Oh man guys, it’s really happening!
Two buses, two planes, a quick stop in Qatar and 87 hours of travel later, we have finally made it to our new home in Swaziland!
I’m writing this as I sit on the cement floor of our tiny host home where all 48 of us racers are staying. Yes, it is quite cramped, and often the only alone time comes paired with the classy view of the back of the bathroom door, but I already feel so at home here with all 48 of my new brothers and sisters.
My first few days here in Swazi have looked like attempting to learn the names of all the sweet African school kids in our compound, figuring out how to grocery shop for 50 people, and hammocking under the Milky Way. It’s an understatement to say this feels like a dream that I’m scared of waking up from. God has been so faithful and good in fulfilling this desire I’ve had since I was a little girl to be traveling the world sharing His love.
Our very first Ministry day on the race was set to begin on Monday the 18th. However, Sunday night I came down with some sort of bug so I ended up having to stay home. At first I was upset not understanding why God would allow this, but He was quick to show me that I in fact don’t know everything (shocker) and He had a better plan. Another girl on my squad named Emma, who I hadn’t hardly talked to up to this point, ended up being sick and staying back as well, so naturally we spent nearly the entire day in the same two plastic chairs, wrapped in our sleeping bags watching movies on my laptop and drinking tea. From that point on Emma quickly became one of the sweetest friends and I can’t imaging not having her in my life. I have never been more thankful to be sick. We didn’t even end up missing ministry because that day consisted of mostly just information meetings. Why is Jesus so good to me?
On Tuesday we were sent out to an AIM care point to truly start our ministry. Our mission? Dig holes. Going into this I wasn’t excepting to necessarily enjoy this work, but by the end of the first day I was truly excited to go back the next day. Granted the boys on our team definitely did the most with the physical labor (bless them), but what I realized there in the dirt of Swaziland that bringing kingdom really can look like digging ditches around a play ground and being peed on by a little swazi boy who just needed to be held and loved.
I can not wait to see everything God is going to continue to do through this ministry this next month.
Other Updates:
This month it looks like I will have little to no internet while I am here, so if you’ve messaged me and I haven’t responded, don’t worry, I’m not dead, Im just lacking inter webs.
I am still continuing to fund raise as I am not yet fully funded, so if you feel led to support me in what God is doing here, tap that big button up at the top 🙂 But most of all I ask that you all would continue to pray for me and my squad while we are on this wild adventure with God.
