I love it here! We haven’t gone out in the community yet, so it doesn’t really feel like I’ve left the US yet, but it’s so good to see all my teammates! I missed them a lot. We got here on Wednesay night and they let us sleep in on Thursday. It was a miracle. I was so tired from getting only one hour of sleep the night before. On Thursday morning they announced that we were going to ‘detox’ before starting anything else here. So we spent 3 days in soliude. Obviously it wasn’t legit solitude because there are a lot of us and not a lot of space, but we just couldn’t talk or communicate in any way with eachother. Just us and God. We were supposed to do four things- read our Bibles, pray, journal, and read this book called “Exiles” that they gave us. It time very well spent. I haven’t gotten a lot of alone time lately because I’ve been trying to spend time with as many people as I could before I left, so it was all the more peacful. I got the chance to leave home at home and move on in preparation of what lies before me.
I’m sure you’re all very curious about the living conditions. Don’t worry Momma, it’s really a lot nicer than I was expecting. We have basically this huge room filled with bunk beds. We each get a top and bottom so we put out stuff on the bottom bunk and sleep on the top. It’s not air conidtioned so it does get a little warm. A sleeping bag is definitely not necessary here. The bathrooms are indoors! We have real toilets! And warm water! Such a blessing. All our food is cooked for us by Gilbert, a local Mexican who lives above the kitchen. He’s incredible. We have cereal fro breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and Mexican food by Gilbert for dinner. I’ve already eaten something weird. Pig skin. But it was during solitude and I couldn’t ask what it was so I just ate it. Weird texture. But I survived! (Click on ‘Browse Photos’ to see pictures of all of this!)
It’s rained almost every day since we’ve been here and as a result, the field across the street was nice and muddy last night. So we played in it. Of course. Did I mention that there was cow poop mixed in with the mud? Because there was. It was thoroughly disgusting, but even more fun. Was is sanitary? Absolutely not. Our bathroom, which wasn’t exactly spotless to begin with, is now even dirtier.
The animals here amuse me so much. Not only is there a free roaming cow across the street, but all the surrounding houses have chickens. I hear roosters all the time. And none of the animals are fenced in. They just kind of wander where they please. Once I saw a goat hanging out with these chickens. It was presh. They were obviously friends. I don’t know what it is that makes them so funny, maybe it’s just that the animals here have a different culture than American animals.
I’m so so happy here. God is everywhere and it’s so awesome to know that I’m here where He wants me. My teammates too! I LOVE them! Too much I think. I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to like people this much after only knowing them for 10 days. I love my Swazi team especially. Go read their blogs- Molly McRae, Jessica Leonardi, Katie Graves, Jonathan Melo, and Bryan Marsh. Just click on ‘Team Blog Page’ under ‘Links’ on the left hand side of the page and you’ll see a list of all the people on my team.
I miss you all a lot, BUT incredible things are already happening and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
OH! And my mailing address is:
Lila Dillon
C/O: Tag Thompson
Adventures in Missions
6000 Wellspring Trail
Gainesville, GA 30506
