The sun is hot, the mangos are ripe, and the mosquitoes are hungry - it's summertime in Swaziland. As I begin my days, I adorn myself with flip flops, sunscreen, and a long skirt… an adventure always awaits. In this week alone I have ridden a children's school bus, explored a Swazi jam factory, visited an orphanage, met the regional education officer and the Bishop of Manzini, been caught in an African rain storm, tasted berries that somehow suck all the saliva out of your mouth, rescued myself and my roommates from unidentifiable creatures in our room, found the place where building inspectors and map makers work (and now know why there are no street maps of Swaziland), attempted (unsuccessfully) to apply for a library card, helped a group of teachers during a brainstorming session, learned about the sugarcane industry, and somehow managed to locate and visit nearly all of the high schools in the Manzini area. As I work to establish my ministry, I am quickly learning my way around, befriending everyone I meet along the way (as this is the Swazi way), and picking up on the local lingo. Here are some simple translations that come in handy:

"IESH! It is too far!" = "It will be at least a 6 minute walk."

"HOW?!" = "That's incredible!" (do not explain how… just say, "I know!")

"Will you be my wife?" = "I think you look pretty in your ankle length skirt."

"Make a left at the robot." = "Make a left at the traffic light."

"It is on this side/that side." = "I don't know where it is."

"It is very nice." = "It tastes good."

"Hello." = "I'm hoping we can talk for at least 30 minutes and then exchange phone numbers."

"Just now." = "Sometime today. . . Maybe."

"Just now now." = "A little sooner than ‘just now.'"

"Waiting room." = Exactly what it sounds like… Swazis put the "wait" back into "waiting room." (see www.erinrobinson.myadventures.org for more on this).

"Kombie" = "large van that fits approximately 30 people and takes you anywhere that you want or don't want to go."

"STAISH!" = "Please stop the Kombie. I'd like to get off here."

In all of the ups and downs of settling in and setting out, I have decided that I will do the majority of my ministry this semester among high school girls and young women. I will be working with a curriculum which teaches God's love for his people, sexual purity, respect for oneself, and hope for the future. The Bible teaches that, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus t do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). Young Swazis are looking at the possibility of a bleak future, promising little more than poverty, crime, and AIDS. The truth for these young people, however, is that they are precious in God's sight, filled with purpose and potential from their Creator, and able to stand strong in their generation. I hope to have the opportunity to come alongside these young people, encouraging them, loving them, and pointing them toward their identity as children of God.

Please pray for me (and the 2 team members I am currently working with, Aubrey and Kristen), that we will be effective in meeting with high school headmasters, Scripture Union (aka Bible Club) leaders, and youth pastors during the preparation time of our ministry.

Please pray for Swazi youth that they will recognize the love of God and turn toward Jesus to find their worth, value, and purpose.

Please pray that I will continue to make every effort to learn the language and culture of the Swazi people.

Please pray for continued health and safety as we work and minister here.

With love,

Katie