September is the end of winter and the beginning of spring
in Swaziland. Today we had our first hard rain, and I always love it when the
rains start to come. I never get tired of smelling the fresh rain on the dusty,
dry ground. It’s one of those things that takes me back to growing up. The
jacaranda trees are also starting to bloom and even drop their pedals, and that’s
another piece of life here that reminds me of growing up. As much as I miss my
home in America, there are so many things here that feel like home.
Speaking of home, I wanted you all to see what our house
looks like now that we’ve been living here for awhile.
The ramp coming up to our house (Good exercise on a daily
basis)
The veranda leading to our door
Looking inside the living room
Kitchen
View from the kitchen window
Bathroom – We have all the buckets because there is not hot
water, so we boil water and use the buckets… .Though I’m not complaining – I’m
just thankful for running water!
Bedroom
It has been a great blessing for us to be able to stay here.
This place has been a safe place, and it is starting to feel like a home.
A big part of what I’ve been doing is settling into our
home. Making curtains, buying home-making stuff, establishing a supply of
things to use in the kitchen, etc. I also participate in the things going on at
the Bible College. On Wednesdays and Fridays there is a morning chapel service.
I attend a discipleship group on Wednesday evenings. Usually on Wednesday
afternoons when the most of the male students play sports, I get together with
the ladies on campus for a cooking lesson. One of the students named Faith has
been teaching us different recipes that she learned growing up. I spend lots of
time doing laundry, sweeping the floor, cooking, baking, and studying Siswati.
I still have a lot to learn in Siswati, but I’m definitely gaining in my knowledge
of it. In the evenings during the week I usually go for a walk with Dorcas
Croft – one of the missionaries on campus.
Sometimes when I bake I will take some of what I cook to a
friend’s house and visit with them. Yesterday I took some scones on a trip with
Rev. Thabsile Thwala (The director of the Fortress & Children’s home), out
to a rural area where some of the kids at the children’s home came from. I also
spent some time helping Rev. Thwala in her office since she does not have a
secretary.
In the evenings sometimes Mapile and I play volleyball
together. I have also been able to help edit some of his assignments for
school. Also sometimes I go over to the girls dorm and hang out with the Bible
School students there.
As far as my work/nursing license paperwork goes, there has
not been much progress. The nursing council in Swaziland only meets twice a
year, so I am still waiting for them to meet. They said that they will meet sometime
before December, but they are not for sure when. I am enjoying being a house
wife and staying at home, but at the same time I’m anxious to find work.
God continues to be so good to us. It is such a joy to be
married to Mapile and to be living in Africa.
Thanks for your continued prayers.
