Hello from Swaziland!!

I hope that all is well in all of the places where each of you are. 

This week, our ministry in Swaziland has kept us very busy.  I am not sure where to begin!  Because we will eventually have the opportunity to serve in any way we choose, we are currently spending most of our time learning about the people, the culture, the language, and the needs of the Swazi people.  I have loved meeting and getting to know the Swazi women as well as the precious orphans.  The landscape here is beautiful (and primitive is most parts).  I am realizing that life is good when it is slow.  I am certainly learning to be patient here as I share one bathroom with 60 people, walk for 45 minutes to get to "town," and sit still while dozens of little girls put hundreds of braids in my hair. :) 

Yes, life is good.

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to help a church to purchase and slaughter a cow in order to throw a pretty sweet party for the people in a nearby squatter camp.  The church is tiny and the people are poor, but it was such a joy to see (and join) such a beautiful community.  There was food, music, and dancing. . . I was wishing that you could all be there to join in the celebration. . . but not necessarily to eat the cow - haha, I don't even know what parts they were serving. . .  ;)

Please pray for the churches here as they serve tirelessly in a place where the needs are incalculable.  Also, pray for my team as we make decisions about where and how we can be most useful. 

I hope to write a longer blog when I get back to South Africa next week.  I'm sorry this one is so short - I'm sure that you all have a million questions about all that is going on here!  Feel free to send emails. . . I love hearing from all of you!

And to answer these ones:
The food is good.  We eat a lot of carrots and rice.
The water is drinkable - but I miss chocolate milk.
I only take 2 showers each week - it's amazing.
The only "exciting" animals I've seen are zebras. . . at a distance.
There are cows, chickens, and goats everywhere.  Even on the roads.
Yes, there are grass and mud huts.  No, I don't live in one.

With love from Africa,

Katie Movic :)