Our last day of ministry in swaziland is one that I will always remember. It was a very bittersweet day, having to say goodbye to the children that we have wrapped our hearts around for the past three months. While yes, it was a very sad day, it was also a day of celebration. They honored us so well and sent us away feeling so loved!
We first arrived and like I mentioned in my last blog, Sithulele kept telling us that there was a special guest coming to the carepoint. It was sweet little petisway! A two year old boy that left to live with his mom without our knowing the day before so we were unable to say goodbye. But he was there on the last day! The most special surprise! After this we went to go visit gogo maria one last time. This sweet woman is my swazi grandma. She loved us and welcomed us into her house on a weekly basis, and reminded me of my own sweet grandparents back home. We prayed over her one last time and wished her and her cute little pink house farewell.
When we walked back to the carepoint, the door to get inside was blocked by all the kids. They wouldn’t let us in for a few minutes but when they finally did we walked in to see notes all along the wall written to us! and they gave us each ice blocks (my favorite thing ever)!!! They prayed over us and expressed how much they loved us and how much they were going to miss us.
For lunch, the gogo’s (grandmothers) at the carepoint made us a special lunch! Swazi chicken, rice, and spinach! Truly a special treat considering we have peanut butter & jelly sandwiches every day for lunch.
After lunch, the gogos had the kids give each of us timbali bags! These are hand made wallets that are made by the gogos, which is how they make a living. After this, we played, painted nails, danced, and just enjoyed our last few moments spent together. Right before we left, sithulele and some of the older kids preformed a song that they wrote for us. There wasn’t a single dry eye among any of us. Looking around at each of the sweet faces that we have grown to know and love, it physically made me sick thinking I had to say goodbye. I thank Jesus so much for the relationships he gave me while here in swaziland, and for having people that make saying goodbye so hard. Maba one, you will always have a special place in my heart.
