We made it to San Salvador, El Salvador...I am having coffee with Mrs. Claudia and Mrs. Paulette in the airport. We got some traditional sweets from a little cookie shop and they are very good. I am glad to be in a country that appreciates good coffee! Espresso con leche, por favor!!
Next stop San Pedro Sula and then La Ceiba. Please pray for favor and traveling mercies. We almost missed our connection in Miami so we aren't sure if our luggage made the plane or not.
So I may be wearing this set of clothes for a while...I just had to bring the laptop so there wasn't room for any clothes on the carry on...ahaha
May 27, 2008
Flight Information
May 27th
New Orleans (1:05pm) to Miami - American Airlines
Miami to El Salvador - Taca Airlines
El Salvador to San Pedro Sula, Honduras - Taca Airlines
San Padro Sula, Honduras to La Ceiba, Honduras (9:25pm) - Taca Airlines
Drive from La Ceiba to Rio Viejo
May 31st
La Ceiba (7:35am) to Roatan, Honduras - Taca Airlines
Roatan to Houston, Tx - Taca Airlines
Houston to Dallas - American Airlines
Dallas to New Orleans (9:05pm) - American Airlines
Drive from New Orleans to Baton Rouge
I guess we will see how much I really like traveling!
New Orleans (1:05pm) to Miami - American Airlines
Miami to El Salvador - Taca Airlines
El Salvador to San Pedro Sula, Honduras - Taca Airlines
San Padro Sula, Honduras to La Ceiba, Honduras (9:25pm) - Taca Airlines
Drive from La Ceiba to Rio Viejo
May 31st
La Ceiba (7:35am) to Roatan, Honduras - Taca Airlines
Roatan to Houston, Tx - Taca Airlines
Houston to Dallas - American Airlines
Dallas to New Orleans (9:05pm) - American Airlines
Drive from New Orleans to Baton Rouge
I guess we will see how much I really like traveling!
May 26, 2008
Bon Voyage
So I am embarking on the next part of this whirl wind tour! I am leaving for Honduras in the morning. I have been thinking a lot about God and his faithfulness. I am still trying to digest all that God showed me in Africa. I was sitting on my couch this morning and God spoke to me he said...I am the same yesterday today and tomorrow. He is the same...in Africa, the US and Honduras.
I am so honored to be in the position that I am in. Tomorrow I am leaving to go meet the people I will be spending a year with. I will be traveling with two incredible women of God. I am so excited!!
Please pray for confirmation from God on what his will for my life is. I am expecting that all of my doubts will be erased. I know there will be questions and details that must be worked out but I expect God to show up. I expect to feel at home.
I am bringing my laptop down there so I hope to be able to get on the internet...we shall see. I will post as soon as I can!
I am so honored to be in the position that I am in. Tomorrow I am leaving to go meet the people I will be spending a year with. I will be traveling with two incredible women of God. I am so excited!!
Please pray for confirmation from God on what his will for my life is. I am expecting that all of my doubts will be erased. I know there will be questions and details that must be worked out but I expect God to show up. I expect to feel at home.
I am bringing my laptop down there so I hope to be able to get on the internet...we shall see. I will post as soon as I can!
May 25, 2008
Home sweet home
So we finally made it back to baton rouge with 2 hours to spare before graduation! Just enough time to jump in the shower and wash off the three days of travel and head back over to the church for the service.
Graduation was awesome! My mom, sister Sarah, Jared and my Grammy and G-Daddy came in town for the service!! What a blessing! I love Tiffany and Michelle and their supportive husbands. They are amazing people and I cannot imagine the sacrifices that they make for us interns. The service was 5 star all the way...from the recap video to the special Elevate song with Gered Lambert demonstrating his interpretive dance skills. If anyone got that song and dance on tape I would really like to get that on the blog...so send it to me asap! Everyone should be blessed with that performance.
Well it is now 8:38 Central Standard time and 4am (I think) in Swaziland...so I am pooped! Good night from Baton Rouge! Thank you for praying us home!
Graduation was awesome! My mom, sister Sarah, Jared and my Grammy and G-Daddy came in town for the service!! What a blessing! I love Tiffany and Michelle and their supportive husbands. They are amazing people and I cannot imagine the sacrifices that they make for us interns. The service was 5 star all the way...from the recap video to the special Elevate song with Gered Lambert demonstrating his interpretive dance skills. If anyone got that song and dance on tape I would really like to get that on the blog...so send it to me asap! Everyone should be blessed with that performance.
Well it is now 8:38 Central Standard time and 4am (I think) in Swaziland...so I am pooped! Good night from Baton Rouge! Thank you for praying us home!
May 24, 2008
TIA
We experienced a bit of TIA (This is Africa) when we tried to make our plane connection from Swaziland to South Africa. We were delayed and missed the long flight back to the states. Don't worry...God knows what he is doing and I think it was wonderful to get an extra day of rest. We are together with the Moze team and it is so cool to hear the stories of what God has done in the past 10 days.
I think I will be posting on Africa for about a month! We will be making the connecting flight tonight which will put us in New Orleans on 5/25 at 11:30am, just a few hours before graduation. Graduation is going as planned so if you are going to be there please come I would love to see you there when I get the honor of walking across the stage!!
It has been such an honor to serve here in Africa. God is amazing and I have grown so much closer to him...learning to depend on him even more. Learning to trust him even when I don't understand his ways...learning to love him and his people.
I have made some incredible friend isn the past 10 days and learned the importance of friendships and relationships even if they are 8000 milke away. The Body of Christ covers the world and now I know that my family does too. I LOVE IT!!!
It is sad to leave here but God is going to keep working here. He has plans for every child I kissed. He has plans for every mouth to be fed and every back to be clothed and every thirsty soul to be quenched. His hand is moving. His arms are holding. His vioice is comforting. He is all things everywhere.
Well I have 3 minutes of African Internt Cafe time left so I will close this message with the promise of more to come. There are so many stories so many pictures so many things I want to share with you all.
Pray for us on the rest of the way home and as we go out again...wherever and whenever that may be...
I think I will be posting on Africa for about a month! We will be making the connecting flight tonight which will put us in New Orleans on 5/25 at 11:30am, just a few hours before graduation. Graduation is going as planned so if you are going to be there please come I would love to see you there when I get the honor of walking across the stage!!
It has been such an honor to serve here in Africa. God is amazing and I have grown so much closer to him...learning to depend on him even more. Learning to trust him even when I don't understand his ways...learning to love him and his people.
I have made some incredible friend isn the past 10 days and learned the importance of friendships and relationships even if they are 8000 milke away. The Body of Christ covers the world and now I know that my family does too. I LOVE IT!!!
It is sad to leave here but God is going to keep working here. He has plans for every child I kissed. He has plans for every mouth to be fed and every back to be clothed and every thirsty soul to be quenched. His hand is moving. His arms are holding. His vioice is comforting. He is all things everywhere.
Well I have 3 minutes of African Internt Cafe time left so I will close this message with the promise of more to come. There are so many stories so many pictures so many things I want to share with you all.
Pray for us on the rest of the way home and as we go out again...wherever and whenever that may be...
May 20, 2008
The Care Points
Oh man, you have never seen such beautiful children. Last night was really cold here in Swazi and I just kept thinking of those little kids in thier shorts and tshirts trying to stay warm. It is enought to tear your heart out. We are going back to the Fonteyn care point this morning to do some crafts with the kids we made a sand pit for yesterday...aka sand box. I hope I get to see To-bu-gi-le (that's how it sounds) again. She stole my heart yesterday and I am going to try and get it back from her before we leave. So sweet.
We taught them the sign language version of Jesus Loves Me...the one from Sunday School. They loved it. I hope they remember it today.
On the American side...they don't drink much coffee here in Swazi so Neil and I have been on the hunt for a good cup on non instant since we got here. The Rogers have hooked us up when we go over to their house but man I have missed that morning cup. Today we had victory over the instant coffee. The manager of the hotel brought 2 french press coffee pots from her house so we had Starbucks in the hotel and it was amazing!!! Way to go Neil!!
They guys are building a foundation for another classroom at the Care Point. They mixed the concrete by hand and are doing the whole cinderblock morter thing. They had to dig out the side of a mountian to level the ground before they could start the chain wall. It is pretty amazing.
Africa has definately captured my heart but more than that...I really know that I am a missionary whatever that means. I could drive on the bumpy roads and eat butternut for the rest of my life..I even like the tea. I don't think it's the specific location that really matters. I just want to be obedient to God.
Please continue to pray. There was an accident last night and the Cup receptionist was burned pretty badly for a can of propane that blew up in her home. The devil is not happy that Ben and Susan have opened up a new church and is throwing a lot of things their way. Please pray for them and the chuch/Cup team. We need your support. Please fight for us. Yeaterday was a heavy one for us. Please pray for God's peace and encouragement and discernment for Pastor Ben. This is a new role for him and his family.
I love you guys!!!! Now I am off to love on some kids...it is really the best thing.
We taught them the sign language version of Jesus Loves Me...the one from Sunday School. They loved it. I hope they remember it today.
On the American side...they don't drink much coffee here in Swazi so Neil and I have been on the hunt for a good cup on non instant since we got here. The Rogers have hooked us up when we go over to their house but man I have missed that morning cup. Today we had victory over the instant coffee. The manager of the hotel brought 2 french press coffee pots from her house so we had Starbucks in the hotel and it was amazing!!! Way to go Neil!!
They guys are building a foundation for another classroom at the Care Point. They mixed the concrete by hand and are doing the whole cinderblock morter thing. They had to dig out the side of a mountian to level the ground before they could start the chain wall. It is pretty amazing.
Africa has definately captured my heart but more than that...I really know that I am a missionary whatever that means. I could drive on the bumpy roads and eat butternut for the rest of my life..I even like the tea. I don't think it's the specific location that really matters. I just want to be obedient to God.
Please continue to pray. There was an accident last night and the Cup receptionist was burned pretty badly for a can of propane that blew up in her home. The devil is not happy that Ben and Susan have opened up a new church and is throwing a lot of things their way. Please pray for them and the chuch/Cup team. We need your support. Please fight for us. Yeaterday was a heavy one for us. Please pray for God's peace and encouragement and discernment for Pastor Ben. This is a new role for him and his family.
I love you guys!!!! Now I am off to love on some kids...it is really the best thing.
May 17, 2008
African Blog
Hey please check out the blogs of the other interns on my blog list. You will get a better idea of what is going on here in Africa because we are all blogging about different parts of the trip. It is amazing to see what God is doing here though us and in our own lives.
Barton Pickens, Brandon Bourgeios, Hannah Dyke, Kaycee Smith and Kristina Blount are all here with me is swaziland. Mary Beth Guedry went to Moze with another group and Kellp Pitts went to India. Check out their pages if you get a few minutes.
I hope to be able to put a few pictures up if I can find a cord for my camera to go to the computer.
Barton Pickens, Brandon Bourgeios, Hannah Dyke, Kaycee Smith and Kristina Blount are all here with me is swaziland. Mary Beth Guedry went to Moze with another group and Kellp Pitts went to India. Check out their pages if you get a few minutes.
I hope to be able to put a few pictures up if I can find a cord for my camera to go to the computer.
Greetings From Swaziland
WE made is safely into Africa! We are here doing God's work and it is absolutely amazing. Today we went out to the soccer fields and handed out free cokes and told people about the church service tomorrow morning!!!
I saw one of the daughters of the Swazi church members give her balloon away to another kid at the soccer field...a natural at outreach. She saw the girl and knew that she would like to have the balloon she just got about an hour earlier. So beautiful.
We also went to the mall today and handed out balloons ans suckers to the kids and told their parents about the church service. It was a great statemnet because children arent valued in Swazi society but God loves them. He says that we should come to him like children. I am learning what that means by watching these kids.
I love you all and I will try to email and blog soon. The internet is few and far between here. Continue to pray that God will bless our efforts here and that his Holy Spirit will go before us on Sunday and every day of our lives for that matter!
In Christ,
Heather Stewart
I saw one of the daughters of the Swazi church members give her balloon away to another kid at the soccer field...a natural at outreach. She saw the girl and knew that she would like to have the balloon she just got about an hour earlier. So beautiful.
We also went to the mall today and handed out balloons ans suckers to the kids and told their parents about the church service. It was a great statemnet because children arent valued in Swazi society but God loves them. He says that we should come to him like children. I am learning what that means by watching these kids.
I love you all and I will try to email and blog soon. The internet is few and far between here. Continue to pray that God will bless our efforts here and that his Holy Spirit will go before us on Sunday and every day of our lives for that matter!
In Christ,
Heather Stewart
May 14, 2008
4:40am
I just made the last Wal-Mart run before the trip with Brandon. Ate IHOP too...mmmm. There is nothing quite like pancakes and milk at 3:00am to start off a great trip.
Oh by the way...Brandon is the friend I was telling you about in the earlier post. His grandma is still very sick and weak. He talked it over with his family and they want him to go to Africa. Please pray that his grandma's condition improves while we are gone. We are so glad he is still able to lead the trip. Thank you for your prayers!!!
I just finished making copies of the nutrition lesson I may get to teach while in Swazi...really basic stuff on diabetes, HIV/AIDS and food safety. And yes I do know that is is 4:45am...
Only 3 hours and 15 minutes left!!!
Oh by the way...Brandon is the friend I was telling you about in the earlier post. His grandma is still very sick and weak. He talked it over with his family and they want him to go to Africa. Please pray that his grandma's condition improves while we are gone. We are so glad he is still able to lead the trip. Thank you for your prayers!!!
I just finished making copies of the nutrition lesson I may get to teach while in Swazi...really basic stuff on diabetes, HIV/AIDS and food safety. And yes I do know that is is 4:45am...
Only 3 hours and 15 minutes left!!!
Late Night Packing---Swazi Style
2 bags
50lbs each
What I am bringing...
For me:
3 T Shirts
2 pair Capri Pants
1 long skirt
10 pair of underwear
1 pair of socks
For the Missionaries:
2 boxes of pop tarts
tons of gifts
35 lbs of toys
22 SERVE TEAM shirts
5 bags of gifts
someone please send me Mary Poppins' carpet bag!!!!!!
50lbs each
What I am bringing...
For me:
3 T Shirts
2 pair Capri Pants
1 long skirt
10 pair of underwear
1 pair of socks
For the Missionaries:
2 boxes of pop tarts
tons of gifts
35 lbs of toys
22 SERVE TEAM shirts
5 bags of gifts
someone please send me Mary Poppins' carpet bag!!!!!!
May 13, 2008
Tomorrow, Tomorrow
In the words of the little red-headed orphan Annie...Tomorrow, tomorrow I love ya tomorrow you're only a day away!
Africa is only a day away!
Please shower our team with your prayers. The devil is not happy that we are going and he is making that clear with attacks on the health of the team members and their families.
We need your help! Please stand with us. God's word says in Matt 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst." Those are the words of Jesus my friends.
Please gather together with us in prayer for this trip, our safety, the safety of our families here in the USA. But more importantly pray that we fill the lives of the people we encounter in Africa with the hope of Jesus Christ. Pray that we will not focus on our trials or the troubles at home but instead we will focus on loving the unloved and serving the unserved.
If you wish you could go on a mission trip, if you want to be a missionary, if you wish you could help in some way....PRAY for us!
Africa is only a day away!
Please shower our team with your prayers. The devil is not happy that we are going and he is making that clear with attacks on the health of the team members and their families.
We need your help! Please stand with us. God's word says in Matt 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst." Those are the words of Jesus my friends.
Please gather together with us in prayer for this trip, our safety, the safety of our families here in the USA. But more importantly pray that we fill the lives of the people we encounter in Africa with the hope of Jesus Christ. Pray that we will not focus on our trials or the troubles at home but instead we will focus on loving the unloved and serving the unserved.
If you wish you could go on a mission trip, if you want to be a missionary, if you wish you could help in some way....PRAY for us!
May 10, 2008
Amazing Graduation Celebration
The Elevate Staff totally spoiled us last Friday night! They planned a great evening for us...they thought of everything.
They picked us up from the apartments in white limos, so cool!! They surprised us by taking us to dinner at Drusilla Seafood where they had reserved the banquet room. It was decorated beautifully and they personalized everything!
We got to see a "Greatest Moments of Elevate" video (stay tuned I will post it when I get a copy). It was so awesome...we were laughing so hard! It was so cool to hear all the stories and see what everyone remembered from this crazy journey.
We had an excellent dinner...I personally ate the seafood eggplant casserole (acclaimed by Bon Appetite Magazine) a twice baked potato and to finish it off right I had bread pudding for dessert. Oh it was amazing!
We got to hear from some of the staff members who have poured into us all year long. They have invested their time teaching us and praying for us. It was so cool to see them full of such love for us. Michelle and Tiffany really made us feel special. They are such amazing women. They are such givers and they have meant so much to me this past year. They are like mothers, friends and teachers all in one person. I am so glad to have met them.
Well it looks like the year is starting to wrap itself up. I think I have to change the name of the blog now. sniff sniff.
They picked us up from the apartments in white limos, so cool!! They surprised us by taking us to dinner at Drusilla Seafood where they had reserved the banquet room. It was decorated beautifully and they personalized everything!
We got to see a "Greatest Moments of Elevate" video (stay tuned I will post it when I get a copy). It was so awesome...we were laughing so hard! It was so cool to hear all the stories and see what everyone remembered from this crazy journey.
We had an excellent dinner...I personally ate the seafood eggplant casserole (acclaimed by Bon Appetite Magazine) a twice baked potato and to finish it off right I had bread pudding for dessert. Oh it was amazing!
We got to hear from some of the staff members who have poured into us all year long. They have invested their time teaching us and praying for us. It was so cool to see them full of such love for us. Michelle and Tiffany really made us feel special. They are such amazing women. They are such givers and they have meant so much to me this past year. They are like mothers, friends and teachers all in one person. I am so glad to have met them.
Well it looks like the year is starting to wrap itself up. I think I have to change the name of the blog now. sniff sniff.
4 Days and Counting
So there are only 4 days left in the Swaziland countdown. I will board a plane on Wednesday May 14th and fly to Atlanta, Ga switch planes there and fly a really really long time to Johannesburg, South Africa switch planes there and fly on a teeny tiny plane to Manzini, Swaziland.
From there...well I don't really know. That is the beauty of missions...you just roll with it. Look at me...I am talking like a professional and I have never been on a mission trip before. HA HA.
I have been blessed by my parents to do some traveling in South America so I am familiar with international airports but I have a feeling that these airports will not be like anything I have seen yet.
I have seen guards armed with machetes and machine guns in Maracaibo, Venezuela. I have seen the military tanks in the Plaza de Armas of Lima, Peru. But I don't think South America has anything on South Africa. I am not afraid but please pray for the protection of our team and that we have God's favor moving in and out of the country.
I don't really know what to expect. I think I will be changed forever. I think I will be a different person. I think I will be ruined for missions work. I don't think I will be able to look at a child the same way ever again. I think I will cry...a lot. I think I may even get angry.
With all of that said...I may have some time to post while I am there. Swaziland is like the black hole of communications so I will have to feel things our when I get there. I may be able to buy a little international cell phone or some internet time when we have some free time. I will do my best to keep in touch with all of you.
My mom and papi bought me a camera for graduation to replace the one that got lost in Venezuela. I am so excited to have a camera again. So be expecting lots of photos!!! I hope that I will be able to capture some of the moments for you, but no matter how good the pictures are I don't think that they will be able to deliver the emotion.
I love you all, I really do. I pray that God will bless your homes and your family. I pray that He will restore your relationships and bring peace to your hearts. We are scheduled to return on May 24th...the day before graduation. Please pray for NO FLIGHT DELAYS! Especially becasue I leave for Honduras on May 27th.
I am so excited to go down there and meet the Williams family and see their home and their hospital. I can't believe how blessed I am to have this opportunity. I am ecstatic! Things are happening so fast! Pray for health and energy...I will definitely need it!
From there...well I don't really know. That is the beauty of missions...you just roll with it. Look at me...I am talking like a professional and I have never been on a mission trip before. HA HA.
I have been blessed by my parents to do some traveling in South America so I am familiar with international airports but I have a feeling that these airports will not be like anything I have seen yet.
I have seen guards armed with machetes and machine guns in Maracaibo, Venezuela. I have seen the military tanks in the Plaza de Armas of Lima, Peru. But I don't think South America has anything on South Africa. I am not afraid but please pray for the protection of our team and that we have God's favor moving in and out of the country.
I don't really know what to expect. I think I will be changed forever. I think I will be a different person. I think I will be ruined for missions work. I don't think I will be able to look at a child the same way ever again. I think I will cry...a lot. I think I may even get angry.
With all of that said...I may have some time to post while I am there. Swaziland is like the black hole of communications so I will have to feel things our when I get there. I may be able to buy a little international cell phone or some internet time when we have some free time. I will do my best to keep in touch with all of you.
My mom and papi bought me a camera for graduation to replace the one that got lost in Venezuela. I am so excited to have a camera again. So be expecting lots of photos!!! I hope that I will be able to capture some of the moments for you, but no matter how good the pictures are I don't think that they will be able to deliver the emotion.
I love you all, I really do. I pray that God will bless your homes and your family. I pray that He will restore your relationships and bring peace to your hearts. We are scheduled to return on May 24th...the day before graduation. Please pray for NO FLIGHT DELAYS! Especially becasue I leave for Honduras on May 27th.
I am so excited to go down there and meet the Williams family and see their home and their hospital. I can't believe how blessed I am to have this opportunity. I am ecstatic! Things are happening so fast! Pray for health and energy...I will definitely need it!
New favorite thing
unsweet passion iced tea lemonade from starbucks
it is cold and tart...a little bit of heaven on earth, really.
oh and it's pink...what more could you ask for?
it is cold and tart...a little bit of heaven on earth, really.
oh and it's pink...what more could you ask for?
May 3, 2008
Monday Time on a Saturday
Sometimes we can’t understand why things happen
7:35 AM on Saturday morning blowing up balloons at the annex for a lua pool party (it is raining outside by the way)
7:40 AM balloons are mysteriously popping – with no cause in sight. I’ts not the ceiling, its not the lights, its not the heat. We can’t figure out why.
8:01 AM Myrna says, “We’ll just have to blow up extra balloons and pray they make the car ride.”
Sometimes we won’t understand what God is doing or why he is doing it. But we can trust him. We couldn’t figure out what was making those balloons pop and we still don’t know.
It’s funny what God speaks through.
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