Update! Here in Eswatini

 

Since we have been here, we have been to a soccer training on how to be life/sport coaches. At this training we worked alongside locals on what it would look like to make the soccer field a place of ministry. Soccer is the universal language in Eswatini (aka Swaziland), and the Adventures in Missions base here really wants to take advantage of that. It is all about using something that the students find engaging and speaking truth and hope into lives of young people. Their heart is to raise up men and women to coach these young people! It was so inspiring to see the joy that these young men and women exude when learning on how they can impact their communities.

 

The following days we have been working in pairs at local feeding centers called Care Points. The care points provide meals for young people in the communities. The Care Points are each equipped with a preschool as well! I’ve had the honor of working with my friend Jocelyn. Our teammates joke that we have the best Care Point because our kids are so well behaved, and honestly, it is true. Many of them do not speak English, but some of them do, and either way we are able to communicate. It has truly been a humbling experience. Everyday when Jocelyn and I get out of the car to stay at the Care Point all day, there are always kids fighting to latch a hold on our hands. They want us to push them on the swing, read them a book, or show us their dance routine (that’s a popular one).

 

One of the reasons that we have a great Care Point is because of our shepherd, Junior. A shepherd of a Care Point is usually someone who was a child raised at a Care Point, and is now wanting to empower the next generation just as they were empowered before. Junior is incredible. He has such a heart for all of the kids their and truly cares about their safety and well being. Jocelyn and I have been able to grow really close to him. We been able to get to know him by serving alongside him at the care point.

 

I know this is all a lot of information, and I feel like I’ve barely cracked the surface. But, I will leave with what God has been teaching me here. God has been showing me a lot through my team and through circumstance. This past week I was really sick and had to stay home from church, and the Care Point for a couple of days. God has shown me through that the power of rest: Resting in Him and resting in community. My team

has shown me the joy of surrounding yourself who will push you to be your best and most authentic self. They have pushed me closer to God and to be more Christ like. 

 

I want to end this blog with a song I wrote called Safe House. It originally stemmed from an encouraging word my teammate gave to another teammate, but in reality it spoke to me deeply 

 

 

Safe House

 

 

Peace My Child

Come to Me

Take a moment

And just breathe

 

Run to Me in the storm

Run to Me in the doubt

Run to Me in the waiting

 

My arms are open wide

Unashamedly

You are My Child

Please take refuge in Me

 

I will hold you tight 

Giving rest and peace

You are My Child

Please take refuge in Me

 

Peace my Child 

Wait for Me

Take a moment

And just breathe

 

 

I am a firm foundation

I am a safe house

Shielding you from the storm and the rain

Guiding your heart through the pain