9/27/17
It was just another normal morning at our home in Nsoko, Swaziland. Woke up in a room full of fifteen other girls. The power goes out sometimes so we spent the beginning part of our morning in a darker setting, but I like it because we are all so grateful for the little things like when the lights flickered back on and we were able to finally toast the bread, and heat up the water for coffee and tea. I’ve learned to appreciate a lot of things in the short period of time that I’ve been away from America.
I was sitting and watching The Parent Trap, one of the many movies I snagged from another one of my squad mate’s external hard drive, when Bailey ran in and told us that our ministry host was here to pick us up. We ran out and hopped in the truck. In this truck, believe it or not, we fit close to fifteen humans inside and out. I’m pretty sure it’s not a normal thing for the people here to see a bunch of young westerners piled in the bed of a truck waving and giving big smiles, but it happens every day and it’s funny to see the reactions.
We arrived at our care point and started working immediately on the trench we’ve been digging around the playground to place tires in to create a safer environment for the kids. The younger kids where playing behind us when I heard a loud scream. I turned around and saw that this sweet little girl named Olowazi (I think that’s how you spell it) was pushed off of the slide and face planted. When I ran over she had a mouth full of dirt and blood dripping from her nose. So I swept her up and ran her inside so that I could clean up her sweet face. She only cried for a minute or two and then she was smiling again. Literally dirt falling out of her mouth and blood dripping down her face and she was smiling. Her eyes were so full of gratitude and love because I was taking care of her. She stayed at my hip for the rest of the day.
These kids are strong. I learn so much from them and they don’t even know it. Small moments like this are when I still find myself thinking about how this is actually my life. I’m actually here in Africa getting to love these kids. I’m so incredibly blessed for this life I have been given. I get to literally walk with Jesus every day and do His work. It’s so freakin cool!!!
