"Sanibonani!"

Every time we greet in siSwati,, we receive warm smiles and some chuckles. I think sometimes it means they are pleased, and sometimes it means they can tell we're butchering their language! But we are getting pretty good at saying hello to many people (the greeting in the title), and to one person -- "sawbona". We can also say thank you (gniyabonga/ siyabonga), how are you (unjani), and goodbye (hamba/ sale kahle [sounds like gashle]). You will be happy to know that Brent is also getting good at driving on the right side of the car, and the left side of the road! Karis and Will, he's only given us a windshield wiper twice, when he wanted to turn on the turn signal. :)

We have been quite busy this first week. Saturday, the day after our last post, we visited Endzigeni, near Piggs Peak. This was the first mission station of the Church of the Nazarene, started by Harmon and Lula Schmelzenbach in 1909 (or sometime near there). Each mission in Swaziland has a church, clinic, and at least one school altogether. This was to complete the initial, and ongoing vision to "preach, teach, and heal." Each clinic is run by several nurses who have been trained at the Nazarene College of Nursing here in Manzini. (I'm actually writing this from a computer in the college offices!) We were able to meet two of the four nurses who work at Endzigeni while we are there. They are some of the bravest and most sacrificial women I have ever met. Most of these clinics are in very rural areas, and their homes were built a long time ago. The nurses at Endzigeni have homes on the compound, next to the clinic, but they have neded a renovation a LONG time ago. As I was touring their living spaces, I was so humbled. They have such a desire to serve their people through these clinics that they have been living in a bug, rat, bat, even iguana-infested home! We were told by the construction crew that an entire ecosystem would need to be resettled after that home was redone.

The team coming this weekend will spend most of their time working in Endzigeni, working on those nurses' homes and the clinic, which also needs some work. They have also planned a big free clinic day on Friday June 4, and a week long vacation Bible school/ sports camp for the children.

While we were there on Saturday we also got to meet the leadership of the Endzigeni church and the district superintendent of the northern district, Rev. Philemon Dlamini. I was surprised but honored when he asked me (Michaele) to help give a workshop next week for the pastors on his district!

It is hard to describe the driving... when we are on "tarred" roads, as they call them, it is pretty good. However, a majority of the country's roads are not paved. Driving home from Endzigeni in the dark on Saturday night was therefore a memorable experience. There were people walking alongside the road, without flashlights, in the dark. There were also plenty of cows that roam freely through the land. In fact, we nearly ran into a black cow who was in the middle of the road. If not for his white legs, we would not have seen him until it was too late!

It is only Tuesday, but already this week has been full of very memorable events. We attended our first Swazi church service at Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene, here in Manzini. We ate lunch with the legendary Dr. Samuel Hynd and his daughter Dr. Elizabeth Hynd. Sanuel's father, David Hynd was the first missionary doctor to Swaziland, and the one who began the RFM hospital here in Manzini. Samuel has also served as a doctor here for his whole career, even delivering the current king! (Samuel told us the king's best speech was his first -- right after he smacked his bum!!) His daughter Elizabeth runs an innovative orphanage, which we will visit next week, called the New Hope Centre.

Monday we had a day full of meetings, getting food, transportation, and scheduling all completed for the team who arrives this weekend. Brent and I also had our first shopping experiences! We went to KFC, and also to the SuperStar grocery store. We were quite proud to come back with our purchases and show Barbi the first things we bought in Swaziland! :)

Today provided our first opportunity to have a bit of a safari. Although we only saw cows! We went with Mary Magagula, the director of the HIV/AIDS task force to visit potential garden sites for her HIV support groups to work in. We drove on dirt roads, and then we drove where there were no roads at all! In fact at one point Brent was instructed to follow the "footpath" down into a ravine where the cows were grazing. It was really an experience! But we did see some beautiful country and some good areas that were given to be used as gardens.

The HIV Task Force is kind of like a hospice group that provides care to AIDS victims in their homes. They have also rallied behind many HIV+ individuals, bring hope and encouragement, and empowerment. There are now many HIV+ support groups that have started up all over the area, due to this woman and her fellow workers. Recently they have worked to get each of these support groups their own land to garden, so that they form an agricultural co-op. The food is used to feed their own families and the excess is sold so that these individuals, mostly women, will have money for their families. Each garden (really like a small farm!) takes about $5,000 to start. This includes fencing, preparing the soil, and buying the starter seeds. Both of the sites we visited were great candidates for gardens, but we are not sure there are enough funds for both at the moment. I encourage any of you who want to be a part of the Swaziland partnership, that this would be a great way to give! I wish you could have seen the co-op members we met today, and the looks of anticipation on their faces.

This is by now at least the length of two postings. I will close with some requests for prayer:
--the group from Lenexa, KS that comes in May 30th - June 11, and all the preparation that still needs to be done
-- the workshop I will participate in June 3 with the local pastors of the northern district, and Rev. Rob Prince of Lenexa Central Church of the Nazarene
-- our continued health and safety as we travel all over the place!
-- that we will continue to find favor in the people that we meet -- this is a prayer request that continues to be answered, thank you and praise God!
--developing opportunities Brent and I have to speak with students about God and sexuality
--Sunday, June 14 -- I have already been asked to preach at Sharpe Memorial Church!!

Thank you for all of your continued support and prayers and encouragement. We love you all and are excited to share more of what God is doing here and what we are learning!