AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

Mybeckoweni, age 5, is proud of her nightgown skirt.

Can you imagine not having any food for the whole weekend? Or living in a one-room hut? Or wearing your younger sister’s nightgown as a skirt?

To some of the children in Swaziland, Africa, this isn’t a picture in their minds, it is reality. I had the privilege of experiencing their country, their lives…and their incredible smiles.

Mission Trip to Swaziland

I went on a mission trip with 30 people from my church to Swaziland, Africa. Our church sends people to Swaziland every year.

You can find such opportunities by searching the internet for mission trips or by finding out what mission trips your local churches are doing.

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Get ready

Going to a foreign country takes lots of preparation. You have to have a passport, pack, get shots, and raise the funds for the journey ahead.

Packing Essentials

Packing was really no big deal. We packed lightly because half of our suitcases were filled with donations and the supplies needed in Swaziland, simple things like:

• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Shoes
• Blankets
• Clothes

I had to bring lots of skirts to honor their culture because most women in Swaziland wear skirts.

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I had to get three (dreaded) shots at a travel clinic. Of course everybody hates shots and we all know how fun they are…not.

We had one big family garage sale to raise part of the money to go to Swaziland. Friends also donated other stuff we could sell. We raised about $1,000. It was a lot of fun because we also baked cookies to sell. Some people just gave us money at the sale without even buying anything.

Get going

My new friend and IMy New Friend

This little four-year-old boy loved to run around and then latch on to you.

CloseOn my mission trip, I was traveling in a big group of 40 people. The women had to have the buddy system to stay safe. Buddy System

The women always had to travel in pairs. In the Johannesburg airport, women had to have a male escort wherever they went—even to the bathroom.

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Our flight was about 16 hours long from Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa. It was very long but we got used to the routine quickly.

Surviving the Long Flight

I mostly watched movies displayed on monitors on the back of the seats to pass the time.

The food was OK but not the best. The food was better going to Swaziland than coming from Swaziland.

I tried to sleep some but it was almost impossible to get comfortable.

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We landed in Johannesburg, South Africa and then drove to Swaziland by bus. It was a six hour bus ride. The bus was a little dirty and bumpy but overall it wasn’t a bad ride. It was pretty claustrophobic and it took a long time to cross the border from South Africa to Swaziland. Swaziland is a monarchy with a king leading it.

We worked with the very poor...

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