[ A B I D E ]

The power we have as believers can only be accessed when we are connected to the Vine. I have been focusing my attention on John 15; where Jesus shares with his disciples that their power can truly only come from abiding in him. Our team arrived in Nsoko, Swaziland several days ago. Swaziland now has hit an all-time high, and actually has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the entire world, with about 26% of the population positive. That's one in every four people. In Nsoko, and among other small towns like it, the rate is even higher. With lack of education and healthcare, many rural communities' HIV rates are through the roof. We are working with a ministry called 'The Anchor Center,' and it is a care point in Swazi that feeds children. The care points throughout the region feed about 700 children per day. Many families are so large – often because of infidelity – that mothers can't afford to feed their children. These meals are often the only food these kids are getting. The poverty rate is so high, that a successful Swazi makes about $200/month at most. That salary on average provides for 13 people.

The work we are doing in the care points and feeding centers also is coupled with manual labor and home visits. I have only been here for three days, and I have already felt the importance of abiding in my true source of energy, love, and strength. I have learned on The Race that trying to 'love' others out of my own strength quickly fades and loses its momentum. John 15:4 says, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." It is ironic on The Race how easy it is to forgo times with the Lord. I thought before leaving for the trip that the whole 'getting close to God' would be easy and maybe even be a natural part of the experience. But it is work, and I mean that in the best way; in the same way that it takes work to keep a marriage exciting or to love a roommate well. Jesus has gently pointed out my need for him on numerous occasions. Trying to do these things on my own – whether it's ministry, leading worship, being a good friend and teammate, or loving on children… it just doesn't produce the same results that only a deep connection to The Vine can produce.

The beauty of abiding in The Vine is the unlimited spiritual power that it can produce. When we are walking in the knowledge of the love Christ has for us, and in intimacy with him, he takes our meager efforts and multiplies them. I have seen on numerous occasions how just being close to Jesus makes the mundane exciting, makes the hard days simple, and makes the weak body strong. There were moments last month physically where I had to force myself to move. It was so exhausting. But, like our contact would tell us, "Where the flesh is weak, the spirit has to stand up." Our 'true colors' can sometimes be ugly, but when we are abiding in Christ, the potential for our love is deeper than we can fathom.

Today, I went with Josh and Elizabeth to our first care point 'feeding center.' It was a place called Nbutu. We arrived at about 3pm, and the children were using their fingers to scoop rice and beans and scarf them down. When we first arrived, a flurry of children surrounded us – asking us our names, where we're from, if we have brothers and sisters. There were two large pigs moseying around on the property, and a dozen dusty backpacks strewn about. The children had come from school, and were wearing their uniforms – the girls in plaid dress skirts, and the boys in khaki tops and bottoms. The school building (also feeding center) was a simple, large one-room structure made of brick with a corrugated steel roof. Once gathered inside, the children listened intently as we told the story of the sick man who was brought down to Jesus through the ceiling – and they laughed with joy as we used a fellow student lying on an empty rice bag and carried him in like the sick man.

It is even in circumstances like this that abiding in The Vine will make an experience more impactful. Because I had prepared myself mentally and spiritually to meet all of these children, I was ready to give them love, to laugh with them, hold them, and be the teacher that they needed. But it was only through the supernatural love of Christ shining through me that they saw love. I want to give everything the energy, passion, and proactivity that it deserves. I want to live with both feet first. I want to love with no reservations… and I know the truth – that loving like that only comes through one means; abiding in The True Vine, Jesus Christ.