Let's start at the very beginning...

....a very good place to start. This is the first blog entry from two girls, Alli and Jennifer, who are sometimes silly, usually easygoing, sometimes serious, and who passionately love God and people. We have never done a joint blog before, so bear with us as we learn. This first post is to explain why this blog even exists and what God is doing in our lives.

Almost two years ago, we met a sweet lady named Amy McAdams. She was a wife, mom of three girls, and a good friend to one of our mutual friends. She just so happened to be planning a move with her family to Swaziland, Africa, to serve as a missionary. A friendship was born over stories of the Swazi people, pink lemonade and tacos, and many conversations and online chats since her move in September of 2010. After many talks about how people here in the US need to know of the great need of the Swazi people for Christ, and much prayer, we knew we should go on a short-term trip to minister to these people. First we checked into going with a local team from our area to serve the Swazi people, alongside the McAdams and fellow missionaries, the Clyburns. However, the trip length itself was too great for either of us to commit due to our husband's work schedules and our need for childcare (for our total of seven kids) while we are gone.

God completely worked out another option and we have been approved and encouraged to come - just the two of us. We will be gone for a week, which will seem way too short a time, we know. But right now, that is all we are able to do, and we know that even this brief trip will be something God can use. We have great hopes that He is already working to prepare us, and the people we will encounter, so that we can share His wonderful love with the people in Swaziland, as well as encourage and love on our friends.

The purpose of this blog is to share our journey - from the planning stages of a short-term missions trip, all the way through the days we spend in Africa, and then our return home - and will hopefully be an avenue to glorify the Lord for His amazing provision and guidance.

Feel free to subscribe to stay updated on these weeks ahead. Thank you for reading!

Loving God and His people,
Alli and Jennifer