Past updates from the field!

(First update from Swazi! 2/1/14)

 Hey Everyone!

Holy. smoly. What a week!

I live in the middle of no where. Literally out in the African bush. (the town we live in us called Nsoko, but the k is pronounced like a g). The countryside that surrounds us is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! There are sugar plantations everywhere. And the fields are lush green everywhere. There are beautiful mountains in the distance in all directions. The mountain that is closest, that top of it is the border of south Africa!

We live in a four room home, with 15 of my team mates. The community is amazing. God has certainly perfectly designed the dynamics of the group, to fit in heavenly harmony. We are all really honoring and encouraging to one another. We end each night with "team time" where we share stories from our day, and feedback time. We are SO stinkin blessed! We have running water, (sometimes) and we have legit bathrooms!!! (thank you Jesus!) And i get a shower every three days or so, and we wash our hair in the kitchen sink. (soooo stinkin' blessed!
Our home is at the "main" care point in the area. It's called "the anchor center" i wake up most mornings with the sound of little African kiddies playing on the playground, outside of our bedroom window. It is one of the most amazing things ever! There is a preschool on site, so lots of little ones around during the day. :)
The older kids all walk here after school for their daily plate of food. For most of them, it's their only food they eat that day....we also have a water pump on property, so people from all over the area come here and fill their huge jugs of water, and carry them back to their homesteads.

There are 10 other surrounding care points, that we will take turns visiting...One of my big prayers was that i could hold a baby while i was here. Well, on our very first visit to a care point called "Mahangeni" one if the gogo's (grandmas)  had a one month old baby boy. Gah! I got to hold him for a little while, and i prayed over him, and for his future.

At that same care point, some of the other women there gave me my Swazi name! My Swazi name is Buhle (pronounced bo-zay) it means "beauty" :) I was really honored, to Say the least.
Three times a week, we do home visits to the gogo's homesteads that surround the different care points. Some of them have such a beautiful faith, and an astonishing trust in God. When we asked how gogo Margaret made things work. She simply said "by the grace of God. I have faith that he will provide, and trust that he will come through for me and my family" i was able to share some Bible verses with her, to encourage and strengthen her. :)


For three days in a row now, during our short free time, while lunch is being prepared. I sat outside of our house, and held this amazing and precious little girl named angel, she's four years old. She was really shy at first, but now she's really starting to open up to me. I just sit and hold her tight, whispering prayers over her, singing songs about Jesus to her. I taught her how to count to five in English, as she's only in preschool, and they start learning English in 1st grade. Sometimes she'll fall asleep on me, and yesterday she even sang me a song. So super precious, you have no idea!

Swaziland is currently ranked as the highest level of HIV Aids is the entire world. Our ministry contact, Erica said that the area we are in, is probably the highest level in the country. So if she were to guess, half of the kids that play outside of our house have Aids....that thought is absolutely heartbreaking....
In another note. I've been blessed to see some wonderful African wildlife! On our drive to Swazi, while still in south Africa. We stopped at a gas station, and there were rhinos, and ostriches! then along the road side we saw moneys, and a saw a zebra yesterday! And of course, all of the other farm animals that we have living at our homestead, chickens, goats, cows, dogs, turkeys... frogs, and small lizards and consistently in our house...and then there are the bugs....eh. They have this huge brown spider here. It's HUGE, and hairy, and nasty. We had one run into our house the other night! Falling asleep an hour later... took a lot of prayer... Haha. I sleep under my bug net mostly for bugs like those.

Every day that I'm here, I'm falling more and more in love with my savior. It hits me again and again that this is a dream come true. I LOVE it here. I love learning about the culture, and visiting the homesteads, and talking with the gogo's, and of course, all of these precious kids. Everywhere! Ugh. :)
The weather is hot...so freaking hot. I should have an amazing farmers tan by the time i return to the states. Haha.


To get to this wifi, we walked to the bus stop, and waited....and waited more for the bus to bring us to the restaurant that has wifi. I'm getting very used to running on African time...i swear i was born to run on this time. ;)
I love you all, and i wish you warm thoughts during your northern freeze out ;)

Forever yours, Brookie. A.k.a. Buhle.

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(Swazi update 2/10/14)

Hey guys!
what another incredible week. We spent it serving in the village of Nsoko again. Visiting three care points, three days we spent  out visiting gogo's, and we had work projects three times. one of our work projects was to dig a six foot deep pit toliet...that was exhausting. We came across a few huge scorpions too! That was pretty freaky. Sometimes we work out in the field of the community garden, clearing out room to plant more corn.

Everything runs on African time here. I love it. I have time to just sit and be with Jesus. It's beautiful. I usually fall asleep, and take a little nap everyday after lunch. Hehe. When there's enough daylight left in the evenings, i love to take a walk about a mile down the road, down to the railroad tracks. which marks off our safe boundary to venture off, with two or more of us.
African church is probably one of my favorite things ever! We went to a church service held at one of the care points. It was blistering hot. Super long. Really hard to understand, due to the quality of the Mic he was using. But it was amazing. their worship is basically a huge dance party with Jesus. :) I admire the pure joy they pour out, leaving everything at his feet.

On Monday, we started our day at a care point, with only 7 kids there, when normally there are around 60 or more. But all of the other kids where in school and these kids were all preschool aged. Expect for my new friend, Tay. She is probably around 10 but her brain age is around 4.she is the sweetest thing. I held her, and played with her for a while. Teaching her hand clapping games, incorporating the alphabet in and stuff. Then i did a preschool teaching with the rest of the kids there. Most of the care points have a preschool on site, but this one does not.

Later we did home visits. I met a 18 year old girl, who already had a one year old baby. Some of the girls look at me like I'm crazy, being 21, and unmarried, but it's really shocking to them that i don't have any children yet... I got to ask her how she came to know Jesus, and her dreams for life, her favorite thing about living in Swazi. Her answers were humbling. She told us of all of the manual labor that she does daily. Like having to retrieve water, in huge containers, a good two or three miles down the bumpy, dirt road. Or how as a child she attended school in south Africa, on the opposite side of the mountain.
The second house we went to that day was gogo Dudu. We sat and visited with her for a while. I got to ask her a lot of really cool questions, and she shared some amazing wisdom. these people usually live in nothing more than a one room brick home. Yet they know no other way of living. To them, this is it...she had a really nasty cough, so before we left, i asked if we could lay hands on her, and we prayed.

Some of the things in this culture, i doubt I'll ever get used to. For example, the older you are, the more respect and honor you receive. Normal, right? But it's disrespectful To look people in the eyes. So you're suppose to just look at the ground, or off to the distance when speaking to elders... It's so stinkin weird! It goes against everything i grew up being taught by my dad. Ugh. It's hard. I just wanna stare them in the eyes when they're pouring their hearts out to me...sometimes i do anyways. But I'm working on it. ;) the culture is also super conservative. So it's long skirts. all day, every day.

Yesterday, we got to go grocery shopping, and brought enough food to feed a family for a month.
When we delivered it, the Gogo just starting crying, praising Jesus, over and over again. While her grandchildren were just absolutely giddy with joy. Then she looked me dead in the eyes and said "I had no food....I had no food"...this week has been filled with emotional exhaustion. My heart is constantly breaking for the people around me. But then, my Jesus fills me once again. It's so incredible, and i am beyond thankful.
Thank you all for your prayers of protection. There are times when things could have gone in a very different direction, but by the grace of God, they didn't. There has only been one time this entire time thus far, that I've been scared. And that's saying something ;)

I get winks and whistles, and "you're skin is soo beautiful". But no marriage proposals yet! (yay!) The going rate for a bride is currently 15 cows... No joke. One of our ministry partners is currently saving up. :)
In our living room, we made a "couch" by pilling three mattress pads on top of each other. We called it the "poop couch". because whenever there was a faint breeze...ugh. It smelled AWFUL! Two days ago, we found the source of the smell...apparently we squished a frog...and it's dead body remained smashed up against our mattress, and couch...blah. It was incredibly disgusting.

We just moved to Manzini for two weeks...it sounds like we're in for quite the adventure...from the sounds of it, we're going to be on our own for transportation, among other things... Our new bedroom is a room with concrete floors, and small mattress pads gathered next to each other. We don't have running water, and our bathroom is behind the kitchen... bucking up my big girl panties!
But on another note,

         I SAW A GIRAFFE!!!!!!!!!!!

is a Safari place, about 5 miles down from our home in Nsoko. It's actually a restaurant too, and where we got wifi last week. It's home to over 70 giraffes. But we will be going to another safari place, that's apparently better sometime during our stay in the country. But as we were driving home, i was searching the land for one like i was five years old. When i saw him. Ugh. It was amazing! I screamed out loud, scaring everyone else in the car. Haha. 

This week has been filled with so many amazing things. I held babies, i taught groups of kids songs, i pet a zebra!!! We played out in an African rain storm at night, then used that rain as my only shower that week. I laugh until my stomach Every day, I see the love of the father in the faces of little chocolate children. I kill (seemlying all of) the bugs for my team members. we dance to Luke Bryan, as we cook dinner for the 16 of us. I've gone to bed thirsty, the night we ran out of drinking water, and our water pump stopped working. I started my first fire! I can light our big, scarry gas stove! I found out that i can be a little too adventurous for my own good, the day I convinced one of my team members to escape off into the safari path on foot with me,  because the fact that there was 70 giraffes just out there was killing me! (then we had a group of big wart hogs run across our path, and we ran back for the cover of the building) but above all, I've fallen into a deeper trust with my beloved, Jesus.
I love Africa with every fiber in my being...

Humble servant of Christ, Brookie.

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(Swazi update 2/15/14)


Hello from Manzini!
My team and i have been staying at a homestead, five miles out from the city, since last Saturday. At first it was a tough adjustment, not gonna lie. Nsoko had just become home. Then we were packing everything up, and moving. Changing ministry. Living conditions, and our ministry contact. But, now we've been here for an entire week. I can honestly say, that i love living in Manzini too. God is good!
At the beginning of the week, we all got dropped off in the middle of the city. It was to be a city wide scavenger hunt. An attempt to get us to know our surroundings here. We had 12 places to hit, and two hours to get to them all, then to the aim base. We were instructed, that there will be white vans, by the KFC. Get in those, and they will give you a free ride to the new, rivertown mall...translation: apparently, free rides from strangers, in big white vans are a good thing in Africa??

In the end, we succeeded. (well, kinda... Long story ;) ). I am so thankful for divine appointments, and meetings planned by God. In fact, it's one of my favorite things to pray for every morning. Every day is a new adventure. You never know how God is going to work, or what your day will look like. (but really, do we ever??) But really cool things happen here all the time! Like the time this lady saw some of us walking, and pulled over to pick some of my teammates up, just as the rest of us caught up behind them...she was wearing a blinged out U of M baseball cap, and she turned out to be a wife of a huge NFL player. (see, cool stuff ;) ).
Sunday we literally hiked to church. As it was up part of one of the mountains. The service was nearly 4 hours long. The translating here is almost comical sometimes, as they talk over each other, all the spanking time...i bet the Swazi's are in the same boat as us when this happens. cause we don't have any idea what they're saying. Haha.

This week i have been apart of the admin team, with three other girls. It has been amazing! We work allot in the office of the aim base. We've been working really close to a girl named Janae. She's am intern from the states, and a HUGE blessing to us. She's been living here since last May, and she acts well beyond her years of only 18! We also work with the boss lady, Creek. She's from south Africa. We are so spoiled, living here in the city...there's this place, a block down from the offices, called 'bakers corner'. Let's just say that it's a daily piece of heaven. Plus, get this. Creek is taking us to her house on Monday to get work done for her, while watching movies! plus she's offered to let us use her real, legit shower! (after using rain as a shower, or doing bucket showers for a month, this is such a HUGE blessing to us. One of the other girls seriously started crying. Hahaha).

It's so different here, compared to Uganda. Yet, at the same time, they have alot in common... I'm disappointed that they don't have a ton of Motorcycles as taxi's here, like they do in Uganda. But it's still a goal of mine to find one to hop on the back of. (sorry dad). Sometimes I'll think I'll see on of my kids from Seeta Uganda, then it hits me that I'm not there... Ugh. It's hard. I miss my kids like crazy, all the more being here...

As for our food. I'm pretty much a vegetarian. (words i never thought that i would say...hahaha). But meat here is too expensive for our team budget. We do eat a lot of rice, pasta, eggs, oatmeal and pb&j. I make killer homemade hash browns Whenever I'm on breakfast duty. It's an all around team favorite. On our free days, we usually eat lunch out. A true God send. That's the only time all week i get some chicken. It's beautiful. :)
I've gotten the pure pleasure of visiting a couple of care points around the city. It's such a huge difference from the ones out in Nsoko. The ones around here are all sponsored by American churches, and it shows. The kids here are clean(ish), and better dressed, and they actually have some school supplys.

I am consistently overwhelmed by all of the physical needs all around me. All the time...the crippled old begger on the street corner. The kids, that simply want a piece of bread, or the woman who flat out asked me for my shoes today...my heart is breaking all over the place. But i have to remember that just giving stuff out to them isn't helping them, in the long run. It actually teaches them to get the wrong impression from white people...if anything is given, it has to go through the system they have in place.

Friday = the best Valentines day ever!  We drove out to a carepoint, with my admin team. It was an hour and a half drive down a dirt road. Literally out in the middle of no where. Mountains surrounding us, close on everyside. The building was small, made of wood. Like something right out of 'little house on the parrie'. We went there to register all of the preschool kids. So that they can get sponsored through childrens hope chest, a partner with aim here. They tell me that I'm a God-send, as they've been praying for a photographer! (funny, cause I've been praying for a way to use my photography to serve here. Way to be Jesus. Way. to. be). I got to take every one of their profile pictures... The pictures that will end up on peoples fridges, back in the states, when they decide to sponsor a child. What was most amazing about it, was that i got to interact with every single child there. Then after everything was finished. I got to put my camera down, and go love on them.

We also got to go to the market yesterday (friday) , which was really awesome. Oh! I got my first "official" marriage proposal in Swazi yesterday. Valentines day. How appropriate. ;)
God has been doing some pretty huge things in my heart while I'm here...I've been studying what a true servant of Christ looks like, from the others who have gone before me in the Bible. I've also been really studying the lives of Jesus' disciples. The racial way they lived their lives. Sharing the gospel, serving people. What should my life look like, if that's the way Christ Jesus himself called his followers to live? Their passion, and selflessness is something i strive towards. It's been really cool to see that way God has been honoring my dangerous prayer, that i recorded in my prayer journal, just over a month and a half ago...

"December 27th... ...Fill me with your steadfast love, for in you I put my trust. Lead me in your mercies, that you make new for me each morning. Break my chains of bondage. Create in me a heart of loveliness. Overwhelm me with your joy. Satisfy me, always in you alone. Reshape my dreams, my desires, my vision, my wants, my goals, my life, into all that you would have for me".

It's hits me time and time again how short this life i lead will be. I want to lead it in a way that is building into the kingdom of God almighty. I wanna have the kind of "Jesus meeting" that would cause me to live as recklessly as his disciples did. Because, isn't that what God had in mind for his believers all along? After reading so much in the new treatment. I'm fairly convinced that it is. But that looks different for me, then it will for you. So, i challenge you. Dare to ask the father what it looks like for your life.

For me, its looking allot like reckless abandonment. Chasing after Jesus. Serving his children in Africa, for the next two months. Then letting him reshape my dreams for my life, into all that he would have for me...
The part that hits me that hardest is that, when Jesus called Simon and Andrew.

"As Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'come, follow me', Jesus said, 'and i will make you Fishers of men'. And IMMEDIATELY they left their nets, and followed him." -Mark 1:16-18

I love you all! Thank you for every. single. one. of your prayers. We can feel them. You can feel a huge wall of peace the moment we walk back through our front door. There is no fear here, and a huge spirit of freedom! Kids are being loved. Gogo's are being refreshed and encouraged, and so much more. "on earth as it is in heaven" has been our teams prayer.

-Servant of christ almighty, Brookie.

                                        *Community sleeping at our homestead in Manzini.

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(Swazi update 2/21/14)

Hey all!
I hope you are all staying as warm as you can in that blistering winter. Africa is hot. Reallllllly hot. It's actually really hard for me to imagine the weather back home. Not that i miss it ;)

As for little o'l me, I spent another week in Manzini. Working on the admin team. We've been prepping craft projects in the mornings, so that we can take them out to care points in the afternoon. We then take the projects back to the office. The crafts will be sent back to the states, and end up on the refrigerators of the familys who sponsor each specif child. we've also been doing some painting. Making big banners, with hand prints of the kids from the carepoints forming into an African tree.

We've celebrated three different birthdays with my team members this week. Which means we get chocolate chip pancakes for dinner! :) It has been really amazing spending time with my team. We make up an extremely different group of 16 individuals. But God keeps unifying us, growing together. Not only do I get to minister to those who live here in Swazi. But I have amazing opportunities to pour life into the family I live with here. Yes, sometimes it gets really cramped living in a really tiny house, with no furniture.(my poor butt is always sore from sitting on the tile flooring). But for the most part. Its a strait up blast. I've made girlfriends where we can literally finish each others sentences. We all hold each other accountable. We are constantly praying over each other. Having really awesome heart to hearts. A true God designed community. I am truly blessed.

These sweet, precious children. They play with my hair, they climb up on my lap. They squeeze my neck tight.they stare deep into my eyes, and touch my cheek with their fingers. They'll run and play, or they'll sit and snuggle with me for hours at a time. They get all shy when you praise them for the good job they did coloring, then beam a smile that makes you wonder if they've ever been praised for anything in their entire lives... When I hold them, I pray silently to myself. Then i pour words of life over them. Telling them that they are loved. Cherished by their father in heaven. sometimes I sing with them. Teaching them the words to Jesus loves me.

Living near the city is so extremely different then living out in Nsoko. The aim office is directly in the city, so I've spent a lot of time walking the city streets these past two weeks. The men here are a lot more, hmmm, how should i say, out going? At my first marriage proposal i literally laughed out loud...i couldn't help it. Its so ridiculous sometimes, it's hard to believe that it's real life. But I've gotten really good at strait up ignoring them as they yell "SISTER! Sister, you are so beautiful! Please. I am desperate for a wife. Marry me??"

We pack up tonight, and head back into the bush of Nsoko Saturday morning. On Monday we have to leave the country, because our visa's only last 30 days at a time. So we're heading into South Africa for a beach day at St. Lucia!!! I'm super pumped. It's a much needed break for our entire team. Should be an awesome day. Then we drive back into Swazi Monday night, and we start up ministry in Nsoko on Tuesday.

Oh, and another thing. Not only am I living in a foreign country, learning the culture and way of life of Swazi. I also live in a house where nine of my teammates are from down south. They are a different breed altogether.  ;)  Haha. I feel like I'm consistently needing translation from the things they say...Tanner sometimes calls me a Yankee. 0_____0 but he's like my little brother, and we're really close, so it doesn't bother me. We just look at each other, then laugh really hard.

I wake up every morning, feeling so blessed that I get to live out another day here in Swazi. Thank you all for your continued prayers. They are so, so, sooooo appreciated!

-Servant of Christ almighty
Brookie.

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(Swazi update 3/1/14)

Hello friends!

It's March already?! Total craziness. It's so strange. Life here is so slow paced, yet my time here is flying by! Before i know it I'll be boarding a plane, headed back to the states. I try to savor every moment I have here. Treating it like the precious gift that it is.

First off, I am so beyond thankful for Jesus. For his relentless pursuit of me. For his never ending, unfailing love. That he choses to use me. Me?! Because he certainly doesn't need to...his glory is proclaimed in the stars every night, in the surrounding mountains. Yet, he choses to put the dream of Africa in a young girls heart at the age of eleven years old. Giving her this unspeakable passion for his precious orphans there. Then he brings me here. I will be forever grateful.

On Monday this past week, the day was an amazing adventure from the moment I woke up. We all packed onto the bus and took the three hour drive into South Africa. We spent the better half of the day at one of the most incredible beaches I've ever been to in my life. St. Lucia, South Africa. It was like a dream. Never mind all the warnings of hippos, sharks, and crocodiles. I was getting in those huge waves of the Indian Ocean! It was beyond amazing. I was laughing so extremely hard from the pure joy of it all. Jesus made me feel like I was a little girl, splashing around in the waves with him...I'm pretty sure heaven will have a place like that there. I prayed that it will anyways. "To him who is able to do more than we could ever ask of imagine" and "He stores up good for those who love him" were two Bible verses that were on my mind all day long. Because that's exactly how I felt about that day. It was better than everything I ever could have imagined.

On Tuesday we started ministry back up here in Nsoko. Aka, the middle of no where, literally the bush of Africa. It felt like we had come home. :) My ministry team of myself and three others, were told to wake up especially early, and to be ready to go out into the fields to help harvest. Harvest what, we had no idea... Early Tuesday morning came and gone, and no one had arrived to pick us up...three hours later we found out that the harvesting had already been completed, and that they didn't need us anymore. Welcome to Africa. :)

Skipping ahead to Friday, it was such an extraordinary great day. From the moment I woke up. The sun was shining, as it does every morning beginning at around 4am, and i just got to spend some amazing time with Jesus, before most of the rest of the house was awake. I even had a cup of coffee, and washed my hair! What more could a girl ask for?!

Later that morning we headed out to a care point that was new for us. The kids were all preschool aged, so we got to spend lots of time just hanging out and being with them. Loving on them, praying over them. But then, this adorable beyond words little girl, about one year old caught my attention. She was young. Really young. Usually if there are babies around that young they belong to the gogo's. But after some researching I found out that she wasn't a daughter of a Gogo, but instead came with one of the other kids there. But the oldest kid there that morning couldn't have been over the age of six...a lot of these children walk miles and miles to get to these care points. For what may be their only meal that day. At two year olds?

She was so dirty. Dried and crusty snot was all under her nose, and lots of other unknown dirty spots splashed across her face. She had so much dirt layered on her tiny hands. She wore nothing more than a raggedy tee shirt, that wouldn't be fit enough for a baby doll back in the states. I took out my water bottle and washed her face, then her hands. She had so much dirt on them, that it was like her hands were completely covered in red clay mud. I cleaned out her nails, best I could, and fixed some braids in the hair. But what do you do after that? I still have no idea who cares for her, who makes sure that she gets fed, and bathed, and protected...who will hold her when she crys, or any of the number of other things a one year old baby girl needs...But God knows, and he loves that baby girl. He has a good plan for her life. So I pour out prayers for her. Wouldn't you please join me? Because the truth is, her story isn't all that different from a multitude of others that I see and hear about every. Single. Day here... After holding her for awhile her eyes starting getting droopy, so I rocked her to sleep. Because today, God had provided me to love her, to care for her, to snuggle her tight for a while while she slept...

We are currently back in our routine of visiting three care points, three times of going out to spend time visiting gogo's, and three work projects per week. But don't for a second think that anything is remotely the same old, same old. Everyday is a new adventure, and anything can happen. It's different every time we go on a home visit, every time we go to a care point, and pretty much every work project. Add in the excitement of chickens in our kitchen, almost being caught directly in a stampede of donkeys (thanks Garrett), or the consistent interruptions of little Timbaleaka, aka "no pants Nancy".

Life here gets a little crazy sometimes. Like worshiping out under the vast blanket of Swazi stars, up on the containers in our back yard. (now that I think about it, just getting up on the containers is a little crazy in of itself). Or playing night kick ball, with nothing but the light of our headlamps. Watching Snele, our ministry partner,  get out of the vehicle and making the cows get off of the road (you don't wanna know his method). Then, you can just go outside and watch Garrett chase some goats...I feel like there are so many more crazy things that happen all around me, all the time, but honestly, I've just come to accept them as my new everyday life.

I am so blessed. Thank for again for all of your prayers. I wouldn't be where I am without them. God is good. I love you all!


Love your Swazi girl,
Brookie.


P.s. Happy, happy, happy birthday to the two best men in my life. My daddy, and my little brother. Have some ice cream for me! I love you both! :)

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(Swazi update 3/9/14)

Hey guys!

Apologies on just getting the update from march 3rd on the 8th... Swazi internet. Whatta gonna do?
Anyways, I have some big news!

I GOT TO PHOTOGRAPH A SWAZI WEDDING!

Boom. Heck yesss. Our ministry contact Erica was married on the 8th to a wonderful Swazi man named Mxolisi. (if you think trying to pronounce that is difficult, trying adding in a "click" in there...yeah, welcome to speaking SiSwati. Lol). I got to take my best friend here, kenzie with me. It was a super early morning when we got packed up, along with Timboleaka (aka no pants Nancy) who is always hanging around our care point, and all of the other little flower girls that were packed into the van with us. It was so precious to watch her take in all the views while driving... A lot of these kids will never leave more than a five mile radius...most of the gogo's I meet live in at the very same homestead where they were born.

The drive took someplace over two and a half hours or so. The wedding was held at a really awesome Resort with huge huts as their "cabins". The ceremony was held up on a balcony, overlooking a gorgeous lake, with mountains all around. As for the Swazi ceremony... I don't know what I was expecting, but definitely not what it was. If I had to describe it in one word: crazy. For a couple of examples, the flower girls don't gently lay down flower pedals. They throw candy, like directly at you! People went crazy like little kids at a 4th of July parade...Also, at probably four or five different points during the ceremony, about half of the guests got up to get three feet away from the bride and groom to take pictures on their cell phones....like, what?! During the ceremony! It was so ridiculous at times I just couldn't stop laughing. I had to keep reminding myself that this was real life.

As for the rest of my week. Monday we went back to the same care point, Mbutfu, where i first met that precious little grubby one year old. We had new ministry partners with us that day, so we literally had no direction whatsoever. So, I got up and took the lead, and taught preschool all morning. Then we went and played outside for a while. That same little girl fell asleep on me again. Sweet little blessings.

Then the rest of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday it rained. Things shut completely down here when it rains...the roads are too muddy to drive on, and they cancel schools, the whole bit. So we basically had the rest of the week off. (Side note, running in the rain on those muddy roads is super fun! ;) ) Ministry started back up on Thursday, but I was in bed sick all day. Thank you Jesus that it only lasted one day though.

My heart has been softened and made well aware again this week of all of the brokenness and hurt around me in this land. Drunkenness is a big problem here, as well as rape. There were recently two young girls, not miles from my house who were victims of such things...some times it's really overwhelming. I find myself emotionally exhausted allot. Then I need to take time at the feet of my father, being refreshed and refilled.

As I write this its Sunday morning. We are heading off to a four day debrief. I have no idea what it entails besides that fact that we're staying at a hostel some where outside of Manzini. They really don't tell us anything here, but that just adds to the adventure!

With all of our down time this past week, I found a really awesome book around our house, and three of us girls started a study of purity and holiness. Its soooo good. Ugh. I love it :) I am so thankful for my family here. I am consistently challenged and inspired. Plus we get into really deep talks about theological stuff in the Bible. It's awesome.

On one of the nights this week I got to lead team time! I did this thing where you went and spent some time in listening prayer, asking the Lord to reveal lies that you've been listening to. Then they had to match each lie with a truth from God. We ended by ripping up the pages of lies, and I made a proclamation that we are children of God almighty, we have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ Jesus. We are children of light. We no longer believe in these lies, no do we have the right to believe in the lies of satan, after Christ has paid the price for us to be free, and given us the power of the holy sprit! We ended with a super powerful time of worship, in the dark. Lol

Thank you once again for all of your out pouring of prayers!!! Thank you for your prayers of protection, strength, boldness, energy, and everything else! I appreciate them more than you know, and I am so humbled and thankful for them all! You are all blessings in my life, and I thank God for all of you!

Love your Swazi girl, servant of Christ Jesus. Brookie.

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{Swaziland update 3/15/14)

Hey guys!

I just want to start out by thanking God, my savior, creator, friend, my beloved. It still blows my mind that he choses to use me. I'm just this young girl from Michigan. I'm a complete mess, apart from Jesus.

This past fall, I was out for a run. My favorite place to go out running is this seemingly forsaken two track about a mile from my house. There are usually deer and turkey tracks right along side my Nike tracks. You can hear birds singing, and crickets chirping. You're completely alone with nature. I love it. I was nearing the end of the road, sounds from my iPod pumping in my ear. That's when I heard it...Now God speaks to us in all different ways. Usually its in a still small whisper. Sometimes he uses other believers around us. Through music or scripture. But this was so crystal clear, I stopped dead in my tracks, and pulled my headphones out...did that really just happen??

In the coming weeks, I went through this process with Jesus. He brought me to this place that I like to call "beautiful brokenness". It was like he stripped me of everything. Gently asking me to give things to him, laying them at his feet. Handing over my control, people I dearly love, my dreams, desires, longings, future, past. Everything. Piece by piece. It felt brutal. I felt like my heart was breaking. At first, it was beyond scary. But then, he blessed me with his amazing peace, that surpasses all understanding.

He build up my trust in him, deeper than I've ever known. He brought me to this new level of oneness with him. For the first time i knew, i knewww exactly what it meant to be fully satisfied in him. Overwhelmingly so. He broke bondage in me that I wasn't even aware I had. I gained an even deeper sense of freedom, that can only come from the Lord. Then he slowly began the process of building me back up again. Piece by piece, with less of me, more of him.

It was something like two weeks after this that I "came upon" this trip to Swaziland online. Actually I found it on my phone, ten minutes before walking into work. Not five minutes after being at work one of my bosses stopped me and said "you're going on a trip, aren't you?? You're going back to that place you love. Its written all over your face. You're going back to Africa". My jaw dropped. I didn't even know what to say. The trip was for three months, in a place in Africa I have never been. So I prayed for guidance. Two weeks later I applied. I got accepted the day after my interview. Then I was told that I had a little over a week to pay for 75% of the trip. Whoa. (I applied a little late in the game). Watching Jesus work, bringing the money in was a miracle in itself! I literally had a person show up at my door, donating to my trip! Money may be a big thing to us. But its nothing to God. Praise Jesus!

Two and a half months later, I was boarding a plane to South Africa. Just saying that still blows my mind. God had placed this dream of Africa, and this huge passion for orphans on a small girls heart. Now I'm all grown up, actually living out that dream. Unbelievable.

This past week here we had our mid-point debrief. We stayed at a cozy little hostel outside of Manzini. There I experienced my second "real shower" since arriving here, and it was even warm half the time! I had coffee, and bacon with breakfast, and time to just refresh and relax in the presence of Jesus. Plus with the elevation, mixed with a rainy couple of days, it was actually cool outside! It was so amazing to snuggle up in my hoodie. It was all amazing, and overall a really powerful couple of days. Our field contact, Travis, made a trip out to see us, and gave us some amazing talks and encouragement. There I created my mission statement for this trip, and I'd love tho share it with all of you. It goes:

"I am here to abandon myself. To love my team and the people of Swaziland, deeply and passionately. I am here to serve, and to cover my team, children, and gogo's in prayer. To encourage and inspire. To proclaim the Lords freedom, to bind up the broken hearted, to preach good news to the poor. To give them a crown of beauty, instead of ashes, that the name of the Lord may be praised".

That is my mission here, and I strive to live it out everyday. This time we have here on earth is so short. Live it out fully, passionately!

Debrief was three and a half days, so Wednesday afternoon we headed back home to Nsoko. Thursday we began ministry again. I woke up feeling really sick, and immediately recognized it as a spiritual attack. There were good things that were going to happen that day, and satan was not having it. So I spoke healing over myself, and commanded the sickness to leave my body in the name of Jesus...but I still felt like crap. So I asked Jesus why. I believed that Jesus could heal me, and that his name holds such power. So what did i do wrong? Then he whispered to me to "get up...get outta bed, and physically act out in your faith, that you will be healed". So I reluctantly crawled outta bed. Not five minutes later, I felt better! But, I reasoned with myself as I headed out to my work project, I'm not gonna do anything too rigorous. I don't wanna push it, and make myself sick again. Ten minutes in, I was in beast mode, killin' it out in that garden. Lesson learned: God is good, and I have so far to go in my walk with him. Thankful that he is healer.

After our work project we came inside for our daily pb&j. You'd think that we'd all be sick of them, after eating them practically every day, for seven weeks. But it's still something we all look forward to. I think that being surrounded by such extreme poverty all the time, and having small children begging for a piece of bread to eat, and literally hearing your heat break in your chest again and again when that happens... We feel really blessed by our bp&j's. Besides, they're realllllly good grilled. ;)


After lunch we walked to gogo Floria's homestead down the road. She. is. amazing. I think she talked the entire hour and a half that we were there! We have seen such an amazing transformation in her since we have arrived. When we first got here a group went to visit her, they said that she cried almost the entire time that they were there, and she barely spoke. The situation seemed hopeless. Now, seven weeks later, she is filled with such unspeakable joy, and laughter. We bought her a hymm book, and she freaked out. She was so cute. She turned right to page 67, and sang us her favorite hymm. She also gave us the most hilarious marriage advice after a misunderstanding, where she thought that I was newly married to a Swazi...long story. But it was really funny.

Sometimes we wash our clothes in buckets, and hang them to dry outside. Sometimes those clothes get stolen...sometimes we get chickens in our house. One night I was outside, and Tanner all of the sudden stood up, and gently ushered me inside before I knew what was happening...turns out there was a snake by my feet. Blah! Sooo nasty. It was the most dangerous snake in South Africa too... Sometimes we have the most incredible lightning storms, and I just get to sit back and watch. In complete awe of Jesus. Sometimes we quote the Loin king a little too much, when we go to Matata to grocery shop. Sometimes we get little heads of children poking through the window of our bathroom. (surprise!) Sometimes the kids call me by my Swazi name, and it takes me a second to realize that they're talking to me. Some nights I'm so exhausted I pass out before the lights are turned off...ok, so most nights.

As for what the Lord spoke to me so clearly that sunny day last fall, while I was out running... It was meant just for me. But I challenge you to seek out what the Lord us trying to tell you. Whether it be loud and clear, or that precious still and quiet whisper.

I have been in Swaziland for seven weeks now, and I still feel like I'm going to wake up from this dream at any moment. I seriously feel like I cannot thank you all enough for your prayers. They mean more to me than you will ever know! Please keep them coming. :)

Love and blessings! -Brookie

                                               *Afternoon nap time in 100 degree weather.
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{Swazi update 3/22/14}

Hey everyone!

May this email be a blessing to you, as you catch a glimpse into my week. I pray that through it, Christ Jesus may be glorified and praised. I pray that your hearts may be strengthened by the love of God. May you find, and live out the precious calling he has for your lives. May you know, in your hearts of hearts, the glorious freedom that Christ Jesus has gifted to us.

'May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy sprit' -Romans 15:5

Another blessed week has come and gone here in Swaziland, and I an humbled all over again. Thankful beyond words day after day to be here, to be serving along side those that I do, to be called and chosen by the King of all. To be pursued, so passionately by my savior, Jesus. To be loved, beyond my understanding. To be a redeemed, daughter of God almighty, and to be used to bring about his kingdom here, in the middle of no where. In the bush of Africa. This place that I love. Swaziland.

Let me just say, that I freaking love watching storms come in here, and being caught directly in the middle of them sometimes. watching them roll in, over the flat land miles away. Or the way the rain will pour down from heavy rain clouds at certain points, but it will be completely sunny at other places. The strong bolds of lightning hitting in the distance, getting completely drenched within seconds in the down pour of rain, and feeling like your about the be blown away in the wind. I love the way God displays himself in such things. As it says in Job 36, and 37,

"How great is our God -beyond our understanding! he draws up the drops of water which distills as rain to the streams, the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters his lightning about him? God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow 'fall on the earth' and to the rain shower 'be a mighty downpour' so that all men he has made may know his work...stop and consider God's wonders".

On Monday morning my ministry team of Garrett, Tanner, Lexie and I, along with our Swazi ministry partner, Thandi, walked to Mbutfu carepoint, where I got to teach some preschool, then snuggle with some precious Lil tots. Teaching is not my favorite, but I'm thankful that God is strong in my weaknesses! I swear, it doesn't matter what carepoint I'm at, or who I'm holding. But the child I'm holding always falls asleep. I've earned the nickname "the baby whisperer" but I can't help it if I'm just a really good snuggler, ok?? Haha. Holding a sleeping child is one of my favorite things in life. It makes it even more precious when you know that this child is probably an orphan, or is rarely held.

Swaziland is currently ranked the highest in the world with rates of HIV/AIDS. Many children here are orphaned. Some I've met have been double orphaned, where their parents have died, then his or her new caretakers also pass away... Swaziland is currently a closed country to adoption, as they were having so many problems with adoptive children being sold into the sex trade. There is a missing generation. I have not met one, not one, gogo who has not escaped experiencing the death of a child. At the rate is it going, Swaziland will cease to be a country by 2050. You'll see a child with a string tired around their wrists, and you know that they've recently been to one of the witch doctors that plague this continent. But despite all of the sickness, brokenness, and poverty that this country is drowning in. God is at work in Swazi. He has surely not forgotten his people here. As a follower of Christ, we always have hope! I cannot fix everything, but what I can do, I must. It matters to that one.

 have knots, literal knots in my hair. They are so bad that I may have to cut then out... My new friend at our home carepoint , on Tuesday, decided to play with my hair. Which then turned into completely redoing my hair. She was rather confused as to why my hair would simply not just stay twisted, they way hers would. Her resolve (unannounced to me)   was to knot my hair, to make it stay...three times for each braid. The pride that was beaming from her, after she had completed the task of twisting, looping and knotting my hair, was sooo precious. I just savored the moment. If bringing that kind of joy to a precious child, may cause a knot or two...or seven, in this white girls hair. Then bring it on.

Wednesday afternoons we travel to Mahageni carepoint. This was the very first carepoint we visited when we first arived, aside from the one we live at. I can still remember the sinking feeling that hit my stomach when we first arrived that day. It's nothing more than a small, two roomed building, painted blue. Along with a makeshift shelter, where they cook the rice and beans. But it's hugged by the most beautiful countryside. It's even more out in the middle of no where than our house is. Vast African fields surround it on every side, with the strong mountains in the distance. Children walk miles to get there. To receive teachings of truth, and the gospel preached, then a big heaping of food. When we first arrive we just hang out and play with them. Then our Swazi partner will teach the weeks lesson.

They sing and dance, then squeeze their little eyes shut super tight, cross their arms, and pray the Lords prayer. Sometimes in SwSwati, other times in English. "Give us this day our daily bread" takes on a whole new meaning. Every time I'm there I'm refreshed, and brought back to just arriving. My passion and love for being here is renewed. I can look out and see a young mother, with a new baby tied to her back, holding the hand of her other small child, a huge jug of water balanced upon her head. "this is Africa" I'm reminded, I love this place. I held a child till she fell asleep, and helped break up small feud's in the line of children as they awaited their portion of food. I talked with older girls, and learned about their lives.

I have a friend here named Hopper, (pronounced Hope-pa). He visits the carepoint here. He professes his love for me almost everyday... I don't dare count the times that he's proposed to me... Or asked me to come to his homestead, to be introduced as his wife to be... Or when he asks me to come home with him, so I can cook, and wash clothes for him (my personal fav. Haha, How romantic)
... He's twelve. Although he tries to convince me that he's twenty-five. He rolls the "r" in my name, like most people here do, and we talk about what he learned in science class that day. He loves to play football (aka soccer) and looks out for all of the younger kids around him. He brings huge empty jugs from his homestead, and fills them at the community pump in our yard, then brings them all the way back home. He's a little sweetie. But don't worry, I've politely turned down all of his offers. Even though he's fully convinced that he's gonna marry me, as he tells my teammates when I'm not around...

Thursday we worked out in the garden in the morning. Then walked to visit a young mother after lunch. Have a mentioned how incredibly strong the women here are?? She is 34 years old, two out of three of her children have died. Her husband drives a truck in South Africa, and she only sees him one day a month. We talked through our translator, Nelle, for over an hour. Sharing scripture, and encouraging her, learning more about her life. They fully grasp the simpleness of faith. They know what their needs are, and they have faith that God will provide for them. If he doesn't, he is still good, and they still praise him.

It's Friday as I write this, and it's currently raining, so we have the morning off. Soon I'll be packing for a overnight stay in South Africa, as our visa's are only good for 30 days, we have to leave the country over night. Life is good, and God is great!

"Winter" will soon be upon us here. (as it is their summer now) Which means that we should be getting a little cooler in the nights, and early mornings. But still in the high 90's during the day. I'll be thankful for any break from the heat. As most nights are...well, let's just go with "sticky"... The locals are harvesting their fields, and the gogo's tell us that that they too are looking forward to the next season.

've officially been trained the Swazi way to wash laundry by hand! I was graced with the title of 'now being a real Swazi woman'. I'll take it, even if they were just being nice. Haha. I mayyyy have tried to hitch hike in any truck that would pick us up. Because when it's 100 degrees, and you've been standing at a kumbi stop for well over an hour in the blazing sun, you'll take anything with wheels. Men ask me to come home with them, so that I may cook and clean for them all the time... They are seriously lacking in the romance department. They yell out that they love me, when I'm just trying to get a cold coke for three rand. I get asked "why don't you want to marry a Swazi??" More times then I can count. I'm now a pro at lighting our big scary stove, and I don't know how I'm gonna be able to cook for less then sixteen people when I get home. I miss driving my cute little red car, blasting my music, and a good cup of coffee more then anything else I'm missing from home. Aside of course from all of the people I love!
But besides that, I'm super content here.

This week during team times, I was titled "most intense" during our team dance off. I Co-won our rap/beat boxing competition. (did not see that one coming, nor did anyone else...haha). My friends Rachel, Bre and I won Bible Jeopardy. I have been stretched and encouraged during feedback time. We worship in the dark, by music off of iPhones. We've anointed our home once again, and gone on prayer walks though the house, praying over every room, every bed. I've been there for two of the three times that a snake has been found by my team, and it has slithered close to my feet....ehhhhhhk! I've been a prisoner in my own home, when the community drunk was having a rather aggressive day. I'm Always staying alert, and aware. (don't worry dad). I'm sooooooo thankful for the men on my team, who are always looking out for us, and offering their protection. The times one of them will come and sit by me, when I just wanna watch the sunset, and that creepy guy just won't stop hanging about. Or when it starts to get dark, and I'm up on the container. They are awesome men of God, and I respect all three of them deeply.

I feel like I've entered a new season of being challenged and brought to higher levels with the Lord, and I am so excited! God is on the move in my heart, changing my dreams and future plans. Stay tuned for announcements. :)

I thank God for every single one of you! Thank you for all of the prayers, support, and the out pouring of love. A HUGEEE shout out the the most amazing parents a girl could dream of. I love you mom and dad! xoxo.

Love and blessings!
Servant of Christ Jesus almighty
-Brookie.

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{Swazi update 3/28/14)

Hey guys!
I always find myself in disbelief that it's been an entire week, and it's time again for me to write this! I have now been living in Swaziland for eight weeks now, and I am in my last four weeks here! Time seriously flys...I thought that I had been humbled last week...but this week I feel like I've been hit with a whole other wave of just how tiny I am. How insignificant. Yet the God of the universe chooses us. He loves us, more insanely then we will ever know. Most of us don't even grasp a tiny little glimmer of how much he loves us... It breaks my heart when I think of how much we, as redeemed Christians are missing this!

His love is everlasting, never failing, deeper, wider, more passionate and intimate then we can ever imagine! He loves to lavish his love on his children! In Ephesians 1:3-6 it says; Jesus Christ has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (!!!!!!) For he chose us in him BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD to be holy and blameless in his sight. IN LOVE he predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us, in the one he loves.

Last Saturday and Sunday were spent in Nelspruit, South Africa. It's about a four hour bus ride from our home. A GORGEOUS four hour drive. Between the mountains, rivers, fields and the giraffe (my personal favorite) the ride left me in such awe of my Jesus. We got to eat pizza, and walk around this huge mall. (thank you Jesus for pizza!) My friend Melanie and I met this really sweet girl who worked at the "Jeep" store. We got to talk to her about why we were here, living in Swazi. She didn't even know what carepoints were. Which kinda blew my mind, considering we really weren't that far away... We got to spend some time getting to know her, and some of her dreams, then we prayed with her. I also held the hands of two of my teammates as they got tattoos. In tiny room. Behind the market... it wasn't as sketch as it sounds...but it was still pretty sketch.

On Monday we finished clearing out a field in the community garden, so that we can put in the drip system. Soon they will be able to plant another entire field worth of corn and veggies for the people of this community. Totally worth all of the sweat, backaches and blisters.

Monday afternoon my ministry team and I walked to our first home visit without a ministry partner/translator! We went to the only person we knew within walking distance who spoke English, Cindy. Cindy and her husband, Richard, have two children. Richard had a stroke about two years ago, and is currently suffering from other health concerns, so he is unable to work. Cindy may just be one of the hardest working women I've ever met. She is up well before the sun every morning, except Sunday, when she sleeps in until 7:00am. She grows her own veggies in her garden, she cares for her animals, she washes her family's clothes all by hand, she baths and cares for her husband, all while raising her two children, and trying to start up her own business. Plus much, much more. Speaking of her business, she has a hair salon. I've made it my mission to help support her whenever I can.

Monday was the first day I followed her from her homestead, up to the small building not far from her home. She lead us around back to her tiny one room shop. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, besides the fact that she was washing my hair, for 12 rand. (less then $1.20 USD). I turned around and made a face at the boys, Tanner and Garrett, as they sat outside and left me alone with Cindy, as she ushered me inside. She warmed a bucket of water up, (mmm, warm water!) as I pulled my shampoo out of my bag. She had one small salon sink, and she pulled on the big yellow gloves that one wears to wash dishes. I felt a little like a science experiment for a quick second. But then the warm/hot water hit my head and I was completely relaxed. She did such a great job. She even blow dried it after!

On Monday night we started our second round of "warm seat feedback". It's where someone is on the hotseat, and let's be real Em and Shad, nothing is 'warm' about it, it's hot. And the entire team goes around and gives you feedback. Whether encouraging, or constructive. We do eight people a night, as we have sixteen on our team. It takes over two hours... It's about as fun as it sounds, and guess who got to go first?! No, but all joking aside it's a really awesome growing tool, everything is prayed about before speaking out, and it's done out of deep and genuine love.

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven". (matt 6:10)

This is the verse that my team, our ministry partners, and I have been teaching all through out the carepoints this week. After the lesson we'll lead them all outside and play a group game. Which is what we did on Tuesday, at our home, the anchor center carepoint. Their favorite is this race /obstacle course thing that we set up with tiny orange cones. We spilt the group in half, then its ready, set, go. One person from each group takes off, setting the rest of the group into a cheering frenzy. Its a total blast cheering and celebrating with sixty Swazi kids all around you. Then they line up for their bowl of rice and beans and we sit around with them and visit until they have to go home.

Wednesday we had the morning off, due to staff meetings that our ministry partners had. I'm re-reading the book "captivating" for the third time. Because yes, it is that good. So I got some really good study time in. The book is all about "revealing the mystery of a woman's soul" and about the ways God has specifically created women and all of that super good stuff. I'm reading the book for men "wild at heart" as soon as Melanie is finished with it.

Wednesday afternoon we went out to Mahageni carepoint like we usually do. All of the women here call me 'sissy'. And again the gogo's are all in shock that I'm twenty-one and I don't yet have a baby of my own. They all ask why, and I tell them that I'm going to get married first. Then they tell me that I better marry fast, like my biological clock is going to tick out soon or something. But I guess that makes sense to them, since most of them start having babys at fifteen years old, and already have their third child tied to their back. Some of these girls are my age.

Thursday morning Alexis and I cleaned and moped the house to as clean as it gets. Then we walked to a home visit after lunch. She told us that her husband was an alcoholic, and she sometimes thinks of leaving him. We got to share testimony's about what Jesus has done for us, and share scripture with her. At the end of the visit she thanked us for giving her hope, that she didn't have before, and for loving her.

Friday morning we got to go to Mahageni. It was the first time we got to go there in the morning, when only the preschool aged kids are there. Thursday and Friday it has actually been cold outside! I'm talking like in the 60's! I know, I know. In Michigan, I'm wearing a tee shirt, rolling the windows in my car down when it hits 50 degrees. But it's been over 100 almost everyday since we've been here! A lot of the kids didn't come due to the cold. They even had school off yesterday... But we played and loved on the 11 kids that were there. I made a baby cry from fear today... But I guess that's what happens when your in such a rural area, and lots of kids have never seen a "umlungu" (aka white person) before. Don't worry though, I had her semi won over by the time I left... I colored a "happer Easter" picture with the kids, and the sweet older man, who comes there for food. Then I sat with them, as they used their tiny little right hands to scoop up the porridge type of substance into their mouths. With grubby, dirt covered hands, most of the time. It hits me once again the poverty I'm surrounded by. That these precious little, preschool aged, and younger, children walk here all by themselves. I again notice their bloated bellies, and the sores on their heads. It drives me to hold them tighter. Pray for them more passionately. Tell them that Jesus loves them one more time. To close my eyes and thank God once again for bringing me to this place.

As for the announcement I was referring to last week. When I return home, I will be stepping away from my photography business. Just typing that out is so bittersweet. It was my dream, my baby. But the Lord graciously told me that the my season for it has come to a close. For now anyways... I now know that he's calling me into working in Ministry, full time. It's my life calling. I'm not exactly sure what that will look like, but I'm ok with not knowing right now. I know that he will guide my every step. For right now the plan is to apply for an internship/discipleship program at Center for Global Action in September. It's a part of AIM's ministry. (the program I'm on this trip with). There is nothing I'd rather do with my life, and I am so thankful, humbled and honored by this calling. God is so great.

Its not unusual for my skirt to smell like poop, after holding kids all day. Its not unusual that I'm covered in dirt head to toe. Its not unusual for my hair to be a mess at the end of the day, from kids playing with it. But I love it all. Every little thing about being here. I love that we have to wait, sometimes hours, to have running water at our sink. Because that means that someone from the community is filling up their jugs outside, and that means they'll have water tonight. I love that I'm now a pro at lighting our big gas stove. I love that Tanner sees it as an "opportunity" when we scream for him to come kill the spitting Cobra, that's in our front yard. (it was over four feet long!) I love living out in the middle of no where, and loving people, that the rest of this country deems unworthy. I love walking out of my front door and being swarmed by little kids, that just wanna be held. And I even love sharing a bedroom with 12 other girls...well, ok, most of the time I love it.

Thank you once again for the out pouring of prayer! My team has experienced a good bit of spiritual and health attacks this week, but we are still going strong! Thank you for the support! You are loved!

"The Spirit of the Sovereign God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted. To proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lords favor, and the day of vengeance for our God. To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion. To bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. The oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor" Isaiah 61:1-3

Servant of Christ most high, -Brookie.

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{Swaziland update 4/4/14}

Hello to my American family!

My days here in Swazi are beginning to dwindle down, and I'm stuck with some serious bitter-sweet emotions about leaving. How can it be that I've already been here for over two months?? I've fallen in love with Africa once again, that much is for sure. I know that this place, these people, will forever have a hold of my heart. I don't know how I'm going to cook for less then sixteen people. I don't know what I'll do with myself when I'll have running water at the blink of an eye at my kitchen sink, or being able to take more then two showers per week... Then there are the precious children that I will miss more then anything. Pieces of my heart have been scattered all this country... You can join with me in prayers for my adjusting into the next season Jesus has for me. Because, as much as I would love to stay here longer. I know that this was only for a short season that I would serve here. 

I know that Jesus has other plans for me after this, and I am so excited to see what he has in store! 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun."

On Sunday, we attended a small church held at the carepoint at the bottom of the mountain, called Esikhaleni. Worship was lead by three young girls, the oldest being thirteen. It was so awesome to surprise the congregation, and to be there to love on them. 

Monday morning we took the same long, bumpy and rocky road up to Esikhaleni to be with the preschool aged kids. To our surprise not only were there a ton of little kids there, but every other age as well, all the way up to eighteen. I very quickly ran out of coloring pages... The place was so chaotic. The children were filthy, and exhausted from the long walk there. Most of their clothes ripped and torn. It's then, surrounded by all the madness, that I smiled to myself. This is exactly why I'm here. We pulled them all together, and sang worship songs to our King. Then I read them the story of Noah. There were only a handful of kids that had ever heard it before. I met a girl with a small bleeding wound on her foot. We literally had nothing to give her to help. So I found some tape, and a small piece of tissue, and there you have it. Homemade African bandage! Then there was this little stud, about four years old. He was literally falling asleep while standing up! So I got to hold him tight for the next hour or so, until we had to leave.

Tuesday morning was our turn to do the team grocery shopping for the week. One hour, and four full shopping carts later, we have to stick closely together and head back out to the van. There is a kumbi stop in the parking lot, and I get lots of obscene things yelled at me, by hurting and broken men. Then there's the fact that we're loading up so much stinking food, all the while being surrounded by people who can barely afford a loaf of bread. Grocery shopping takes on a whole new meaning. But then we got to go back home and do ministry at our very own anchor center carepoint. For some reason, unknown to us, the Gogo didn't show up to cook that day. Once again showing us that no meal is guaranteed for them... We had two bags of our own cookies to hand out, and I found myself praying that we would have enough for all of them. We had three leftover. Enough for each ministry partner with us to have one. God is good.

While I was eating dinner that night, I was fearlessly being pursued by Hopper, who kept yelling out that he loved me, and that be was going to marry me. He even sang me songs and offered to buy me a ring! Tanner told him to go home and he yelled "I will beat you Tanna! Brook, I love you!" Causing my entire team to burst into laughter. But seriously, he sat there and he continued for over an hour. When he isn't pouring out his heart, he just sits there and stares at me like you wouldn't believe...

Wednesday morning we worked on prepping our lesson for the week, then we headed of to Mahageni carepoint in the afternoon. One of our favorites. But once we got there a big African thunderstorm came arollin' in, so we had to send the kids home early. Luckily my little 'sidekick' had to stay back with her sister, so we all ran for cover in the small classroom. Waiting out the storm, watching the wind howl, and the rain poor down sideways, loudly pounding on the tin roof of the tiny room we were in, being quickly greeted by leaks and puddles inside. Then all at once the rain stopped and the sun peaked through. Once we stepped outside the sight took our breath away. A huge brilliant double rainbow. We could clearly see the ends of both sides. It was so beautiful! Hopper is doubling his efforts today. He brought not one, but two cell phones over today, and slyly asked for my phone number. He also brought his huge pocket knife and did push ups in front of me. You know. Real man stuff.

Thursday morning my team stayed back to spend time with the preschool kids that attend schooling in the church building in our backyard. What was suppose to be an hour break for the kids, turned into a two and a half hour playtime. When their teacher just up and went home for the day early. So we just snuggled and played outside in the hot sun until it was time for lunch.

Friday we took the bumpy road up to the foot of the mountain to do discipleship with the kids at the Esikhaleni carepoint. The children walk miles upon miles to get here. Most of the kids go to school at the top of the mountain, which marks South Africa. The path can be really dangerous if they don't travel with a large group of other children, as men lie in wait all along the way.

I'm often awaken early in the morning by the pitter, pattering of little feet, as they run and play outside my bedroom window before 7am. I smile to myself and roll over and try to catch a little more sleep, then I'm once again awaken by precious giggles and little kids talking in SwSwati. We're almost consistently chasing chickens out of our house. We have this game where we guess if its a "child or goat" making those absurd noises. Our front door is often surrounded by little kids waiting for us to come back outside. Its also a place where they come when someone gets another scrape or something is bleeding somewhere once again, and out I go to bandage them up.

For team time, we dedicated this week to worship. We worshipped by the sound of an iPod, or some nights Garrett will lead us with the guitar. One night we just went off by ourselves and sat quietly with Jesus. One night we all put our iPods in and had a 'silent dance party' in the field. God shows up in our times of worship. He gives us visions. Sometimes someone will be lead to speak out over the rest of us. Our God is so amazing. 

My verse for the week has been Hebrews 12:28: Therefore, since we r receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for "our God is a consuming fire". 

It brings me back to the place of just being in complete awe of my savior... I also started reading one of Heidi Bakers books 'always enough'. She and her husband, Roland, are Missionary's in Mozambique. This book is seriously wreaking my world... In the best way possible. Their stories are incredible. She is my new hero.

Thank you for all of your prayers! I love you all! I'll be home soon :)

Servant of Christ almighty.

-Brookie.

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{Swaziland update email: 4/12/14} 

Hey y'all!

This week has flown by! I cannot believe that two weeks from today I'll be home! I'm still in denial that I'm leaving. It's been a struggle for my team and I to stay vulnerable, with open hearts here. Knowing that we're in the stages of slowly saying our goodbyes. Every home visit at a gogo's homestead is our last one there. At this point we only have one visit left at each carepoint, filled with goodbyes.

Last Saturday my entire team and I hiked the mountain! The foot of the mountain is four miles from our house. The boarder of South Africa is right at the top. Needless to say, the view was gorgeous! We got back home earlier then expected, so some of us took a last minute trip to Nusela safari's, the place where we go to buy wifi. We were sitting at the kumbi stop when a guy driving a flatbed pickup truck pulled over. He offered us a ride for 10 rand each. (nicer kumbi's are usually 8 to 10 rand per person, while the sketchy ones are only 5). So we jumped into the back and held on for dear life. It was awesome. Plus, I didn't even need to worry about being squeezed into a kumbi, next to a man proposing to me... That gets real weird. Real quick.

Monday... I fell in love. Again. But seriously. Can I pleeeeeease bring her home with me? We were at the Esikhaleni carepoint, by the mountain. She was just barely two. Wabbling around barefoot, until the gogo put tiny little shoes on her feet. Her name is Tema. Her mother abandon her. Dropped her off at her mother in laws homestead, and took off, without her. Her father is no where to be found either. I found out later, that it's a pretty common thing that happens here. When the father fails to provide, the young mothers just give up and take off... She was a little hesitant to come near me at first. But I was patient, and I just stayed down at her level until she inched closer and closer, then finally let me pick her up. 

After that, she stuck with me like Velcro. The first hour she was totally emotionless. But by the end of our time together that morning, she was a ray of light and giggles. She lives with her gogo, and I could tell that her gogo really loved her. Huge sigh of relief. If she didn't have her, I don't know what'd I do... But after her gogo had finished all of her cooking for the kids, she just left Tema alone, left to walk who knows how far home, with one of the (barely) older kids there... Africa continues to blow my mind. No matter how many times I see stuff like this happen. And I see it happen almost everyday... When it was time to leave, I thought my heart was going to rip out of my chest. She chased me to the car, until someone held her back, and she started bawling... h.e.a.r.t. b.r.e.a.k.i.n.g. ugh.

Tuesday was a really heart breaking day for me too. We walked to Mbutfu carepoint to teach preschool and spend some time with the little kids there. But after being there for five minutes, we learned that the key to the food storage room was broken. So we were forced to send the little kids, ages one through six-ish, trekking back to their homesteads. With empty plastic bowls, and empty bellies. I had bought a fat cake (basically a ball of fried dough...don't judge me) on the walk there. So I broke the rules and broke it into small pieces and gave some to the two small boys walking along side of us. I had a heavy heart the rest of the day, as it hit me once again the reality of the poverty surrounding me. Those children were just babies, and they just lost their one meal that day...

On Thursday night we had all of our Swazi partners over for a huge dinner. I had to cook for 26 people. They have this meat stuff, called bors... It's a Swazi favorite. I almost threw up cooking it... Its ehh, well we don't really know what animal it comes from, and frankly, I don't think that they know either. But I cooked lots up, and Kenzie made Mac and cheese, Tanner made the corn. Cooking with those two, makes for some of the best parts of my week... There maaaay have been a small kitchen fire... And we maaay have freaked out a little bit. Blowing up ourselves and our kitchen was a serious certain. But we (or should I say Kenzie) got it under control and got it put out fairly quickly. Every day here is an adventure.

Friday we got to go to a homestead of an old man who lives by himself. He farms all off his own food, and his field was getting seriously over grown by weeds. So we cleared it out for him. He wasn't home when we first got there, but he came near the end. He was so cute, and so thankful. In the afternoon I stayed back from going to Esikhaleni with my ministry team, so that I could lead our girls Bible study at 4:30, and we normally don't get back until past 5:20ish. I talked on purity. Something that I'm really passionate about. And also something that can be a daunting task to talk about in another culture. But I spent the whole afternoon in prayer over it, and it was amazing! On a heavier note, while my teammates, Tanner, Garrett and Alexis, were on their way back from the carepoint, they stopped in to check on a gogo we know... Long story short, she was very sick. The boys had to make something up to carry her down the hill and get her into the car. They were dropped off, and she was brought to the closest hospital, an hour and a half away. Later that night during team time, Shad got the text. Confirming the awful gut feeling I had... With tear filled eyes he gave us the news. She was dying.

my team and I just kinda all sat there. Then we prayed... We are all heavy hearted.  She's had a really rough life... When she was a young girl, she got a really bad infection in her ankle. So bad that it messed with her brain, and she went crazy. Her parents would tie her to the tree in the yard. Then leave her alone all day while they went to work. One day she fell into a fire when she was all by herself and tied to the tree. She lost her leg... Now she is only in her fortys.. She has a son going to college in South Africa, and a 19 year old daughter, who is mother to her grandbaby... She has been living in such brokenness, and filth for years and years... But tonight, Ntombe is going home to Jesus. (Update: Crazy news, She's alive and well! We found out that following Sunday afternoon that she was still alive, and starting to respond to those around her! ...Two weeks later she was sent home, eating chocolate cake along the way! Our God is healer!!!!!! So insane!)

Please keep her family, and my team and me in your prayers as we mourn. And as we rejoice, that she is finally whole and well again. She will be home...

this coming week we will only have three days left of ministry! Ugh, cannot believe it... On Thursday we have three world racer (they serve in 11 countries in 11 months) men moving into our house, and five girls will be sleeping in the church building behind our house. Eight more people to share our kitchen and bathroom with until Monday morning when leave Nsoko. It should actually be really cool to get to know those who will be serving here after us...

I try to get myself excited about coming home by reminding myself about yummy food, or my big comfy bed, or long, hot showers. But honestly, those things don't really matter to me anymore... I've lived out of a backpack for the past three months, and honestly. I cooooould go without most of the things I packed. I sleep under a bed net. I don't think twice when I see the cockroaches run all over the kitchen. The boys have a huge spider living in their bathroom. They named her Charlotte, and they'll catch other bugs and throw them into her Web, and she'll jump out, grab the huge bug, then quickly disappear again. It's so terrifying to watch. Yet strangely addicting. The amount of flies that are all over you while eating lunch is just ridiculous. but I wake up to the sound of Swazi children laughing outside my window. I get to sit outside and watch the most beautiful sunsets every single night. I get to snuggle and love little kids all day, every day. I get to be a place of refuge, and hold a child while they fall asleep in my arms. I get to help bind up broken hearts, and share the hope of Jesus to the hopeless. I am a blessed girl indeed. So undeserving to be used by my King. But so incredibly humbled and thankful that he does...

I'll be home soon family!

Servant of Christ almighty
-Brookie.

(my new favorite quote)
"This is no time to let our hearts be captured by this world. We cannot improve on His will and His life. Let's concentrate on what captures God's attention and spend ourselfs as He spends himself. He knows what is worthwhile to do, so let's learn from Him and not waste our lives".  -Heidi Baker

*Team hike up the mountain to south Africa!