During the month of Swaziland, all of the women of my squad were blessed to do ministry together. We were working out of the AIM base in Manzini, Swaziland’s capital city. Some of the women on the squad were doing sports ministry, administrative work, volunteering at the hospital, and city & rural carepoints.
I worked with the rural carepoints, specifically the Ntabas carepoint. The ministry of carepoints involved working with children of Manzini. We played games, read stories, taught preschool classes, and of course talked about Jesus with these little ones. Everyday was exhausting, but everyday also brought so much joy for life and freedom from darkness. The kids in Ntabas ran away with my heart. Just seeing them smile was almost magical.
Despite the abundance of blessings at my carepoint, the best part of each day was my walk to and from ministry. My teammate Molly and I were the only two from our house who worked at a rural carepoint, and therefore were the only ones who took the fifteen minute walk to ministry each day. If you know nothing about Swaziland, you should know that Swaziland is a beautiful country filled with lush green rolling hills, a brilliant blue sky with the largest clouds I have ever seen. Swaziland, though a broken and orphaned country, is one endowed with a deep natural beauty.
During our walks to ministry, Molly and I were afforded the opportunity to bask in Swaziland’s beauty. Often times, we would stop on our trek just to embrace the moment.
A few times, we would joke about how our long walk to ministry had so many parallels with our own christian walk. And thus, this blog was born.
The first step:
The first part of our walk was a steep hill just outside our front door. At the beginning of the day, it always seemed the arduous task, daunting even. However, it reminded me of the courage needed to take the first step of faith. Overcoming the initial (and most challenging) hurtle. Once I made it over the steep hill, I knew that nothing could hold me back.
Up and Over:
After the hill, we would come to the cow pasture. Each day we had to make our way through the fence and by several cows. Now anyone who has been on the World Race can tell you that cows in the street and the fields are just a typical part of the day. Nonetheless, Molly and I knew that we were never able to become complacent in this pasture. We had to constantly watch out for new challenges and surprises from our cow friends.
The Narrow Way:
Perhaps the most exciting part of our daily walk was the bridge we had to cross. Now when I say bridge I actually mean, a narrow piece of scrape metal placed between two sides of a steep (yet small) gorge. It was the opposite of sturdy. And to be honest it was absolutely terrifying the first crossing. It was a daily reminder of the importance of a sturdy foundation, that is a foundation in Christ.
A Less Direct Way:
After the bridge, came a time of choice. We could either take a steep and direct path or a less direct way that was easier on the knees. It was less direct but it was better for us. It wasn’t the most straightforward or practical, but the path less traveled (a true Robert Frost moment) was the path that had what we needed. It reminded me of how often the ways God wants me to go is not the way I would have ever chosen for myself.
The Glorious Arrival:
The last part of our walk was always the most serene. We walked past a vast green field filled with bright yellow flowers (and sometimes a herd of goats). It was a clear moment of God just smiling down. It was a reward to the previous trials and a pleasure to enjoy the walk to our carepoint.
I hope all of you are able to look at your life and see the ways in which God has been present in all of your steps. Continue to follow after wherever God has called you.
Lots of Love from Swaziland,
Leslie
