At the end of February, we finished our time in Asia and flew into South Africa. Six hours on the road later, we arrived in Manzini, Swaziland and were shown our home for the month. An empty, three-bedroom house on the homestead of an AIM staff member (Adventures in Missions has a base in Swaziland, second in size only to the USA headquarters). Cold bucket showers, porta-potties in the back yard, chasing chickens out of the house, jam-packed public transportation, terrible internet and jet lag, were all parts of our month. Yet, these things made for one of my favorite months so far.
Though we all lived under one roof this month, our team was split up for ministry. Ministry comes in all different shapes and sizes while you are on the World Race. Swaziland ministry came in the shape of a volleyball. Chris and I, along with three other girls from our squad, put on a volleyball clinic for some local coaches involved with sports ministry.
It was through this ministry that God gave me a new perspective on why we are out here. Short term mission trips can be controversial; people often debate what kind of an impact short term missionaries can really make. (This recent article explains many of the reasons why.) I get it. I’ve even wrestled with this question myself while on the race. In just a three or four week period, it often feels like there is so little we can actually accomplish. But that’s when God reminds me…it’s not about me. It’s not about what I can do.
During this month we had the opportunity to train eight coaches how to play volleyball, lead team building exercises, and administer basic First AID/CPR training. We worked with just eight people on an everyday basis for a month. Eight. Not a large number by any stretch. But these eight coaches will go on to coach hundreds, maybe thousands, of youth in their country. Sports is a means to meet kids, build relationships with them and ultimately, share the love of Jesus with them. I’m thrilled about what God is going to do through these coaches. I’m thankful that we got to be a part of their preparation.
Effective short term missionaries enter into a culture, partner with an existing work and support the ministry in whatever God is already doing there. Our goal is not to be remembered, but to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Our goal is to support and encourage long term missionaries and to connect locals with something that can support them in their Christian walk when we leave. Our desire is to love like Jesus and to become more like him with each passing day. At the end of the day, week or month, we realize that the greatest thing we can offer is our continued prayers. When we leave, we know that our prayers are heard, we know that God is continuing to work.
So, Swaziland, you are not forgotten. Our prayers continue for the coaches we were blessed to know. We pray that God multiplies their impact and shines his love through each one of them.
Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
