Well, I am finally in Swaziland. Today marks one week since I have been in my new home. It is lovely here! The view from my back porch is unbelievable.

Before I left for Swaziland I was reading Act 8 and I came to the story of Phillip and the Ethopian man. In the story Phillip is greeted by an angel of the Lord who tells him to go down south towards Gaza. Phillip doesn’t know what to expect he simply follows the Lord’s command. As I prepared to leave the states for Swaziland I could definitely relate to Phillip. Although I do have more direction than Phillip I still feel a little out in the dark. I didn’t know what Africa would look like, the people who would greet me as arrived in Swaziland, or who I might met along the journey. I simply knew this is God’s will for my life and I trusted God would take care me.

After being here in Swaziland for one week to the day I can say with assurance that God did provide. Every step of my journey from the Charleston, West Virginia to Manzini, Swaziland God placed special people along the way just as he placed the Ethopian along Phillip’s pathway. On my flight from Charleston to D.C. I was seating next to a nice gentleman who helped me locate my gate for my connecting flight to Johanasburg, South Africa. On my flight into Johanasburg I was seated next to gentelman who had taught history at West Point and during our 15 hour flight we were able to share our stories. Once I arrived at the airport in Johanasburg there were several nice people who helped me find my way around, from the arrival gate to the ticket counter to the departure gate. Once I was at gate 26 in Johanasburg I met several people awaiting their flights as well. One woman shared how she was traveling back and forth for medical treatment and another I was simply able to share why I was in Africa. Then on the final leg of my journey I was seated next to a man from Manzini who is the director of the TransWorld Radio Station, which is a christain radio station sponsored within the states. Whether God used others to encourage me or me to encourage those next to me…either way he provided. The Lord knew how nervous I felt deep down. He knew that I would never let nerves really show. The whole way through he protected me…not just because he called me to Swaziland, but because of people like you who were praying for me.

So, yes I have hit the ground here in Africa and I off for the races. My first week was filled with travels across most of the country; however, don’t ask me where I visited because I couldn’t remember the names. On Wednesday I went to the grocery store and the Swaziland mall, not a real mall though at least not by American standards and thank goodness!  I know my father will be happy to hear the news. On Thursday I ventured to the southern part of the country to met up with our team leader and a volunteer team from the states. Then on Friday I went to the northwestern part of the country to a country club, very nice, for a National Youth Council Meeting. Also during the midst of all this travel I began practice my driving skills. Learning to drive on the opposite side of the road is one thing, but add a gear shift into the mix and I’m all a mess. Lessons have gone well and Greg (one of the other missionary families here) always has encouraging words, but I trust God will see me through this experience as well.

Thank you once again for your prayers! Sorry, there are no pictures but unfornately the program is acting up.

A quick congrats to 2 of my former Sunday School students, Josh and Heather who won the KY state Bible Drills competition!!!!

Please continue to pray…

Please lift up my fellow missionary women and myself as we travel to Kenya Tuesday morning for our annual Women’s Conference. We will be gone May 1-6. Ask the Lord to renew our spirits, refresh our walk with him, and bless us. May the Lord to use this time to prepare my spirit for 40/40 (our camping/bush experience in Zambia from May 11-June 11). Also, remember the husbands, fathers, and children who are at home while the women are gone to the conference.

Please pray for my family as we continue to adjust to the new arrangements and being far from one another. Internet is expensive, charged by the minute, slow, and electricity is spuratic.

Please ask the Lord to equip me with the knowledge and confidence to drive not only on the other side of the road, but how to drive a standard truck. Also, ask the Lord to allow to retain and quickly pick up on the language. Many of the Swazis speak English; however, I desire to communicate with them in their heart language.