Sanibonani! Or "hello to you all" - in SisWati! I made it to Swaziland!

 

I can't tell you all how excited I am to be here! I've waited over a year for this day. It's been surreal... driving back into Manzini, singing worship songs outside the big white house I stayed at last year, walking back past the squatter camp, and walking around the city... I can't express to you how my heart feels right now! It's such a peaceful feeling to know you are exactly where you should be...

 

I met up with my roommate Caroline's team at Alabanza - what a blessing it was to see her after a month! - and also ran into my dear friend from Auburn, Lee Lowry, at Alabanza! God is just full of surprises! Then Caroline's team and I drove down to Swaziland.

 

Yesterday was a day of reunions. We spent the night last night at a huge 4th of July party (yes, in Africa!) All the Americans and friends who were within driving distance came. It was amazing! I got to see all the AIM staff that's here, the Ambassador and Real Life teams and all their leaders (who are dear friends of mine), as well as the World Race team that's here! Our time together was great - for most of the night it felt like we were at home. We ended the night with the Star Spangled Banner (yes in Africa) and fireworks. What a way to celebrate!

 

Today and tomorrow I'll be visiting friends here and running errands... then Sunday night I'm headed to the game park to camp with the World Racers! I can't tell you what a blessing it's been to be back with them! The last time I saw most of them was September at training camp. It's been SO great to be around them again!

 

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me this week in ministry. I'll be ministering in Nsoko and possibly at some other carepoints. Rusty and I will be shooting a video of the Nsoko project so that you all can see what God has called us at AIM to do here, and so that you can "meet" (via video) some of the amazing people and beautiful children that are a part of it. Please pray God's hand over our work!

 

Please continue to pray for safety (in travel and especially since we're camping at the game park with lions, snakes, scorpions and other wild animals! Praise God it's winter - I pray the snakes and bugs stay far away!), health, sweet sleep and for God's direction every moment. I can't wait to share more with you about what God has in store here!

 

 I probably won't have internet for the next week - so "no news is good news". Thanks in advance for your prayers!

 

In HIS hands,

Ericka <><

 

"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass..." 

Psalm 37:5