So here we begin our next adventure where our plans were to leave Friday the 28th, but because the border closes we are now leaving for Qatar for 22 hours because of a lay over, and then Saturday we will be leaving for India!
The time here at El Shaddai has been such a blessing and I can not believe it is now time to move on to our next adventure in India. I found out Wednesday that team Broken Chains will be working in India at Covenant Children’s Home working with the orphans of the local villages teaching English to the children, and also doing village ministry, or basically door to door ministry. So I am very pumped about India, and it is some what funny because I was excited about India because it is somewhere I have never been before, but this country I am jacked about now.
The people, the culture, and what God will be doing in and through our squad is a- mazing.
As we begin leaving El Shaddai I am looking back at everything that has happened this last month and the best way I can put it is that Papa God is definitely pursuing me and it is beautiful.
This month with the whole squad has been a challenge not because of the huge amounts of people, but because Papa has been teaching me more and more about my feelings and that it is okay to hurt and feel pain, it is okay to make mistakes, but understand that it is okay because we will fail and we will mess up, but the Lord is still good, and the best way I can put it is like what Luther said,
“Sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ more boldly still.”- Cost of Discipleship
Finally started on this beautiful book and what a better time to start than a time that is true that I will fail, but our God never fails 🙂
Here at El Shaddai I did a lot of manual labor in preparing the farm to become more and more sustainable because they hope to make the farming something to bring sustainable work to people in Swaziland who are in need of a job.
Also, the children, I will always remember hearing them sing, that sound is one of the most precious sounds to my ears. Also, the one on one time was probably the most challenging experiences here at El Shaddai because I took on a teenage girl, who was very…very quiet and not really a physical touch person at all. But we still met up 5 days week and worked on homework and I pushed her as much as I could. Some days were harder than others, especially when you are fighting the lies, “I am not doing anything.”
I give props to those who work with middle schoolers all the time, God Bless their souls. Just know that ministry is not always pretty, and sometimes it does not go the way you want it, BUT KEEP FIGHTING!!!!
Having my girl at the beginning, who was quiet and shy and refused to get a picture. Took time to talk with me, let me challenge her though she was tired, and finally embraced her smile and took a picture…the couple weeks it has been awesome just to see her grow and know her value is in God.
But the Lord is present here, and He is the God of this city, this country, and this world…. The children here in Swaziland will be the light to this nation that is in such a desperate need for Christ and love.
I again want to thank you all for your support in my mission trip, the Lord has been so good, and wanted to let you know that I have received messages of donations coming my way… I am now $200 away from my third deadline!!!! Praise God, which means I am almost fully funded. To let you all know where I am at, and that I am excited to see what the Lord is doing because I can already see Him working…
I have given up coke and all other pop products until I am fully funded. At first I fasted this month because I wanted to really focus my heart on trusting the Lord s He provides this money because it is hard when something is out of your control. But during my quiet time the Lord was leading my heart to keep up the fast. Some days has been harder than others, but my team and squad has been so encouraging and I am truly blessed….
So thank you all again for your support and your prayers <3
Love,
Stephie
