Who knew I’d meet fellow Cincinnati-er’s all the way in Swaziland. HOW COOL?
Last week my team plus one other team had the chance to spend the week a few hours way from the rest of the squad and live on a beautiful farm with a missionary couple that is watching over the farm while the couple that usually tends to it is on sabatcal in the US for a few months. They introduced themselves as Jesse and Macaria and mentioned they are 22 and from CINCINNATI, OHIO. Home. I was immediately so excited and told them I am from Lebanon. Jesse said he knew the Lebanon cross country course quite well. It was crazy to be able to talk about such specific things like that all the way in Africa. It seriously blessed my heart.
Our days looked like weeding, watering, pruning, fertilizing and entire field of corn, haveresting, or doing anything the Swazi workers needed help with. It was refreshing and exhausting to use my body for physical labor and to see the tangible results. It was amazing to rest in God’s beautiful creation and take in all of it.
Being there I saw a business side of missions that I had never seen before. I never thought twice about farming in my life but now I literally the fruit that comes from it in a country such as this. This farm provided Swazi’s with work, food for their community, and money buy selling the harvested pride to keep it running, all while investing in the community and care points around the area.
Ministry in Swaziland has mostly looked like going to our carepoint, doing home visits, and investing with kids—I love that! But it was nice to see a different side of ministry. It was nice to meet a beautiful American couple so in love with each other and Jesus. It was nice to have an oven for dinners and freezer for ICE CREAM! Something we don’t have at the compound. It was nice to have game nights in an actual house sitting on an actual couch.
Who knew farm life could be so cool?
