Embarking on their journey....

Hello Fellow Swazi Families and Friends~
As the team is anxiously waiting at the airport, they have asked me to share a few prayer requests:
-Travel mercies, as the team is an hour behind schedule due to the Iceland Volcano eruption today;
that they would meet their connections and have safety in London and Africa.
-That the Lord will walk before them, making His way for them and having His angels keep them from harm.
-Focus on the tasks and relationships ahead of them

-Be there now - that they would be able to engage in the culture

-Trust in each other

-Fun! Rest.

-Being able to transition from school to Africa and process the year

-Bulembu itself

-Effectiveness of the team

-Have open minds and hearts

-Everyone to have a giving and receiving attitude

-Humility

-Push through any troubles or trials

Our verses for this trip are Roman 12 and
Jeremiah 1:5-8: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
"Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child'.
You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, " declares the Lord.

thank you for joining in with a prayer cover for this awesome group.
They covet your prayers, as they embark on their journey to join God in what He is accomplishing in Africa.
I will keep you updated when I receive notices from the Team, but keep trusting the Lord, that no news is good news!
In Christ~
Lorie

1 day and counting

I'm sitting here in my house looking out at on another gloomy day in New England. (That's an interesting way to start a happy blog post, right?) I checked the weather for Mbabane, Swaziland - the capitol - and it is 81 and sunny today. That is just one example of the stark contrasts we will see and experience over the next month. Today is everyone's last day at home as we are meeting up at Gordon for the night to prepare as a team and to make sure the logistics are figured out before we fly out tomorrow. I still cannot believe that we are heading out tomorrow. It's completely surreal. I wanted to extend a huge thank you to those who have supported us in prayer and financially. I don't think I have mentioned this, but we are completely and totally funded to go! That is such a blessing from God and another example of how He is preparing our way. I can honestly say that I feel complete peace in the midst of the insanity of packing and moving out of the dorm. I know that God has gone before us and has prepared a path for us. While is Swaziland, we will take turns leading daily devotions. One of the reason for this is because God has laid a path out for us and His Word is the lamp to follow. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 - This way of seeking after God will also draw us together more as a team and will help to show us exactly what God has in store for each one of us individually and as a team. Your prayers will be invaluable to this process because there are going to be days where we are totally emotionally exhausted from everything we will be experiencing. There are a few specific prayer requests that I have for the team:

-Peace over our hearts to know that God is working in this town and these people.

-Unity within the team to be able to build each other up and to care for one another.

-Hope for the orphans and people of Swaziland.

-Grace within the team. 1 month can be a long time to be living in a such a closed environment. We long to have Christ's attitude towards each other.

-An overabundance of love to pour out to the people there.

-Ears to hear what the people there have to say. We do not want to be separate from them, but a part of their stories and them a part of ours.

-Safety in traveling.

-And so many more things that I am not thinking about right now.

Thank you again and in advance for your prayers and love.

An update about the blog while we are there. The blog may be updated a few times while we are in Bulembu. We have very spotty internet access and can use the computer that they have there when allowed to. Do not expect many updates, but check back here once in a while and you may get a surprise! Remember - no news is good news!

That is all that I have to say in this last pre-trip blog post. I desperately need to finish packing as I'm sure most of the team needs to as well. =)

So for now, see you in a month!

Kristen

5 Days

In the next 5 minutes, it will be 5 days until we leave. I remember being 60 days out and having it feel like a world away. Finals, moving out, and countless papers stood in the way of us leaving. Now, half the team has headed home for a few days to be with their families and to prepare for our departure. A few of us will be hanging around Gordon until we leave. Either way, on Sunday we will all convene back at Gordon to finish last minute details and have some good quality team time and on Monday we are on our way to London! We have about a day and a half of traveling until we get to our final destination of Bulembu.
I want to reiterate our thanks to all of you who have supported us financially or by praying. We would not be going on this trip if it wasn't for you. Please continue to lift us up in your prayers throughout the duration of our trip. We will be seeing and experiencing a lot of things that we can't prepare for. We've met with the team that went last year and their knowledge was invaluable, but they told us that most things we can't prepare for. What we can do is talk through it and cover it in prayer. There is so much peace around this trip and I know that God has gone before us and that He has some amazing experiences for us. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Our advisor, Donna, will be uploading a few short messages on here throughout the month. At most, one a week, just to give everyone a little idea of what we're doing and how things are going. The rest of the team will be on a complete technology fast for the month and I can't wait to see the amazing things that can come out of not having Facebook, the internet, texting or a phone, or tv. It's truly going to be a sight to see!
More details to come as Monday nears! God bless.