Swaziland is over.
Another country down, and only 3 more to go.
Also another continent down and we are moving on to our 4th and final one.
I am very excited to go, but I think I will really miss Africa.
Maybe it’s because our team grew so much here,
or just the growth that happened in me.
But whatever the reason,
I will miss this place.
No where in the world is like Africa,
and definitely no where else is like
Swaziland.
At the beginning of this month I begged God to show up.
I made a deal with Him,
that if I had to be here than He better show Himself to me.
And He did that and so much more.
God I saw your beauty here in so many ways.
I saw you in the sunsets at night and
I watched you transform them to more when what
was given wasn’t enough.
I saw you so perfectly in the clear night sky
with 1,000 stars lighting it up.
I felt your warmth
when the arms of that
precious little girl or boy were wrapped around my neck.
And Daddy I heard you
in the thunder of the rainstorms.
I even saw you in the woman suffering from HIV
that sat on her dirt floor all day long.
You are so present here in Swaziland.
You are more tangible here in the creation of this place
than anywhere else I have been.
I don’t even have to strain to find you!
This month may be over,
but His presence on this G-42 compound isn’t leaving.
The children will continue being children,
and the ministry partners here will continue serving,
and He will continue being God over this place.
I am confident in that!
Though this month started out a little rough,
The Lord, like He always does, proved
His purpose for me being here.
As my friend Ruth put it,
“Let Africa change you…or leave”
I am leaving Africa,
but I’m leaving changed.
Tomorrow I will leave this continent,
probably never to return again.
But Africa will never leave my heart.
There is a song that my brothers in Mozambique sang
and the words in English said
“Lord send your Holy Spirit to Africa”
And I can promise you the Holy Spirit is here.
Goodbye Swaziland,
Goodbye Africa.
