Entering the country happened with the whole squad on a large passenger van that the people of Swazi call a kombi. We came together and we stayed together for all squad month.
The country is very mountainous and looks a lot like Lesotho. Although the HIV prevalence is the highest there out of all Africa and it is the last complete monarchy in the world.
Ministry In Swazi
There is an AIM Base in Manzini that separated us all into different ministries. Some went to the base every day to work in the office doing clerical work and others, like myself, opted into working on the farm.
The farm is actually another AIM Base in the making. It was such a blessing to be a part of planting the seeds, literally, for the future people of Swazi!
While doing some irrigation a man driving by decided to stop and talk to us… he thanked us for what we were doing… it was really sweet.
Care Points
Oh, my heart. As a part of the Agriculture Team, we didn’t get many opportunities to go to these but when we did, it was a special treat for us! What is a Care Point? They are safe havens for very underprivileged children where they can come to have some fun on the playground, help with school work, and maybe the only meal they will eat for the day. While we were there we weeded sticker bushes from the play area then fertilized fruit trees on the property for the children to eventually eat from. It was so hot but so beautiful playing on top of a mountain with happy children!
Saying Goodbye to Swaziland
We as a squad never expected to be sent home early for any reason, especially a global outbreak of the Corona Virus… we had heard the news around the world but blissfully lived in God’s goodness untouched by it. Unfortunately, it was touching most of the countries we were planning on going to… countries with not so good health care systems.
It started with talk of India closing its borders, then Parent Vision Trip being canceled, and subsequently a twenty-four-hour leave! The complete sweep of all AIM missionaries being sent home was completely unprecedented and a clear message from God that whatever we thought was the plan can change at the drop of a hat… something we practiced all throughout the race,’being flexible’, but now, in hindsight, it seems it all led up to preparing our hearts for this.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah? ?29:11-13? ?ESV).??
