My first day at El Shaddai, it was my birthday!
When I woke up in the morning, I got to walk outside to the most amazing view. Just being in Swaziland on top of this mountain, already made it one of the best birthdays ever.
Through out the day, my teammates and squadmates spoiled me with love. It was perfect that our whole squad was together this month at the same ministry.
When I woke up and went into the common room to get breakfast, I was surprised with a birthday crown and some Starbucks instant coffee packets. (These things are priceless on the race.)
Since it was our first day at El Shaddai, we had the day off from ministry to find our way around, relax, and get settled in for the month. I was able to have some great Jesus time and give myself a mani/pedi with some of the other girls on the squad. Afterwards, I started to explore the property and found myself at the baby house. It’s so special to be able to love on those kids.
El Shaddai is working on becoming self-sustaining. They have a lot of land, animals, and are working on a garden. One day, they hope to be able to provide for the kids with theresources that they have on their land. They have a bunch of pigs, but because they haven’t been castrated the meat isn’t good to eat. So… sometimes on the race, you castrate pigs on your 23rd birthday. I can definitely say that it is a birthday that I will never forget.
That night, at dinner, my team organized a surprise birthday party for me with the entire squad. It was a fun night celebrating with everyone, which included cake, a dance party and late night talks. I also got a photo album full of letters from everyone on the squad.
I feel so blessed to have been able to have my birthday in Swaziland, with my entire squad, on top of a mountain at El Shaddai!
There is nowhere else in the world I would have rather been to celebrate turning twenty-three!
Psalm 139:13-16
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
