Hey team!
I got a chance to chat with our host in Swaziland today and she got me a lot more information that you will need to know so please read carefully and let us know if you have any further questions:
Lodging:
We will be staying on a homestead about 15 minutes outside downtown Manzini. It will have a few different houses with rooms that have bunkbeds and bathrooms. There will also be a kitchen for us to cook meals in.
Something very important to note about our homestead is that for the women, we will be needing to wear skirts even while we are at the place we are staying. When in the rooms, we are allowed to wear shorts or pants but they have requested that we wear skirts for ministry as well as walking around the homestead. The skirts must be LONGER than past the knee so at least down to your mid calf or ankles. It was also noted that you will need to wear shorts or leggings under your skirts at all times. For the men, you will be able to wear pants or athletic shorts (longer and to the knee) around the homestead. And don't forget, it will be pretty cold especially at night so really, the need to pack shorts is less than you would think. For both men and women, I would ere on bringing more pants and skirts.
Ministry:
We will be doing much of our ministry at care points. Care points are places set up all around the country by the government. We will be helping out with meals, playing with kids and helping with some preschools as well. There is a care point five minutes away from our homestead we will spend a lot of time at. There is also one in Manzini that we will work with as well. Twice a week we will be doing home visits and hospital visits during the afternoon. We will also be in charge of leading a VBS on Sunday mornings at a local church. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog about coordinating VBS supplies. I am in the process of connecting with our host about the actual things they need there right now.
Packing:
A couple things about packing…you should only plan to have one bag to check of your own personal items. We may need a couple people to check one more bag with VBS supplies. Also, there are two people who volunteered to bring a guitar and that will count as your second checked item. We will probably not need any more guitars.
We will need to have a pair of closed toe shoes for ministry at the care points. You may bring a pair of flip flops for bumming around the homestead but make sure you have a pair of sturdy closed toe shoes as well. Remember, we aren't going for fashion here. I know I'll be rocking the skirt and tennis shoes almost every day. 🙂 You really don't need to bring lots of shoes or clothes…we'll just be the team that wears the same outfits all month! It's the best!
Bring a sheet for your bed. They are not provided.
I hope you are getting excited! I am so looking forward to our time together and know it will be an amazing trip. We are praying for you as you prepare and will see you shortly!
