As I go forward on this Race, Marathon, War, and all other descriptions in between, a constant struggle of mine is to find words to describe my experience. My desire is to do this in a way in which I can give a window into my world and what I am experiencing and give you dear reader a chance to see all the wonders that are happening. This month gave me so much insight into that growth that He wants for me.
As we entered Swaziland there was a great sense of newness as we entered. We just got out of a great experience in South Africa with a great host family and a wonderful ministry. We clunked along in our packed van as the sounds and smell of diesel filled my nose. We get to the bottom of a mountain where the El Shaddai Orphanage awaited our arrival. It had just rained heavily and so the dirt road up the mountain resembled more of a slushy. After gripping what little railing we had, we slipped, skid, rocked back, rocked forth and went wee wee wee all the way up.
Once there, after collecting ourselves and our things, children began to run up to us. There weren’t a whole lot that came out but it foreshadowed the joy and acceptance we would receive. Most of the children had experience some type of abuse whether it be sexual or physical. El Shaddai literally served as a safe place for them. As weeks went on we had the honor of spending so much time with them. I don’t want to sound Cliche but you really do see the face of God in these kids. Mostly it was through their joy despite their circumstances. They ran, played, hugged and were honest with all they had. I had trouble really imagining what I could possible give them.
Part of what makes missions so appealing is playing with children so much. We desire to reclaim our freedom as a child and sometimes we actually live through the children we reach out to. I came in expecting to bond and have a great time with them. Oddly enough, it took a week or so to really bond them, while seeing my squad mates bond with the children instantly. I wasn’t necessarily discouraged but it left me wondering if I was doing something wrong. What I didn’t know was that Papa would use something else entirely different to teach me about His heart.
Most of my time in ministry was actually spent with the work crew. We were the people that did most of the manual labor around the Orphanage. In the mornings I would wake up and dig ditches with my squad mates to help lay a new water line. No tractors here. We used pick axes, shovels and our own hands. We even helped till and raise beds in the garden, while fertilizing, de weeding, hoeing, and planting the seeds. I even had the great opportunity to work in the pig pens one morning shoveling everything you can imagine.
For me, I love to read, talk and encourage others. As some of my family may attest, I’m not naturally drawn to manual labor. Doing this with the other men and women of my squad, gave me the impression of just how important helping hands are in a place. It also gave me a great avenue to focus on what Holy Spirit wanted to teach me. Because of what we did, the children now have clean water, flowing better. They have almost a brand new garden to harvest in a few months and the regular workers received rest they desperately needed.
Each act of service offers different and very important aspects. In many ways, Holy Spirit taught me so much about his heart simply by me de weeding a garden. If you simply allow each experience to ‘grow’ you, His hidden wonders and His heart for you will be unveiled. You may just get a little sweaty, a little smelly and a little tired. It’s all part of a bigger refining process. The best thing is, there are no crowds, no one to impress and no words to say. It was just spending time in community, accomplishing what Papa laid out for us to do. Needless to say, I found joy by the end by the end of the month after sweating my weakness out. I found it manifested from the heart of the father through the smiles of children and dirt under my feet.
