Wild Adventures and awesome parties

Today we went to a nature reserve and saw many animals. During the time there we got to pet baby loins. That was really cool. Now I'm at a party and I'm having a blast. Can't wait to show you my pics. Dillon and Drew I love you and I can't wait to give you your presents. Love you guys.

Lions, Tigers, and Bears...um Cheetahs.

Greetings from South Africa! The families are so hospitable and friendly. Today, we all went to the rhino and lion park. It was so cool to pet the lions, and see the tigers. They have baby lions, and fully grown lions. With the bigger lions, you can wrestle them and play with them. We didn't get to see any rhinos, but it was still a great experience. The plane rides were long and sometimes without sleep, but we made it and we're having a great time with the disciples in Johannesburg! -Rachel Thomas

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Rhino and Lion Park!

Today we visited the Rhino and Lion Park!  It was an amazing experience to pet a lion and see these HUGE tigers.  The park is absolutely beautiful, and perfectly demonstrates God's creation.  There are big hills everywhere with valleys in between surrounding us.  

Those of us eighteen years and older had the opportunity to visit and play with some of the larger lion and tiger cubs. It was incredible to experience. The nature and wildlife around us is amazing. We're leaving with minor (and happily received) scratches and wonderful memories.
Love,
Ashlyn Jones & Skylar Johnson
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Hakuna Matata

Well we are here is Johannesburg South Africa and it has been amazing. The church here has been extremely hospitable and encouraging. We are on the way to a lion and rhino park. After 16 hours of sleep, we are so ready to go. We were told that we get to pet lions and tigers, whattttt? The weather is perfect and this place continues to amaze us. We also hope to see Rafiki. That would be Swag. The hosts families have been amazing. I love how disciples become best friends immediately. This place is so amazing. Get to hold Simba.
BTW we miss our loved ones very much. Especially Judy,Dwaine, Michelle, and Dede.

Reggie, Jwoo, Simo

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South African Paradise

Wow! As soon as we walked outside the airport it was SO nice. The weather is absolutely amazing. Our host families are beyond hospitable and their houses are beautiful. Right now we are on our way to the Lion and Rhino park. We get to hold the cubs!!!!! So far the food has been amazing and we've never been more grateful for showers and beds. We really are in paradise... TIA(this is Africa). Oh and a handful of peanuts!
Jessica Hagins and Samantha Rorabaugh

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Here at Last!

We are finally in South Africa! After a ten hour flight from Frankfurt, we arrived in Johannesburg. After getting our passports checked and picking up bags, we boarded a bus to go to the church building.

I was amazed by the beauty of this country. The flora and fauna is quite different, and absolutely gorgeous. There are rolling green hills throughout the area that look like they popped out of a magazine. There were also all different kinds of houses and neighborhoods; some mansions, many shacks, and almost all gated and walled.

When we got to the building, we all went to our families. They have been wonderful and gracious hosts! We are having a great time.

Sarah D. Campagna

Homes Away From Home

Well…we had a good flight down; though I can't say any of us want to see another plane for at least a week! 12 hours! Wow. sorry for the delay in any blog activity. Once we deplaned we exchanged money, got on a bus and went to the Johannesburg Church of Christ building--beautiful!--so limited time to blog...AND I found out my international phone package was not working. Aaaagh! As we pulled into the drive all the host families were waiting for us and greeted us so warmly and with much affection and gratitude. It was such a treat as the lack of sleep was catching up to us; their encouragement was uplifting. We met in their chapel which has glass doors that can be slid back to allow the breeze to come through…oh, the weather: mid-70's, low humidity…in a word awesome! After some brief introductions and encouragements (your children have been amazing with their attitudes and fun--they are tired but completely happy an I took the time to publicly thank them; well deserved.) We each met our host family and then took off to their homes, where we are being hosted in high fashion. In fact, I am typing this after spending a couple hours at a dinner party with several host families. Their kids are getting to meet our kids and having a blast. Oh, back to my phone: as soon as I got to my hosts house, I jumped on his phone to get it fixed. Needless to say after 45 minute on a long distance call back to the States (yikes on that bill!), we got it working SOOOO the blogging can continue. Right now most of the kids are working towards going to sleep (at least I hope they are as I threatened them to go to sleep as we have a big day tomorrow.)

The brother who is hosting Jennifer, Samantha, Rachel Thomas, and me was telling us about his life during the car ride to his house; turns out he knows many of the same people as Jennifer and I do! In fact, he is very close friends with two of my previous roommates as he was converted in Atlanta in the 80's. Amazing how the bonds of the Kingdom extend many miles and many days--uh hmmm years. We got to talking about how cool it will be in 20-25 years when our kids are talking about how they knew some the same people because of their time together at camp this next week--that is one the great benefits of having camps, hey!?

Well, I am about to fall out and don't want to be rude to my hosts any more than I have, so I am going to say good bye for now. Really wanted to get a post to you so you can be informed and inspired. Tomorrow, we are heading to the Lion & Rhino park, then a local market to get some homemade souvenirs; you can expect more blogging from the kids from now on. Much love, Jeff BTW, pray for H@TS and all the great things that will be happening there.

Delirium, etc.

Sore feet and a lot of sleep deprivation: every once in a while I catch someone staring with unfocused eyes and a goofy smile on their face (that is if they're not passed out across a bench here at the airport). Frequently someone says "Guys, we're in Germany. We're about to leave for South Africa. GUYS!" We're in a collective, and pretty constant, state of excitement and disbelief. We spent an absolutely incredible (and absolutely cold) day wandering through Frankfurt; three wonderful tour guides and forty-five blatantly obvious american tourists. That's forty-five iPhones and iPods and digital cameras taking pictures of every beautiful old church and every old man playing an accordion in the square (alright, there was only one old man, but you get my point: we were everywhere and we weren't quiet about it). We're having a total blast. Today was so memorable, from the solemn visits to the Holocaust memorial and churches that are hundreds of years old to our group's laughable incompetency at following street signs (don't worry, we're being safe, parents. just think some of us assumed in germany red means cross…). Seriously, just crossing the street with this group takes a long time-but that's what I love. How many people, kids and "grown-ups" are so excited about going to Johannesburg, about bringing everything we've loved about the Swamp for years to a group of kids we don't even know yet, but know we'll be crazy about in just a few days. That's what makes this so much fun. I am so grateful that we got to have a wonderful adventure together, enjoying the city of Frankfurt. The Rorabaugh's are the best, don't you guys agree? Okay, here's the deal. I know you're really jealous right now after reading these posts. I would be too. You're struggling with having a bad attitude because you wish you were here: it's cool, I did the very same thing while my friends were doing the camps in Jamaica and Barbados this past summer. This is what you do: take a break, don't think about how much fun we're having without you for a while, eat some chocolate or whatever makes you happy. When you're ready to just be happy for us, we'll be here, having a blast. (I'll get honest one more time: we won't be here. You'll probably get a great nights sleep in your own bed and we'll be sitting upright on a plane, waiting for the seatbelt sign to turn off so we can finally stretch our legs and use the bathroom. But at the end of the day we'll be in Johannesburg, South Africa. And every day we're there we'll be thinking about how it was you guys that did so much to make it possible.)
If my parents are reading this, I love you both!

-Skylar

The Town From a Storybook

Today we arrived in Frankfurt, Germany. The flight here was long, but fun. We all got to talk, watch movies, listen to music, and attempt to sleep for an hour or two. When we got to Frankfurt, we took a train to the historic part of the city, and it looked like a town from a storybook! The buildings were all very different from the ones in America; I wish I could describe them, but I think the only way to understand what they look like is to see the many pictures we took. Much of where we walked was stone, not brick or cement. We went inside of several chapels and buildings, and the architecture and paintings were amazing! I remember one had a mural that depicted the entire life of Jesus! It covered several walls around the building, and went from his birth to his death. Along the top, it had prophets looking down, to show that his life had fulfilled all of the prophecies made hundreds of years beforehand. A little bit down the road from this building was a circle that had many souvenir shops. Some of the most popular souvenirs were the hats, because in addition to looking nice and saying Frankfurt, they gave the warmth that we were all dying for! I bought one almost as soon as I saw them. It was extremely cold here, even after hoodies and coats and gloves and hats, but this didn't stop me from having a great time! I'm glad we got to stop in Frankfurt, not just because of the experience of touring another country, but because of the bonding. Our Swamp Corps group already felt close, but now it feels even closer. I am even more pumped up and eager for South Africa! One long plane ride down, one slightly longer one to go, and then I'll get to have the experience of a lifetime serving in another country!

Anna Campagna

Willkommen. Welcome

We are all in our seats and ready for wheels up. This will be the last blog for a while. What excitement! What exhaustion! Maybe I will sleep on the plane. Ha ha. I usually don't do that no matter how long it is.  But hey HP2 is playing. More blogs in the morning. Good night.  Much love, Jeff
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Celebrating my 3 spirthday

Hey everyone!

Our flight has been delayed awhile so I took the chance to blog. Today is my third spiritual birthday! I was baptized back in 2008 and now I'm getting the chance to go over and serve on my birthday. I have grown up in Auburn Alabama my whole life, and never really left America. So I'm really excited to get the chance to go and serve God and the Swamp. Without the swamp I really feel like I would not be doing this today. I've learned so much from my summers there, and I feel like the camp was where I learned who God was and how to love others through him. I like to think that God was the one who changed our departure date from the 29 so that I could leave on my birthday. Haha its seriously the most amazing way I could celebrate.

I'm so blessed to have the friends I have back home, and how loved they made me feel up to the hour I left town ( LOVE YOU GUYS! Thank you for the good bye dance parties, coffee this morning, and texts today ). And thank you for supporting me and praying for me. Yall have kept me calm through this:)

And my amazing family, I'm missing my mother birthday because of this trip. So Mom I love you and your so amazing!!! Thank you for raising me to know God and always believing in my dreams! I know its stressful having me gone and not being able to check on me 24/7! Don't worry :) (everyone sing happy birthday to her on the 7th!) But to Dad, thank you for going above and beyond for this trip. One reason I wasn't freaking out was because you took care of more then I needed for this trip. Charlotte and Justin, yall are some cool siblings. And thank you for supporting me even though you just got married!

To others thinking of traveling or going on mission trips- go for it! I got a job to raise up the money that I needed to go, and the hard work really made it show how much I wanted to go. If there is something your  heart really wants, with faith and prayer there is no way you can't reach it.

I honestly couldn't have made it on this trip or through this semester without my awesome family, church in Auburn, or my amazing friends.

Thank you to everyone for praying for our trip, it means so much to me to have support all over the world!

To everyone in Auburn: I MISS YALL ALREADY...see you soon:) And to my family, I'm so lucky to have been raised in a family that allows me to go after any dream. I love yall so much!

BYE!!! :D

- Adrienne Hames

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In the beginning

We've made it through the hardest part! We've waited in the lines like pigs lead to the slaughter of the draining and nerve racking experiences of the airport. We've watched as our money gets changed into currency that we can't possibly understand and yet, it is all worth it to be surrounded by the swamp corps family with the thought of being connected with our future African swamp family. It's overwhelming the joy that we all feel. Every prayer and odd job taken to get here not only is it more than worth it, it is the fulfilment of a long term dream of many. We have surpassed the dream and are on the move. One world. One God. One swamp corps.
Emily shapiro
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So it begins...

As we stand in line to check our bags there is excitement in the air. We hardly know what is ahead of us in the plains of Africa.
We are all in our winter clothes, sweating in a summer airport. We are excited to see what god does on this trip and cannot wait to meet the brothers and sisters in the joberg church. Security is scary and will probably hurt me. Pray for no stress and that God will move mountains. Literally.

Kevin and Deanna

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Believe It. Dream It. Live It!

A twelve year old writing down a list of her dreams in a store bought notebook doesn't seem like much, that is until eight years later when the same twenty year old girl gets to take a pen to that same list and mark it off. These are the feelings that overwhelm me as I go into this new adventure. People say that "home is where the heart is." If that is true then I find myself not embarking on a strange land, but getting ready to return home! The other day I looked up the definition of the word dream. The definition was all about the dreams we have when we're asleep. It amazed me that without God dreams are really just something that only our wildest imagination can think up, but with God, dreams can become a lifestyle! God allows us to not only think up these crazy adventures, but he makes them far greater than we could ever imagine.

One morning this summer I was sitting at a table at The Swamp drinking coffee. My coffee spilled on top of an old notebook that I had in my book bag. While I tried to wipe away the mess I realized that the notebook was my Dream Journal. When I opened it I saw that number three on the list was to run a camp in Africa. Two days later Jeff informed me that I had been accepted to go to Africa for Swamp Corps. Since I was twelve God has allowed me to have this dream and has been more than faithful to it. In these last few days I can't help but just be so incredibly grateful that the God we serve is a DREAMER!!! I can't wait to add to the Dream Journal after this new adventure and twenty years from now to see what God has done. The saying goes "Go big or go home"....I say we Go big before we get Home! Believe it. Dream it. Live it!

-Emily Shapiro

Asheville Ministry

All the campers were snug in their beds while visions of Swamp Ball danced in their heads

December always brings thoughts of giving and good cheer, spending time with loved ones, and celebrating the life of Christ.  This year it's the same, but in a different way.  Not only is there the Christmas holidays, but also CAMP!!.  We get to give our hearts to the kids at year one of the South Africa Jo'burg Camp, although we always seem to get more out of the experience than it feels like we have given.  Camp is beyond cheerful!  It is the embodiment of fun.  We will get to spend a week of camp with people we don't know yet but will be dear to our hearts before we fly home.  Finally, all of us that have been involved with camp or sent our kids there know the saying "A Little Taste of Heaven!"  What better way to share the love and life of Christ than through camp.

Thank you to all for the hard work and dedication by everyone that has dedicated time, money, sweat, and heart to either going on the trip, helping someone else to go, and praying for all of us leaving the US on December 28^th.  Each new camp that we have had the privilege of planting has drawn the world map a little tighter and smaller.   It has been nothing short of a joy and a blast to see the kids blossom as a result of the camp culture.  Every time we get geared up for another camp, I get overwhelmed with how amazing God is and how he loves us.  21 days from tomorrow the adventure begins and another chance to be in awe of how God moves, tick tock tick tock tick tock……..

Wade Williams