Africa Pictures

Thanks to a friend of mine...Kristina...I have some new Africa pics that I didn't even know had been taken! I just had to share them with you guys!

Getting to know a Care Point Kid...I feel really bad that I don't even remember his name now. This was the day we gave our Samaritian's Purse Christmas Boxes to all of the regular kids. Christmas in May! It was incredible. I, a girl for the States, gave away a box that was made in the UK for a child in Swaziland! WOW...the body of Christ in action.

Building a sand pit for the kids at one of the care points. These two girls in the back ground were my special friends. The one in the pink stole my heart and never gave it back to me! Her name sounds like Toe-boo-gee-lay.

Me and Tobu walking to her house in the mountians! She is soooo cute!!

Hannah, Kristina and I

Spanish Youth & an African Testimony

Last Saturday night I had the incredible opportunity to share the Swazi trip with the Spanish youth. It was so much fun! I got to show them pictures of the trip and tell them stories about the outreaches. I encouraged them to make it a priority to go on a mission trip because of its life changing impact.

I shared part of my testimony with them to show the amazing power of God at work in me. I told them you don't have to be perfect to serve God...you just have to be willing.

The night was so full of the Holy Ghost! God was there during the English service at 5pm. We had an incredible time of worship and followed the service with baptism. Then the Spanish Youth service started at 7:30 and His presence filled the room a second time. It is so cool to be able to sing to Him in another language...we sing the same songs, to the same God in different languages all around the world! So cool.

After I shared about Africa, we did a little Q & A. One question was, "What motivated you to go all the way to Africa?" I started to tell them about my nutrition degree and how I wanted to help hungry kids all over the world. But then something really cool started to happen...I shared something God gave to me in worship earlier that night.

He showed me a great hall with tons of tables set for dinner and everyone had their place to sit. God was sitting at the head table with Jesus but he didn't look happy, he looked concerned. He was looking around for people that weren't there. He noticed that there were empty seats and he was asking Jesus where they were. I was overwhelmed. I mean...all those people were already there. The party was kickin, but He was worried about the ones that weren't there yet.

He love us so much. He knows when we aren't with Him. That's why I am motivated to be a missionary. Of course I still want to do the nutrition thing, but it is much more than that. God loved me enough to notice that I wasn't there...He missed me. Is He missing one of those kids from Swazi or one of the patients I will see in Honduras? Is He missing you?

4x4

Sometimes it is a good idea to learn how to drive a 4x4 truck before you are in dire need of traction. We were driving up the side of a mountain...actually Natalie was driving and we were all praying to God that we would make it up to the top. Here is a little footage...

A pic of Brandon holding on for dear life...
Nat driving on the other side of the car

Swazi Sunrise

This picture was taken on the game drive. We had coffee, tea and muffins and watched the sunrise. There is so much sky in Africa, it goes on forever!
Breathtaking, isn't it?


We also had the opportunity to see an entire pride of lions. Take a look...

Sweets!!!!

On the way back from the Outreach at the soccer fields...the one I almost started a riot at - that's another story - we stopped to give some candy to a bunch of kids. I know, I know...I had to leave the Dietitian in me at the hotel for most of this trip. We were giving candy out left and right.


Any way, we stopped to give out candy, or Sweets as the Swazi kids call them, and I got some great pics of the kids. Just look at them! So beautiful! So excited! Take a look at the little guy in the middle...

...I'll give you a close up.He is thinking about how goooood that candy is going to taste! Just read his shirt...He is totally out of control!
When was the last time you got this excited over a piece of candy? It tells you a little bit about their lives, doesn't it?

What's the Difference?

From the top of Execution Rock in Swaziland. I love this picture. It does something to my heart. Not only does it remind me of that beautiful day, the breathtaking views from the top of the mountain, the heart pounding hike (I am soo out of shape) but it reminds me of the lesson God taught me that day.

The pictures below were taken on the way up the mountain. The views were so gorgeous on the way up that I had to stop and capture them. I wanted to document every part of the journey...you can ask Brandon... I stopped like every 5 minutes to take a picture.


Despite the beauty along the way, I knew the view from the top would be breathtaking. Even though the path to the top was difficult it was totally worth it.


I wondered how many times in life I thought it was good enough to stop halfway. How many times have I been satisfied with the views along the way?
God spoke to me and encouraged me to make it to the top. It was difficult. I was winded. My back hurt. I was tired. But I kept going, making sure to take in the beauty of God's creation around me.

When I made it to the top, I finally understood what God was trying to say.
God taught me never to settle for the good by sacrificing the great. If we push ourselves a little farther.



If we trust God a little more. If we press past the pain and discomfort we will be rewarded with the best God has to offer.

This is the difference between the Good and the Great!

Uploading in Progress

So I have a bazillion pictures from Swazi and Honduras and I am painstakingly uploading them right now. just hold on...I even have some great videos...it will be worth the wait I assure you.

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!

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...

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.

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.

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

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!!!

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!!!!!!

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!

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!