jessiejacoby - Our Final Country, Eswatini!

WE MADE IT TO MONTH 11!!! I am so excited to share that I am OFFICIALLY in my LAST MONTH AND FINAL COUNTRY OF THE RACE! :) We arrived in Eswatini a few weeks ago and will be here for just a little bit longer!

For our final month here, the entire squad is together. I’m thankful that we get to finish strong as a whole unit this month and be with everyone!

Heading to Eswatini!

This month we are working at different carepoints around the city of Manzini. At these carepoints there have daily feeding programs, schools, and lots of children ministry opportunities. There are 39 carepoints, and our squad is split up working with a variety of them.

In the bus heading to ministry!

We have all been split into about 7 different teams. One team is spending the month dedicated to helping write and create lesson plans for the future of this ministry. 5 teams are dedicated to helping with the feeding programs and kids ministry - playing games, doing skits, sharing Bible stories, etc. And my team is the agriculture team!

Agriculture Team!

We are spending the month going to different carepoints everyday and helping with whatever needs the property has. We have spent time weeding, cutting trees down, digging trenches, regular yard work, etc. We even got to go last week to the property of where Carepoint #40 will be, and began working on preparing the field for a garden and the rest of the land for buildings.

First day of breaking ground for Carepoint #40

Being on the agriculture team has been special because it’s something different, with friends I have never before done ministry with, and we still get to end each day playing with the kids and getting to pour into them and have fun.

Spending time with the kids at the carepoints

Recently we took a trip to a cultural Siswati village. We got to go inside of Siswati huts made solely from sticks and grass, watch traditional dances, and see a beautiful waterfall. It was a beautiful day!

Mantenga Falls, Monkeys, and the Siswati huts

Being so disconnected to the outside world this month has been interesting. I’m so excited to come home, but having no easy access to wifi, service, or amenities has just put me in a position of being present and soaking up the last bit of what this year has been. It’s crazy to me, I haven’t been home since last August. It’s like time flew by yet also feels like it has been 5 years. I’m not who I was a year ago, so reflecting this past month has been so impactful, and has helped me see all the good God has done this year, all the prayers He has answered, and all the growth I’ve had.

Morning sunrise out my window:)

Anyways, that’s my little update from Eswatini! I can’t wait to see you all in a few weeks (or atleast my NH people) and be back in my little granite state again! Please pray that my squad and I will use the last bit of time left on the field just fully pressing in, without distractions. God is really moving in this ministry - and He is also moving in our hearts. So also prayers for us as we re-enter America. There is a looooot to process, and it is overwhelming beginning that process.

Thanks for reading!! :)