“You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you” The Shack
Even though it has been a few weeks since this vagabond has called Swaziland home, I still carry those I met there in my heart with me and know I always will. I briefly described our living situation in my last blog – but to put it simply, we were in the bush, the country, the outback, the wilderness, the deserted desolate desert of Africa.
It was in the heart of this ‘nothingness’ that Adventures in Missions established their first community base, The Anchor Center, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” Hebrews 6:19. In the past few decades, The Kingdom of Swaziland has been seriously affected by AIDs and the resulting economic instability that comes from an entire generation’s disappearance. Although bigger cities in the country are now well developed, the rest of the country remains firmly in the third-world category of economics, amenities, education, healthcare and a cultural dependence on witchcraft, ancestor worship and superstition to maneuver through life. However, AIM caught the vision for what God wants to do in Nsoko, the area we lived in, to resurrect, revive and restore this land to His Heavenly Kingdom.
My teammate Haley made an awesome video about Team Manna’s main ministry opportunity of the month – a carepoint. Our experience at the carepoint in the community of Mahangeni was a great example of the model AIM employs around the country. The leader, who’s official title is the ‘Shepherd’, Audrey grew up a few homes down the road from the center. She was recognized as a potential leader and after graduating high school, was sent to a year-long Leadership Training in South Africa. Once the training program completed, she committed to leading the carepoint for 2 years. She loves the community, knows everyone in it, and deeply understands the children who come everyday.
My social work heart was made so happy by the rock solid community development programs that are building up neighborhoods and communities around Nsoko. Utilizing their own resources, leaders and opportunities to give the land back to its people, AIM’s goal is to work itself out of a job in Swaziland. Leading the effort are Steven and Charity AIM missionaries who felt called to Nsoko specifically to love the unloved, disciple the staff, raise up leaders and guide the efforts of those who know their own community and society best. They are agents of change and hope in a land that desperately needs both.
The best way God showed me his work in the Kingdom is through one little girl. She was at the carepoint all day – which means she isn’t currently attending school. I don’t know much about her story except what I can piece together from what I witnessed and experienced during our month together. She wears the same few items of clothing, once just pulling a sweatshirt neck down around her waist to make a skirt. The meal served at the carepoint is her meal for the day. She loves being held, touched, spun, hugged and any positive or loving touch is absorbed directly into her spirit.
Her spirit needs a lot of love. Although I don’t want to get into the details of what we all saw – it was made very clear that there is a battle occurring daily for her heart, soul and future. What was before our eyes was at first confusing, then distracting and finally just painful to see. The enemy was showing off his claim and bearing his teeth as we carried Holy Spirit into territory he thought was his. But rather than giving it the attention it wanted, God told me plainly to find Him in this little girl. When looking for darkness, it happily displayed its presence. But when I aligned my heart with her true creator, Father, savior, redeemer and friend – I found Him. He shone through her soft brown eyes, her mischievous smile, her playful demeanor, and her deeply rooted desire for recognition, love and rest.
Every day I prayed over her and more of God’s presence manifested in our relationship as she ran down the dirt road into my arms as we turned the final corner, as she lay quietly in my lap and I felt her breath deepen in comfort, in her goofy giggles and unwavering eye contact during hand games. Because we are all hardwired for relationship with God, the things of Him feed us deeper than we understand or can be feed anywhere else.
The final Saturday in Swaziland, God asked me to walk back to Mahangeni and pray through it. Through a series of conversations, prayers and plans, He made it undoubtedly clear that I was supposed to go back with a few teammates who also felt called. Ushered back in by complete peace, greeted by loving assistance and local guidance we walked deeper into the community than I had before. As we walked and prayed and listened to Jesus as the Holy Spirit directed our steps, we felt the tension of darkness loosen and the presence of despair lift as He made his goodness, love and light known.
After a few hours, God told me very clearly that it was okay to leave now. That every person, face, home, family, soul was in His hands. He knows them all intimately, fights for them constantly and loves them enough to die for them. That’s the God I love and serve. In the carepoints, the leaders, the missionaries, the international aid, the new programs being inspired and created by Him, He is redeeming Mahangeni, Swaziland, Africa, America and every life on Earth back into relationship with Himself. Walking it and planting seeds is an invitation to partner with Him, but ultimately it is all in His hands. She already belongs to Him.
Speaking of incredible-amazing-heart-stirring-God-inspired work in Swaziland, PLEASE check out this write up about the cutest dang couple you’ve ever seen!! Read/watch their story to see how God is empowering Africans to empower Africa 🙂
xo – Hannah
