Question 1: What was your favorite part about the first three travel days?
Layton Hahn: The shortest birthday ever on a plane, the plane was frickin sick, and they gave me cake and socks for my birthday.
Sam Haymond: Airplane blanket.
Sam Troutt: On the way back from Quincy market, in Boston, we were able to converse with our Uber driver and minister to him as well as him pouring into us. Also that clam chowder.
Caelum Friggle: One on one conversation with different people that I hadn’t had the chance to talk too before during the different flights to Swaziland.
Trevor Regan: The layover in Boston where Sam Haymond and I played hide and seek in a clothing store for 30 minutes while the girls tried on clothes.
Caleb Mitchell: Catching up on sleep, flying on Qatatr airways, and taking selfies with Kayleigh and Jesse.
Nathan Tyson: Was the ability to worship pretty much in any airport we went into and exploring the different cultures while even in the airport.
Question 2: What has been your favorite part of ministry so far?
Sam Haymond: having the kids teach me soccer and being able to build relationships with them.
Layton Hahn: Acting like a horse for 30 minutes with a little girl on my back, while she kept saying hush. As well as worshipping with all of the kids
Sam Troutt: Was trying to learn Siswati and having all the kids laugh at me, as well as having some of the older kids teach me new soccer stuff.
Caelum Friggle: building relationships during soccer and different little games. As well as learning the Swaziland handshake.
Trevor Regan: Spending time with the kids, playing tag, and dancing with them and being able to see their smiles.
Caleb Mitchell: I was sick the first day, but going the day after and my favorite part was being able to use the art of worship to connect with an entire school of kids.
Nathan Tyson: Was being able to teach the kids duck, duck goose, as well as being to just spend time with them and learn their names and watch them smile as we butchered the pronunciations.
Question 3: Swaziland thoughts so far?
Sam Haymond: It was so amazing to see how the Holy Spirit is working during my time in Swaziland. I am experiencing God’s mercy in so many ways. I have been able to pray and read with my teammates and play a lot of soccer with all the kids. I am hoping to share Jesus’s love with the people of Swaziland in the upcoming months. God is faithful!
Layton Hahn: Swaziland has such an incredibly friendly culture where every interaction starts with a smile and a cool African handshake. Starting relationships with the kids at the care point and some locals has been so awesome. There has also been so much time for me too read my bible and have the realest conversations with people on my squad. God is so so good!
Sam Troutt: I’m so stoked to be in Swaziland. Its crazy to think of where I was a year ago and to be here now is absolutely incredibly amazing. Everything here is just wonderful and the relationships I have been able to make with the locals here are just amazing. Starting about five every night some local guys play soccer very close to where we are staying, and we are able to join them and our first time playing with them we were able to tie them three to three. It was ridiculous how good at soccer they are and how crazy fast they are. God is good for letting me get to this place.
Caleb Mitchell: I cannot even begin to describe how blessed I am to be able to have this wonderful opportunity, I’m loving every single moment here in Swaziland. All of the locals are so kind and caring towards us visitors. Our ministry site is only a ten minute walk away from where we are staying in Nsoko and we are having a great time serving the kids at our carepoint.
Trevor Regan: Swaziland is such an amazing place. It is full of wonder and beauty. Everyone says hello when you walk by and wants to talk to you. I love spending time with the kids. Holding their hands brings me so much joy. They always want to hold them and they like to play with them. It reminds me of myself when I was a kid. It is easy to see Christ in them, even if they don’t know who he is. I am excited to see what the future holds at our carepoint and with these kids.
Caelum Friggle: I will elaborate about my journey more with my personal blog that will soon be posted. However, I would like to share a story about an amazing little friend I made over the past few days during ministry. A little girl around the age of 5 and I have bonded so much. She even followed me home from ministry today, so when we decided to stop by a market on the way back to base I decided to buy her a piece of candy. When I bought her the piece of candy she pulled out a small coin in her pocket and tried to pay, she couldn’t comprehend the idea that I had bought it for her. It’s been such a humbling experience, that I am just beginning to experience.
Nathan Tyson: Swaziland, I wasn’t really sure what my expectations were for it. However it has turned out to be better than I could have ever imagined. From the sweetest smiles from the kids we do ministry for, to the community of my squad, and the amazing view of the countryside God has blessed me far beyond what I asked for on this journey. I can’t to see what God does through and for me these next 9 months but especially the rest of our time in Swaziland.
