Do you know where Swaziland is located? Ha ha!! Well neither did I! It's actually a small country within South Africa. Here's the 411 about last month, but it's not a peachy-keen story. It was a tough month. Daily we were faced with the fact that neighbors and people were dying of AIDS. We were faced with small preschoolers carrying HIV, some not from birth. It was a harsh slap of reality to the face with an overwhelming helpless feeling. The people of Swaziland for the most part are so sweet and peaceful. We were able to hang out all month with some good people who have chosen to follow Jesus amongst a culture of syncretism that lingers in the realm of grey. Their king has numerous wives and does not seem to be focusing on the welfare of his country. The life expectancy is low, the poverty level is high. This sickness and disease prevalent. A man can have as many wives as he wants and there is a lot of jealously among the woman. It is a crazy cultural cycle that may not ever be broken.
But amongst this there is HOPE. We partnered with Corine Demetreos and Matt Roper and his family who are the founders of Hope Rises (http://www.hoperisesafrica.org/) you can sponsor children from their website and these are children that we actually met and worked with. They have 4 pre-schools with one more on the way. They are influencing these children at a young age and teaching them Biblical principles that are much needed in their lives. They are a great joy to work alongside and they empower the Swazi peope to come in and run the schools, not just take over. They partner with the communities and Corine lives in Swaziland full time. We got to build relationships with the teachers, our cooks, those protecting us and our tents, and the local pastor. He is young and has the calling from God on his life to bring hope and change to the Fontoje community. Swaziland needs Jesus! They need the renewing of their minds. They need His peace and they need His hope.
The month for me started off with a bang as I forgot to load my luggage on the bus taking us to our ministry spot. Thankfully another team grabbed it for me and I went and retrieved it the next day! I started the month traveling with my squad leader buddies- Travis, Erin, and Ed. We started visiting my team first. We then went and traveled to the other teams. We spent the first 2 weeks checking in on teams, ministries, contacts, and just trying to share energy and encouragement! We ended the travels with Travis' team and that is where we found out that 2 of our girls had malaria bad. We then went to the hospital to check it out. After being there a day or two one had a severe seizure and we felt it best to move her to a better facility. She was relocated to JoBerg and her parents came to be with her. Watching a teammate have a seizure is scary to say the least. As it was happening all I could do was pray. I ran to a ward across the way and found the missionary there who was praying over patients and asked him to come pray for Jenni. He came and prayed and we joined in with him. We sent out messages to all and asked for prayer from family and friends and many of you joined in as well! Thank you! Now the girls are healed and healthy still knee deep in ministry on the race. God is so good!
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.
My trust in the Lord deepened again last month as sickness was hitting our squad hard. It's obvious in times like those just how little control we have. Actually no control over life and death. God is in control. So many times I feel that I have given Him control, but then realize the feeling of not being in control. It was another great lesson in trusting God to provide, to heal, to be in the details. To be reassured again and again that His love NEVER fails. A good reminder for me to let go and let God work, to get out of the way and just be willing to be His ambassador, His hands and feet. I'm thankful for the collision with Swaziland and all that God did in my journey that month! I'll miss my friends there!
I finally was able to return and spend the final week with my team. We helped at the preschool, made bricks for the new school, and built more friendships with our neighbors and Swazi friends. We camped out at the preschool site and it was chilly! Some of us slept in the preschool on the floor as our tents were too cold. We cooked on the open fire, used the outhouse, washed our clothes by hand, and used a bucket to shower. All race norms. I'm not sure if I'll remember how to use the washing machine when I get home..and what is a dryer? Ha ha! Just kidding! We had a pig roast and actually were there for the killing and the gutting. A horrible process I never want to see anytime soon. It was a big pig and fed quite a few of us as we celebrated Hope Rises and being in ministry with them!
The ultimate highlight of the month was sharing the salvation message with a group of kids the night of the pig roast. I was using the cube that the Bond family sent me and they loved it. It shows a picture of man and his separation from God because of His sin. God though had a plan to revive that relationship and it was to come down to earth to dwell among us. He sent Jesus to teach us and show us the way of His kingdom. He died on the cross as the final sacrifice for our sins. It shows a tomb protected by soldiers and a big stone in the way of the opening. Jesus did not stay dead. He rose again and is alive! There is then a hand reaching out if you want to accept the gift of salvation. The only way to God is this way. Through Jesus. I asked the kids if they knew who Jesus was. I asked if anyone wanted to know Him and a young boy raised his hand. We have a new member to the family named Millennium! We were all rejoicing over that!! Please pray for him as he learns how to walk out his new faith in Swaziland. HOPE RISES!
