So much has happened since I posted last! I survived launch and saying goodbye to my family, I got what’s called a “Key for the Journey” which I got to discover it’s meaning, and have had 70+ hours of travel to get to exactly where I need to be! Nsoko, Swaziland! And the story is only just beginning. But let’s slow down and talk about one thing at a time. I’m going to tell you the story of my key.
I already posted about launch and how hard those goodbyes were so I’ll spare you those sad, make you want to cry details. After my family left, we had a few more sessions before our squad meeting. I was excited to know what we were all going to be talking about (mostly excited to hear any more information about traveling to Swaziland.). We all gathered in a room together and our squad mentor, Shadrac, stood up and spoke to us. He told us a story that Jesus told about the rich man who put on a banquet for his friends, but all of them turned him down, coming up with excuses to why they couldn’t be there. This made the wealthy man upset, so he told his servant, “Go out to the streets! Grab the poor, lame, and blind. Let them enjoy my feast.” The servant did so. Returning to his master, he told him. “I have done what you asked, but there is still room at the table.” To which the master replied, “Go into the city once more and compel people to enjoy my feast, for surely I tell you, not one of the men I invited tonight will taste my banquet.” (Paraphrased, the parable is in Luke 14:15-23)
He read this story out loud to us 3 times before asking us all a question. “Why do you come to God’s table? What makes you want to return to it?” We all wrote out our answers on small note cards and set them on the table that was set in the front part of the room. Among many other things I wrote down, one was the most important, though I didn’t know it at the time. I wrote that I feel safe and secure at the table, and that’s why I keep coming back. Once we had finished this exercise and were excused from the room, the leaders called peoples names before we left, handing each of them a small envelope. Inside the envelope were keys, hanging on a chain, with a word imprinted on them. Our leaders prayed over each of us and gave us the key they felt like God was leading them to. They were for us to figure out the meaning, carry with us on the journey, and when we feel lead to, give that key to someone else. I received my envelope, tearing it open with excitement and a slight nervousness of what would be inside. The key I got said, “Safe” written with a typewriter like font. I immediately freaked out! After what I had written about, why I come back to the table, I knew this was meant to be my key.
I got more confirmation about that fact at worship. When I thought about each song as it was being sung, I realized that a majority of them were about being safe in God, being in His presence, and that we are His children. The worship leader spoke between one of the songs saying, “I feel like there’s a presence of fear in this room. If you feel it too, God wants you to know that you can let go of that. Let go of fear because He’s got you.” Although she never actually said the word safe, I instantly knew that her message was for me. I didn’t realize how much fear about this whole trip I actually had until Launch. Until going out into the world became real. I cried for 20 minutes straight. My key had a meaning and it was plain to see. This key was a reminder to me that, no matter where I am, no matter the language barrier that may be there, no matter how far away from my family I am, no matter the difficulties that will arise, He will be there with me keeping me safe.
Now that I sit in rural Swaziland, writing a blog to the sounds of goats bleating, my squad chatting in the room next door, and children laughing outside, I can truly see how He’s protected me. Because we don’t have the distractions we usually have in the U.S., our squad has been experiencing different ways the enemy moves. It has mainly been people having nightmares. Some about problems that may arise here in Swaziland, others have bad dreams about things happening at home. It feels like the whole of the Anchor Center (our home in Swazi) was in spiritual warfare. A few nights ago, we all decided to do something about it.
We gathered in the building used for church and had an amazing worship session where we sang many songs, gave encouraging words to each other, shared some of our stories, and told different bible verses that referenced how safe we are in God’s arms. I shared my favorite verse with everyone, Psalms 91:4. It says, “He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” I also reminded everyone the word my key had imprinted on it. That the fact my favorite verse and my key went hand in hand for a time such as this was no coincidence. After that worship night the mood of the whole compound shifted. No longer were we afraid. The nightmares may still come but we “all have this hope as an anchor for our souls” (Hebrews 6:19) God is our hope and we are ready to share it with Swaziland, walking without fear of what’s to come or what the day will hold. The key word truly is safe.
