This minsitry sits a top a beautiful
Swaziland mountain. The views here are absolutely breath taking. I
rise each morning looking forward to my rock, where I sit and spend
great time with the Lord, and look out to the valley below, the
mountains in the distance and the huge blue sky. It’s seriously
beautiful here. But it’s not just a beautiful place, it’s a refuge
for so many (I added the term ‘Children’s Refuge’).
As I was enjoying sitting on the rock
by myself at around 1pm yesterday enjoying the view, I heard the Holy
Spirit whisper to me. He whispered ‘This is beautiful, yes. But when
you’re alone, its beautifully lonely. But when you can enjoy it with
others, your community, it’s beautifully enjoyable.”
This reminded me about my own life. I
can enjoy traveling around the world, enjoy the ministries he brings
me to, the beaches of Africa, the mountains of Nepal, the waterfalls
of Australia, and the views of Swaziland. But if I enjoy it alone, it
doesn’t bring as much joy.
I have been so amazingly blessed to
minister around the world with M and T Squads. They’re my friends,
and community I’ve had for the past 17 months. I’ve enjoyed life with
them.
But being here with the 80 +
orphans/children at El Shaddai ministry in Swaziland has reminded me
humbly of something.
I was holding the toddlers today in
their playground. I started to sing over one of the boys as he fell
asleep on top of my shoulders for the daily shoulder ride. As I sang
him quietly to sleep, I was absolutely in so much thanks to God that
he gave this little boy a community. He didn’t leave him abandoned.
He didn’t leave these toddlers alone. They found a refuge here.
It reminded me that God wants community
for all of us. And this place started with a passion, and simple
dream of someone. And today it has the fruit of giving life and joy
to abandoned or lonely kids.
They can now BEAUTIFULLY ENJOY life,
friends, missionaries, food, blankets, a mattress.
They can enjoy being hugged, told
they’re priceless, they can dream big, they’re handsom and beautiful,
they’re princes and princesses.
They are in community here. And they
can live in a refuge. God’s refuge for them.
As I sit here and write this blog on
the big rock overlooking this amazing view of God’s creation, I’m
reminded that this landscape, and this children’s home, would not be
as great if they weren’t experiences to experience with others.
These children have belonging. In each
other, and in God.
Thank you God.
