There are many questions that come up when I tell people that I will be living in Africa for a semester. So here are some answers for many of those common questions.
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| Beautiful Swaziland landscape |
Where Are You Going?
South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique. We will live in
each country for one month.
When do you leave and return?
I leave for training camp Monday August 26th and return Tuesday November 26th (two days before Thanksgiving).
What is training camp?
The first few days of the trip will be spent in Atlanta, GA. This
is a time for my team to get to know each other and to get ready spiritually,
emotionally, and physically for our trip. A lot of growth happens in these few days and we really get prepared to be fully immersed into the African way of life.
What is Adventures In Missions (AIM)?
Adventures in Missions is an interdenominational missions
organization that focuses on discipleship. They emphasize prayer and
relationships in their work amongst the poor.
Since AIM was established in 1989, they have taken over 100,000 people into the
mission field, some for as short as a week and others for as long as a year or
longer. In several places around the world they minister year-round to
"the least of these". AIM
believes that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to
the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed.
AIM seeks to disciple as Jesus did; their vision is that God
would use them to raise up a generation of radically committed disciples of
Jesus Christ.
Are you going to school while you are there?
No, I am not but when I return I will start classes again at
Illinois Valley Community College to continue my education.
How much and what do you have to pack?
We are allowed a 50 lb backing-packing pack and then a carry on which will
serve as my day backpack. In those packs I have to fit A LOT of stuff like: A
week’s worth of clothing (7 shirts, 4 long skirts, 1 pair of jeans, 1
sweatshirt, and a raincoat), 3 pairs of shoes, sleeping bag, travel pillow,
headlamp, bible, journal, camera, quick-dry towel, tent, sleeping pad,
toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, adapter, malaria meds…you get the picture, I think.
Basically, a lot of stuff in a very small space haha.
*If you would like to donate any items towards my trip please contact me and I will give you a list.
Can you receive packages or letters?
Sadly no, because it takes months for mail to get to Africa
(if it even does get there).
Will you have internet?
Yes, but it will be limited and it may be very slow. My team
will have a blog while we are there and you can read many updates on there. I
will also be able to email my family back home.
It is estimated that I will probably get internet about once a week but
that isn't a guarantee.
What will you eat?
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| Pap and Beans |
This will vary on where we are. We may have the opportunity
to prepare our own meals or we may live with a host who will cook for us. More
than likely we will be eating a lot of pap (pronounced like pop) and beans. Pap
is made from maize corn meal and water. It looks a lot like mashed potatoes but doesn't taste nearly as good. And hopefully we will be eating a lot of fresh
fruits and veggies but we won’t know until we get there.
Where will you sleep?
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| Huts in Swaziland |
This will vary as well. We will not know until we get there
but we will be sleeping in our tents for part of the trip. The other part
we may live in a hut with a host family, live in a hut on our own, stay in a
church, or something else. The possibilities for this are endless and I am
excited for the adventure!
Who are you going with?
I will be going with a team of about 15 college aged kids
plus a few leaders. My teammates are from all over the place and the first time
we meet will be at training camp.
Will you have free time?
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Yes, we will be living there like regular people and just
like everyone else there will be time for us to do things other than ministry.
We will have time to go grocery shopping, do laundry, go on a walk, and return
emails. There will also be a few times when we can do “fun” things. This may
include a safari, going to the beach, bungee jumping, and much more.
What will you do?
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| Passing out clothing to hundreds of people |
While we are there our ministry will change depending on our
location. AIM believes that ministry is a way of life, not just a daily
assignment to complete. AIM sets up ministry options before we arrive, but a
lot of our ministry is determined by asking the Lord what He is calling us to
do specifically. Our team may see a need that AIM doesn't even know exists and
AIM wants us to have the freedom to do something about that need! But more specifically we may be teaching
English, working at care-points (a place for locals to get free food), working
with orphans, doing hospital/hospice visits, planting churches, hosting clothing distributions, door to door
evangelizing, and so much more. One of my favorite things about AIM is that
they focus a lot on relationships. Ministry isn't limited to only feeding
starving children but it could just be forming a relationship our translator or a
vendor at the market. Poor and starving kids are not the only ones that need
Jesus, EVERYONE NEEDS JESUS!
Why go overseas?
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| Feeding a baby in Swaziland |
This is a very common question I get because many people get
very defensive about America. I 100%
agree that people here in the U.S. need help but I do believe that different
people are called to serve in different places. The places I am going have
hardly any resources for people to get help from. There aren't homeless
shelters, food stamps, or foster care. Many of these people have not received a
quality education. Their government tells them that if you have sex with a
young virgin you will get rid of AIDS (how ridiculous because that just makes
the problem worse!) I think with the
amazing education I have been blessed with I can share that knowledge with
others and then they can share it with future generation
I love my home town, state, and country but right now God is
calling me to make my home somewhere else.
He’s calling me to love these people, reach out, and show them Jesus.
What are you most excited about?
Honestly??? Everything! I know that is pretty broad but it's true.
I'm excited for my relationship with God to grow.
What are you most excited about?
Honestly??? Everything! I know that is pretty broad but it's true.
I'm excited for my relationship with God to grow.
I'm excited to gain a new family.
I'm excited to play with children hours on end.
I'm excited to to learn about the different cultures.
I am excited to live uncomfortably.
I'm excited to build relationships with the people I meet.
I'm excited to pray with AIDS patients.
I'm excited to pray over a poor family.
I'm excited to live in a tent.
I'm excited to eat different food.
I'm excited for fat cakes (seriously best dessert ever!)
I'm excited to NOT shower.
I'm excited to smell.
I'm excited to be sick.
I'm excited to see tragedy.
I'm excited to see brokenness.
I'm excited to be broken.
I'm excited to be stretched.
I'm excited to be blessed and bless others.
...
I'm excited to play with children hours on end.
I'm excited to to learn about the different cultures.
I am excited to live uncomfortably.
I'm excited to build relationships with the people I meet.
I'm excited to pray with AIDS patients.
I'm excited to pray over a poor family.
I'm excited to live in a tent.
I'm excited to eat different food.
I'm excited for fat cakes (seriously best dessert ever!)
I'm excited to NOT shower.
I'm excited to smell.
I'm excited to be sick.
I'm excited to see tragedy.
I'm excited to see brokenness.
I'm excited to be broken.
I'm excited to be stretched.
I'm excited to be blessed and bless others.
...
The list is endless
I can't choose one thing because without one of those things another couldn't happen. And without any of those things this experience wouldn't be worth it. So, I am incredibly excited for even those awful times. Even when I am barfing on the side of the road and on a bus from eating a pear washed in African water (this happened to me last year haha.) And even in those awful disgusting moments there is always something God is teaching me.
Please keep praying for my team and each individual we encounter!
If you have any other questions about my trip please feel free to facebook or e-mail me.
And again, there are many items that I still need to purchase and I would love any donations that you would like to give. I will also accept borrowed or used items.
Thank you to everyone who has all ready donated items towards my trip! It means the world to me and this trip would not be possible if it weren't for people like you!
katherineleipold@yahoo.com
