exercises fairly regularly and was still breathing hard. I on the other hand was hardly able to breathe. I don't want you to worry, I was with a doctor (Rajni) and a nurse (Teresa). At one point on the way up (only about a third of the way up) I was huffing and puffing and Teresa was behind me when she slipped. Now I heard her say she was okay but you know the feeling when you turn right when something happens and you know in your head it's okay but your heart jumps anyway? That is what happened. On top of my breathing so hard I could hardly speak my heart jumped. Teresa was fine but I had to then sit down because my heart was beating so fast I thought I would pass out. Instead of me helping Teresa she was taking my pulse. Are we having fun yet? Shortly after this, Christy and Rajni left us behind. I kept putting one foot in front of the other and then stopping for breaths. Teresa encouraged me to go a little farther. She had done this hike many a time and was sure Daran was enjoying not having to wait for her and getting to go ahead. I also found that of the many times they had done this, she had only gotten to the top a few of those times. We found a mint plant growing out of the side of the rock on our way up (good excuse to rest and take a breath). I stopped and took photos of many a flower (you need to enjoy God's creation -- gasp!! gasp!!). This is the most I have ever in my many years, (and I've lived many) that I have felt my heart pound so hard and my lungs work so hard! I was past the point of getting to know Teresa because I could now only talk in my head. I had no extra air for outloud communication! In my head I kept reciting Philippians 4:13 (look it up) and in everything give thanks. I was trying. I decided there that Satan did not work through a snake but was alive and well in all the flies buzzing around my ears. I felt like they were taunting me to give up. I almost did about a dozen times but then after about 2 1/2 hours I made it!!! Where was the ribbon to break through, the waterfall to cool off in or the spa to get a massage? Okay the view was great. See that patch of water down the mountain? That is where we started and that is where we had to go back to -- what had I done? No helicopter to pick us up now that I have accomplished such a feat? Enjoy the pictures! (Okay the pictures will have to be uploaded next year; the internet is not cooperating!) I'm glad I did it and it's like having a baby, it was great but I don't plan to do it again any time soon.

This last photo I have here is starting down, Daran, Teresa and Christy. If I get Jacci's photos I will share a photo of me when I arrived at the top and the disshevled photo of me at the very bottoms! Don't you wish you were here?

A Swazi funeral

Sunday morning @ 5:30 AM (yes in the morning), Christy (Education director of the CarePoints), Nomty (a co-worker and our cultural guide for the day) and I went to a funeral. The sister of Gugu Precious, a teacher at Mangwaneni, Mbabane Carepoint had died. Precious was the teacher that was such a help and friend to the cook whose child had died. This makes the 3rd death since I have been here (a cook at Murray Camp Carepoint died just before Christmas).

The funeral started early and was a touch difficult to find. Not because it was dark, the sun rises @ about 4:30 am but because it was way out in the country and there are no street signs or maps. We parked the truck (Christy's vehicle) and walked in our sandals and skirts through high damp grass up the hillside where the family plots were. We turned every head at the funeral as the color of our skin reflected in the sun (needless to say we were the only white folks there). We had worn skirts but found we should have brought a covering for our head also. They were forgiving of our lack of knowledge. We watched the ceremony with respect as they spoke and sung in Siswati. The sky was blue, the hills were green and a African choir sang as they lowered the body into the grave. It actually was beautiful. They filled in the grave and stomped the soil to pack it ever so often and then mounded it with stones and dirt. I wondered about the two young men who had the task of packing that soil with their feet. Were they family members? Did the fact they were stomping over a dead body haunt them or is it just a fact of life here. When we have graveside funerals in the states, they always put the body in the ground after everyone has left so I never have thought about those kinds of things. She was only 26 and was buried next to one of her 4 children who had died earlier this year. There were many other graves on the hillside. The contrast of so many painful, withering away to nothing kind of deaths and the beauty of the land consumed my thoughts. There were no tears shed. Swazi's are strong, but you could see the pain in the eyes of Precious and other family members. Why does it have to be this way?

We went briefly to the homestead and witnessed the 3 other children putting their meager belongings into the back of a pickup truck (it all wrapped within one blanket each). We were told they were being taken to live with their father. It was not known if he had agreed or if he even knew they were coming. He was not even the father of one of them (his father was unknown). It was so sad. I pray for their safety and protection.

I'm reading Francine Rivers' book "Redeeming Love". It is a fiction story that follows the lines of Hosea and Gomer. What has had significant impact to me is the harsh childhood that plunged the character into prostitution and a lack of hope. Is that so different here? These children are often raped at young ages and thrown into situations so bleak how can they dream of a bright future. How can they see that God made them and that they are of value and worth? I'm old enough to realize I can't change it all. Many more will still die. Precious' sister did know Christ and is without pain and saddness in heaven, but how many aren't? How many get swallowed up in Satan's lies that they are nothing, worthless and there is no way out? I'm ending this year being introspective. I will not wallow in what I can't do but take steps with God's direction of what I can do. I could show respect and love by attending the funeral. I can smile and hug children and tell them they are special. I can make sure I'm not an easy mark for money (I get asked often as the new white kid on the block) because money or things won't solve the problems. I can be a person of my word, willing to get in there and work and live out my faith. I can be trusted and care about them with pure motives. I can show I'm not trying to take advantage of anyone.

In church later that morning the pastor challenged us to remember our past deliverences. God has always been there for me, through hardships & heartache & divorce. God is good! I don't understand why many things happen, but that's okay. God will get me through each day and help me see the blue skys and green hills and bright sunshine even during funerals, pain and storms. End your 2007 by thanking God for your numerous blessings, for your past deliverences and with a desire to know Him even more intimately!!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

I just wanted to jot a note to say I miss you all but here was my view this Christmas morning!!!
I heard a great sermon Sunday about seeking Christ! The Jews sought Christ (the shepherds); the Gentiles sought Christ (the wise men) and whosoever sought Christ (King Herod) but failed to recognize Him. It was interesting especially since the angel told the shepherds to go to the City of David, which back then was used both for Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The shepherds knew the prophesies and did not hesitate in trying to figure out the angel meant but immediately went to Bethlehem. This new year I want to know scripture better so I understand immediately what the Holy Spirit tries to communicate to me and to also persevere like the wise men who followed the star for 2 years. (Don't want to preach the sermon but it hit me and I hope it is food for thought for you.)
Happy Birthday Jesus!!! Love, hugs and friendship!!!

Come Let Us Adore Him!!

What a privelege! I got to go Friday night to the best Christmas pageant ever!! The pictures in this blog is from a little church, Christian Family Church in Mapheveni. The pastor there, LaSelette Duarte, is a sweet grandmother type who is connected with our CarePoint there. Most of the families there work in the sugar cane fields and the water they drink is from the river and quite unhealthy. The children are probably the most in need of any of our CarePoints. This said, the celebration that I attended was beyond any I have ever seen! LaSelette made all the costumes you see in the photos, I do not know where she got all the fabic but every child and young adult was in full costume!!! They had taped music that they sang to and which Bongi, the children's leader (in the blue angel costume) choreographed the parts. Mary had touching choreography to the song "Breath of Heaven" as well as Bongi and the angels to "Mary, Did You Know". They had a magnificent narrator (who I apologize I did not get a photo of) who told the story from creation, the prophesies, Zachariah and Elizabeth and on through the birth. (Again, I apologize that I do not have photos of the earlier sections, I was suffering from a migraine and did not start taking pictures until about 1/2 way through but enjoyed it just the same.) They had the young adults with modern day dialogue in both English and Siswati mixture that was extremely poigniant (like when Mary contemplated what people would say about "another unwed mother") and included Zachariah (until he was struck mute by the angel), Elizabeth and Mary, Joseph and Mary, the innkeeper and his wife, King Herod's obsession, the shepherds and the wise men. Intermixed were some traditional Swazi dancing and some festive dancing. The wise men were some comical in their lines and looking for the star. The finale was full of pagentry and waving banners and color. The joy and excitement of the season was portrayed through every person on stage. They were enjoying it as much as us in the audience. It was magnificednt!!! I wish you could have been there with us! It definately blessed my Christmas!! I hope the pictures bless you and that you enjoy your family and friends and your numerous blessings even if you, like me are away from them. P.S. Please note the adorable cows in the manger scene :)

Monkeys next door!

Everyone says how "proud" they are of me. I think I'm the blessed one. How many of you get to say there are monkeys playing in the trees in the empty lot next to your house? Some mornings it is just a blast to live in Africa!!!

It doesn't happen every day but it was a fun treat last Sat. to find them jumping from branch to branch until Soza started mowing our lawn, then they ran off. I hope they come back again soon. I here that they aren't as common in Mbabne (the mountains) as in other areas of Swaziland.

That reminds me. Never complain about mowing your lawn. You have lawn mowers in the states. Here they use "grass cutters" but which are really weed eaters to mow the whole yard!!! What a pain, needless to say, we are having someone else do it for us.

I'm definately not starving!

What do a group of missionary ladies do just before Christmas? We have a make your favorite Christmas dish and share the recipe party!!! (I'm the one with the "HO" shirt that says repeat 3 times.) Now those of you who know me well, know that cooking is not my gifting, especially when they don't have all the ingredients I'm familiar with. We had a cooking day the day before. I had the Nathaniel and Joelle and Danielle (Teresa's, the one in peach, children) help me make a gingerbread CarePoint out of the closest I could come to graham crackers here -- called "tennis biscuits". We made icing to cement our creation from scratch!! 3 cups powdered sugar ("icing sugar" here), 1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter (someone had that but I'm not sure if it was from the states or not) and 2 egg whites (they do have eggs here :). We added candies and iced the plate to look like snow. It is in the center of the table. Christy (I hope you read her blog too) is already digging in. We had delicious meatballs, homemade scones, cinnamon rolls, pecan sandies, buckeyes, mincemeat pies, "brown pudding" (boring name for a chocolate delight), snickerdoodles (my favorite cookie), rich man's shortbread (delicious!), sugar cookies (decorated to the hilt) and I made my fruit smoothies (to add something a touch healthy)!

We opened with the Christmas story, stuffed ourselves sick, had a "dirty Santa" gift exchange (where you can steal the gift of the ones before you) and then watched the Nativity movie. Most of us hadn't had the opportunity to see it. It is very well done. We can't wait for the sequel. :)

This is also a picture of my friend Zinty. She also works with me and does a fantastic job! I look so big next to her. I know, I am big!

Merry Christmas! And don't eat as much as we did. We all needed a nap once our sugar levels all began to plummet. But boy was it delicious!!! I'll diet after the new year!!

It's Holiday!

I told you I would let you in on why I was rushing around to get so much done last week. In Swaziland the schools run from Jan. until Dec. and then they are out from around Dec. 7th until Jan. 22nd. Now this makes sense, this is their summertime. What is strange is that a lot of businesses also close down from today until around Jan. 14th. That is why I was trying to get so much done last week. All our office people are out of here for the next 4 weeks. Many Swazis go to South Africa much like Georgians go to Florida.
I'm still working. In fact, today I am the vegetable delivery person for the Oasis @ Swaziland CarePoints. Even they are on shorter hours over the holiday! My Rav (that's my jeap like vehicle) is filled, and I mean weighed down with potatoes, onions and carrots.

I have been downloading the Oasis sermons online but I'm missing family and friends. Church is not the same. I need some of our praise and worship!!

Please email me and if you have keep trying but they aren't getting through send a short message to sandra@theoasischurch.org and telling me you are having trouble. I have not been able to email anything with a photo attached. I've only received emails from my mom and Scott and Dee and Steve recently. I am news deprived because the Internet is so slow here and no TV so just let me know what's going on in the world. Although I am in the office a lot over the holidays learning and organizing and will stop in to my CarePoints, I will have more time on my hands that after the middle of Jan. EMAIL ME!! Or make comments on my blog if your emails aren't getting through.

Otherwise all is well. I'm reading more and decided to start a jigsaw puzzle for the holidays. I'm also getting caught up on some of my DVD watching. Take care and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry I haven’t blogged in a few days! I have not been able to log into my blog!! (Ugh!!!) So here are a couple of blogs.
12-12-07
Besides having 3 Christmas parties in a 4 day period (I’m exhausted and sunburned); I have been rushing trying to get other projects done before the end of the week. Why before the end of the week you ask? I’ll fill in that part of Swazi culture in my next blog.
This blog is about the Christmas celebration in Swaziland for Children’s Cup. Last Thursday was the party in Mozambique. A mission team from TX and several of our staff were there for that one (I was not). On Saturday was the MEGA party for the 11 Manzini (Man-zee-nee) CarePoints and approximately 2500 kids. It was cool and rainy, colder than a warm summer rain and at times downright cold as we were soaking wet. We still had a blast but the event was modified slightly. Monday we were in Mapheveni (Mop-a-vein-ee) which is the one CarePoint furthest away in Swaziland, right next to the Mozambique, about a 2 hour drive. We had the other extreme there, it was a scorcher! We all started saying the rain had not been so bad. I had to make myself be conscious of my water intake as I felt a headache and the beginnings of heat exhaustion. We still had a fun day! Tuesday was the Mbabane (Bah-bawn) party, it was nice to be only 5 minutes from the field it was held on and the weather was hot but bearable with an occasional breeze. Worn out at the end was an understatement! It was loads of fun though.

Now what all occurred at the parties? Singing and performances, face painting, balloon animals, bouncing inflatables, relay races, soccer drills, tug-of-war, sack races, hot dogs, sodas and chips, Christmas play and songs and performances by different groups of children. At the end, every child got a little gift bag with goodies including a washcloth, toothbrush, juice, chips & of course candy. Each party the helpers started with a prayer of protection and that each of us would love on and show each kid the reason for the season and how much God loves them. The kids were so well behaved even when they had to wait in lines. I’m going to try to upload several photos but they might not get added until next week.
Even though it won’t be a white Christmas here and Santa Claus did not visit the parties (they have no clue who he is). It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

12-13-07 (or in Swaziland 13-12-07)
I was at Mapheveni again today. This CarePoint is in the midst of sugar cane fields and has poor hired hands which remind me a lot of migrant farm workers in the states. The water supply is the river which is not only unhealthy but also dangerous. 6 months ago 2 children were killed in the river, one by an alligator and one by a hippo. Today, while we were there, we got word that a 2 year old boy had just drowned that morning. The mother was at the river doing laundry and the boy wandered off, when she found him, he had drowned. The mother was in shock and grief when the community leader went to check on the situation. The child was one that ate at the CarePoint. It is just was a reminder of how dangerous life is here. It is not uncommon for me to see small children walking along the sides of busy roads unaccompanied by any adult or older child. Children are left alone constantly to fend for themselves which is such a stark contrast to the rules I enforced for DFCS in the states. I have a much better appreciation for why many foreign families do not comprehend the urgency of child protection and guidelines in the states.

I want to briefly mention also that Tuesday night I went with Teresa (Children’s Cup staff nurse) and Rajne (a doctor staying with me for 3 weeks from Phoenix) to the government hospital. It was sad. Nurses there issue medication but family members are the care givers, they feed, bathe and give the patient the medicine. It is a step above living at home. There are numerous beds in a large rooms. At least 8 beds per room in the children's wards. Your belongings go on the one little metal night stand next to the bed or under the bed. Are Mangwaneni teacher, Precious was visiting her sister there. Her sister was skin and bones. She was confused and not able to communicate much, she did wave goodbye when we left. Things family had brought for her, extra clothing, wash basin, juice had disappeared and no one could find them.
We went to the children’s ward where there was varying illnesses and only basic care – medication, oxygen & some with IVs. One area had the residential severely mental or physically handicapped. This was their home. There were 3 children that had been abandoned. One with cerebral palsy, the other two with no apparent problems. (They are not open for international adoption, you must live here for at least a year.—I know you were thinking it. It crossed my mind too.)
If you are not sponsoring currently, please reconsider. The need is great and we are making differences! There were 3 families that night that we prayed over and asked for God to heal, give peace and comfort and give the doctors wisdom. The impact of just having someone, even a stranger, care was visually evident in these family members. There are children that by our efforts at the CarePoints are being kept from getting to the point of needing to go to the hospital. No telling how many lives have been saved by preventing an accident or catching an illness before it escalates. I just want to thank you for your generosity in supporting me and Oasis @ Swaziland. Merry Christmas!

Suffering vs. Celebrating

The harsh contrasts here are sometimes difficult. Friday, all our staff were either heading back from Mozambique with a team or in Manzini getting ready for the Christmas party for 3000 children from the 11 Manzini CarePoints that was to happen Sat. (The Oasis @ Swaziland CarePoints will be Tuesday in Mbabane.) It was rainy and busy and I got a call that the funeral for the cook, Gugulethu's, baby is for Sat. and they needed to settle with the funeral home for the coffin. We had no one in town to go by the funeral home and they would not release it on credit. Fortunately they are open 24 hours (most businesses close promptly at 5:00 pm and I would not be back to Mbabane until after 5 pm). I arrived with a coworker, Nomtie around 6:30 pm. Both Gugulethu and the teacher Precious were there. They were trying to make arrangements.
It was good that we arrived later than we had thought so we could be there when they were there. I found out that when someone dies at a “state hospital” it will only be released to a coffin from the “state funeral home”. The body cannot be released until the bill is settled. In my true American fashion I wanted to know if we could call the hospital, find out how much the bill was and just send the amount with the funeral home to pay when they picked up the body. Okay, I have a lot to learn. That is not how it’s done in Swaziland. You do not tempt any Swazi by giving them money that doesn't belong to them, even if it is E100 ($15). That was exactly why we were at the funeral home to settle the account for the coffin instead of giving the money straight to the mother. When you are so poor, it is best not to put the temptation out there.
We settled the amount for the coffin and we were to call the funeral home when we had settled the bill at the hospital and they would come pick up the baby, free of charge. They would however charge to transport the baby in the coffin to the funeral (which was closer than the funeral home). I asked if they could just pick the baby up in the morning and transport the baby from the hospital to the funeral which would be closer than bringing it back to the funeral home and they said no, that would still cost. He assured us someone was at the hospital that we could settle the bill with.
Long story short, there wasn’t. I drove Nomtie, Gugulethu, Precious & myself to the hospital. The mortuary is a separate building next to the hospital that has a big black solid gate. It was dark, foggy and drizzling as the 4 of us squeezed through the partially open gate to find the lights on, the door unlocked but no one home. There was the big freezer like door off the entryway and a bare looking office with no one there. We tried calling out. Then Precious and Nomtie left to go talk to the guards to see if they could find someone to assist us in settling the bill (let me also note you park outside the hospital grounds and then walk through the guard gates to even get to the hospital). I was left with a grieving mother who I could tell was just barely holding it all together and who only spoke Siswati, at this point I was feeling so inadequate since of course I only speak English. I couldn’t even ask if her baby had been a boy or girl (it was a girl). I coached her to sit down as we waited. Nomtie and Precious came back to say that the mortuary was only open for new bodies the hospital called them to come get and we would have to come back @ 8 am (the time the funeral had been planned to take place). All the Children’s Cup staff would be in Manzini by 8 am for the start of the biggest event for the CarePoints for the whole year and none would be available for this, including me. I always want to have the answers; to be able to rescue the situation. God is patiently teaching me I can’t do it all. It’s so painful. I left the details to be worked out with Precious (I did give her the money for the bill, she is a proven, trusted, responsible teacher). She would catch a ride to the hospital and meet the mother there @ 8 am and Precious would also work out someone to transport the baby to the funeral. I then drove Gugulethu and Precious home. It was dark, muddy and foggy as we wound around little narrow roads to get as close to Gugulethu’s homestead as we safely could in the car. She was to walk the rest of the way in the dark alone. I got out of my car with her, gave her a 10kg bag of mealy meal for her to take with her and gave her a hug. I wanted to be able to do so much more. Change her environment from the harsh reality it is. I can’t. But God is with her just like He is with me.
When I finally got home I collapsed in to bed. I want to be able to answer why? Why is the world in Swaziland and other places so out of balance as AIDS ravages a population? Why is there so much pain and hardship and poverty?
"All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Saturday I was at a party trying to make a day special for kids who live in this stark reality daily. It was fun watching them in the blow-up jumpy castles, having relay races, getting their faces painted, eating hot dogs and soda and chips and getting to sing and have fun even in the rain. It was sad as I thought about the mother burying her baby. All I can say, without Jesus, there is no way I could handle all of this. In fact, He’s teaching me, I don’t have to, He will handle it for me. By His grace alone I will.

Sad News

I had the sad task of going to Mangwaneni (Maun-gwah-nin-nee), Mbabane CarePoint (the Oasis @ Swaziland's 2nd CarePoint) yesterday to pray with and offer assistance to one of the young cooks there. She had lost her 15 month old baby that morning. The mother is only 20 years old. You can read more about the baby in Daran and Teress Rehmeyer's blog. A link is on my blog page und "Get Connected".

We feel so inadequate in comforting someone in such deep grief. One of the teachers there, Gugu Precious, is close and has been ministering to this cook, Gugulethu. When I prayed over her I let her know that the grief of a parent losing a child is one of the deepest one a soul can have and that God, our Father, shares in knowing her grief in that He grieved the death of His own son. I prayed that the peace of God would wash over her and comfort her especially when the pain is more than she can bare.

We will be helping Gugulethu with getting the coffin and some food. Children's funerals are very simple and small scale occasions here. When an adult dies however, the family who is grieving must provide food for all the guests who come to pay respects. It is not like in the states where the guests bring food for the family. To me it seems so harsh to have to be the one to give when you are the one with the greatest loss.

Be in prayer for Gugulethu as she tries to get through each day, one day at a time. Give the ones you love a hug and tell them often that they are loved, by you and by God.
"May the peace that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

Philippans 4:13

"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.]" Philippians 4:13 AMP

This is the verse I am clinging too as I attempt new things all the time since I arrived in Swaziland.
My first day here I drove on the left side of the road using the stick shift with my left hand.
By the end of my first week I drove home from the office all by myself without getting lost!
That first full weekend I learned to do things the "Swazi" way. My electricity to the water pump and washer were out so I did laundry by using an extention cord to run the washer and a bucket to add water to fill it up so it would agitate and then to rinse so it could spin.
Last Thursday I went to the "mall", I use that term lightly, all by myself and got lost in the maze of shops and found my way back to my car.
Last Friday I drove "down the mountain" to Manzini (man-see-nee). This is an interesting steep adventure that I will be doing regularly now that I am venturing out of Mbabane and I even get to do it at up to 120 kmh.
Yesterday, I have tackled a feat that I hear few brand new female missionaries have accomplished. I was a "kombi" (comb-bee) driver!!!
A kombi is like a rugged maxi (not mini) van taxi. That is the mode of transportation for many Swazi's. Children's cup has a few kombis for transporting people related to the CarePoints. I had my first official meeting where I had to lead devotion in Manzini for about 10 teachers & staff. There was no driver available to do the transport. I was told "you can do it", "it's not hard". For those of you at the Oasis, you think, driving the church bus (the kombi sits more like the bus than the vans) isn't hard; Sandra can do that no problem. Now picture me not only driving on the left side of the road and making right turns (those are the most confusing for us Americans to remember to look the right way) but driving down the mountain. Okay, the main highway down the mountain is paved and has two lanes, slow drivers stay to the left (not the right), not so bad (I was only honked at a couple of times). Now picture me going up and down dirt roads with pot holes, mud puddles and rain water ruts so wide your teeth keep clattering as you bounce along. Oh the adventure!!!
I got everyone there in just about 1 1/2 hours. (Straight to Manzini is only 32 km or a 20 minute drive -- I wasn't going straight more of a zig-zag & weave). One of the other Children's Cup staff, Lauren who is the counselor for the children, was at the CarePoint that I ended up at and she could not stop laughing as I drove up. She said that I better be getting a picture of this and blogging it. So, here is my photo. I led my devotion and had my meeting and then had to take everyone back! People standing by the road would try to flag down the kombi, even though we were not for public transportation, until they saw it was an old white lady driving it (this is usually a man's job or so I'm told). I was so mentally exhausted when I got home!
Someone asked why I don't panic when I do these things. I said if I panic I can't concentrate. Besides then you miss out on the laughing through it. By the way, I forgot to mention that on the way home I had to turn this big kombie around on a narrow road where the back side was a steep hill. Go ahead and laugh as you picture me making a "K" turn plus some extra back & forths. I turned around safely but have to laugh at the squeals coming from those sitting in the back as I came close to the edge each time and who weren't as confident in my ability and also at the children and adults out on the street laughing at the crazy white lady as she tried to turn around.
I pray that once you stop laughing at my adventures, that you will be encouraged to take on whatever task the Lord lays out in front of you today.
Have a blessed week!

How is Swaziland?

All my emails want to know what it's like here in Swaziland? All I can say is most is the same but with a different twist on it.

It is prettier than Loganville. There are so many gorgeous flowers and birds. I have a bush that has grown up in front of my bedroom window that has orange ball like blossoms that hang down. Every morning these birds that look large hummingbirds, their wings don't beat as fast but they have the long beaks and irredescent blue chests come and sing and hang where they can suck the necter from the blooms. There are also beautiful yellow birds that join them.

It's not so hard driving on the left side of the road. Like everything else you learn to rethink. I have to rethink most things.
The left turn is the easy turn
7 Rand (or in Swaziland it's the Emalangeni) = $1 which makes this R110 how much?
If it's 27 km from here, how long will that take?
If it's 1 kg how much mince (ground beef) is that?
Gammon = Ham
Robot = Stoplight
If it's 35* C, how hot is it? And when it drops to 17*C it's how cool?
Their coins make more sense though, the smaller the coin, the smaller the amount.
I'm glad I love math.

The weather has been strange for this summer, so I'm told. But it has gotten a little nippy when it rains, at least for not having heat or AC. It's hard to wear sandals out in that weather and then at other times it will be quite warm. That's what fans are for. I'm told to just wait for Dec. & Jan. It is their rainy season and it has rained here often. I wish I could ship some to Loganville, especially the loud thunderstorms. FYI I was told that Swaziland has the most lightening strikes per capita of any place in the world. That wasn't on my missionary brochure.

The staff have been awesome!! I don't feel isolated at all. I feel I have people to call for anything from getting lost to how to work the circuit breaker to what store can I find a little desk.

What I miss:
High speed internet
WalMart - you have to go to one store for groceries, one for electrical, one for kitchen anything, one for spiral notebooks, and some things you just have to wait until you go to South Africa.
TV (I can pay for cable but it's expensive and it's a season or so behind) I can watch DVD's.
I can live without those. But of course I really miss getting to see and talk to everyone on the phone. You don't even use the phone much here because you pay by the minute for cell & landline phones, but only if you call. I can receive any and all calls free. I'm in the process of getting a home phone so anyone can call me all they want. I won't have an answering machine so if I don't answer, I'm not home. I would suggest not calling me from a cell phone because that will cost you about $1.50/min. or more but from a home phone using a calling card that calls Swaziland it is only like $.20/min.

If you have specific questions I would love you to email them to me sandra@theoasischurch.org or make comments to the blog. Have a blessed weekend!

Fonteyn

First let me say my computer is working!!!! PTL
I want to share especially with those that went on the mission trip in September, that I got to go out to Fonteyn CarePoint for a devotional with the cooks. I know it is supposed to be summer here but instead of summer rain (it is now the rainy season) they have been getting a cold drizzle rain. It has helped the other missionaries feel like Christmas time. I can’t wait until the next team from the Oasis comes since they have my long sleeve shirts! So much for it being summer. Everyone tells me to just wait. It will be hot and sweaty again soon.

Anyway, I got to go with our other missionary Jackie who leads devotions regularly with the cooks at all the CarePoints and with Rodger who also works for Children’s Cup. He translates and does a lot of cultural interaction. He is really great.

Here are the cooks. Now in Swaziland you show respect by calling the women Make (equivalent to Ms. or Mrs. And pronounced mah-gay) This is Make Motsa & her son, Make Phiri (the cook that cares for Jabu) and Make Shongwe.

The teachers were also there. Mary (she will be visiting the US in Dec.), Soza and Kiki. There would be a picture but I have spent ALL day trying to upload these and it is not working. It was post it without or not post. I'm choosing to post. (I got it to upload!!! 12/5/07!!!!!)



Since it was cold and wet and after the feeding for the day, there were only a few children hanging around. They do remember the team and are waving hi to everyone in Atlanta.

Pray for me!

Coming here has been great! The staff and people I have met have been great! My housing is great! The food yesterday was more than great in quanity and quality!

Today though I'm having trouble and need your prayers. The jet lag is wearing off. My computer acted up just before I left and I was advised to reformat it. I have spent the week working on backing everything up and trying to get it to reformat. It would not just "Control" F11 & do it. Then, when I read the manuel it said to hit F8 but it would only "System Restore" so we restored it back to the original date of receiving it but that did not solve the glitch problems it was having. (Thank you for letting me vent this technical stuff even if most of you, like me don't understand it) Today I found someone who took time point out I should have and had the disc that would reformat it. We started it and now it's stuck and won't finish. It's been reformatting all afternoon and it gets down to 29 minutes left and then restarts and goes up to 39 minutes to finish but it never finishes. There has been other frustrating things happening today and I just want to cry.

The truth is that it's probably the point I need to be at for God to work with me. I need to stop trying to "have it all together". So while I go have a good cry and then write you later about all the funny stuff that has also happened, please pray for God to heal my computer and reformat it. He found my drivers license. He knows I cannot function here without my computer and that Dell won't be able to make house calls in Swaziland.

Christy told me to expect God to work on me in big ways! I just didn't expect it to be this soon. Thank you for your prayers and beyond my computers pray that I'm a handle being molded in His image so He can better use me with a willing and humble heart.

P.S. I've had my first thunderstorm last night and you have NEVER heard thunder so loud!! Patrick told me this morning that Swaziland has the most lightning strikes per capita in the world! That wasn't in the brochure!!! It wasn't scary just hard to sleep because it was sooooo loud!

Thank you also for those who leave me comments and email me. I read them all although with glitches it sometimes takes a few days. Just think, tomorrow I will have been here a whole week!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Today is not a holiday in Swaziland. Bummer! But Children's Cup is taking the afternoon off and the staff is going to Daran & Susan Rehmeyer's for Thanksgiving dinner. We have some turkey's, not as big as in the US that are being deep fried. I can't wait. I always wanted a fried turkey when I was in the states. We are all bringing the extras and should have mashed potatoes and a "butternut salad" should be interesting. I've already had a Kingpie which is a popular pastery enclosed sandwich with different fillings. It's as close as I can come to going to QT and getting a hot dog or taquita.
In keeping with the holiday these are things I'm thankful for:
Safe arrival here.
Knowing and having a support system here. (Teresa, Daran, Christy, Patrick, Zinty, Gugu and more)
The internet (I actually got to IM on line with my sons this AM, they were still up @ 2:30 am!!)
Your prayers and financial support that enables me to be here and stay safe.
That I have running water and food in my fridge and a comfortable bed to sleep on.
Having friends in the states keeping in touch with me.
For a more simplified life to enable me to focus on my relationship with my Lord and not get distracted as easily.
For what the future holds!!!
Have a great Thanksgiving!!!! "May the Lord bless you and keep you!!" Numbers 6:24

I've Arrived!!!

I made it!! This is the 2nd time I am trying to post this though. The Internet definitely is more difficult to navigate in Swaziland.

My Itinerary:
Leave ATL @ 4 pm Thurs. 11/15
Arrive in South Africa @ 5 pm Fri. 11/16
Catch the plane to Swaziland @ 7:30 pm and arrive in Swaziland to be picked up by Daran @ 8:30 pm.
Bonnie was to help me drop off my luggage in Atl. (You'll have to ask her about that adventure as I tried to burn a goodbye DVD on the way to the airport and then they wouldn't let me check in without a return flight from Swaziland being purchased!!)
Daran was to help me at the other end and I wasn't to have to deal with any of my HEAVY luggage in between.

Actuality:
Checked in with Bonnie
Delayed in ATL airport until 8:30 pm 11/15.
Arrived in So. Africa after 9 pm. 11/16, therefore,
Missed flight to Swaziland and no other flights out that night.
(God provided though) When delayed in Atl. I checked with the Delta desk when the first delay happened (there were 3 postponements before we took off) and there was a possibility I would miss my plane. They copied their notes which was what enabled me to be covered by Delta for a hotel room Fri. night in Johannesburg, South Africa with my 2 HEAVY suitcases and carryons that were overstuffed and probably weighed 40 lbs each. (For those on the mission trip, it was the same hotel we stayed in but not as fancy a shower! LOL!)
Sat. the Delta notes what enabled me to be ticketed finally, although I had to go back and forth across the terminal several times to different windows during the process.
I finally arrived in Swaziland @ noon on Sat. Yeah!

But wait!

Teresa, Daran's wife picked me up and we went to her house for a bite to eat. Daran had only gotten an email from Ben that I might miss my flight and so had been at the airport several times Fri. night to check on my arrival. I had not gotten to the hotel to be able to call him until midnight so I called him Sat. AM (that was a new experience). Plan was then to take my luggage to my house and go grocery shopping.

What actually happened is her car would not start, the battery was dead or rather the connection turned out to be bad. Teresa's car is an automatic and she does not drive a shift. The only other vehicle a the house was a stick shift with 4 concrete toilets in the back that weighed more than my luggage (if you can believe that) and we could not budge them and definitely did not want to drop one of them. We therefore, loaded all my stuff in the back seat and realized I had lost my drivers license at the airport. (I was so hot from all my layers -- what I couldn't pack I wore--I tossed off my jacket when I went to load my luggage into the car and it must have fallen out!) Anyway we called the airport and couldn't find it. I went ahead and drove a stick shift in a car that the steering wheel is on the right side of the car and you drive on the left side of the road. I'd been in Swaziland less than 4 hours. Nothing like jumping in with both feet! It really wasn't so hard with someone telling me where to turn. My only problem was the windshield wipers are where are turn signals are in the US so I kept wiping my windshield rather than signaling my turns!!

All is good though and Praise God! After Daran went and checked at the airport Sat. afternoon with no luck! God answered prayer and my drivers license was found and I have it back!!!!!! I'll right more about that later.

Got to go!! I'll share more the next time I can get on the computer. The Internet is definitely an adjustment!! Love you all!!

Goodbyes are so hard!!

I leave the states @ 4 pm today!!!
This week has been so hard and I'm not talking about packing my life into the 2 suitcases. It has been harder than I thought to say goodbye!
There just is not enough time to give everyone the time and hugs they deserve. Just know I love you all and appreciate your support!!! My son, Michael even shaved his head and says he won't cut it until I return May of 2009 for his college graduation. Enjoy the short look because it will only get longer from here.

May the Lord bless you and keep you until I return!!

Thank You!!

The countdown has begun!!! I leave for Swaziland on November 15th, only 8 days away!! I keep consolidating down my world to fit into 2 suitcases weighing 50 lbs each and 1 carry on and 1 personal item (which will probably weigh 50 lbs each!!!)

We had our Swaziland day @ The Oasis at church Oct. 28th and "Oasis @ Swaziland" has been launched!! Dave Ohlerking and Ben Rodgers were the special guests. They were powerful in expressing the need in Swaziland and throughtout Africa and sharing the difference Children's Cup has made and will make. Jabu, who is from the Fonteyn Carepoint where I will be working directly, was highlighted. Her smile even through all her suffering is a true inspiration!!! Her name means "to be happy".

The "Oasis @ Swaziland" is the name The Oasis Church has christened the pledges from families and individuals to fund 2 (not just 1) CarePoint in Mbabane, Swaziland and then also underwrite my missionary work by contributing to make sure my individual support meets a minimum amount each month. WHAT A BLESSING!!! I have my ticket and can't wait to be used by God in ways I would never have imagined.

Thank all of you who have pledged to support me and to The Oasis Church for making sure I have what I need to stay over there!!! I will keep you posted as to the powerful influence your contribution makes by allowing me to serve over there. If you were thinking and praying about supporting me but haven't done so yet, please mail your pledge to

The Oasis Church
"Oasis @ Swaziland Missionary - Sandra Chesterman"

3275 Tig Knight Road

Loganville, GA 30052

(This address is used instead of Children's Cup address so The Oasis Church can more easily track my contributions and subsidize any extra funding needed.)

Thank you!! THANK YOU!!! Thank you!!!

Whirlwind

It's pretty bad when you don't have a "real job" or paycheck anymore and you can't find the time to get everthing done you want or need to.

October so far has been a whirlwind for me. I've been working on getting things ready for next weekend Oct. 27th & 28th for the launch of the Oasis @ Swaziland at The Oasis Church. It is going to be stupendous!!!

Thrown in that mix, my dad had emergency surgery in St. Louis for a perforated small intestine and spent over a week in ICU. God is good though!! I wasn't in Swaziland and was able to go up there for that first week. He is still in the hospital but steadily progressing and can finally eat regular food!

I came back to Loganville last week the night before our Oasis @ Swaziland Golf Classic. The weather was great and we had a good turn out. We raised, I believe around $12,000 toward the goal of funding two CarePoints and me! Thanks everyone!!! As I said the golfers had a great time but after a 10 hour drive the night before and a full day volunteering at the golf course, I was exhausted.

There is a young lady, Jessica, in Club 81 (our young adult group) that needed a home for a while, so the day after the tournament we got a bed donated and she move into one of my vacant rooms. Her son, Jesse (1 1/2 year old) comes home from his dad's tomorrow! At least I won't be bored before I leave.

I thank everyone for your prayers! I will update you on the Swaziland weekend in Loganville next week!! If you read this and live in the area, be sure to come. We will have video of our mission trip and Dave Ohlerking and Ben Rodgers will both be here from Children's Cup. We will also have some purses made by ladies from CarePoints in Swaziland.

The photos below are a tribute to my mom & dad.
Love you!!!

I'm Homesick

I know you are saying "but you haven't even moved to Swaziland yet"!!

I'm not homesick for GA, I'm homesick to be back to Mbabane!! (I know, I read Christy's blog, in a few months I will miss GA)
Those who know me though, know that I RARELY, almost never, get emotional. I've been crying or on the verge of it since yesterday and have a deep, beyond my comprehension, desire to be over there already. This surprises me more than probably anyone else. I was sorting through photos in preparation of the Oasis @ Swaziland fundraising and wanted to hold and learn each of their names. To tell them they are loved and there is hope!

These children are the ones I will be working with. These children are the ones that if the funds are not raised I will not be able to minister to them. And these children are the ones that will not have the consistant food they need if we do not succeed in raising at least a year's worth of support by the end of Oct.

Thank you for supporting me in prayer and funding. I don't like not "working" meaning earning my own paycheck and having to ask others to be my "employer". But God has called me to be in Mbabane and has definately put the passion in my heart. In the physical, I don't see the financial numbers. My house hasn't sold and the current donations won't even pay the rent over there but spiritually, yesterday and today have confirmed that God will provide!!! He is so good!! Mbabane is my new home!!!
Enjoy these other faces that show "little is much when God is in it."

I did not start writing this to initiate funding but if you feel God stirring you to support me and these children; you can make donations to Oasis @ Swaziland 3275 Tig Knight Road, Loganville, GA 30052 and or click on the link for the Oasis Church. (Note: I am still with Children's Cup but the Oasis church is overseeing monitoring and supporting my finances.)

"Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it." Colossians 4:17