We made it to Johannesburg safe and sound and are now on our way to Swazi!!

We made it to Johannesburg safe and sound and are now on our way to Swazi!!

We made it to Johannesburg safe and sound and are now on our way to Swazi!!

We made it to Johannesburg safe and sound and are now on our way to Swazi!!

This past Thursday, our small group of 8 leaders were joined by a total of 57 participants. Emotions were running high: excitement at finally beginning the trip they had dreamed and talked about for the past several months; anxiety about leaving behind home and comfort some for the first time; and a mixture of apprehension and joy in meeting the 14 individuals who, in the coming months, will become family. Team Swazi dove right into training camp with all the enthusiasm that can be expected after a poor night’s sleep and a day of traveling. Even finding out that there are only 2...

It was a Thursday afternoon, and a small group of us were walking along a dirt path to a nearby homestead, being accompanied by groups of joyful and laughing children along the way. Once we reached our destination, we spent the next few hours visiting with a family that consisted of a couple and their children and grandchildren. My heart broke when I saw these people and the conditions they lived in. Their shelter consisted of a hut made out of sticks and mud, they owned two cows, and both the man and woman had serious injuries that prevented them from going anywhere. Through a...