This month, team Lighthouse and my team have been living in a little village right outside of the city. In this little village, in our little home, on our little orphanage and college campus, we have seen an abundance of generosity and hospitality. One of my teammates called it the month of being served which is appropriate for the amount of love shown to our teams.
A few weeks ago, I learned that my top love language is gifts. Intentional gifts from loved ones or small gifts in passing make me feel overly loved since I know that I was on that persons mind. The Lord used this country and my team to make me feel so loved! I have seen Him show up in the grocery lady who gives us free ice cream. The hotpot cooks who cooked us a free meal to say thank you for teaching their children. The boys team who planned a whole day for the girls and made us feel so seen and known!* Our host family who comes over with new foods to try. There is something so special about the hospitality of this place that makes me feel so blessed.
At first, I felt guilty about all of this hospitality. Isn’t my job as a missionary to give more and receive less? When I asked the Lord, He told me to allow Him to show himself through others. He is working in us all, and we just need to realize when to let someone else show us a side of the Lord’s character just as we strive to do for others.
This month has been one of my favorites so far on the race. The small community we’ve built has been so encouraging and loving. Living with our ministry has been the biggest blessing. Our relationships here are so strong, so please pray for our teams as we face very difficult goodbyes!
I hope you enjoy this short blog about what life has looked like this month!
Love,
Sydney
* In Swaziland, there was an abundance of healing from relationships for the women. The Lord completely wrecked the way I saw myself and brought to light unhealthy patterns in relationships. The men planned a day for Radiate that was so planned out, insanely fun, and the nicest thing any man has done for my whole team. The Lord was SO present through the men not just that day, but every day we have spent with them. The day was a next step in healing for a lot of us girls, it showed us what it looked like for a man to just want to make you feel loved with no strings attached. My team will never be able to fully express what that day meant to us, so please pray that the Lord will be able to show our gratitude for us!
