I am here!

I am here! Swaziland is incredible. The journey here was rough, but God showed His providence constantly. Telling my family goodbye was much more difficult than I had anticipated it would be. I have left for long periods of time several times before, but this time was the hardest leaving has ever been. I think the fact that I was going alone made it so difficult. When I got on the plane, I felt incredibly, incredibly alone. I sat there with tears streaming down my face while reading letters my parents had written me for me to read when I got on the plane. I began talking to the girl seatedby me and she said her final destination was Joburg, and I told her mine was too. She said her parents are missionaries in Joburg with the IMB (International Mission Board) and that she grew up all over Southern Africa. I told her my name is Faith and she said "Well, that's perfect. My name is Joy." The flight was about 8 hours long, and I did not sleep at all.
Joy and I stayed together during our layover in Amsterdam. We got breakfast and browsed the airport shops. By the way,the Dollar to Euro exchange rate is ridiculous right now. It cost $11.80 for two small fruit juices! Our layover was a little over 3 hours long.
The flight to Joburg was very long, and I think I slept about two hours out of the 10 on the plane. When I got to Joburg, I was severely tired and after I got my baggage, I realized I could not enter back into the secure parts of the airport until I could check in for my flight to Swazi. It was 9:30, and my flight was not until 6:60AM. I couldn't check in until 2 hours before my flight. I was terrified. Tears were streaming down my face from a combination of exhaustion and fear. Joy introduced me to her parents who were there to pick me up. They were very concerned for my safety (Joburg has the worst crime rate of any city in the world). Her dad walked me across the street to the Intercontinental Hotel, a luxury hotel. He gave me some rand to buy something warm and caffeinated to keep me awake. He was so kind, and I do not know what I would have done had it not been for him.
That began my night in the hotel lobby. It was a little after 10PM when I got to the hotel lobby. I purchased some tea and texted my dad. He called me, and I told him what was happening. He told me to get a room there and get some sleep, but I then found out the cheapest room available was $450. At midnight, a guy came and told me I had to leave. I explained the situation to him, and he took me to his manager. They really weren't supposed to let me stay, but she said it would be alright. I think she saw how alone and terrified I was. I stayed there until 4:15Am. I journaled, read my Bible, studied Cherish, and talked with the people who worked there. There was a maid cleaning around me, and I asked her if she needed me to move or if there was something with which I could help her. She laughed and said no. She began coming by and talking to me every chance she got. Her name is Christinah, and she had a home name as well. About 3:30AM, she told me she wanted to make something for me. She came back a while later with this wonderful hot chocolate-like beverage. It was beautiful and tasty, and it warmed me inside in more ways than one. She gave me her phone number and wants to come to Passion Joburg with me on August. She was a Godsend and a blessing. It was my second night without sleep. I left the hotel at 4:15.
The plane to Swazi was very small. There was an AIM family on the flight with me, and it was encouraging to meet them. When we got into Swazi, the scenery completely changed. All of a sudden, there were beautiful mountains everywhere and lush, green plants. It was incredible.
We went to the house that will be my home for the next three months. It turns out I am living in Manzini, not Ezulwini, because Becca recenty moved to the AIM team house apartment. I have a small room in the back of the apartment. It's perfect. Next, we picked up two of the girls on our team, Hlonphile and Phumlile. I gave them the purses, lotions, lip glosses and bath gels I got them. They started screaming because they were so happy. Becca and I couldn't stop laughing.
We went to the AIM office, and I got to meet a lot of my AIM family for the summer. They were so encouraging, and I am so excited to spend the summer working with them.
We ran some errands to SPAR (the grocery store) and some local shops. Oh, I got my first Swazi proposal my first day there. As we were walking into a store, a man stopped me and said "I need to talk to you. May I talk to you?" I told him I had to go with my friends. As I walked away he called after me "I want to talk to you!If you are willing, I would like to marry you, and if you are not willing, I would still like to marry you."
We picked up Zabiba, our other team member, and then headed back to the AIM house. We talked as a team and then they prayed over me, which was amazing. I hadn't really slept since Saturday night and it was Tuesday afternoon. Also, I have a cold. To say I was exhausted is a complete understatement. I went to bed at 2PM and slept and slept 16 hours!I felt so lazy. I woke up and was alone and locked in the house, which was amazing, because I had time to unpack my suitcase and my thoughts. My room is decorated and my suitcase organized.
I am now sitting in the Royal Swazi hotel with Becca, Kate and Marissa. We had a problem with my bank account. Bank of America did not think I was actually in Swaziland wanting money out of my account and my parents could not unlock it, since they are not on my account. This turned out to be a blessing, since it kept me from buying a cell phone. Kate, who will be leaving Swazi to move back to the US in a few days, just told me she is going to give me her cell phone. What a blessing!

I am having an amazing time in Swazi so far!