Greetings from South Africa! This month, we are in a village on the outskirts of Swayimane. So far, we have been integrated into African village life– we walk a lot more; we sometimes can be found carrying water on our heads; we are getting accustomed to not having indoor plumbing; we burn our garbage; there may be more roosters in our neighborhood than people. T.I.A. = This is Africa.
Really, though. We are enjoying life in South Africa. When we walk, we have to stop and catch our breath a lot. Sometimes for the steepness of the hills, sometimes for the beauty of our surroundings. There are a lot of reasons to praise God out here. One of the main songs we find ourselves singing is “this little light of mine.” I am reminded of scripture often. “A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Which is true, we can see our house from far away. But moreso, I have noticed that we are having a hard time staying hidden.
Our house mom, Mama Dorris, is truly legitimate. She extends herself to the poor and the needy. She is a widow, but she makes sure she takes care of her children and anyone else in need. She is very gracious with us and really embodies Jesus. I am blessed to be living with her.
The program that we are working with is Zimele. It is a group focused on empowering communities to be self-sustaining. Every meeting is started and ended in prayer and song. It is like being in the Acts 2 church, where the community really takes care for one another. We have seen the groups functioning at different levels, honing a variety of skills and putting them to good use. We have gardened with them. We have played sports to keep the young people occupied. So much trouble can come from being bored.
And this is only midway through the month. Next Saturday is a celebration of Nelson Mandela and the legacy he left behind. The country is requested to do something beneficial and selfless on that day. I am excited to be here for that.
God has been so good this month. It is worth the outhouses, the squished taxi rides, the miscommunication, the waiting, the… everything. I am always seeing Him show up in these moments. He is behind every good thing that is happening here. Please be in prayer for the people of this community. I pray that God gives them blessings as they follow Him.
Please keep our squad in your prayers. Some of the teams are traveling a lot. Please pray for safety, for revelation and for divine provision.
Until next time!
