It’s only been eight days since I’ve left Swazi, and it already feels like months!  It somehow gets harder and harder to leave each time I go.  For my fourth “transition” back to American culture, you’d think by now I’d be accustomed to the dramatic changes; however, there are some parts of culture that still […]

From the beginning of this trip I’ve been trying to figure out plans for Tenele to move out of Mangwaneni.  She was the first to approach me and tell me she wanted to leave.  After my initial surprise, I began going through all the options I could think of as to where Tenele could stay.  […]

The other day when Tenele was over, she came into the kitchen with me as I prepared some pologny (a Swazi meat) sandwhiches for the kids.  Out of nowhere she blurts, “Mama, you can’t leave.” We had briefly talked about how soon I am leaving, that I only have a little time left here.  I […]

During our first meeting with Fr. Larry about the girls home (see a separate blog entry about details on the girls home), we explained Hosea’s Heart and where the name came from.  He commented that we should name the house Gomer’s House (after the woman named Gomer, whom the Lord had instructed the prophet Hosea […]

Eish! So much has happened, it’s hard to know where to start! Some highlights of this last packed week… Ayanda’s birthday!  Last year while I was here, I got to celebrate Pununu’s, Johannes’, and Tenele’s birthdays but missed Ayanda’s, so it was a blessing to be here with her to celebrate!  Hanna and Alex made […]

The general theme of my last year here with Tenele was “one step forward, two steps back” so I naturally expected to see that again this trip.  I knew the initial joyous meetings with Tenele would soon turn into sad ones as she was bound to retreat as in the year before.  Every time I […]

For our evening devotions, we have been going through a book called, “Lord, I Want to Know You.”  It goes through all the names of God and how his characters are revealed in Scripture.  It’s been very engaging and empowering for us to learn to know our God more intimately.  In light of the study, […]

After first meeting Tenele, she insisted that I meet this friend of hers who had taken her to church a few weeks back.  A man named Sandile, excitedly came over to talk with me about Tenele, so Tenele left the two of us alone to chat.  Sandile was amazed at what Tenele had told him […]