Last days in Africa...

How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!" -Romans 10:14-15

I am posting this blog from the USA, but I wrote it on Wednesday, June 27 while in South Africa. Hopefully, it will help describe our last few days in Africa.

Saturday (June 23), the team spent the morning shopping at a local craft market in a place called Ezulwini (which actually means Heaven). After shopping, we drove an hour and a half to Lesibovu. We split into 3 groups and did homestead visits in the community. We would share with people about the weekly Bible Study and talk to them about the Gospel. In the afternoon, I led the adult Bible Study and different team members led the youth and children. The entire Allen family joined us on this day of ministry so it was fun to see Lacie and Nathan included in the children's ministry. 

Thokozani helping to translate for Lacie and she prays.

Nkhululeko

On the way home, we had a flat tire on Mr. J's small rental car. It was right after we left the Bible Study, so it was probably caused by thorns in the area. Definitely an Africa experience. We were able to change the tire quickly and head to town. Just as we approached Manzini, Mr. J realized he had another flat. The spare tires on the rental van and Steve's truck did not fit so we were stranded without a spare. Thankfully, the flat occurred right as we got off the dirt road and were on the edge of Manzini. It wasn't the safest place, but it was much more easily accessible for anyone who would come and help us. Most of the team left and went to dinner while Steve, Mr J, Eric, and our two male translators stayed behind and waited for Avis, our rental company, to send someone with new tires. About 3 hours later, we had two new tires, a new spare, and the team was back together. We were able to spend a lot of time visiting while at the restaurant which was great since Deborah Hoskins came to meet the team and my family. When the others arrived, we enjoyed hearing their stories and visiting with our translators (Thokozani and Nkhululeko) some more.

On Sunday, we split into two groups and went to Hawane and Nsangwini for church. My family, Blaine, and Eric went to Hawane. Two of my precious Swazi friends came to church with us so they could meet my family! It was so good to see Jane and Ntombi. I hadn't seen Jane this entire trip, and it had been weeks since I had seen Ntombi. I loved introducing them to my family and spending the morning in worship with them. When we arrived at Hawane, I led the youth Sunday School, Mom taught the children, and Dad preached. We were able to see the new church structure at Hawane as the metal frame is already up. The church is very excited about having their own building, and the need was evident as we crammed into the small room they are currently meeting in and had more people sitting outside of the main room trying to listen to the sermon.

Sunday was an incredible mixture of cultures. Of course, the majority of the group gathered were Swazis (2 being my friends from another Baptist Church), but there were also the 4 summer missionary girls, the 6 of us plus Monica and Lacie, and then we had several other visitors. When we waiting to start Sunday School, a young man came in and directly went to me and greeted me. I recognized him, but could not place him. I saw him greet Make Ngidi, one of the women from Hawane, and quickly realized she did not know who he was. With Jane's assistance, I also realized he was not a Swazi and was having trouble communicating with Make Ngidi. I had been racking my brain but quickly realized that I had met this man about 3 weeks ago while working with the Luke Commission. He was from Kenya and was living in the Hawane community with 7 others for one year doing mission work and outreach. I had learned he was Baptist and invited him to the Hawane Church. Of all Sundays, this was the one he came to visit the church. I was sooooo glad I was there and was very excited to see him at the church! There was also a man from Zimbabwe from another Baptist Church in Swaziland who had come to check on the progress on the church building. What a meeting of the nations in such a small place!! 

Kuseni, Archer, Thokozani and Blaine

Sunday afternoon, Monica drove Jane and me to Manzini to meet up with Simanga. He was there for just a short time to take his youngest brother to school. Jane had to catch a bus to return home so we walked into town while Monica went shopping with Lacie. We found Simanga, visited some, and then Simanga and I walked to the Hoskins' flat. We had tea and visited some before he had to go. Todd walked him to the bus rank, and I stayed and visited with Deborah. It was good to see them again. Monica and Lacie picked me up, and we met the rest of the team for dinner. Sandile Kunene came by the Mountain Inn Sunday night to say good-bye to my family and me. It was good to see him again. We also visited with Mpumemelo Dube, my friend from Nhlangano who works at the Mountain Inn. I enjoyed seeing him every day, and he introduced me to some of the staff at the hotel. 

Monday morning, my friend Zinty and her husband, Lungile, came by the Mountain Inn to meet my family. I had not seen Zinty my entire time in Swaziland so I was pumped she was able to come by. It was only a short visit but a great reunion!! I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but there was a college student (Amanda) who traveled to Swaziland with my dad's team but did not work with us. She met up with a lady, Corine, and worked with preschools in the area close to Wayne and Barbara Myers, while the team worked with the IMB missionaries. Corine dropped Amanda off at the Mountain Inn, and we all headed to the Ngwenya Glass Factory for some last minute shopping for those on the team with a few Rand left to spend. :) The Allens joined up with us, and we all headed to South Africa. 

Monday through Wednesday, we stayed in Nelspruit at a place called the Bundu Lodge. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we went to Kruger National Park. It was incredible!! Our first day there, we saw the Big 5!! The Big 5 consists of lion, leopard, cape buffalo, rhino and elephant. Over the two days, we were able to see more of these animals as well as impala, kudu, other types of antelope, zebra, wildebeest, many species of birds, what we think was a black mamba, mongooses (mongeese? lol), giraffe, crocodiles, monkeys, baboons, and lots of others! I have included a few picture for you to see. For those of you not familiar with Kruger, it is a national park that is 3x the size of Swaziland. There is a fence around the outside of the park, but everything on the inside is wild and operates that way. There is little interference from the staff, except for protection for some of the animals like the rhino. While at Kruger, you drive your own car around the park and try to find the animals. It's awesome because you see them in natural habitat, and you never know what you will see. We found a lioness on the road, a baboon sitting on a guard rail, and tons of animals right outside our car window. Spending the last day or two at Kruger or some game park is something we have always tried to do with teams. Over the years, we have discovered the importance of this down time, debrief, and time with team members before being thrown back into the everyday, American life. 

Sunset in Kruger...picture can't do it justice

Tomorrow (Thursday, June 28), we will pack up and head to Johannesburg to fly home. Our flight is around 7:00pm South Africa time. However, in the morning, we will stop at one of my favorite places in Africa - Mugg and Bean! Incredible coffee. Awesome breakfast. Amazing. (Can you tell I'm excited about coffee??!!) Anyways, after we eat breakfast together, we will say bye to part of our team as well as Steve and Lacie. The 5 of them will head back to Swaziland and the family of 3 who joined us will fly home next week. The rest of the team will head to the airport with Monica and Nathan, who are coming to help carry our luggage. The plan is to post a few more blogs once I get home. The truth is, I am not ready to leave. I don't think I have realized that I'm leaving tomorrow. Be praying for us as we travel home and adjust back to our "normal" lives. It's always such an adjustment. I'll post more from the other side of the ocean. Hope you enjoy the animal pictures. :)