Dear Reader,
Welcome to our first team blog, this means that all of the ladies on team Joy are collectively writing this blog, so hold on tight.
Update, we made it to Africa after three or four, days of travel, depending on who you were. We do not have access to wifi, besides once a week we have the option to take a bus, to a restaurant, to pay for WiFi and pray that it works. So because of that it is highly likely we will be posting multiple blogs in one day. We are staying at an under construction AIM compound, so we don’t have power at the moment, but we aren’t staying outside, besides the boys, so God bless. There are real showers and toilets here much to our surprise and even though water pressure is low we are still thriving. When we leave the shower we still end up with dirt on our feet because the floors are caked with dirt, Julie Rodgers consistently has an orange/blank tint to her feet. With cement walls, a tin roof and twenty girls shoved into a room, Sophie Ball has still found a way to nest into her tiny bunk bed. We have all done laundry at least once, by hand and possibly in a sink and then we hang it up by the rafters at night…don’t expect us to do that at home Mom. Much to the general populations surprise us teenagers end up going to bed around 8:30, Lillian Tarantino ended up falling asleep while being handed a sandwich because of exhaustion #traveldayz. The weather hasn’t been as hot here as we expected but it does end up getting dark by 6 o’clock which has thrown our sleep schedules for a HUGE loop. The bugs here our interesting (do not worry we are safe), and are very attracted to Madeline Credeur and she sprays down her sheets with deet every night.
We have an half an hour drive to ministry each day through the bush of Africa, dirt roads included. But through it all we are having an amazing experience. Each morning we wake up and make ourselves pb&j’s to take to ministry but Colleen Davis makes herself a lovely just jelly sandwich which she carries in the same doggy bag everyday. We have met some of the most incredible people, one of them being “Gogo Sweetness” (pronounced “Ko-Ko”) who told Liz Slager that if she didn’t get out of the sun she would turn black like her. Each day we get there and we get to play with children of all different ages and it looks like in the near future we get to teach Bible lessons to them. The children have to bring a large firewood stick to the care point with a tupperware in order to get a meal, this meal may be one of the only meals they get during the day. Some of you may think that we have a planned schedule for ministry days but in all reality we are just loving on kids. Hugging them, holding them, playing new, fun games and just being the hands and feet of Jesus to show them that they are loved and seen.
Prayer/Praise Requests:
Praise, none of us are sick at the moment! Pray for continuous health throughout our weeks here and our race in general.
Please pray that we form strong relationships with these children, specifically the older ones and that we have break throughs in conversation with them. Swaziland people are more reserved and we would like to get to know them really well.
Prayer and Praise, we are getting a squad baby! One of our host partners, Jenna, is having a baby due within the week so please pray for a safe pregnancy and labor.
Praise, team Joy has been having AMAZING unity on the field. Although, we have known each other for a matter of weeks total, we are loving one another so well. Please just continue to pray that this nature follows us throughout our entire race.
Thank you for reading and continuing to support us in your prayers and in your finances,
Team Joy
P.S.
MC: Hi Mom, Dad, Braxton, Addie, Isabella, Juju Bug and Granny,
“I love all of you and miss you all so much, can’t wait to talk once we have wifi and Julia, I hope you had an amazing birthday, I can not wait to see all the pictures of you in your beautiful princess dress. Addie and Isabella, I hope my bed is comfortable 😉 I love you all today, tomorrow and forever.”
SB: Dear Mom,
“I’m glad I didn’t drop the book!”
Dear Nora,
“I hope you’re having fun cleaning my room.”
Dear Dad,
“I have made my bed every day.”
Dear Jamie
“I am not taking my malaria meds but don’t worry I’ll live.”
JR: Dear Mom and Dad,
“Surprisingly my bag made it under 50lbs, praise God! I love you both very much, talk to when I can.”
Dear Drew,
“Don’t worry I am getting my powerpoint update ready for you ;)”
Dear Grandma Eleanor,
“Africa is pretty breathtaking, I can see why you loved it so much.”
CD: Dear Fam Squad,
“I miss hearing your guys voices. Jesus has already been stretching me but it has all been good. Misha, PLEASE FEED MY FISH (and if its too late don’t tell me) and I hope you are enjoying MY car and allied health. Tanya and Jeff, keep selling that chocolate and those doughnuts, ya girl needs to get fully funded. Dad, I’m really HYPED to be here, ILYVM. And Mom, I haven’t gone dancing in the rain yet, but I plan on it and will take pictures for you. Praying for you all through this craziness of life.”
LT: Dear Mom, Dad, Ella, Andrew, Aiden, Sissy and Poppy,
“I love you guys so much and I miss you a lot. Your letters mean a lot to me and I read them every night. And Ella, sorry I haven’t been able to Facetime every night, I love you so much and I will call you as soon as I can. And Mom and Dad, I haven’t gotten a tattoo yet, so thats good. Talk to you soon, I’m living the high life.”
LS: Dear Slager’s
“DO NOT FORGET TO WATER ALBERT, LINA! But only like once or twice a month. And everyone, keep Esteban in good condition but Lina can NOT practice driving with him. I can not wait to open my letters and I hope school is going well for both you two, Lina and Jonathan. I am alive Mom and Dad, so don’t worry. I love you all. I may stay off my phone for awhile but keep checking my blog for updates from me.”
Dear Nellie,
“I read your text messages about Carlos, I have been prying for you, update me even though I cannot respond. Much love for you!”
Dear Will,
“I hope school is going well, keep pursing what God has for you, can’t wait to hear what the Lord has in store for you next time I get wifi! Love and miss you.”
