When I first signed up for World Race I dreamed of Africa. I dreamed what it would be like, where we would go, and how different it would feel from home. South Africa was not like I expected, mostly because it was a lot like home. It was beautiful and I absolutely loved every minute of it, but it was not the culture shock I had wanted. I had wanted to feel completely out of my element. Well here in Swaziland I got my wish. As soon as we got to the border you could feel the difference. We got out of the van we had taken from debrief to walk across the border. We crossed the man run blockade from South Africa to Swaziland. We got back into the van and drove and drove up mountains, by shacks, waited as cows crossed the road to get to our new home for the month. When we were at the top of one mountain the driver pointed to the tallest mountain on the other side of the river and said “There is El Shaddai”.
I had heard the view from El Shaddai was one of the best we would see on the race but I never expected this. It is placed on top of a mountain overlooking a river. There is a constant back ground noise of kid laughter. We have a giant rock that sits in front of our kitchen area that has become our hang out place! It is absolutely stunning.
El Shaddai holds over sixty kids who live here, play here, and go to church. You can feel Gods presence everywhere you walk. I feel God here, and I believe he wants this to be a place of refuge for all of these kids. As much as I feel God here I also feel darkness and a sadness that comes from the hard pasts of the kids that call this place home. Many of the kids have been abused both physically and sexually. Our mission this month is to love these kids as much as possible. We are here as a squad for only here only month and we will do what we can to be a light to the darkness in this place one month to make to make this place brighter. Some of the older girls, especially, have a love for Jesus that is so strong that I know that we will help light this place for a while but the children of this place will set it on fire for the Lord.
