Hey y'all!  I just got back to South Africa on the 15th of January.  The weather here is about 85 degrees and rainy.  Talk about a temperature change huh?  Things have been really interesting since I've been back, but also a little slow.  I have pretty much been catching up with my ministry team.  They all had pretty amazing breaks.  Another little task I have going on is that I had to memorize about 100 swazi vocab words so I can interact more with the natives.  Here's a taste for you Ngi Cera Kudla, which means "I want to eat" (this is the polite usage of course).  We learned quite a little bit, but I do love the language and it will be nice to be able to say more than simple greetings to people (like the word YEBO).  First off, we split up into 2 different teams in late October, but the recent situation in Kibera, Kenya has forced my organization to send the other team to Swaziland as well.  They will be staying about a 35 minute drive from where we are.  Exciting eh?  So all these people we thought we might not get to see again or for awhile at least will be hanging with us some each week. 
 
This morning we were told a few more details about our next 4 months in Swaziland.  There will be a lot more independence, responsibility, ministry time, and team bonding this semester.   Some things about are trip are that we had about 8 leaders between 35 of us in the first 3 months, but now have 1 leader for each team.  Please be praying for my leader Katie, and the other team's leader Cassie.  We are responsible for getting 20 hours of ministry time each week at a chosen internship, have to cook all our meals, if you're 23 or older you can drive ;) , and we can do other ministry on the side.  Basically, everything is on us right now, and my team can't wait to get waist deep in all this stuff.  We will have Mondays as our off day.  Last semester it was Friday, so that is one change.  Expect my email updated on Mondays now.  Hmmm.... we will get a lot more interaction in the community this semester.  That is always a plus in my book.  It will be a really busy semester and it is about to really get started.  Here are some things I could use some prayer about:
 
Well I haven't exactly picked an internship yet, but I'll find out more about that later.  I have a few options I'd like to share with you to let y'all know the internships I've been thinking about.  The main one I'm thinking about is an internship where I would work with a local pastor on different farm projects.  I know right!  Working in sugar cane farms in Swaziland!  Well we'd be doing all different work with Hogs, some other livestock, building crop equipment - irrigation possibly, and working with a few different types of crops.  This will be an amazing opportunity if it is what the Lord is calling me to do.  I will be praying about it of course.  Another ministry option (only about 6 hours a week) is volunteering in the Manzini hospital.  Y'all have heard some about that in my past emails.  I'll get to do some preaching in the hospital words, do bedside visits, build close friendships with people and staff there, and share the gospel.  Through all that I know that Jesus will be right there with me.  The last option is an after school program where I would get to go play basketball and do other activities with gradeschool kids here.  Even though I'm not that good at bball, I'm sure I'll hoop these kids....joking of course ;)  So yea, I invite you to pray with me so that these options will become realities.
 
The last thing I got time for today is to tell you about some things I'm excited about.  I've already had 2 fresh mangos since I've been here, but at my house in Swaziland we have 8 mango trees.  Holy Toledos!  I can't wait.  I miss the Swaziland children extremely.  Please if you remember would you keep the nation of Swaziland in your prayers.  I'm excited to be starting a new semester here.  It is a clean slate, and to be honest with y'all this is a FULL-time job.  You know I'll be doing my best to share the Love of Christ over here, but with Him in my corner there's no stopping the power of the Gospel of Truth.  Pray about the seeds that will be planted here in the dying nation of Swaziland.  Well I have to go, but know that I love you all.  Please send me prayer requests.  We are leaving for Swaziland tomorrow morning!
 
Your Brother in Christ,
 
Marcus