“True understanding is found through compassion”
This last month in Swaziland was definitely what I needed. God taught me so much in month 2 and still can’t believe it’s over.
We were blessed to work at an orphanage called “El Shaddai”. They are literally up on top of this mountain with incredible views.
Let me first start off with the journey up this mountain….
It had been pouring rain the entire way there and our driver Henson had already been trying to come up with a plan because the roads were so bad once you start up the mountain (just picture red dirt roads with ditches/holes everywhere). He told us at one point we might have to hike up this thing in the pouring rain with our 50+lbs of gear.
We began to pray about what we were going to do and for God to keep us safe no matter what the decision made. Henson and the other driver decided a little while after talking with some of the others from El Shaddai, we would attempt going up the mountain. We had trailers attached with our big packs on the back of the van. They loaded the trailers on the back of a truck while we drove up the mountain. We began our ride up this mountain and we all start singing and praying. I remember one point we started sliding and the back side of the van was fish tailing…pretty sure I thought we were might end up in the ditch or off the mountain, but knew God would get us there safely!
We finally made it up and I felt this sense of peace and of being “home”. I saw the medical clinic and was super excited about helping out. El Shaddai is absolutely breathtaking and no picture can do this place justice. God’s hands are definitely all over it.
This month for me was definitely a time of rest. I say this because God showed me this was a time of having more one on one time with Him….more intimacy, a time to be still, love on Him, worship Him and His beauty, and just enjoy being in His presence. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I spent several days out on this rock, which overlooked the valley and city. The view is definitely one that never got old.
My mornings consisted of working in the clinic from roughly 8a-12pm. I say roughly because we were on Africa time….definitely doesn’t start at exactly 8am. J I thought I would be following a nurse, but turns out I WAS the nurse….hah I got to see patients, diagnose, medicate, treat, turn away (lack of equipment, etc.), or send home. I was truly amazed to see people would walk miles just to seek medical care. Their clinic on their property is only open ONE DAY a month. I can only imagine if they had someone full-time and could get medical teams coming to help out every so often.
I saw patients with respiratory infections, abrasions, burns, GI (gastrointestinal) problems, colds, rashes, edema, headaches, neurovascular, etc. The hardest thing for me was not having all of the medication, equipment to properly treat people. There were several people I had to turn away because there was nothing I could do. When I would realize this I would then ask Auntie Julia (translator) to ask them if I could pray for them and their healing. Not one person said no and was eager to be prayed for right away.
I remember one man came in with a cane and he was complaining about some hip pain and after we prayed for him he said, “I believe therefore I know I’m healed.” It was a completely different attitude from what I’ve seen a lot of back in the states….people who are ungrateful of the care you give them and so unappreciated, impatient…these people were so appreciative of the simple Tylenol given for their headache.
We each had “buddies” from 3p-5p everyday. I was so excited to get Lindo because we had connected when we got there. I helped her with her homework, which included English, Math, etc. When we finished sometimes we would just wander around the property and sing together. Our favorite song we sang was by Bruno Mars- “Just the Way You Are.” I’m not sure how much of an impact I had on her, but know she had a huge impact on me and will miss seeing her beautiful smile and hearing her beautiful voice.
Another thing God taught me this last month is about being “free”. Too often we get caught up in our “shell” or pride and look with comparison towards others. God wants not only Swaziland to be a free nation but for us as His children to be free. He wants us to be able to stop with comparison and surrender. To ask Him for anything and everything…unafraid to come to Him and ask for the things we desire….whether it be more gifts of the Spirit, to Him showing us something, giving us a word, etc. He wants us to stop looking at others and wanting what they have and to realize we are each individuals who are uniquely made in His sight. I don’t want what anybody else has….I want to be more like Him and I want everything He has for me.
One last thing I will share I have learned this last month is about placing my trust even more in God. Too often we worry about things that only lead to stress and distraction away from God and His purpose. This has often been me when it comes to relationships. I was more focused on the relationship than I was with God. I know He knows the desires of my heart and those will be fulfilled, but often we lose sight of Him in those desires and compromise our calling. I thank Him for the tests/trials and building my faith even stronger in Him. I know He is guarding my heart and for that I am thankful. His plans are far better than mine and what He has for me I know is real.
“Yet the mysterious love of God is fierce enough to penetrate those who think that they cannot receive it.”
“Trust is the pre-eminent expression of love.”
“Ruthless trust is an unerring sense, way deep down, that beneath the surface agitation, boredom and insecurity of life, it’s going to be all right.”
