I left Swaziland two weeks ago – and I left part of my heart there too. Even after two weeks in South Africa, I still think of Swaziland often and miss it dearly. It’s been a challenge to find words to fit the feelings I have. It was an amazing month of beautiful mountain views and great connections with teammates, squad mates and other Christians in the Manzini community. But it is the children of Swaziland that truly stole my heart.
I know there are children all over the world who live in poverty or are orphaned or abandoned, but God used the desperate need of Swaziland and her children to break my heart.
It was the little boy who fell asleep standing up in the aisle next to me until I pulled him into my lap. It was the little girl who was content just to be held in my arms and rest her head on my shoulder. It was the little boy who hung out at the care point even though he was too little for school – who would come running to my arms every morning when we arrived. It was the little girl we met at a children’s home who had been badly abused by the boys in her community before she was taken in to the home. It was all the boys and girls from care point standing in line for piggy-back rides around the playground.
My heart still aches as I think back on all these moments and more. It is the children that made me feel like I was doing exactly what I was meant to do – to love those who desperately need love. I did not have to change who I was— I just had to be myself and be available to love them. It is the children who made me want to stay forever.
But I could not stay because God has called me to finish this journey known as the World Race. I am trusting he has more in store for me. There will be more lessons to learn and more people to love as I continue to travel around the world. I am choosing to press into whatever God brings my way.
So for now, I leave the children of Swazi in God’s heart because He will care for them and love them better than I ever could!
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” [Psalm 68:5]
