Everyone who goes to Swaziland on their World Race has heard of “The Mountain of God”, better known by it’s formal name of El Shaddai, because it’s a a dream ministry site for any racer. Set at 4,500 feet above sea level, it’s home to forty-five or so orphans and it’s set completely apart from the rest of the suffering world. It’s a safe-haven for so many kids who have been rescued from horrific backgrounds, and a mountain top oasis for missionaries who have left the comforts of home behind.
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A gorgeous view from El Shaddai.
When I was placed at El Shaddai for ministry, I was thrilled. Working with orphans was something I wanted to do from the beginning of my Race and I thought it would finally come true during my time there. But as it turns out, God would have a different path for me during my month in Swaziland. Yes, I would get to work with orphans, but they weren’t my main ministry. Instead, I got the opportunity to tutor little Shiloh, a spit-fire of a four-year old, and the Granddaughter of Charmain, the woman who inspiringly runs the orphanage along with her daughter Chanel, Shiloh’s Mom. I knew immediately that I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Every single day I spent with her was such a treat. From teaching Shiloh her letters by sight and each one of their sounds, to eventually moving on to reading her first words was such an awesome thing to be a part of. We went on daily field trips to the garden to visit our other World Race friends, to the farm to visit the pigs and chickens where I heard Shiloh pray the most passionate prayer to God I have ever heard from a child, and we walked, carrying plastic grocery bags to collect glittery things for her fairy garden that we would eventually make. All the while, Shiloh would impart her wisdom on me, and I heard many things leave her mouth that left me wondering how on earth someone so young could have already soaked up so much knowledge. From start to finish, Shiloh was a gift to me and a wonderful reminder of the kiddos I have waiting for me on the other side of my World Race.
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Shiloh and me on our last day of school.
Because most of the tutoring time I spent with Shiloh was at Charmain’s home, I got to spend a good deal of time getting to know Charmain and learning from her experiences. It was so special to have that quality and quantity time with her, and I truly got to see her heart for the orphans here. She is Mom to all of them, and there is no other woman God could have appointed for such a task. She is the picture of patience and grace and humility, and when she speaks, she has such a calming nature to her voice. I found myself incapable of being stressed in her presence. She is such a warrior for the Kingdom and taught me more about living out James 1:27 than anyone else I know. (“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV). I have missed her dearly in the time I have been away and she has definitely made a lasting impact in my race and on my life.
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Charmain and me following out last church service.
Charmain has such a big heart for the orphans at El Shaddai that despite having grown children of her own, she continues to adopt the orphans that she can. She currently has three children under the age of 12 living with her named Gift, Naomi, and David. All three of them are wonderful kids and I got to be their buddies for the month when I wasn’t tutoring Shiloh. We would play sports together, or any other activity that initiated special quality time together. The three of them always had me laughing and their different personalities shined through the more I got to know them. They will all go on to do great things for the Kingdom of God.
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Left to Right: Gift, Naomi, and David.
One top of such amazing people at the ministry of El Shaddai, it was also the first month with my new team, End Zone. Consisting of four single women, a single dude, and a married couple, the dynamic was sure I be different than anything I had experienced on the Race up to that point. It was my first experience on a co-Ed team and the members of End Zone proved themselves to be amazing men and women of character and it has been such an honor to lead them. I am so happy to have experienced the month at El Shaddai with them.
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From left to right: Zach, Esther (our visiting squad leader), me, Susan & Sam, Jordan, Shannon, and Christina.
My month in Swazi is unforgettable. I had expectations of wonder before our arrival, and day after day, Papa left me in complete awe of not only the majesty in the mountains around us, but the beautiful work that has been done and is being done in the ministry of El Shaddai. It still blows me away that He blessed me with my time there. Regardless of his reasons for it, I am just so thankful that He did!
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Each day I woke up to sunrises like this…
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and this…
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and this…
“then sings my soul, my Saviour God to thee. How great Thou art.”
