siSwati language

So I'm trying to learn some siSwati phrases before I head to training camp next Friday. Hopefully I can learn some of their language and maybe that would influence them to think we really do care about people on the other side of the world. :) Here are some of the phrases:

Sawubona-------->Hello
Unjani?-------->How are you? (singular)
Ninjani?------->How are you? (plural)
Kusile------>Good Morning.
Ngiyabonga------------>Thank You
(U)ngubani ligama lakho?-------->What is your name?
Ligama lami ngu...---------->My name is...
Sala kahle------->Goodbye/Stay well
Hamba kahle-------->Go well
Ngiyaphila------->I am well
Ngidziniwe----->I am tired
Ngijabulile------->I am happy
Angiphili------>I am not well
Ncesi------->Sorry/Excuse me
Kulungile-------->It's okay
Yebo----->Yes
No----->Cha
Ngicela uphindze------>Repeat please
Shano kancane, ngiyacela------->Say is slowly please

And of course there are a bunch more I could add. Hmmm...maybe I should make it my goal to know these and say these by the time I leave. What do you think? Oh yea, and I can't forget to start on my French lessons for my Mali 2010 Edge Team!

SIX DAYS!

trip preparations

Oh, packing is a blast! Ha, not really! I have been buying little by little for weeks now and setting everything else as I decide what clothes to bring that I "need" and not just want. It's kind of a difficult task. I've never packed so lightly before with everything fitting into one suitcase (no more than 50 lbs), but I sure know these clothes will be well worn when I come back at the end of July! But I also know that it will be so much easier to live. Don't worry about your hair, how you look or anything else because that is what is the least important to God or anyone going to Swaziland. That's not the purpose. But lighter packing means less comfort in living. We're leaving the comfortable lifestyle of the typical American and giving it up (for the summer at this point). Bucket showers, sleeping bags, skirts (yuck), no blowdryers or hair straighteners, little or no makeup whatsoever, many many many weird bugs and african animals, but the one thing that holds me together and gives me peace- our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They say that passion isn't enough to follow your dreams sometimes. The passion may die down. If orphans are your passion its not enough. Well what do they say? Your passion has to be JESUS. When it comes down to the bottom of things, it all has to lead back to Jesus as our ultimate passion, ultimate guide, ultimate leader, ultimate desire, and our one true LOVE. He is the one that is going to keep us going. It is something I have been recently thinking about and studying.

literally 10 days away...
my heart is pounding
my emotions are going crazy
and I am starting to feel the nerves...

There is a Redeemer

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God's own son,
Precious lamb of god, messiah,
Holy one.

Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my Father,
For giving us your Son,
And leaving your Spirit,
til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory,
I will see his face,
And there I'll serve my King forever,
In that Holy place.

15 days

the Wait

Being at home for three weeks without a job or anything "productive" or "meaningful" to do, is a huge change. I'm so used to being busy with my job and schoolwork and being surrounded by my best friends. It is lonely. I feel almost worthless at times. I should be spending these times intensely and intimately with Christ to prepare for the trip ahead and draw closer to Him, but yet I don't. One of my teammates reminded me that we need to relax once in a while. Yes that is true, but it got to me. I hate being in silence and always want something to do. A day of rest is fine for me, but after that I would like to be back in the routine with something that I need to do that needs to be done. It motivates me and keeps me on track. But, I need to learn to just relax and spend this time fully with the Lord.

If I had movies on Africa and AIDS and orphans, I would spend my days watching them, thinking, and praying...

I watch alot of sermons on youtube that keep me going and growing in different areas of my life. Alot of conviction, which is the work of the Holy Spirit. At times like this I feel like my life is on hold and I'm waiting around for something, which I am, but I shouldn't be carelessly lounging around. I should be doing something for God's Kingdom, right?

**Check these videos out if you want to hear some great insight from some Godly men.
http://braveheartedgospel.com/Thots/Archive.html
OR search "David Wilkerson" or "Paul Washer" on youtube.com.

I know that by the time the day comes when I leave for Africa, I'm going to want to wish I had more time to prepare and pray for the next two months. I'm gonna wish I did that. So I am committing myself to doing it, now, tomorrow, and the rest of the 18 days I have to myself.

Love, Dad

I absolutely love this picture I found. It is truth.
Read. Understand. Seek.

27 days