Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” – Matthew 19:14
A new year has begun and I am back in America! I just returned home on January 7th after a long month in Swaziland during the holidays and a brief time of resting in South Africa. As you can imagine, I am exhausted after several months of traveling and leading fifty energetic young people. Having some time back home with my loving family and faithful friends has been much needed. I don’t know what the future has in store, but I’m taking comfort in the fact that God promises He goes before me and paves the way.
Not being home for the holidays was a challenge for us as it usually is. Yet God showed up in big ways and blessed us with an unforgettable Christmas. If you can’t be back home with your family, what better way to spend the Christmas season than surrounded by nearly a hundred African orphans up on a beautiful mountainside?! We had the privilege of serving with El Shaddai Ministries, an orphanage high in the mountains of Swaziland. Our entire squad found ourselves living all together in tight quarters for an entire month once again. But the challenges that this would bring were soon forgotten as we were bombarded by so many loving and adorable children. From Thanksgiving until New Years Day, we spent nearly every minute with these kids. Teaching classes, playing soccer, manual labor projects, Christmas pageants, water balloon fights, Bible studies – you name it, we did it!
As you know, my job this year has been the spiritual health and unity of the squad. However, as we recently raised up three new squad leaders from within the squad, my workload decreased and thus I had some time to devote to investing in the tattered lives of these precious young ones. Each of the children has a heartbreaking story. Swaziland has the highest HIV rate in the world and in addition, physical and sexual abuse runs rampant, even throughout the schools. To explain here what they have gone through would be too graphic. The good news is, their stories are not over. The safe refuge found at El Shaddai has become a place for God to show his redeeming love. At El Shaddai, there is food, shelter, clothing, and most importantly, tons of unconditional love. These innocent kids have now begun to live a story of God’s goodness. And it was such an honor to be a part of their story for just a brief time. Throughout the past two and a half years I’ve worked alongside several different ministries – and this one surely topped them all.
And then the big day came: December 25th. Let me just start by saying I’ve never been more busy and exhausted on a Christmas day. Yet I wouldn’t have traded that day for anything. We spent over two hours passing out gifts to what you can imagine was an eager and jubilant throng of children. I personally didn’t receive as many Christmas gifts as I have in the past. But this was the happiest and fullest my heart has ever felt. I think I finally caught a glimpse of what many of you as parents get to experience on a Christmas morning as you watch your own children tear apart their presents and their eyes light up and grins go from ear to ear. As I spent the rest of my day cooking and entertaining a demanding crowd, I was so thrilled to be a small part of the effort to put a smile on a child’s face. This Christmas I found the old saying to be perfectly true, it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive.
While I’m happy to be home for a while, I will need to travel back overseas in both February and May to be a part of the squad’s final two debriefs. And I am still about $2,500 short of my required support level. I ask that you would pray about continuing to support me in the new year if you aren’t already. Even just a one-time gift of $25 can help me finish my ministry strong. Donations can be made online at danlidwin.theworldrace.org or a check can be sent to me personally. I am grateful and humbled by the support you’ve shown me already and I look back on this season with so much gratitude.
For His Renown,
Dan Lidwin
