SWAZILAND: THE WAIT IS OVER.
Today my 40 friends and I are getting on a bus in Nelspruit, South Africa, and getting off in Manzini, Swaziland.
I don’t even know how to react.
If you didn’t know this about me, I’ve been obsessed with Eswatini for the past seven years. Since 10th grade I’ve had this strange and deep desire to go. All I knew is that I had to speak life and Jesus to the people of Eswatini. The country is the AIDS capital of the world, and where so much death and destruction lie, all I desired was to remind them of the hope of abundant life that they’d been offered.
Over the past seven years I tried everything to get there. I tried other mission trips, travelling with friends or coworkers, but nothing ended up working. I even had a little piggy bank in my room called “The Swaziland Trust fund”. Whenever I was finally able to go, I wanted to have a way to get there.
And it’s here.
Today I step foot into this tinsy country that I’ve grown in love for over the span of these seven years. I don’t know what to say, what to do, or even what to think. As I prayed for this country over the past couple weeks leading to our departure there I found myself praying “God, just do something”. What else could I pray? After such a long wait, words didn’t seem sufficient to describe this deep desire for God to move in Swaziland and in me.
So, today it’s happening. Today I step foot in the country that I’ve been dreaming about for years. You know, the only reason I came on the World Race initially is because it took me to Eswatini. And all of the work and prayers and time it took to get me on the race, today they’re all coming to fruiting.
Wow.
How sweet is God to make my dreams come true.
So, dear readers, now is the time when I call on you. I have no idea what to expect for this month in my favourite country that I’ve never been. I don’t know what God will do there, or who He will make me to be at the end of it, but please just pray with me that He would have His way, because without a doubt that is the best thing that could happen.
Pray that my heart would be filled with joy and that it would have strength to face any challenges that come our way.
Pray that our presence there would bring joy to the already-established church there and encourage them to run faster and harder for the Kingdom than ever before.
Guys, please just pray that God would do something.
It’s happening.
Today, after seven years of this strange, deep longing, the wait is finally over.
Today, I go to Eswatini.
