About one year ago in November 2013 I was sitting on my bed one night and typing “the world race” into a Google search. I remember being sent to the world race website where the first thing I read was “11 countries in 11 months”; I immediately got hooked. As I continued to read through the website I felt my heart begin to beat a little faster and my thoughts begin to drift and wonder “what if.” Then I saw it. I saw the number $16,250. I instantly felt my heart sink and began to pull my thoughts back in. I made the mistake that night of putting a big God in a small box. I told myself that raising $16,250 wasn’t possible and that I shouldn’t even let myself entertain the idea of getting to go on such an amazing trip because it would never work.
Fast forward to November 2014. I am in month 5 of The World Race and am currently in Swaziland, Africa. My support account is currently at $13,200 and I have been completely blown away at the way God has provided for me and has blessed me with such kind and generous financial supporters and many prayer partners and warriors. I currently have $3100 left to raise before my final deadline in the end of December that I must meet in order to be able to stay on the race and finish my final 6 months. I can honestly say that God is not in that small box that I put him in a year ago when I thought $16,250 wasn’t possible. I have complete faith that He will provide. But I also need your help! Whether you are able to donate $20 or $500, I know that God will bless and use your donation to help further his Kingdom and to help me stay on this amazing journey. If you would like to give a tax deductable donation to help me stay on this race you can click on the “Support Me” link on the lefthand toolbar to donate directly. If you prefer donation by check, send them to Adventures in Missions, P.O. Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374-2570 with “Rebekah Phillips” in the memo line.
There is not a morning that goes by where I don’t wake up in utter amazement that I am in Swaziland, Africa on The World Race. I walk outside every morning to some common Swazi sights and sounds. I see the sun beginning to shed light on the most beautiful stretch of mountains. I see and hear little African children as they walk to school or are on the playground laughing and playing with each other. I see the red dirt underneath of my feet that practically screams out Africa. I see many different huts in the distance that the local families here call home.
I have been in Swaziland for nearly 2 weeks now and none of the sights or sounds get old. I absolutely love it here.
My team (my new team, “Team Argonauts”) and I have been living at the AIM base/team house in Nsoko, Swaziland with and working alongside 2 other teams. We have been doing many different work projects around the base such as painting, roofing, deep cleaning, building and gardening in the community garden. We have also been going to help out at some of the 10 different Care Points that AIM has built here throughout the community of Nsoko. Each of their care points feeds meals Monday-Friday for anywhere between 40-100 children. The GoGos (the siSwati word for Grandmothers) in the communities cook for all of the children in the area. They primarily cook meals consisting of rice and beans because that is the most affordable to go a long ways and feed many children. The meals that the children eat at the care points are sometimes the only meals that they eat during the entire week. I’ve been told that somewhere around 30% of the children aren’t fed at their homes on the weekends when the care points aren’t running. The Care Points also provide a time of discipleship for all of the children that come to eat which consists of prayer, songs, and a bible story/lesson in order to help teach them about the hope and joy that is found in having a personal relationship with Christ. Getting to be a part of these care points has been one my favorite parts of Swaziland so far.
Swaziland is a beautiful place with storybook scenery and people who are friendly and welcoming to visitors. But it is also a place of great need. Swaziland currently has the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world which leaves 1/3 of its population orphaned or vulnerable. The Nsoko region in which I am living this month has the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in all of Swaziland. Due to these rising statistics, it has been predicted and is expected for their to be no adults left in Swaziland by the year 2050. Thousands of children raise children here in Swazi already. It is a common sight to see children between the ages of 6-13 taking care of their baby siblings or to see many young mothers who are teenage girls between the ages of 15-18. But since being here and spending time with these people, although that is what the statistics say, I do not believe that is God’s plan for Swaziland. I have faith that God will restore this country and the people here. I can already see the ways he is at work in this place and these people and I can’t wait to see what He will continue to do.
My hope is that you will join me in praying for this country and for the Swazi people. Thank you again to everyone who has made it possible for me to be on this amazing journey this year and to have the opportunity to be a part of the ministry here in Swaziland.
God Bless!
