Hello All.
This month is Swaziland has flown by much too quickly. It has possibly been the MOST unbelievable month of the Race so far… maybe I say that about EVERY month, but i really mean it each time. Smile. My family, the Irwins, the Blacks, and many other friends from home got to experience Swaziland together, and I am just so over-full of sweet and bittersweet memories from such a unique time of side by side ministry with some of the ones I love dearest in the world. My 2 older sisters, Lisa and Emily, and I got the joy of dressing countless little orphan children in new clean clothes the other day at a really desparate carepoint over an hour outside the city. Praying over their lives as we slipped a pretty new dress or a pair of pants without holes on their cute little bodies. I watched my nieces and nephews jump right in and start picking out outfits for the kids, as well. Picture that! : ) It is still a bit surreal. And there are scores of stories like this one.
On the car ride home after one such day I was having the thought, ‘Oh, I think this is where my life is changed forever.’ It was a funny moment for me because, of course, I’ve heard some form of the phrase ‘Your life will never be the same after this trip’ about a hundred times from all of you. But it is true, i really think you were right on there. 🙂 We have held AIDS orphans; many of the children we have have kissed on the forehead are infected with HIV, or blind, or crippled in some way, or just abandoned to roam around all the day long. There are so many stories. Thanks for listening to me share. I love that about you all! Wink. ; )
OK, on to less earth shattering news. : ) I just wanted to send a quick reminder to my amazing SUPPORTERS that I am running a bit behind on my pledges (so I heard from AIM last week). I know it is hard to remember with the scores of bills each month, and so I thank you for adding me to your pile. Wink. But i am slightly concerned about getting stranded in Thailand. ; ) Email me if you have any questions; And I will respond whenever I get internet access. Also, my heart is bursting over with thanks to all of you for making this trip even a possibility for me. I feel blessed and grateful beyond what I can express.
I love you all. Remember that God is fabulous! winks. Love from SWAZILAND.
Hannah Banana
