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My trip to Swaziland may be over, but God's plan for me there certainly is not.

I've been home for nearly a week now, but my thoughts are still consumed by everything I experienced in Swaziland. It's a beautiful country with amazing people, but their suffering is immense. I watched two year olds walk home on muddy paths through the mountains. I met families who had lost a child just since our group was there in the spring. I handed out food staples (beans, rice, sugar) to women and children and watched them react as though it were Christmas morning. I said goodbye to and walked away from a little girl at the orphanage, Khumalo, as tears streamed down her face and mine. These experiences are forever imprinted on my heart and mind.

Despite their hardships, experienced many moments of joy with the people of Swaziland. I broke the language barrier by laughing with a woman trying to teach me to mud a hut, when she could not speak a word of English and I could not understand SiSwati. I joked around with my new friend Khumalo as I called her by her new nickname, Tina, and she called me by mine, Patty. I praised God in a different language amongst my brothers in sisters of Swaziland on Sunday morning. I experienced the peace of feeling at home in a country I've never been to halfway around the world.

So now, any walls I had built up to block out God's calling for my life are broken down. I'm ready to forego anything He's given me to this point for the peace of mind of following His will completely and following Him wherever he leads me. For now I wait for Him to open a door and lead me to the purpose He has for me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who helped me follow God's will to go to Swaziland through prayer and financial support. I am so grateful that God has placed each of you in my life.

Here are a few photos from my trip...