http://baileyswager.myadventures.org Bailey Swager Africa - First Year Missionary en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:22:30 GMT 30 http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=be-moved-to-compassion http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=be-moved-to-compassion Right now there is a boy named Siyabonga staying at our house (this is the boy I've blogged about before and posted a picture.) He and two other boys came over on Friday, from my care point and stayed until Sunday. I brought them to church this Sunday and to return them to their families. Something I've been very concerned about for the past several weeks is Siyabonga's grandmother beating him. About a month ago while I was holding him I noticed a bunch of scars on his back and even some on his Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=ill-be-home-soon http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=ill-be-home-soon     This past week there was a little girl at the care point, Bhobokazi, named Nokwethu had sores all over her little body. Even her butt was covered. I see this often, and it's often caused by worms infestation or scabies, but her case was extreme. So Kate, my leader, picked her up from the care point and we took her to a pharmacy, and the doctor perscribed her an anti biotic and some other medicines. Her cousin, Simphiwe, who is about 14 also came with us to help her feel more c Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=update http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=update This past week for family ministry on Saturday we went to the other care point I work at in Bhobokazi. We did something very similar to what we did at Timbutini, but without the bounce house, music, and slip and slide because there is no electricity there and also not very much room. We had face painting, bobbing for apples, we made noodle necklaces, water balloon toss, relay races, and the limbo! I know the kids really enjoyed it. We also presented the gospel to them, and I pray that Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=updates-from-swaziland http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=updates-from-swaziland Last weekend I had two little boys from my care point in Timbutini over to our house for the weekend. Their names are Siyabonga and Sbura. Siyabonga is about 5 years old, lives with a gogo that "adopted" him (and by adopted I mean she took him in because his biological parents weren't capable of caring for him... that's just how the Swazi culture works.) Sbura is about 3 years old and lives with his mother who also cooks at the care point, so I know her pretty well. When they came over they go Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=im-not-ashamed http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=im-not-ashamed Yesterday I was praying that God would teach me something. I felt like it had been a while since He ministered straight to my heart and spoke to me. So I continued to pray and the Lord convicted me of times in the past and even the present when I've felt weird and been timid to talk about God in front of people who aren't Christians, and also people who've seen me blatantly live in sin. When I say weird, I'm really just trying to get around the fact that I even felt embarassed and ashamed. You Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=happy-easter http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=happy-easter I hope everyone who's reading this had a good Easter. Mine was very nice. Interesting, but nice. We all went out to a rural area called Nsoko. We don't go there very often because it takes over an hour in the car and it costs too much to take public transportation out there. It was raining very hard that morning (which is very unusual for Swaziland) and when we got to where the service was held, we discovered that all the land we had to walk on was no extremely muddy. It was so funny because h Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=we-need-prayer http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=we-need-prayer This week for family ministry we all went to a care point that two of my team mates, Ashley and Lindsey, teach at. We did a fun day for all the kids and ladies there. We had face painting, balloons, bubbles, cookies, relay races, games, some of my team mates also did a drama and lesson from the bible. It was great and I think all the kids definitely enjoyed it more than we did. Two days ago I went to church in Timbutini (also the carepoint where I teach) It was a really great and refreshing Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=ngingu-bailey http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=ngingu-bailey Right now we are at Alabanza in South Africa for a four day prayer retreat. By the time we go back to Swazi on Monday it will be the half way mark of our trip! I couldn't believe it when someone brought it to my attention. So I want to continue on the story about the baby Moses that I blogged about last week. The team brought him to the hospital and was admitted on Monday. Two girls from my team stayed with him all night and he died on Tuesday morning around 5am. Most people took it really h Sat, 8 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=ninjani http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=ninjani This past week we had two birthdays in the house. We celebrated as a big family on Thursday night with lots of Fanta (their favorite drinks) cake, ice cream, balloons, streamers, food, music and games! It was just a great night altogether.             The World Race team (an AIM team that travels to 10 countries in 11 months) is in Swaziland right now and are staying with us. They've kind of taken in this little baby and are nursing it bac Mon, 3 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=sani-bonani http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=sani-bonani This week I've been able to go to Bhobogazi (the care point that I've had trouble getting started at) with our new translator who lives in our house. It's been such a HUGE blessing to go with a translator because now I can figure out what is going on...like why the women haven't been there to cook everyday, and if they do come it's only in the afternoons and not in the mornings. It's because they didn't have water, so we got that sorted out and had their tank filled. Last week when I Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=the-lord-is-providing-for-me http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=the-lord-is-providing-for-me Saturdays are family ministry days (meaning our whole team goes to one ministry site together.) This Saturday my team and I went out to a carepoint in the rural area called Tuwani. They're building a new carepoint because of some conflicts at the one that now exsists. Anyhow they recieved permission and a piece of land from the chief of that area to start building, but the land is covered with small and big thorny bushes that must be cleared before any building can take place. So there we were Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=happy-valentines-day http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=happy-valentines-day We had a great Valentine's Day on Thursday. The boys on our team are so sweet to all of us girls. The ratio for boys to girls in the house is 3:14... haha! Anyhow, we were woken up at 7 in the morning by the guys coming in each of our rooms singing, "You are my sunshine.." and brought us breakfast in bed. Then we discovered that during the night they had decorated the whole house with pink, red, and purple hearts! Downstairs they decorated the tables where we eat with candles, hearts, and each Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=god-thinks-youre-beautiful http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=god-thinks-youre-beautiful             This week I officially began my first class at the Timbutini care point. Things are sort of on hold, at the moment, at the Bhobogazi care point because I don't have a translator to go with me right now. I haven't started the medical stuff because I have not yet received any of the supplies. I'm looking forward to getting all of that into progress soon.             As most o Mon, 4 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=the-things-that-will-happen-when-we-listen-to-him http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=the-things-that-will-happen-when-we-listen-to-him Mondays are our usual off days. Today I've managed to hitch a ride with our leader, Kate, which is success because usually we would be walking on this very warm Swazi day.   We are still in the process of really trying to get our internships, schedules, transportation, etc. all sorted out so we will know exactly where everyone is all the time. I'm looking forward to getting a set schedule and getting in the routine of things so this will become very regular and just part of our daily liv Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=he-has-not-forgotten-the-people-of-swaziland http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=he-has-not-forgotten-the-people-of-swaziland        We arrived in Swaziland last Saturday on the 19th. We moved into the AIM team house and I'm in a room with only three other girls, Ashley, Aubrey, and Lindsey. We've already decorated our room a little with pretty curtains and a rug, just to make things a bit more homey. I'm really looking forward to being stationary this semester and making a home for ourselves in one place. We live in a city called Manzini, our house is actually in a part of the town that i Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=back-in-africa http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=back-in-africa Hello to all family, friends, and random viewers who may stumble across this page!!!          I would like to present to you the good news, that I have arrived safely to Africa! Today is Friday and we are still in South Africa. We were suppposed to leave today but all of our vehicles are in the shop being fixed. Anyhow, we are leaving for Swaziland tomorrow morning! I'm very excited about our move and Kate, our leader tells us of all the wonderful thing Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=almost-home http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=almost-home Sunday we had beach olympics! We were split into three teams, Swazi, Kenya, and leaders. It was so fun! We had a sand moving race, sand castle building, oiled watermelon wrestling game, a triatholon...just really sill fun games! Then yesterday we went to a game park where we saw lots of elephants, buffalo, hartebeests...it was awesome! Today is Tuesday and tomorrow morning at FOUR in the morning we're leaving to go back to Alabanza. Where we'll spend Wednesday night and all day Thursday and cat Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=happy-thanksgiving http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=happy-thanksgiving Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=thanksgiving-is-soon http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=thanksgiving-is-soon Things have been going really well here in Swaziland. We leave Wed. morning to head back to Alabanza for Thanksgiving. Not too much is new to talk about. I've been working at care points all week and I went to the squatter camp one day. We've really just been visiting all our ministry sites to get a feel for what kind of opportunities we have to intern at next semester in January. I love the place we're staying atthe homestead in Timbutinia really rural area but next semester we won't be staying Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=short-update-from-bailey http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=short-update-from-bailey Hi everyone! Bailey sent Tommy and I an e-mail and asked us to share a portion of it with you all.  She has moved to Swaziland and has had minimal time to get to a computer to blog.  She continues to do well and would love to hear from all of you!  As you can imagine we are very proud of her.  We cannot thank each and everyone of you enough for your prayers, love, emotional and financial support.  It has been a spiritual journey for us as we watch and learn from ou Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=getting-ready-to-move http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=getting-ready-to-move This past Sunday I went to Atteridgeville (a township about five minutes away) for churchand it was so good! I think the most encouraging thing I get out of the Christians here is to just see their faith in God when they have practically nothing. I mean, they totally get what it means to have faith in the Lord that He will provide for them. As Americans, I believe, one of our biggest problems with fully surrendering everything to Him is that we usually have everything already there, tangibly in Fri, 2 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=im-still-doing-really-well http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=im-still-doing-really-well Today we are in at town called Ifafi that is about a twenty minute drive from Alabanza and I am using cheap internet- Finally! This week has been going really well, we've been doing the same kind of ministry as beforebut I did go to a new orphanageit was great! Those kids were awesome, most of them had been found on the streets one little girl had been found starving to death and beginning to eat her hands to stay aliveshe is now three years old and is extremely malnourished and has some kind of Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=back-at-alabanza http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=back-at-alabanza I am back in South Africa, back at Alabanza! Things have been going so great, God has really been doing some amazing things, He has taught me and everyone on my team such much already. I feel so blessed to be here, for my parents letting me take this oppurtunity! I am falling in love with Africa and the people here, but I miss everyone from home! We got back to South Africa on Monday and have been back to doing ministry... I've been to a place called Mamelodi, which is a township about an 1 1/2 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=hello-from-swaziland http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=hello-from-swaziland Hello!     I am in Swaziland at the moment - we have been here since last Wednesday and today is our day off (every Friday we have a free day!) We have been doing loads of stuff here our usual schedule looks like this: -Breakfast at 8 am -Quiet time from 8:30 - 9:30 -Sessions from 10:00 - 12:00 pm (We learn a new topic every week, this week is learning who I am in Christ, last week was surrender) -Lunch at 12:00 - 1:00pm -Ministry 1:00 - 5:00pm -Free time from 5:00 - 7:00p Fri, 5 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=we-made-it http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=we-made-it Hello everyone!    So I made it to South Africa okay and I am loving it! Everyone on my team is really nice. I'm learning so much about the culture here and myself. We've been here a week today, and this is our off day we are at a mall in Pertoria. Tomorrow we leave for Swaziland! I am so excited. Alabanza, the place we are staying is great and we are spoiled missionaries! I love you all so much and I'm sorry I couldn't write much this time but will write more as soon as I can! Thank Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=raising-support http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=raising-support Two weekends ago I had three yard sales in a row! This was done by my parent's will... I wanted to only have one maybe two but in the long run it really paid off so I'm actually glad they forced me to get it over with. ...However, waking up at 6 am three days in a row on the weekend is tiring! In the same weekend my good friend Amanda Smith, who is locally famous for putting on shows at our church to raise money for missions took her very precious time to put on a show for my mission Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=why http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=why ..These are only a few common I've been asked at least five times a week for the past 6 months. (I'm sure if you are part of FYM Africa, you know what I'm talking about.) I will try to answer these questions fully, truthfully, and the best to my ability for those who are really wondering... Why Africa, you ask?      First of all, I don't think I was the one choosing where I would go, haha...this was all God's crazy idea. There is a lot of diffe Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=suppot-status http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=suppot-status So far in my account I have $6,720 I have f ive monthly pledges. I need to raise aproximately about $3,000+ more to pay for airfare expenses. I am so excited for this mission. This is crunch time and when I return home from college, I know I will have to hold maybe a couple yard sales and do anything else required to raise the money needed. But ultimately, I am trusting in God to provide. I am thankful that has already provided in so many ways. Ways tha Mon, 2 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=starting-college http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=starting-college Today I had my first day at the University of North Florida, The History and Appreciation of Rock and Roll. How could you ask for a better class than one that teaches you about great rock and roll artists? Honestly... it may be one of the best classes I've ever taken, I am intereseted to learn more about classic rock. I'm living with my sister about a half hour away from the campus, and it's a bit more challenging to make friends when you're not living on campus. I hope that in thes Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=sierra-leone-africa http://baileyswager.myadventures.org/?filename=sierra-leone-africa So... if you ever took the time to read my biography there is a small part that mentions my best friend going to Sierra Leone. Well, she went for about two weeks and is back now! If you don't know a lot about Sierra Leone... it's a country in West Africa that was mostly destroyed in the civil war that just recently ended. Molly is my best friend's name is Molly and she had a "good experience," on her trip. She learned sooooo much about a new culture and is really struggling Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT