Malaysia here I come!! :D This past week was the last few days in Swaziland. After our free day on Tuesday, we had Wednesday-Friday of ministry. Wednesday this week was pretty much the only nice day—the others were cold, wet and rainy. Seriously…this has not been Africa! Haha.

Wednesday and Thursday were both work days at the base—we painted the front wall and gatehouse, scrapped more mold and paint off of the house and cleaned the base really well. Friday was also rainy, but we got to get off of the base-yay! :) We worked with a ministry called Children’s Cup. They have 19 locations throughout Swaziland and are continuing to expand. The locations consist of a building with 2 classrooms, some playground equipment, an outdoor stove/cooking area and a restroom. They serve 2 meals a day and serve as a sort of safe house for kids at risk or really just any kids who need somewhere to go during the day (8a-4p). Each locations has 2-3 teachers on staff who school kids grades K-3rd. These 4 years get completed for free in 2 years. We got to go to 2 different locations-at the first we played games and just hung out with the kids and we also helped the staff serve lunch (beans and rice). At the second locations we hung out with the kids for a little and then performed a skit and had a little bit of teaching on being a friend and trusting. It was a lot of fun. God has continued to reveal to me over and over just how big his heart is for the people and especially the children of Swaziland. I think Friday with the kids was my favorite day of ministry so far! :D

Something that God has really been emphasizing to me personally over the last week is that He loves me…a lot. He just wants me to be able to relax in His presence and into His arms. As you know, I’ve been struggling throughout this DTS and outreach with trust and letting God take full control of my future, etc. I want to do what He wants for my life—to follow His plan—but I’m always worried that I’m going to miss or I’m not going to hear what He has for me and I’ll be trying to do my own thing and fail miserably. This past week, God has really just shown me that whatever I do and wherever I go, He will bless me and He will use me. Also, if I’m not walking in blatant disobedience to His will, I probably just need to relax into the arms of my loving Father and live my life for Him.

God speaks how and when He chooses…not when or how I want Him to. I just need to be patient, make sure that my heart is staying soft toward God and continue to pursue an intimate friendship and relationship with Him. That’s really the main thing He wants from each of us as believers—an intimate friendship where we turn to Him and rely on Him in every situation—not just when we’re in trouble or times are hard. That sounds like it should be so simple, but I think it’s actually one of the most difficult things for me (to have that intimate friendship and continuous communication with God throughout the day). I want it to be something visible—to be able to see the results and the progress, but it’s a process-one that takes patience, perseverance and time. It’s a day-by-day walk that’s sometimes hard and frustrating. But in the end, it’s the best thing there is. A monk named Brother Lawrence put it pretty clearly—“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.” Man, what a challenge… and man, what a sermon-ha! Back to the week… :)

Today we left the base and Swaziland and took a Kombie (a taxi van) across the border to Johannesburg, South Africa. We’re now staying at Joseph Project—a YWAM base here in the city. It’s funny because we are staying here with another team that’s on outreach and it happens to be the DTS from YWAM Swaziland (where we just came from)!! So a couple of the guys on my team are sharing stories with the Swaziland team about the staff there and the animals they have. It’s quite amusing. :) We got to the base around 2:30p and just hung out the rest of the day—caught up with the other have of our DTS.

Our flight leaves Monday and we head to Singapore and then on to Kuala Lumpaar, Malaysia. We’ll be there for three weeks as a whole DTS (15 of us instead of just my team of 8). We’ll be traveling to three different communities, working with each place for a week. Those weeks will go by so quickly!! :) Prayers for safety are welcomed... :D Love you all so much and miss you tons! May God bless you abundantly this week!!

Love, Rach